A Lovely Day

Today, is one of those days. The weather is lovely, the temperature is just right for opening the windows and airing out the house. There is a cool breeze that blows through my house. I have lots of windows on all sides. We planned it that way when we built because I knew the breeze would be wonderful on a day like today.

My dear husband is out playing in a charity golf tournament for the first part of the day and then playing volleyball this afternoon. My day is a little less athletic but equally pleasing to me. I plan to just enjoy my family today.

Tie on my favorite apron, put a load in the wash, bake some cookies with my precious Grace. This afternoon, I'm hoping to work some on a quilt I am quilting for my daughter (I will show it when it's done). The roses need trimming, the romaine lettuce is ready for harvesting, and weeds need pulling from the garden.

Marinating pork chops for the grill this evening and a fresh salad straight from my garden. Sounds tasty!!

My idea of a perfect day!!

Be blessed my friends!

~Brandi

Finding Joy in a Normal Day...

Can you find it in your day?? Sometimes, it is something so simple, others would not bother to notice. I have many simple pleasures that bring me so much joy.

That first cup of morning coffee. It has to be good coffee and in my favorite mug.

My favorite girlie apron. I love wearing an apron as I go about my day around the home.

A tidy comfortable home.

A few quiet moments on my front porch. Ceiling fans running, glass of iced tea, and my Bible. This is one of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy the day. Spending time with God in the Word and in prayer. Absolute fulfillment!

Clean sheets that smell of sunshine. I use a dryer but I sometimes take them out just before they are completely dry, and hang them on the porch.

Laughter of my children. Especially, if I am the source of their laughter. I don't mind getting silly!

Witnessing my son finally "get it" in his school work. Sometimes he has to really practice to gain understanding of something. Like spelling, but when he "gets it" he is so proud. His confidence is boosted and it is an amazing moment for a home schooling mom.

Waking up to my sweet precious three year old alarm clock. She usually climbs up and over me to snuggle in between her daddy and I. Then proceeds to say the funniest things. This morning it was "come to papa." I don't know where she gets her sayings but they are sometimes hilarious.

Do you take the time to savor the day? Maybe it's just a moment? Maybe it is just waking up to each new day. Do try to find the silver lining in this life?

Because..

This is your life!

He is Risen!!!

Even during all the fun activities...

Let us not forget WHO and WHAT we celebrate.He went to the cross at Calvary.

His blood He shed for me.

By His blood we are Forgiven.

The King of Kings!
We love You Savior.

Bunny face cupcakes
for Gracie bug's Easter party ;)

Mothers of Daughters

I pose a question to the mother's of daughters. Do we as mothers, encourage our daughters to become mothers and keepers of the home? Do you make it a regular topic in your home? That it is a good thing to want to be a mother, wife, and keeper of the home. Will she grow up knowing that there is a distinct biblical role for the life of a woman and a man?

Have our own gender roles been blurred by years of feminist brainwashing? Speaking from the heart of a woman that refused to take her husband's name on their wedding day(sad, I know), I can now see how brainwashed I used to be. I'm afraid this generation (not all) are so far removed from the Creator's design for the natural order of things.

It starts early in life. When children are asked, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" Is a little girl given the freedom to say "a mommy." Or will she be corrected, "No honey, besides that, what do you want to BE?" Because by societies standards, to be a good wife and mother, is simply not an achievement.

As a girl, nearing the end of her high school education, she will be pushed to go straight into four more years of university education. After all, she must obtain a career or be deemed unsuccessful (by the world's standards). If she is a product of government schooling, she will hear it, all her school age years (I did). I wish someone would have told me earlier in life, that God created a woman to be a helpmate to her husband. This really would have saved me many years of floundering through college, jobs, and pretty much life in general. If only I had seen the BIG picture more clearly.

Having lived through those years, I am now able to appreciate these years with so much gratitude for life. I am quick to play dolls and mommy with my daughter. I make sure to slip in references to when she is a mommy someday. I want her to know early, that being a good wife and mother, is the greatest life fulfillment for a woman.

I have so many thoughts in regards to the pitfall of the feminist movement. I think most of the fall of society and the disconnect of family can be traced back to the root of a feminist lie. To be continued...

my day

The happenings in a day! We lost one of the kittens last week, and I'm afraid the other is soon to follow. I'm not sure what happened. The first one always seemed a little not healthy. No matter how much, I fed him. He just didn't seem to progress, but kitty 2 was doing good. He was strong until just this morning. I carried him in his box outside beside my garden. I sat down and fed him his bottle of kitten milk. Then, I let him down to crawl around for a few minutes while I planted some seeds. Gracie, came over and was petting him. He hung onto her pant let and then rolled off. Next thing I know he was on his back twitching, and I think at one point he stopped breathing. I scooped him up and put him back in the box. Now, he can't hold his head up right. It's so sad and I don't know what to do for him.

I think this may be why as a child, I never let myself attach to pets because it's so sad to lose them. I have held back from naming the kittens just in case this happened. Animals taken from their mother much too early have such a low survival rate (I think). That's what I tell my children anyway. I tell them the kittens needed their cat mom to look after them and without her, we can only do our best for them.

For now we wait, to see what the morning brings for the little guy.

"here mommy these for you"

My sweet girl!
She never forgets me.

always a new bouquet

In the summer,
I get beautiful Zinnias and Snap Dragons,
fresh from my flower garden.Today the most beautiful bunch yet,
weeds with the roots and all.


Her heart is precious!
Cherish her, I do.

(can you see her green mouth and teeth? she found where I hid her Valentine fun dip candy ;).
she's my girl!

to mom

The kindness in his heart.

His love for me.

Sometimes.....I ask myself, am I getting it right?

Do I give them all that they need?

Will they grow up to care about others?

Does my light shine bright enough to light up their lives.

Do I tell them enough, how much Jesus loves them?
Oh, how I pray that I do.
I pray I'm getting this one thing right.

Today, I didn't feel well. So after lessons, I went to put my head down for a few minutes.
You know that awake but with eyes closed. Listening in, just in case but trying to rest too.

I could hear the papers rustling, cutting, and whispering.
I knew they were up to making something.
Being so good and quiet so mommy could rest a few minutes.
I always get extra hugs if I'm not feeling so good.=)

I could hear the swishing of footsteps, and something placed by my head.

My sweet sweet boy!I love Garrett.

Love, mom


p.s. acts of kindness, like this, let me know, I'm getting it right.