Saturday Snapshopts & Sunday Stream In One Post ... How Lazy Can I Get?

Ali, over at An Ordinary Mom, came up with an awesome idea a few months back ... and in her own words its "simply about capturing the moments, snapshots of our weeks, captured on your top-of-the-line camera, your bottom-of-the-line camera, or even your old cell-phone… " Click here to read more about her idea and then please come join us for Saturday Snapshots.




And since I'm feeling lazy today I've combined my Saturday Snapshots with Stream of Consciousness Sunday ... all in one tidy little post (well, maybe not so little ... we'll see). Stream of Consciousness Sunday is hosted by Fadra at her blog all.things.fadra. The idea being 5 minutes of free writing ... no proof reading, no editing just write. If you want to join in take 5 minutes, start typing and just empty your brain. Then head over to all.things.fadra. and link up!




So, here we go:





Most obviously on my mind today is my oldest child, Rosebud. She is such a beautiful young woman and has such a heart for the Lord. I hugged (and hugged and hugged and hugged) and then kissed her goodbye, for a whole week, early this morning. And I mean EARLY ... as in 5something am! My hubby drove her to church to join her youth group for a one week mission and service trip to Michigan. They will be working with TeenServe, just like they did last summer in Indiana.


Yes I was annoying and insisted on pictures even at 5something in the morning ... because, you know, I'm going to miss her. I love her! This look is her telling me enough already mom. But I can never get enough picures of my kiddos. You can see the sky behind her is getting pink ... the sun rose just after she left. Yep up that early. But it made for some very pretty pictures.





I made her take this quick one for her little sister, who will also miss her Rosebud like crazy this week. The crown was laying on the floor, we knew the Little Princess Mary would find this picture funny. And after she woke up, some 3 hours later, I did show it to her and she did indeed giggle.




Another one for the Little Princess Sister ... by the castle:




And then of course one with her handsome and charming daddy ... well I think he is handsome and charming



And a few more cause I really am addicted to taking pictures of my kids. Hubby had to work a double shift on Saturday, so I took all 5 kiddos and we went to see CARS 2. We all enjoyed it, yes even the 15 and 12 year olds who were not so sure. We had a good time and I'm glad we got to do something together before Rosebud is gone for the week.




I just love this shot! I lined them all up by the tulip garden at the U of MN Landscape Arboretum, we were there a few weeks ago for my cousin's wedding ... and we had a fantastic time!



Rosebud loves to dance! Maybe even as much as my 92 year old grandpa (her great-grandpa) who she is dancing with



And of course the "sisters" picture ... I could look into those eyes forever!


Its a strange thing ... having one so ready for independence, so responsible and capable and then another one still so young and in diapers! Plus then there are the boys at varying stages in between. No wonder I'm living in chaos! Oh well, I aam glad for my chaos and all their ages and stages. Just wish I could slow it all down some days. Seems like yesterday when Rosebud still needed her mama as much as the Little Princess still does ... and if she grew so quickly ... how much longer do I get to hold on to my Little Princess? If I blink will it be her heading off for a week? Oh dear Lord HELP! And Thankyou!

Prayers for our youth group as they join TeenServe

Mikayla and the rest of the high school youth group from our church left around 6am this morning for a week long mission trip in Michigan. They are joining hundreds of other teens and leaders to work with TeenServe in Norway, Michigan this week. Please keep them in your prayers this week. I got Mikayla to let me take a few photos this morning as she was getting ready to leave:






My mommy heart misses her already ... but so proud of her!

Senior Banquet at our church

Each year at our church we hold a senior banquet to celebrate our graduating seniors, at that event we also recognize and welcome the incoming freshman to the Senior High Youth group. How did my first child become one of those incoming freshman? Not sure how I feel about that ... especially since in my mind she should look about like her little sister did tonight. My eldest once wore the very same dress that my youngest wore tonight. How did she outgrow it so fast? And how will I feel when she is one of those graduating seniors?

Watching our children grow up ... its a strange new world. I know its how things are supposed to go and I know that from day one they have been growing up, but for some reason tonight's event spoke stronger to my mommy heart stings. Maybe because its the first time I have a child entering the high school age group. She is homeschooled so she is not actually attending a local high school, but she is that age ... that much closer to being an adult. Still so much I want to tell her, so much she has to learn, so many things we haven't done. I feel like I better not blink or I might miss the next four yeas. Maybe it stands out that much stronger because both my daughters attended this event ... the one about to turn 15 and the one about to turn 2. I'm not sure what scares me more, that I can look at my eldest and remember when she was small like my youngest or that one day I'll blink and our youngest will suddenly look like my eldest ... all grown up.








My heart tugs with so many emotions, but the strongest are love and pride for my girls. They have such sweet loving personalities. I'm blessed beyond understanding by all five of my kids. I know that they all have to grow up and that God has very specific futures for each one of them. How freeing to know that I can trust them to the hand of our God Almighty. He did create them after all, I'm so thankful for those months he knit them each together while they grew inside my womb, I'm grateful to have watched each one's first smile, first step, first word ... all those years of milestones. Again I'm blessed beyond my understanding. I'm thankful that I can trust the One who does understand, the One who created them, with their grown up years. I will cherish each memory and I will watch each exciting new step knowing it is all in God's perfect plan.