It’s a girl!!!

And she’s 89 years old.

This is our big news. My maternal Grandmother came to live with us last Saturday and we are so happy.  It has been a lot of work getting her things moved and settling everyone in.  But, all the hard work is worth it when I see her laughing with the children.  She is still doing great and is awesome at sweeping and cleaning the kitchen.  We are enjoying hearing stories of when she was little and eating our meals together as a family.

I will keep posting as I can, but I wanted you all to know what has been happening lately.  We are so happy to have our precious Gradmother here with us.

Thankfulness. Contentment. Peacefulness. Giving to others.

These are things I want my life to be full of.

The fun of getting will never compare to the thrill of giving!

We all have so much to be thankful for!  The very people considered poor in our Nation are rich compared to the families in other countries.

I have such a stirring in me to grow in gratitude, to simplify and prune off the dead wood in my life.  I have so much to be thankful for:  I am breathing.  I am loved. I have a husband and children. I have food and clothes.  A car and a house….and so much more.

Let’s not fall for the trap of advertising.

The goal of an ad is to make us unsatisfied with what we have, how we look, what we drive, where we live.

We all to often fall for the bait, thinking, “If I had….then I’d be happy!”  But, how many of us have houses overflowing with things we don’t even remember buying, things we don’t use or need?

What if we had what we needed, were content with that and had more resources to help take care of others?

Growing in thankfulness and being content with what I have…that Works For Me!

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Psalm 37:23

I’m being featured in the Whimsy Spotlight at Whimsy by Victoria!

You can go to Victoria’s site and enter to win your favorite prints.  I’m also offering coupon code for 10% off your entire order for just a few days.  Use the code: WHIMSY during checkout!

I’ve been painting some new designs so look for them to come out in a few days!

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but (harsh) grievous words stir up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

This has been my parenting scripture for most of this year!  I have been amazed at how many conflicts with my children have been defused by a soft answer.  I’m not talking about the syrupy sweet, ” Now sweetie pie, don’t you want to do what Mommy is telling you to do?”

I’m talking about being firm, but gentle.  No screaming allowed….by parents or children.

This article about genleness (from Teaching Daughters and Training Wives) has taught me so much. I think it will help you too!

As a fair-skinned Mama with fair-skinned children, I have to think about the sunscreen issue a lot.  I don’t want the increased risk factors from getting sunburned, but I also don’t want a bunch of toxic chemicals soaking into our skin!  What’s a Mama to do?!

The solution: the Environmental Working Group’s 2009 Sunscreen Guide!

With this handy tool you can check the ingredients in your favorite sunscreen, see how your current sunscreens toxicity is rated and find the best non-toxic sunscreen for your family.

Enjoy your summer…safely!