brightsides

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

[nesting]

don't ya just love it when you feel like your fast forward button was pushed? like you're on triple speed or something? it's the best! i can accomplish so much when i have those sudden spurts of energy! yesterday was one of those for me! and no, i'm not prego lol... just in a little pre-holiday nesting phase i suppose :)

check it out! my mom found this amazing bird's nest in her backyard and gave it to the girls to show their school classes. i just can't get over the intricacy. how does mama bird do it? to gather all the mud and grasses and mold them into this tight, strong little nest is a miracle. nature is so fascinating isn't it?

i found this object lesson i plan to use in our next family home evening lesson:

*if any of you neighbors are interested in borrowing this nest, you're welcome to!

Lesson: This nest is a marvel of engineering. The birds made it without studying any books, without any tools except their beaks and their legs and they didn’t even have an instructor tell them how to do it! Somehow, in their little heads, God just gave them the sense of what to do and they did it! Have you ever watched a bird building a nest? They really work hard at it and keep trying until they get it exactly right for them – or they finally go and start over another place.

Do all kinds of birds build the same kind of a nest? No. Some build with sticks, some with leaves, some with more mud. Some put theirs on or near the ground, some put them way up in trees, some put the door in the bottom, some sit on them and act as the roof, some put them in trees, etc., etc.! One interesting thing is that every bird of one type makes the same kind of house.

Application: That fits with what the Bible says. Each bird is made after its own kind (Genesis 1:21) in its own wonderful way. And God teaches them and takes care of them. They are important to Him! (Luke 12:24) Jesus knew this and talked about it.

Conclusion: We are important to God, too He teaches us through the Bible and He takes care of us. You do not have to worry or be afraid. If you have a problem, call to Jesus and God to help you. Say as Hebrews 13:6 says, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid.” You can trust God! Let’s pray and thank God for His goodness and trustworthiness. (Pray)

BY PATRICIA A. MEINERTS

Friday, November 11, 2011

[personalized]

out the door and off to school the two olders went. while juggling a fussy baby and trying to dry off annie's wet little post bath body, i trip over clothes, shoes, pillows and toys in their disaster of a room. this is the second morning i've hit my head on something in there- maybe i'm subconsciously trying to knock myself out as to avoid the massive laundry heaps today!

while in the middle of frustration and head pain, i look up and notice my oldest's bed. cute little liv had once again made a unique space for herself. draped carefully with one of my scarves, her headboard holds all of her special little treasures; her library card, ctr ring, duct tape pen, journal, sticky notes & more. i had to smile and laugh. i know she longs for her own room, but rarely complains. sharing a room with two little sisters can be painful at times for her, i get it! someday when she does get her own room, i can almost guarantee she'll miss when her and her sisters talk & sing each other to sleep every night. i did. the highly anticipated day when my sister and i acquired our own rooms, we were terribly lonely. for months, kate would sneak back to my quarters and sleep next to me.

last night a few of my friends and i were discussing november's power of moms article valuing motherhood. we were asking each other, "what makes motherhood rewarding for you?" this (seeing olivia's decorated headboard) was mine today- to see the treasures she values made me proud inside. it's incredibly validating to see her love & cherish good things.

now if only i could curb all this unnecessary junk that accrues! i swear it hops out of the trash like little elves in the night and reproduces in their room!

i'm so overly excited it's friday! are you? this week has been way, way too long! have a great weekend!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

[a birth story]

thee sweetest job ever! i think i'll eternally be baby hungry... this was a great little fixa. samantha grace's birth story here.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

[doughnut ya want one?]

happy halloween! over a week late! there's been a lot going on around here!

so here is my cute mom making her traditional spudnut halloween doughnuts! we look forward to their warm chewy goodness every year! i've gotta get the recipe from her! the fam gathered together at their home halloween eve for our annual festivities. the cousins showed off their costumes and ate up every chance they had to play together!

we had captain america, pippi longstalkings, a vampire queen, pirate princess, dog dog, and a lion king to name a few :)

we could not get jack to dress up! like father like son! he did however sport this little hat for a few minutes. better luck next year!

i kinda can't believe halloween has already come and gone! thanksgiving & Christmas will be here in a snap! so much to do, so little time! hope your tuesday treats you well!

good bye.