Beautiful Blessings - 9/18/15

~ Blogging over at "Literally My Life"! I did a fashion post for Eden, which was a lot of fun! Go and check it out here!

~ Hanging out with 3 girlfriends and Mom at the Fall Festival!

~ Getting a bunch of books in the book tent!! Supports the library, too!

~ Finally being able to get another Lilla Rose Flexi Clip! I got the top one 2 years ago, and the bottom one I just got! Not to sound like Im advertising for them, but I just have to say: I love them!!!

~ Proverbs 3:5 <3

Beautiful Blessings - 9/14/15

~ Finding a perfect hiding spot for a cat-nap and a bath! ;~) She even has towels to ensure everything is perfect! Heehee!

~ The girls getting their first swim lessons!

~ Swimming 8 laps, and Dad swimming 20! He swam a 1/5 of a mile!

~ T-bug getting 5 inches taller over the past year....tis amazing how they grow!

~ Having a friend's honest advice. Thanks girlie! <3

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

    and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. 

~ Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)

How can you Pray for the Girls in your Life?

I've been meaning to finish up this series and it's been 2 months since I last wrote a post for it! I'm hoping to have it finished up by next week!

For this part of the series, I asked my girlies what they usually need prayer for most:

Guys and the emotions that go with them
God's direction
Worry
Attitude
Confidence
Strength
Self image
Health
Arguing
Self control
Obedience cheerfully
Procrastination
To be closer to God/Hungering for God/Staying strong in God's faith

Each of these things are daily struggles and when you pray for, pray with them, it is such an encouragement!

"Knowing that someone is praying for me, usually brings me a peace, knowing I'm not in it alone."

"I feel stronger."

"I would feel stronger. It really tends to help me when I know that someone cares enough to pray for me in a hard situation. It is effected in a positive way. I tend to be able to say no to myself easier, and it gives me joy."

"I'd love it if someone was praying for these things. It makes me feel loved and it also makes me feel like I'm not alone in my struggles. It's a great feeling to know that someone is on the sidelines rooting for you and praying for you. When someone is praying hard for me, I can see it. Loads start to feel lighter and my prayers start to slowly get answered. Whether it's a yes or a no to a prayer, it'll still be answered in some way. Sometimes it takes a while, but something always happens. Sometimes I'm shown the purpose for a situation or I'm given more wisdom. Prayer always works in the way it's supposed to for that situation."

Now, one of them gave an interesting point, and I'd like you to think about this carefully. When you pray for someone, it should be done in a loving-kind way. Don't pray for, pray with. Praying for is when you're asking God 'for' something and/or on behalf of the other person. Praying with is when you are both praying in agreement for the same thing.

"I think my attitude on people praying for me changes with the person who is doing the praying. If, say, a person I find to be self-righteous or hypocritical is praying for my faults to be absolved, I might not truly appreciate their prayer. More likely, it would completely get on my nerves; however, if I truly have a relationship with the person and know that they will not hold my faults against me in a "I am holier than thou" type of way, then the prayer is greatly appreciated, much wanted, and much needed."

Prayer is so important. Take time today to pray for the girls in your life. Tell them you're praying for and with them. And as I said, it's such an encouragement to know someone is praying for you.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Throwback Tuesday: A Little Girl's Hat

Little girls....

squeal with excitement....

and ponder the though....

of the excitement....

and honor....

and dignity....

of wearing a stylish hat!! 

More camping fun!

Okay, I first just want to brag about my amazing Mommy! She's had so much fun posting about Winslow and our camping adventures on her blog! I really think y'all would like them!

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

 Day 9

So check them out! My boring little post can wait! ;~D

I do have a few highlights that I want to share with you!

We built a tepee! Well actually we built 3 big ones and few small ones.

That was our first big one! ^^^ It was nice and roomy, but full of flaws.

So we built this one with the sticks from the first one.

I made another one for taller people, but we never got a picture of it.

I love this picture of my family! <3 Each of our personalities are showing!

We also got to visit a cave called Kunjamuk (pronounced cage-munk).

Doesn't it look like something from the LOTR books? I'm reading those while I'm up here.  :~) My sisters on the other hand associated it with The Secret Hideout with the Sugar Creek Gang.

Yesterday we got to see the high peaks of the ADK from an overlook!!!! I could stare at the mountains for hours...........sigh................

So pretty! So if you want to see Mt. Marcy, the highest mountain in New York, it's the middle bump on the farthest right cluster of mountains!

Aren't they sweet? They are getting too big!

I love this picture!

Well, we still have a few days of fun, so I'm off to enjoy them!!!

Childhood

Flower Blossoms!

The blossoms were so pretty yesterday, I just had to take some pictures! So we went for a walk after Church. :~)

This one ^^^^ looks like a painting!

 I love this one! ^^^^

And some tulips :)

The girls had fun on our walk!

The Power of Prayer

Prayer is important.

Prayer is powerful.

Prayer was something I never payed much attention to until I realized how important and powerful it is. 

Here are a couple examples of how powerful prayer can be:

Several nights ago, one of the girls came down stairs around 10pm, crying. She had a nightmare and was shaking like a leaf. We cuddled her, and gave her hugs & kisses. After a few minutes, she and Daddy went upstairs. As she headed up the stairs, she asked Daddy to pray for her, because she knew Daddy would.

Yesterday was a long day. I was watching the girlies while Mom went to physical therapy for her ankle. Us girls were rehearsing some dance pieces for an upcoming show. While we were doing this T-Tot hit her ankle extremely hard on our wooden hope chest in the living room. She fell to the floor in pain. As I gave directions to the other girls, grabbed ice, and the phone in case I needed it, my first thought was "God. I need help." I flew through my mind of people who I could call, but no one (in my head) would be available. As I sat on the floor, rocking her, and icing her ankle, I was praying so hard. I was praying so hard. Within minutes I hear our door open. Mom wasn't supposed to be back for at least another hour, and I hadn't been able to get a hold of her. Who came in? Grandpa! Grandpa had to drop of his trailer at our relative's mechanics, and thought he would stop in to say hi! I was so thankful that God had provided for our needs. He looked at her ankle, and suggested we elevate it on the couch. He helped me make lunch, and he stayed  at the house with the girls while we took her to get x-rayed. Thankfully she just has a bad bone bruise.

Prayer is so powerful.

Matthew 21:22 

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

It's becoming such a big part of my life, that I can't imagine life without it. 

How does prayer effect your life? 

(I drew the picture a few years ago)

Fleeting Moments

I spread the green blanket on the grass. Book in hand, I recline upon it. From my seat I have a 360 degree view of the yard. The 3 older girls are playing in the back of the yard by the pine tree. They have a couple blankets, one is red, the other blue, spread on the ground, one on top of the other. They found the old metal pot to put "food" in.

A few plastic hula hoops, their sneakers, exploring gear, a brown play-dress, a lid for the pot, and a large plastic flower pot is upside down with a piece of plastic on top for a table/stove, are their treasures. The baby, who is definitely becoming a toddler plays near me. After a few minutes her curiosity is peaked and she heads over to see what they are up to.

I almost wish I could join them. Alas, childhood is slowly disappearing. Life happens, people grow. 2 of the girls run past with the blankets to the play-cube to "air" them. The other 2 girls are staying at "home" under the pine tree. By now my book is forgotten. Only a chapter has been read. I'm too interested in the play of the girls. The baby toddles over and sits next to me. She brings along a soccer ball.

Childhood is fleeting. If you blink, you'll miss it. I blinked, and suddenly they were pretending it was Christmas. I hold the camera to my eye, trying to find the perfect shot. As I do I realize it's harder to watch their stories unfold under the tree. I set the camera aside, along with my notebook and pen, and just enjoy the fleeting moments of childhood.

Happy Birthday Mommy :~)

Happy Birthday to the best Mom in the world! 

We hope that this year will be filled with family, friends and adventures!

Love all your girlies <3

The Subject Of Selfies

Once upon a time, in 2002, the word selfie was used for the first time. Now it's synonymous with crazy pictures of oneself. It's very popular among teenage girls. The first picture is a selfie. 

This is a typical selfie. It has a deadpan look, it's of oneself, and it's pretty boring if you think about it. 

Now a selfie is not the only type of selfie there is. There is also a felfie, when a farmer takes a picture of oneself and farm animals. 

But what if we had a revolutionary kind of selfie? 

Wait for it.............

This is the best idea since sliced bread............

How about a welfie???? Winslow/selfie ;~) 

It's a revolutionary idea, don't you think????????