Hmmm, can I find reason to hope that this

will eventually look similar to this or this?

Only time will tell. {huge hopeful smile}

Daydreaming and soaking in inspiration will have to do for now!

Random Thoughts Thursday

Got a haircut today!!  Quite a change, too, with 5 inches cut off, colored darker and layered a lot more. I like it. I'll have to get some pics of it to share. It's fun to try something new. I'm not the kind of individual who goes to the same restaurant, sits in the same place and orders the same thing from the menu. I'm a try something new, expand your horizons, be adventurous type of girl who looks to be newly inspired and maybe even impressed.
Our local Wendys burnt down. It just doesn't give my heart a lot of rest knowing our local fire department was there when the smoke was just beginning all the way to the moment when the flaming roof collapsed and the entire building crumbled to the ground in blackened smoking fury. Scariness.
I can now officially run a 10k. I'm stoked. I'm loving what this running thing has done for my body and my mind!  Seriously, if you can and/or are able to run, DO IT!
My kids are such a rich treat. They light my day. Their hugs, kisses, stories, achievements and the cute little things they say keep a smile on my face and adoration in my heart.  I wish I had more time to write down those special highlights. Oh, don't we all wish we had more time!?

 You know you're a mother to many small children when you use a "to go" mug for your coffee even though you have no intention of leaving your house.

We have been incredibly busy. Life is full. Good. Wonderful! Continually a growing experience.

I feel as though the Lord is leading us into a time of change. There is always that feeling of loss, a sense of being sad, bewildered and a slight uncertainty about the unknown, but then we can always rely on that tender hole to be filled as time goes on yet again with purpose, a calling and ministry to carry out. Something far greater than we could ever imagine.  All it takes is a blind step of faith. Knowing the Lord has it all entirely mapped out and under control.

Change is good.

God is so good.
Life is sweet.

Wordless (almost) Wednesday

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

and lots and lots more of that other summer type stuff.  That's what we've been up to around here lately.

{swimming at Memaw's}

With cousins, of course!

{Visiting with out-of-town family}

Gobs and gobs and gobs Alot of dear visitng family!

If only

2 wooden blocks

we're all that was needed

to keep each & every one of us

happily occupied

for an entire afternoon.

{Swimming lessons}

Okay, so most of these are actually pictures of my little guy, gal and I as we waited for my 3 oldest girls to finish their evening lessons one fine day. My little man and I did a class together each morning for 2 weeks. It was so much fun and he has shown significant improvement! All of my kids have!

Okay, there is a smile in there, somewhere.  I just know there is.

Aha, there it is, it's coming!

Beautiful smile, baby girl!  Thank you!

{Hike to summit of Hyndman's Peak}

My Main Man and 3 of his friends camped out under the stars on a Friday night recently, then hiked to the peak of the 9th tallest mountain in Idaho on Saturday.  Hyndman's Peak is 12009 feet above sea level. They overall biked and hiked more than 16 miles, climbing 5000 feet and all in ONE day.  They had an unbelievably great time!

{Mishaps}

My second in command gashed her toe really good. It was gushing blood for a few minutes until we got the bleeding stopped, nicked & scraped her tendon, and she ended up needing to get 6 stitches.

All in all, it's been a great  'worth-jumping-for-joy-over' summer.

Lazy afternoon family canal walk

(my sweet niece)

("I see a berry momma!")

(I'm sorry, I just love taking pics of old antique things!)

(If you look really close you may be able to see the butterfly directly 5ft. above my first-born's head!  She endured brush and scratches to try and catch that butterfly without success, but sometimes the adventurous process of the hunt is just as exciting, if not more than an actual capture itself)

(throwing rocks into the canal water is one of our summer walk highlights)

(three generations of men- there were four together this weekend!

(Two father daughter duos)

(Right beside my husband, my fave place to be)

("There's a driving potty, mommy!"

Adults taking a break from the kitchen and kids from splashing in the pool,

wandering outdoors along the canal road invigorates, refreshes and always evokes an adventure.

Blooms, berries, butterflies and birds;

Canal walks are always delightfully relaxing and sweet.

The views are beautiful, the smells rich and the company divine.

Rocks, "a driving potty", fields of wheat, old bridges, and enticing muddy canal water,

create lasting memories of which will never depart.

Spending time out at the family farm suits our family well and is always a welcome treat!!