Quick Montessori Activity

Here's a fun hand-eye coordination game for toddlers that I learned from the blog Chasing Cheerios. At two and a half, Kate is really too old for this; it would be better with one and a half to two year olds. Just clean out a honey bear, give the child some Q-tips, and let them practice slipping them into it. Kate really enjoyed this activity at first, but she could do it easily so it didn't hold her attention for long. She soon went to calling the bear a "bottle" for her baby! If you have a one year old at home, give this a try!

Counting

556. Painting piggies purple

557. best friend brothers in matching pjs

558. planning surprise birthday parties for best friends- Happy birthday, Sarah!

So Much Grace

I have been keeping a gratitude journal on my table for a few months now, scratching down a few things here and there, so not all of my 1000 things have been posted to this blog yet. I'm going to write them here now, pieces of my story since February.

#507-555 of the 1000 gifts list:




her wispy bangs


her button nose

her profile

counting little piggies

his spontaneous pre-dawn proclamation of love for me-"You're everything that's right about my life."

feeling healthy after a hard week

"One Thousand Gifts" by Anne Voskamp

Mother Theresa quotes

sliding toes into bedsheets

supermarket sushi

writer's group on Wednesday

Jacob's "Don't leave, don't leave" at bedtime

next door Yo-Ann

brothers wanting their turn to watch Kate at Monkey Joe's

finding a huge section of Dora books at Barnes and Noble with Kate

Kent Moore always willing to take the boys to play

read aloud book about the first Ferris wheel

our character studies and Bible memorization

Psalm 23- He is my Shepherd!

hot water for a nightly bath-what a luxury!

my washer and dryer

making pretty Valentines for friends

an available sitter on Valentine's Day

laughter at OddLot, improv group

music that the kids and I danced to and made us happy house cleaners! Joy!

a walk hand-in-hand with Kate on a beautiful spring day to the health food store

neighbors walking up to say "hi"

a freshly-painted white porch rail

friends to grieve with

that Vivan is in heaven with Jesus

that even when things don't seem to make sense, Peace is a Person and we can know Him

victory over death in Jesus

a ride to Jacksonville with Carla for Vivan's funeral

a friend's "I forgive you," easily spoken

another friend coming over just because she heard I was having a bad day...Sarah's a true friend

quiet time at home group

books that make us have to put them down and go explore nature right now! (Miracles on Maple Hill)

a nature walk with four healthy children- too much grace!

discovering tiny, tiny frogs in the pond- hundreds of them everywhere!

small group prayers for soon-to-deploy soldier- such courage!

Kate's "Read it again, Mommy!"

Ben hugs at lunchtime- a welcome interruption

to find Noah reading- reading!- a chapter book just because he wanted to

family laughter during game night- Apples to Apples

all of my boys obedient, truly. I can trust them.



Baker growing up and becoming such a mature, responsible, helpful, respectful, trustworthy, fun young man

forgiveness from children to parents who sometimes get overwhelmed

hardworking husband

Oh! My end-of-the-schoolyear flowers! Surprised by gratitude!

I *MADE* a beach robe!

Dana from MADE has inspired me again to sew... this time a very cute and extremely practical beach robe! This will make leaving the beach much easier. Instead of wrapping my toddler in a big towel that just falls off, I'll give her her very chic polka-dot beach robe to ride home in! I downloaded Dana's super tutorial and pattern for $8 and then hit Target for a cute beach towel...they were on sale for $4! Then I came home and grabbed all my double-fold bias tape remnants...you wouldn't believe this; they matched the towel! I totally lucked out. I just love it when everything comes together! So, here's what I started with:

And here's the finished product! How awesome, right! It took me about three hours, but I was doing other things throughout the the afternoon, so I could make these quicker.

I love the little belt that wraps around the middle, the folded-up sleeves, the hood- everything! And it was so easy. I am proud to say that this is the first time I made sleeves and attached them the correct way the first time! Woohoo, progress!

I also loved using five different colors of bias tape for the trim. So cute! Alright, Kate, thanks for being my model again, you are precious!

I will definitely be using this pattern again and again.

506

506. moments that stop time- today I lay next to Kate in her bed and looked into her face, inches from mine, and in an instant she was me, and I was my mother, and I remember loving her and feeling so loved and being the child and thinking I would always be young. Will there be a place outside of linear time where I can experience all of His gifts at once? How could I bear that much joy?

Sweet Spring

Life is sweet... #501-505

~buckets and sand
~the urge to explore
~jumping waves
~neighborhood merry-go-rounds
~my favorite skirt, my favorite shoes, and a swing on a beautiful spring day

Eyes to see

489. This sunset over the airfield Tuesday night.

490. That I live here, around boats and bridges and water

491. swings
492. brothers willing to push little sister
493. her little girl squeals and laughter

494. hands on her shoulders
495. a warm day in winter
496. that bright blue sky

497. his love of reading
498. books

499. one to give her confidence at the top

500. one to catch her on the way down

Lord, I am so grateful for this world you've created, this life you've given me, and my eyes to see the countless ways You love me.