Reyna's Glasses & The Favorite Outfit

What a sight; what a sound.

I am staring out my bedroom window as I type watching my two oldest boys play with our neighbors' grandson (Elijah's best friend!). They are splashing around in two little plastic swimming pools, playing with the hose and a watering can, and sqealing with happiness. They're doing "cannonballs" as well as one can in a four inch pool and having an absolute blast.

I consider myself someone who appreciates the simple things in life, a lot, but oh how I wish that they were always enough; that I didn't think at times that I need just this or just that to be content. I keep moving to a more simple life and am enjoying the journey, but the world does not always make it easy. So today, I am blessed that God allowed four children to bring home the message that even the small pools are worth swimming in.

Not gone, just busy!!

We have not disappeared. It has been a busy start to summer! A new playground in the backyard, getting Reyna to wear her glasses, taking three boys to swimming lessons, signing up for t-ball and Cub Scout camp, planning for visitors and just plain day-to-day stuff has kept us running. We are all enjoying the great weather and being outside (even the girls, who a short while ago would not put one toe in the grass!) as much as we can. I really do promise to post some of my favorite recent pictures. I have so many picture files that I am beginning to not remember where I have certain photos!

I am also trying to clean and sort out as much of our "stuff" as possible. We are so blessed. We are beyond blessed. I am reminded every day wherever I look how blessed we are. I am compelled to live much more simply and without as many things that I clearly don't need. God has provided so much and I am so very thankful. I guess that has kept me busy, too!

I Passed On What?

It now seems as though two of my children have "inherited" my eyesight. Grayson is wearing glasses already and little Reyna is getting hers tomorrow. Elijah is probably not too far behind since at his last check-up the doctor said, "You may want to have his eyes checked again in a couple months. There seems to be a difference in vision between his right and left eye." Really? You're kidding. I guess it could be much worse, and they are still adorable. (You'll have to believe me for now - pictures to follow tomorrow!)

We are leaving tomorrow for NE/CO. The boys get to spend a week with one set of grandparents and the girls get to spend a week with the others. I will be with the girls in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. I am soooooo excited to see mountains again. The boys are super excited to have a week at Grandma's without Mom and Dad. They're not even shy about telling us that!! I will miss them much more than they will miss me, but I guess that's how it's supposed to be. I'm pretty sure Grandma and Grandpa will miss having us around a few hours after we leave. They have never done this before and I don't think they know what they signed up for. But it is too late now!! God is so good and He will give us what we need to make it through. In fact, my Encouraging Word verse for the day was, "God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all."

Don't Burn Pacifiers

When the packaging says, "boil for two minutes to sanitize prior to first use", they really mean it - especially the two minute part. By the time you smell burnt plastic it's way too late. The saddest part is, if I can't be focused for two minutes I've got a few things to work on!

On a lighter note, I discovered my oldest child is very fond of chicken. So much so that he literally cleaned the bones of two chicken legs and two wings! He is my only real meat eater these days. Elijah and Camden will pick all of the meat out of spaghetti no matter how long it takes. The girls aren't extremely thrilled with meat either, but they'll eat a good cheeseburger every once in a while! We have been trying to do more meals without meat and add proteins of other kinds. I'll let you know how that goes!