Camping

We are back from our camping adventures & I look like a candy cane. Burnt in places I apparently didn't apply enough sunscreen & white in places that failed to see much sun. Anywho, that really doesn't matter. Really. We had a great time relaxing in God's creation as well as some stressful times battling the elements. Have you ever been inside a tent while it was raining, thundering & lightning, winds you thought might blow you away while your husband was outside trying to hold down your protective covering? We could be on the next season of survivor.

We took in breathtaking views of Lake Shelbyville, roasted marshmellows on the campfire, caught up on reading and soaked in the warm sun, when it was shining. We even got really brave & laid out on rafts. The water was freezing!

Me & mr. toad. Isn't he cute? Me & my cousins used to go "toad hunting" at my grandparents. We would see who could catch the most or who could catch the biggest. I caught the biggest one of all. Still hold the record.

Leftover sparklers. Fun!


Stephen got to do lots of fishing. He likes fishing for bass. He's pretty good at it.

Chilln' at the campsite. Angler bait shop.

1000 Gifts

I'm sure many of you have heard of Ann Voskamp's book 1000 Gifts. If you have not read it, I highly recomend it. It is both inspiring & challenging. Poetic. Its one of those books where after you read a paragraph you go Oh, wow, I need to read that again. It gets you thinking in new ways. Living in each & every moment & finding the beauty & grace in even the littlest things. God is giving us all of this & we often fail to see it. He desperately wants our communion & He is saying, Look! smell! Listen! I love you!

I started my own 1000 gifts journal. It may take me a year to do it but it can help me get through each day. And, some days, I might not get anything written down..

Here's what I've got so far:

1. singing birds out the window

2. sunshine! finally!

3. baby girl big morning grins

4. clean soap skin smell on the husband

5. lingering hugs of the little boy

6. big brother's prayer for his little sister

7. husband bringing home all the groceries

8. freshly cut grass.

9. horse's wispy tails

10. a "spiritual foods" package from my parents

11 wet bubbly baby skin

12. little boys big dimple on his cheek

13. New products-mascara, Garnier spf moisturizer, self tanner, & coconut smelling sunscreen :)

14. hummingbird flitting about the new flowers...

Will anyone else join me in this challenge? I promise it will be worth it. Plus, it would give you an excuse to go find a cute new journal. :0

Praire Gardens family outing.

On another note, the hubbs & I are headed for vacation tomorow. If you call camping vacation which , I do. We will get to lounge the days away by the lake. Read, sleep, eat, soak in sun. Repeat. Will update with some pics later. Have a blessed weekend!

Oh how far she's come

On Tues. we went to St. Louis Children's Hospital to see Evelyn's cardiologist. She also had an echocardiogram and EKG done. Everything looked just great, they said, and told us to come back next spring! When she gets older (like 9 or 10, which seems like a long way off but I know it will be here before I know it) they will give her stress tests to be sure that her coronary arteries are functioning properly.

When they were doing her EKG she had so many wires coming off her-it was dejavu'. I was just so thankful that we had gotten through so much already. I am so proud.

My princess angel of love and joy and beauty. :)


My dear sweet boy on our nature "hike" last week. He calls Evie " My baby girrull."

The Peters clan at Easter. Aren't I a lucky gal?!