Wednesday, May 25, 2011

turning 40!

I have been saying I am turning 40 for awhile, I am sure so I get used to it slowly. I was doing okay about it and then I read a friend's blog (hi Kris) that had a 40 countdown of things she wanted to do. Of course, I thought, "oh no, I don't have my countdown. What can I try to accomplish in 5 days." (ha ha, my birthday is Sunday)

Heather, my sister, and I talked about it and had some good thoughts about turning 40 and some funny ones. So this blog is dedicated to my sisters.

40 Things I want to do before I turn 40..this week (have done and and will do)
1. love my husband and celebrate how hard he works
2. love my children and not yell when one of them spills a protein drink all over my clean car
3. take them on fun outings like the beach, story time, and ballet class
4. do as many "under ducks" at the swings that they ask for
5. Have a Bible study in my house and savor the opportunity
6. get my guitar strings fixed and play b/c I love it and so do my kiddos
7. make the grocery store trip really really fun
8. with my kids make muffins and bread for my family coming and not worry about mess or time just enjoy it
9. Read my Bible and enjoy it not just get through it
10. jog!
11. dance
12. sleep
13. watch some really good entertaining tv and enjoy it
14. say good-bye to Oprah
15. enjoy school time with Deveraux
16. read some truck books to Anderson
17. read my favorite stories growing up to Deveraux
18. watch a sunset
19. water my garden and hope my gingers will grow
20. take some great pictures
21. breathe
22. pray
23. surrender to Jesus
24. clean my house and enjoy the process (a little)
25. hang something pretty in my house or arrange a new shelf
26. call a dear friend
27. call my great aunt because I love her
28. receive the Bergstroms with much love
29. be a blessing to my family
30. enjoy my Maui friends
31. read an old journal
32. make dinner (something that does not always come easy)
33. eat well
34. drink lots of water!
35. take a walk with a dear pregnant friend who is past her due date
36. love my husband
37. be kind
38. savor
39. love
40. Live in gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus for all my many blessings!

I can do this!
You see these are all the things I already do and will continue to do. I hope I do them more mindfully which writing the list makes me see this and do them more fully. Turning 40 is important but it is also another day in a long line of days and I will just keep on keeping on. I do hope to pursue a few things like guitar, singing, and photography and that is good. I do think, have I accomplished what I wanted to? Yes, for today. I have loved, I have failed, I have needed saving Grace, I have the most amazing family that claim me as theirs.

I read an old journal last week where at 25 Andrew asked me if I wanted to go to Nashville and check it out b/c I had some singing dreams, so now I ask, "what if...?" I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know the path I am on is the path I choose and I stand in gratitude. I really cannot imagine my life without Deveraux and Anderson and for them I would not change anything.

And Andrew reminded me my life is half over, which is encouraging, a whole half, who knows what will happen!!
(I will let you know if I accomplished my list)

Friday, May 20, 2011

Our girl



"The more I think about Jesus, the more I love Him."


Deveraux said the other day


waking to a rainbow

His mercies are new every morning!

A Maui favorite, a rainbow. The other morning we woke up to one from our lanai. Those who have been on Maui know this site. A promise, a new beginning. Each day offers this to each of us.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

We love Books!






One of Deveraux's favorite things has always been books, now Anderson is carrying on the tradition and his favorite are truck books. He will literally pour over them and "gobble them up." He nevers seems to tire of finding "tractor" or "digger."


My First Scooter

First official scooter!

Of course, we all had to try it out!










But in the end, it's Bo Bo's scooter!






Easter



































Easter morning greeted us beautifully with sunrise clouds outside our bedroom door. We decided to go to the sunrise service if we woke up on time, we did and so we woke our sleeping babies!
































































































We gave Deveraux and Anderson each a Bible, Easter clothes, and some candy for Devy (which dada snagged and Deveraux is asking me where her bunny went, I still haven't come up with a good answer). Thanks to Katy for letting us know about "Baby's Hug-A-Bible, Anderson did love hugging it!























































































































































We shared stories and traditions before our yummy brunch food. We had a great group of people who gathered!



































Home Easter egg hunt. Anderson with one hunt under his belt, did better with the second one!







































We ended the day with an Easter Hula..







In anticipation of Easter and letting Dev and Anderson know the day was coming. Deveraux laughed and said, 'I'm not laughing about candy, I'm laughing about Jesus." I could not have said anything about the day better than those words.



Water Slide
























So little Anderson took the plunge and decided to go down the water slide alone at Andrew's work. He said, "Bo Bo" which means, "I want to do it." So I let him and down he went (backwards and head first)! Sister decided if he could do it, she could, so down she went. Very fun!





Ballet



Headed to our weekly ballet class. Deveraux has been able to take a ballet and musical theatre class once a week which she really enjoys! It is fun to see her. She believes she is destined for the stage...we'll see...and I believe Bo Bo thinks he is right behind her!








Story time Easter Egg Hunt

We have a regular story time that we started meeting with several years ago and we do an annual Easter egg Hunt. Life is funny, the first time we did the hunt we met in a grassy area in Kahana. Now years later, that grassy area is in our neighborhood a couple blocks from our house. Little did we know...and we now "head up" the Easter egg hunt. Sister was so sweet she grabbed Anderson's basket because he didn't really know that you have to run and grab eggs in order to get any...she made sure brother had some! We were the last to leave the park and Anderson made sure to taste the chocolate!















"Flying Kites"




It is amazing how a cheep plastic kite whose string does not even work can be fun and it can really feel like the kite is flying! That is life with kids!!