feelings..

Sometimes I have feelings.

Sometimes they are bad feelings.

And sometimes they are good~

But today, they were bad.. I was in a bad mood.

It was the type of mood that you could not get rid of.
Even listening to praise music could not cure me of my bad mood. {and that usually helps!☺}

It was a really bad feeling. I felt really mean. I think I was. hmmm.

I felt like screaming. I couldn't get the terrible feeling away. I tried. I tried being cheerful. I tried being happy. I really did. I needed to recuperate. Badly! ;)

I heard these lyrics on Kathrine Scott's song "Hungry"~

"I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life."~

God's grace is really amazing.
We give up on Him so easily. Thinking that we will find fulfilment in other things.
Like anger.

But He never, never gives up on us.

another part of the song~

"I am empty, but I know that Your love does not run dry."

"Hungry, I come to You, for I know You satisfy."


~we know He satisfies. We just forget so easily.

Later this evening I  had to get out of the house. So when Mama asked me to walk with her down to the college, I took her up on it.
I had to get out of the house. Even though I knew it was extremely hot. Yeah, I was really that desperate! ;)


Being outside cured me of that mood. I was happy again. I was myself.

My head cleared.

I was so glad. I hated the person that had walked around that afternoon being grumpy, and venting their anger.
I get in those moods once in a while. I think we all do.

But God is always ready to forgive~ He is always ready for you to come back, once you figure out that there is no fulfilment in the other things.~.

Aren't you glad God is always ready to forgive?
I know I am~

        ...Lydia...

whats this wednesday..

leave a comment, and tell me what you see going on in the picture above~ Use your imagination okay guys? :)

one week~ no blog.

This week has been busy. I have learned some things. Like we are moving eight hours away...☺I will write about that at the bottom~

 It started out Monday by packing for a trip to our cousins. If you have ever tried packing for three little boys, you should. It isn't easy! ☺ But we eventually got all the bags packed, and in the car. And we headed for their house.
We were going to meet up with them at a historical museum place. They have all types of living history things. i.e- blacksmiths shop, printers shop, old fashioned store, and a lot more! We seem to have this thing with picking the hottest day of the year to go to places. ☺ We were all extremely hot, and loved it when we would find an air-conditioned place to hang out in for a few minutes!



(we found this old torn up building~ I loved it! It was perfect to take pictures in.)

So like I said. It has been a busy week, long week.

Yes, we are moving.
No, I don't feel like posting the 250 pictures I took while we were away.
Yes, I got too much sun while away.
No, I didn't get away without pealing {grin}.
Yes, I now have a playlist that actually works.
No, I have not finished putting all the songs I want on it.
Yes, I hate Playlist.com- that's why I switched to mixpod.com.
No, I have not been absent from my blog this week. I looked at it every day.
Yes, have meaning to post.
No, I am not going to post the 250 pictures today- it will take me about a week to get them all up here (at least ☺).
Yes, I got to see Casting Crowns live last Sunday night.
No, it wasn't the whole group.
Yes, I know this 'yes' 'no' stuff is getting old.
sooooo~

Here's all us cousins lined up and ready to go~ They say the come cheaper by the dozen, ya' know! ;)
Me milking the goat- don't I look like I stepped right out of the 1800's? ☺
The kittens were precious! 
I love taking pictures pf these things that you see in fields. McKenzie told me the name for it, but I forgot. ☺

I will post the rest of the pictures tomorrow~
I will end with a picture of Gabe taking a rest~ He was feeling kind of old-fashioned- haha. ☺

So I said I would write about our move.

We moved just last year.

I never wrote about it at the time, but I will now.

Daddy got a job four hours away. We had a house that wouldn't sell, and we couldn't leave it soo. He drove to the job every Sunday, and came back on Friday nights~ He did that for two months. It was a long hard time. Mama was pregnant, and we were all emotional, and tired. We had lived there for seven years. We had family there, a ballet school that we loved, baseball at our church that Gabriel loved. Friends there. And a whole lot of other stuff. All that we left.

I remember very clearly loading up our car, and telling home good-bye.
It was terrible. We left at about 5:30 in the evening, and got supper at Chic-Fil-A (if nothing else, at least we got the treat of eating out ☺). It was the worst night of my life. It was a horrible four hours!
We got there at about 11:30 and walked into a dark un-furnished house. That smelled musty and un-lived in. (I guess the un-lived in part makes since, huh?) We tried to have a positive attitude (or did we ☺), but it was extremely hard, when we were tired, and sad. It was like that for a couple of days. But we made ourselves at home, and everything is going just fine one year later. ☺
So, here I am typing that we are going to be moving again. But I have a feeling it won't be like that~ We won't have to leave a home and town that we have lived in for seven years. We are used to being far away from family. Not that it won't be really hard being an extra four hours away, but... you know...

It is really funny how your mind-set can change in such a short period of time, isn't it?

We would really appreciate your prayers during this time!

Have a great weekend~

...Lydia...

stay little, baby girl.

my blog has been very girly lately.
I can't help it.
After three brothers, finally getting a little sister,
I can't help but talk about her.
You don't have to read.
I know it may get old. :)










"I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.

I played pretend between the trees, and fed my house guests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest swing.
I had a dream.

Long walks in the dark through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie. I said a prayer and fell asleep.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest tree.
I had a dream".

I think that is such a pretty song~ It really captures that care free little girl feeling.

I remember the first time that it hit me. I have a little sister. It was pure shock.

You may be thinking "Why was it such a shock?"... well, let me tell you.

When Mama was pregnant with Levi, we went to find out what He was going to be {boy or girl}.
We were all crowded into the dark ultrasound room. Everything was quite. I had butterflies in my stomach.
I was counting on a girl. We all were.
You can imagine my shock. Yeah, it was pretty shocking, when the Ultrasound tech said "It looks like a little boy", and I said "No!!!" in a shocked, "you can't be serious" voice.

We were baffled, to say the least.

It slapped us in the face. Really hard.

Well, once we got over our shock, and got out of that cramped, small, dark room.
We called everyone and told them. They had the same reaction.
I still to this day don't know why we were counting on a girl. We were positive! Why, I don't know? You, obviously can't trust our instinct. :)
But we got over it, and we LOVE Levi. With all our hearts. Couldn't imagine life without him.

But, we were thrilled when we found out that Lily Katherine was a girl.
I was there at her birth.
I was the first one to hold her.
I was in heaven.
She was here.
I had a little sister.

But that time when I really realized it. That I completely fell in love, was when I was holding her, she was just a few days old. She was laying on me. Just laying there {which she hardly ever does now... oh, she is way to busy to do that! ☺}.
I loved it. I don't know what it was. But it was something special. Because I made myself remember it. I don't ever want to forget it.


She loves going on piggy-back rides. She looks, and feels so tiny when she is riding on me. I love to hear her laugh. It is right there by my ear, and it is so small and high-pitched sounding.

I love you Lily Kate... stay little, baby girl.

we have this thing...

with laundry. Our neighbors probably think we are fascinated with it by the look of our clothes line. But, nope. That's not the case.
Living in a large family, there seems to be a never ending supply of laundry. If you ever feel like doing some {for some odd reason} come over to our house. You will have plenty to do. all day. every day.

Usually it is worse in the winter. More layers, everyone is wearing. But, this summer has been very bad. When the boys spend the day outside, they make the biggest disaster of their clothes. They get wet, sandy, and just plain dirty.

If they have a really good time, and enjoy themselves in the water, then the three of them will come in get changed, and leave, and you my dear are left with a pile of laundry to do.

Sounds fun, huh?

not.really :)

Laundry is just one of those beautiful things in my life! {grin}

Off to hang out a load...



the queen of the college campus...

I think I am in love with this baby. 
and her Easter dress, and flower/bow.
I think shes cute.
She has become quite the eater lately... she ate pizza tonight with the rest of the family. (note: it was unsalted, organic, and homemade, and good.) She thought she was cool~ She is cool.

You wouldn't think from the pictures, that she would be such a flirt. But... she is~ :)


I love this barn, it is so shabby-chic. I would run through that field and take some pictures, and share them on here. But I think I would look like a dork if I did. Can you see me. Jumping out of the car on the side of the road, and running through the rows of plants, and taking pictures along the way. Yeah... I would look like a dork. :)
I like this court house that is in the middle of a little town near us... It is fun to take pictures of... it's very photogenic! :)
This is an interesting strip of pine trees along the way.
                                 And don't ask what is in the picture above, because I don't know. :)
I take so many pictures of pecan trees. and I hardly ever have any turn out right! :)


...Lydia...

working hard for success- is.not.easy.

I was looking for quotes on working hard at things... I think I could spend the whole day reading quotes. They are so inspirational, and meaningful~
I read this one by Mother Theresa that I thought was great- “God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try”. Trying at something, even little things, can be so difficult.
Another one that I thought was good was- "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies". This is one is from Alex Harris, one of the authors of "Do Hard Things" - "Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great."

Abigail made something last night, it was the fluffy, big flowers that are really in right now. You can wear them in your hair or pin them to your shirt, ect.,ect., and I wanted to try it today. It was a step-by-step process and I wasn't in the mood for tedious work. So, I just did it the way I thought it would work {maybe ☺} and was hoping it would end up the way I was hoping it would. Well, after getting burned, scorching the fabric,{you have to get a candle, and melt the edges or the fabric} and getting mad, I finished. And the ending results where not what I was hoping for. I was frustrated, and gave up easily. I was talking it over with Mama, and was complaining that I just wasn't the sewing/crafty type. I now realize, and will admit, that I didn't have an attitude that would get me very far. I found this quote and it applied to exactly what I am talking about~ “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”-Helen Keller. I am not the crafty type. I am not the incredible sewer that I would like to be. I am not going to be perfect at these things. But "Because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do". It was a little thing that I was trying to do, but if I don't have a good attitude with the small things, I won't with the big either.

I have learned that God has blessed me with certain talents. I would love to be able to sew, and create things like some people do. But that is not my gift that God has given me. I have to learn not to compare myself to other people, and wish I had their gifts.

 Now, don't get me wrong; I can still work and become better at these things. I can succeed in the things I thought I couldn't do. "Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points", I thought that was a great point.


At the present I am not crafty, but in the future, I can be more crafty than I am right now. And that applies to anything.

Working hard at things, I think is a never ending thing you have to do. At least for me. {grin}.
You are always working at things. Small, or big. Easy, or hard. You are always working at something. So I guess the best thing to do, is to have a good attitude. :)

"Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success".



I was listening to the radio one day. They were talking about John Wooden (a basketball coach). He had passed away a few days before that, and they were talking about what a great man, and strong Christian he was. He has some really neat quotes~“If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes". I thought that one was really interesting. I guess if you aren't trying to succeed, then you are not willing to fail. Another one I liked-“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming". “If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”- I thought that one was great. It really makes you think. I need to remember that one in school! :) “It isn't what you do, but how you do it.”- I think that goes for the little things too.“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”- I guess that's saying to have a good attitude with the outcome. "Never try to be better than someone else. Learn from others, and try to be the best you can be. Success is the by-product of that preparation." - don't compare yourself.

Be happy with who you are and your gifts. Keep working at your weak points. You/I can get better at them.
~~~

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand".



...Lydia...

-----
“Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.” - John Wooden

summer days.. {original I know}


                          Wow, the summer is flying by~ I haven't posted near like I thought I would. :)

Today has been loud. really loud. super loud. Thats always what happens at our house when it is raining. We had a terrible storm last night. It was lightening like crazy, and the thunder made me jump out of my skin. :)

As I was going to bed last night I singing "I belong" (by Kathryn Scott). It has such simple words. Yet they are so meaningful. Thought I would share them~

Not angels, nor demons, no power on earth or heaven

Not distance, nor danger, no trouble now or ever
Nothing can take me from your great love
Forever this truth remains
I belong, I belong to you
I belong, I belong to you
Not hardship, nor hunger, no pain or depth of sorrow
Not weakness, nor failure, no broken dream or promise.
Nothing can take me from Your Great love
Forever this truth remains
I belong, I belong to you
I belong, I belong to You.

I love being able to know that I am His. And nothing can take me from His great love.

I was singing lots of songs in my head last night. I will admit, I hate bad storms. Esp. since we have so many trees around us, and the lightening+trees creeps me out. "What a friend we have in Jesus" is always one that I sing when I am worried. It too has such meaningful words.

******
I love seeing the sun set. It is so peaceful and beautiful.~

                                              We have loved the bluebberys this season!

I loved this flower, it had such vibrant colors~
This little miss had her very first birthday last Tuesday~ (I kow, I'm late) She has brought SO much joy to our family. I can't imagine my life without her. She took several steps today. It is precious watching her figuring out things in life~  I love her smile. I love her laugh. I love it when she scrunches up here nose when she is happy. I love her squinted up eyes when she smiles. I love her soft fluffy hair. I love You, Lily Katherine!
Okay, back to the blueberrys... they have been great this year. It is such tedious work picking them. Esp. when thorns are in the bushes.  But they taste so much better when you work for them!

We pick them at such a pretty place.
I love taking shadow pictures... can you tell? =P
Hope you have a wonderful week.... if you are reading this than you have survived Monday~ So have I. That makes me happy. ☺

...Lydia...

life is short....

so don't complain when...

-when you find a huge palmentoe bug in your pants when you pull them off your closet shelf. (even though it is massive and flys.)
-when your brothers go in there to get it (because your a wimp!) and tear your room apart trying to find it.
-when your room stays a reck the whole day.
-when you still can't find it.
-when the rest of the house is a reck.
-when the six year old is in a less disirable mood.
-and so is the three year old.

It's been one of those days... you know the kind that makes you want to crawl back in bed, and start over.
but you can't do that!!!

~~~
"My faithful Father, enduring Friend


                                                Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end

                                                       It overwhelms me, covers my sin

                                                      Each time I come into Your presence

                                                           I stand in wonder once again
                                                         
                                                            Your grace still amazes me


                                                            Your love is still a mystery

                                                           Each day I fall on my knees
                                   
                                                        Your grace still amazes me
                                                    Cause your grace still amazes me"

I love the lyrics to that song~ I have had that song in my head for a while now... guess because we are always needing His  grace.


one good thing is that tomorrow is Friday~ ;)

"Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it." ~Anne Shirley

~lydia caroline