Life in Nebraska ....

   I used my thankful posts last summer for my soul, and it really pulled me through a deep funk.  And now I'm heading into another summer and the thankful is not a choice as much as it's truly there!  I'm so thankful!  Not to be redundant but it's amazing to realize and know again that I've got  life by the tail and I AM so THANKFUL!  Not that life is just perfect.  It's not.  But the imperfections of life are what help make it beautiful.     Anyhow, my thankful list today.     ~ After a morning of nice cool breezes and washing windows at my nieces new to them house, I am enjoying a big deep dark mug of coffee with just the perfect tinge of cream.  It feels so rich.    ~ This morning I woke up from a delightful deep sleep at 5:45 and was so amazed at sleeping!  Sleep is a wonderful thing when one can sleep!  Don't take it for granted.  I experienced several nights of sleeplessness lately a...

     Margins.   Life needs margins.   And this girl is working on them.   Making margins for time.   Taking Time.   Time for everything but then a margin to give you room for the unplanned.   Margins allow more room to breath.   To be able to enjoy what you're doing on the way there.   When I don't have margins I get to my destination out of breath, no calmness in my soul, and frustrated.   My husband notices.   My kids know.   But what about providing for getting to my destination with awareness?   Being able to see what's around me on the way?   Who knows.   Maybe my destination will change along the way?  So how does one plan and do life with margins practically?   THATS where I am learning!  First I think margins were meant for generosity.   Not for selfishness. My margin is ...

So many good things in my life. Eating Pizza and ignoring the storm outside. Three nieces of mine who are so kind to me!  I made some sort of amazing sauce for on top our grilled burgers the other night.  It was so GOOD.  These nights were made for rides on the plains. A very sad picture of a little memory garden I made on Mother's Day weekend.  It really is a beautiful little project.  Trying to hide my dryer vent!  It sort of works.  hmmph.  Look!  A raspberry patch!  So exciting!  Male Luna Moth. I'm a mother!   A little herb in my little garden.  It's an amazing evening out there!  Brad is hanging out with us this evening.   School is out!  Vacation !  

I wonder if I'll be ready to hit the book again in August?  We're only just limping to the finish line.  But we have put in lots of coffee and time on the deck and lots of learing discussions.  I'm a privileged mom.  Can't have my clean and calm house but I get quality time with these boys.   Besides that, learning a little beginning of trig and algebra won't hurt me right? 

He's the one who plays dumb with math facts just to tease me.  He's the one who won't eat anything in front of him unless it's a cookie.  He's the one who searches for turtles and snakes and other crazy items for pets.  He chases his big brother who is twice his size with his snakes.  He rubs the snakes in his hair!   This is the guy who does unbelievably dumb things with his  bikes and scooters and always lands on his feet.....smiling cocky at me.  He's amazing. And breath taking.  And I love him a great deal......and pray dear God give me wisdom and patience.  

A week ago we were still in celebtation/ vacation mode.  This day we are in reality.  And reality has truly hit.      Funny how fast life can change.  Today  holding a very sick baby girl.  She insists on being out in that dirty dusty Nebraska wind.  And she loves bathes and water.  Wind and water are too things I am to protect her ears from.  Well this week I failed.  Now I am begging God to heal that ear!   She is currently on topical antibiotics and  regular antibiotics.  It's seeping bloody discharge and she has a fever and her and I are both miserable.       So  I'm plodding about my day wishing my house was clean and  giving myself talks about happiness is a choice. And don't think negative. And remember you're tired Amy.   It's sort of working.     Tomorrow's lesson is about the believers relationships.  I've been blown away with...

     Matt and I have been married for 15 years!  We thought about doing something exotic in celebration of 15 years but in the end going somewhere sunny or off to a ski resort seemed too far fetched for our stage of life..  Just because everyone else gets to go to sunny spots, we're okay with a get away to the big town close to us instead.  Turns out we had a pretty special time anyhow.  Besides, a week away from our kids seemed long.        We've been in an intense ten years of baby stage and littles.  So it was especially weird for us to be ALONE and hours and hours to be.  To be just us.  No seat belts to buckle.  No screams to jerk me back to reality.  This getaway was a huge gift.    Feet up and just being.  No pressure.  It was amazing.   Still trying to get use to being together again.  Hee hee!  I think he was actually talking to one of the k...