The memory of friendship...

There is something so intriguing about childhood friendships...

1.) ...because they are beautiful.

2.) ...because there are no grudges or talking behind backs.

3.) ...because they make being friends look so easy!

Exhibit A: The two on the right are arguing, yet I'm 100% sure when everything was resolved no one thought about it later or talked about it again...ever. Oh to be a child and forget the faults of others.

Hugs are without discrimination, smiles are often, and everyone, no matter the age difference are friends.
How did we stray so far away from this perfect and loving type of friendship as we grew up?

Once upon a time when our friendships almost mirrored the way Jesus befriends us.

 Back when sharing a little chair wasn't uncomfortable, it was fun.

  Back when it wasn't embarrassing to have food on your face, or be extra bundled up in a stroller.

Back when your cousins were your best friends...

Whatever memories you have of childhood friendships, compare it to your friendships of today. Are they as much fun and as true?

My friend Skyelynn quotes the verse below to me and compares it to our friendship. I love it that she feels this way because it truly describes our bond.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

She sharpens me, I sharpen her. In other words, we encourage each other. Make your friendships iron worthy!

Hello Monday...

Well hello sweet Monday...

Coming from a weekend of ocean and sand, we welcome you with a grain of salt...

Hello family fun...

Hello sisters...oh no we didn't..yes, yes we did...we tried a jumping picture and failed, multiple times..

Hello cousin time...

Good bye weekend we didn't want to leave...

On our way out we saw this...zebra or horse painted like it?

Either way, it's pretty cool. Don't forget Skyelynn's birthday party (zebra themed) August 26, 3pm Our house!
Helllloooo Monday!

Hello Monday...

Hello Monday you've come again...

Yes Monday, I'm talking to you. You and your alarm clocks and schedules that steal away our relaxing weekend of lake side fun.

The weekend gave us parks and bubbles and cake and lots of memories...

Run away kids, food, cousins, jet skis and boat rides... we love you weekend.

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Hello Monday, you once again brought us back to reality. We look forward to what you have in store for us this week. Thank you weekend for the break. Until we meet again!

Linked up with this blog.

Hello Monday..

Hello Monday, oh how I did not miss you this 4th of July week/weekend.

I miss kids and babies and hot weather at the lake!

Hello daddy who took a day off work!

Hello brightest moon ever at 5:30 am July 5th

Hello Grammy and Melanie on the boat!

Hello little Ashlyn in the oversized life jacket.

Hello good times on the boat!

Hello Pirate Island..thanks Grandpa for boating us over there!

Good bye 4th of July through the weekend fun and hello Monday.

I linked up with this blog for my hello Monday post.

If I could..

I would go back to the day I broke my ankle in her backyard (both times) just to hear her voice again. I would give birth all over again to my first born daughter just to see her visiting me in the hospital telling me my baby is beautiful. I would do pretty much anything...if I could turn back time for one more hug, one more piece of advice, one more book to borrow or share with her, one last phone call, one more visit so my kids could get to know their great grandma more.

She made me feel special. Always thinking of me. Forever taking time to do things just for me because she knew I was coming over. A homemade custard, a coin with an angel on it set aside for my daughter who was having bad dreams at night, digging out a bag of marshmallows from her freezer just because my kids asked for them while at her house, special books and toys ordered just for our visits.

Jeopardy, Star Trek, fruit snacks and cartoons, Safeway's Homestyle Vanilla ice cream, slippers, and her cozy red chair...all reminders of a grandma that cared.

"I love you Marts, more than you know" she would tell me. What I wouldn't give to hear her say that to me one more time. These memories make me smile through the tears and with blurry vision I look at my kids and think about how much she adored them. Oh, how she loved my kids. And they sure loved being around her.

Thinking about how very special she made me feel, it makes me wonder how she did it? Four daughters, eight grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren and somehow she managed to make us each feel special, as if we were the only one that mattered to her in the whole world. It came natural to her.

She never drove a car, she didn't vote, but she sure knew how to be loving, understanding, and how to sneak my sister and I fruit snacks even when my mom told us no.

As much as I want to turn back time, I know she is up in heaven wanting to fast forward to the time when her family comes to join her in Paradise.

What I'm feeling now is a conglomeration of sadness and joy, the bittersweet realization that although I'm without my grandma, heaven has gained another citizen and she is basking in the bright light of our great God.

Take ten for your pet!

The other day at Target the kids and I decided to splurge on our dog, Guapo. And by splurge I mean we spent 2 dollars on new plastic food and water dishes with rubber bottoms to keep them from spilling. He has been needing new food and water bowls for a while now, because the mismatched tupper ware we were using were always being kicked over and spilled by accident.

Take ten to take care of your pet! The kids will love it!

1.) Find something for your pet, nothing expensive, but something to show you care.

2.) Let the kids be in charge of putting to good use whatever it is you buy for your special friend.

3.) Talk to the kids about taking good care of pets.

Take Ten!

Cold toes and popsicle stained faces...

Cold toes on my leg really bother me and this morning is no exception. My daughter keeps lightly touching me with her cold toe just to bug me and I have been pushing it away for the past half hour.

 There is a song that says "you're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back" and as much as the cold foot bugs me now I can't help but think someday I really will want this back. When she is a teenager or maybe even before that she won't want to play those silly cold toe games.

 Then I think about other things that bother me. Will I truly want the messy meal times back? The dirty diapers? The melt downs and embarrassing fits? Probably. These are the things that make us mothers. I guess I know I better start treasuring even the inconvenient and annoying nuggets of life so I don't look back and regret anything.

 Popsicle stained faces, cereal on the floor, a change of clothes right after getting dressed, and cold toes poking my leg...the good stuff in life for the moment..in a blink it'll be gone. 

The only thing I want to regret is any of my bad reactions to the things I consider to be irritating now.

Cheers to even the irritating things that will be missed when they're gone!