Beauty day 10- teenagers

People like to scare me and say how BAD teenagers are or they  say "wait until they are teenagers"  like it's a bad thing.  I think the group in general gets a bad rap.  (I know that there are plenty of really bad kids out there)

I have never been a youth leader, or really wanted to be.  Joe was good with that age of kids, not me. Right?

But I am loving having a teenager.  She and her friends are full of life and love to laugh.  A group of them were going to see the new Narnia movie tonight and wanted to watch Prince Caspian at our house first. 

They know they are always welcome here. 

In they walk.  Right to the pizza, opening the fridge like its their house to get a drink.

We have a long way to go, and many more teenager to have in our house. 

I will keep the fridge stocked and the pizzas on hand.

Teenagers are a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 9-quality time

My ten year old daughter Annie loves crafts and her love language is quality time.  We combine the 2 when we do crafts and scrap booking together.  Time for just the 2 of us is hard , so I have to be intentional about it.

We made this knock off last night from an old bulletin board we had.  It is a cheap and easy way to show off those pretty Christmas cards.

                                        Quality time with my sweet daughter is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 8-the written word

It happens every year.  I start making my cookies and open up my cookbook to this page. 

And, I cry.

My late sister-in law Jane wrote this out for me 14 years ago in a letter she sent to me.  She was encouraging me to go forward with a cookie business, so I could continue to stay home with Amy.  She sent her most complimented recipe and I make it every year.  Honestly, they are not my favorite.  This recipe is though, it is in her handwriting and I can't get that anymore. 

We lost her 12 years ago to breast cancer and I still miss her.

Handwritten messages from those we love are a thing of beauty.

Beauty Day 7-chaos

I am a simple gal.  I really don't like loud noises.  I have trouble when all 4 kids are talking to me at the same time, or even just talking /yelling/singing at the same time.  This is probably due to the fact that there is usually music on too, while I am making dinner/cleaning up/doing laundry/ yelling at the dog all. at.the.same.time.
And, don't even get me started on the running around I do taking kids to lessons, games, friends etc.  Granted this chaos is by choice. ( I could always say no, and we could hole up in the house for days.)

This chaos is my life right now, a season really.  A season that will be gone all too soon.

 I know this because my firstborn is in high school and I went to a college preparation lecture last week for her.  What?  my baby going off to college?  OK it isn't for 3 more years but, still.  I digress.(and cry a little!)

Our chaos is a thing of beauty for me, and I have to remind myself of this daily.  I always wanted a big family, with lots of kids to run around and raise.  God blessed us with our brood and my mission right now is to raise them.  While it is hairy at times and I am exhausted most of the time, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The chaos of a big, active family is a thing of beauty for me!

Corkboard turned Card Holder

Corkboard turned Card Holder

This is a great idea Ann and I will be making this week.

Beauty day 6- leftovers

Lunch today was made from pasta leftover from another recipe, sauce leftover from spaghetti, sausage and cheese leftover from homemade pizza night. It was actually yummy too!

       Leftovers mean we have more than enough to eat and that is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 5- a mess of a yard

This is our neighbors pretty snow covered yard.

This is our front yard.  4 kids sledding down our front yard, really messes it up.

But  3-4 hours of play and memories made are a thing of beauty.*

*hopefully, they are good memories. The neighbors may disagree, Andrew was in crying 3 times and I was yelling at the kids to stop arguing more than once.