Linking to Read Aloud Thursdays

We have been into some really good books lately!  Both stem from a mother/daughter book club that Kayla and I are a part of through our library.  We've enjoyed it so much and have especially enjoyed the books!

A couple of months ago, we read Deborah Wile's Love, Ruby Lavender.  Kayla really enjoyed it so we picked up The Aurora County All-Stars by the same author to read aloud in the mornings.  Both books (plus a third) take place in the same fictional county, and some characters overlap.  Watching a highly anticipated little league game cross with a town pageant proves to be pretty entertaining. While this may not be a challenging read in some ways, it has brought lots of laughter along with a little Walt Whitman thrown in.  It has also provided good opportunities to talk about some life lessons like friendship, loss, and sacrifice.  So glad we found it!

At tonight's book club we will discuss Eleanor Estes' The Hundred Dresses.  We've read this one before but it is definitely worth rereading.  As Kayla and I have read this story of a poor girl who is made fun of by classmates, we've again had lots of opportunity to talk about what it looks like to love others, stand up for what's right, and to put yourself in someone else's shoes.  

Such a good story.

Linking up to Read Aloud Thursdays            

Spring in the Backyard

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."

        Hal Borland

Aren't we glad!

Here's spring in our backyard this week

Why do they call this a red-bud?

This little guy pops out every once in a while.  He's cute as he can be.

Sammy is filling our house with these.  I think it's mostly because he has to climb a tree to get them.

This is my favorite!  The bird feeder is a busy place lately.  I especially enjoy these little yellow finches.  They are feisty and so quick!

Friday in Pictures

Friday in pictures.

Thankful for the normal, the day-to-day.

 
Getting ready for a baby shower game

Enjoying a book

Doing a little schoolwork

 
Guitar lesson

Snap peas growing in the spring garden

A turtle in the yard

Can we say teachable moment?  (the little turtle is by the fence)

Making a fort as the rain sets in

Stomping in the puddles

Thursday Morning

Every once in a while I get a morning like this one.
Jack is gone to a field day of sorts with his CC class.
Kayla is working and reading up in her bed.
Sammy is listening to "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" on cd (and has been for an hour or so).
Lucy is playing contentedly.
The windows are open with a cool breeze blowing in, and I am taking a deep breath and enjoying it for as long as it lasts.  We'll get to our school work but for now, we wait.

I would say the last week and a half has been one of the more prayerful ones in a while.  Ups and downs.  There is a lot going on around here and in our country, with friends and our church family.  People are hurting and it is heartbreaking.  Other people are waiting, wondering what's next.  I love going back to Isaiah in times like these where God reminds us over and over who He is and who we are (and aren't!).

"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.  Who is like me?  Let him proclaim it.  Let him declare and set it before me...Is there a God besides me?  There is no Rock; I know not any."  Isaiah 44:6-8

 and

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."  Psalm 34:18

There is hope.

For a Laugh

Sammy and Lucy have really enjoyed dressing up together, alike when possible.  Sam let Lucy borrow his Buzz feet pajamas the other night.  Cute.  They gave us some much needed laughs today.

This morning at breakfast Lucy pops out with:

"Kix, Raisin Bran, candy, Santa Claus.  These are some things I love."

That made us all laugh.

Tonight we were enjoying the beautiful spring weather.  Sammy wanted me to blow bubbles so he could swat them with a sword.  Maybe we have bad bubbles but they weren't working.

"It's ok Mom.  It's not you that stinks.  It's the bubbles that stink."

I laughed out loud.

April Snow Surprise!

To say we were surprised today might be an understatement.

They were calling for rain.

Wrong!

We left the house for our CC Celebration Day a little after 2:00.

It was snowing a little.

By the time we left CC at 4:00, it was pouring the snow.  The roads were getting messy.  Getting home was a little interesting but not bad compared to other people's trips.

 

We have nearly 6 inches and now they say we could get 3-5 more!

It's been our best snowman making snow of the season.

I loved this unexpected surprise!

That Mantra

I sat on the couch this morning feeling the burden.
My mantra went something like this, and not for this first time:
"We are ruining these kids.  Why can't I be more patient?  I am so selfish.  These kids need better."
You get the idea.
And it was only around 8:00 and so far had been a good morning!
The thing is, there is some truth in my mantra- on my own, I am selfish and impatient.  And more.
But to stay there sucks life and joy right out.  It is condemnation. 
I so easily forget, though, that Romans tells us "There is now therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
I forget that a few days ago we celebrated that Jesus died and rose again for those sins of selfishness, impatience, anger, etc...  
There is forgiveness and hope, even for the day to day little things that don't always seem so small.
He is making all things new, even this mama and her family.

I read a blog post this afternoon that spoke about just this struggle, where I am today and many days.  It's over here, at Christ in the Chaos.   If you have a minute, check it out.

Mabry Mill

We went out to Mabry Mill in Floyd, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, today.   I believe the mill runs in the summer but was closed for now.  It's pretty interesting to see the flumes and other things that made it run. 

Sammy really enjoyed seeing all the old things but mostly he just wanted to climb on them.

Kayla said there was no way she could count the rings for this old tree.

They thought there might be gold in there.

Here's the still.  I don't know if I've actually ever seen one.