My Life in Photos

I am so enjoying taking photos this month.  Everyday moments that are seemingly small and mundane...but all of these moments add up to be a big and fulfilling life for me.

In the past year I have gotten increasingly settled in to this whole motherhood thing (yes, I should have a long time ago? I do have 6 children!)  All is grace though.  More and more each day God is giving me a greater heart and love and acceptance of having all these children.  The messes don't make me cringe as much.  The reading-aloud isn't draining me as much.  The constant talking and chatter isn't making me nuts as much. I am embracing more and more the brokenness yet beauty of it all. And that can only be attributed to God in my life!

walking to church

LEGO unit study

the many faces of a two year old

chubby baby

new journal

gratitude for Mike's life

good reads

soaking up the baby moments

Instagram Love

My sweet husband bought me an iPhone for Christmas.  And really what I was most excited about was using it as a camera!  I immediately downloaded the Instagram App and have had fun ever since.

If you would like to follow my photo journey, I put a "follow@aimee73" button on my sidebar.  Since I am a very sporadic blogger, this would be a way to see more of the dailiness of my life.

And you?  If you are on Instagram would you send me your username so that I might see your journey too?  Oh what fun it is to see a "day in the life" of others!

New Year!

I love the clean slate of a New Year. It just feels so good.  All the bright and cheery Christmas decorations are removed and packed away, and I like to leave my surfaces clean and bare in January.  A calmness in surroundings for the eyes and heart.

I have spent time the past few days reflecting on 2011.  I love taking the time to evaluate where my heart has been, how I've grown and where I need change and tweaking.  It is encouraging to see growth each year and to record God's faithfulness to love and sustain even in the midst of storms.

No big resolutions or goals for 2012.  Simply to continue the goals and ways of living that I already value.  I do want to produce higher-quality work in my crafting and finish two quilts that I started last year.  I want to continue the valuable habit of rising early in the morning and walking in an attitude of gratitude.  Take lots of photos. Embroider more. Read aloud to my kids. Plan some good unit studies. Go on a vacation or two.

I am re-reading Sally Clarkson's book Seasons of a Mother's Heart. Chapter 1 has convinced me that my word for 2012 will be CONTENT.  Choosing to be content when the reality of life doesn't match my ideals.  Contentedness when my expectations aren't met due to the limitations of living in a fallen world, of having a large family, of homeschooling, etc.  A Content Spirit in the midst of chaos, messes, and all of the "undone" that happens as a mother of many. Only grace and trusting in God's sovereign goodness will get me there!

May you have clarity and peace with where God is leading and growing you.  May you see His generous hand in your life in the dailiness and enjoy the moment-by-moment gifts that He gives.  And may we all give each other grace and love as we go!