easter 2012

This weekend we are grateful for:

1. cousins
2. cards
3. eggs
4. hunts
5. turkey dinner
6. flowers
7. sunshine
8. family
9. chocolate
10. smiles

Most of all we are grateful for Christ. 

Happy Easter!

searching for spring

In the hopes that spring will come, and stay for awhile, I have been on the hunt for dresses. This hard to find when you are also searching for accompanying modesty. With the help of a friend and some time searching the internet, I did find some online shops and I thought I'd share.

1. Mikarose

2. Downeast Basics

3. Jen Clothing

4. Diviine Modestee

I received this in the mail on Tuesday. They had this dress at Mikarose, which is where I was originally planning on buying it from, but I waited too long ( I was nervous that I wouldn't order the right size, or that it wouldn't be as nice in person) and it sold out. Luckily I found the same one at Jen Clothing. I crossed my fingers and placed my order. 

I am happy to tell you that it is pretty and perfect in every way. My {sweet little} girls think I look like a princess! 

This one I ordered just yesterday. I am hoping my luck continues and that I will love it every bit as much as the first one. 

I also thought I would sew myself a spring skirt. After much tweaking I think it is going to turn out nicely. I am almost done, and I cannot wait to wear it. 

I love jeans and flip-flops just as much as the next person, but I am so glad that I get to be a girl and wear pretty dresses. 

My boys, big and small, tell us girls that we can have it. Every Sunday they are glad it is not them that have to sport a skirt.

This website, Eshakti, I have not ordered from yet, but as you place your order, you put in your measurements, height and all. 

You pick your sleeve and the length of your hem. The dress is then custom sewn for you! 

This dress with a little cap sleeve and the hem just below the knee is calling my name. 

Happy spring!

an Isle in the pacific

A couple of Saturdays ago Darren packed up the 4 older kids and took off on an adventure for the day. I was able to stay home with Nya and get some work done that I had to do. When they got home, around 7 pm, I could tell that everyone had had the best day ever. They were full of smiles and stories, and tired right out. As Darren showed me the pictures he took I couldn't help but think, "I can't believe that I get to live here, and that I get to live here with these people!" I am grateful for a husband who gave me this day. I am grateful for the vision of my children through the lens of someone else. I am grateful for the gratitude I feel, the gratitude that I sometimes lose sight of in this life of homeschooling, where children are ever present and I am always on duty. I would not change my life for anything, but for today I am grateful to have opportunities to miss them, and they me. And I am ever grateful when we gather at the end of the day, ready to once again, be present and on.

Tate took several breaks along the way back. He was told that he could bring home whatever he could carry. He FILLED his pack. 

Darren said that he didn't complain once or ask anyone else to carry it for him. 

I weighed that pack. It was 22 pounds - almost 1/2 his body weight. He marched slowly along for a couple of kilometers back to the van. What a guy!

The boys were so excited to show me all the treasures they found, and proceeded to put them up on their dressers. We kept them there for a few days even though the upstairs of our home was soon smelling of the beach, and not in a good way.