How Does Your Garden Grow?

Summer is in full bloom and I'm enjoying my little garden spot. Zinnias, geraniums, lavender, poppies, peppers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, and a variety of heirloom tomatoes. I'm beginning to see some fruit of my labor and God's handiwork. He really deserves more credit than I, but it does take a partnership nonetheless. 

Fun zinnias and colorful seed geraniums

This heirloom boasts 16 little pieces of scrumptious tomatoes.
Can hardly wait until they are ripe from the summer sun

Grape tomatoes - just the right size for snacking

Mini multicolored sweet bells in the making

Mama said...

Despite her Having Fun shirt in one of the most FUN places (Dollywood, 2006),
Grace was not happy about having her picture taken.

Mama said there'll be days like this...some days are just harder than others. You just get back up, dust yourself off & keep on going. Yes, mama said there'll be days like this.

Rough day.  It began before I got out of bed with this horrible dream where it was all my fault.  Then off to work.  My job is great in so many ways, but some days, I work hard for the money. This was one of those days. Drama practice (for real) was great, but then we got tangled up at the library.  With some tears & then hugs, we headed to the pool because water play helps crabby apple pants marshmallow sweetie pies find their smiles again. We unexpectedly intersected by friends who were delighted to see us & pleaded to take Gracie cakes to play. Even better!! Nothing makes you feel better than three giggly girlfriends begging you to come play. That makes a mama feel better, too. So, they played & mom had some time to catch up on some needful things for an hour or so. 

It got even better. Mom had some chat time with the sweet mother of the squealy girls. =) I needed that. I really needed that fresh perspective & voice of faith that reminded me that God is a very present help in time of need. Breathing easier...no more crabbies. 

We got home just in time to read a few verses from Gracie's new bible. Here's what she found: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run & not grow weary.  They will walk & not faint. Isaiah 40:31

That's encouraging!

This is what I read: But as for you, Israel (Carmen & Gracie), my servant, Jacob (Carmen & Gracie) my chosen one descended from Abraham my friend; I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, "You are my servant."  For I have chose you & will not throw you away.  Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you & help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Now that's REALLY encouraging! 

Mama said there'll be days like this. So glad our Father in heaven has a remedy for days like this. So glad. 

They Grow So Fast

We had a beach day yesterday at the request of the Gracie girl. Something about the warm sand & splash of the waves soothe my soul.  I do believe Grace is her mother's daughter. =) They grow so fast. This forever sweet video reminds me they grow so fast.

When I Grow Up...

Grace under the influence of Barney Fife, Andy Griffith Show:

When I grow up I want to be a barrel racer; but when I REALLY grow up, I want to be a cop. Then I can arrest people when I need to and when I want to.

These Boots...

Getting ready for drama camp this morning, Gracie came out in her cowgirl boots. "Honey, it's going to be close to 100 degrees today. You sure you want to wear those boots?", I asked. She replied in classic Grace fashion, "It's never too hot to wear boots." So it begins: fashion over comfort.

I'm posting this here because I want to remember it:
There are only 24 hours in a day, and I have decided not to fill that time being frustrated by other people and negative situations that are out of my control (again, assuming nothing really bad is occurring). I barely have the energy to do all of the things I want to do, and giving people the benefit of the doubt helps me to stay in control of my emotions and time.


from Uncluttered.com

Birthday Month Continued: Strawberry Fields Forever

Luscious strawberry goodness! You just can't beat this. Yum!

June packs so many birthdays. Feels like we celebrate the entire month. This week, we took the party to the strawberry patch to celebrate Em's birthday. What a great idea for a party. I'm all about exposing kids to new experiences & this certainly provided that opportunity for most of Em's party girls. The strawberries were so plenteous; plants heavy laden with fruit. Picking was easy. AND talk about tasty! This fruit is good & will be yummy in some strawberry jam. Just have to make time in all the party going to make it. Oh, yes. We are headed to B's 3rd birthday party today! What a month!! Happy Birthday, girls! 

My Strawberry Shortcake. Now that's what I call sweet. =)

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Girls Rule - Boys Drool

After a fun filled afternoon & evening at friends, Gracie fell asleep in the car on the way home.  Groggily, & with some help, she made her way into the house. She crawled into bed & said, "Maybe it's true that boys rule/girls droll, 'cause I was falling asleep in the car & I think there was a little bit of drool coming out of my mouth." =)  

Celebrating Seven

Jazzy joins the birthday fun...like she has a choice. =)

We celebrated Gracie's 7th birthday a few days ago at Monee Reservoir with a fishing theme. It was simple, outside, and loads of fun. Despite the little mist for a bit, some of us played the day away until 5 pm. What's the rush? The kids are playing today - good clean fun, so to speak. We did take dirty kids home, but they washed up nicely. =) 

Seven years old came too quickly, but here we are. They grow so fast. Now I understand that line. They grow so fast. I treasure the moments and the memories.  I'm proud of who Grace is and who she is becoming. She is kind, clever, adventurous, daring, and brave (except after watching Scooby Doo).  She is fun, friendly, confident, creative, compassionate, and conscientiousness. I love that Gracie Cakes. I love that she loves to sing, dance, snuggle, travel, explore, create, be outside, make up songs, write books, draw pictures, make new friends, include others, tell jokes, tries to trick me (every day is April Fools Day) & worship God.  She is such a treasure. She is my treasure. 

Seven came too quickly. She tells me now I can't call her "Babele" - I got that cutie name from my friend, Nae. In my mind, it is short for Baby Love. I have a song that goes with it nicely, but that's over now she said. Can't call her that or sing the song. She's too big. I hope she forgets she said that. I hope she changes her mind. =) In the meantime, I have a plethora of other names I call her with permission and love songs I can sing. 

Here are a few fun pics of the birthday fun.  

Gracie snags a lily pad

Gracie and friends

Gracie finally gets her gun...did I mention she has a good memory? She's wanted this pink gun/holster since she was 3 years old. 

wet sponge relay - the teams race to see who can transfer the most water using big sponges

cooperating - I love it!

sizing up the lake & preparing to fish

Birthday Month

Gracie is turning 7 soon. A special request was made by the girl herself to take her bestest friends to Key Lime Cove to celebrate her birthday. We scored a deeply discounted stay at the resort; and I do use that term loosely, but that's another post. So, making some calls or sending some texts rather, we invited C & E, along with A. Whooo, C &E were THRILLED beyond belief. We found a weekend that worked for us. A was unable to join us, but I saved that sad piece of info for the very last moment. In doing so, Grace was already in the midst of bliss with her other two besties to fret much. Good call, Mom.

The car ride up to Key Lime Cove was NOISY to say the least. Who knew happiness, joy, & giggles could get to deafening levels so quickly? ACK! None was so happy to arrive at the resort (again, loose interpretation of the word). Those girls were splish splashing & slip slidin within the hour. I did a bit of birthday decorating when Gracie wasn't looking & viola - it's a birthday party!

The girls swam the evening away, as well as the next day! Whoo hoo! To celebrate the birthday, we dove head first into a gargantuan sundae called the kitchen sink sundae with elaborate toppings and spectacular mini fireworks - all served in a small kitchen sink! It was amazing & sooo much ice cream, we didn't even make a dent! It was indeed fun trying. =)

On the ride home, I asked the girls what there favorite part of the weekend was. Each replied, "Being funny together." True. True. I've never heard so many knock knock jokes before in my entire life. However, the joke that garnered the most giggles was this one: Hey, what's that under there? Under where? HA! I made you say "underwear"!!! Hilarious, even the 100th time. =)

Ready to ride!

Splash!

BFFL

Birthday Girl Surprise

Gearing up for a good day

Say you're surprised

Kitchen Sink Sundae

So hungry they could eat a kitchen sink!

Fireworks

Birthday glow