happy closet

 let me preface this with...i've never organized by closet by color, but I did on Sunday night! i had some antsy energy and it was let loose on my closet. i was a sneezy mess afterwards, but it was worth it. i relentlessly purged (no comment if you see something that should have been purged) & learned I have the majority in these colors: white, black, & gray. You need to know all this..

VBS

I mentioned earlier, I headed up decorations for the VBS at our church. We have about 500 kids who come through each year & when they asked me-I really had to think/pray about it. Really I didn't want to pray about it because I didn't want to say yes. Glad God helped me say yes. 

He gave me the 2 best co-chairs EVER. They were detailed, hardworking & so willing to help. It got kinda dicey when I would tote the kids up there with me to work, I would just hope no one official from the church would walk into our "room"-with Ruthie no shirt on & paint all over her & Henry standing & jumping off the snack table over & over. My freelance graphic design work stayed manageable, which was a blessing-no new big projects during this time period. I know God was helping me along the way. I have loved being part of something big. Loved working with sweet friends, laughing, painting & talking. God has been good to me. A sweet reminder that when He asks us to do something, He'll make it happen & fill you up more than you give away. 

I was filled up on Monday morning when I overheard a little girl seeing the VBS decorations for the first time...say, mama, this is weird-I like it.

Below are some iphone pics I took today. Not fabulous. But I feel kinda weird, walking around taking pictures of my own decorations with my official camera. 

Theme is "Inside Out & Upside Down on Main Street".

Pray for these kids this week, that the Bible lessons & music will stick with them.

I read this book, while prepping for VBS, it was such a beautiful reminder, "Jesus loves the little children".

God worked in my heart & made me a happy volunteer with message. Would recommend it.

SUN!

each year my fam goes to the beach. my fave time of the year. 18 of us all together: my sisters, husbands, kids & parents. i get post-beach depression. I tote beachy things home: driftwood, shells, etc. Will share pics soon of some beach creations. It is hectic, relaxing, fast, low-key all at once. We eat lots of ice cream, a family cooks each night (us=fish tacos), there are spats (glad we aren't pouters), some spazzy dancing pre-dinnertime, my sisters & I delve into high-gear deep conversations in a stolen time away from the little ones (a 15 min. walk down the beach). 

love the sleepy time in the morning as the preteen kids are still snoozing and kiddos are patiently waiting to get to the beach.

ruthie & her cousin (and keeper) elizabeth. i overhear elizabeth say, "now, say yes m'am, ruthie", "say please first"...

the lone picture i got of these 2 together with their perfectly fabulous artificial smiles. no matter-i got it.

chillaxing.

the youngest ones: charlie & ruthie getting crazy on picture night.

highlight of the trip, pushing the buttons on the elebator.

They surprise me sometimes & they sure did with their love of the water, considering they seemed tortured by their swim lessons last month. Ruthie would attack the water, slapping her little body down. She would say she was a mermaid & then wiggle her little booty while she swam.

made me laugh

okay, typically wal-mart commercials are lame, but these new TV spots make me laugh-especially this one. since I'm wondering what i should be slathering on my face coming up on 35.

baby monogram

Trio of canvases I painted for a Largen Design client of mine. Got them there just in time, the evening before she was being induced.

mother's day request

This was a gift request from Paige for her mother-in-law. Mom to two boys. Hard to tell, but it is a layering of fabric & watercolor paper on a canvased-centered with a paper flower.

wedding watercolors

Have friends tell me often that in the bride's thank-you note, this gift was their favorite. They can't possibly say that in every note-right? Regardless, I love hearing this!

may projects

 Above is a painting I did for a grad gift for a dorm room. Incorporating things close to her heart: music, volleyball & her faith.

 Above a christening gift commissioned by Amanda!

Above a 5x5x2 wooden block with watercolor/collage elements ($30). This is a wedding gift requested by my sister's sweetest friend-Sallie. It can sit on the shelf or hang.

Above was also a request by Sallie as a going away gift for a friend.

momhood

hard to believe i'm a mom. i had no idea how hard it is, how great it is, how much God would teach me. usually i feel like everyone is doing it better than me, like they are somehow receiving some intel that i am not privy to. these are some of my recent faves.

drinking coffee in the car from henry's sippy cup. in the sunday morning rush, the most accessible one available.

 ruthie finding a new purpose for oven mitts.

henry with his magic marker beard.

 

ruthie after her easter chocolate.

ruthie helping me with vbs decorations.

 

after a cuckoo day, i treated myself to a 5:00 wine & cheese on the veranda. that is wine out of a coffee mug. i needed a calgon moment & eating some fancy cheese & wine took me to a less chaotic place.

this song gives me perspective on my crazy moments as a mom, as a human living in our temporary home.

happy mom's day.

say a special prayer for those who are waiting to be moms & waiting on their little ones. and those who've had to say goodbye to their moms too soon.

dallas with polly

wanted to share pics from our visit to dallas to see my little sis-Polly & her 2 boys: William & Charlie. one of the highlights was the DALLAS ARBORETUM. Magical. the kiddos loved it. i loved it. a glimpse of heave on earth. dramatic, i know-but it really was.

big ole bunny made of pine straw.

william & charlie in back & my 2 in the front. charlie & ruthie are a couple months apart.

this entire hut was made of potted flowers.

the best we got of the crew. henry is always doing this own thing anyway, so kinda fitting.

ruthie looking like my son, i did not pack weather appropriate attire for miss priss.

said this before, but my sisters are the biggest blessing in my life. polly & i shared a room all growing up, until I graduated from high school. i hated sleeping by myself, i am a scardy cat. the meanest thing she could do to me growing up, would not let me sleep in her bed & I'd have to go down the hall and sleep in my bed by myself & sing amy grant songs to myself all night long to keep the boogey man away.