5 minute friday: Exhale

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Exhale

Start:

   The rooms all got painted that needed to get painted, and the furniture got moved with only minor bumps and scratches.  It was definitely a race to the finish and there is still so much to do, but not right now. Right now in the lavender nursery surrounded by boxes but sitting in the glider just as I had envisioned I'm rocking my baby down to sleep and exhaling. Because however much more work there is to do both here and at the old place; evening has fallen and we're in, and it is time to rest in our new home.

Stop.

please head over to Lisa Jo's for more 5 minute friday

Small Successes ~ August 11th

1. I have for some time wanted to more organized and routine about praying, admired and been impressed by those who on a regular basis pray the Divine Office. I have asked for tips from my husband and others on how to start, read posts about it, and priced books and apps...
And then decided that is the deep end and I need to ease in ~ and so thanks to the Divine Office Prayer app ~ am this week praying a morning and evening prayer.

2. Having gotten tips from Parenting with Grace (thoughts and reflections about someday) have been consistently saying grace with Lisbeth before meals and bedtime for about a month now.

3. Over half-way through the devotional I'm to review

Thankful This Thursday for:
healthy kids
cool breezes, and a/c when its too hot
the chance to pick peaches with friends
peach cobbler
a cook-out with friends
a husband to A-frame with

a Lord who loves and guides me



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Small Successes: June 30th

1. Weeded a good portion of the side yard path.
2. New blinds are bought and hung
3. Am consistently reading in the afternoon when nap time allows

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:

a little girl who did not cry at her swim lesson

playground laughter

popsicles shared

baby laughter and snuggles

favorite old TV series rediscovered

sunny afternoons spent reading

Grace renewed and love everlasting

Small Successes: June 9th

1. Garden planted, having successfully grown tomatoes in a pot last
year have advanced to plants in the ground.

2. Project Family Dinner going well, for nearly a week now ~ have been sitting at the kitchen table for dinner together and beginning to introduce the concept of saying grace.

3. Meal planned this week with happy low-stress results

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:
time together as a family
farm fresh produce
a cool place to beat the heat
watching a baby learn to wave and creep
watching a toddler learn about God and gratitude
date nights (even at home)
God's love which strengthen and sustains.

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate the small successes in all our lives.

Small Successes: May 19th

1. Cut the grass

2. Managed back to back long road trips to VA and MA to celebrate with family as a niece and nephew received their First Communion

3. Pulled together mini-family party for husband's birthday

Bonus: Got older myself!

Thankful this Thursday:
Safe travels
Little ones who managed long car seat time with minimal fuss
Hard working husband
Watching the next generation come to the table of the Lord
Birthday wishes from across the country
Grace renewed and love everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate the Small Successes of our lives.

Small successes:April 7th

1. Children's clothes for Easter/Confirmation/Communions bought
2. 2 of 3 Student recommendations due written and sent
3. Carload of recycling taken to recycle center

Bonus: Shout-out to the little boy of the house who is sitting independently!

Thankful this Thursday:

Young friends making their Confirmation

My snuggly happy munchkins

A roof that DIDN'T leak during the last thunderstorm

Tulips in the yard

A loving husband to A-frame with

God's everlasting and ever-new love and forgiveness

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share in the celebration of small successes

Small successes:March 24th ~ new room

1. Room prepped and painted
2. Bed assembled and bedding (take 2) bought and washed
3. Lisbeth sleeping in new room since the weekend!

Giving Thanks this Thursday:

for my cheerful painting helper

for time to celebrate the little moments and milestones

snuggling in bed with my nursing buddy

daffodils in the garden

a loving husband

hope renewed each morning

a Father's forgiveness

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate the small successes in all our lives.

Small successes:March 10th

1. Toddler bed and mattress purchased
2. Pre-Cana workshop presented to twelve couples
3. 3 yr & 6 month professional photo-shoot done

Giving thanks this Thursday for:

the growing, loving little girl in my house

a baby boy, learning and laughing more & more

new skylight domes

crocuses in the garden

visits from family

a loving husband to share the laughs of life with

God's everlasting love and forgiveness

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share and read of other successes

Small successes:February 23rd

1. Former storage room 80% cleared in preparation of becoming Toddlers new room.
2. Presents for this weekends birthdays bought
3. Master bedroom's carpet 50% steam cleaned

Giving Thanks this Thursday:

for baby laughter

toddlers pretend adventures

home cook dinners cook by my husband

white snow on a sunny day

good friends to laugh and haul boxes with

grace abundant and love everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share of your successes

Small successes:February 3rd

1. Laundry caught up (again).

2. 300 posts!!

3. Agreed to play in the snow (almost) every time asked

Thankful this Thursday

Never lost power

My kids

My husband

Sunshine after the clouds

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your successes

Small Successes: January 20th

1. According to his weigh-in at the 4 month appointment, Liam has more than doubled his birth weight. Yay Mommy Milk!
2. Two trips to the recycling center this week in place of the cancelled pick-ups due to weather.
3. Old food cleared out of the refrigerator, next step wash the shelves
4. Bonus Liam-style: He rolled over!

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your successes!

Giving thanks this Thursday for:

healthy children

good books

a husband that cooks

snow in the pines

down comforters

God's promise of hope and love everlasting

Small Successes: January 6th

1. In addition to a lovely week spent with family; managed a long overdue visit with good friends.
2. Met my blog post goal for 2010!
3. Post-vacation laundry done and started in on washing new clothes received.

Giving Thanks This Thursday for:

my daughter's laughter and hugs

my baby's big smiles

hope renewed each day

a warm home

my husband's strength

that I am loved and forgiven

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your successes ~ small and otherwise

Small Successes: December 16th

1. Christmas cards sent!
2. Did not panic this week when the hot water heater died and needed to be replaced, I just did it ~ and gave thanks for the resources
3. Caught up on the laundry.
4. Shout-out for my toddler ~ She peeled (de-shelled) an egg all by herself!!

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:

• a warm place to come in from the cold
• baby laughs
• an imaginative toddler who takes me along on her adventures
• a hard-working loving partner
• hope renewed and love everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share your successes; small and otherwise.

Small Successes: December 9th

1. Holiday photo shoot done, with a couple of good shots (I hope).
2. Christmas cards bound for overseas mailed and the rest working their way out
3. Advent wreath out ~ Advent calendar started

Giving thanks this Thursday for:

the new day

a little girl in her princess dress

a little boy who smiles at me more everyday

a husband to lean on and laugh with

coffee and scones on the tough days

Mary who said Yes, and teaches me to

that I am forever loved and forgiven if I but seek

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your successes small and otherwise.

Small Successes: November 18th

1. Everyone who needed a haircut was able to get one.
2. Laundry largely caught up on, including washing some 3 month sized sleepers for my growing little boy.
3. Bathrooms cleaned!

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:

lovely autumn days

sweet conversations held with my favorite toddler

watching my children smile and laugh together

My Children!!

my hardworking husband

Our loving and forgiving Savior

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate your successes big and small.

Small Successes: October 28th

1. Managed to get us all to Virginia and back ~ carseat not his favorite place (yet) but overall a good trip and really wonderful to introduce Liam to some of his aunts.
2. Maternity clothes either put away or given away
3. Found a little brother onesie in newborn size (photo shoot in the works).

Bonus: This post!!

Giving Thanks This Thursday for:

newborn smiles

raking with toddlers

colors of creation

A-framing husbands

ice coffee

bloggers who share their wit and wisdom

God's love everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family Live and share your successes.

Small Successes: October 14th

1. Many thank you notes sent, with hopefully more going out today
2. Both kids have Halloween costumes
3. Gaining mastery with the side-lying position, a great blessing in the early morning hours

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate your own small successes!

Thankful this Thursday for:

• Growing baby
• A happy, talkative toddler
• Sleep, wherever it shows up
• Supportive friends
• A hardworking, loving husband
• Grace abundant and Love everlasting

Small Successes: New Baby Style

1. Both kids have been bathed this week!
2. Thank notes have been purchased.
3. Jaundice level down, bili-blanket returned

Giving Thanks this Thursday for:

a healthy growing baby boy

a happy big sister full of sweetness

help and support from dear friends

hands-on grandmothers

loving husband who keeps me smiling

Grace abundant and Love everlasting!!

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate your own successes, small and otherwise!

Small Successes: September 2nd

1. Created and uploaded online album of our August vacation pictures so that friends and family can enjoy.
2. Reorganized and purged the freezer to make room for the frozen blessings sent to us from family.
3. Am getting better at accepting offers of help and letting someone else chase the toddler.

Giving Thanks this Thursday:

the baby appears healthy enough to stay put till due date (if he/she wants)

the abundance of good thoughts and prayers being offered by friends and family

wonderful hugs and smiles offered by my favorite toddler

the calm and strong reassurance of my husband

yummy food made and shared by friends and family

God's ever present and inexhaustible love and grace.

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share your successes; small or otherwise

Small Successes: August vacation edition

1. Left for vacation and only forgot minor things!
2. Safely made it to our destination with a sleepy but content child and non-frazzled parents
3. Am listening to my husband and letting others do the heavy lifting (most of the time).

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate and share your own successes!

So thankful this Thursday for:

safe travels

chance to visit with friends and family

ocean breezes

ice cream

fresh seafood

cousins playing together

familiar rhythms of Mass

grace abundant and love everlasting