5/28 (Love)

Love has His eye on the sparrows... and the cardinals, chickadees and... me!

4/28 (love)

Yesterday two friends unexpectedly showed me some Love.

One friend took my daughter to preschool while I was temporarily without transportation.

(Thank you, Tiffanie!)

Later that afternoon another friend brought me some of her homemade blueberry - white chocolate scones because she knew I needed a pick-me-up.

(So delicious! Thank you, Helen!)

Sometimes it is the little ways that Love is demonstrated that make the biggest differences in our day.

3/28 (Love)

First waking thoughts today: I really love my Baby #5... I am so blessed that I'm pregnant again.

I do not like being pregnant and I complain a lot about aches and pains, but that does not eclipse the love that God has put in my heart for this little one I have never met. Incidentally, I also really love my Baby #4 and I'm thrilled that she will have a little sibling close in age.

2/28 (Love)

Tonight, my in-laws brought and shared dinner with us... the kids' all-around favorite: lasagna! There is no reason why Grandma had to cook for us, except that she loves her son, his kids and even his wife (that's me!).

It is pretty hard for me to pick just one picture for each day, so here is another bonus shot: my kids with their Grandma and Grandpa Ruffer. [Can anyone see a few family resemblances?]

1/28 (Love)

Love of a brother (or a sister)

Anyone who has siblings, or more than one child knows that part of life with brothers and sisters is fighting. As the mother of these four, it seems like life is mostly fighting. But then, just when I needed to see it, I witness their love for one another. I walked into the living room to see the older three children playing "Sorry" (yes, a highly competitive game) and allowing their two-year-old sister to take part. They didn't have to include her, they could have asked me to provide a distraction for the wild-haired toddler and I would have. But instead, they showed her some love. Bonus: the game ended without anyone fighting!

I had to include this additional picture of Willa's "game pieces:"

28 Pictures of Love

I am embarking on a month-long project. It wasn't my idea, so you are more than welcome to borrow it. I'm posting one picture for each day of the month of February. Since this is the month of Valentines, each picture will represent love in someway. I'm sure some of my representations will be rather far-fetched and cheesy; you'll just have to bear with my fetchingness and love for cheese.
In all seriousness, looking for a picture of love in each day should be a good exercise for my 7-month-pregnant-and-given-to-grumpiness self. I believe that expressions of God's love are all around us, but I'm usually not taking notice.
So let's look for love, people! Check out my friends, Brian and Amy Shaw, (originators of this idea) and their blog for details and join in the fun! While you're there, you'll find yourself challenged by their lives and their passion for children around the world.
This should be fun and good for us all!

Rebellion?

It is past my bedtime, as it has now become Sunday morning. Getting all of us clean and ready for church seems difficult enough after a full night of rest. So why am I still up?
It is not that I cannot sleep easily. Ask the Mister; I fall asleep quickly and inopportunely.
And it is not that I find myself amidst a vital, uncompleted task. I have completed everything I purposed to do today. (There are those freshly baked cookies waiting to be boxed up, but can you call baked goods vital?)
No child is sick. No worries press me down. No one is telling me to go to bed.

Ah. There it is. I am the grown-up now. I guess I want to be irresponsible. Though there will be consequences, I am enjoying this moment. I hope I remember this feeling and draw a breath of patience with my exhausted self and the demanding others. Others whose mother (me) made them go to bed at a decent hour. Maybe it will teach me a lesson on taking care of my body with proper nutrition (no cookies after 9 pm) and adequate rest.

But probably not.