Popsicles and poetry. :)

or Thursday. ;)

Simple instructions here: Chocolate kiwi pops

These were our homemade popsicles today.  Chocolate frozen kiwi pops. They were simple, worked like a charm and the kids and adults loved them.

We also enjoyed our Homemade popsicle day with  friends. :) 

Here we are together reading Shel Silverstein "Where the Side Walk Ends" and 

Favorite Poems old and new selected by Helen Ferris

One of my favs: 

By Shel Silverstein

Looking for something to add to your Homemade popsicle day? 

 Here is a GREAT link called Summer Series #3 that I found delightful and has several fun and colourful ideas for kids that could be enjoyed by different ages. Enjoy.

Summer-series 2013 In His Grace

In my west corner.

 Enjoying poems about beards and licking the spatula full of chocolate. 

Becky

My lived in home...the messes about.

Last year I signed up to take a photo class call the SLICE of LIFE unfortunately I had to cancel and so over a year later I am taking Darrah Parkers class called Lens Mama. 

Day 2 of the Class:
Focusing on the mess.  There are times that the messes in my house the cleaning and re-cleaning can really get to me and then there are times where I enjoy a lived in home. A home where my kids can make messes and I am not hounding them to clean up all the time, a home where legos can be left out for days as they work out heir building skills. There are those days where the messes can send immediate stress signals through my body...but today I take these pics and enjoy a life being lived knowing that it will all get cleaned up eventually.

My bedroom. :) 

A bit of a mess I would say. Marker all over the leg. :)

Day number 5 of legos in the living room. 

Drying my sons sheet on our front room chair. 

Laundry on the Balcony. 

Laundry to me is comforting. However those folded clothes have been there

for 2 days now and the laundry is dry...very dry. 

to all you Mamas out there enjoying a very lived in home, I hope you enjoy these pics and they 

bring some sort of comfort that homes are meant to be lived in and you can relax in it a bit more. :)

In my west corner,

Becky

Working out my mommy-hood

I have now lived in Turkey for 8 1/2 years and my oldest child is 9 1/2 years old. That tells me that of the 9.5 years of parenting I have parented 8.5 of those years overseas in a different culture, with children who have embraced two cultures and languages. Yet in all these difference there are times I still try and fit into the mould of something I am not "a typical American mommy" and I try and force my kids into a mould that they are not "typical American kids."  Learning to know who our family is and our unique thumbprint takes time and disicpline on my part not to compare myself with great intentions/books/families that don't even fit our life here. Also that I would let go of old ideals that need to be laid to rest. (I think one of my ideals looks a bit to much like perfection. :))

I am struggling these last few weeks being a mama, doing this job and giving 100%. Wondering so much if I am doing any of it right, seeing more negatives in myself and my kids then are healthy.
SO I have been looking for ways I can give thanks, and not just the obvious ones like... my bed, home, husband etc but really find how to be grateful in the hard situation I may find myself in today.  There are days I just have to stick it out until I can find something to be grateful for in the situation, and not stop until the well breaks and I can't stop thanking God for all his benefits.

Today I offer my sacrifice of thanksgiving for: the constant challenges of raising these three kids. If these challenges were not here that would mean my kids and their unique persons would not be here either, and I am without words when it comes to my gratitude to God for giving me these three kiddos and there specific personalities that give our family that unique thumbprint I am talking about.

"I will praise the Lord @ all times. I will constantly speak his praises." Ps. 34:1

"Be thankful in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
1 Thes 5:18

"Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God..." Ps. 50:14a

Here is a verse that I have been re-reading this week:

"The steps of a good woman are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in her way. Though she fall, she shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds her with His hand. " Ps. 37:23-24

In my west corner working out my mommy-hood in this culture,
Becky

and I am thankful for knowing two languages, that my children know two languages, that my children accept different types of people, that my children are not intimidated by others beliefs and are confident in their own, that we are together a lot seeing each others weaknesses and strengths and loving anyway, that we always have what we need and my children are not surrounded by the constant excess in the States, that I have to run to Jesus all the time for wisdom, grace and patience, that I am not alone in the challenges of motherhood, that my husband is an amazing sounding board and Baba.....