Spring Perfection

Mother's Day brunch with my mom and sisters and their kids, sitting outdoors with my mom-in-law and family, standing quietly in the woods, my children dirt biking past me as I photograph birds, my husband flying his mini-plane nearby... it's spring perfection and I'm bubbling with gratitude. (1593-1598)

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

1599. texting Annie in Pt. Pelee to find out which birds she's spotted

1600. her son getting his 100 birds pin for finding 100 different species of birds there

1601. these spring days with few leaves so birds are easier to capture by camera

1602. getting schoolwork done quickly so we can go to the woods every single day!

1603. meeting new homeschoolers on the hiking trail

1604. how my mom-in-law called me just to say she got her first hummingbird to her feeder

1605. how I then put mine out and got one right away too! (I'm convinced they watch us!)

1606. Meg's fantastic awards, including special judge's awards in her dance competitions

1607. camaraderie of dance moms from years of driving and watching :)

1608. how Terry raced to see them and made it just minutes before she came on stage

1609. how Oliver cried his eyes out when he had to leave his caterpillar in the woods

1610. how his two sisters comforted him

1611. for mangoes

 

Leaf-Blower Laughter

She packs her cheeks with large grapes and resembles a pre-hibernation chipmunk. I've seen her do it with marshmallows too and it's belly-laughing entertainment for my husband's side of the family. Today, she trumped her cheeky tricks and brought the leaf blower she received as a Mother's Day gift and blew us all away... literally :)

Queen-of-all-cheeky-lady, Leanne (you do invent good times around here).

She coached us to also open our eyes for a flappier look but in the end, she was the only one able to accomplish this feat so frightfully.

Oliver couldn't resist the dry-mouthed fun.

 I couldn't stop laughing whilst that tornadic wind nearly knocked the breath out of me. 

 Braden, having a blast!

 Leanne attempted to get Kevin to relax a little more and let the flesh flow, but it only resulted in a wide-cheeked silent opera singer.

 Rob's face was perfectly loose and supple--just right for the task.

Kim raised her hand in surrender after she received a large, gusty blast.

 My husband drove his face into the wind and I'm not sure his bottom lip will ever be able to

sip through a straw again.

Leanne, proudly displaying her tool of joy and cause of all the leaf-blowin' laughter. Happy Mother's Day to my hysterical sister-in-law and dear friend.
 

To all moms out there who are celebrating the amazing occupation that includes small people (and big), God bless you. And, to the women who love on kiddos who aren't their own, you mean the world to us.

Strolling Through Mother's Day

783. quiet strolls in our greenhouses
784. how she knows the right angles for photos so I'm not the only one preserving memories :)

785. wisteria

786. how he adores driving around the peaceful fields at our farms

787. how I don't have to be concerned about them playfully running around this place on a Sunday

788. rows upon rows of new growth

789. how she can get lost in her own world

790. how dandelions trump beautiful and expensive flowers :)

791. Mother's Day... my way... here

792. colour--everywhere you look

793. the way she wrapped her arm around my daughter's shoulders as she talked with her lady friends after the service
794. how I can always count on her--always

794. my favourite mommas

The Mothers Of These Children

The mothers of these children are best friends--and sisters. They laugh till they cry and they phone with exciting news. They share deep history and can quote all of The Rescuers and the lyrics to a thousand songs that shaped their childhood. They love to be together and don't miss a chance to plan an outing or class trip for all ten homeschooled babes. But these moms, they question their ability to be good moms--whatever that means. They cry as they rise again with a sick child and just don't have what it takes anymore. They complain about the messy state of their homes. They lay their heads down with guilt at the end of the day when they've been too hard on their little ones.But there's one thing the mothers of these children know... there is grace... and forgiveness... and wisdom, in abundance, if requested by the Creator of motherhood. These moms are learning to extend mercy to their children and in return, they're receiving mercy. Like that already-scraped-up one who falls out of the tree after being told not to climb again, these moms clamour to figure it out for themselves and read all the books when He's continually told them to lean on Him. They're slowly getting it. The mothers of these children fail but get back up again because they've seen how the other two have already walked wisely through that minefield (not necessarily the oldest first) They get to share and explain and lead each other to Jesus. The mothers of these children celebrated this day that is kept to honour mothers everywhere, but these ones have the same mom who rocked them, taught them, prayed over them and continues to guide them. Three very blessed mothers spent time together today and each became a little wiser just by the presence of the other two.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the women who have children and to all of the single women and others who love and mentor children who don't belong to them. I honour you and thank you!

Us

It's spring and that means my husband is working unbelievable hours at the nursery. Thankfully, through this time, he is able to eat all meals with us and we can walk through the yard to the garden centre any time we want to have a "Daddy Snuggle". Meghan took this photo of Terry and I on this past windy Mother's Day... a day for me because I have him all to myself and he doesn't have to go back to work after dinner. I love "Us" :)