Hope

I love Easter! It's a time of reflection, and a time of new beginnings. I find myself burdened many days with the weight of the world. I can literally make myself sick thinking about the people here on Earth who are suffering. I was reminded on Sunday that I don't need to carry those burdens....they have already been carried for me.

I need to reminded of this often. I was raised to be a strong woman. To be self-reliant, if need be, and I am proud of the person I am today. But, it comes with fault. I think I can do it all on my own, all the time. I think I can deal with every detail, worry about every circumstance, solve every problem. And I can't. I can't do it all and I don't need to. I need to give it to God. The more I rely on only myself, just shows my lack of faith really. That I'm not trusting...to know that all things work together for good for those who love Him.

So today I choose HOPE! Hope for those suffering from cancer, hope for the nation, hope for our leaders, hope for families in turmoil, hope for a future full of blessings.

Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve

52 of 2011

I *think* the last picture in my weekly photography challenge was week 10 so I'll catch up now! :)

Week 11



Week 12



Week 13



Week 14



Week 15



Week 16

Five on Friday

I've really been slacking on this blogging thing. So the easiest way to catch up is a Five on Friday!

1. I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I can put into words what this family means to me (Aaron, Leighton, and Ainsley). The friendship we have with the Hawthorne family has become such a blessing to us. We love being with them, their honesty, their openness...honestly, just everything about them. Our families are so similar (maybe that's why we get along so well). Cory is pretty laid back like Aaron. Colleen and I are type-A, talkers! :) We come by it naturally, I guess....we are both SLP's. And to top it off, Delaney and Leighton have similar personalities as do Cami and Ainsley. The Hawthorne crew made the trip from St. Louis last weekend and we all had so much fun! We love you Hawthorne family!!

The girls all jumping...



Cory and Cami on the boat.



Ainsley and Aaron



Love this reflection of the guys and a sea lion in the water too!



Ainsley loved this little monkey



Too cute!



This is the best one of the 4 girls!!! Ha!



Unless you count the back of their heads! ;)



My sweet Leighty



Delaney, Leighton and Cami



This picture cracks me up...check out how thrilled Ainsley was for this bird to fly down and meet her!



2. As Ainsley and I drove to get Leighton at school this week, she couldn't stop asking "Sissy, where are you?" (said in a sing song voice as if she were playing hide and seek and Leighton was with us). It is a privilege to be able to witness this sweet friendship. It is the most precious thing I've ever been a part of!



3. Aaron's 5k was a huge success! Way to go Aaron! It was freezing (yep, 50 seems like freezing to me) that day and windy...but we managed to have some fun despite the cold! :)





4. Aaron claims he can dance. I beg to differ. I'll let you decide (and yes, I'll have lots to un-do when the girls get older and I tell them they shouldn't dance like daddy)!




5. It's Good Friday and Earth Day. So, we took the day as a family and went on a nature hike. Here are some things we spotted on our hike.

Diva's

I could look at these twenty little toes over and over. My biggest diva taught her little sister the importance of pretty toes in the summer. They both sat completely still to get them painted perfectly. They are so sweetly painted....but that's just the icing on the top. I am so thankful there are 10 little toes for each of my girls. I am so thankful my girls are able to walk. It's the simple things in life.



I am trying to remember that my perfectionism is only a product of society and that all of "that" doesn't matter...it's about these two. It's about their smiles. It's about them! It's about the simple things in life...and everything else is just icing on the cake!



The girls found these dresses with mermaids on them. They squealed and twirled from the moment they put them on. To see the world in the eyes of a child...it's the simple things that make them happy...and us in return.



I am thankful for two little girls who love to play with one another...pat-a-cake is fun for a toddler to play over and over. And would you know, it's just as fun for a momma to watch her two children play it together...because it's the simple things in life!

Five on Friday

1. It's been a long stressful week for me at work. I've just been "getting by" lately. I'm hoping the 70 and 80 degree weather this weekend will get me out of the funk I'm in. Hopefully I can spend my weekend playing, loving on my family, and getting lots more fun pictures like this! :)



2. Leighton starts her new gymnastics class on Tuesday! I am so proud of her for moving up to the next level. She is super psyched about the new class too. This is her sweet class and her coach of 3 years. Leighton wouldn't let go of Ms. Alana when we left on Tuesday. We all had tears in our eyes. Ms. Alana, we sure are going to miss you!!

From Left to Right: (Back Row) - Alana, Helene, Lauryn, Natalie, Leighton, McKenzie
(Front Row) - Olivia, Madison, McKenna



This is Leighton and her best friend Lauryn when they started gymnastics. Look how tiny they were!!!



3. A few posts back I documented our Disney trip. I tried writing Ainsley-ese but it doesn't do her sweet voice justice.



4. The YV 5K is coming up this month! I am wishing I had trained for it. Come run, come walk...just come out and support a great cause!



5. Ainsley got her hair cut this week. I just love my girls with short hair. Leighton will not allow such an idea anymore so Ainsley will have to endure short hair until she tells me differently. Come on, isn't she precious?! :)