Lord, That I May See

The girls wanted to know what presents I was going to get for my birthday.  Turtle wondered after nap why the balloons and streamers weren't up.  And thank goodness that D. had a hankering for brownies recently or we'd have nothing to put the candles in! Birthdays aren't the same when you are an adult.  But, rather than needing gifts and cake to make you feel special, you find yourself loving most the calls and the emails, the texts and the drop-in visits that show you that people have thought of you in their day.  I am loving most my two little handmade cards -- made with no prompting -- one decorated with watercolors and the other with stickers.  I also loved a treat out to get gelato with a friend, the pretty little gift bag with yummy food hanging on my doorknob today, the unexpected knock on the door to say hi, the aunt that called, the call from my dad as well as the friend I hadn't spoken to in 6 months, and D.'s grandma's card in the mail, faithfully ...

The Holy Spirit comes gently.  He is not felt as a burden.  The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console.  The Holy Spirit enables us to see things beyond the range of human vision. ~ St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

#1.     Happy Friday!   To start off, this is the song I have in my head today: #2.      A few more beach pictures: Rosebud and my little cousin, S., got along really well.  Hence their cute game of frisbee. #3.    I french braided my girls' hair today.  I love it.  I keep looking at them and marveling at how CUTE they are.  But honestly, how do people fix their children's hair every day?  It took me 30 min, there was wailing as I tried to brush haven't-seen-a-brush-in-a-week hair, there was wiggling and squirming and losing of the hair ties right as I needed them.  There was even discussion of who's hair looked better than whose!  And then, after all that work, Rosebud has pulled it out already.   I have great sympathy for my mother and her dealing with mine and my sisters' hair.  I remember this product was liberally used. :) Sunshine and her cousin, J. #4.   ...

People have been asking me how my vacation was.   It's actually a hard question to answer concisely.   We encountered several difficult family situations while on vacation this year.  While it was still the beach (who can really have a bad time at the beach?) it definitely wasn't all fun in the sun.  However, despite everything, one thing shone through to me:  I am so blessed in my family. My dad is amazing and strong and loving, as always, trying his hardest to do the right thing for his kids.  And he admires my mom with all his heart, and that makes me smile to see it. My mom is "tough as nails," wise, and ready to show that true charity has a backbone, even in the toughest circumstances.  My 4 brothers are fun, handsome and tender-hearted.  I am proud to see how they are growing. My teenage sister is beautiful, brave, clear-headed and strong beyond her years. My closest sister and former "roommate"  is one of the peop...

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ FOR TODAY June 7, 2011 Outside My Window...   summer sunshine I am thinking ... of Rosebud's trip to the dentist today.  Two sealants and the girls was a trouper.  Tears were streaming from her eyes and her sensitive gag reflex was acting up, but she did so well.  We went out to Starbucks afterward, just her and me. I am thankful for...   family From the kitchen... there is not much in the refrigerator other than salad dressing, eggs and pickles -- I seized the opportunity to wipe it out with no problem. :) I need to go post-vacation grocery shopping. I am wearing...    a brown skirt, and sleeveless tank and bare feet I am creating... an un-packed home I am going... to throw some sort of dinner together tonight.  Hey, we do have rice! I am reading...   The Blue Last, by Martha Grimes.  I tried to read it at the beach.  I used to go through 4 or 5 books in a two week perio...

Seen in 5 yr old's notebook: "[Turtle] rot vis down."