The Best Parts of Each Season

When I thought of doing this post, I was simply planning on picking one or two photos for each season and that would be it.  However, when I started looking through my photo app. I started racking up quite a few--46 to be exact.  Observing the fantastic-ness and beauty of each season is really hard for me to narrow down.  My boys and I are SO lucky to live in Wisconsin; where we live and breathe each season for an average of 14 weeks.. (Winter came WAY early this year--it will be more like 21 or 22 this time around). True-to-form, my favorite season (summer) had the most pictures and my least favorite (winter) had the least.

Spring

 Watching the crops begin their journey and BLUE Skies!

After six months of gray and white--this is a welcome view.

 The daffodils and tulips are the first to announce we are close to warmer temperatures

--again, I love the color!

Our first trip up north to the cabin happens once the driveway snow melts (around 2nd week of April)

enough so we can let the vehicles in. 

I love watching the new little lives of ducks, deer and others grace the shore.

 Easter is probably my most favorite holiday. I love why we celebrate, I love the traditions surrounding it, I love the Easter egg hunts, I love the Peeps (yep, I am one of those people), I love the pastel colors, I love the jellybeans.   "Christ is Risen, Indeed!"  :-)

Lilacs and their scent.  I don't like the allergies they push on me--oh, but it's worth it.

The first trip to the garden center has to be one of my most favorite days of the year. 
The smell of dirt and seeds. 
Flowers and fertilizer. 
Coming home with the first potted plant of the year always makes me smile. 
Seeing the green grass NEXT to the potted plant; that calls for a grill out!
The FIRST grill out of the year!

 Playing outside can resume comfortably!
The days are getting longer.

Hydrangeas bloom near the end of May/beginning of June; they are absolutely my most FAVORITE
'flower' (bush) that exists in my region.

The trees begin to bud their flowers, and leaves are becoming abundant.  This is also another week where my allergies amplify--but I LOVE the beauty of the colors and life that comes out in nature. 

Summer

 The cabin. No filter, every sunset is different and just as beautiful.

Wildlife is everywhere.

Being on the water is best!  Water sports, swimming, fishing... all of it.

Sparkles on the water.

Watching the summer rain scatter across the lake from the deck.

Fun with family in the brilliant sunshine.

Again....Grilling out. An excellent brat with some Secret Stadium Sauce is BEST!

THE. Milwaukee Brewers! The games. Tailgating. Brats. Beer. Baseball cookies.

My Birthday is in the summer -- and I always try to take the day off from work, be with family, do something I enjoy and thank God for another year lived. 

Autumn

Leaves changing.  'Peak week' is usually the second week of October in these parts. 
That week is also celebrated now because of Carson's Birthday being then.... I am so thankful for the best part of autumn occurs the same week he was born.  
(Picture below) was taken 6 days before his birth; I was contracting irregularly from this day forward until he was born.  I believed that the delivery would never come... but he did! And was it ever worth the hard work!

The smell of wet leaves.  
Hiking in the woods in autumn.  Peaceful. Open.  Cool. 

 
Best part of Autumn???   The cabin... again.

Caramel apples. Sweatshirts. Fire in the fireplace.

The Canadian Geese come for a visit as they travel south... they spend many weeks in town.

Below is showing the best part of autumn: The last fishing day with Papa before the lake freezes.

Winter

Frost on the trees upon waking up has to be the best part of winter.

Sparkles in the snow.

Drinks in the snow: Major benefit of living in cold temperatures

Opportunities for snow forts

Snuggling with babies while watching Christmas Parades is a 'Best!'

Walking 'the hill' at (guess where?) THE CABIN... and SLEDDING!!!!!

Watchin' Da Packers (with these two cuties--my BFF)!

 

That's all I got for now....

A little bit random of a post, but hopefully you can feel the beauty that I see and experience throughout my year!  

Blessed to enjoy the best of the FOUR SEASONS where I live and love!

In God's Hands

With school behind me and the future ahead, I am in a holding pattern--circling the runway.  Waiting to land?  Waiting to take off?  Not sure.  Still circling.  Praying.  Resting.  Searching.  Dreaming.  (dreaming a lot actually--REAL dreams when I sleep; hasn't happened for a while!)  Reading excellent soul-filling and spirit reviving text.  Living every day in slow-motion as I anticipate my next steps and what/who/where lies ahead for me and the boys.  I feel like I am in a quiet, safe place with my boys right now.  There is a state of mind that bubbles up every 48 hours or so in which I become ridiculously restless, sad/angry/selfish and want to know the answer to everything.  I have to silence that with prayer and reflection and remember that this isn't my plan....as I accept it is His Plan.

In my human actions I can do all that I can to make every door open to myself that speaks to me, but knowing that it will be up to God to see I end up where He wants.  My verse, (Jeremiah 29:11) which I recognized of importance before the major trauma of my life occurred:  "For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  I always recognized that verse as one that spoke to me throughout my recent trials.  It wasn't until the past couple of weeks that I went back to this verse and read further.... Verse 12-14:  "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity."   These last few verses gave me chills as I read them out loud to myself as this was my goal in reading the Bible that particular day. I have felt locked away, desolate and solitary going through school.  I feel as though I didn't spend anywhere near the amount of time I wanted to in growing with God or teaching my boys His Gifts of mercy and forgiveness.  As I step forward I feel confident He lives with me and will continue to lead me where I can be close and serve Him.  "Because He Lives."

So, to share what has been happening in our little lives over the past two months, here are some photos.  Enjoy! 

Carson had a field trip that I chaperoned. 

Seventeen 3 year-olds.... Heaven help us!!

Mr. C turned FOUR!

 Nathaniel had a class field trip that I chaperoned! 

Lots of fun! 

Fun on the bus after a rainy, cold morning.

I fall more and more in love with these turkeys every day.

My little helper in the mornings (I love that he ASKS to help vacuum now).

Trick or Treat Downtown: C was TERRIFIED of his brother the whole time.

(Their dad kept them a comfortable distance apart).

 Once they are asleep I tip-toe to find them in the same bed, snuggled and snoring. 

I have a tendency to stare at them...for many, many minutes. Can't get enough-so perfect!

Each day I walk on the treadmill, this little guy insists on feeling the tread (I keep telling him his little fingers are going to get a burn. He is such a weirdo)!

Mr. N not only made it to 100 Books but also acquired Pink Eye!  WAY TO GO Buddy! ;0)

With that being said, I also have pink eye and Carson has strep throat (confirmed today at the docs), which he is on antibiotics for.  Such is life.  Hoping to clear this house of the bugs and then do some serious disinfection before the holidays come.  We had our first snowfall two nights ago and received about four inches in town.  Other cities to the north of us received over a foot of snow!  Excited for Thanksgiving, St. Nicholas' Visit, Christmas and New Years.  Always a fun time of the year with the kiddos!  

Delight in Everything

My **BIG** News is....  I am an

The days have come and gone; last day of nursing school.  Graduation day.  National testing for my license.... all of it.  Each day I have woke up, decided that I should move ahead with my dreams to become a nurse and finally... My dreams are realized.

With my goal being met I find myself in an awkward transition.  I am waiting for the hiring of a position in my new career. Multiple interviews have occurred at more than one location and I am rehearsing the verbiage 'It is hard to get work these days.'  I feel like when I was applying for a job over a decade ago, I basically walked into the place I wanted to work at, filled out an application, interviewed and was hired within two weeks.  I don't feel that way now.  I know that God's Plan for me is to enjoy what little time I have left with the boys before returning to work full-time in health care.  I am SO blessed to have this opportunity and I am able to Delight in Everything.

Long naps. Snuggles with Boomer on the couch. Doing the dishes/showering whenever.  Reading books (oh, how I have missed you books)! Taking field trips for school with both boys and volunteering at their school events (because I CAN!), raking the beautiful maple leaves on a perfect autumn day.  Sipping a hot cup of coffee on my front step watching the world race about.  I know that my days are numbered as to how much more I can be able to enjoy; so I take great Delight.  My brother emailed me with a simple reminder that soon enough I will be pleading for a vacation date here or there, someone will always have a deadline or expectation of me and I will have major responsibilities (this time, someones life) in my hands.  I recognize those sentiments and thanked him for keeping me focused on what I am able to enjoy, right in front of me.

As I sit here 'waiting' I have had multiple thoughts and plans bubble up.  Such as finally having the time to paint the boys bedroom and make it absolutely AWESOME!   I want to have something awesome for them to relax and play in when they are home.  Not that material items are a big deal to me, but learning, curiosity and bright colors are always what I have had in mind for them as they grow into little boys.  I want them to have an understanding of dinosaurs, sports, astronomy, books, faith, music, creativity/artistry, and kindness as they grow. I want them to have a room in which they can invite their friends over and truly enjoy hanging out in. I have looked through some pictures and these got me the most motivated:

So, yeah,... if you can figure out a way to incorporate my boy's bedroom all into one with each of those ideas on a VERY small budget, let me know.  :-)

I have also been doing some soul searching.  I am a list writer and if you saw my nightstand right now you would see about 15 post-it's with lists, a spiral bound notebook with verses, lists and thoughts, a few faith-centered reads and an empty coffee mug.  I am actively seeking out new motivations and goals: I feel lost when I don't have something to aim for. Having just met one of the 'biggies' I am in need of a challenge. I want to live to the fullest and define my dreams for my family.

A couple of them I have already mentioned above, some are materialistic (lame), but some are so simple I almost don't want to write them down.  However; proof is in the pudding, this has worked for me before:

-Lead my little men to Him.
-Be ACTIVE, get healthy!
-House projects
-Laugh.  Smile.  Smile some more.
-Enjoy old and new friendships.
-Feed my soul
-Set an amazing example for the boys.
-Budget with Dave 

There are more of course, but I will save those for myself.  In the meantime, I will Delight in Everything.  -Psalm 37:4