Painting With The Yellow Flowers

Flynn loves her dandelions so much, I try to take full advantage of them during the time they are here. We used them again this year for a craft project, and she had a wonderful time. So did Peyton and Rhett, for the record. : ) If you would like to try this super simple fun craft project yourself, here are some pictures to show you how...

On a beautiful spring day, gather your supplies...washable paint, sturdy paper, paper plates to pour the paint on, and popsicle sticks to mix the paint.

Then pick some pretty dandelions...sturdy long stem ones work the best.

Find a nice, shady spot outside and get started. : )

Pour the paint onto the paper plates and get painting! Dip the flower straight into the paint, and dab off the excess. : )

After you are finished, spread your artwork out to dry.  And while your beautiful pieces of artwork are drying, feel free to spend some time outside on that beautiful, spring day. : )

Flynn's Dandelions

My Flynn loves dandelions. Really loves them. She calls them her "Yellow Flowers". She waits all year for the few weeks they randomly pop up and adorn our yard. In the middle of winter, she stares out of the window at the deep snow and asks if her yellow flowers will come back. I promise her they will. And they always do.

Many people do not share this view with her, I know. Many people refer to these flowers as weeds. I know myself that before Flynn began to share her love of them with me, I also thought of them as a nuisance or a bother. But she has helped me see them in a new way. They are not something to be upset about or bothered by. They are something to anticipate and celebrate. These bright yellow flowers signal the beginning of a new season...a fresh new start at the end of a long, cold winter.

Dandelions remind me that we all have certain times in our lives...difficult or unpleasant times or situations...that pop up randomly and often excessively. We can choose to view these times as weeds...as ugly, problematic things that distract us and cause us stress. We can try as we might to rid ourselves of them, but like the dandelion, they always return. Or...we can choose to look at these times as beautiful, vibrant, yellow flowers. We can choose to see them not as difficult or stressful times, but rather as learning situations and chances to rely on our faith and hope for better times to follow.

I now rejoice with my daughter every spring when these bright yellow flowers pop up in our yard. I take off my shoes and run through them with her, thankful for the fact that no matter how long or how cold the winter is, they always return with the promise spring and a chance to begin again.


This past week, we spent some time outside with Flynn's beautiful dandelions, and my Madison snapped some photos so we could remember the joy on her face...

Don't forget to run through your dandelions, my friends!

Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...my father. And how much I miss him. It has been over a year since his passing...and I am still coming to terms with the fact that he is gone. Intellectually, I understand it. I know that he is gone. But in my daily life, I still find myself thinking about what he may be doing or that I haven't talked to him lately. It is almost like a dream. For a brief nanosecond, I forget. Then...immediately...like a punch to my stomach...I remember.

Sometimes when I am cleaning up the dinner dishes, I actually think about fixing a dish for him because I know he likes certain things I make like pasta or even hotdogs. And then...I remember. Death is new to me. For that...I am blessed...I know. The finality of it. The vast, hollow, unexplainable feeling that you will never see or touch or hear your loved one again...that is pain. Pain that I had never felt before.

I realize I am blessed in the fact that before my father passed...(I still cannot bring myself to use the word "died")...My life centered on birth and life. Now...I am aware that doesn't last forever. The people that have known you longer than you knew yourself...your parents and grandparents...won't always be in your life. They will go. And you will be left to life without them. And that is excruciatingly hard.

I realize I will miss my father until the day I die. Until the day I see him again. In the meantime, I remind myself that the best way I can honor him is to live a life he would be proud of. To be the best wife and mother and daughter and sister and friend I can be. And it helps that I see him in my own son more and more each day. God is good, you know. I believe he knew long before I was born that I would miss my father fiercely after he passed. And so He arranged to send me my son. A living, breathing brand new soul who looks and acts so much like his grandfather...a gift to me. It's the circle of life, I suppose. And again I realize that I am blessed. : )


Here is a peek at our life this past week in our country home...

My dad...

and my son, who reminds me of his grandfather every single day. : )

The trees in our backyard...when the wind blows and the leaves rustle...my Flynn always says that it is Grandpa coming to visit. And then she says, "Hello, Grandpa!"

On a yummy note...this was Mother's Day dessert this year. And it was as good as it looks!

Thank you Peyton and Flynn!

We are enjoying mornings on the porch now...

and I am drinking coffee from my brand new mug...a gift from my Madison. : )

My girl and her dog. : )

And again with her baby. Baby Cute to be exact. : )

Quick homeschool lunch...French Toast. My fave.

And jump roping in a tutu. Princess style. : )

Part of my Rhett's birthday present this year...tickets to see Ed Sheeran in concert! And he took his older sisters along. : ) Any guess where my Madison was? If you guessed running late...you'd be right!

Ahhhh! Here we go! They sent me one from the concert...they had a wonderful time! Shoutout to my hubby for always being the fun one and doing the concert stuff! Flynn and I stayed home and had an indoor picnic in front of the television. Much more my speed. ; )

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Thanks for visiting!

This Makes Me Happy...Spring Walks

Yes, spring walks make me happy. Especially when they double as a learning experience. I will be the first to admit that Science is not my strongest subject. It wasn't when I was a student and it certainly isn't now that I am a teacher to my kiddos. Good thing I am a strong believer that all learning doesn't have to take place between the pages of a textbook! I am always happy when a chance walk leads to an exciting and lovely learning experience. And I am also happy when I remember to bring my camera along. It may seem simple, but spring walks make me happy. Here are a few pictures of our recent after lunch spring walk/science lesson. : )

Oh...I just realized...I can count this for Phys. Ed. Too!!! : )

Happy spring, my friends!