The Slide

We are spending as much time as possible outside now that spring is here and the weather is nice!  Annie and I had a great time at the park today.

Mother's Day was last weekend and I am so blessed to be the mother of this precious child! She is a pure delight! She has been letting me french braid her hair lately.  That was something I always dreamed about..... having a little girl who would let me  put braids in her hair!! Happy Mother's Day to me!! I love you, Annie.

I was looking back thru some pictures from last fall and I found 3 that made me laugh. The pictures are of a SLIDE. They are all the same slide - it just looks different depending on who is coming down.   My husband had a hard time getting out of the slide once he was at the bottom. Annie loved how fast it was and she even has her little tongue out as she came flying down and then there is my mother...

Life is somewhat like this slide.  We go thru things in life and how we come out in the end is up to us.  The choices we make - the attitude we have - if we do things in our own strength or seek God's guidance. Sometimes I find myself STUCK. I want to follow Christ more earnestly and seek Him and enjoy the ride! (I also went down this slide but fortunately no one was there to take my picture. Maybe next time...)

Annie's Jesus

Annie drew this picture the other day. 

It is a picture of Jesus.

She said that she drew it because she wanted to know what Jesus looks like. 

He has big ears so he can hear our prayers and big arms so he can hug us. She had me draw a heart because she knows Jesus has a heart and I personally like his beard that consists of 1 hair.

I am so thankful that my little girl likes to talk about Jesus and learn more about him. 

May her heart always be turned toward HIM!

I will treasure this picture forever.

A few days ago, Annie decided that she wanted to collect something. I asked her if she knew what she wanted to collect and she said that she was deciding between 2 things.... batteries and dryer sheets.  (that's my girl!!)

I feel like we are an average family when it comes to battery use.  We don't have an over-load of toys that need batteries but while I was changing out a few she asked me what I was going to do with the old ones.  I said that I was going to get rid of them because they no longer worked.  She asked me if she could keep them and I hesitated but then said "sure".  That night I went into her room to check on her and tucked sweetly into her little hand was a AA battery. She told me the next morning that she wanted to sleep with it so it would not be lonely.  She is so sweet!

I'm not sure why she wants to collect dryers sheets.  I know she likes to smell them and she likes to walk around with one on top of her head or use one as a blankie to cover her doll or the cat.

I would not have ever picked to collect those items.  When I was growing up i had a small collection of stuffed animal penguins. I also like to pick up cool rocks and I still have rocks tucked into drawers and on my book shelf in my room.  I am so thankful that God has made us all unique. We have different thoughts and desires.  Different things that make us happy and excited.

I love my sweet little girl and I can't wait to see where this summer will lead us.  I am sure it will be full of adventures and it will lead to another collection of something very precious to a 3 1/2 year old.

Birthday cards

I don't know about you but I have always loved birthday cards and Christmas cards and "just because" cards.
I love the thoughtful touch it shows.
I love the way it can brighten someones day.
I wish I was better at giving / sending cards to people!

My husband had a birthday 2 days ago and I did not give him a card.
I thought about it - does that count?
Do you want to know why I didn't give him one?

I think he knows how much I love cards - but they are not important to him. He very rarely gives me one.
Sometimes he buys me a card and then forgets to give it to me.... isn't that a little weird?  I was cleaning a few weeks ago and I found an anniversary card that was still blank inside. He obviously purchased it a few years ago and I think I am going to sign it and give it to him next week when we celebrate our anniversary.  I don't think he will notice the crumpled corner on the envelope or the small stain on the bottom right side of the card.
I wonder if he will even open it?
Last September I gave him a card for Sweetest Day and he never opened it - so a few days later I threw it away.

God makes us all different.  I am glad for that.  I don't wish to change his ways - I just hope he is saving all of his "card" money to buy me a really nice birthday present. Presents are much more fun than cards.
Oh boy, I am just kidding.

But, seriously - I do want to be better at giving cards.  That is my goal - another way I can show God's love and share some joy with others.