Adventure Downtown

We adventured today! 3 downtown art gallieries, 2 famous restaurants, and even the Mogamma with three children! 💪🏻 It was a really fun day. We live in a really cool city. And also I really love my people. Really.

She's 9

The loveliest 9 year old I know. It’s gonna be a good year with her. She is nothing less than a treasure. 💕

Smokin' a Candy Cane

Can you see what he’s got perched between his two fingers? It’s a candy cane. Every time he gets a piece, he holds it like this and ‘smokes’ it like a cigarette. (Growing up in Egypt problems). He says “I’m blowing it Mama, see!” Oh my...

Merry Christmas

Read-Aloud Time

Bible Buddy

Most mornings lately, when I sit and read my Bible... my little sidekick finds his Bible and climbs up next to me. It’s the best.

Cooooookkkkiiieeesss

Cooooookkkiieesss. Cardamom Seed Cookies. This is a quarter of the recipe, cause, well... family of 15 and all. My Great-Grandma was the youngest of 13 German siblings that came to America. The tradition of this recipe lives on and I’ve taught my kids well because they love as much as I do.

This Giggle

A Phrase I Love

There is a phrase I love to use.

I use it everyday.

Many times.

It is uplifting.

It can smooth things over.

It can divert tantrums and bad attitudes.

It’s very short.

It makes people smile.

Ready?

“Good idea!”

That’s it.

Good idea.

People love to hear this. Big people. Little people. Family people. Friend people. Stranger people. All people.

It can replace other, more common and less encouraging phrases such as “Okay” or “If you say so” or “I know” or “I already thought of that.”

Maybe you did already have that idea. Does that make it less of a good idea when someone else says it first? Nope. Actually, now you probably are even more convinced of an idea’s goodness if someone else mentions it even though it was in YOUR head! You don’t have to tell them that though. You can just exclaim “good idea!” and they will feel so good. And so will you.

If someone makes any sort of suggestion. If you are inclined to agree… why not replace “Okay” with “Good idea!”. It feels so much better for everyone.

Does the grocery man want to put the bread on top of the canned food? “Good idea! Thanks!”

Does your toddler offer to share his snack with his tiny friend? “Good idea!”

I could go on and on.

But I won’t.

I’ll just say… try it!  You’ll see a difference.

Haircuts, Again

Haircut day again. I just can’t. They’re just so HANDSOME!

Roasted Veg

I roasted a few vegetables today. Didn’t have a big enough bowl to mix them in. So I put them in my laundry basket. Don’t buy another bowl, people! Reduce, reuse, recycle? ♻️ 🥦 🧺

A Trap

It’s a trap. From a hoop skirt on a hammock chair frame. So fun and creative. And he keeps catching the cutest little wild creatures.

Oh the Smell

After three years I finally bought an ironing board. And it literally smells like camel. I mean, really. What should I do?! It reeks. Of camel. I have no explanation.

Song

“O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today”. . In a quiet moment of solitude in my home today, I used my voice to lift up these centuries old verses to my Friend, my Savior. . Their deep meaning and powerful truth touches my soul, and I sing them from my depths. . Be born in us today. Amen.

Birthday Tradition

It’s birthday tradition ever since @silkesiegele and I threw ourselves a birthday meal years ago. 🌸 My life is full of beautiful people, near and far. 37 is gonna be good. 🌺