The Toy Box Years: Prayer Rocks

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

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Last month, I had a fabulous "Girl's Night In" with my good friends Robin and Stephanie. We met at Robin's house and over coffee and pumpkin bread talked and laughed about everything ranging from Sister Wives to our experiences at Women of Faith. It was a great evening and one that we vowed to try to continue on a monthly basis.

Last night was my turn to host and I told the girls that they had to come in pajamas too! I brewed a pot of pumpkin spice coffee and made this AWESOME almond-peach cake that I found while ~~wasting time on Pinterest~~ looking for recipes. (The recipe called for canned cherries, but I made it with peaches instead....and OH MY YUM!!)

Sorry -- where was I? (Wiping drool from my face....) Oh yeah.....Girls Night In.

So coffee and cake were made and the girls showed up. I wanted to do something a little different, so I thought it would be fun to do a craft. For about a year now, I've been wanting to do prayer rocks. I had all the supplies in a bag sitting in my basement for that long. You know - the proverbial "I'll get around to it".

Well last night, I pulled out that bag - complete with rocks, baskets, ribbon and silver Sharpies. And so, over coffee and cake, we wrote inspirational words on our rocks and talked about why we were writing them. It was so much fun as we all searched for the perfect rock and the perfect word. One of us would say a word and the rest of us were like, "Oh, that's a good one....." and proceed to "borrow" it.

In the end, it was a great evening with great results. (Stephanie left before I could take a picture of her basket.)

We all chose words such as pray, trust, faith, hope, health, acceptance, grace, glory, love, and more.

I'm really happy with how they turned out. As Robin was leaving last night, she mentioned that she might do something similar for her boys. And I thought -- that's a GREAT idea. So, I think that's one project I may do with the girls this weekend!! (Thanks for the idea Robin!)

And I'm already looking forward to next month's gathering!!!