He Holds All Things Together

When Maggie, Gracie, and I were cooking together yesterday, I noticed a little something.

Do you like how Gracie thinks that she's the one mixing, but I'm the one who is actually holding the mixer and keeping it from coming out of the bowl and making a tremendous mess?

Whenever I do that, I think about how much I live with an illusion of control.

I like to think that I plan fairly well, make decent decisions, and generally don't let things in my life get too crazy.

All of that is an illusion.  

As much as I can think I'm keeping things running smoothly, it's just not true.

When things are going well, and life appears not to have any wacky speed bumps, that's because of God's grace.  Life is under HIS control.

When life is hard and times are trying, that's under HIS control, too.  And we have victory in those difficulties because of God's grace.

God is the one who holds all things together...not me, even if I mistakenly think so.

And sometimes, all it takes is a cutie pie 3 year old attempting to use a mixer to remind me :)

It's Fort Time

Oh, friends, it's been a week...a good week!  But, a busy week nonetheless.  

I didn't post yesterday because doing so would have stressed me out.  

And I don't want blogging to stress me out!

So, I'm back...the world can go on turning ;)

Anyway, here's an activity that isn't rocket science.  

Is rocket science even fun?

Maybe it is...to rocket scientists, but I'm not that smart.

I feel like making forts is so obvious that it almost doesn't even count as an activity idea.

But, here's the thing.  Sometimes I get all perfectionist-y with stuff like this.

I think that the fort has to have like different rooms, 

a heating and cooling system, 

indoor plumbing, 

and a pantry.

When all you really need is a couple of chairs and a blanket/quilt.

A little room service never hurt, either!

Have a great weekend!

A Little Thought...

Good Morning, Friends!

We are having a busy week here!  I am coordinating food for 100+ people for our church's VBS-esque thing.  I say coordinating, because people signed up to bring food and I have helpers in the preparation and serving.  It's still a big (and FUN) job.

Anyway, we had our small group at our house last night, so I didn't get to write a post, so I'm going to share a few verses with you instead.  

Because, who are we kidding, Scripture is better than me any day :)

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish?  After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?  Have you experienced so much in vain?  So again I ask, does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?   

Galatians 3:2-5

I don't know about you, but I can use that reminder!

Rest well in Jesus today <3

Coming Home

I am interrupting the previously scheduled "Because summer should be fun" series post with an update of cuteness!

We are in Kansas City right now visiting with our friends, Ryan and Becca.  We are having such a wonderful time!

Leah said some reeeeally cute things on our way to KCMO (oh, you know, that's what all the cool kids call Kansas City, Missouri).

• As we were driving through rural America, Leah said, "When we drive in the country, I wonder where 3 people live."  I asked, "Who?"  Leah replied, "Katherine in my class lives in the country and so does Mary Ann.  But, I also wonder where The Pioneer Woman lives."  Kind of like PW is her personal friend :)  So cute!

• We kept driving (and driving and driving and driving) through more rural America and Leah said, "Do Ryan and Becca live in the USA?"  There's no way you could still be in America after driving for 6 and 1/2 hours!

• When we were driving over 1 of the bridges into KC, Leah looked over and saw another bridge and asked, "Mom!  Is that the London Bridge?"  I considered going into the whole London-Bridge-isn't-even-in-London-but-really-in-Arizona thing but figured that would just confuse things :)  I settled for just telling her it wasn't the London Bridge!

Maggie had a super sweet comment as we were walking to Ryan and Becca's church this morning!

We were walking and holding hands, and Maggie looked down at the cracks in the sidewalk.

She stopped abruptly and exclaimed, "MOM!!!  LOOK!  There's an X cross on the sidewalk!  ...they have everything in Kansas City!"

I love her guileless astonishment about common things in life.

We'd love your prayers as we drive home.  Leah and Maggie generally do pretty well in the car, but Gracie can be hit or miss when it comes to pleasant car ride behavior.  But, who are we kidding, we can all use prayers in that department...me, too!

If you haven't yet, be sure to enter my Naptime Diaries giveaway!  I'll pick a winner on Tuesday.

I'm linking up with Blair at wild and precious today!

Imagination Imitates Life!

Gracie was sick with a little bit of vomiting last week, so yep, you guessed it!

Maggie and Gracie pretended that their dollies were sick...with the flu, of course.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or shake my head.

But, I laughed...and laughed and laughed!  

And took pictures so you could laugh, too :)

Have a great day!

Big Shoes

This is so adorable that it necessitates its very own post!

Also on A Perfect Saturday, we helped our friend Andy move some stuff to his new apartment with his new wife.  He's staying with us until he and Steph get married.  

Graice was eager to help!

Nothing's cuter than a little girl with big shoes :)

Happy Tuesday!

Corn on the Cob Time

Snapping a picture

of a cute little girl

sinking her teeth

into a warm,

buttery ear of corn

is much harder

than you'd think!

But, it's very exciting when you do!

And totally worth the effort <3

Hope your day is full of cute, summer sweetness!

Tallest Tower Everrrrrr!!!

"Mommy!  Mommy!  Let's make the tallest tower everrrrr!!!"

So, we did!

And, after that, we even made one that touched the ceiling!

Gracie was excitedly jumping up and down and exclaiming, "The tallest tower everrrr!  Everrrr...everrrr...EVERRRRR!!!"

No wonder she fell right to sleep at night...all of that excitement wears a girl right out.  

That, or the fact that she played with her stuffed Minnie Mouse the whole time she was supposed to be napping and didn't sleep at all.

But, I'm going with tower building excitement ;)

A Moment of Maggie

Maggie woke up the other morning and declared that it was her dolly's birthday!

She plopped the doll in her seat, put the birthday cake on the table, and led us all in a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday."

Such a sweetheart <3

This kind of redeems something for me, though. 

When we moved here over 5 years ago, I was so, so lonely.  Leah wasn't quite 2, and we moved into our house at the beginning of the longest, snowiest winters in a reeeeally long time.  Aaron traveled a lot for work, and I'd take Leah to my parents house (over 2 hours away) so we weren't by ourselves.  This meant I didn't get to church very often to get to know people because we were gone so much.  

The loneliness was heavy and stifling.  

So once when things were really slow and boring and we just needed to do something, Leah and I took $5 to Walmart and bought mini cupcakes and sherbet to celebrate her Cabbage Patch doll's birthday.  We even made a happy birthday sign for her.  We sang and had a little treat, just to have something to do.  

And it was my idea...Leah was along for the ride (which she greatly enjoyed).

I'm really grateful that God has moved us beyond that lonely time of transition, because when I look back on it, I still feel a little sad for the 5-years-ago-Becky.

But, I'm even more grateful that I can look at Maggie singing "Happy Birthday" to her doll and celebrate the joy and creativity that are simply a part of who she is.

She's a Go-Getter!

My Gracie Kate is a go getter!

When we were at my parents' house for March Madness (yes, there is snow on the ground at the end of March), my dad and 10 year old nephew, Jonathan, were shooting baskets outside.

Gracie wanted to go out and see what my dad was doing, and naturally wanted to participate.

I love that she didn't care that she was significantly littler than Papa and Jonathan...she just wanted to jump in!

Look at that sweet smile...waiting to get the ball!

2 year old spunk is priceless...

...just like my girl.


Linking up with Shannon!

A Sweet Moment Framed

Gracie was pretending to have a tummy ache, so Maggie was being Dr. Maggie to the rescue.

You guys, they play like this all.the.time.  Seriously!

OK, that was the biggest lie I've ever typed out loud.

They love each other a lot, but, just like their mommy, they aren't perfect.  They fight sometimes and pester each other on purpose.  But, most of the time they are little buddies.

These are the sweet moments that I want to freeze and frame and remember forever <3


Oh, I posted a lot later than usual yesterday, so if you didn't catch it, here it is!


I'm linking up with Shannon!

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily...

Gracie came up to me the other day and said, "Mama, you get me sweeper please?"

I got her the little broom from the pegboard in the basement stairwell, and as I was bringing it back to her, she was singing, "Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily..."

I love that an upside down stool becomes a boat and that a broom becomes an oar.

I delight in Gracie!

I delight in her spunk.

I delight in her silliness.

I delight in her carrying her pack pack while wearing hilarious dress up clothes.

I delight in her making her dollies talk and seeing how she nurtures them.

I delight in the fact that she actually eats soup!

I'm SO not a perfect mommy, yet I delight in her.

That makes me think about how much our perfect, all knowing Heavenly Father delights in us.  

To know that God, who sees inside my heart and knows all of my failures and shortcomings, delights in me is humbling.  

I find it hard to delight in someone who, in a certain moment, is selfish and sinning.

God doesn't find it hard.

Not one bit.

And, I don't know about you, but that makes me want to walk through my day very, very merrily!

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

I'm linking up with Shauna!

My Maggie

Maggie had her Pre-K screening last week.

She was so.excited!

I was excited for her!  Ever since Leah's been in school, Maggie has wanted to go, too.

I did my best to prepare her for it.  I told her she had an appointment at school and that she'd get to go with a teacher by herself to play some games.  

I was a little concerned, because she's been a tiny bit socially hesitant lately (am I the only one who doesn't love labeling people as "shy?")

Maggie was a champ, though!

But, guess who had a hard time?

THIS girl!!

As she was getting ready to walk down the hall with the teacher, I knelt down to talk to her and said, "OK, Maggie, you get to go with the teacher now..."

Then, I literally had to stop talking so I wouldn't burst into tears.

I managed to tell her to have fun and let her know she could wave to Leah in her room.

You know, obviously Maggie isn't the first of our children to go to school, so you'd think it wouldn't be such an emotional thing for me.  

But, there's just something about Maggie.  She's so sensitive and that makes her seem more vulnerable somehow.  Like she's just a little heart running around...

I'm beyond thankful that Jesus goes with her and before her.

As you can see, she did great!  

And, I pulled through, too :)

7 going on 17

There's just something about this photo that makes Leah seem so grown up.  I don't know if it's the way she's holding the mug or the way she's curled up on the chair or the fact that she's drinking tea*.  

Maybe it's because it was just her birthday, so I'm painfully aware of the passage of time.  

The days are oh so fleeting.  

I pray that she still wants to sit at the counter and talk to me when she's 17...that she's as eager to involve me in her life as she is now.

I'm so grateful that God goes before us in the parenting journey.  I'm grateful for the many good days I've had with Leah lately, and that God is giving me the gift of the benefit of the doubt when I respond to her behavior.

I'm grateful for every day that I have with each of my darling daughters.



*And by "tea," I mean hot-ish water with honey and freshly squeezed lime juice (didn't have lemons).  She woke up with a yucky throat...the "tea" did the trick :)