inspiration

This seems to happen every year. We hit July 4th, and it feels like the rest of the summer flies by in a whirl wind. Every weekend fills up with fun family activities, camping, pools, weddings or other adventures and excitement. I'm already hearing about "back to school", which is a bit alarming. We've had a great month of June and beginning to July. I included lots of pictures to tell some of our stories. Ryan and I have discussed how much we like the age the kids have reached. It allows for lots of adventures and not as much fretting about naps, mealtimes, bedtimes, nursing, or other worries for younger ages.

Our most recent adventure was getting our wedding bands tattooed. The kids were on a really fun camping trip with Grandmadele and Grandpa Steve, so we had some time to get  things done and to get our weddings bands done. Ryan got three thin bands. I got Ryan's name done in a very artistic/abstract way. They were uncomfortable and painful, but worth it! I won't include pictures. You can see them in person.

I don't have any of my own inspiration to share this time. I have received a lot of insight and inspiration from other blogs and sources recently. Instead of trying to come up with something on my own, I'll just share the links to what I has touched me or resonated with me in some way or another. Maybe they will bring comfort, healing, insight or just a feeling of "me too".  

http://momastery.com/blog/2013/07/12/tara/

The above story reminded me of my "lumps of coal" post and it is a beautiful story of redemption.

http://momastery.com/blog/2013/07/11/on-forgetting-and-remembering/
I can identify with bits and pieces of the above post with my own anxiety and have a lot of friends who either suffer from depression themselves or have loved ones that do. This was helpful and very moving.

http://angiesmithonline.com/2012/09/the-mender-and-a-great-opportunity/
The above link spoke volumes to me and I will read it and re-read it so many times. It resonated with my Approval Addiction. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ2_Gg6ka-k

The last link is a song that I have fallen in love with and listened to hundreds of times in the past few weeks.

 Sheldon and his buddy, Liam playing in flour after baking banana chocolate chip bread.

 Fun day at the Peter Pan splash park.

 A little steamer date with my girl.

 Visiting a new fire station with buddies while the dads were mountain biking.

 4th of July festivities

 Getting ready to ride the fire truck!

 Anna and Coranelle enjoying snowcones- these two always have a good time together.

 Pony rides

 Special balloons.

 Sheldon and Jake playing with trucks in the dirt

 Watching the fire works

 Sheldon and Anna on their green strider bikes

 A trip to Nederland

 Playing in the lake

 ??? Insert caption here.....

 Meeting baby Caleb

Our girl's night Paint and Sip

 Bike riding

 Train rides with Grandma

 Playing together, inside. This is a rare sight.

 My little garden helpers

 Popsicles have been a favorite this summer!

 Playing with cousin Anders in the yard

 Coranelle's dance class- sorry, best picture I have.

 Sheldon's new favorite thing- playing with beans, rocks and beads in his trucks and diggers

 Lesley, Liam and Mia in Nederland.

 Derrrick having ice cream with the kids

 Another play date with the Snapp boys while daddies are biking

Paint and Sip ladies!

Cheers to a truly awesome summer thus far!