A Wink at the Moon

Photo Credit:  Dayton Daily News

Hundreds of people gathered together last night to celebrate Neal Armstrong at the "Wink at the Moon" Memorial!  My Husband, Father-in-law and several members of our community and surrounding communities were honored to be a part of the color guard, beginning the ceremonies at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum.  HERE is a small news article about the event.

The kids and I stayed home because we still have two puffy red eyed children but I was blessed to find this picture online this morning...my Hubby third one in from the left and I think my Father-in-Law is the first?   =)  Keith got home late last night and off early to work this morning so I'm looking forward to hearing all the details when he gets home! 

Sparkling Grace in the Midst of a Mess!

Every have those mornings where you just feel messy?  Mornings that you get up a little late and you don't have your quiet time, messy?  Mornings that you need coffee and as a special treat you run uptown for your favorite brew and they only have decaff, messy?  Mornings that two are home again with cold or allergy or something, messy?  Mornings that your sad because your youngest has to miss his first week of preschool, messy?  Mornings that you feel like your drowning in the piles, messy? 

But just as I'm sitting here feeling messy,  God throws a bit of his sparkling Grace right in front of my eyes.  It came in the form of a black and white floppy eared bunny hopping across the dining room floor followed by a puffy eyed five year old boy with giggles and a big smile and my messy mess of a self melts with pure joy.

I had just read in a devotional, that He can brighten up the dullest of gray days and can add sparkle to the routines of daily life!  I just loved that.  He DOES add sparkle --it's just do I see it?

Let's look for all the beautiful sparkles of  His amazing gifts of Grace today!

And a couple of more, as I look to find...Lillian Mary Kaye and Joseph Anthony...I will be praying over you today as I work on your dolls.




(Devotional:  Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young)

Rotten Milk

Yep, rotten milk.  It's what our dishes smelled like after two cycles through the dishwasher.  I'm not sure why and I'm not sure how but something for sure isn't right!  I have washed dishes almost my whole life.  Washed them from a stool that I stood on in front of our Grandmother's stainless steel sink, bubbles dripping off the elbow.  Every night after supper I dropped the stopper into place and ran the water warm, little sister and I side by side.  My children have never known this.  Well until now...

The two youngest worked together sharing the sink, the yellow rubber gloves, time and lots of conversation.  Memories flooded.  I sure hope the dishwasher gets fixed soon but until then we will gather over bubbles in the sink.

And as the sun shines bright...Noah David, Merrick and Finley...I will be praying over you today as I work on your scripture animals.

Somedays require a little more R&R...

 

Rest, relaxation and snuggles on the couch.   Three out of the four are home with me today.  Kolton is missing his first day of preschool.  It's typical that within the first month of school a virus sneaks in and flows through the house, but with only three days last week it hit pretty quick. 

But you know what?  All is well.  The girls are snuggled up in our bed with lots of blankets and pillows while Kolton is playing with green plastic soldiers at the table.  I am taking some quiet time with Him in the Word here in the big red chair and it quietly rains outside the window.  We've needed this rain.

And as we move through this cloudy gray Monday...Miss Lily Grace, Lili Kate & Analise Emsley Peeples...I want you to know that I will be praying for you today as I sew up your dolls!

Go Lola, GO!

Dresses don't slow this girl down!

My sweet Lola drives the go kart for the very first time!

 

 



 

She is my beautiful flower! 

I just can't take my eyes off her!

 

 

And as we move into this beautiful Friday... Miss Caroline, Dalton Michael, Kaitlyn Susannah, Katie and Mackenzie...I will be praying for you today as I sew up your dolls!

 



From Puffballs to Bible Study...

 

 

If you follow on facebook, you would have seen a post about the huge Puffballs my husband found in the woods yesterday.  Puffballs are wild mushrooms.  Actually Colleen thought they looked like Dinosaur eggs...wouldn't that be cool?  Well kind of...but alas they are just simple mushrooms.  Last year was the first time I ever tried them and they actually taste really great!

 

I had planned on making some for supper last night but we are out of egg AND cracker so we settled for taco's instead.  Tristin would have chosen the taco's over wild mushrooms anyway.  They are his favorite.  Mushrooms are not.  =)

 

 

Our baby hummingbird sat in his nest most of the day. 

 It seems he mainly flies around short distances in the evenings but stays really close to home. 

 

Man is he (or she) cute!

 

Last night we continued our Calvary K.I.D.s study on the old Testament, learning about the first five books of the law.  Yesterday was the first day of School and we are just starting back up our study after a summer break...so I only taught two students.  And they were my own.  haha! 

Tristin is in the Teen class and last night Kolton had his very first Bible Study!  It is a privilege to meet together on Wednesday nights!  I praise God the the opportunity to study His word!

Yesterday was great!  The kids had a fantastic first day of School! 

I was able to cut the next round of dolls and FINALLY received in the pink chenille that I have been missing to complete this grouping!   So Miss Ella Grace Bailey, Gracyn Avery, Camile Taylor, Talia Mei, Macy Ruth Anne and Katherine Alice..,.I will be praying over you today as I finish up your dolls! 

Back to School!

 

Yesterday was just a typical day.

 

You know...play time under the table.

 

 

Running poles in the kitchen.

 

More badminton at the neighbors...

 

One more viewing of Flicka

(cause you can never have too many)

 

and always enjoying a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Thompson on Tuesday evenings!

 

We spotted a baby hummingbird in our tree. 

 

Keith actually reached up and TOUCHED it!!

 

Oh, it's cute!

 

This is a picture Natalie took of Tucker.

 

She is becoming quite the photographer!

 

 

 

Natalie also took this picture of Cookie Dough, our newest family member.

 

She is a mini lop, came home with us from vacation and (like everything else) is S.P.O.I.L.E.D.

Can't you tell they are thrilled that I am taking their picture?  And Tristin, please forgive me for posting your major bed head!

But oh, this morning!

 

How I have missed this breakfast table! 

 

Today is the first day of School!!

 

This Momma prayed hard over these three and we are back in Nehemiah and my heart is full!

 Praying over all our children heading back to School today!

A Full Day!

I'm so thankful for neighbors who put up their badminton set just so our kids can play it!

There are times you must just drop everything and go outside and play.  This was one of those times!

I walk back home to find our dog Tucker sitting at the patio table.  Natalie was thrilled!  That is the latest "trick" she has taught him.  Not so good for me because later that afternoon as I pulled out a my chair to sit down...Tucker jumped up in it.  Natalie laughed.

Last night was BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT for K-6!

Lola and Natalie brought their supplies and met their teachers.

Lola is super pumped that she gets a locker this year!



Natalie's locker is in the basement this year while her homeroom is on the top floor. 

 Hope she makes it to class in time!  =) 



She absolutely did not like her locker tag...so of course I had to take a picture of it!

Oh, how I'm praying over their new year! 

Summer is winding down...

I am missing this blog!  I decided a while ago that blogging would be last in line.  Sometimes I felt pressure to keep up with it.  Most times I struggled to say something "important" on it.  It kind of turned into a chore and I really don't want this blog to be on the "chore" list.  I want it to be a rambling of memories.  A place of remembrance, more for myself than others.  A journal of our crazy life! 

And boy things have been crazy!

The past month has been one big swirly mess.  An overall beautiful swirly mess...but a  mess yet the same.  When life gets messy my mind gets messy and boy has the Lord shown me my broken self.  I praise Him that He does.  He can't fix what we don't acknowledge is broken so Lord come fix my broken self!!  He is loving and faithful to do so!

But as things are starting to slow down and fall back into a routine, a new routine is about to begin -SCHOOL!  I always dread when school starts.  I miss them so much!  Routine however is good for us all!

Kolton had his Preschool open house yesterday.  He is an old pro now.  This is his third and last year.  He could have gone to Kindergarten but we decided that he wasn't quite ready, so another year of preschool it is!  Being  my baby...you didn't have to twist my arm too hard to keep him home just one more year.   Miss Lori is his teacher and he was excited to play with all the toys!  Thumper the bunny is still there and this year they have a sweet little turtle.  He loved it!

Big kid school supplies have been bought, sorted and labeled with name by the fine point black sharpie!  They had so much fun...but I must admit...school supply shopping is one of my least favorite things to do.  It's confusing and frustrating.  They were all reading their lists and tossing stuff in the cart.  I WAS STRESSED!  So we took it all out and started back one by one.  Praising the Lord that it is done!  Those back-to-school packs are looking pretty tempting to purchase next year!  =) 

Lola I think is the most excited.  She packed up everything in her backpack and walked around the house a couple of times "just to practice".   They make my heart swell-up tight! 

The boys went fishing with Uncle Greg last night and we just hung out and watched a movie while I worked on stitching smiles and tying tu-tu's!  We are trying to get back into the early bedtime routine.  School starts in two days!

Today

Today we had a big five year old check-up!

Praising the Lord (always) for healthy children!

Today we had a big thirteen year old mow the yard for the first time!

(and this Mama had to look away because in my mind he is still ten)

Today we had a big boy treat!

um, yes...that's a pigs foot.  He LOVED IT! 

Nothing left but the toenails!

Here's to hoping your TODAY was great!