Sunday with the horses

Is there anything sweeter than a Sunday spent together? 

How about a Sunday together at the park with the horses?

 I don't need a lot of words to tell you about our time at the park.

To be honest, we didn't do much.

But, we did enjoy a lot.

Our afternoon was simple,

joyful,

funny,

real,

sweet,

and fleeting.

The week ahead is beckoning.

We'll be ready.  

We have soaked up our Sabbath day, together.

March Milestones

Around our house,

you might find a big girl typing her name

or writing her words by herself;

Found this on my refrigerator, a special delivery from our hard-working G-Bear.

during mealtime, 

where once a baby sat, we now find a little buddy,

eating meals by himself like a big kid

(it's a first with pears, pancake and potatoes!);

and should you like to venture out from the safe confines of home, 

you may want to take E-Bear along,

he'll show you how to bravely conquer our epic flight of stairs 

without a hand or handle.

Each of these milestones represents a task that used to draw requests for my assistance.  There are so many more like these!  Whether setting the table, cleaning up, helping with dishes, inventing new games, getting into new mischief, advancements abound around here.  These three are stretching their wings daily.  They will be flying on their own before I know it.   Fortunately for me, I recently came across this inspiring poem here.  I quickly wrote it out and taped it to my entryway closet door:

Oh Lord,

Give me patience when wee hands

tug at me with their small demands,

and give me gentle, smiling eyes,

keep my lips from hasty replies.

And let not weariness, confusion or noise

obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys.

So when, in years to come my house is still -

no bitter memories its rooms may fill.

~Author Unknown

In the spirit of this poem and the season, I am trying to thank God each time someone tugs at my leg or calls for my help during the day.  I am far from perfect in this, but my attempts have done wonders for my presence of mind in our daily interactions.  Goodness, I love these Bears.

Sunday Snapshots

We have had a big week around here.  It is nice to have our Sunday to recover.

We started the week by welcoming T back from his tournament trip.

By Tuesday night he was off again, this time to Nebraska,

and I was leaving from a different airport for interviews, Baby Bear in tow.

Baby Bear and I spend most of Tuesday night sleeping on the floor of the Cincinnati airport

because our connection was delayed.  Thank goodness for our dear friends who picked us up

in the wee morning hours when we reached our destination.

On Wednesday,

T manned the basketball team,

I interviewed all day,

Baby Bear wowed our friends with his sweet charm,

G-Bear attended a Moravian tea with her preschool friends

and Nana held down our fort.

On Thursday, we said goodbye to Nana,

and we jumped head first into Advent as a family.

By Saturday, the Bears were still all smiles.
We had a lot of people to thank for helping us through the week,

and we had earned every bit of our relaxing brunch and pj morning. 

We are taking a moment to recharge and reflect today, 

and light our second Advent candle,

so that we may begin the week tomorrow,

with joyful hearts and lives that light up the world for others.

Sunday Snapshot

If I am not careful, by the end of November I am going to set a Happily Ever Johnson record for all-time lowest number of posts in a month.  *Sigh.*

What a great reason to take a moment to reflect on our awesome, low-key family weekend.  Thanks to an interview that was rescheduled, E-Bear and G-Bear enjoyed one of their first full weeks of school since September (whew, have we been on the go!), and we five Happily Ever Johnsons enjoyed a full weekend at home with an empty schedule.  Now, don't get the idea that we don't LOVE our travels and our crazy goof-off weekends with our treasured family and friends.  Our adventuring good fortunes simply allow us to treasure weekends at home in a way we probably wouldn't otherwise.

So, here are some snapshots from our Sunday.

Our morning began with a tea party and a dog named Harold.

Harold was abandoned; the tea party was invaded.

Note the swiftness of hand with which Baby Bear makes his move!

A tussle was averted by a call to the breakfast table.  Pumpkin pancakes for everyone!

(We are one pumpkin down.  More on that tomorrow.)

Except you, Baby Bear.  Rice cereal and sweet potato for you.

And finally, what better way to follow a tea party and a pancake breakfast?

Picnic, anyone?

Lord, thank you for lazy days and Sunday Snapshots.