We are beginning the season in Minnesota where we forget we ever had winter and that mosquitos will every come back.

Spring!

Which means new homeschool lessons, playing with friends outside in the yard, and learning to pick up scooters so they don’t get run over by vans, ahem, not that we’ve had reason to learn this lesson or anything. Anyway, Ryan and I are beginning to do Bible memory work. Molly is beginning a phonics program on the starfall.com website. Claire is beginning to get her shoes and socks on by herself. Leah is beginning to drive me crazy sneaking out of the fence gate in the backyard!

Here are a few photos of our Spring.

Peter, Ryan, me, Claire, Leah, Molly out on our deck during our St. Pat’s party.

Molly and Leah playing with princesses.

Ryan and Molly as snake charmers, trying to earn a few cents.

Claire, Leah, Molly and Ryan getting cozy in their cubbies on the day of closet Spring cleaning!

Molly tapping a Maple Tree for sap at a local Nature Center.

Pete and Ry. Awww, look at my guys, so sweet!

Claire, Molly, and Leah on Easter morning. Cuties!

Super cutie, my nephew Max, on Easter afternoon.

Me and Molla by the flowers in the front yard. He is Risen!

Happy Spring People!

Love,

Jess

So here we are in the throws of winter clinging to the dream of Spring. Valentine’s Day close behind us. Easter way ahead of us.

Are the years getting shorter with a blur of Holidays? Or am I getting older? ahem, please refrain from answering that last question.

My Christmas cards lays unsent. Maybe St. Patrick’s cards for me then?

Happy President’s Day!

Love,

Jess

On goes 2012. This week (and beyond, let’s hope), I am tackling the “willing” part of my One Word Resolution.

Be willing. Stand cheerfully at readiness.Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.

I am and/or have been:

Willing to sooth a clingy toddler. Willing to serve a crabby spouse. Willing to admit when I’m wrong. Willing to say nothing in order to hear. Willing to say everything in order to speak.

Ready, cheerful, and inclined to be in a position for God’s purposes. Willing to take leaps of faith when everything seem hopeless. Willing to see the little things as gifts and miracles.

Willing to trust and let go. Willing to forgive. Willing to make more time for myself. Willing to fly across the World to chase a dream. Willing to just “be” for the sake of being.

Have you ever thought of what you are willing to do?

Love,
Jess

Here are some thoughts on being loving.

I call love many things. But, easy isn’t one of them.

Loving isn’t a demeanor or state of mind I naturally bend. I want to sleep-in later, shop more often, and exercise less patience. None-the-less, I want to receive love at every turn regardless of my contributions or lack thereof.

For me, love is a choice.

Love is welcome work that I consider a full-time job. The benefits are extremely rewarding, albeit, exhausting. Being the hands and feet of the Lord to my children is humbling. Training my kids (& myself) to love one another can be a challenge.

For me, love is a commandment.

Loving takes many forms throughout my day. A harsh word withheld, an extra pair of hands for a neighbor, verbal praise, a quick-to forgive spirit, a hug, meals, or a quick txt of encouragement.

For me, love is active.

May you find “loving” in your day and always,

Jessy

Really it’s sort of a catch all word, be. I had a hard time narrowing my word choice down, seeing as it is nearing the end of the New Year season, I figured I’d best be getting on with things.

Be: kind, daring, selfless, funny, willing, faithful, connected, loving, present, growing, rested, creative, intentional, joyful…

I think that’ll be enough to get me started, no?

Who or what do you want to be this year?

Love,
Jess

View my last two Resolutions at the links below!

One Word 2011: Remember

One Word 2010: Enrich

Before setting my One Word Resolution for 2012 I want to reflect a little on 2011.

Here is my Top 10 Projects in 2011 list.

10. Snowboard getaway to Tahoe, CA – ‘it takes a village’ to leave all 4 kids behind for 6 days!

9. Homemade Valentine Truffles from my Mother-in-law, (truffle recipe)

8. “Lepre-can”, growing sprouts in a can, from Ryan.

7. Painted side table with vinyl bird accents. (for Shabby Mamas)

6. Princess Molly’s 4th birthday cake. Angel Food cake with powder sugar frosting.

5. Welcome Max, my nephew! I guess that is really more my sister-in-law Lisa’s project.

4. Painted side cupboard with buffet drawers and crystal knobs. Now in my dinning room!

3. Watermelon Hedgehog by Neat Pete…who else would have the patience? Nice.

2. Puppet show curtain with the kids’ former window valance and a tension rod.

1. Number One project of 2011…insert drum roll.

Facilitating Grandparent interviews with 4 Grandparents and 3 Great-Grandparents for Ryan’s homeschooling.

Wow, what a year! I’ve been truly blessed by 2011. Here’s to hoping 2012 brings as many projects or more!

Check out my Top 10 Projects of 2010 from last year!

Love,

Jessy

Open Road

I’ m not sure what to say about my life. I only know that it feels good to type. My life sprawls out on the screen in front of me like an open book. I read my own blog to see where I’ve been and where I’m going.

For 3 1/2 years I’ve come to WordPress writing my thoughts  in a box on the internet. I recite tidbits about crafts, deep thoughts about the afterlife, and everything in-between. I neither aspire to grow a Domestic Blog empire nor be America’s top Mommy. I write to just be me.

So, what do you get?  Just a blink of my life between breaths on this Earth. I write to give my thoughts wings, to give my dreams hope and to give my family memories. I write to put it simply, because I have to.  When I say I’m too tired to type; I’m too busy to think; My blog is too boring to read; My ideas aren’t original….I die a little inside.

So are you there blog? It’s me Jessy.

Ready to type, ready to remember, ready to dream…

Combine crisp leaves, chilly winds, and a few rays of sunshine.

Blend in four siblings. Stir well with dirt and air.

Throw in a football, 2 brooms, 15 pieces of broken chalk into days with empty hours.

Cover in jackets. Let cool outdoors until people start crying or the sun sets.

To serve, place Autumn Fun on a blanket, enjoy with a runny nose and side of muddy shoes.

Love,

Jess

Fresh Produce from friends and family. Between my brother-in-law, mother-in-law and my neighbor we ate like kings this summer. Homegrown kings. (my salsa recipe will be coming soon — save those tomatoes!)

School Supplies. I’ve been collecting odds and ends school/craft supplies for years. It all seems to make sense now that I’m homeschooling the kids.

What you are grateful for today?

Have a great weekend!

Love,

Jess

Establishing a new home and a new way to “do” school in the same year summer has been one of the biggest roller-coasters of my life. Pots and pans, Ps and Qs will all get sorted out one way or another; it is the constant personal character development for me and the kids that is so hard to do!

Here are a few snap-shots from our time homeschooling.

Great-Grandma Mary "GG" listens to Ryan's read aloud assignment.

My babies exploring the patio garden.

Post-library visit impact on the living room.

Unit Study bulletin board.

Molly doing "school" on the school room table.

Cheers for school supplies!

Jess