Friday, April 29, 2011

five friday funks . . . and favs!

i just thought it would be funny to change it up a little this week

* * * * *

tics - i pulled one off of me last night

* * * * *

field trip cancelation - 
b/c of the bad storms & tornado warnings 
the first grade field trip to meadow farm was nixed

* * * * *

anxiety

* * * * *

crankytudes

* * * * *

restless nights for the boys
pollen & coughing
is not contributing to their sleep


but there's still favs!

finishing a book and getting into the next in the series

* * * * * 

a fabulous start to our friday
(way, way different from our thursday morning start)

because of the Lord's great love
we are not consumed
for his compassions never fail
they are new every morning
great is your faithfulness
lam. 3:22-23

* * * * * 

laughing & praying w/ coworkers
and girlfriends

* * * * * 

the benefits i already see in just a few weeks
without my biggest addiction

* * * * * 

relief
when anxiety was great within me
your consolation brought joy to my soul.
psalm 94:19

Thursday, April 28, 2011

cute comparison

10/07


4/11

three & a half years
little boys
same rock
growing up
contact wearing j
glasses forgotten b
needing haircuts

i miss the "little" days
and love the bigger days

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

joy this week

:: the woods behind our house are filling in with spring green
   we can no longer see the cars passing down springfield road
   way behind our house

:: freckles are making their annual appearance on j's face

:: boys slept in until 9:30
ok ~ so mama did too ;)

:: i've missed you hugs from & for pre-k-ers

:: painful relief

:: answered prayers

:: loving on a friend
sadly, in very similar shoes as i am in
(i did not find joy in her situation
but in the fact that God is using my story
to minister to someone else)

:: air conditioning

:: bedtime conversations & cuddles
with my boys

:: my new "because he lives" play list

Monday, April 25, 2011

look what i found

little b may have found it strange 
that i took a pic of our kitchen window sill
however, it looks like it may have worn off on him.
he asked if he could take some pics w/ my camera
and i hesitantly said ok
when i was flipping through them i found this


so first he wrote a love note on our dry erase tablet
then took a picture
soooooo sweet!
i won't delete the picture
i deleted a bunch
of backpacks, the tv, roxy, my feet, shoes, etc.
and will try to hold off erasing the tablet

my kitchen window

when lucy blogged about her window
it got me to thinking!


i should have also snapped a pic of ben
when he saw me snap this one.
he looked at me oddly then said
"seriously mama, c'mon"
then walked away.
he knows i enjoy taking pics
but like you, doesn't understand the thrill here!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Friday, April 22, 2011

five friday favs

"Remembrance"


so glad sarah posted it

* * * * * 

goochland drive in


bring your easter baskets
and get them filled with popcorn for a $1

the best part was having my favorite 9 year old
crawl up beside me b/c he was cold
then we both got warm

* * * * * 

alone time

* * * * * 

a week filled with my boys
and my friends



* * * * * 

i was confident they would be gross
(i don't like . . . make that, hate peeps)
however these were a fun treat



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Spring Break Day 3

day 2 was filled with reconnecting & catching up 
with our lynchburg friends,
lots of outdoor play,
games, pizza,
but the cameras never came out the entire time

day 3 
we packed some pb & j's
turkey & cheese sandwiches
fruit & water
and headed out to Maymont
for some free fun



 with several of these darlins
complaining & whining along the way
 i nipped most of it with a promise/bribe
of grape lime-aids from bill's barbeque for the ride home






this is a pose that i took of the boys LONG ago 
when j was in kindergarten
i wanted to compare

 sassy jillie
strike a pose

some nice lady offered to take a pic of all of us
it's a little blurry but we can't complain

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

joy today

but really from the past week ~ i picked some that really stood out

::  pumpkin seeds sprouting
all be it accidental
i transplanted dirt from our compost pile
rich soil!
a couple of weeks later
leaves are popping through
oops

:: a rainy day stay home jammer day

:: a visit from mama & daddy

:: a pedicure from a friend
with another friend

:: my new comforter

:: the celebration screams & squeals that i heard
from inside the house
ALL the way down the street
from the bus friday afternoon
spring break!!

:: a phone call from a vacationing friend
just to say hi
i think she misses me

:: a clean house
top to bottom

Hosanna!

i have no idea where the time went 
between rising & shining sunday morning and driving to church.
but when i looked down at the dash and it was after 11 
when were turing out of our street, 
it hit me there was NO way to make it for the 11 service.  
i was so looking forward to it as well.  
so . . . . i turned the van around with the idea we would have church at home.  
a couple of years ago we did the resurrection biscuits 
and i remembered that we had biscuits & marshmallows at home.  
PERFECT!  
i managed to snap a few pictures during our time.






HOSANNA!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the King of Israel!

Monday, April 18, 2011

spring break day 1

all the tools, seeds, containers, etc. to get our seeds started

 dirt straight from our compost pile

some of the completed starters

teacher appreciation gifts started

flowers planted

my latest way of getting laundry put away efficiently
instead of having piles of folded laundry waiting

i did NOT take pictures of our overhaul cleaning of the boys' rooms
as they should always look good

have you heard of the 40 bags in 40 days?
getting rid of 40 bags of unused stuff during lent?
i think this weekend alone i purged at least 20
b/w trash, outgrown clothes, toys, books, movies
hope thrift here we come!

and how come i'm just now reading about 
i'll have to bookmark it for next year

i promised the boys a more fun day tomorrow.
although we only did the "chore" stuff early on
we got the cleaning stuff out of the way 
in hopes to play the rest of the week!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Friday, April 15, 2011

five friday favs

little benjamin who speaks no english
but his face lights up hugely when singing & dancing
he grins from ear to ear
brings a smile to my face just thinking about it

* * * * *

psalm 25
esp. 4,5 & 10

* * * * * 

field trip with jacob
spending time w/ him &  his class
watching him interact with his fav *girl* friend
loving his interest in greek mythology

* * * * * 

colgate 360
random, i know
but i found a package of them under my bathroom sink

* * * * * 

report cards
honor roll & hard math worker

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Batter Up!

spRinG has SPruNg!

such fun
these boys!

 now my door looks really really good
thanks jenn!
i love my new wreath!


the games my boys make up
"trampoline ball"
it's a baseball bat, basketball, & trampoline "field"


swing batter batter swing
that song that ALWAYS floods my mind
w/ all things baseball
i used to sing it on the way to all of ben's games
random, i know


i do love their creativity!

stay tuned
next time:
tenni-ball

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

JOY today

some girlfriends of mine & i have been reading One Thousand Gifts together.  while chatting as we can about what we think.  there are only a couple of us that are getting into it, the others are pushing their way through.  i LOVE that it has convicted me to slow down & breathe with the boys.  it's reminded me to focus on my word for this year.  (psalm 51:12 & 94:19) it's helped me to rethink the way i pray . . . praying with a thankful heart is the only way to pray.  enter his courts with thanksgiving!    may i look at God's world through "thankful eyes".

i won't be doing a 1000 gifts list per say but i will be more mindful of my thankfulness.  i will continue to write them down as i feel lead in my own journal.  while i can't imagine getting thrilled over grated cheese or soapy suds, i will make mention to the lord of his good.  i will thank him for opening my eyes to even more glimpses of him and his unspeakable joy.

bringing me JOY today ~

:: sharing the story of Jesus ~ He's ALIVE! to 11 bright eyed preschoolers.  many of them looked up at me with such wonder.  then we did the resurrection biscuits . . . baked a marshmallow inside a biscuit.  the biscuit is empty just like the tomb.  "ms. skammer the marshmallow is gone . . .  just like Jesus!" one little darlin exclaimed!

:: jacob calling me back to his room last night to pray with him.

:: godly girlfriends ~ their friendship, wisdom & support.  one dropped afternoon plans just to *listen*

:: ben's already sporting a farmer's tan ~ i couldn't help but smile when he came down the other night; he was definitely trying to dilly dally his way from bed time but it was a reminder that summer is on it's way!

:: the words from a friend/coworker attached to a cd

:: the relief from allergy issues

:: and how can one not smile when looking at this little dude.  some of those bangles & beads are soooooo old.  glad i hadn't gotten rid of them!


:: in being content ~ philippians 4:11-13 ~ an ongoing prayer

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Saturday, April 9, 2011

summing up today

1 jammer day for mama
0 basketball games
4 chewed up socks in the back yard
1 clean & organized closet
4 days of NO coke 0 
5 bags to Hope Thrift
1 play date
3 clean bathrooms
2 snoring boys
2 books read ~ 1st & 2nd Timothy were really good to me.  i think i'll reread tomorrow
6 loads of laundry washed, dried, folded & put away
2 more waiting - 1 in the wash & 1 in the dryer
3 chik fil a lunches to go


Friday, April 8, 2011

five friday favs

jacob's request for cuddling
pretty sure it was to put off homework
but i'll take it!

* * * * * 

allegra d

* * * * * 

breaking down a hard read
in conversations with girlfriends

* * * * * 

reading through my prayer/scripture journal
from the past year
reflecting on God's faithfulness
and his provision for joy
even in suffering

* * * * * 

some amazing little 4 & 5 year olds
many signed up for kindergarten today
i can't believe it's "that time" already
i love my little friends
and can't believe it's almost time for them to graduate
wish i could "loop" with them


Monday, April 4, 2011

skamshots

love
love
LOVE
our new doors
here's hoping little roxy girl doesn't get out any more
thanks mama & daddy!


 meeting my babes at the bus
i love this time of day
especially on a pretty day
we play catch w/ jacob's football as we head home


the sign that i had to promise not to hold up at the race
i kept my promise!


ben's rainbow looks pretty blowing in the windows
i got the idea from meg

love love love this too
sweet sarah made for us a few years ago for our roanoke home
it traveled back w/ us here
this verse still holds so much for me
even in a different setting/situation 


The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; 
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
psalm 16:6

Sunday, April 3, 2011

five friday favs on a beautiful sunday morning


pottery painting with my favorite 9 year old

* * * * * 

the red velvet cupcake from my boys
to make me feel better
when the day wasn't so good

* * * * * 

both of our boys running the fun run
so proud!

* * * * * 

all the vcu hype
it's fun to join the local team support
our boys have really enjoyed it this season

* * * * * 

my kuerig coffee makers
haha!
i got 2 for my birthday
both sets of parents had the same great idea
so far my favorite flavor is 
butter toffee


Saturday, April 2, 2011

FunRun

Both of our boys ran today. 
Last night when we went to pick up Ben's packet, 
Jacob decided he wanted to run as well.
and he did!
I'm so thrilled he changed his mind!

Jacob's age group was before Ben's.
I wasn't concerned about him going w/out an adult
b/c I was sure Ben & JM would catch up.  
Then they would all be together.


The ONLY person I saw come through the finish line was JM.
NEITHER of the boys!
Fortunately JM knew Ben sprinted ahead of him
but Jacob on the other hand . . .
we found 20 minutes later!
that was a LONG time to be wondering his where abouts!


Hopefully Jacob is "hooked" now on running!
Dolphin Dash . . . here we come!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 
let us throw off everything that hinders 
and the sin that so easily entangles, 
and let us run with perseverance 
the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1