happy MOTHER'S day

My sweet surprise: a handmade trellis from my boys. (mostly John)





p.s. I just realized I haven't officially announced on here that baby #3 is indeed a B.O.Y.!!! We are already getting geared up for what all that entails. Though our path for "boys in the hood" may be already cleared, I am quite sure a third male-child is going to bring with it soooo much more than we may ever feel prepared for!

{in the best way possible!!!}

*Happy Mother's Day* to all you, too!!

the SPRING is back in our step

[SOMETHING OLD]

= our boys!!!

What happened to our little munchkins???

[Jack is 2 1/2 and Drew is 5]

[SOMETHING NEW]

We were able to spend an afternoon with our friends trying something new this year in preparation for Easter celebration. We dyed eggs naturally, with a variety of vegetables and different onion skins (red onion skins yielded the darkest color). It was so interesting to see the variation and beautiful end result.

[SOMETHING CREATED]

Up until a few weeks ago, thinking of doing anything creative literally turned my stomach. I don't know what it was. I couldn't even stay inspired by perusing others blogs or sites because the scrolling motion made me sick. All the creative juices had left me. But with the brightening of the sunshine, I feel it starting to come back. Slowly, but I'm hopeful!

[SOMETHING BLUE]

Our first "spring" outing was to the Lake, and though there was not yet much color in the earth, the sky was a beautiful, inviting BLUE. There was much to explore and it was just so nice to be able to roam around without being cold. (ok, can you tell I had a terrible winter. I promise I won't keep complaining about it though!) I started an art journal notebook with the boys to bring along on our journey's to hopefully spur them on to drawing when surrounded by different environments and beautiful nature. It took a little bit of coaxing with all the rocks waiting to be thrown in the lake, but they eventually sat down and drew something. Jack found his first bug of the season and followed it faithfully along the rock. And we built a "woodland home" for the next critter that comes along in need of some shelter.

[SOMETHING DREW]

this kid, I tell ya!


[SOMETHING TRUE]

*yours truly* 5 months preggo

A picture is worth a thousand words...

"HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN"

:sunset in Israel:

:The traditional "Golgotha" hill of Christ's crucifiction:

:entrance to the Garden Tomb:

:a tour of what is believed to be Christ's burial tomb:

:a view of the Garden:

{HAPPY EASTER & HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY. MAY YOUR HEARTS BE COMFORTED BY THE GREAT NEWS THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY.}

The Garden Song

I sent the boys to play in their rooms so I could get some menu planning done. This is what they came up with:

The BIG Day Ahead

I don't have the energy at the moment to do a "full" post, but there is much on the "list." To say it was a rough weekend, well, it would be an understatement. An unfortunate "cut" through insurance put me on a new medicine until an early refill form went through, thus, putting me through...to put it plainly...misery. But nothing to not be overcome and I have the new meds to hold me through to what will hopefully be the ending of the worst of it since I am now 13 weeks along!!!!! 

HOWEVER, I couldn't walk by the computer tonight without at least putting up a little blurb about a VERY SPECIAL DAY occuring in our house tomorrow!!! 

DREW TURNS 5!!!!! 

He is SO EXCITED! We have only been counting down the days for...oh, 2 weeks??!!?? He has a fun-filled day full of surprises waiting and lots of family-help kicking in to make it easy on this momma (all I have to do is pick up the cake and show up to the party!) and very special for a great little boy!! More pictures to come after the special day. And hopefully some catch-up blogging, like:

1. John's Israel trip

2. Our family outing to the Eric Carle museum

3. Ultra sound picture

4. Hmmmm...well, I guess that's about all the excitement in this past month. 

At least excitement worth blogging about! 

OH, and HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY (belated)!!!!!!

*make a wish*

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout 

to my dear friend, Steph.

Today's the *BIG* one---

but I'm not mentioning any numbers,

because my days are also numbered! 

return to me

He's Home.

I am back in his arms.

And all seems as though it should.