My girl is 10 years old

Elsa turned 10 today.  

I was struck as I was choosing a birthday card for her how she is on the cusp of young womanhood.  I couldn't choose the younger looking cards, but the regular ones weren't quite right either.

That's kind of how it is when you're 10...you're not a little girl anymore, but you're not really grown up yet.  I remember my 10th birthday very well and so I know that this date is a big one for Elsa.  The changes and emotions she will have to face over the next couple of years will be intense.

I'm hoping to cushion her some from the panicky feelings these changes will bring so that she feels grounded and stable.  She and I have a very good relationship and I stay in fervent prayer that I can nurture her as an individual and not heap unattainable expectations on her.

Elsa is a true delight to have as a daughter.  She is a wonderful sister and a good friend to all.  She is very sweet and tender, but a little spicy and opinionated...wonderfully so. 

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For Elsa's main present, we got her a cruiser style bike.  I've adored the new vintage-looking bikes for a while, so I was more than excited to get something so fun for my girl.  As much as I normally avoid Wal Mart, I was thankful today that they had such a beautiful product for an affordable price.

 This was Elsa's very first new bicycle.


She LOVED it

 

 Happy Birthday sweet Elsa girl!

Easter Sunday - new beginnings

Today was a wonderful day.  Our temperature made it up to 40 degrees, which is great for this time of year here in Alaska.

Little man will be 5 on Saturday!!

I bought some tulips for my only Easter themed decoration.  They make me happy and the kids have been so excited to watch them bloom that I think I need to do this more often.  There is nothing prettier than fresh flowers.

  

Lydia is getting so big.  She'll be two in May.  I was really happy to get a sweet photo of her this morning.

She rarely stands still so this is what I usually get

 

 After our Resurrection Sunday service, we attended the baptismal service for Elsa and Isaac and a few other believers.  

Dave and I felt blessed to watch these beautiful children make a public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ.

They are so happy to have done it. Best quote of the day was from Isaac "I've been praying a lot and it's kinda like it changed my life"  Sweet words from a precious 7 year old.

 After watching his little sister and brother be baptized, Adin decided being publicly baptized wasn't as scary as he thought it might be and he wants to take this step himself the next available opportunity.  I love how he never feels a need to conform to others' expectations.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter celebrating our Lord's Resurrection. 

Good Friday

We've all been struggling with colds and bad coughing around here and I've just been too lazy and tired to get anything significant accomplished.  I have plans for the spring and summer, oh yes I do, but for right now...I'm just surviving.

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Today is Good Friday.  The kids and I are going to be in town running some errands and then attending a celebration lunch with a sweet friend who has her last radiation treatment today.

I wish I had something deep, educational and heartrending to share like Missy at It's Almost Naptime.  But since I'm not so eloquent, I'll link her post here.  Her idea of a Good Friday brunch is beautiful and I think I will start that next year with some girlfriends and their kids.  I would love to devote more energy to this special day to prepare our hearts and minds for Resurrection Sunday.

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I still have to decide what we're having for Easter dinner.  I'm uninspired, but I'm sure the kids and I will come up with a delicious menu.

 On Sunday, we'll be going to church and then later in the afternoon Elsa and Isaac are to be baptized.  Dave and I are so pleased.  Elsa brought it up first and Isaac said he wanted to do it as well.  Our church just happened to be holding it on Resurrection Sunday.  It is a fitting day for such an occasion and it will be a blessing to witness their baptisms.

We'll likely cap off Sunday with the final installment of The Bible.    We've been touched and awed so many times, especially watching Jesus' birth and ministry.  It's been fun to listen to the kids fill in details they know that aren't touched on in the mini-series.  They absorb so much more than what we think they do.  If you aren't watching The Bible yet, it is worth your time.

A Valentine's Candy Bar

I'm not a huge Valentine's Day fan.  Though I love the colors and the focus on Love, the whole "holiday" feels like such a manufactured celebration, designed to sell cards and flowers.  It seems the men in our lives are supposed to become Don Juan, while for all those that are single, it's another day that reminds them of what they don't have.

My pessimism aside, I still bought my husband a mushy card and present. For the kids I found a cake pop maker on clearance at Sam's Club, so I know they're all going to be really happy.  

I also like to incorporate a little bit of pink fun into my decorating.  

 This year I found a sweet little glittery heart banner at Michaels. 

  

The rest of these items here are just from around the house. 

I bought this baguette board from Decor Steals last fall and I enjoy the rustic charm it brings to all my vignettes.

There's a little something for everyone here.  Werthers and Coffee candies, as well as peppermint, lemon and chocolate candies.  In the jar is are pineapple candies Dave brought home from Hawaii.

The kids are loving the "candy bar".  I can safely keep all of this out since the older kids always ask before taking one, and sneaky little Lydia can't reach the back of the dresser yet.
 

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 Last week when we were at Barnes and Noble, Elsa spotted this devotional.  She's been trying to read her Bible daily and so she requested this beautiful hardbound book to help her stay focused.

 

 How could I say no to that?  So I decided to get the adult version for myself also.  Taking that time daily to spend with the Author of Love is more important than anything else I do in this life.  

I've got to say, I was heavily influenced by the lovely birds on the covers of these.  Aren't they gorgeous?

  

We're going to spend time on Wednesday learning about St Valentine and the origins of Valentines Day.  I hope all of you have an amazing week.  

Linking to:

Making The World Cuter Monday @ Making The World Cuter

Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple

Meet Me Monday @ You Are Talking Too Much The DIY Showoff

Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill

Creative me @ The Southern Institute Martha Mondays @ Watch Out Martha 

I Gotta Try That!
Show me what you got @ Our Delightful Home

Knick of Time Tuesday

Tuesday's Treasurer @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

Power of Paint Party @ Domestically Speaking

Be Inspired @ Elizabeth and Co. Tutorials and Tips @ Home Stories A2Z

Twice Owned Tuesday @ House of Grace
 Uncommonly Yours @ Uncommon Designs Online
Share It @ The Winthrop Chronicles
Party @ Organize and Decorate Everything
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home 
Pretty Things @ Twelve-O-Eight 
 
 

Fall is bearing down...

Oh, yes it is.  And it's very early :(  Based on the fireweed and turning leaves, we should have snow within 3-4 weeks.  As I showed you last year, {click here}, Autumn in Fairbanks goes by faster than can be believed, so I don't want to be caught unaware.  

There are ideas and projects galore to blog about, but with the changing of the leaves, I have had to focus instead on getting us all ready for winter.  I have been cleaning our pellet stove, painting decks and doors and pressure washing the house.  More on those later...

Today, in contrast to the rainy cold days we've been having, it was a balmy 73 degrees, so I dragged the kids outside for a photo shoot.

Our family has been wanting to see some more photos of the kids (my blog has been really helpful in keeping them in touch with what's going on in our lives) so please bear with me as I show off my babies.

Here is the setting.  A chair on the side of the yard next to the well

Complete with a large pile of moose droppings (just for atmosphere...careful where you step Mama!)

It was pretty shady where I put them, but they all still complained about it being too bright 

I'll start oldest to youngest

 Adin ~ 11 1/2 years old

 Those eyes...sigh

Elsa ~ 9 years old

Isaac ~ 6 1/2 years old (he'll be 7 in October)

 Love those dirty little boy feet

Ephraim ~ 4 1/2 years old

I may just retake these since little man has a split lip from making contact with a step edge on the stairs

Lydia ~ 15 months

 

My 3 sons :)

My girlies

All my babies together

I'm going to try and make some time over the next couple of days to show off some projects and a couple more book reviews.  

I hope your week is going fantastic!