We Are Making Bracelets....

Most days, I have about 45 minutes worth of Bible, history, and science

"read-alouds" for our home-schooling day. I have traditionally

let the kids do something "tactile" while I read because I've found

they listen well when actively drawing, doing a puzzle, or making something.

Ellie and Drew have been making these friendship bracelets for months now.

Dad taught them the way he used to make them, hooking

the thread onto their big toe and then "weaving."

After a while, they had acquired quite a few.... more than they would even

be able to give away. I providentially happened upon this blog called Craft Hope, telling

about a project that a particular group was doing.

They were collecting bracelets to take, with a mission team,

to Russian for the orphans there.

We made our package today, and Lord willing will get

it in the mail by the deadline of June 15th.
Ellie and Drew hope that this very small labor of love
will brighten someone's day!!

Gratitude List #513 - #563

two lovely days in the country

celebrating the holiday with family

camp fires

hot dogs

s'mores

crisp, clean air

a "date" with my two boys (starbucks & the park)

the girls' sleepover with Auntie Tricia

bb guns

wild mushrooms

an outdoor playhouse, designed by the kids

warm blankets

coffee brought to me by my dear husband

chinese checkers

holding hands

our freedom

our president and other leaders

those men and women who have given their lives for us

those men and women who are presently serving

those men and women who are far from family

being back with our dear church body

hearing the pastor preach on Ephesians 5 and reminding us to "reflect the glory" in our marriages

40th birthday party with friends

wonderful expresso drinks

princess birthday parties

His nearness, all the time

communion with Him

Christ's bride, the Church

His forgiveness and grace

His constant goodness, shown each moment of my day

family date nights

mexican food at a new mexican restaurant

finding goodies at Old Navy and Target

my daughter's friendship

clothes needed for a new season

BEAUTIFUL spring flowers

a full moon in the country

glorious white clouds against blue skies

horses rolling in the grass

cows and their babies

family walks

wild flowers

dandelions

a new birdie at our feeder (a golden finch!)

a puppy curled up on a pillow pet

rainbows
a wonderful husband
the anticipation of date night
smiles and laughter
children

Spring Beauty and Spring Memory Work

Philippians 2:3-16

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death -

even death on a cross! 

Therefore God exalted him to the highest

place and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - 
not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence -

continue to work out your salvation 

with fear and trembling, for it is God who works

in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become

blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked

and depraved generation, in which you shine like

stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..."

I realize that spring is practically over and summer is upon us.

We are planning to school through June, as we started the school year late

and have taken off quite a bit for family time. Love the flexibility though!

I hear it is pretty cool and rainy in the Northwest through June,

so I think July and August will be prime summer months for us.

We hope to do some family hikes, camping, fishing, bike riding.

So much to do and explore our first summer here!! Hope we can fit it all in....

The curriculum we use, My Father's World,

has us closing the school year with

this Philippians passage for our memory work.

So practical for the children and their mama

as these last school days get long and tiresome.

:: O, that we might "shine like stars in the universe"

as we "hold out the word of life!" ::

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A

simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 
Inspired by Soule Mama

Pop's Visit

My grand-dad ~ Pop, from North Carolina,

came to stay with us for a couple of nights while we were in GA.

Drew is named after him, and they have developed

a sweet correspondence across the miles! 

I have always loved Pop's BEAUTIFUL hand-writing,

and remember how special it was to receive notes from him when I was young.

Now, I have the joy of watching my children exchanging letters with him! 

Pop and Drew both have a love for baseball, birds, and working with wood. 

Toby and Pop struck up a checkers game on this particular day....

I think Pop quite enjoyed beating him so soundly!

It was sweet for me to watch them play.

:: excerpts from Psalm 71 ::

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mother's womb.

My praise is continually of you. (vs. 5,6)

I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; 

forsake me not when my strength is spent. (vs. 7,8)

O God, from my youth you have taught me, 

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, 

until I proclaim your might to another generation, 

your power to all those to come. (vs. 17,18)

Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again;

from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.

You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. (vs. 19-21)

I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God;

 I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you;

my soul also, which you have redeemed. (vs.22,23)

Canoeing With Poppy

While we were in Georgia,

my dad took each of the four older kids canoeing down the canal.

I would drop them off, and then about an hour and 15 minutes later,

pick them up downstream. 

I will say, I was a little nervy the first time, as I watched 

Dad and Drew paddle away,

but by the time it was Abby's turn I was pretty

confident that all would go well!! 

"I can feel time's current in my blood ease.....meander.
is this what the life experts know?
That in Christ, urgent means slow."
Ann Voskamp ~ One Thousand Gifts

"The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the ricers."

Psalm 24:1

What sweet memories the children will have.

They saw all kinds of wildlife to be recorded

in their nature notebooks....

Thank you Poppy for such a COOL field trip!! 

O the South & Gratitude list #452-#512

I'm slightly struggling with "life after vacation,"

:: or rather the reality of it ::

After having so many wonderful meals cooked for me by my mama,

all the wonderful help with my children, time-off,

little housework, and no homeschool,

reality is pretty heavy stuff!! 

BUT I am determined to get back in the swing of things.

God is good and I am so very thankful. 

I truly do love the South.... and am so proud that I grew up there,

BUT I'm seeing that I truly DO love the Northwest as well! 

The South and the "southern way" will always, always 

hold a dear place in my heart.....

and I will always have a fondness for sweet tea, grits, magnolia trees,

colonial homes, Cheerwine, thunderstorms, country music, and the Masters. 

(I have learned though, that I am NOT missing the heat,  humidity, and insects!!)

So much to be thankful for, my list goes on: 

safety and sanity flying alone across the country with all 5

meeting with dear friends over a meal

sweet friendship with my mom and dad

watching my 96 year old grand-dad play checkers with 6 year old Toby

warm southern sun, insects, and humidity

fish from the pond.... and fishing

beautiful southern sun-sets

turtles coming up for a breathe

two very possessive geese and one adorable gosling

Whit learning to ride a two wheel bike

laughter in the sprinkler

alone time with my hubby.... 24 hours in fact!!

antique stores

a swimming pool in the country

jet-skiing

protection from a thunder storm while on a family boat ride

my mom's "heart-house" Bible lesson with the kids

Ellie and Abby's reconnection with their pen-pals

canoe trips down the canal with Popi

friends willing to loan us their van

the Krispy-Kreme "HOT DOUGHNUTS NOW" sign....all lit up
Chick-fil-a
Cracker-Barrel
Coca Cola
Sweet tea

Magnolia Trees

Lightning and Thunder

Sweet times with Aunts and Uncles

Visiting my child-hood church

grown-up children who are walking with the Lord

coffee with a seasoned mom

making posies with the girls and my mom

a new piano teacher

coffee in the sunshine with my hubby

Drew's ease to breathe while in the South

children playing ball tag

Irish dancing lessons for Abby

new journals from the used book store

North Carolina bar-b-que

Mosby and Prissy....the kitty-cats

reconnecting
the flexibility of homeschooling
13 year cicadas roaring in the forest
country music
colonial homes

3 beautiful Northwest days

our lovely rental home.... to come home to

the anticipation of crafting

community group

texting with friends

reading to Toby

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

a BEAUTIFUL walk in the country while Ellie had horseback

yellow wild flowers

dandelions

finding a new author..... Lynn Austin and enjoying some reading time!!

creative play

boys climbing trees

barefoot feet

brothers and sisters

As Ann Voskamp says in her book One Thousand Gifts:

"....when my soul doth magnify, my time doth magnify...

I redeem time from neglect and apathy and inattentiveness

when I swell with thanks and weigh the moment down

and it's giving thanks to God for this moment that

multiplies the moments, time made enough.

I am thank-full. I am time-full."