Friday Fun - What's on YOUR Bucket List?

Have you seen the movie "The Bucket List"?  I like that movie.  I also like that it makes you think about the goals you have for your life.

A friend's board on Pinterest inspired me to start my own list.  I thought it would be a lot easier to put together.  It's interesting to try to list and in some way quantify the things you would like to highlight your life.  Putting some things on the list now makes me kind of laugh at them.

What I have begun to realize as I collect inspiration images and ideas for my own list, is that what I want--I mean what I REALLY, DEEP DOWN WANT IN MY CORE--is completely rooted in my faith and my family.  I want what God wants for me.

Sure, I think it would be fun to learn Latin ballroom dancing.
Yeah, I would like to write and publish a book.
Of course I would love to be a globe-trotter and learn a foreign language.

Ultimately, though, I simply want what God wants for my life and my family.

Those things may not be mutually exclusive.  God made me.  He has a purpose for me.  He rooted certain desires and abilities in me.  So perhaps someday I will live in a foreign country--as a humble missionary.  Maybe someday I will write a book--to share the gospel and God's work in my life.  It could be that I will learn ballroom dancing (or another form of dance)--to worship God in another way or to minister to others in such an environment.  Only God knows.

As such, I don't feel guilty about putting together a list of things that I think would be fun to do or experience at some point in this earthly life.  However, I am taking a closer look at the motives behind those things and am also holding them out with totally open hands and will let God control what gets accomplished and why.

And some of the things on that list are not big.  They're not all life-altering experiences.  Some are things like embroidering something and learning to knit.  I plan to continue to add to my list--things both big and small.  I want to be intentional in my life, as much as I can.

What are some things you'd like to put on your own bucket list?  I'd love to hear some of your goals.  They may inspire more things to put on mine! ;)

That's Pinteresting! - Kids

I'm keeping this one short & sweet.  Here are some pins that inspire me to be a better, more purposeful and practical mommy.

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children

Seven Keys to Help Children Develop Self-Discipline

Pillow Talk: 20 Questions to Ask Your Child at Bedtime

15 Easy Signs to Teach  Baby

Do you have any more useful sites to add?  Please do!

Baby Sign Language?

Baby G-O is pretty expressive and is certainly very animated, so I haven't had too much trouble communicating with her.

Still, I wonder if it would be worth it to try baby sign language with her until she has more control and increased skill with her speech.

What are your thoughts?  Have you tried it?  Would you endorse it?  IF YOU DO/DID, what resources or websites did you use to get started?

Please share!  I'd love to get your feedback and references.

Photo Friday - Spring Fever

I'm a California girl, born and raised (except for a brief time out of state).  If you know anything about the weather in the southern half of this beautiful state, you know that we are spoiled with pretty mild weather year-round.  Truly, it doesn't feel like winter.  As I look at the weekly forecast, every day is in the upper 60s to mid 70s and at least mostly sunny.

Granted, we do still have some bouts of colder weather that remind us not to pack away our cooler weather clothing just yet.

No, I'm NOT complaining.

Yes, I know that what we here in La-La-Land call winter is more like an awesome spring day in most parts of the world.  On those days we're here bundled in parkas, beanies, boots, and scarves and out-of-state visitors are welcoming the weather with tank tops and flip-flops.

Still...

I marvel at how God timed the seasons to last just the right amount of time.  At the start and close of each season I am perfectly ready for the change.  And at this time of year, I'm beginning to feel the itch for spring to have sprung.

It also makes me think of SPRING TRAINING.

Yes, you read that right:  I'm talking BASEBALL!

So my photos for this edition of Photo Friday are in honor of my hometown team: the San Francisco Giants.

Scottsdale Stadium--exclusive home of the San Francisco Giants during spring training.

I had to include the schedule.  Come on, people!

Let's get this party started!

I know this image is small, but I'm just thrilled that Posey should be back in the lineup this year.  Oh, how we've missed you, Buster!

That's Pinteresting! - Home Inspiration

I don't know about you, but I'm on a budget.  Now, just because I'm on a budget doesn't mean I can't spice things up around our home.  I like to decorate and redecorate with the seasons.  I'm no Sandra Lee (does she seriously have the storage space for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer in EVERY color and all the matching accessories to boot???), but I do like to reorganize, refresh, and repurpose.

Here are some of my home inspiration pictures.  I'm thinking paint and inexpensive accessories...or maybe using thrift store finds and my new sewing machine.  Possibilities, possibilities...

Painting blocks of color in Baby G-O's room:

Maybe some DIY stencil pillows:

What about neutral stripes in the Master?

Oh! How about MORE STORAGE for all of Baby G-O's stuff???

And while we're at it, let's stick to these five steps:

What are some of your best home decorating tips?  Any suggestions?  I'm all ears!

Monday Miscellany - Courageous

The Mr. and I rented the movie "Courageous" the other night and we were really moved by it.  Being new parents and all, it really struck home.  While it's not a popular idea in our society, the core message of the movie rings true: Every child needs a dad.  Each man who fathers a child has an obligation to raise, protect, and provide for that child and the child's mother.

Secular research has shown that children raised without a father (or a loving father) are incredibly more likely to become engaged in criminal activity.  It's not surprising to think that children who have been abused or abandoned would lash out in their adolescent and adult lives to cope with the pain and betrayal they were taught to accept as normal.  My heart breaks--absolutely BREAKS--for every child who has ever been a victim of abuse in any form.

Men, it is your duty to love, raise, lead, protect, and provide for your children.  The first step in doing that is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  Seek Him and His ways and you will have all the resources you need to fulfill your duty as a father.

My hubby takes his role as a husband and as a father with the utmost seriousness.  I can't tell you how blessed we are by that.  He seeks the Lord in everything and he has such a heart for me and for our little girl.  I know that I am beyond fortunate to have such a loving man.  Believe me, I thank God for him every single day and I am humbled by God's grace and mercy to have blessed me with such a wonderful husband and friend!

Ok, ok...that's enough out of me.  I encourage you to rent / buy / watch "Courageous".  It's available at most Redbox locations.  If you do, tell me what you thought of it.

Photo Friday -- 10 Months Old!

Baby G-O has turned 10 months old.  Goodbye single-digits, hello double-digits...at least in months.

This little lady is an explorer, a giggler, a crawler, a cruiser, a climber, a splasher, an amazing eater, a pet chaser, and all-around sweetheart.  She'll most likely be walking soon, so we've been baby-proofing our home more and more, day by day.

Parenthood sure is an adventure--and we LOVE it!

We love you, Princess!

That's Pinteresting! - Craft edition

I have not tried these...yet.

This category is what really got me hooked on Pinterest.  I love looking at all the brilliant DIY and craft projects (and accompanying tutorials).

So, here are a couple that I look forward to trying out.  If you try them before I get a chance, let me know how they work out for you.

Make Non-Toxic Glitter:


DIY Mod Podge:


Watermark T-Shirt:


May you get inspired to try new things, too!

Monday Miscellany - The James Challenge

I'm not a big fan of new year's resolutions.  I find they usually don't last and are too vague to really be put in to action.  Rather than write out my reasoning, just read this succinct (and highly motivating) post by Money Saving Mom.

I'm not going to post my entire list of goals here, but I want to share one: The James Challenge.

My hubby and I want to be much more intentional about memorizing scripture.  Inductive bible study requires looking at scripture in context, so we want to apply that to scripture memorization as well.  I admit, I got the idea from the aforementioned post on MSM where she lists that she wants to memorize the entire book of Colossians. Instead of Colossians, Seth and I prayed about it and decided we wanted to memorize the book of James together.  It seems to be very relevant to our lives and has so much wisdom packed in to its five chapters.  It consists of 108 verses and we are memorizing small chunks every week and are giving ourselves one week (at the close of each chapter) to review and correct our memorization up to that point.

I also admit that I've been incredibly lax in my memorization of scripture, settling for getting the gist of the verses, not knowing where they're located without my Bible handy, and simply putting it off.  I have no problem memorizing song lyrics or scripts when they're fun...so why haven't I taken the time to really memorize God's Word?

To be honest, I have no excuse.  I've purely been apathetic.  O Lord, forgive me!

So I'm setting out to change that...with the Lord's help.

Seth and I are now in our fifth week of memorization.  We have memorized James 1:1-10 and are currently working on verses 11-12.  I truly believe it is the grace of God and His Holy Spirit that is helping us inscribe these words upon our hearts.

Please know that I'm not posting about this for my own glory.  My intent is to encourage and motivate other believers to heed the command to meditate upon the Word and to write it upon your hearts.  It really does make a difference in your walk with the Lord.  He will call scriptures to mind when you need them.  As you meditate on scripture, He will reveal new insights into them.  It's actually very humbling.

Definitely keep me accountable.  I covet your prayers as we work to fix these verses permanently on our hearts.

James 1:1-10:

1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1:6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

1:7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

1:8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

1:10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

(NIV, updated version)

Photo Friday--Put a caption on it

I take pictures of G-O Baby every day.  Why?  Because I send pictures to my mom each day with a little snippet of what new things transpired to keep her in the loop since she lives several hours away.

I have seriously been rediscovering that a picture can say a thousand words.

But sometimes much shorter phrases come to mind...

...or quips...

...or delicious laughter...

Because, when you are photographing a baby, you are sure to capture some really funny and adorable faces.

I call this one "Napoleon Bonaparte":

This one says "I WIN!!!":

This one is simply sweet:

I have so many more to choose from, but I could go on forever.  Perhaps I'll do a future post and let YOU come up with the captions.  Now THAT would be fun!