{this moment} .... FOR NUM NUM

:: In-n-Out pit stop, with my family.... on the way to Utah ::

Insta-gratitude {# 872- # 883}

:: a beautiful OCTOBER day to watch Toby win his soccer game ::

 :: Saturday waffles .... a fairly new family tradition ::

 :: worship. How I adore listening to The Word proclaimed,

singing Him praises, and taking the Lord's supper. 

Fuel for my week ::

 :: sweet, sweet summer memories. I wish I could go back ::

 :: my niece Chase. Today she is 4!! ::

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRECIOUS GIRL 

 :: coming home to a clean house, flowers, and peach cobbler 

being made for tomorrow's guests. My family blesses me! ::

 :: 75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky .... 

can this be October in the Northwest?? ::

:: lots of cousin love.... and technology that allows them 

to "perform" for each other across the miles!! ::

 :: crocks ::

:: the joy of teaching my last little one to read ::

:: beautiful colors on an otherwise gray, hard day ::

Insta-gratitude list {#852- #871}

It's been WAY too long since I have blogged a gratitude list.

I'm truly ashamed of myself!! 

Having a thankful heart, directed toward my Creator,

is such a vital part of my sanity! 

And physically recording what I am grateful for,

helps me to keep my life in perspective

(actually, HIS perspective!!)

Earlier, I mentioned how much I was enjoying Instagram.....

WELL,

I've discovered its a fabulous way to keep a gratitude list.

.... and have pictures to boot :) 

SO today, I hope to start a regular

trend of "insta-gratitude" posts, as I look back every week or two

on the things I've documented on my phone 

...... that I am grateful for!! 

:: another baker is now in the house ::

:: lots of San Francisco Bay "Rainforest Blend" organic coffee :: 

:: a garden tea party on a beautiful September day ::

:: they wanted another backyard picnic for lunch ..... 

and once again, the day was beautiful.

So they could. ::

:: a moment of silence ::

:: my teenager ::

:: the comfort of siblings.... ::

:: Saturday free time ::

:: sweet friends ::

:: that my kids can do this while learning 

about Victoria's England ::

:: my kids are independently reading this morning ::

(even though it's a result of bribery!)

:: little hands helping with dinner ::

:: brothers who adore each other ::

:: I have a boy who loves making pizzas for the family ::

:: an empty basket, a clean bed, and a sweet 

husband and son who laundered the whole day ::

:: creative kids who made and hung stars on their very own ::

:: His mercies are new every morning ::

:: my new book club ::

:: 1st signs that fall is here ::

and today....

:: another BEAUTIFUL afternoon at the beach ::

first games of the season

We've got TWO kiddos in soccer this fall!

Toby is playing for the Golden Wolves 

.... his first experience with a team sport. 

We are so proud of our little man! 

He's fast as lightning....

at least when he's in a position that requires him to run. 

This was what he did for much of the first half of the game

while on defense:

Pretty darn cute, if you asked me :)

In this little age group they play quarters,

and in-between each, the coaches give the players little "pep talks":

So, the second half came around and Toby got 

in on a bit of the action.....

 ... and my man actually scored! 

The Golden Wolves were triumphant. 

 Moving on to the Hammerheads. 

Ellie is playing on the same team as last season.

.... seems like their team name should be the Pink Panthers :)

Ellie's not too fond of pink. hmmmmm.

 The Hammerheads did really well and also won their first game!
What a great experience this has been for Ellie.
This group of girls has been wonderful for her to play with,
and we are thankful that she has had a second year
to bond with them.

If you are interested in looking at Ellie's first game last season,
click here!

I CANNOT believe how much older she looks in these pictures.
She's gonna be an adult any second now.
I'm thankful to be able to document these occasions,
and hope that one day my kids will cherish all these
pictures and journal entries.
I know I sure do!! 

our new fall schedule ....

As you can tell by lack of blog posts, 

it's taking me quite a while to get into our new "school-year" routine. 

Life seems SO BUSY, and I can't get a "moment in edgewise"

to sit down at the computer and journal our life. For all of you who

have missed hearing from me, I apologize. (wink. wink.) 

Our summer weather. It just keeps going and going and going. 

Truly, I'm shocked each morning the pastor pulls up the bedroom

blinds and the skies are blue. I here that a number of summers ago,

this weather went on throughout September .... but it's October now 

(how can it be??) and it continues. SURELY, we've beat some

record, .....or something!! 

I'll take all the sun our good Lord will give us.

 These pics were taken the second week back into school. We had to clear

out of the house for our carpets to be cleaned, so we hit the beach. 

..... and stayed most all day.

Soaking in the sun, the beautiful water,

and all the glorious outdoor sights and sounds. 

I guess I should have carted all our books with us, but alas, I didn't. 

So we just rested and played.  

 Our schedule is SO busy this year, so I'm glad we had this last, care-free day.

Ellie and Toby are both in soccer. Practice 2x a week and games on Saturday,

for both. And Abby has her weekly Irish dancing lesson. 

How frustrating it is to me that all these practices seem to be right during

the dinner hour. As a result, we are eating so late! 

I'm so thankful my dear husband can help me with transportation.

..... or I would be a crazy person!!

 The rhythm of our school week this year, is home Monday - Wednesday,

then more "formal" classroom settings on Thursday and Friday. 

A gal, who has REALLY been an immense blessing to me,

teaches my kids Latin, literature, and grammar on Thursdays. 

I take the younger children to another home in the a.m. and they have

two classes, taught by this lady, with about 8 other kids. 

Then, in the afternoon, we come back here and it's the older kids' turn. 

They have Latin class with two other kids, then 8 more come 

for Literature class. I love that we are making new friendships,

and I love being able to use our home for this!! 

 Fridays, we've joined a homeschooling co-op, which we have now been to twice. 

It's been an adjustment for the little ones to have to actually wake up at a given time,

get dressed, eat breakfast, and LEAVE for school. Welcome to real life kids!
Needless to say, we've had a few tears. 

Over all though, its been wonderful. Ellie is taking creative writing and physical science classes.

Drew, geography and scientific method classes. 

Abby has three: Bible Discovery, geography, and literature pockets.

And Whit and Toby take all of theirs together:

Social Studies, Bible Theatre, and Wiggle time. 

So, there you have it. Our "outside the home" activities for the year!!! 

After the two days of co-op, and then usually busy weekends,

my introverted self is more than happy to stay home Monday - Wednesday. 

I try hard, for my sanity,  to keep those days somewhat calm. 

I can see already how the Lord is going to use our schedule for His glory.

And how the kids are going to benefit and grow from

new relationships, and these more "formal" classroom settings.
It has been such a slow process to build

friendships for them the past two years. I'm hopeful that

these opportunities will open many new doors ....
and I'm loving the outside help I'm receiving, to educate my kids.
The Lord is good.