AND SHE’S Back…

  A great and busy month with my sister and her family.  Followed with even LESS sleep as Talia (the 6month) came down with what they thought was the swine flu, or whatever it is they are calling it now.

9 days into the fever they changed that to a UTI – poor baby…

Next day, as her temp spikes at 103.8 under the arm, and she vomits and diahrrea’s for the umpteenth time that day out of her dipaer and clothers, I panic, take her in again.

This time they say, UTI and the swine flu.

but she is vastly improved today, as we finish up the 3rd day of antibiotics, so I am very encouraged and thrilled that my dear cousin-by-marriage is going to take the kids tomorrow afternoon so I can sleep with Talia.  Sleep.  blessed sleep.  elusive sleep… I’m off to try for some of that!

Here’s a few grace’s from my list that is still officially short, but unofficially very LONG

81. reorganized school / sun room and fresh vacuumed floor

83. scattered bits of fall color still clinging to bare branches

84. Nourishing Traditions book

85. two head, double shower and conversation with husband

86. showering next to my 2yr old – conversation a little different

89. birthday flowers still blooming two weeks 11 days later

90. one lone star peeking through cloudy skies

91. Cate. taking my kiddos for an afternoon so I can sleep

93. hot showers at 2am (luke warm for baby, followed by my hot one)

95. Shand sharing everything with the baby… including cherished chocolate chips

1000 gifts… more and more…

some of the list…

31. husband praying over me in bed before he leaves for work.

34. late evening walk in rain from the library with the 4 children

35. i-pod for worship

36. a nap with fussy baby

39. 2 yr old sharing baking spoon with dog… sweet even if gross

40. an email from a friend, having just read Peace Child, reminding me of my upbringing in New Guinea.

41. golden sunshine

44. let-down, nourishing goodness for baby

45. late night cuddles in bed with eldest

46. flowers from a friend’s garden

48. warm sun on bare skin while nursing

49. 2nd boy riding bike with no training wheels

50.  baby blowing raspberries

52. clean and rearranged bedroom space

53. smell of home made bread 54. 2 yr old sweet phrases “wa sa ma’er mom?”

55. late night sweet treats… hurrah for sweetened condensed milk!

56. buddy passes for the fair making it almost affordable

57. brothers teaming up tol help each other on the scary rides.

58. eldest miracle baby… tall enough for the big boy rides!!

1000 gifts of grace…

21. A washing machine inside our home

22. Shand (2yr) in swing, pure joy

23. making butter… and being thankful we can buy it at the store!

24. blackbeans and cumin

25. Bryan’s dad, helping to replace the motor on the boiler

26. husband suggesting a road trip to Hope for lunch. (yes, even though it is 1 1/2 drive there!)

27. in-laws tag along and take boys in their car. a relatively quiet 3 hours total of OUR time

28. amazing chicken / black bean / spanish rice wrap that I didn’t make

29. fierce wind buffeting kit, boys trying to control it, marveling…

30. dinner at the church… my clean kitchen!

Shand, hands on hips, unimpressed by the dead fish littering the beach. ( it’s  a salmon thing)

1000 gifts continued

11. Cinnamon rolls. even the nasty kind from Fred Meyers. I’m glad my family likes mine better… but glad we can buy them sometimes too.

12. fresh rain

13. my church family – Souljourn

14. children wanting to worship

15. Jesus desiring me

16. friends to get free advice from regarding our boiler.

17. fresh new baby fingers

18. patient husband

19. 20 minutes of sunshine to break the monotony

20. lying on the floor ‘wasting time’ with the boys

1000 gifts of grace…

1. sunshine again… the promise of the end of summer warmth… even in Anchorage

2. a vehicle to drive to a little lake with ducks… fresh air & comical birds

3. good friends just a phone call away although there are miles between us

4. GOD’S grace, abundant enough to cover my laziness and frustration and depression. abundant enough to turn it around.

5. a good book to escape with… nap time (A TREE GROW IN BROOKLYN)

6. Fresh Coffee

7. My VanGogh mugs

8. A daddy who is SO involved with his children – he took the boys to Supercharged Science all day last Saturday.

9. my 2 yr olds new display of manners- spontaneous thank-yous.

10. warm sunshine in the sun room… HAVING a sun room, whether it is picked up and clean or not!

July 4

Camping over the 4th… we stayed in the in-laws hauling trailer.  It worked out great.  we put up a net inside.  Although it was a little like sleeping in a tin can, not masking ANY of the noise from outside… the night of the 3rd, some other campers decided to start off some fireworks at midnight till after 1am.  Then they got in a big brawl and fight with much yelling “where’s the gun?” type stuff for a couple hours.  Then they set off more firesworks at 5am.  yippee!!

Fireworks. Shand thought they were too loud, but still liked them!

The boys went on the big  5 hour 4 wheeling trip.  They were VERY tired!! and dirty.  Its a beautiful thing.

S’mores…

Beautiful, tired, and dirty faces.

The night of the 4th we drove home instead of sleeping another night there.  getting home at 2am to my bed was better than a chaotic next morning alternative.

The next day? naps for all… even for the one who SWORE he wasn’t tired, and would just lay on the couch.  He was asleep before I could get back to him and insist he try to sleep on his bed!

Busy, of the fun kind, Summer!!

And a HEAT WAVE!!  its been between 70 and 80 degrees… I, Renee, am actually hot.  And I love it.  Thaddeus has ended up sleep walking to a cooler couch the last few nights… a little transient sleeper have we!  I’m thinking Talia is hot, and that is why she is so fussy… I can’t think of any other reason anyway.

Here are some pics of our fun. (Click to enlarge)

A little Scottish Highland Games.

The boys tried their hand at some of the events. Talia slept all day in our Moby Wrap with short breaks for feeds.  It was awesome.  Shand had a nap in the Ergo on Daddy’s back.  meanwhile, she lounged in the stroller I included pics here of her fingerpainting so you can see them close up… she is so cute and full of facial expressions that I rarely manage to catch!

We had our fill of shortbread and took some home to have with tea the next day.   We even got a baby sitter so Bryan and I (and Talia) could return by ourselves for the evening concert. (Old Blind Dogs from Scotland)

Shand has discovered finger painting… included in this activity is painting the fingers! (click on the above thumbnails for close-ups)

Here’s Talia smiling, and I’ll post July 4th pics in the next few days. maybe.

Time Management: Psalm 145

“Everyday I will bless You”

• Every. day. In the little things. In the big things. Not just when I have had enough sleep.  Not just when my children listen to me.

“One generation will praise Your name to another and will declare Your mighty acts”

• I, the mama, will praise Your name to my children, and I will tell them of the work You are doing in my heart, and in the tribal works we receive updates from, and in the testimonies we hear at church, and EAGERLY tell of God’s hand in my life in my past, and of Your fascinating character, and the riches of Your grace…

• I will spend time meditating and exuberantly singing of Your glorious splendor, and Your beauty, and Your marvelous works, and the memories of Your direction and Your mercy in my life, and Your holiness, and Your kingdom here and Your coming…

more giveaways

I don’t usually do these… but I guess I am hoping to get lucky!

Funky Artist Paint set

Jack and Lily sandals

Seventh Generation giveaway

Go visit and if I don’t win, maybe you will!

Check out the giveaway at Gobs of Giveaways

cool sight with some cool giveaways… if you have time to do all the stuff.  I thought I would for this one, since its a toy my little girls would love!

Gobs of Giveaways