Friday Gratitude

Just a few things that I am so thankful for this Friday.  As Spring approaches, it seems to be easier to find things.  Find myself smiling more and more as the weather warms. 

Lilac Buds!!



Daffodil Sprouts

My sparkles are back!  The river sparkles like this when the light is
just right in the afternoon.  Sometimes it even reflects on the dining room wall.

My reading nook on the screened porch is finally warm enough to enjoy again,
and enjoying it I am!

We have gone for several family walks this week.  The girls are actually old enough and strong enough to walk a longer distance with us at a nice pace so it actually feels like exercise.  We played at the park for about an hour this afternoon and Zion was so excited to be able to do so many more things than he could in the fall.  Hubby and I discussed last night whether it is better to watch the news daily and everything that is happening (what I tend to do) and get kind of stressed out and fearful, or to live in a bubble and not know or think about all the crazy stuff going on.  I think I need to be informed, but at the park this afternoon, decided that it is definitely essential to my sanity to completely enjoy the moments of beauty even if surrounded by ugly, nasty and crazy. 

Friday

A few moments of lovely from yesterday and today:

 Daddy was in Texas since Saturday and we got to pick him up from the airport and take him out to lunch and to Mitchell Park Domes.



Lunch at Red Lobster



I need a big bowl of rocks and moss.  Pretty sure...



In the Desert Dome with my amazing kiddos who impressed the heck out of the employee that we were chatting with.  They Rock! 

Mexican Redbud in the Desert Dome.  Just starting to bloom. 

Thanks to the super nice lady who snapped a family pic for us. 

Powder Puff tree and yes, this is the flower!

Abi in her new dress from Aunt Mandy.  I think she looks like she stepped out of  a Dick and Jane book.

90% of my Zion pictures look like this...

Birthing Kits all ready to send to Haiti through Craft Hope

A new spring wall hanging in the works.

I'm Back!!

I had decided, last year, that something had to give and the blog was not a necessity.  Thus why I haven't updated in a year again.  Very recently, I have wanted to get back at it. I have been reading an amazing book, A Thousand Gifts, by Ann VosKamp. The entire book is about the power of gratitude and I have been keeping a gratitude journal and just feel like it is time to get back to blogging about lovely things again.  That is one reason why there is finally another post here...

My second motivation for starting back up is to introduce myself to the lovely ladies that I will be traveling to Uganda with in April! (UGANDA IN APRIL!!!). I am going with Linny and Emma Saunders and a group of ladies to Kampala, Uganda in April to basically love on some orphans and share Jesus in that way and I can not wait! So to all of you who came to my poor, neglected little blog who will be joining us on this amazing trip... Hello!!  I am Kelly and I can't wait to get to know all of you! I am going to try to post more, but feel free to look around and see what we have been up to in the past. The last year has included more being a wife, being a mom, homeschooling and creating. That is just who I am :)  A couple of pics...

Our family at Curt's Brother's wedding in June.

Our Christmas picture from this past year... Abi in pink, Emma in purple and our boy is Zion  :)