Bits: Simple Joys

Our few days back home have had their inevitable bumps.  I mean, we haven't been in our own quarters-- specifically in our own beds-- in about six weeks.  There have been some tears and yet some fantastic laughs.  We'll get that groove thing back as the week goes on and outweigh the laughs to tears ratio, I'm certain of it. 

In true bits fashion, our handful of hours back home are still a reminder of the pleasure in simple joys. Any day that gets to be ordinary is actually something pretty extraordinary.  Sometimes it takes not having things before you realize just how much they mean.

Weighing in and tipping that ratio scale:

:: Another Easter photo or two.  The dresses, the bows, the shoes... ahh, the sisters. My family.


:: Dandelions in the rain.  Ooh and hats.


:: Due to this unpredictable weather, our flowers went almost as quickly as they came.  But, they came up!  Hopefully we'll see them again next year.


:: Really.  Probably the cutest exercise partners in the world.


I see your game face, Maddie Girl.

:: Library books and windy sunshine.


 :: Why not?


:: Never underestimating what some loud jams and watercolors can do for a case of the ho-hums. I hope my girls learn to take out their frustrations on things productive, like being creative.


:: Showing off broccoli muscles... and a fistful of fettuccine.


:: This little girl who reminds me of other little girls who have all gone through their fascinating, "Wash hans!  Bwush teef!" stage.


:: Packing a picnic for the big stroller ride to the church park.  Or, "THE CHURCH PARK!!!" if you happen to be one of my kids.


:: Serious, or not so serious, snacktime conversations.


And adorable pot bellies.


Groove Thing, I feel a comeback. 
~Katrina

Easter Break Magic

With an emphasis mostly on that fine little word: break.

Like we finished our last vaccination, hit up some frozen yogurt to celebrate, and made it to Nana and Pop Pop's in record time.  Even with the seven thousand rounds of "Wheels on a Bus" it took to get there.  Which, actually, turns out to be a lot of fun with our wildcard song contributor Alysse Maribeth. She one-uped us by using her turn to finally put something other than a baby on the bus.  For the record "Pinkerbell" goes "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!" and gets loads of applause afterwards.
*****

::I love this Sunday a lot. Truly.

  :: No lie, we veged a lot. :: Rounded out by playing outside a lot.


:: We have proven a lot of things to ourselves in the last few weeks. Among them is the important fact that encore egg hunts are pretty much as fun as the ones done on actual Easter Sunday.  I also caught a lot of shows, tea parties, and stuffed animal playdates while I recovered from being sick.  Not that it needed any proving, but it sure was nice to have easy access to my Mama during one of the rare times I am out for the count.

  :: We found a lot of flowers. My Mom used to call me Buttercup, so this field next to the barn pretty much begged for photos of our little buds. :: We ate a lot of good food. Alysse's favorite somewhere between fruity popsicles and her request of "lotion" (aka whipped cream) on her morning waffles or pancakes.   

:: One thing we didn't do a lot of was visiting around. Instead of our usual here-to-there, this trip showed us we needed to rest and get ourselves strong. That meant we layed low and spent most all of our time with uncles who gladly take over bedtime stories, aunts who help make fantastic picture collages, pop pops who play waitress or wedding, and nanas who splurge for a fabulous cake and a last pitcher of homemade lemonade on our last night in town. "Prince Caspian" and frequently doled out bananas and clementines were our companions for the return trip to someone we missed a whole lot. We got into town, scooped him up, and headed for some late night burritoes. As a happy accident on the way back we caught a surprise fireworks display which I think the girls are convinced their Daddy arranged for our homecoming. It was pretty awesome, reunited and sitting on the side of the road while huge bursts of light and color filled the sky. Alysse must have agreed because we all heard her whisper from the backseat, "That's magic." For the record, that too gets loads of applause.

Besides, I think she's on to something.

Looking forward to the every day magic of being home again.

~Katrina

Standing

There have been times in my life when I've been called to fight, to literally pray my head off and then hold it high. To keep myself looking up while I intercede on someone's behalf, while I refuse to give up until I have reached the finish line of a particular battle. These are times I have things to say, purposes to accomplish, trials that require certain efforts to be made, divine appointments to attend.

Then there are times like these:
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." ~Exodus 14:14

In the last bizarre weeks of bat bites, living with different friends, allergic reactions, and a stomach bug as the icing on the cake-- I have been sometimes at my wit's end with questions like... What am I doing wrong? What can I do to stop these, no doubt, spiritual attacks? {We are all doing MUCH better!}

The answer is my own exodus from such guilt ridden thoughts: Be still. Stand.

Though tonight does not mark the intended end of my blogging break, I am choosing to pound out my thoughts because it is the week before Easter. And all glory is to my Savior for giving me my assignment to stand when I finally came to the end of myself and my efforts. After all, this is what Jesus did for you and me when He gave His life on the cross.

He prayed, prayed so hard in fact that He sweated drops of blood as He considered the cross. His best friends deserted, betrayed, and denied Him. He was tortured, physically and spiritually. Worst of all, He was separated from His Heavenly Father while He took on every evil thing the world could dream up.

He could have prayed for angels at any moment to rescue Him from this bizarre nightmare. He could have lashed out, risen up His own army, fought with sword and with voice-- fought with nothing but a single command-- until all His enemies bowed at His feet. But God had not called Him to this. His Father instead asked that He obey and stand until He cried out, "It is finished." (John 19:30).

What a comfort to know that the risen Lord of Easter Sunday sees to my heart and gets-- really gets-- everything I am going through and long to do. He sees my kids, the great plans He has for their lives and He protects them from all the efforts that are being made to keep them from their destinies. I am grateful this week to know that we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses because He has endured it all. (Hebrews 4:15). I am grateful He chose to stand when it was brutally hard.

What a loving Warrior Friend we have on our side.

It's time for some bits, I do believe. Sweeter tasting than ever with a month's worth of picture overload.
***
:: Remember Dr. Seuss' birthday? Us too.

So silly! Cupcakes BEFORE dinner.

:: Before anything serious happened, we had probably the best spring break EVER! Kicked off by two dear friends and all six of their under five babies trekking from Tennessee to Virginia. All our kiddos have added a couple of months and inches since the last time we slumber partied, but it made no difference. Time is nothing to true friends.

Kids who spontaneously join hands, waiting for even the tiniest to be linked up, and are happy as clams to giggle in circles? Amazing. Seriously, there was barely a cross word as they all played with each other for the three days of little sleep. Yep, amazing.

:: Sisters caught sharing a story.

:: Us girls caught, exhausted, but sharing a precious moment while recovering from quite a day.

:: This girl. Stood on a stool the other day and spread her fingers into jazz hands while announcing, "I THE SHOW!"

:: Being the proud mama of the block's tiniest hopscotch. More proud of the little blond artist who loves to draw them; she's undergone a lot these days.

:: Hours of mud pie making under the bridge of a new to us park.

:: New trails to forge. New places to explore.

:: Spring Break Daddy being able to do things like eat Mexican downtown in the middle of the day and help make the hike to our favorite Children's Museum.

:: Fancy and FUN nights out with gracious friends who open their home to you like you are family. Later finding out the fact that they are related to Billy Graham, totally a bonus. Seriously *so* grateful for the generosity and compassion of big hearted people. We've really gotten to know a handful over the last few weeks.

Standing,
Katrina