Linking Up to Read Aloud Thursdays

This has been a busy week with Summer Bible Camp and beautiful days to spend outside!  Here are a few of the books we've squeezed in!

C.W. Anderson's Billy and Blaze series has been a hit with all of my children, especially the boys.  The books are full the classic adventures of a young boy and his horse.  I love the black and white sketches. Billy shows a somewhat understood respect for adults- a quality that's so good to reinforce through what we read.  Sammy has four or five of these checked out right now. Lots of fun reading!

All the kids and I read One Potato, Two Potato on the deck one afternoon.  When I saw it at the library, I assumed it was another version of the familiar children's rhyme.  Wrong!  It's a delightful "fairy tale-ish"  story of two old, poor people who are generally content with their one coat, one potato meals, and one chair.  They stumble on a way to change it all and while they have fun with the changing, they keep it simple.  We've read it several times this week and have had some good conversations about needs/wants and contentment.  My favorite quote:

"Yet it was the wish of her heart to have a friend, someone with whom she could share recipes for boiled potatoes and sweet memories of how it felt to touch her newborn babies' downy heads."

Linking up to Read Aloud Thursdays!   

Tuesday Afternoon

I can't believe how cool it is outside for late June!  A nice treat, especially for Summer Bible Camp week- the kids aren't worn out from the heat yet.  I hear it's coming, though.
Jack and Kayla are visiting with friends this afternoon.  Lucy is napping and Sammy is listening to My Father's Dragon on cd for his quiet time.  I'm enjoying the peace.
During lunch I mentioned to Sam that maybe a nap would help him to have a "happier" afternoon.
His reply:  "Nonsense!"
What?
He's picked up several new words lately- I think it must be the stories he's been listening to.  A couple others I've heard have been "evidently" and "supposedly."  Cute.

I know this picture is pretty dark but I love the story behind it.
I walked upstairs one evening and heard this, in a soft voice:
"Shhh...  It's alright.  Shh...You're ok."
And there was Kayla, swaying back and forth with Lucy, who woke up for some reason.
It was pretty sweet.

Firsts and Lasts

The firsts are mixing with the lasts.
Seems like a few more "lasts" are creeping up, as they must.
I realized Friday that Brian would preach his last sermon at GCPC today.
A last.
My heart was a little heavy but encouraged at the same time- a first is around the corner- his first of many at Providence PCA.
We are gearing up for Summer Bible Camp this week.
Another last.
Last night, though, we had a "first"- ice cream and yard games with the core group.  That was a lot of fun.  Great people to spend a few hours eating ice cream and watermelon with.

We're still excited.
Still laboring hard.
Not looking forward to saying good-bye.
Eagerly anticipating a launch come August 12.
Seems like I have been led to this often lately:

"Let your work be shown to your servants,

and your glorious power to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be 

upon us,

and establish the work of our hands

upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!"

Psalm 90:16-17

Friday Afternoon

I was feeling a little fried by lunchtime today.  I love this business of mothering but sometimes it plain wears me out.  We all had an extended quiet time and I am refreshed.
I set out two jars for sun tea- one for later and one because I didn't want to wait until later.  I think I'm addicted to it- with lemon, mint, whatever.
The deer and I are not on good terms.  They got into our green beans earlier in the week.  They also chewed down my potted impatiens- which were so pretty.  Each morning I'm finding something else they've been nibbling on.  I guess it's hard to be too, too mad since one has a baby following her around but it would be nice if they'd go snack somewhere else.
Been doing some rearranging this week.  Every once in a while I get an itch to move some sort of furniture.  I think I'm settled with what we moved.

A couple of thoughts on this little girl.
This picture sums her up- a baby and a sword.  She's happy being sweet to her dolls or chasing her brothers around the house with an intense look on her face.  Yesterday things got a little too quiet and Kayla found her painting her finger nails.  With red nail polish.  Once it all wore away from her skin her nails didn't look half bad.
It's been a while since I heard this but we were in the car and she said to Jack, "What's up dude?"  That gave us all a good laugh.
Have a good weekend!

The House at Pooh Corner and Nancy Drew

There is something wonderful about finding a new book, one we've never read.  I tend to get pretty excited.
There is something equally as wonderful, though, about returning to books I've read to my older children.  Books we enjoyed when they were younger and now it's Sammy's or Lucy's turn to hear a new tale, a new adventure.  That's comfort food for my heart and my brain!

This week, Sam and I are reading A.A. Milne's The House at Pooh Corner.  I love this as one of his first chapter books because each chapter could stand alone- it's a good introduction to longer listening with fewer pictures.  I also love it because it's Pooh- that's reason enough!  Sammy grins when he hears something silly, and even Jack has listened in occasionally, smiling and nodding at the funny parts he remembers hearing when he was little.

Thanks to someone's post from last week, we got some Nancy Drew at the library for Kayla.  She's hooked!  She spent about three hours yesterday listening to one mystery on cd while doing puzzles.  I didn't read Nancy Drew as a kid but it's been fun to hear other moms say, "Oh, I loved Nancy Drew!"

Linking up to Read Aloud Thursdays!   

Bike Ride

Last night Jack and Kayla took a first-aid class- I feel much safer now.   So, the rest of us went for a bike ride on the Huckleberry Trail.  It was Lucy's first time on the back of Brian's bike (I think).  She loved it.  Every once in a while she turned around, waved, and said, "Hi Mommy!"

Sammy had a great time riding.  It's a little hard, however, when you're five, to just concentrate on what's in front of you and not be looking all around.  A near collision with a guy walking his dog did not seem to dampen his spirits.  He took off at one point when the trail was clear and I heard him say, "I'm riding like the wind!"
Later I asked if he had a good time.  With his cheeks red and his hair wet with sweat he said, "I had a wonderful time, Mom!"

Lucy and the Ring Bearer

Lucy decided not to walk down the aisle but she and the ring bearer had fun after the wedding.

On to the reception...

A Few More Pictures

A few more shots from the reception...

 flower girl baskets with sweet-smelling rose petals

 beautiful bridesmaids' bouquets

sweet treats to take home

It's All True

Kind
Happy
Patient
Self-less
Peacemaker
Helpful
Fun to joke around with
Faithful
Hard-working
Coffee-lover
Chocolate lover (which I didn't realize until the past few years)
Lover of babies and children (I've always know this!)
Loving husband

That's my dad.
And it's all true.
I have said before that my parents are a blessing and since it's Father's Day, it is fitting to think on my Dad and all he's been for me- so much more than I could say here.  I am a lucky (blessed) girl to have a daddy who has always loved me, put up with me, cared for me, and supported me.  Always.
He really is the best dad I could ask for.
Thank, Dad.
I love you.
Happy Father's Day!

Wedding!

I will have sweet dreams with this wedding running through my mind tonight.
What a sweet day it was.

Some Cynthia Rylant Favorites

Isn't summer a great time to get outside in the shade with some good books?
Some of my favorite children's books are by Cynthia Rylant.  She has such an ability to tell a delightful, simple story that we all enjoy.  (not sure what happened with some of these cut/paste lines!)

There hasn't been a Mr Putter & Tabby book yet that we haven't loved.  Mr. Putter is "old" as he says and lives next door to Mrs. Teaberry, also "old."  They are good friends who help each other out in some way in every book.

If you are taking a trip to see family this summer, read this first.  Especially if you're from Virginia- which we are!  A family leaves their country home in VA "when their grapes were nearly purple enough to pick, but not quite."    They visit for weeks and love their time together until it's time to go back home to their grapes.  I love this one!

When I was Young in the Mountains tells of family life years ago in the country.  There is a sweetness and realness to this one that engages us all.  Another treasure.

Linking Up to Read Aloud Thursdays   

Wednesday Afternoon

I just poured myself a Dr. Pepper (a rare treat) in a coffee mug- trying to avoid the questions and stares associated with something mom has and kids don't!
Lucy has been taking three hour naps lately- summer heat?  She's so happy when she wakes up in the afternoons.  Kayla and Sam are playing in the basement and Jack is listening to a book on cd.  It is so quiet...
I am on day 3 of pink eye- in both eyes now.  Gross.  A minor irritation but aggravating just the same.  Really hoping and praying that it stops with me.  Kayla and Lucy are flower girls in a wedding this weekend and Brian is officiating.  His first!  We don't want red goopy eyes for a wedding.  Can't wait for this one- such a great couple getting married!
The kids signed up for the summer reading program yesterday.  Here, you keep track by the half-hour and get prizes at 5, 10, 15, and 20 hours.  Jack and Kayla set the timer this morning for two hours.  They read, non-stop, for the whole time.  Then they went up to do legos and listen to a book on cd for another hour and a half.  I think they want to finish the whole program this week.  Guessing they'll slow down soon but it sure made for a peaceful morning.
Last thing- a few weeks ago my dad mentioned using epsom salt (along with some other things) on his tomato plants.  My uncle told him to try it.  Then I found this article on using epsom salt on almost all your plants.  Supposed to do wonder for them.  I'll let you know!

Two Months to Go

There has been more than one reminder that today, we are two months away from the first Sunday service of Providence Presbyterian.
Not that I needed a reminder.  Things are getting busy.  There are beginning to be the "lasts..."
People ask me all the time how I'm feeling about the church plant.  While I don't want to take them on a rabbit trail to answer the question, the trail seems appropriate because it reminds me of God's faithfulness. It's good to remember what He's done because it reminds us of who He is.

I think it was the summer of 2004 when Brian and I started talking about going to seminary.  Through different means, God seemed to be leading us in this direction.  Jack was three, Kayla was a year and a half old.  We really liked where we lived.  We really liked our church.  It was not easy to think about moving to a big city- further from our families, further from friends to a place where we didn't know anyone.
Eventually, we sold our house (in just 3 days), packed up, said good-bye.
I cried.  A lot.
The first year was not easy.  But we always could look back and remind each other that we believed God had paved the way.  We trusted, obeyed, and stayed (sometimes I really wanted to leave!).
He gave us good, faithful friends.
We found a new church, had our second miscarriage, explored a new city, began homeschooling.
Sammy was born!
We saw God provide financially over and over, said good-bye to new friends, learned more about ourselves, persevered when we (I) wanted to quit, grew as a family, and I could go on.
**Not to mention, what a gift to see your husband study and learn and be in his element- to be able to do what God has gifted him to do.**
As I look back, it is easy to see God's care and blessing.
He provided in every way, all the way.
So now, there are times when I have a pit in my stomach (what are we doing???) and times when I am ready to jump in with both feet yesterday!
I don't know what tomorrow holds, or next year.
But I am convinced that God will provide yet again.
That is what He does.

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."  1 Thessalonians 5:24

Sam With a Camera

Here's what happens when Sam gets a hold of the camera.

Two-Berry Pie

Alright, Amanda.  Here it is.  In all it's yummy goodness.
Our strawberries were quickly ripening and getting soft.  We froze a bunch, ate a bunch, and still had some left.
Time for strawberry pie.
Kayla made the crust, mostly by herself, from a recipe given to her from her Uncle Mike last Christmas.  It's a recipe his grandmother used.  Let me say- easy and delicious.
We kind of used a recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book but had to tweak it.  I didn't have quite enough berries for the glaze so I substituted blueberries.
That's where I get the "two-berry pie."  ( I don't know why that makes me laugh but it does.)
It was really, really good.
I wish I could share a piece with ya!

Summer

Summer!

 Freshly picked strawberries

 Mint sun tea

These hummingbirds!  

They keep me so distracted.  I think there are only two who visit but I love to watch them.

It seems like they are always around.

This Week

Doesn't she have a good spot?
Kayla and Jack have been taking a drawing class this week with a sweet lady from church.  They've spent time at the VA Tech Botanical Gardens each morning.  I think I've learned a little, too!

While the older kids were sketching, Sam and Lucy and I found other things to get into each day.  We went to Carol Lee's for donuts with Hokie sprinkles then hit the library.

We went back to the Duck Pond near where we used to live.  Sam rode his bike around the pond over and over.  There's something about being able to ride without worrying about cars- he loved it.  And I loved watching him.

Lucy scooted around on her bike some but was mostly interested in the geese and ducks.  A few times they got a little too close for my comfort although she didn't seem to mind.

This morning after drawing and going for a ride on the Huckleberry Trail, we went to pick snap peas.  They are sooo good!
Now, we're headed outside to enjoy some more of this beautiful afternoon!