memorial day 2012.

dear soldiers, past and present.....

how do we thank you enough for all you do for us ?

{ all that stuff we don't even know about.

that makes sweet family times like this possible }

the bravery.

the sacrifice.

we're so grateful.

we remember you this memorial day

we thank God for you.

happy memorial day to all!

grace and grilling and getting molars

dear JESUS

i want to thank YOU

for a blessed week of gorgeous spring weather

{ is it possible it's going to be even better in heaven?! }

and a blessed week that included BBQ under our rainbow umbrella.

thank You for a husband who 'throws the ball around' with the kids

so i don't have to pretend to know what i'm doing

{ i seem to have missed the gift of accurate throw }

i'm grateful for cherry berry chillers at mcdonald's and

that they're cheaper than chocolate shakes...

{ somehow matthias always talks me into a weekly treat from there }

thank You for a miraculous chunk of time to finally organize

the back entryway and the bigger miracle of it staying that way now

for 2 whole days.

thank You, Lord, that banana cream pie makes caleb so happy

and making it with him makes me just as happy.....

thank You for a daughter who CRACKS me up with her unique headband style

in the midst of a week filled with tantrums that we're

......'working on.' 

(and i'd like to give a little shout out to You for grace at wal-mart with the whole

'no, charity, you can't eat the whole box of

dora the explorer fruit snacks while mommy shops' thing. 

mercy.  so much grace needed) 

oh, my sweet thang....it probably doesn't help that she's getting

her 2 year molars

(love that 'konked out on the couch' pic.  toats presh)

last of all, Jesus, i'd like to thank You

praise YOU

lift Your Name on high......

for all You are up to in our lives

for all You've been teaching us

for all that we believe You've got in store for us

and for those moments

{ oh, those moments even when the laundry surrounds me  }

when Your precious Word comes alive.

and I am taught great things about You.

oh, how I want everyone to know just how

GREAT. YOU. ARE.

to everyone checking in to this here blog

have a great memorial weekend.

make some of these if you get a chance. 

 {i plan to! }

linking up HERE

weekend in review

weekend in review:

friday evening justin takes on

"solo dad" role

just look at that confident, 'i can handle this' look

{sigh}  i love that man.

when the nissan quest is a rockin'.......

this mama is on her way to chicago.

all. by. myself.

and i really, really, really rock out to the radio

and sing at the top of my lungs when i'm alone.......

and (ahem) break out my mixed cd justin and i made

back in 2003

does mr. big's 'to be with you' ever get old?!

{yeah.  whatevs.} 

takes me back to the boombox days....

                                                                         first stop:

this hilarious place called mars cheese castle

of all things wisconsin

to bring some goodies for my illinois friend.

okay, so then i get to chicago

{why hello there, NATO...}

and i find my friend, Sandi, in the trump tower....

(the TRUMP!)

where we stay for 2 nights.

we are welcomed by incredible chocolate covered strawberries

and a delish fruit tray.

{ mercy. such goodness }

sandi and i had a perfect weekend:

of gorgeous spring weather for lots of city walking

of waitless restaurant eating (thanks to NATO)

of incredible sandwiches here

and fondue here

of vera (love!)

of relaxing and sleeping in til we woke up on our own

(wha?  i know....a.mazing)

of long, wonderful, uninterrupted talks

and just plain fun.

oh, and sprinkles cupcakes, of course!

sunday morning

i drove my 2 hours home in less than 2 hours

(oops.  blame it on my mixed cd excitement and this song)

i do actually incorporate praise songs in the midst rockin out

and i can think of about 10000 reasons i love this song.

it was fun to see my kiddos

who were excited to see me, and i them

and of course justin....

who rocked it this weekend.

i cannot thank him enough for being so wonderful.

{love you, babe!}

in the evening we tried out this place for justin's bday dinner

(yeah....6 days late.  we've been busy, k?)

justin ordered a burger for burger lovers

and enjoyed it.

they have endless fries which is great for our fam

and our waiter handled table of kiddos who are 

not used to any hamburger restaurant fancier than mcdonald's

extremely well.  earned a good tip for that for sure

{right, babe?}

L to the dubs O to the L

this is getting to be a long blogpost.

have a good day, all!

we are filled with joy

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for another week of life

and everything that went with it.

The beautiful skies we saw

{even a rainbow after a crazy storm!}

and the laughs we all shared at youth group as the lights went out...

and never came back on.

The amazing gift of Matthias' sweet prayer

securing his eternity in heaven

(and the blessing of being a part in that)

A precious celebration of mommyhood complete with dandelions

and homemade cards and Tazino's Pizza Buffet!

My husband's 32nd birthday and the reminder

of how overly blessed I am to call him 'mine'

Sunshiny days at the park and a picnic lunch 

complete with my children's giggles 

that make me wonder

how awesome heaven is going to be

if this is what You already give us here on earth.

-------------------------------

As I prayed on the treadmill this morning,

Cover our house in grace and mercy.

Smother us in Your love and faithfulness

as You have done all our years

and never, ever let us forget....

You have done great things for us

and we are FILLED with joy!

~Psalm 126:3

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