Faith * Family * Life
Sometimes its the simplest things we do that can change things. Like choosing to be kind instead of saying what we may really want, whether to a stranger or someone we know and love. But choosing to be kind and uplifting is always the best choice!
Do you know the value
Of a kind word spoken now?
Leave the mean ones left unspoken –
that conversation with a bow.
Instead use words to lift and praise
And share the good you see.
If all the world was kind like this
How different would it be.
I love books and I love candles so when I discovered Frostbeard candles I was so excited! Two of my great loves in one place! They have so many great bookish scents too! One of my faves is Old Books (pictured above). It’s featured in the permanent collection. They also have seasonal options and monthly options you can purchase individually or through a subscription. If you like candles with book related scents, the subscription is totally the way to go. How great is that to get a little package in the mail once a month with a surprise bookish scent! It’s kind of the stuff dreams are made of. Also the best day to check the mail.
So if you are a book lover and a candle lover, come jump on the bandwagon with me! Start with a scent that catches your fancy and soon your house will smell dreamy too. 🙂
I recently came across this book. It’s called The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of the American Revolution and it’s a history/ABC book for Toddlers! I love learning about the history of our country during the American Revolution. It’s one of my absolute favorite time periods to study and so I was excited for this find to begin teaching my two Littles all about it as well! Bonus – they are also learning the letters of the Alphabet. I love effective multitasking…
But back to the book. I’ve become a bit wary of many “History” books anymore, as so much is changed or interpreted and told as “history” rather than the truth of how things really happened. This book though is great! My older two kids, who actually know a lot about this time in history already, often sit and listen when we’re reading them too. They like to add in details that aren’t mentioned. It is a board book after all. 🙂 I love that I’m laying a strong foundation for my kids education. That’s something that’s important to me.
There are two other books in the series as well – The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Liberty and The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Economics. I’m sure you can take a guess at what each of them are about. They are great too! So if you are looking for some fun board books for your kids that teach about history, economics, and liberty, be sure and check these books out!
I’m a mom to three cute/sweet/crazy/adventurous boys – well the youngest is still a baby but he’ll be having adventures with his brothers soon enough. Each day brings new surprises (and a need for chocolate…) but despite all of it. I wouldn’t give up even one single moment – even the ones I feel like pulling my hair out. 🙂
Little boys with all their toys,
Their messy faces and their noise.
The jumps and tumbles that they take,
The laundry messes that they make.
In the yard, each dump truck tire,
Sunk down deep in muck and mire.
The flips and flops off my new chairs,
The things they tumble down the stairs.
Their tender kisses and their hugs,
And the way they capture bugs.
The balls that they can’t seem to find,
The rules that they can’t seem to mind.
Pictures of their smiling faces
That show up on my phone in places.
The afternoon of rough house play
And all that they forget to say.
Cars that race across the floor,
The always open back porch door.
Blocks that like to stack up tall
Crumbs all over, oh so small.
Despite the crazy each day brings,
I’d never trade it for the Things.
How boring would the quiet be
Without the boys I love with me.
Living in the Pacific Northwest slugs are something I’ve had to get used to as they are everywhere!!! – especially after it rains!!!… Lets just say they are not my favorite but as a mom of four – three of them boys, sometimes you have no choice but get used to these things that fascinate your kids – and are just a part of life. I’ve even been grateful at times when finding them and counting them has kept my kids entertained while we waited for one thing or another to finish. And what else to do? Write a silly poem about them of course. 🙂 Thankfully this is not based on actual events. The original poem was published on my previous blog in September 2012. It has been changed slightly here.
I found in my yard a slimy brown slug.
It was there by the dirt where I dug and I dug.
I scooped him right up with my dad’s favorite mug
and took it right in, that mug with a slug.
But then he escaped from the mug to the rug.
And who should walk in? – My brother named Doug.
And my mischievous brother tried hugging that slug.
My mother – quite frightened – yelled “Ugh, it’s a slug!”
“Are you sure it’s no bug?” said my brother named Doug.
“At least that slug is now off my new rug…”
said our mother quite sadly with a bit of a shrug.
From a hug to a jug went that slimy brown slug.
Then in went a plug to that crystal clear jug.
Said Doug to the slug, holding it snug,
“You’re sure not a pug or a stinky stinkbug,
but I think I will keep you and call your name Ugh.”
From a mug to a rug to a hug to jug
– So went the life of a slimy brown slug.
We have a big, loving dog who loves to be petted and have her ears scratched more then anything in the world. While our dog isn’t a collie, writing this poem made me think of her and smile as I thought of a friendly old collie receiving all the love and attention he could ever want from four sweet girls – just as happy to give it to him. Because really, what more could a dog ask for!
Polly, Molly, Holly, and Dolly
Sat stroking the ears of a friendly old Collie.
Together they sat and sat and sat
And brushed and stroked and pat and pat.
Never such a day as this
Had the old Collie had such bliss.
Never before beneath the tree
Had anyone been so happy as he.
So grateful was that friendly old Collie
For Polly, Molly, Holly, and Dolly.