that girl can jump --- and awesome giveaway

I'm linking up with Hannah's lovely photo wednesday with {ironically} a photo of my Hannah.  

Jumping.

In a way that I simply cannot jump. And certainly I could not jump like that and maintain any form of a smile. Or remember to put my arms up. Or point my toes. For that,  I'm so thankful for their dedicated instructors at North Ballet Academy who help train my daughters -- as athletic and graceful ballet dancers.

{that girl can jump}

******

And don't miss out!! --  I had the amazing opportunity to participate in a webinar with Gatorade and Stephanie Hamm {Mia Hamm, the Olympic Gold Medal Soccer player's mother} in mid May thanks to my publishing network,  Blogher.   See that picture above? That's in my post -- you're going to want to read it to see what I learned. And to see Hannah balancing on just her toes.

Visit my {new} giveaway and review blog for a chance to win a
 $100 giftcard to Dick's Sporting Goods.
 Yes, $100 for whatever you want. For free. Love that! 

click here to enter

Thanks so much for supporting me in this venture. If you could enter {it's super super easy} and/or tweet and/or blog and/or facebook about it I would so appreciate it. :)

~rachel

and so it begins....

Today begins the day of prepping for Samuel's biopsy tomorrow. I've got a pre-op physical scheduled for him this morning, and papers to prep, and lovey items to find for him to bring with to the hospital tomorrow. I feel like I'm pulling out this big book -- full of raw emotions -- and am opening it right back up.

I kind of wish it was Friday.

But, it's not, it's today. And today I will press on, keeping up my courage, and fighting the good fight. And believing for joy in the midst.

Thank you for Samuel.

Thank you for Samuel.

Thank you for Samuel.

I'm linking up with my lovely Hannah's lovely photo wednesday this morning. If you are a wordless wednesday type blogger and have a photo hop on over to her site and enter in.

I'm sure I'll be back with an update later today.  Thank you for your prayers.

I'm grateful.

a different view of the lights

We now interrupt my regular blogging to bring you a different look at me.

A silly one, perhaps?

It was one of those pics that Hannah snapped while I was putting lights up outside.

(Interested in those lights?  Read this post about why I put lights up -- memory strands)

So she asked me to strike a funny pose.  And this was the best I could do.

Oh well, it proves that I'm normal.  Right?

Or at least a mom.

Sigh.

(I can never figure out what compels me to put these pics up)

So here you go. Enjoy.

and yes, my garage is rather full of stuff.

Organized stuff.

Link up to Hannah's Lovely Photo Wednesday and share a pic of you.  Let me know you did -- and I'll be off to check it out.

sweet moments

I love little moments with my children.  More often, they're not planned -- they're those times that just happen.  I've learned to savor those sweet, blessed, moments in time.  Time is fleeting. The little ones grow.

They won't fit in my lap forever.

So, today, I read.  The same story again and again and again and again....

....and again and again and...

again and again...
and again.

***********

<a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a>
Hannah asked me to host Lovely Photo Wednesday for her one more time.  Thanks for linking in  -- I'm really grateful -- I wanted to keep Hannah's project up and running. Now, I'm going to have a hard time giving this up when she returns.  I've been blessed getting to view your pictures and getting glimpses into your lives.

(Hannah told me to remind you.....)
.... to link up and comment on at least 3 other blogs. :)

muscle man

<a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a>I love to check the clearance rack at Target for dress-up clothes on the days following Halloween.  I've scored some fab deals, and now have two dress-up boxes bursting with years of costumes to prove it.  This year - once again score - I found one of those muscle type costumes for 75% off.

This year's coolest costume find? -- Spidey-man.

I came home and was told that I was the best mom ever.

After the hour or so of different boys trying on the costume, little thirteen month Samuel crawls up to me, dragging the puffy red and blue costume with him.  So, of course, we had to try it on.  And roll the sleeves.  And take some pictures of  my newest little muscle man.

**********

(and remember to link up to Hannah's Lovely Photo Wednesday which is still temporarily found here.  Thanks!)

lovely photo wednesday's temporary home

<a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a>as many of you know, my daughter -- Hannah -- from the blog Aspire, is taking a blogging break.  She went on a retreat this weekend with our youth group where she realized she needed to take a stand.  Part of that stand was stepping back, reflecting, and truly giving her blog to the Lord.

I need to learn from her.

She asked me if I would host Lovely Photo Wednesday for her until she returns.  Of course I told her that I would -- because I love her -- and because I love the spirit behind Lovely Photo Wednesday.

Today's picture?  Of my lovely Hannah's feet perched on top of the leaves at camp.  She's taking a stand. 

She's got me thinking about blogging, about life, about choices.  Am I taking a stand? Are you?

Thanks for linking up.  I'm grateful -- I'd love to see this continue. :)

too many choices

That would be my daughter, Chloe, standing posing in front of the Edy's Ice Cream.    I had just picked her up from ballet, driven home in a crazy-wicked wind -- I'm talking gusts up to 50+ mph -- had almost got home when she asked sweetly for some sparkling juice.  So I turned around and went to the store where we got some Ice Sparkling water.  And a bit of ice cream.

5th position in front of the ice cream

I love that girl.  She really doesn't care what anyone thinks -- in a great way.  She can walk into the grocery store with wind-whipped hair, which is still in a ballet bun, a cute fall jacket, with shorts and ballet tights, and big brown, fuzzy, clog slipper shoes.  And, between you and me, she pulls it off perfectly.  Then, while we're in the store she'll pose, with perfect ballet hands, in front of the ice cream.

Beautifully.

Life has the moments that you can grab -- like laughing with my almost 13 year old in the aisles of a deserted grocery store.  Or later the same night, when I had my daughters come stand outside with me in the freezing wind -- the gusts could knock you over -- that wind was a rarity, a maybe once or twice a lifetime strong wind.  I wanted them to remember.  To remember a mom who laughed with them, enjoyed life with them, and loved them.  It's those little moments.  Those are the memories.

my new fave

Do you know what I love about having a photographer in the house?

Moments captured in pictures.

-- Like this one --

My Samuel and me

I don't know what it is, that Hannah caught.  I love the look of surprise on Samuel's face coupled with the remnants of cinnamon bread.  My favorite part? That Samuel grasps my hand even while I hold him.  There's beauty and happiness wrapped in the simplicity of holding hands.

Can't tell that I love him, can you?

(or that I have many, many, many freckles.....)

I know I've written about being thankful a great deal lately.  The posture of my heart yearns to be filled with gratitude -- not overwhelm, or anxiety, or want.  Somehow when I look at this moment captured in time I'm reminded, once again, of the blessings in my lap.  It's all too easy to lose the beauty in motherhood and children, and sometimes it takes a simple, yet beautiful, black and white picture to bring back the clarity.

(If you'd love to link up to Lovely Photo Wednesday, head on over to Hannah's blog -Aspire- and join in.)

I'm grateful.  So grateful.

remember

(taken in Minnesota on a dirt road on my cousin's farm)

I love this photo.  The juxtaposition between the clear skies and the approaching summer storm is awesome.  More than that, I love the urgency that can be felt -- as if I could relive the intensity of the moment before the first lightening bolt raced across the sky.

Thunderstorms are one of my favorite things about summer.

Now that it's fall, I'm saying good bye to them one last time.

Thunderstorms remind me of God.

He's all powerful.  He can start and stop a storm with one word.  With a whisper.

I need to cling to Him.

I can't outrun things, but I can pray.  And believe.

it's me, caleb

(such sweet words)

Whenever Caleb comes in the room he announces his presence with -

it's me, Caleb.

And today, September 15th,  it's that sweet boy's fifth birthday.

I love him.

Before he was born, I knew that his middle name was to be Daniel.  Knew it.  Then, after praying, both Todd and I felt that he was to be called Caleb.  His name together? Caleb Daniel.  Which means faithful and brave.

Caleb and me - he was six weeks old

October 2005

Little did we know that a short eight weeks after his birth, my husband, Caleb's dad would be diagnosed with cancer.  I would hold that little baby, rock him, and feel the goodness despite the worries.  When we'd go to the Cancer Center patients would line up to greet the baby -- my Caleb. He was hope in the midst of trial.

Caleb on the 4th of July

July 2009

And he's always held that special spot in my heart.

When I'm down, he brings me flowers.

When I'm sad, he gives me a hug.

When I laugh, he laughs louder.

When I work, he works besides me.

I love my Caleb.

I am so grateful to be his mom.

Happy Birthday -  It's Me, Caleb!

------------------------

the new groove

I'm figuring it out.

This is the first week back -- back to the fall swing.  The schedule.  The running around.  Homeschooling.

I'll still blog.  

I just need to get my bearings, figure out my schedule, and make it through this week.

Oh yeah, and catch up on some laundry.  Do some yardwork.  Clean.

And watch with joy as my kids learn -- it never gets old.

that's Chloe's hand as she drops an egg into salt water

Brennan, Caleb and Elijah thought it was so cool that it could float

I hope that your week was awesome.  Whether it was the start of a new routine or the continuation of an existing one -- I pray that you are renewed and invigorated.  Fall is my favorite.   How about for you?

And, of course, I'm linking up to my wonderful daughter, Hannah's, Lovely Photo Wednesday.  Check it out -- I think you'll be blessed.  Wait.  I know you'll be blessed.

how could you not love that cute face?

I feel so blessed to be his mom.
God is good.  Thank you for Samuel.

Remember to link up with Hannah's new Wordless Wednesday -- Lovely Photo Wednesday.

Till tomorrow! Or today!  Or soon!

I stole a photo...

...from my daughter, Hannah, from Aspire.  Who is also, by the way, the creator of the newest wordless/full Wednesday meme.  (love that girl)

Stolen photo?  Why?

Well --- I'm on her computer.  So I perused her fabulous photos and found this new fave of mine (what in the world were we doing?)  Hee hee hee.  Yep, that's Hannah and me.  With our hair held up by nothing.  Well, at least Hannah's  -- I had a bindy in mine (I was trying to copy her -- she is cool, you know!  Again, and yes, you know it, I love that girl.)

(okay, okay, okay -- she gave me permission to use it
probably because her hair looks cool and mine looks weird
and, yes, we love to play with the web cam.)

So LINK UP!  (that's an order!)
Click the button and join in on the NEWEST Wednesday craze.  Make this momma proud.




and, of course, I joined in with my midwest blogging buddy, alicia, for wordless wednesday. She did start me on this Wednesday craze -- we've got her to thank!!