Cannon Beach

A trip to the beach - even just for the day - was among the list of things our kids wanted to do this spring break. We watched the forecast and planned the week so we could go on the nicest day. And the weathermen/women didn't disappoint. Friday was a cold but gloriously clear and sunny day.

It didn't matter what the temperature was or how much the wind blew. The kids still tip-toed in the surf and played in the sand. And ending the day with ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory made the experience complete.

One item on their spring break wish list accomplished :)

Borrowed From A Missionary

I read this on a missionary blog today. Wow how it resonates!!!

"He always provides, exactly enough, exactly when it is needed. He asks me to take this next step and I protest, “but I don’t have enough!” Not enough grace, not enough love, not enough strength, not enough time. And the widow (from 1 Kings 17) reminds me to be faithful anyway. Of course I do not have enough. But I have Jesus and He, He is always enough.


I am faithful with little. He is faithful with much.


So we breathe in. We put one foot in front of the other. We love each other well and we laugh until we cry and sometimes we just cry but He holds us then too."


This stirs my heart...it feels so close to home for me...I had to share it

Game Face

We enjoyed a window of wonderful spring weather tonight and got outside for a while as a family. There was some blue sky and a lovely light breeze, all in comfortable 60-something temps. Soccer was on the agenda, and I couldn't resist bringing the camera for pictures. Just as I can't resist sharing them with you now :)

grrr...bring your game face!

This evening truly was a breath of fresh air!

Not Too Big

I love that my kids are still holding onto their childhood. That even Emily, in middle school and growing up by the minute, still enjoys a little silly, imaginative play. This weekend she handed me two hand-drawn, paper quarters. She explained that I would know when to use them, then walked away. A while later, the doorbell rang, and here is what was waiting for me on the other side...

I wish these days wouldn't pass so fast!

Bloom Where You're Planted

"Bloom where you're planted."

It's a phrase we use from time to time at my preschool, usually to encourage a child to pick a seat and not get up and move around. But I find that phrase quietly surfacing in my mind lately. Not as an encouragement to physically find a spot, but to flourish in my life, right where I am. To look for the grace in each day (whatever the circumstance), lean on God, and grow.

No excuses.

No waiting for something/someone to change before I will.

Instead blooming, making the here and now beautiful.

White Stuff

The white stuff came!

I had serious doubts when I went to bed last night and it was a typical wet evening. I mentally chided myself for feeling let down...told myself I should've known better. But then I woke up this morning to a clean, sparkling landscape.

Yay for snow!!

(and look...the kids got to make their snowmen!)

Forecast

The media is abuzz with the prospect of snow this week. The latest prediction I saw was one to four inches here in the valley. The only problem is, try as they might, our weather forecasters aren't known for getting snow predictions right. This year they have promised it more than once, with nothing but icy rain to show for it.

Last week we had a couple of lovely white hours, with large, fluffy snowflakes that surprised and delighted many in the area. I happened to be at my preschool that morning, and it was so fun to watch the children come in with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. I would tease them, "Did you see the rain?" and they would laugh and correct me, "No Ms. Laura! It's snowing!" Then they would continue with stories of snow in their yard at home, catching snowflakes on their tongues, or driving through the snow to get to school. Unfortunately it went as fast as it came, and by the time the afternoon students were arriving, all signs of our frosty morning were melted away.

So, although I am skeptical about what weather we will actually receive this week, I can't help but long for a little more of the white stuff. Our children have yet to build a snowman this year. And visions of hot soup, cocoa, and reading by the fire are so appealing! Of course we can do that any day here in the cool, damp northwest winter, but somehow having snow outside makes it special.