Photo of the Day: {Freezing Time}

Do you ever wish you could freeze time? Sometimes I do and it mostly revolves around my children. You know the moment I am talking about... the one where you look down at them and see their sweet little smiles, their chubby little hands, or hear something cute that they just said. These moments melt my heart and I simply cherish them.

I say to myself, "I DO NOT want to forget this." 

They are precious to me and I am so blessed to be given so many. However, I think one of my worst fears is that I will forget. So, I randomly take photos like this one. Ones that if you looked through the thousands of photos on my computer that you would have no idea why I took them, who they are, or what the person was doing. But I do. And when I look at them the memory floods back to me and brings a smile to my face - and heart.

This picture is of my daughters toes. They will be this small and carefree for just a short time. A blink of an eye in all eternity. But I do not want to forget them for even one second.

 So, this is my way of {freezing time}. What's yours?

Weekly Rant: Let's Just Lock Our Kids in Closets

Recently I received an email and, like many, it just left me shaking my head. Apparently in Denver, CO there is a community that wants to ban sidewalk chalk. Really. Really? It is sidewalk chalk. In a day when more and more kids are being constantly entertained by video games, movies, and other media outlets we should be rejoicing at the sight of sidewalk chalk. That means that they are doing something other than sitting in front of the television.

Anyway, after briefly reading the write-up on the sidewalk chalk ban that the neighborhood is pursuing the first thought that entered my mind is - why don't we just lock our children in closets so that we won't run the risk of them making the world a more colorful place and a better place at that. Better yet, we can set them on shelves and treat them like the little Chia pets. Feed them, water them, and watch them grow!  

My goodness. I am going to say it again because it just keeps floating around in my own head - it is sidewalk chalk! Are there not bigger issues to tackle than sidewalk chalk? Next they will be banning bicycles and outdoor toys!

Just in case you wanted to read the same little right up I read... here you go:

http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/06202012neighborhood-considers-ban-on-sidewalk-chalk/?scid=bcToday

And for all your rebels out there, evidently like me, here is a tutorial on how to make sidewalk chalk yourself. You know, just in case they ban it from the super market shelves. ;-p

Source: ohmyhandmade.com via the ghost factory on Pinterest

Photo of the Day: {My Girl}

Fall in Love with Your Life

I have been on a sabbatical from the blog lately and honestly it was because I have just been so exhausted. But we were able to sneak away (more about that later) and just get some rest. It was awesome. And it is funny because when you finally get some good rest the fog kind of lifts from your brain and then the creative juices start to flow properly again. At least for me they do.

There have been many things on my heart to share for the past few months - I just didn’t have the energy to do so. So, I thought I would just start there….

The other day I was looking through some archives on a blog I read regularly. It was just one line. There was nothing else – maybe a picture but there were no other words. It said:

Fall in love with your life.

It just stopped me in my tracks because for some reason I had never thought of it that way. I then asked myself the question – am I truly in love with my life? (We’ll get to my answer later.) But I started thinking of all the messages we receive today. That we can’t be happy if we don’t earn a certain income, have a certain house, certain hobbies, friends or even a certain number of kids. But what if all that is stripped away? Are you still going to love your life?

My answer, even after facing all that Jason and I have faced together, is yes. I simply adore the life I have been given. Although I would have not signed up for each and every thing that has happened, I have witnessed firsthand the goodness of God all the way through. This is the life He has given me and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Praying that you too are in love with the life God has given you.

Blessings,

Andrea

Cancer Update

We have been busy here at the Gressman house. But I am finally feeling like things might slow down a little so we can have a peaceful summer. I need to play catch-up on some past events - things like Kearyn's 2nd birthday :-).

Anyway, just a quick update on the cancer stuff. I met with the doc again today and everything seems fine. He set my next scan for September. He said I passed with an A+ today and that made me happy. A's always made me happy in school and I guess life is no different. Jason calls me a nerd and says a B would not kill me but in the case of cancer - I am going to stick with being a nerd and continue to try to get those A's. ;-)

Hope you all are well.

Blessings,
Andrea

P.S. Please keep all those who are currently battling in your thoughts and prayers. I have recently been made aware of several people going back in a 2nd, 3rd, 4th+ times for treatment again. It breaks my heart to see them having to go through that and I pray for them so often. Please join me in prayer for them and for all of those we don't know by name.