It really was a good time... such a fun location! If only it hadn't been so windy, I could have taken pictures of this sweet family and their cousins all evening (I've yet to post the other cute kiddos/cousins). Ellie you crack me up and who couldn't fall in love with baby Esther's eyes?! Thanks Bill and Olivia for the great evening... :)
Bright fall colors, slides, and swings... perfect for pictures! Now, if only Lindsey would have given up a few smiles... just teasing Krista! :) Smiles or not, a sweet little family for sure.
I need a happy thing today... Today's a sick day. 4 out of 5 in our family are sick...YUCK! And to top it all off, it's a rainy dreary day. Maybe it's just a housewife thing, but man do I appreciate sunlight! Maybe I focus on it too much... every morning when I wake up, I feel like the outlook of my day is already partially determined by whether or not the sun is shining! It's so much easier to have energy and be joyful when the sun's out. I know, I know... (big sigh), I can't be dependent on external circumstances to find joy. But it sure makes it easier! :) So today, on a yucky day, I'm trying to be thankful for the sunshine that happens to not be here. I'm thankful for that part of creation and I'm thankful for the joyful boost it gives me some days. Sunshine is definitely a Happy Thing....even though it's absent today :)
As you all have probably caught on by now, I just love anything antique/vintage! Over the past few years, I've really come to appreciate and enjoy old pottery. I love almost all of it... but much of it is far to expensive for me to collect right now! You can find McCoy pottery at a reasonable price if you do a little hunting though... so I've began a small collection :) I just love the muted colors ...especially the turquoise :)... and the beautiful patterns of McCoy. For me, it's a Happy Thing :)
This morning I made time, sat down and read my devotion... sometimes that seems like a hard thing for me to do! Between responding to the constant needs of my children, house work, homeschooling, and other random tasks, I struggle with making those fifteen minutes a priority in my day. I've been reading "Devotions for a Sacred Marriage" lately. Today after I was done reading, I was once again reminded of my privileged responsibility to nurture my marriage...to guard it, treasure it, serve in it... Too often I let the struggles cast a shadow over the blessings of marriage. Marriage is work. Marriage can bring pain. Yet, next to the gift of salvation, my marriage is the most overwhelming gift that I have been blessed with in this life. I'm so blessed to be here in this marriage, with this man, at this moment. I am blessed and I am loved... I'm so glad I sat down this morning and let the power of scripture remind me of that...and that's more than just a Happy Thing.
