Halloween Party (2015)

Sooo, Finally getting around to posting our Halloween Party pictures from last year! It was so fun to put together. I really enjoy doing things like this. It's so fun. Anyway, we had one of the soccer teams over along with their families.  The kids got to run around and after they went trick or treating together.

Summer Bucket List 2014

It's Summer around here! We decided we'd do a little bucket list even though it seems that summer is getting shorter and shorter :( I feel that the days are just rushing by. But I cam so incredibly blessed to be able to be home with the girls during this time. It's maybe a good thing no one seems to want to hire me :0.
We aren't traveling this summer, with no plans for anything and I'm so thankful for that. We've just been hanging out. It's been wonderful! I've been behind on blogging in general, but I assure you I'll be back full force. Or I'm praying so, right now I'm just soaking up my time with my family.

We had a bucket list last year and it was so much fun for us. You can see our list from last year HERE.
What are your summer plans?

In no particular order here are some things we'd love to do.

1. Go to the pool (6/17)
2. Georgetown Cupcakes (6/20, 6/30ish)
3. Scripture (no need to record dates on this)
4. National Park (6/15- Petersburg National Battlefield)
5. Make Popsicles
6. Go berry/fruit/vegetable picking (6/24)
7. Library (No need to write down date for this I suspect, but done)
8. Donate items to Purple Heart
9. Sushi (6/30 ish)
10. Water park
11. Splash pad
12. Zoo
13. Biking as a family
14. Play board game
15. Picnic (6/23)
16. Ice Cream out (6/19, 7/1)
17. Canoeing
18. Keep up with penpals, write more snail mail (No need to write this down each time, but the girls sent their first of the summer out 6/26)
19. Lincoln Memorial
20. Museum
21. Aquarium
22. Paint toes (done)
23. Hide and Seek (6/23)
24. Water balloon/water fight
25. Wash car
26. Library of Congress
27. Fireworks (sorta, from our back yard- Fourth of July this year was perfect, we just relaxed at home)
28. American Girl (7/1)
29. Blow bubbles (Yes, done)
30. Marbled paper
31. Smore's (yes, done 7/4, 7/5)
32. RAK- Random Acts of Kindness (Won't record these dates)
33. Dance (Of course, done)
34. Hopscotch
35. Check on house progress (Won't record these dates)
36. Road Trip (6/15)
37. Draw (Won't record these dates- they are always drawing)
38. Square tissue paper craft
39. STEM stuff
40. Kids in the kitchen (As much as possible, done)

Thank You.

Thank you.

Red in my ledger.

Red.

When I think of RED I think about
"Red in my ledger"
Not just Black Widow's from the Avengers either.
But red in MY ledger.
Unpaid debt.
Debt that we can't even BEGIN to pay.
We aren't able to pay.
To who?
To a holy God.
A JUST God.
Jesus' blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
We are free, Yeshua has set us
FREE.
The holy Lamb of God has been slain.
In Him our new life can
BEGIN.
Red.
Passover.
The lamb's blood on the door posts.
Red.
Our passover lamb.
Red that washes us white.
White as snow.
All have strayed.
All have fallen.
All have red on our ledgers.
By His wounds we are healed.
Our sin was as scarlet, now white as snow.
Transgressions as far as the east to the west.
Nothing but the blood of
Jesus.

STOP
Here the song that my picture is from for free, it's called "We Are Free"
http://skipheitzig.com/music.asp?MusicID=5 

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog footer}.
3. Go and comment on the post of the person who linked up before you. This is the one rule of this community.

- See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/2013/08/five-minute-friday-lonely/#sthash.JLvjWS85.dpuf

Summer Bucket List Progress

(Blessed is the one) whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on HIS law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers Psalm 1:2-3 

This is not going to be my last Summer Bucket List 2013 post. Nope. I'm going to probably post my last check the list off next week. Because we're going camping, and while the girls had  their first day of school today, it's still "summer". 

To see pictures of us and our Summer Bucket List Fun, check Instagram HERE. Are you on instagram? Follow @Peasknees and tag #sbl2013 #peasblog and #summerbucketlist so I can see all the fun you're having!
What about you, do you have a bucket list this summer? What should I add to ours?
Here are more Summer Bucket List posts.

Last

Lamentations 3:21-24

Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail. 

 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. 

 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Last.

Last
hours, minutes, seconds of the day.
Last one down.
Last one to sit down,
Last one to finish eating.
Last thoughts of the day.
Last prayers.
Slight whimper coming from Pixie.
She's sick, fever.
Nausea.
She'll stumble on out here for the last snuggles of the day.
I guess it's morning.
0005
First.
First snuggles of the day.
Reminding me how- sweet life is.
First-
hours, minutes, seconds.
New.
Mercies, renewed.
Day.
Blessings.
Beginings.
Faithful, just like the sun coming up.
God brings a new day.
Full of promise.
One day closer to eternity.
STOP.

Sorry, got distracted by a little Pixie.

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog footer}.
3. Go and comment on the post of the person who linked up before you. This is the one rule of this community.

- See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/2013/08/five-minute-friday-lonely/#sthash.JLvjWS85.dpuf

Small

For all the things I haven't done, experienced, or accomplished, I can safely say that all I hold in my arms, all I have been blessed with, is more than I deserve, more than I dreamed up for myself. God is good. ‪- From my Instagram @peasknees

Small

I don't want to get all spiritual on you all, but.
Here
I
go-
The first thing that popped into my head when I saw the word  "small" was...
"My head is big, and my arms are small"
Yup.
Meet the Robinsons.
The T-Rex.
Bowler Hat guy had big plans.
He just wasn't adequate.
So many times I feel
small and...
inadequate
It's ok though.
I am small.
I am at many times not enough.
God isn't small though.
He knows what's up.
This week I was snuggling with Pixie at the pool.
I love to snuggle with her, she's still at that age where she cuddles.
I looked down and just had a moment of ...
clarity.
In that span of about 30 seconds,
I thought about  my big plans
hopes,
desires.
Things I never
accomplished,
finished,
pursued,
experienced.
I realized something.
My plans were too small.
God has blessed me BIGGER.
Bigger than I ever dreamed of.
BIGGER than I deserve.
I let her lay in my arms in the sun.
I realized that very moment that I was so blessed.
I was where I WANTED to be.
Where I was MADE to be.
STOP.
(Five minutes when you're waiting in line for something? An eternity.
Five minutes to write? It's like seconds.)

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog footer}.
3. Go and comment on the post of the person who linked up before you. This is the one rule of this community.

- See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/2013/08/five-minute-friday-lonely/#sthash.JLvjWS85.dpuf

Wednesday Words- Love the unlovable.

source- not found.

Jesus, show me how, to LOVE the unlovable. And to love when I don't feel like it.

Matthew 5:46-47

New International Version (NIV)

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

Lonely

On the couch. With all her stuff.
Today's prompt is "lonely". Soo let's start. 

Lonely 

It's 0005.
The house is quiet.
Pixie has decided that she's sleeping with me tonight.
I love having her next to me.
Her pretty little pouty lips.
Long dark eyelashes that flutter when she rolls over.
Her fifty million blankets.
I don't know how anyone can need so many things to sleep.
Blankets.
Pony.
Rubber snake.
Pocketbook crammed with more stuff.
Goodness.
It's funny how I'm never alone.
Literally at times.
House "full" or maybe not full enough of children.
All day since it's summer.
SOMEone is near me.
Always.
I'm OK with that.
Next year Pixie goes to school.
I'll re enter the workforce.
But until I do that I wonder if I'll be lonely?
I am a loner as it is I think.
I'm good with a book and a cup of coffee.
No.
That's not entirely true, I just am guarded about who I let in.
I do like some company.
I do like being alone.
Guard your heart...
But guarding your heart doesn't mean shutting people out.
We're called to love.
To be selfless.
To be kind.
To be... Christ-like.
Jesus didn't guard his heart.
Not from loving us, loving a world that would shatter his heart.
He loved without ...
fear
So guard your heart from
hate
judgement
evil
But not from loving your neighbor.

STOP
Sigh, I think five minutes goes by quicker when I sit down to write. I can't gather my thoughts in 5 minutes. Get to the point? Not possible till minute 10 I'd say.

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog footer}.
3. Go and comment on the post of the person who linked up before you. This is the one rule of this community.

- See more at: http://lisajobaker.com/2013/08/five-minute-friday-lonely/#sthash.JLvjWS85.dpuf

Summer Bucket List- Pixie asked me to add something.

Piglet. She made the sweetest Snow White, I was able to get some cute shots of her. It was on my personal list to get pictures of the girls.

So, we've been home all summer. We are going camping but not until after school starts. Can I check that off our "Summer Bucket List" if it was booked during the summer? I say yes, because it's our list. I'm the list keeper and I make the rules. Right?
Speaking of list keeping and making the rules. Pixie asked to go to McDonald's. I have no issue with McDonald's once in awhile. But she was too funny. Sooo. Pixie- my four year old has asked to put something on our Summer Bucket list... "get a happy meal" because "we never get a happy meal, I want one so bad. "

Me- "what is it about the happy meal that you want"

Pixie- "I want to eat fries and nuggets and at the end you get to open a TOY"

Me- "so you just want a random toy?"

????

I told her before she starts school she will get her happy meal. It better be a good toy. So I added that to our bucket list. Our full list is at the bottom of this post after all of these pictures.

Diva as Belle. It was easy to get her to cooperate. I just told her to read :)

TobyMac - Steal My Show

The girls and I have been having some serious dance party sessions to this lately. Happy "Wordless Wednesday"


Another cold night
Another late flight
It's almost show time
And Diverse City's waitin' on me
We got a packed house
The crowd is callin' out
They want the beat to drop
But what we really need is You

[Chorus:]
If You wanna steal my show
I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say
Go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show
Can't wait to watch You go, oh, oh
So take it away

So now the crowd is hype
That you showed up tonight
Anticipatin' cravin' somethin' more than smoke and lights
So I'll step out the way
I'll give You center stage
Alright
Spotlight
Give 'em what they came for ...

Chorus

When You arrive, we come to life
Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time
You're comin' through
All eyes on You
Our hearts collide
They're beating in the same time
Beating in the same time

No matter who we are
No matter what we do
Every day we can choose to say ...

Chorus

My life
My plans
My heart
It's all Yours, God
Take it away
My dreams
My fears
My family
My career
Take it away
Take it away
It's all Yours, God
So take it away
Take it away
It's You I wanna live for

Summer Bucket List 2013 Progress...

Painted!

Working on our bucket list, adding more as we go too. The girls get ideas, I get ideas... we may not get through them all.
Scroll down past the pictures to see our list.

Water Fight!

Made a weather station, and a compass.

Dug for dinosaurs.

Piglet's Dr Seuss Party, I need to blog soon.

Swimming in the creek down the street... umm yeah... ew. Fish. Living things...

It was fun the kids and their cousins went together.

 Diva found a half live fish. It did swim away.

 Piglet, so funny. They wanted to swim but didn't want to get too much in the water. Till they started going under. UGH.

Pixie making mud pies.

Then there was the Smithsonian... a few of them. Someone stole my laundry pile and put it up as an exhibit. 

Oh... and American Girl birthday dinner...

To see pictures of us and our Summer Bucket List Fun, check Instagram HERE.
What about you, do you have a bucket list this summer? What should I add to ours?

Wednesday Words- Psalm 34:18

Source Kierra Washington

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Wednesday Words- My Hope Is You Psalm 25

This is one side of my new Stacker from Courtney Marie Jewelry. I did a giveaway review here on Give Peas A Chance.

It has a cross on the top.
The other side says Elohai Yish'i  (God of my Salvation)
I lourve it. Here's my full stack

 .Find Courtney Marie Jewelry
Website
Facebook 

Summer Bucket List 2013

I feel like I should have a bucket list. Everyone else has one. It's all posted, typed up all nice. Sooo, I started one.
I'll edit it as we go.
To see pictures of us and our Summer Bucket List Fun, check Instagram HERE.
What about you, do you have a bucket list this summer? What should I add to ours?

Water Balloon Fight- I ambushed the girls one day after I sent them outside with a picnic lunch and toys.
Fire Works - we got to watch these in DC

S'mores- More than once Smalls ...

Swimming- We've gone swimming a couple of times.
Dancing in the rain- YUP
Painting
Ride our bikes- Well, we haven't done this one all together, but separately we have. OK, except me. Can't cross this off yet.

Zoo

Aquarium

Sushi- Um. Yes of course. A couple times already.

READ- EVERYDAY!

Finish Math
Memorize Verse

American Girl- DONE, and maybe again for tea next week.
Splash Pad
Botanical Gardens
Pixie Pictures
Piglet Pictures

Diva Pictures
Attend a summer concert- DONE (NKOTB for me), and the girls put on a concert for me with a dog guitar and recorder. Also with some music app on a tablet.
Blow Bubbles- DONE!

Make Popsicles- Done!
Make ice cream
Get ice cream out- DONE
Strawberry Pie
Go to the creek

Donate to Purple Heart- DONE! And will do again before school starts.
Dance like David Danced- DONE! And will keep doing!

Pizza Box S'mores 

Hopscotch- Sure did. In the sprinklers.

Pick Your Own Farm- DONE! I'll be posting a cobbler recipe and pictures soon.

Afternoon Tea
Road Trip 

Break Ground
Nap in a fort

Water Gun Fight- DONE, and hopscotch in the water.
Picnic At the Park- This is kind of silly because we do this a lot, I pack lunches at least 2-3 times a week and we head out.

Ice Cream in a bag

Write or dictate a story draw pictures

Drive Through Difference
Leave flowers on someone's doorstep

Donate books to the Clinic

Wash the car
Birthday parties!

Train Ride- DONE, and will again since all three girl's have opted to have parties at this park.
Carousel- DONE, and will again since all three girl's have opted to have parties at this park.
Playdates

Get a Family Photo

Art!

Donate Toys- DONE, a couple of times already, YAY.

Find bugs, but let them go- DONE, even with Pixie squealing.

Ball Game
Library- Every week or so, so far!
Play marbles- Done!
Bleach or Sharpie some shirts

Lincoln Memorial
Smithsonian
Library of Congress
White House
Get a twisted shaped balloon made- DONE

Beautiful - #fiveminuteFriday #FMFparty

Beautiful is the topic/word/theme for this weeks Five Minute Friday. 

The first thing that popped into my head was "Something Beautiful" by the Newsboys.

Things that are beautiful to me

Salvation.

Redemption.
Both have been on my heart extra this past week.

Elohai yish'i

(God of my salvation)

Jesus.
Messiah.

Freedom.
Victory.

Kinsman Redeemer.
Something Beautiful.
The Kinsman Redeemer painted out in the book of Ruth.
Not just MERCY.
Grace. Abundant, Beautiful.
We saw fireworks today.
Something Beautiful.
Light piercing through the dark night sky.
Darkness tried to hide.
Light permeates.
Warth.
Love.
Something Beautiful.
Perfect Love.
Time with my girls.
Blessings of a stay at home mom.
Something Beautiful.
It rained, POURED a couple of days ago.
Warm, cleansing rain.
The girls got to play in it.
I chased them out the door.
To splash.
Play.
Float leaf boats down little streams.
Something Beautiful.
Life.
Life lived.
Precious.
Beautiful.
Everlasting.
Something TRULY Beautiful.
Not always SEEN.
But sometimes felt.
ALWAYS there, regardless.
Surgery. Today.
My eyes.
I'm nervous.
Worried.
What if I can't see after?
See

my children.
Their faces.
Their smiles.
It's in His hands.
Trust is Something Beautiful.
Safety.

Under His wings.
Something Beautiful.

STOP.
***PS if you are leaving a comment from the FMF blog hop, if I don't get back to your blog ASAP it's because I'm having surgery,  I will be back to monitor and leave comments soon***

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back on Lisa-Jo's blog through the button below or this link and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

 

My birthday and a "thank you" giveaway!

July is a busy month here, three of our five family members have birthdays. With mine smack dab in the middle of two of those birthdays! I'm also having a quick eye surgery, so I'd love if you all kept me in your prayers. Because of that I have some posts scheduled but I may not be very active here, or on Facebook and such. I didn't want to go off and celebrate a Dr Seuss birthday and an American Girl Ice Cream Social without including you in some sort of celebration. I'm not having a party... hmm does Starbucks have party rooms? They should. I can't wait to share all the party fun I'm frantically putting together for the girls though!
I'm so thankful you all, for some crazy reason, found Give Peas A Chance. I'm glad you're here, I'm blessed to say that I have gotten to know some of you and can call you friends. To celebrate my birthday I wanted to  have a giveaway!! So I'm offering up 2 prizes. Enter below, there's even a mobile friendly link. Share with a friend! Each prize pack will contain TWO awesome blossom CUPPOW lids. This isn't a sponsored post, just a thank you from me. Those Cuppow peeps are pretty awesome though, so you can check out their Facebook and let them know I sent you. If you don't know what Cuppow is here is the review I did in 2012.

So in a nutshell
July is a busy month filled with blessings
I'm having  minor eye surgery and would love your prayers that it goes well- I'm nervous!
There's a THANK YOU giveaway for 4 Cuppow lids below. Enter and 2 lucky readers will win a pack of two- my choice of style/size/color.

Did you know that you can find Give Peas A Chance on
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter (@peasblog)
Google+
Klout
Instagram- where I'm documenting my Summer Bucket List (blog post to follow, someday)

If you are in the US, have a US address, and are 18 years of age or older, enter below to win. Read the rules HERE, first.
**Please note that I have had to pick new winners often because not all of the requirements have been met for giveaways. If you want the extra entries for liking a Facebook page, following on twitter, blogging, signing up for a newsletter make sure you do follow/sign up/blog etc. These are not required for entry, but if you want extra entries please follow the prompts.

Disclaimer:  This is a fun giveaway that I want to do for  readers of Give Peas A Chance. I will ship to US addresses only, once prize packages leave my hands and go to the post office I am not responsible for  loss.  All pictures are from the companies site, unless noted.

More giveaways on GPAC found HERE.

MOBILE FRIENDLY LINK http://bit.ly/Ux8ZIv

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let Freedom Ring!

Happy Birthday America.
This was going to be a Wednesday Words post, but that's okay. Happy Fourth y'all!
AND always ALWAYS 
Thank you to the men and women to serve and protect. THANK YOU.
And thank you Jesus, for redemption and freedom.

Wednesday Words- Kama tov chasde'cha Adonai elai

Kama tov chasde'cha

Adonai elai

(How good is your grace
God to me)

Elohai yish'i

Elohai yish'i

(God of my salvation)

I had to look up these lyrics. Such a beautiful song. Such truth. So lost in love. Blessed. Loved. Redeemed.

Rhythm- #fiveminuteFriday #FMFParty

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ECC 3:1

Rhythm 

Apparently I can't spell it, thank you red squiggly line of spell-correctness.
Rhythm of my heart.
Listen to our hearts Lord, hear our spirit's soar... I can't sing.
The cricket sounding noise on my child's Operation Game has a rhythm I don't want to hear right now.
It's the first day of Summer.
I LOVE it.
My girls are all home.
We're slowly getting into a rhythm.
I like order.
I like consistency.
I like the rhythm of our lives.
I don't always do well with change.
I do better if I have time to prepare for change.
I don't do so well if I have too much time to think about it though.
I like the way things are.
Sometimes change is a wrench.
Sometimes, God just wants to get me out of my comfort zone.
Not always because I'm not serving Him in that comfort zone.
Sometimes it's time to spread my wings.
Grow.
Fly.
Serve.
Rest in Him.
Grow.
Fly.
Serve.
Rhythm.
Highs.
Lows.
Ups.
Downs.
Life.
Always changing.
Slow.
Fast.
Easy.
Hard.
God's still here.
Rain.
Thunder.
Sunshine.
God's still here.
Whatever the rhythm.
God's still here.
Blessings.
Gratefulness.
Thankfulness.
Anger.
Disappointment.
Unanswered questions.
God's still here.
He has made everything beautiful it HIS time.
STOP

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back on Lisa-Jo's blog through the button below or this link and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..