Finding joy in the simple things

This is NOT a post I want to write.

In fact, it has taken me all week to get up the strength to type it.

If you've been following the blog for a little while, 

you know that my sister's dear friend, Gina, 

was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

For the last year and a half, she has been fighting hard.
She has had very little good news throughout her journey.
When one treatment option has failed, she tries another.
Two months ago, she found out that the medication from the clinical trial she was on wasn't working.
So she went back to regular chemotherapy drugs.
This week she found out they're not working either.
Now she doesn't know what to do.
She's running out of options.

As she has experienced these ups and downs, she has done her best
to find joy in the simple things, like taking her kids to school, eating lunch with them,
or laying in the hammock.

Seriously, don't we all need to stop and enjoy those simple, every day moments?

So here are some every day moments I captured of my dumplings one afternoon.

1. Watching the birds that hang out in our front yard.

2. Sharing some love.

3. Coloring a picture.

4. Watching a BrainPop video on the iPad.

Madeline just had to show me her "new" boo boo.

And I just ADORE this shot- how Madeline is resting her head on her brother's shoulder.

And yes, that is a yogurt mustache Madeline is sporting in these photos.

Real life.  Simple moments.

I'm cherishing these in my heart.

How about you?

What are you doing to enjoy the simple, every day moments?

And if you have a moment, would you please lift up Gina and her family in prayer?

Thanks a bunch.

Linking to:

Simple as That  Show Off Your Shot

Some birthday fun for mama and the gang

Some of this.

It's just what I was hoping for to celebrate my birthday/Mother's Day this year.

Watching my kids enjoy themselves.

The best hubby in the whole wide world decided to take the day off from work 

and spend it with me and our two precious dumplings.

His idea?

To rent a boat and cruise along the river.

I said yes!

And thank you very much!

So we rented a little pontoon boat for the morning.

And thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Madeline thought she could help BaBa "drive."

Caleb enjoyed some fishing.

The homeschooling mama in me enjoyed the wildlife.

We spotted several double-crested cormorants.

And this little guy...a ruddy turnstone.

Nope, I didn't know his name when I took his photo.

I knew he was related to the sandpipers and had to look him up.

So there he is.  He's glad to meet you, too.

We "dropped anchor" on a small island in the middle of the river.

Then we walked along one shore and across a shallow sandbar to another island.

The kids did a lot of digging.

There wasn't any sand here, just fine, broken shells.

So Madeline was a bit disappointed she couldn't build a sand castle.

It didn't keep her from digging though.

I just loved watching Patrick with the kids.

Loved it.

He's an amazing daddy.
I am so very blessed!

Caleb enjoyed fishing on the shore as well...

The kids had such a great time they were wondering when

we're going to rent a boat again!

If only it were that simple and cheap! Ha.

Anyway, I do hope that those of you who are mothers truly enjoy your day today.

Mother's Days are tough for me.
I've never had the chance to celebrate a Mother's Day
with either mom or my gramma as a mother myself, as they both
passed on before Caleb joined our family.
It does make me a bit sad, if I'm being honest.

I'm grateful to my mother-in-law, Barbara,
for raising an amazing son and for being
the amazing mom and mother-in-law she is!
I'm thankful for my sister and sister-in-law, too.

And I'm most especially grateful to two mothers in China
who made the difficult decision to place their children in someone else's care,
until they could come home to their forever family.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!


Linking to:

Simple as That  Sunday Snapshot  Show Off Your Shot