mother's day.

my three sweet children. they have been so good this week!  

new sunglasses...  

nora's picture for me.  aren't i beautiful!  

nora's preschool "program".  her class had lunch for us one day this week, and they did this little short.  

about flowers.  i sort of knew that flowers were coming.  or anticipated them.  for a myriad of reasons.  the doorbell rang, and i ran to get them.  and they were awful.  carnations and star gazer lilies.  two of my least favorite flowers.  and they weren't arranged well.  and there was this stuffed bear with them.  but not part of the arrangement, just handed to me (well, nora grabbed it and ran off).  

so i was there, having such a bad attitude.  it was an ugly flower arrangement, but such a sweet note.  and, to my recollection, the first time my husband has SENT flowers  (he's brought them home...).  i was trying to be grateful that he thought of me.  that it was the thought that really counted.  and trying to decide if i should tell him, someday, the flowers that might rank higher on my list.  and the doorbell rang again.

the flower man was there with a beautiful arrangement of roses, white daises (and yes, a few carnations... but it's okay!), and told me that he gave me the wrong flowers.  i got the pretty ones!  

flowers.  

i had a great day at church.  (after, sadly, missing a phone call from my sweet hubby!)  lots of help and a great sermon.

we had dinner at a friends' house.  it was lovely.  i felt so loved and cared for this week.  i have really been seeing God's grace in my life.  not just in the exchanging of the ugly flowers for the beautiful ones.  but isn't that what God does?  take our ugly and make it beautiful!  (sorry if you were the one with the bad bouquet.)

but, i have been seeing God's grace a lot.  in the arms of friends, caring for us.  in my children, playing so sweetly.  in nora, thinking james was getting in trouble for something (wish i could remember what), asking to take his punishment, so he didn't get in trouble.  

in nora, telling james what communion was.  and having him come tell me.  and then having him come tell me how beautiful i am (although he does it on his own as well).  in james being able to say another whole Bible verse on his own!  (nora can, too...)  in christopher rolling over.  

the deployment is going.  i have been asked a lot recently how we are doing.  and we are doing really well.  i haven't felt (too) lonely, overwhelmed, sad, frustrated, etc.  those emotions come and go, but really i have been feeling good.  and having fun.  which is such a testament to God, because i didn't expect to feel this good.