monday tweets

I've decided to do today's miscellany with twitter like hashtags instead of numbers. :)

#coldweatherphotos Hannah has been getting beautiful photos -- I think it's because it's been cold and windy and rainy and snowy {at least it doesn't stick} and not spring like. I love this one of my Gracie.

#willspringevercome The first of May in Minnesota was celebrated by 20mph winds accompanied with several bursts of snow showers. Oh yeah, and a high in the low 40's.  My new tweets are being accompanied with the above hashtag .  I am starting to think that my spring garden planting will be bumped back to being an early summer garden planting. Does that look like spring? That's my early morning view....

#kidandspaghetti Samuel still loves spaghetti. Now I make sure to purchase gluten free brown rice noodles {from my favorite store -- Trader Joes} and we boil up an extra pot of noodles. Samuel doesn't know the difference between noodles. {Sometimes I still miss the regular noodles.} Samuel is up half a pound, by the way. :)

#glutenfreeresults However, eating gluten-free has helped my spring allergies.  This year they're almost non-existent compared to years where they are so bad that I couldn't sit up. I went back and checked my blog archive from last year and there were multiple prayer requests for allergy relief. Ah, it makes those rice noodles taste even better.

#CeliacDiseaseAwareness May is Celiac Awareness month. This is so important to me ever since discovering that my Samuel {see his cute face below} has Celiac Disease. Those regular noodles, the non-rice ones? They are terrible for his body. The Trader Joe ones -- no harm. Please support bringing awareness for Celiac Disease. It is so serious, and needs to be spoken about. Check out celiaccentral 

#iheartmynewphone My contract finally came up with our cell phone company and I was able to upgrade my phone. My old phone was truly terrible. Really. When my new android operating smart phone arrived it was awesome. So I became the person in Costco staring at her phone in the middle of the aisle in front of the boneless skinless chicken breasts. And yes, I was checking to make sure they were gluten free. And yes, meat can sometimes contain gluten. And yes, we need stricter and more clear labeling laws. For this guy.

#support1in133 As far as labeling -- please check out this site which helps to promote clearer labeling for food labeled gluten-free. Samuel cannot have even a trace of gluten without it damaging his intestines. I do not ever want to see him as sick as he was in January and February. Therefore we NEED to have food labeled properly. I need to know that food labeled gluten free was not processed on a line that processed wheat. That's not gluten free, my friends. That's contaminated.





#2Timothy4:7 Last week was challenging. I'd love to blame it on the lack of spring weather. But it really was due to my lack of surrender and stubborn attitude. When I went to Costco -- where I searched for that gluten free food -- I found in the car my orange notecard holder of Bible verses. I began to read through them, and realized how much I need the Word and it's truth. My verse for this week? 2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight

I have finished the race

I have kept the faith.

Blessings on your Monday. And as usual, I'm linking up with my sweet friend, Carissa.

spring rules

Last winter I wrote about some rules that I've established. I've decided to continue on the rule theme and share with you some of my more "springy" rules.

my spring rules

:: feed the birds - even if it's with a recycled pop bottle bird feeder

:: do not compare lawns (or anything at all) with your neighbors

:: if your lawn is more brown just wait and have a bit of patience...your lawn will eventually green up. If it doesn't quickly go purchase Super Green at the Home Depot.

:: apply your fertilizer carefully so you avoid stripes -- always remembering with gardening horror what your  lawn looked like with stripes

:: take pictures of your daughters

:: always make a treasure map for easter baskets

:: continue to give Easter baskets to all of your children. Even those old ones.

:: thank your mother who still gives you your Easter Basket - with your favorite candies

:: buy bubbles

:: don't care if the bubbles spill

:: do not buy the crayola colored bubbles unless you want stains everywhere

:: resist them even though they look so fun and if you do buy them invest in good soap or be ready to explain away the orange colored hands. :)

:: write the current year with the word - spring - in chalk on your sidewalk

:: try not to care if your little boys run barefoot when it is only 54 degrees

:: spend the day cleaning your garden beds

:: order an iced coffee once the weather reaches 61 degrees. And sunny.

:: boil a dozen eggs for each child to decorate for Easter.

:: prepare to eat quite a few hard boiled eggs. (12x7kids =84 eggs)

:: let your kids hide the eggs for you

:: drive with the windows down

:: race with your kids while running

:: savor the returning health of Samuel (a new rule this year)

:: let your kids pick out plants for the garden

:: sit on the porch and read

:: take time to talk with your neighbors

:: make some lemonade with real lemons :)

:: wash your windows and then open them and let the curtains flap in the breeze

:: sit and watch your little ones laugh as they play outside

:: pump up the bike tires before they need to be used

:: try to ignore your allergies and just be thankful for the green

:: photograph buds in the days before they burst open

:: go for walks as a family

:: use the grill

:: pack away the winter stuff -- but wash it first

:: watch the sunrise

:: smell the spring rain

:: swing

and really

:: embrace the beauty and life found in spring.

balm for a spring heart

1} Thank you for the kind words regarding Samuel.  Most days I do great -- grateful and determined -- and then there are days where my heart simply feels heavy. I know the days will pass, it's just walking through it.  Your comments reminded me of many truths, and were a balm for my weary heart.  Thank you.

2} Samuel? He's doing better this morning.  He slept through the night {the first time ever -- and he's 18 months old}.  Sleeping through the night means his Celiac is getting under control.  He didn't sleep well prior because he was so hungry, and that was due to the damage to his intestines causing malabsorption issues. Sleep = absorbing food = good. Actually that = great.

3} I'm working on my Celiac facts post. In it my hospital and er story will be interwoven.  I'll just say this -- the nurses knew Samuel was really sick. The first ER doctor questioned me from the moment I walked in, was dismissive, and more. To this day, I am still deeply grateful for the nurses who dug in their heels and fought for Samuel. If I had simply listened and allowed them to discharge Samuel (which was the initial assessment which shifted after Samuel took a turn for the worse and the nurses arguing) he could have ended up in a coma within days. I know that God heard prayers that day. I know it.

4} I love this picture of Samuel looking out through the sliding door to our deck as big sister Hannah takes a picture. I love it because he looks well. And happy. And quite curious. :)

5} My family loves to watch Chopped on Food Network.  Last night was Chopped All-Stars -- and if you're a fan -- like us -- you'll agree it was the best one ever.  And honestly, it was just what I needed. A break.  A bit of laughter. {Do any of you watch?}

6}Brennan {who is seven}finished up a unit in science on animals. First, I'm amazed at the facts that I forget -- especially since I teach my kids and well, we've done lots of units on animals. And second, I absolutely love this picture Brennan drew of an insect {can you guess which word I wrote? after I heard,"aw, mom there are too many words.}  Too cute.  It for sure will be going in the save box.

7} I'm itching for spring cleaning. And purging.  {Okay that was totally random, but I thought of it when I typed the word save box.}

8} I looked back at a post I wrote last year {thoughts of spring} -- about me taking a perennial garden walk in the morning and the joy in viewing my little crocus plants peeking up with their purple flowers -- and I'm letting out a big sigh this morning. The only flowers I see are those yellow daffodils in the kitchen. Outside is covered in snow.  Spring will really come.  Someday.

Okay I need to know: 

Are you a spring cleaner? Do you take a week off to clean? A day? 

And what do you do with the stuff? Garage sale? Donate? Or more?

Have a great Monday.  And if you live in a place where it really looks like spring enjoy your Monday even more. For me. And take a garden walk and look at all those beautiful flowers.:)

Today I felt like this...

do we look like this?!

...family in the classic Richard Scarry book.  I was reading it to Caleb and Elijah, and the further I got into the story the more I began to relate with being the big family.  (When I was a child this was one of my faves...hmmmm....gets me thinking.)  Earlier today, after I had dropped of Hannah and Chloe at ballet (they teach), when I arrived home I had to unload all the remaining kids from the suburban.  Well, no big deal.  Except that my neighbors are getting a new driveway and the workers were taking a break.  Right in front of my driveway.  So they were watching as:

1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 emerged.

If only Hannah and Chloe had been there.  Then their jaws would have REALLY dropped.

I love being this family.  I love that the neighbor kids play at my house, and in my yard.  I joke that we have a child for each neighbor kid to play with.  Where I once used to cower and stutter about our family size I've now learned to hold my head up high and be grateful.  And proud.  And to state, "they are such blessings."  Boldly.  You see...we were told we probably couldn't have anymore children when my husband was diagnosed with cancer.  We had five then...a huge family by society's standards.  And yet, we've been blessed with those two little guys Elijah and Samuel since.  What blessings.  They are amazing gifts. Gifts that I will proudly unload from the crowded suburban in front of workers, or well in reality...anybody.

love my fam

Mother Stitches' words are true...our neighbor kids aren't lonely when we're around. :)  My kids are never lonely as well.  And, to be truly, honest, even though I'm super busy I wouldn't trade a minute of my time.  (Well...I could take a minute or two to sip my coffee...but other than that...oh...you get the picture!!)

___________________________________________

I just had to share this picture of tulips that I planted.  I can see them right from my kitchen window and they really brighten my day.  I love spring.  Except for the allergies.  They're brutal right now.

lovely tulips

Have a great Monday!

what I REALLY did...

Ahhh...to be humbled. If you read my previous post, why I NEED a spring break, you will find these plans for my day and week.  Ideas that, on paper, did NOT get followed today.  I did NO reading.  I didn't play with chalk.  I played the piano, but ooooh, too fast.  Moonlight Sonata is meant to be savored and I rushed through it, impatient, and knowing I needed to make lunch.  I didn't look at those flowers.  Well, I did...but only to pick up the petals that had fallen.  That laundry pile?  Still there.  Same height.  Same arrangement.  Blink is scattered on the kitchen floor, blown around from the constant gust of wind caused from the sliding door being opened numerous times each hour. And not on the schedule?  The arrival of our caterpillars.

What did I do?  Well, some ain't stuff.  I DID cut back the perennials from last year.  I could see the green of new growth poking through so I took my gardening sheers and did away with last years remnants.  I DID clean out the window well.  (I'm sure my daughters will thank me.  Right Hannah ?)   And I DID help Hannah work on her graphic design blog.  And I tried, one more time to introduce Samuel to some solid food.  Not too  successful. And I DID sit with all of my younger kids and read about the caterpillar.  Did you know it has 10,000 eyes?  Unbelievable.  And we DID talk about how we need to keep the caterpillars away from our, oh shall we say curious, two year old.  :)

But more than that?  I was there for my kids.  At least I tried to be.  Samuel was sooooo fussy today.  He wanted to be held.  Constantly.  At first I was so irritated.  Didn't he know about my to-do list?  My spring break list?  But, as the day wore on, it became clearer and clearer that he was my to-do list today.  He needed me.  Not me who was racing from thing to thing.  But me...the mom who could sit in the rocking chair and snuggle him.  The mom who didn't worry about the laundry (although I will attempt to tackle it tonight...again).  He needed his to-do list taken care of, not mine.

So I thought I'd post about it.   And in the same spirit of my post from earlier, I'm going to offer you some pictures.  Real pictures of today.

My REAL day

Samuel...earlier.

perennial bed...cleaned up

yard remnants

caterpillars

cereal attempt

...Hannah working

Samuel, finally asleep