It is somehow February already. Time is marching on. Birthday plans are underway for our eldest in a few weeks. We will also be dedicating our two youngest to the Lord that day in church.

Friday the children and I met our friends at the zoo. The train was not running because it was under 50°. When I first asked if anyone wanted to join us it was supposed to be 52°. The projected forecast kept going down. I think it was a high of 47°. I suppose in the grand scheme of things it was not that big of a difference, but I know the difference when our air conditioner is 75° instead of 72° in the summer, so there is that.

We bundled up and made the best of it. The children enjoyed it. They needed to run.

I had a friend take some pictures of the children and I. Then encouraged her to jump in some with her children. I want to challenge you to do the same if you have children (even grown). Get pictures when you can.

They are not going to care if you where having a bad hair day. Or that you wanted to lose 20 pounds (or more). That you are not photogenic.

One day they will be thankful to have a picture with you. You don’t know what tomorrow holds. It may be the only link that they have to you.

Our backyard has finally thawed, now it’s still drying out.

Yesterday was fairly nice so I washed several loads of laundry and hung them out.

This week started rough Sunday night. Then I got little sleep. Then yesterday was a poopy day. Literally. Still trying to listen to the voice of truth. It has been hard because the enemy has been very much in my face.

This week is a bit easier on the schedule. Wednesday storytime will not be happening because the library is closed in the morning. A bit sad, but more glad for some time at home.

I have been trying to build routines. Running the dishwasher each night, even if it is not full. Taking better care of my skin. Taking my supplements.

I go back and forth on making the bed. One thing hubby and I discussed when we were engaged was if we made the bed or not. Personally we each never saw the point since we’d just be unmaking it to go to bed anyway. Plus, usually there is at least one little in the bed when I rise (read drag myself out of bed) in the morning. And hubby and I have separate blankets (between a certain blanket hog and kids it is just better that way)…

And getting up early. Ideally I would like to get up at 5. Then at least two kids are up during the night. So I end up resetting the alarm. Especially if there will be no nap that day. Not that I end up being able to use it well. The children have mama radar. If I am up and trying to do something they have to be up as well. I might just bite the bullet and keep to it for a week.

Six months out of Krav Maga is going by fast. Hubby has his belt test to move up to his new class in March. Then I can get back to class. Since Krav Maga is an ever changing, um, combat style, I will have to relearn a few things that I know have changed.

We are planning our (belated) anniversary outing. Gone With The Wind is going to be back in theaters for it’s 80th Anniversary.

On to the linkup!

The Aprons & Pearls Link-up

“If you want to experience consistent victory and see it played out in the atmosphere of your home, continually look for areas in which the Holy Spirit is leading to greater obedience, and ask God what your part is in making that a reality.

Cynthia Carrier

This is a Christ-based weekly link-up to encourage others in their walks, and help Christian bloggers get their work out there.

Leave links to posts that are:

Homemaking/natural living/parenting/Christian walk related.

This could be natural living posts, recipes, cleaning, parenting, devotions, lessons, homeschool, Christian living, mentoring, modesty, gardening, homemade, diy, marriage, relationships, frugality, etc.

Linking Guidelines:

- Link directly to your post (not to your homepage).
- Please, no marketing posts (Plexus, Jamberry, MLM Oils or the like). Affiliate links to relevant items okay.
- While I personally do not see anything wrong with a glass of wine every once in a while, please do not include alcoholic beverage recipes. It is a stumbling block to many, and I am not comfortable including them. They will be deleted.
- Feel free to include old posts that need some love, relevant link ups and giveaways.
- Leave as many as you like.
- Link back to the Aprons & Pearls Linkup, either using the button below or a text link on either your post, sidebar, or link party page.
- Use the hashtag #apronspearls when posting on social media so we can find your posts as well!
- I would like to encourage you to browse through the links and take time to visit some and comment when lead.
The link-up will run Tuesday at 6am-Sunday at 5pm. Please come back through Sunday and check out some of the posts!

I have made a Pinterest Board for the posts that you link-up, feel free to send me a message over on pinterest to be added. You can click here to check out the board.

As time allows I will pin some links from the linkup (unless you have already added them to the board), share them on social media and comment.

Please note: View expressed in linkedup posts do not necessarily reflect my own, and I reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts.

Now, to the link-up! Just click on the blue button below to add your link, and to check out all of the links left by others! Links are sorted randomly, so no need to worry if you join us late in the game!