Urban Barn...

I love this place.. I recently went down there for work...and every time I go, I just want to stay all day.  I didn't buy anything for myself...nor did I find a whole lot of items for work..but it was still so much fun to window shop because there are new items every time I visit! Here are some fun items I saw this time...

Christmas this Year...

Christmas this year has been different in many ways.. We have met so many new people and have made so many new friendships.. through our church, our neighborhood, through homeschooling..  I definitely feel like God is molding and shaping us... into what.. I don't exactly know.. but He is surrounding us with a wonderful community of believers.. and we are so thankful for that.. because we definitely need the support and prayer, and we are so happy to be able to do the same for others.

Also through this process of molding and shaping, God has been opening my eyes to my love for art, design and creativity.  Again, this past year, He has been surrounding me with like-minded artists and opportunities to use my creativity.. whether it's helping design the backdrop for our Sunday church services, working as a buyer and picking out unique and beautiful vintage items, and planning for and creating art projects for the girls... This has all been an answer to prayer that I prayed several years ago. Even Bryant noticed that my artistic side is becoming more visual..

With this being said, I have had a lot of fun creating and decorating our home for Christmas with the girls.. We have done many projects..making ornaments, a nativity scene, garlands, and more.. The girls absolutely LOVE doing projects.. Perhaps this is another reason why He gave me girls... to help me understand myself more...because He is so good like that..

Anyway, here are some photos/happenings around the house this Christmas.. :)

Paper and twine garlands.. and the bottle is a vintage find.

Snow globes made with mason jars and salt...and little trees from Walmart.

Red and white felt garlands..

The nativity scene made up by the girls. Notice the "pink donkey". 

The girls acting as Mary and Joseph and their doll as baby Jesus..

Biggest sister has been in total "Mary mode."

Vintage finds...

I love having real "greens" around the house.  The decoration on the tale was from a party the night before..

 

Another vintage find (letters by me)..

 Found some really inexpensive and fun pillows from IKEA.

For years I have used fabric scraps as the tree skirt.. And last year a friend gave me a gift card to Anthropologie and found this tree skirt on clearance.  I had to put it away for a year.. but I am happy it is under the tree this year! :)

And here is Big Sister who is quickly growing into a very intellignet and independent 4 year old! ;)

Good Friends are Hard to Find

Good friends are hard to find...

I hope and pray that our girls will grow up to cherish their friends...

that they will not be best friends with each other...but find friends that they can lean on, ask for prayer and receive encouragement...

I pray that they will make have wonderful friends like this neighbor/friend...who has such a sweet heart, loves God, and is such a wonderful example to our girls. :)

Homeschooling..

I have so much to say about this... but don't have the time to write it all down right now... All I can say right now is how blessed I am to have great friends that I can talk to....  Receiving wisdom and encouragement from them is such a precious gift..

I'm also thankful to our friend Ashley who captured a little glimpse of our life at home. ;)

Potty Training #3

We finally started potty-training littlest sister this past week. I say "finally" because she was ready to potty-train since she was probably around 20 months... but I just simply was not up for it...and we probably had a ton of things going on in between. But one day last week, she said "no more diapers Mommy!".. so that was it. From the next day, no more diapers (at least while she is awake). 

Even though we've done this twice before.. it's still a tiring process.. only because I am usually preoccupied with the other two.. but the cleaning of the accidents and such.. just adds to the already full day.  She has been doing very well though. One thing she hasn't shown is fear..which is what the other girls had when they first started potty-training.  This is probably non-existent with her because she watches her two big sisters go to the bathroom all the time.  And this evening, while I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner... I just thought I should check on her to see where she was/ what she was doing (because she has been diaper-less/underwear-less).. and she had been sitting and sitting patiently on the toilet and went both pee and poo by herself! Her big sisters and I were so proud of her! 

Here is a text message that big sister sent to Daddy this evening (he was at a men's bible study): 

"Daddy- I want to tell you that she went pee pee and poo poo into the potty.  Daddy- she went onto the potty and sat and sat and sat on the potty like Prudence.  She is magnificent.  Daddy this is also the bestest thing I have to tell you... that Abigail is so brave and she has been happy the whole day."

She was so very proud of her.. :)

This is Littlest Sister...swinging on the front door..with her apron on..without any diaper..having a ball!
Some days, I wonder how I keep up with her! ;)

Exhausted

Life has been exhausting.  I really feel like I have no energy or creativity left to parent... but I know God is with me... strengthening me and guiding me everyday.. I just pray that I hear His voice and be obedient...

Part of the exhaustion may be due to the fact that we had Thanksgiving dinner at house this year...for the first time.  And we invited both sides of the family, which was so much fun..but a lot of cooking!  I'm realizing very quickly that it is not very easy to prepare for guests and a party when homeschooling!  The house is a constant mess and there is just no time!! Nevertheless, we were very glad that everyone came...and who knows, it may become a tradition to have Thanksgiving dinner at our place! 

The girls really enjoyed having everyone over. They were great hostesses!!

Just a Closer Walk with Thee...

Love this hymn... It will forever remind me of Charlotte Sanchez.. a woman who loves the Lord will all her mind, heart and soul... a grandmother who is filled with so much joy and overflows with God's love.