my best friend.

My husband rocks.
He has integrity and perseverance.
His strengths are my weaknesses.
He prays with the children every night and tucks them in when I can't.
He reads to the kids in funny voices and faces that makes them all laugh.
He daily prays and speaks blessings over his family.
He plays board games, wrestles and tickles.
He can get the kids to the next level of Wii and DS games.
He builds forts.
He is a great disciplinarian.
His faith seeps from the depth of his heart.
He shares his faith with others.
He is really, really smart and isn't prideful.
He uses big words.
He makes memories.
He truly tries to understand me and is getting really good at it.
He believes in me.
He loves me as I am.
He laughs and is thankful for us.
He makes me laugh like no one else.
He wants to continue to change and grow and is the first one to say sorry.
He loves to read and is an amazing writer.
He is a wonderful teacher.
He dresses pretty cool.
He can cook and clean.
He can do a mean foot rub.
He knows me and all my weaknesses and isn't fazed by them.
He is my best friend.
I am so blessed. True story.

"The laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father, warmth of loving hearts, lights from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship; home."

Victory, Favor and Protection!

Thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads me in triumph [as a trophy of Christ's victory] and through me spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit. ~ Job 10:12

Because God is my refuge, the High God my very own home, evil can't get close to me, harm can't get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard me wherever I go. ~Psalm 91:9-11 (The Message)

Kitchen Update!

I had to post a week worth of blogs because our house was in quite a state last week with the final kitchen repairs and updates. It has been a journey from July to now. My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Justin who did the work for us. It would not have got done at all or looked so great if it wasn't for him. Over the past almost 9 months he found us clearance deals, worked after house, found extra materials and parts left over from other jobs. What started as just the floor,deck and door-wall repair ended up also being counters,back splash, lights and an amazing pantry. He said he would give us Gucci on a Walmart budget and he really did. He has been an ANGEL to us! My kids adore him and even miss him being around the house working. Thank you Justin!!!! It is AMAZING and we don't feel worthy!


Desk area Justin custom made for homework and writing.

Big pantry for Mama! Five big shelves to hold enough food for our family. No more stuffing things into the microwave for storage! woot woot!

Slimmer island so it is easier to get into the refrigerator.

77 cent clearance tile, discontinued back splash, second hand materials and "broken" and unboxed lighting fixtures look pretty darn good together if you ask me!

I give, and [gifts] are given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. ~ Luke 6:38

Bibles at Breakfast!

My children have continued to all read the bible in the morning as I prepare breakfast. I can't tell you how good this makes me feel. I just LOVE it! Rowan has even been flipping the pages of the bible he got for his dedication.






Through skillful and godly Wisdom is my house (life, home, family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ~ Proverbs 24:3-4

Our outdoor "pets".

We love to sit at the dinner table and watch our "pet" deer in the backyard. They are even friendly with Scarlett. We have had up to a dozen at a time up around our deck. They are so graceful and beautiful to watch and excellent entertainment for the kids. Thankful for God's beautiful animals to give us such enjoyment.

Happy Anniversary Aunt Laura and Uncle Tim!

Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary to my beautiful Aunt Laura and always witty Uncle Tim. What a great example of God's love for us show in this couple! God Bless you with many more!



When I walk in love God is present. ~ 1 John 4:12

Happy Dedication Day!

This past Sunday we had both Rowan and Orion dedicated at church. It was such an awesome service. We had so many friends and family that came out to join us in dedicating our babies to the Lord. Both the boys got really neat bibles from our pastors and Rowan got his special "Deuter" monkey from Baby Be Blessed. It was such a beautiful, special day!

Rowan with his godparents. Our best friends Jay and Amy.

Rowan and his monkey.

Rowan, Orion and cousin Lindsay.

I commit my family to God [I deposit them in His charge, entrusting them to His protection and care]. And I commend them to the Word of His grace [to the commands an counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build my family up and to give us [our rightful] inheritance among all God's set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). ~ Acts 20:32

Mixed Emotions.

Have you ever felt so many things at one time that is almost overwhelming? This weekend was a whirlwind. Surreal. Joyful and painful.

My last competition with my seniors. I've been teaching Jill and Jess since they were 9 and 10 years old. These relationships have grown over years and are now very close. Our families are intertwined so tightly. I love these girls. I have watched them grow into beautiful performers and women. I am so happy to see them move to the next chapters of their lives but I will miss them terribly. Bittersweet.



My daughter Ruby also got to perform for the first time with my junior group. Yet, another bittersweet moment. My baby was up on the big stage singing and dancing her heart out with her friends. She was so excited and mama was a ball of nerves. It was so fun to see her jump around with excitement as she put her costume on and see her eyes light up when she saw the stage. My little girl just LOVES being on stage. I'm so excited to see where this love takes her. I have no clue where she gets it from.


At the very end of the competition weekend at the last awards ceremony I got a surprise. I was honored to be named the "Director of the Year". It was very unexpected. I was even asked to give a speech! I actually usually don't like that sort of recognition because honestly, I know that my talent and gifts with teaching are not my own. This award has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in my life and the gifts God has given me. To him alone should go all the glory for any thing I accomplish in this life. I will take no credit. None.
My ability to do anything good for his glory in itself is such a group effort. So many people help me every day to do what I love to do.

My husband who watches our four kids while I work, travel, and go all over the country with students to compete and audition. He is my angel and best friend.
My kids for understanding why I can't usually help with homework or tuck them in most nights.
My parents who paid for countless lessons, camps, workshops and colleges.
My students who allow me to push them farther then they think they can be stretched.
My student's parents who trust me with their children and their precious gifts.
My friends and extended family who continue to love me even when I have to miss out on time together because I'm so busy.

If this award should go to anyone it should be to all of you. This woman would be nothing without all of you. I couldn't do God's work or even keep my sanity without all of you. I am forever thankful. This one is for you!




Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. ~ Matthew 23:11-12 The Message

Rowan is almost 4 months old!

I am trying to get one good picture of my sweet baby every month. Here he is at almost four months in the buff. I can't believe he has only been with us four months and even more incredible, that four months have flown by and my "tiny" over 20lb and over 2ft long baby is almost four months old!



"A mother understands what a child does not say." ~ Jewish Proverb

Mom's translation of this photo: Really mom... naked? Well, since you are asking for it I am going to pee all over your nice duvet cover. ha ha ha.

Total Chaos.

Kitchen repairs = Mommy goes crazy!
This week has been nothing short of impossible in terms of order and routine.
I think these pictures speak louder than words.

I'm so blessed by my students!

Competition season has started.
I am so lucky to work with kids that have the same fire and passion that I do for music and performing.
I love these kids!


What guides us is children's responce, their joy in learning to dance, to sing, to live togehter. It should be a guide to the whole world. ~ Yehudi Menuhin

Ode to my husband.

Today Seth has:

Gotten the boys off to school.
Watched a Barbie movie with Ruby.
Attended a parent meeting.
Changed three cloth diapers.
Done the dishes.
Made dinner.
Taken all four kids to Tae Kwon Do.
Fed the baby two bottles.
Did his homework and helped the kids with theirs.
He really is amazing.

I am so blessed to have this man as mine.

Before I met my husband, I'd never fallen in love. I'd stepped in it a few times.
Rita Rudner

You shall never defeat me evil laundry!

“I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry, because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life?”

I painted this over my washer and dryer to be a motivation.

At least it's a room with a view.

The boys hamper ALWAYS looks like this. It is like a never ending fountain of dirty underwear.

folding, folding, blah, blah, blah....
I have made peace with the fact that it shall never all be done. I shall rejoice that we have clothes to wear and think not about the hampers that are forever overflowing.

“After enlightenment, the laundry.” Zen Proverb

Brothers

Never in my wildest dreams would have I thought I would be the mother to three boys. Now, I can't imagine my life without these funny guys. Rowan sits in the middle at the breakfast table and Orion and Ryan spend time each morning trying to see who can make him laugh first. Usually, it is me who is the first one laughing.


Really? That is the best you got?


The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out his nose. ~Garrison Keillor

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." ~Harmon Killebrew

A brother is a friend given by Nature. ~Jean Baptiste Legouve

Do what I say AND what I do. (an experiment)

As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are my children in the hands of the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 18:6

This morning the kids and I all got up early and so after getting dressed and breakfast there was an awkward amount of time before we needed to be out at the bus stop. The "big three" decided they wanted to play with their ds games.



Big sister wanted to teach Rowan how to play.


Mommy decided to grab some fancy coffee and read her bible.


When the kids saw me reading they all one by one put their games down and picked up their bibles and started reading.



I think it is so important to always remember that our kids are always watching us.These early years they are so impressionable. They are more likely to do what we do then just what we say. I hope that what happened today starts a tradition of reading our bibles until it is time for me to send my little ones off to school each morning.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.- NLT