My big girls have been begging to play in the side yard so they could climb the tree. I agreed they could IF they did a bit of yard work for $1 each. Last night and this afternoon, they've been hard at work.

I am so thankful for a safe neighborhood with sweet, caring neighbors who help me look after my #lotsoflittles and don't scold me for parenting how I see fit.

Be THAT neighbor. Supporting. Encouraging. Ring the door bell, don't call the cops. Have quick but meaningful chats in the yard. Giggle at bikes left in the wrong driveway. Swoon over how fast kids grow. Memorize names. Care. <3

I wonder what my kids will call growing up in this era? Turn of the century? Whatever they call it, I hope that it seems set apart, different, and more magical than what their "generation" will be named for.

I don't want them to have a 50s childhood where they remember nickers and colared shirts. I don't want them to be a 60s-70s childhood that may have been great but tainted by a a wild culture shift. I don't want them to be an 80s-90s-or even 2000 childhood like I had. I want them to have beautiful, creative, fun, worth-while aspects of all those that God can use to shape how He wants to use them for His glory.

#childhood in both its extremes:
Three big #treeclimbers set free in the side yard before lunch aaaaaand....

#pouting preschooler who wasn't given that much freedom just yet. At least hers cute and says things like, "My wanna go out dare." and "It hot; I can wear my tiny pants [aka shorts]!"
#realness #motherhood

This seems to be my personality lately:

Not nearly the woman, wife, mom, Christ follower I'd hoped to be at this stage in my life.
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This morning I just knew today would be great. I could totally accomplish the simple list that needed to be tackled for the day. I accidentally hit a button on messgenger that had me taking selfies with flowers that air brushed me and covered my "5 head" with cute flowers. Then life.
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Spurts of energy and high aspirations have me signing up for co-op meet-ups, open houses, topical Homeschool lessons, museum outings, and more.
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Then reality hits hard, 6 kids daily needs add up, I remember I'm exhausted by interaction [even just my family], my body is getting older, my mental capacity can't keep up with my well intended service, and all I want to do is write, or close my eyes to make the head ache stop.
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God is trying to rewrite this story I had written so deep in me. What I thought was my fairytale, happy ending, no-really-I-have-my-life-all-together novel.
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The #realness is--> I, my friends, do not have an airbrushed life. I am a cog.
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A worn down, rusty, not very large, seemingly insignificant cog, yet vital part of whatever awesomeness God is working for HIS STORY. His fairytale. His happy ending. His, you'll-never-have-it-together-but-I-always-do novel.

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see that tiny purple piece inside the orange one? that's me--> tiny cog

March Earring of the Month!

These cool Mafie black leather and aluminum earrings were made by at 2nd Story Goods in Haiti. Have you ever wanted an inside look of what goes on with our artisan partners?
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Do you want to meet Mafie, the artisan these fun earrings were named after?
2nd Story Goods made a video while they were inspecting these earrings, and @fair_trade_friday shared it on their Facebook page. Check it out!
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#fairtradefridayclub #changetheworldlookgooddoingit#mercyhouseglobal

If your 6-year-old has a plan for his crafting...you try to roll with it and encourage his creativity.

#anyguesses? #jtheman

It's a superhero vehicular of some kind. The part in the front that looks like a truck is where the guys will drive.