here's the deal. but not the big deal.

"it's not this deal, that deal, some deal, or any deal. it's the BIG DEAL."

we are so blessed to attend a church with a wonderful children's ministry. michael and andrew from the big deal [along with many others] work very hard all week to bring God's word to our children in a language they can understand, through character and virtues. they do a magnificent job. we were so incredibly honored to be a part of their blog this past week. they were so impressed with our bench they wanted to share. very thankful for them every week.

jj is also from the big deal. hi jj. we absolutely loved having her visit with us and sit on our bench and chat about her life, our life, life. it was great! jack really took a liking to her, and was such the gentleman, every time he wanted her attention he would say, "excuse me," and that night at family prayer his prayer was, "thank you for jj." yes, Lord, thank you for jj. we look forward to hanging out again soon.

yesterday karen had the kids for the day. what a blessing for jeff and i to have the day completely to ourselves [karen, if we didn't already say it. thank you. thank you. thank you]. we started with a service project with jeff's life group. we laced, organized, and packed shoes for samaritan's feet. so great to get the opportunity to help that charity. if you are interested in reading more go here. we stopped at firehouse subs for lunch [found out kids eat free on wed. after 4pm and all day sunday]. off to ikea. enough said. fun. fun. fun. and then we met our 2 becoming 1 class for bowling at strike city. very cool place. almost too cool for me but really fun. i bowled a 71. for any non-bowlers out there...that's really pretty bad. jeff won the first game and just barely squeaked by with a 141. and then we ate dinner next door at wing cafe. it was so great to see all of them and just laugh and talk about kids, and jobs, and exercise routines, and recipes. a good day. so good for us to have that time. and so great to come home to clean. happy. ready for bed. babies. thanks again grandma.

this week and next my plan is
to
clean
my
home
every
nook
cranny
dust
bunny
one
room
at
a
time.

does anyone know how difficult it will be for me to only do one room at a time? Shannon? this will be hard. i am all or nothing. all in or all out. black or white. no gray. that's me. sort of. that's the old me. i am working on those lenses [see my last post] and going to try something new. spring cleaning one room at a time. a real deep cleaning. anyone else interested go here.

there are so many reasons why doing one room at a time will be good for me if i can get the hang of it.

1. i have children at home all day. they need some love and attention [not to mention meals] and it would be very "unmommy" of me to avoid them in order to clean all day.
2. i will really be able to do a good job. ya know, do my best for the 30-60 minutes or so.
3. i won't be completely drained. wiped. booshed. or beat. at the end of the day [who am i kidding?]
4. it will allow for us to do other things besides clean all day.
5. i actually plan on rousing the troops [children] and getting them to help in some of the tasks. they have their own daily chores, but this will be a good way for them to see how working together towards "the goal" will go faster, and mommy will be a lot happier because she is getting some help.

good stuff.

i'll let you know how it goes.

have a blessed sunday.

alicia

humbled on mother's day.

i had a humbling experience yesterday. no details. just know that it happened. it is a hard thing to be humbled in front of the ones you love most and on mother's day no less. but it is my perfect story of restoration and how God's love is amazing and it is right there ready for me (you) all the time. learning that because of my past (no details...we all have a past) i have "lenses" that make me see things a certain way, when in fact they may not be the certain way, but just how i may perceive them (am i making sense?). i prayed yesterday that God would restore my day and forgive me for seeing things "my way" and not "his way". well as you will see below He did just that. i serve a God that is amazing. and i feel so blessed to know that.
a little frame of my life right now: beautiful flowers from jeff, my bamboo plant (the only plant i can make live in my house), my backyard that i love, jack, lauren and macs observing, seed pots the kids planted on the hot tub, a hot tub (yes, it is on my back patio, love it, but we will be moving it very soon, right honey?), top left of the window sill a birthday gift from jack (his handprint), lysine on the bottom sill for lauren's cold sores, you can barely see it back there but we had an area at the back yard graded so we could have a flat area to run, and the icing on this...all the spots on my window, a reflection on how often i clean those things (if i go a little deeper i could say these are my dirty foggy "lenses" and until i say i'm going to take the step to clean them off they will remain dirty and foggy).
so jeff asked, "what would you like to do today?" we had just been to church and the guys in the big deal made a bench in less than 20 minutes. amazing! i told jeff, "i want that bench. i want us all to work together as a family and build a bench." here it is. and he even put a back on it so i could recline in comfort. i tell you this man knows his way around the power tools. thank you so much baby. i love it.
finishing touches.
jack and lauren observing a spider wrap up his catch.
setting up for a family shot you need a model. megan was very happy to help out.
here comes daddy.
and lauren.
jack.
and grandma.
don't forget macs.
and me.
now, here's what happens when you hand the remote to a 3 year old.
this.
and this.
and more of this.
he can't seem to stop.
stop. no way.
these photos brought to you by jack.

i woke up this morning thinking about that bench. i will forever look at that bench as a reminder of what God can do for me anytime, anywhere, at any point. in a way he is sitting on that bench, waiting for me (anyone). waiting for us to talk with him. visit with him. follow him. i love this bench. it will be a gathering place for my family. such a gift (and i love that the leader of this family..you honey...made it with his own two hands.)

have a blessed week!
alicia

florida fun.

the pictures really do speak for themselves.
we had so much fun with our family and friends (we missed you johnsens).
megan and elli two peas in a pod. loving the ocean.
lauren and riley doing their "thing". really so cute to watch them play together.
jack and charli char talking to each other and smiling. "praise the lord, charli".
shannon and i reflecting on stuff and encouraging each other in our walk with the Lord and with our families.
jeff and phil. riding the surf. laughing a lot. and nursing their ailments (boogie board bruises and back pain).
so proud of my mom out in the water. she really boogie boarded and did great.
elli and riley did great in the "esther" play.
saw shannon's family. so great to see everybody.
saw carla. so good to see her. hi carla. missed seeing emily and jacob. hi guys.
lots of pizza for dinner.
lots of sand.
lots of pictures.
not enough sunscreen.
church at calvary.
sleepovers.
good times.

happy thursday!
alicia

we interrupt this blog.

done with this.

and this.

taking a break from this.

and this.

and this.

so we can go here.

and here.

and do this.

with them.

and them.

and them.

can't wait.

be back next week.

have a blessed week.

alicia

spontaneity defined.

i would not say that i am naturally spontaneous.

spontaneous is defined as of a person having an open, natural, and uninhibited manner.

i think with home schooling and mothering [for me anyways] i have to create some sort of order/routine.

this works for a while.  it's good.

BUT

last night

we

did

something

way 

out

of

the

box

[about 6:45]

lauren and megan gently mentioned that today is Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's.

the "routine me" would have said, "it's 7:00. we have been gone all day long [or what seems like all day long]. your brother is a basket case [no nap today]. you need to get ready for bed. i want to go to bed."

BUT [here's the but again]

the "spontaneous me" [something i didn't realize i had] along with jeff said,

"let's go".

and that was it.

we headed down the road to our local B&J and stood in line for less than 10 minutes for a yummy spontaneous treat.  

now i like ice cream.

but to me this was not about the ice cream.

the old me yes it would have been all about getting a sweet treat.

BUT 

this was about something so much bigger for me [and jeff].

we realized how incredibly easy it is to get stuck in that daily routine.

you feel like your in a box.

wake up.  feed the kids. go to work [or stay home if you home school].  take kids to lessons.  be patient. be sweet. timeouts [mommy included].  feed the kids.  go outside.  go to the gym.  feed the kids [i didn't realize this was such a big part of our day].  spend time with each child.  make dinner.  get everybody ready for bed.  go to bed.  and do it all again tomorrow.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. my mommy job. my teaching time with the kids.  wouldn't trade it for the world.

BUT

we all need just a drop of spontaneity to keep those days from feeling so "the same".

found this website...pretty cool for some ideas on being spontaneous. enjoy!

who knew that a trip to Ben and Jerry's would revolutionize my thinking.

thank you to my Father in heaven who ALWAYS knows what i need.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan 

that can succeed against the Lord.   Proverbs 21:30

happy wednesday.

alicia

we walked.

on saturday we took part in a truly amazing event.

it was so wonderful seeing all the people that came out to walk for the same purpose.

juvenile diabetes.

the event was at carowinds in fort mill, sc.

our elli's angels team raised $545.00.

all the family teams combined earned over $700,000.

so great.

we love you elli and we would love for you guys to come here and walk with us next year.

can't wait to see you guys in a few weeks.  nine days to be exact.

happy monday.

alicia

three.

according to the other Jack Johnson three is the magic number.  

and I would have to agree.

i love this boy.

today he is three.

it is impossible to restrict my list of what i love about him to 3 things but in order to keep this short and get back to the birthday boy i will....

1. i simply love his enthusiasm for life.

2. he makes me laugh.  he got the funny gene.

3. he loves to be hugged and kissed, cuddled and tickled, but he also loves to play lion and trains, and cars and be loud.

happy birthday to my sweet boy!

happy weekend!

alicia