Spring has Sprung!

Not much time for words today.  Thought I'd post a few pictures from around the ol' farmstead.  Roosters are crowing and the hens are laying eggs once again.  The Munchkin is enjoying working on her artwork on the sidewalk instead of being cooped up inside.  The barn cats are enjoying the warm weather we've finally been blessed with and flowers are starting to bloom all over the place. 

Ah, springtime on the farm.  How sweet it is!

Spinning Plates

It's a crazy, "spinning plates in the air" kinda week around here.  It's that time of year when everything seems to happen all at once (kinda like the December/Christmas rush) .  We've got oodles of Easter activities, choir practice and concert, and 4H events.  Add to that, home improvement projects and the Geek's heavy workload and there's hardly a moment's rest to be found. 

As crazy as it is, I kinda like it though.  It makes the days go by fast and when you are chasing a nearly two year old around from dawn 'til dusk ... sometimes it's nice that bedtime gets here so quickly.  I know I'll miss these days when they are past so I am doing my best to just hang on tight and enjoy the wild and crazy ride.

This photo isn't the greatest --- trying to get three chicklets looking at the camera at the same time is a nearly impossible task.  At least you can see them in their Easter "finery".  I had grandiose plans to sew The Munchkin a new dress and make Boy Wonder and the Little Prince matching ties, but alas that didn't come to fruition.  I didn't even get them new outfits, much to their dismay.  Boy Wonder and the Little Prince seem to grow up a size every month and The Munchkin had a perfectly good dress, hat and gloves ... I really couldn't see the point in buying something right now. 

Despite the clothing hitch, we had a wonderful Easter.  We were able to share the day with my brother-in-law who swears he loves being around all of our craziness.  We certainly love sharing our lives with him.  It's still so weird not to have my sister here.  It's especially hard as we "hit" all of these "firsts" without her.  I mean I knew I would miss her, but I never realized how physically painful my grief would be.

Well, I hope y'all had a Blessed Easter! I'll try to check back in again this week, but no promises ... it's a pretty jam packed one!

Heap O' Livin'

Not much of what I would consider "blog worthy" stuff has been going on this week.  Just the day to day minutia of life on the funny farm.  Little Prince getting into anything and everything.  The Munchkin has been being her usual Drama Queen self and Boy Wonder just keeps growing like a weed (he's taller than me already!)  The Geek is home from his business trip.  I'd say it's great to have him back (and it is), but he's working so many gosh darn long hours we don't see him nearly as much as we'd like. But hey, in this economy, far be it from me to complain about gainful employment!

I don't seem to have enough hours in the day to accomplish what I'd like, but I give it my best.  I've got so many little projects I'm itching to get started on, but I am somewhat afraid to.  With the Geek out of the house, I am the only set of eyes on the littlest chick right now.  As I said in my last post, my little guy is really keeping me on my toes.  I took my eyes off him for a second yesterday and somehow the little stinker got ahold of one of The Munchkin's magic markers and drew all over an antique rocking chair.  Fortunately I was able to got it all off, but that tyke is making my hair turn grey! 

One of my favorite poems is by Edgar A. Guest.  It's called "Home" and basically it's about what it takes to make a house a home ... living in it. "A heap o' livin' " according to Mr. Guest.  Well it just so happens that is exactly what's been going on around here lately.  A whole heap o' livin' ... then some.

The Good Stuff

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things

Robert Brault



How can you not smile when you take a look at this face?  He is a whirling dervish and keeps me on my toes, but he is one of the biggest blessings in my life.  He reminds me daily to take time out to enjoy the little things.  It would be so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, but he makes me focus on the good stuff ...the stuff that really matters... the everyday moments where joy is found.

Why?

Why? why? why?

As a mama I can't even begin to tell you how many times I get asked that question.  Sometimes I have an answer and the little one is satisfied  Sometimes I don't have an answer and I have to say I just don't know.  That one is sometimes met with resistance, but is usually (if not reluctantly) accepted as well.  It's the times I choose not to give them an explanation or (heaven forbid) give the dreaded "Because I said so" that are the hardest for my chicklets to accept.  They cry, they fuss, they WANT AN ANSWER and they want it THEIR WAY!

Lots of things have been going on in my life lately and I find myself acting like my wee ones.  I ask God, "Why?" and He isn't giving me the response I want.  I cry, I fuss, I WANT AN ANSWER and I want it MY WAY! 

Why did one friend have to bury her young son today?  Why is another friend dying of cancer?  Why is there so much pain in peoples lives? Why? Why?Why?

A very good friend reminded me today of a Bible verse she often turns to in times like this.
 

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.
"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." 
Isaiah 55:8

New Living Translation (©2007)

As humans we want answers.  We want to know "why" so we can do something about a situation.  But the reality is that just like our children have to accept our answers, we have to accept God's.  And for me right now, that's proving to be a really tough thing to do.

Did you ever ...

... run with scissors?

... have dessert first?

... act your shoe size and not your age?

... color outside the lines?

I did it all this morning.

The Geek is off on a business trip and I'm going it alone this week.  In the past, I have really stressed out before he leaves.  But this time it's different.  This time I am looking at it as an adventure ... a chance for my little chickies to see that their mama may have her faults, but she has her moments too.

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

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