lasts

These are hard days but not for the reasons I expected.
My heart is feeling the full measure of so many lasts...

to behold the beauty of the Lord

The beauty of the Lord comes in all forms.
Yesterday it came in the form of this...


from a family that is growing in dear-ness...actually from the kids. There are 6 kids - 7 and under. They heard our garage sale was a bust and so they raided their piggy banks to contribute $12.56 to our trampoline fund.

Absolutely beautiful!

true north

I was the catcher so I couldn't be in the picture.

Read this on another blog and love how it encourages my heart toward my current true north...intentionality with my children.

Enjoy...

Here is a list of Seven Gifts Which Do Not Cost a Cent:

1. The gift of listening - But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response ... just listen.

2. The gift of affection - with appropriate hugs, kisses, snuggling, pats on the back and handholding. These small actions demonstrate love in a powerful way.

3. The gift of laughter - share amusing stories, humorous cartoons, jokes, etc. Laughter establishes a bond between people.

4. The gift of a handwritten note - kind words change lives and last a lifetime.

5. The gift of a compliment - a simple, kind and sincere remark can change how a person feels about him/herself.

6. The gift of a favor - the simplest things like getting a glass of juice for your child or putting away hubby's shoes for him may not seem like much but demonstrate kindness to others in a big way.

7. The gift of a cheerful disposition - the easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. look him/her in the eye and speak kindly, from the heart with sincerity. {Proverbs 15:13 A Happy heart makes the face cheerful.}

better indeed

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."
- Cyril Connolly