A picture of hope...

We had 4 or 5 sunflowers pop up out of nowhere, I assume from the bird scattering bird seed around various spots in our yard. This morning on my run I noticed this one had bloomed, and it spoke to me.

Such a picture of hope.

A sunflower growing out of a dirty, paved, parking curb, right where Craig parks his truck. And yet, if it can thrive in such an unideal location, I am encouraged that I can do the same in my day to day life, no matter what the circumstances.

And look....it even got a great water supply today!

How I know it's summer

I am not a person who does "change" very well. I like advance warning and time to adjust. So, as much as I anticipate the summer months, it seem like it always take me 'til about the 4th of July to settle down into the summer "routine" (if it can be called that!) Last night I realized I am definitely settled into summer and I wrote down some reasons why I know this to be true:

1. My daughter fell asleep in her wet swimming suit on the carpet at 7pm, and didn't even stir when I carried her to bed and changed her into her jammies.

2. I had to wake the kids up at 8:30 this morning to be at church by 9:00 (WHEN does THAT, EVER happen?)

3. I have a vase of freshly picked sweet peas on my bedside table.

4. We have fresh raspberries on cheerios or yogurt in the morning.

5. Sometimes it takes me several seconds to figure out what day of the week it is.

6. This morning I was awakened by chirping birds and fresh morning air breezing though our french doors.

7. My boys are getting more and more freckles (so am I!)

8. My toenails are painted bright red (so are Anna's!)

9. I took the down comforter off our bed.

10. Applying sunscreen is now a part of our daily routine.

What things just say "SUMMER" to you?

Better and Faster

One of my most favorite kids book is "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". I love how even though all the steam shovels get cast aside for the newer and better models, Mike keeps his Maryann. And how a re-occurring line is "we always work better and faster when someone is watching us". And how the town mayor "smiles in a rather mean way" until the very end when he smiles in a way that is not mean at all. I never really thought about WHY I like the book so much, I just knew I did.

Well, yesterday Craig was home sick and so it was a really awkward day. First of all, he never gets sick, and second of all he's never home when the kids are in school and I'm going about my daily routine. It just doesn't happen so it felt kind of weird. But I continued as I would on any other day, and at the end of the day I was reflecting on just how much I accomplished. I folded clothes, I cleaned both bathrooms, the kitchen was tidy, I practiced piano with Wyatt, I went grocery shopping.....it was just a good day. I kinda realized that part of it was because I had someone watching me (even though he was napping 1/2 the time :). Then I thought of good ol' Mike Mulligan and Maryann and realized that I, too, work a little better and a little faster when someone is watching me.

There are days I feel lazy and the daily tasks around the house seem very unappealing. But what I realized is that even though no one may be here to watch me, I can still take every day as an opportunity to work a little better and a little faster.....cause God sees.

Enough of my rambling. Just go check out the book. Maybe you'll love it as much as I do!