Grace.  It is my favorite.  It is one of the few single words that means so much, holds such much power and peace.  I can hear it or read it anywhere and instantly identify, be almost transported.  I like it so much I have thought about giving that name to a daughter, and am proud that my name holds it as its meaning.  Mostly, Grace is my God. 

And I am always awed how God works.  As of late this concept has been ‘gracing’ my path often.  I have started a book and a workshop on Grace Based Parenting – Wow, I think it’s gonna be good.  Then Easter, the best example of Grace I know.  The Easter church service focused on God’s Grace.  My experiences over the last week; filled with grace.

For me grace is freedom and security.  It is how I can face each day. It is my hope, hope that I can be a better person and learn from yesterday.  Not be stifled by my mistakes and shortcoming.  It is joy.  It is life lessons.  Truly, is it indefinable, at least in its entirety.   I do know that Grace is my Jesus and for that I am forever thankful….

Here is a glimpse into my recent grace.



New Discoveries



 Beginnings

My daughter understanding more deeply the burial and Resurrection of Christ this year.  We made resurrection rolls as a fun tangible way to understand



Creating together



The gift of creativity and humor

Being able to be called Mama by these two gifts.  Understanding a bit more about how much God loves us, His children, as a result. 



Simple joys



Peace

A family to love and that loves me.  A family that brings learning experiences and forgives shortcomings.  A place to try to practice grace and reap its benefits when we get it close.  A core from which God's Grace is reflected, I hope.

I am forever grateful   ~ '79

Listed

I love lists.

I love making lists, I love crossing things off my lists, I love reading lists. Lists of every shape and size; grocery, places, wants, needs, and the good old fashioned To-Do. I once made a list of things I should make lists of.

Normally one would assume that lists are the sign of a well organized person right? Oh no, that I am not. I have dreams of becoming so, but I am solidly planted on the disheveled, messy side of the equation. It is not at all uncommon for me to find half finished, abandoned lists in pockets, drawers, or purses. I'm not even organized enough to keep track of my lists. Good news for me that most of my gratification comes from creating, not completing.

There-in lies the beauty of the personal list; it's just for you! No one will hold you accountable for finishing it, or veering off-list {well, with the exception of the commandments, that one's a pretty steadfast list} But say my grocery list says CRANBERRY JUICE then I get to the store and I want pineapple orange banana - done!....and nobody is ever the wiser. Plus, I feel completely justified when I cross CRANBERRY JUICE off my list of course. All I mean is that I keep my lists private for this very reason; there is no guilt.

That being said I am about to do something that is very out of the ordinary for me... Make. A. Public. List. Why would I do such a thing? Because I want to finish it. If I say it outloud {so to speak} it infinitely increases my odds of completion.

My Summer To-Do List

• Get a tan {This one is very important, and nearly impossible for me... fingers crossed}
• Find a fantastic pair of shorts to display said tan
• Exercise....You know, like yoga or semi-brisk walking Eat lots of ice cream
• Camp out with Cade in the backyard 
• Make a watermelon drink dispenser
• Flea markets. As many as possible.
• Expose the boys one new thing a week {Because I love it when Cade says "I've never seen that afore!"}
• Throw gobs of uber amazing parties
• Make lots of lists
• Enjoy several official PAJAMA DAY's with the boys
• Turn 28
• Paint a room
• Go to the dentist {for the first time in an unmentionable amount of time}
• Prescott. At least twice.
• Payoff my credit card once and for all
• Wear a romper
• Go somewhere new with my husband
• Blog more regularly *
• Enjoy an end of summer girls weekend somewhere fabulous ~ Who wants to come?!?

*I may be setting myself up for failure with this one, so I would like to say that by 'regularly' I mean not so long in between posts that I must first make sure the blog still exists

I plan, and I'm using that term very loosely, to update this list by checking them off. Wish me luck! XO~'83