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!

Be Still

Goodness, I have so much to share! 
God has been so faithful over the past few weeks and I want to get all my thoughts typed out -SO I REMEMBER!  It's funny how the mind can replay terrible things from 20 years ago, yet forget the wonderful moments of His daily grace.  So like the Israelites...I will write down and repeat to remember.  By remembering how faithful He was yesterday, gives me faith to trust Him with today.   

Let me start by saying, vacation started off rough! 

I just couldn't lay down all the "to-do's".  My mind constantly swirled with all the things that had to get done when we got home, so as the kids ran and played I sat there not fully able to embrace the moment.  On Wednesday, I was DONE and in God's perfect timing I received a text from my Pastor   "Their is no vacation when it comes to souls :) PRAY PRAY PRAY".  And though he may have been talking about all the souls at VBS the following week, God meant it for me.  I was praying, but my heart wasn't settled...no rest...and Psalm 46:10 came to my mind "Be still and know that I am God".

So that next morning I just stood outside and quieted my heart.  I listened to His creation sing. Saw the gift of a new day dawning and just. stood. quiet.

And it was then that He asked me..."Do you trust Me?"

A flood of emotion overcomes and the weight I had been carrying fell off and isn't that always the real question???  I once again raised my tear streaked face to Him and answered, YES.

There is no vacation for the soul.  But I praise you Lord!
You are always right there. A refuge and strength to all who believe in you!

...just a small daily docket

Man, my husband would bust by bootie if he knew I was posting these...but isn't he just SO CUTE?

We celebrated a very special birthday boy last week and I just had to share!!

This week...home from vacation (washing machine went out), playing catch up on LOTS of paperwork/dolls and a fun  full week of VBS!! 

Kids are inside playing and finishing up their 4H books, interviews are on Thursday morning and next week -FAIR!!