check this out..

I am sure this is not new to many of you, but I saw this again on my friend Matt's blog, and I decided to add a link..my kids hear this at Aunt Brittany's house, so they can sing it and laugh...

HARMLESS THOUGHTS: What Would a Mom Say?

Movie Night

The girls and I headed to the theater tonight to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" which we have been anxiousy awaiting. The movie was amazing, and filled with plenty of Christian symbolism, just as the first in the series. The girls watched, enthralled, for the 2 1/2 hour show. The technical affects were great, and they managed to have great battle scenes, minus the gore you usually see. I tried to take the time to point out to the girls when the storyline was a clear allagory of the Christian walk. These people hadn't seen Aslan in 1300 years, and they were starting to not believe in him anymore. Lucy, the youngest of the 4 Kings and Queens of Narnia was had a tender heart toward her "god" Aslan. However, the others were losing hope in him and starting to put their hope in themselves. I could totally relate to this allegory. There was a scene when Lucy saw a flash of Aslan and knew which direction the group should go. Her faith faltered when they blew her off, so she followed along with their ill-fated plan. Later, when she came face to face with Aslan, she was lovingly rebuked. She said "I just knew it was you all along, but the others didn't believe me." His kindly replied, (I paraphrase) that she could have followed him anyway. I only wished that I could stop the movie and explain how important that conversation was to the girls. If the others had listened to Lucy on several occasions, or if she had stood for what she knew was right regardless, the losses could have been much less. Aslan reminded her that they would never know what could have been, only what was.

Sorry to go on about a movie, but I wanted to point out some of the things that spoke the most to me. I would love to hear from anyone who sees the movie, and picked out a spiritual application that affected them.

American Girl Place

 

 

 

 

Above..before, just outside the shop, lunch at their cafe, and after..with tons of loot! Check out the picasa web album slideshow for the rest of the pictures of the trip.

American Girls

 

Well..the day is almost here! There are 4 very excited little girls (and two excited mommies) headed to the Windy City tommorrow to visit The American Girl Store. Paige and Peyton got their dolls in February, and have been anxiously awaiting our long planned for trip. I decided when I visited the store 4 years ago (on a trip with just grown up girls) that my two were too young to appreciate the dolls, so we would wait until they were older, then we would plan a big trip to Chicago to get the dolls. I am making this trip a year ahead of schedule (life doesn't always work out the way you plan, you know ;) and the girls already got the dolls of their choice in February. It was decided that TAKING your doll was a better thing than getting one while you were there, so here are the dolls, ready for their trip tommorrow. Paige's doll is Nellie, and Peyton's doll is Mia. But pictured between them is the newest girl in our house, Julie. Julie is the 1974 doll that I fell in love with when the girls were picking out their dolls. Of course, I knew that I wouldn't buy her, but I secretly wanted her. (I know that my friends are scratching their heads in amazement, because I am FAR from a doll person, but I guess raising little girls has rubbed off on me!) Anyway, I had forgotten how much she appealed to me, until today. Today James announced that he wanted to give me an early wedding present. Not one to say no to presents, I pulled the paper off, and with one peek at the end of the box, I knew that it was Julie. I was SO excited, it was one of the sweetest presents that I could have imagined it, and I didn't have a clue it was coming! Stay tuned for more pictures of our trip to Chicago. Brittany and I and the 4 girls are leaving bright and early. Please pray for us for safety, good weather, a fun trip, and for Nathan to be healthy while his mommy is away (he has been sick today).

mothers day..again

 

oh..and..Happy Mother's Day to me....I love my girls! I can't say enough about how special Paige and Peyton are, and how blessed I am to be their mother. I had dinner with them, and brought them home after I finished work tonight. Those two are not afraid to show others how they feel about them, and I am often on the receiving end of their demonstrations of love. It is the best feeling to walk into a restaurant, and have them jump up to greet me with a hug and a kiss and an "I missed you Mommy." They have stuck with me through some tought times, and been my biggest cheerleaders. We have the best time together. I can honestly say these two are a few of my best friends...I love you, baby girls!

A friend of James got a new camera, and wanted to try it out, so we met them at Kennekuk on Friday. It was a bit chilly, but we had fun and got some good shots. I shared a few of them in this slideshow.

Happy Mother's Day

This picture is reposted from my Grandmother's 90th birthday in December. I worked today, but I still felt very blessed as a mother and as a daughter, granddaughter, aunt, sister, friend, daughter-in-law..etc..There are many wonderful women in my life, whether they are single, married, mothers or not. I want to take a few moments on Mother's Day to say thanks to the many wonderful mother figures in my own life for all of my 33 years, plus those that have touched my life along the way, as well as the women who are such wonderful mother figures to my daughters! I am SO blessed, as there are entirely too many to count by name. It is truly a blessing to know that even when I feel like I am having a bad mother day (or week) there are plenty of people to pick up that slack and carry that burden for me! Thank you all!

the day in Springfield

 

 

 

 

Paige and Peyton and I accompanied James on his trip to visit his grandmother at her home in Springfield today. He goes twice a year to do jobs that she needs done inside and outside of her house. Grandma Snyder has a beautiful covered back deck, which the girls and I fell in love with, even when the rain came. The girls and I visited Lincoln's house and took part in the tour, and then we headed back to the house to hang out on the deck. Here are a few pictures of our late afternoon outside, despite the rain.

finally back online!

Yesterday was beautiful weather, so James had a great idea that we could go and check out the "wildlife" at our local state parks and let the girls take some pictures. The wildlife that was willing to sit for a picture was pretty limited (and that includes the girls), but we did have a great time, and a nice hike. Here a few of the pictures from the day.

I will probably try to add another web album from ice show pictures and Paige's play.