Lady Bugs & Skunks

We have been watching our step this last week because lady bug larvae were everywhere! 

I was happy to see this little guy this morning on some lamb's ear. 

The sweet peas have been growing for awhile and today was the first time I saw one with a couple of flowers.  I hope to keep the deer away from them, but that is a hard, constant battle! 

Speaking of critters, we had an unwelcome 24 hour guest in our garage this week.  We closed our garage door the other night without realizing a skunk was inside.  The next morning we awoke to find the remnants of a wild night with dog food spread about the garage floor and a sleeping skunk in the corner.  I'm happy to report he left without any "stinky problems" the next evening.  

Our pumpkin vines are beginning to show some growth!

I love to see flowers in unexpected places.  These alyssum are a welcome addition to this little wall.

My tiny little lamb's ear plants from last year are GIANTS right now and about to bloom.

I only lost a few buds of Jupiter's Beard to some deer a few weeks back.  It is filling in nicely in this planter. 

The cool, light green leaves of the Lamium look lovely tucked in under the Jupiter's Beard. 

Jupiter's Beard, Lamb's Ear, Hydrangea, and Alyssum enjoying some morning shade by the kids' favorite sitting rock.

Be kind

Ephesians 4:32

To My Mom :)

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! 

Love you!

Tummies, Anniversaries & Mother's Day

About two years ago, my kindergartner started complaining of tummy aches.   

After a series of doctor's appointments and tests, my husband and I celebrated our 11th anniversary in a hospital in LA on pins and needles as our little boy had his first major tummy surgery.  You can read all about his malrotation story here. 

Four days later, we brought our son home on Mother's Day.  It was the best Mother's Day ever knowing he had a much needed surgery that would not only end his tummy aches, but that would prevent some potentially serious issues with his intestines. 

This time of year as I celebrate our anniversary and Mother's Day, I am thankful for the health of our two sons and the opportunity to be their mom!  God has blessed my husband and I with two adorable, smart, crazy kids!  

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! In my opinion, it's not just a day to celebrate mothers, but families! Enjoy those kiddos who made you a momma!

Baby "Owlet" Shower

Today I was blessed to help out at a baby shower for a friend at school.  I coordinated some games, prizes and party favors.

These cute little guys were cut using this pattern from the Silhouette Online Store to adorn the tables holding treats.  

A simple pink paper "booklet" was the source for our games.  Included in the booklet were a literature game and spelling game.  

Spelling Game:

Using the letters from mom and dad's name, guests had to see how many names they could create in three minutes.  The winners of the various categories (most names, longest name, most interesting name, etc) won either a BabyRuth candy bar or a bookmark. 

Literature Game:

I found this great idea for a shower game to figure out the titles of children's books. 

Prizes for the literature game were this cute little owl holding a Barnes & Noble gift card and mini composition books bundled up with a pen and bookmark. 

  

It was a fun celebration as we all eagerly await the birth of a sweet baby girl. 

Check out my pinterest board here for more owl baby shower ideas. 

Patience...

I love this passage of scripture, but it always makes me stop and think. 

Love is patient. 

Patience is not one of my best qualities! I desire to be characterized by love. I want others to see Christ's love in me and in the way I treat others. Thankfully, God is gracious and forgives us and is patient with us! So, with God's help, I'll keep working on this one. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. 

Spring...Inspiration

The current state of my yard:

Yikes! 

I keep telling myself it will look like this soon:

I have a simple plan when it comes to my garden.... 

Cover up the dirt with plants that are easy to take care of. 

Ok, back to the current state of the yard:

This is Lamb's Ear.  

My neighbor gave me some from her yard last year, and I planted it in various places. It definitely likes full sun, but does ok in part shade. (You can barely see it by the whiskey barrel in last year's picture.)  It is getting huge! I love the color, texture and shape of the leaf.  Did I mention it was free? My favorite kind of plant. 

We have four different colored lilacs on our property.  These always amaze me.  I don't really know how to care for them, but even when I neglect them, they are faithful to bloom.  Just like God's faithfulness to us.   

I just love when flowers/plants peak out between rocks like the alyssum and ornamental strawberry below.  

Oops! A weed. It won't be there for much longer. 

We weren't too successful with our sunflowers and pumpkins last year.  Hopefully this year they will do better. These little guys just peaked out of the soil in the last day or two.

I just love the little sunflower seed that is about to fall off of that new leaf.  

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.

I will sing your praises among the nations.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth. 

Psalm 108:3-5