This and That

Every once in a while Lucy gets really quiet and I find her somewhere with a few books.  This was one of those times.  Cute.
Today has been pretty good so far-  an early breakfast (6:30) with a friend at Panera and a morning walk with the kids.
STILL waiting for my nephew to be born.  I'm thinking tomorrow.  I'm sure his mama is hoping today.
I just took the mop to our dirty floor and need to get going on other things but it is awfully quiet around here at the moment- a good time to sit for a few minutes.

I've been looking at books/curriculum from Ambleside- any thoughts?  We don't need a total change but just something to freshen things up.  I like the sound of their philosophy and the fact that many of the books they recommend are old- tried and true, quality literature.

A professor from our church had the opportunity to interview Marilynne Robinson (wow!) two weekends ago, which got me to thinking about her book Home.  I started my reread of it last night.  Such a good book- read it if you haven't.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Family Picture

Thanks, Geneva, for this family picture.

I love it!

Mrs. Dotson

Mrs. Dotson, Brian, and Mrs. Snuffer (2nd grade)

How many people can say they've been to their fourth grade teacher's 90th birthday party??
Brian can.
We all went to Mrs. Dotson's party at the rec center this afternoon.  She is unbelievably spry!  She sang and played the piano and worked that room like she was 50.  
There was a lot of cake and lots of old people.
We like both.
Happy Birthday,  Mrs. Dotson!

They had 10 cakes!

Rain Day Art and Poem

Sammy's rain drawing- see the puddle at the bottom and the umbrella he's holding.

Here's Kayla's rain poem:

Drip Drip Drip

I hear the rain go drip drip.

A rainy spring day,

So cold and dreary.

Soon hot summer days will come.

Sit by the stove

and get all cozy.

Hear the rain go 

Splash splash splash on the roads.

Humbling

So.  I read on in Calm My Anxious Heart.
And I read this article.  (It's really good- read it!)
I am becoming more and more convinced that my "bad" days, the days when I identify so well with the Calgon lady, are almost always, at least in some way, a result of my sin.
Mine.
Is my frustration or anger really because one of the kids is being disobedient or grumpy or needy?   Might they even just be being children?  Is it because there is so much laundry piling up?  Or because of the mess I can't seem to get control of?
If I'm honest, I know that usually my frustration is that my plan, my time, is being interrupted and I don't like it.
I don't want to sacrifice.
I don't want to lay down my book, look away from the computer, get off the phone.
I want things my way and don't mess with me.  I can make things sound much more sophisticated than that but...that pretty much sums it up.
Of course discipline and relationships and circumstances can be hard.  I think sometimes they are meant to be- for a purpose- to depend on Him.  I don't know that just "looking on the bright side" and being happy quite gets it.  That's not even the point of life, is it?
The point is trusting God to provide for whatever I need this day, which He has promised to do.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

2 Corinthians 12:9

And according to 1 Peter 5:6-7, that means humbling ourselves before Him.  I've always remembered that latter part of that verse, "cast your anxieties on him because he cares for you."  I haven't paid much attention to the beginning that says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God."
Do I need a break sometimes?  Sure.
Do we need to faithfully discipline and care for our children?  Of course.
But more than anything, I need to rest and trust and humble myself.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.

  1 Peter 5:6-7

Tasty Treats

I have spent the better part of this day feeling overwhelmed.  Nothing specific.  Just the normal laundry, school, housework, what- in- the- world- am- I- doing type thing.  All that after reading more from "Calm My Anxious Heart" this morning.  Think I need to read on.
Home group tonight, though, was fun.  Fondue and punch.

My friend Rebekah mentioned how much she likes punch.  So we made some for her tonight.

She and her husband are expecting their first baby any day now. 

Why not celebrate?

As Sammy said, "We sure had tasty treats at home group tonight!"

Chocolate-covered marshmallow.

Yum.

Or chocolate-covered strawberries.

Either way.

Cold Spring Day

It is a cold spring day.  No doubt about it.  Still a few flurries flying around.
I'm hoping those little plants I put out last week make it.  We'll see.
My dad was asking about Jack- there aren't as many Jack stories lately.  Well, dad, I do have one.
He's been reading some of Brian's old Calvin and Hobbes books.  He looked for some at the library- they are located in the adult section.  I asked him why he thought that was.
"Well, mom.  Let's just say if it was a movie, it would be rated PG."
Ha.  Pretty good answer.  Maybe I need to check into Calvin and Hobbes a little more.
Here are two pictures of Sam from last week.  He is really into hitting with his bat and he's good at it.

Not to mention he's so stinking cute.

He kept Brian's side warm all week while he was in Mississippi.

A Few Things

Well, no nephew yet.  We'll all be excited when he gets around to making his debut.
Twice now I have pulled out the same dress for Lucy to wear to church and realized it is missing a button for the strap.  This morning, Kayla offered to sew it on.  How sweet was that?  The button is back in place and Lucy wore her dress.
It's a good thing I didn't go ahead and put away those winter coats like I was thinking about doing Friday.    We're in for a cold snap tomorrow.  39 degrees.  Rain and snow and wind.  Sounds like a good day to hibernate with something warm to drink.
Last night we got together with some members of the core group for the church plant.  All together, we have about 40 adults and twenty-some kids.  A few of us read and talked through the mission/vision statement for the church.  I wondered what that discussion would be like.  It was a good one.  To see the many ways God has provided already and paved the way for this church is humbling.  It is His work.  Church planting would never have been on my radar but it is exciting.   I think we have a wonderfully gifted group of people.  I am thankful for them.  

Here are a few of the little ones coming to Providence PCA.

I just noticed little Q is helping himself to Lucy's spaghetti.  

3 Things

Three things:
1.  I am REALLY hoping my newest nephew comes tonight!!!!  Waiting for a middle of the night text.
2.  We had a great evening of fellowship and talking about the vision statement for the new church.  Exciting!
3.  A conversation with Sam this morning:
"Sam, go use the bathroom before we leave.  There aren't any restrooms at the soccer game."
"It's ok Mom.  They have lots of trees there."
He was very serious.

Good Night

This just makes me smile.

I guess all that time outside wore her out.

Spring Garden

And the garden begins.
We finally got our spring plants out today.  The ones we've been tending for several weeks now.  It will be extra gratifying if they make it!
I was afraid we might be late planting but I did a little research and I think we're just fine.

The kids dug up weeds,

turned up the soil,

and played in the dirt.

We set out lettuce, broccoli, and sweet peas.

Hopefully we'll get some good return for our work.

A Look at the Day

I thought today might be a long day but it's been pretty good.
I realized I have been holding my breath, waiting for a friend to get home and feel better.
This evening, I breathed.  Thankful.
I took a few pictures throughout our day.  B- here's a bit of what you missed.

She got her day started right.

These two settled in together for our Bible story this morning.

Doing a little school work.

Coffee break- for me.  I found a gift card that I had forgotten about and I happily indulged.

We had to go out anyway...

So, it was kind of like meeting for coffee when I got to talk with my sister-in-law then my mom this afternoon.

Coffee break's over.

Kayla really wanted to use our new Swiffer- who am I to say no?

He spent most of the afternoon drawing and listening to "Narnia."

Do you know what this is?  Homemade spaghetti sauce delivered by Brian's dad.  You will not find any sauce better than this.  Dinner tomorrow night!

We had a movie night.  Lucy said, "Come on Jack.  Let's cuddle."

And he did!  Loved that.

Tuesday Afternoon

Brian's in Mississippi this week so I'm trying to slow our pace a little.  I don't know that it's working too well!  We're all having a little quiet time now.  Not sure what we'll get into later.  It's nice out so maybe we can do a little work on the garden.  I have a few plants that really should already have been put out.  That might be a good project for us all.
My heart is heavy this week for some friends.  Seems like a lot of people have a LOT going on.  Some hard things.  My prayer list grows.
There's always "sunshine in a shady place", though, right?
Here's a couple from our house:

Hanging from a tree and happy to be there.

I caught this one red-handed.

"I won't eat any more marshmallows, Mom.  I just will hold them..."

she says as she puts more in her mouth.

Good Morning!

And a very good morning to you!
(Could she have a bigger, brighter personality??)
It feels like a summer morning to me and I am having a hard time getting motivated for some school!

Bridal Shower

It has been a long time since I helped out with a bridal shower.
Baby showers, there have plenty of those, but it was fun to do something a little different.
Today we threw a bridal shower for Kelly.  She will be a beautiful June bride.
As I watched her talk about T.C. and open the gifts that will fill their home, I couldn't help but think it has been a while since I was a young bride.  Almost 13 years.  In some ways that seems so long ago and in other ways, it doesn't seem that it could possibly be so many years.
It was refreshing, though, and a joy to anticipate their wedding day.

 Kelly and Kayla.  

Lucy and Kayla get to be flower girls!

Love shower food.

Isn't the cake pretty?  

Robin made it- lemon with raspberry icing.

Knowing Fully

Missing my Papa today.
It's been three years since he passed away.
I keep his tin cup on my stove.  It used to sit by their sink.  Whenever I look at it, I remember him coming inside and getting a cold drink of water from it.  I guess Grandma used it for measuring sometimes, but to me it was Papa's cup.
This morning, we read this from 1 Corinthians 13:

"Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."

Thankful for the reminder that this is what my Papa experiences every day now.

D.E.A.R.

Do you know what D.E.A.R. stands for?
Think Ramona Quimby.

Drop Everything And Read.

It's D.E.A.R. day and we will be dropping!  Maybe around 10:45.
The kids love that in one of the Ramona books, when the clock strikes a certain hour, all the children in the class drop their books to the floor with a loud boom, then of course they read.
I usually don't hear about Ramona without thinking of my favorite teacher.
Mrs. Frangos, second grade.
I'm sure there were lots of good things about her as a teacher but what I remember is that she introduced us to so many classic characters.
She read us Ramona the Pest, Stuart Little, James and the Giant Peach, and Pippi Longstocking.
She sometimes used marionnettes and would occasionally "become" Betty Boop.
And I if I remember correctly, (my mom knows for sure), our visits to Marie's Bookstore increased after second grade.  I'd say that's a pretty good legacy for a teacher to have.

I have a pretty clear memory of getting a brand new book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8.  When we got home with it, I settled on my bed in my room with the light blue walls and the blue carpet and stayed there until I finished the book.  It's on our shelf today.

I have to wonder- what stories will our kids remember?

Seven Wonders

We started reading The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs together in the mornings.  I am really enjoying it- the kids are, too.  It's funny and keeps you wanting more.  The author is a great storyteller.  There are a very few things I have skipped over as I read- one of the benefits of being the one to read it!  And, it has piqued our interest in the real Seven Wonders of the World so we are studying those a bit now.
One thing I can't do is read everything my kids read, as much as I'd like to.  I just don't want them putting junk into their heads where there's so much good stuff out there, and they read a lot.  So I rely heavily on recommendations from friends and homeschool catalogues.  They usually have book lists by age/grade, and I always find titles I haven't heard of.  
At this point on a Tuesday I need to be straightening up and getting ready for home group.  So, off I go.

My one shot of them all together on Easter morning.

I love it!

I love them!

In the Service

I know I don't want to forget.
He sat by me in the service and watched my finger as I ran it under the words of the hymn while we sang.
He looked away and I thought he was done so I stopped.
Then he's climbing in my lap.
He's pulling my finger back to the page, silently telling me to start again.
As I do, I hear his voice join the congregation.  Not with the words, he cannot read them yet.
But with the tune.
And it is a sweet sound, this little one joining in the chorus of worship.

Later, I see his sister writing in her journal.
Writing the words her daddy just spoke.
"This fellowship comes at a cost."
I wonder why she chose that to write.  What's going on in her mind, in her heart at that moment?
I do not know, but my own heart was a little fuller and a little more thankful.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!
Dinner is in the oven and guests are on their way but I had to post these pictures that our sweet friend Geneva took of the girls this morning in their matching dresses.  LOVE these shots!

Getting Ready

Just finished putting together little treats for Easter baskets.  I love doing that.
We have been busy today.  Yard sale this morning, shopping for Easter dinner this afternoon.
Then dinner, haircuts for these boys, baths, and coloring eggs.
Laying out new dresses.
Reading and talking and wondering about an empty tomb.
Preparing to celebrate!

To backtrack:
For some reason, Thursday was a particularly good day.  I took some pictures as the day went on.

A cool, rainy day- just what I like when I can stay home.

More plants growing, slowly taking over our sunniest windows.

She calls him "Jacky" and he doesn't mind one bit.  He bribes her for hugs, usually with clementines.

Girls in new colorful clothes.

He is so proud of himself.  He writes all the time.

I am possibly addicted to Starburst jelly beans.  I won't say how many bags I've bought in the last few weeks.  I will say it's too many.

I got a letter in the mail, quite by surprise, that made me smile.  A lot.  So much the kids were begging to know what was in it.

We wrapped up our day at the Maundy Thursday service.  The songs, the truth, the somberness all gave me chills.

It was a good way to end a good day.

Good Friday

This has stuck with me all week from our pastor's Sunday sermon.

"What is your greatest enemy?
Death.
Until you have a solution for that, everything you do is in vain."

God gave us the solution in His Son.

"Death is swallowed up in victory,

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?...

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

                                                           1 Corinthians 15:55,57

So thankful for this on this Good Friday.

This and That

Several people have asked me if we were having spring break this week and I said no- probably just Friday.
Changed my mind.
We're taking three days this week.  Gotta spend some time taking the house back.  It gets out of hand so easily.  Not to mention that a change of pace can be good for everybody.
I finally got myself to the gym this morning.  It has been a LONG time since I've done that.  But it's free to use the rec center and it will probably get my endorphins going so that's a good thing, right?  Wondering how much my muscles will be hurting tomorrow...
We've been enjoying this pretty spring weather- it will be so pretty for Easter.  I am looking forward, though, to the cool rainy weather that tomorrow is supposed to bring.  Maybe some homemade chocolate chip cookies and some extra reading time?

A little quote from Sam after he was asking me to explain the Trinity:
"Mom, when you are little and just turned five, some things are just hard to understand."

p.s. Tomorrow (April 3) is free cone day at Ben and Jerry's...just sayin'...

Some Cousin Time

It felt more like an early fall evening than an early spring one.
The smell of the fire was strong in the air and the sound of the kids' laughter warmed my heart.
What is it about being outside at dusk to play that makes it all the more fun?
(I'm sure the roasted marshmallows had nothing to do with it.)
The kids and I enjoyed a fun couple of days away at my brother's, near Raleigh.  We were there for a baby shower- which I got no pictures of- and for some cousin time.  Even I got some time with one of mine!
There's something extra fun about cousins.  Our kids are blessed with 5- soon to be 6- sweet ones.

Waiting on Uncle Jeff as he gets the fire going.

Grace and Lucy.

Can you tell what they are ALL holding?  Worm snakes.  These kids spent hours playing with these poor things.

Giving the guinea pigs a pat.

I had to throw this one in of Pilot Mountain.  If you are a fan of "The Andy Griffith Show" like we are, then you might know it as Mt. Pilot.  Kayla took the picture, not the driver.