tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25960798687515838702024-03-13T06:41:31.910-05:00Buffaloes and Butterfly WingsAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.comBlogger1137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-74037124718765333932021-12-22T08:19:00.002-06:002021-12-22T08:19:35.215-06:00Two Simple Words<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">Earlier this week we opened our new mailbox to find a Christmas card from a close family member. With money inside! As soon as I opened it, I thought, "I need to thank her and let her know we received this." But, of course, I didn't. Even after the check was deposited and the card displayed I would see it and be reminded, but never followed through. A few days later, she carefully asked if we had gotten it, and I sheepishly admitted we had. It turns out, she sent FOUR such cards out to various family members, and heard back from...none.</span><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">That same day, I was inspired to write encouraging notes to my kids. Sweet thoughts of praise, how I'm praying for them, a Bible verse just for them. As they were waking up I planted them strategically for them to find as they started their day. A few hours went by, and I was pretty sure all SIX of them had found and read their notes, and I heard back from....none.</span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">Thinking on these incidents this morning I was reminded of that time that Jesus encountered a group of diseased men along the road. (Luke 17:11-19). They called out for mercy, and as soon as they obeyed Jesus' instructions they were healed of their embarrassing, debilitating, leprosy. TEN of them were healed, and Jesus heard back from.... ONE. </span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">Apparently the average for remembering to thank someone is one in ten. I tend to think of myself as a thankful person, but today I've been wondering, how often do I neglect telling Jesus "thank you"? Statistically speaking, I'm much more likely to be one of the nine. <br />How many "little notes" do I ungratefully look over during each day? The little moments of encouragement, joy, and blessing that God puts in my life aren't accidents or coincidences. They are thoughtful gifts to me from Him, and I know he deserves to be thanked for them, and I'm pretty sure he'd enjoy hearing from me regarding them!</span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">Not only do we live with the little blessings that can easily be missed if we're feeling entitled or simply aren't paying attention, we are living every day under the tremendous gift of God's forgiveness, mercy, and grace. <br />Christmas is such a beautiful reminder of the sacrifices of Jesus. </span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">Philippians tells us he didn't selfishly hang on to his equality with God in heaven, but instead he emptied himself and became a servant in human form, for our us. (Philippians 2:6-7)<br />"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9.</span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;">And this all leading to the ultimate sacrifice, the giving of his life to pay for our rebellion. <br />Because of all He did and has done, I get to live every day under the amazing gift of grace, but how easy it is to get too used to that, and live without thankfulness. <br />So today I am reminded to not only BE thankful, but to SAY 'thank you' for the little things..... and the big things God gives in his goodness. There really is no excuse not to!</span></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-10109089595842143402020-04-10T19:45:00.000-05:002020-04-15T19:46:56.751-05:00Quarantine Days 22ish to 26ish. Approximately . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I got off on my daily posts, but it's ok really, because the days all run together, anyway! Of course... that's part of the reason I had started the blog posts, to kind of separate the days! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I do know that I went through every day intending to post again. And the good news there is, I took lots of pictures! These are some bits and pieces from around Monday through Friday, April 6-10. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did school. We spent time outside. We cooked meals and cleaned them up and did it all over again. We played games. We read Holy Week devotions every night before bed. We stayed home.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found a toad in our backyard! We finally made the little boys poke it through the gaps in the fence into the neighbor's yard so they couldn't torture the poor thing anymore!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This banner plane circled near our neighborhood every day, but always just a little bit too far to read the sign. Finally, on the last day it was out it flew directly over our house! We waited eagerly to see what it said, and were all sorely diappointed! (It said: "Aid First Responders" with a Missouri phone number. Borrrriiiiiinnng.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love when I 'catch' all the kids in the same room like this. It's nice to remember they really do all like each other. :)</span></td></tr>
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amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-64829643005630968172020-04-04T22:26:00.000-05:002020-04-04T22:40:12.421-05:00He leads me beside still waters, and sometimes on a drive to see them<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saturday, April 4</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quarantine Day 20</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saturday! The day we sleep in without worrying about if we *should* have been getting up!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even on Saturdays, I still enjoy being up before the kids. Those are the quietest, stillest hours of the day. Coffee and God's word in the morning are my favorite way to start the day. It doesn't happen every Saturday, but it did today. And I'm glad, because it turned out to be a challenging day otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I spent a lot of this day on the phone!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a video meeting with a doula client at 11, and I spent some time last-minute prepping for that while the kids ate breakfast. (Cereal today. Waffles were planned, but I usually don't cook breakfast on Saturdays. If Dale had been up and wanted to make them, fine. Otherwise - cereal!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think for most of the morning and into the afternoon the kids were on the Wii.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My meeting went great! I used to feel really weird and awkward meeting by video, but I'm so thankful now to have it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Immediately after the doula meeting Greg and I had some ministry stuff to sort out. It ended up taking a lot of time and emotional energy out of this day. I think I've already mentioned in the few days I've blogged that my emotions seem to be nearer the surface with all this pandemic stuff going on anyway. I think the uncertainty and stress are hard on everyone, and magnify the rest of life's usual troubles. Strange days we are living in, and I'm glad to remember that God hasn't changed. The same Jesus that calmed the storm and calmed the disciples holds us all in his hand.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After making calls and returning calls I found Greg and Alan. It wasn't hard. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the jam session was done, we all got on shoes and pottied and hit the road to see what we could see. Levi, Daniel, Brooklyn, Tyler and I had not been anywhere since church on March 15. Alan has only been to labs, once. Greg and Dale had a couple of days of work after the 15th, and Greg has gone out for groceries a couple of times.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp_iX2qWwY0/XolOk4dzskI/AAAAAAAAQm8/dbOl2Jo7rDY9UFgmnnGBcsbmN-aK6zZvACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoD2E_5h4iJfwNLsmyaGEaxRqKJig8HriYyymfMcdEM_UgPgHMLuqWcUWlb06FvscDVNoKnzhZHgv5rNaWvukx7KaWl9fRxaRc014U0viPn08H6eZsc-7FXRZnGOin50QUdbDjI8qDnwTVegOPR1rg6s3jewLK456BGOpxXFFMY3iT-3o5urmK5H3y7avS5A8fvOPvq2ARcF7ApdphDF0mK_A_Oq8IldS661PtbGBJcsKiFDdy4LLU_Ksp0Ygt9aeUgxOPGuYQYa9VzU0_bptTdcwcLq3lbVYi1a1jTrwR2bWgQQZNkh7ZyY5Sf9IiMhkadC3iLV5rnyKoV9howHtZW9_BOkecsLIoLRTfCK3sGRsxkX9SLR8Kqz3vPXmixaY-x8beJ_A7IL4rC5w8A3OuNqHervR2qPaPSddGCTeKRhnfmprv52n8As5uSt-xR9upSsYrGonSZs9Q2ojN1J6r0Zn13i-Vb5k2FsdhMYk1nw4GUOxMTp8b35t8XbzwpFKGhzdzb2peH8xzPQ-X2sZwOQnua9lrjy_9qx1hbZJB6qoXXAutcIux3AVy_yM4Xvja4FRh9MHp8nLpZ25JpgOVy4mgftnVME8GptMOyhpfQF/s1600/20200404_171312.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, cold and dreary as it was, we still enjoyed the green grass, the newly leafed trees, and the colorful redbuds, dogwoods, and tulip trees everywhere. We saw steep hills, deep valleys, winding creeks, the running river, and a meandering lake. We sang to the radio, and searched youtube for songs the street names made us think of. And returned home over an hour later feeling like we'd <i>been</i> somewhere, even though we never left our van seats!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upon our return, I quickly threw a lentil soup on to simmer and left Dale with a pinterest recipe for a quick crusty bread and Greg and I went for our daily walk/run. After supper we gathered everyone around to watch Andrew Lloyd Webber's <i>Joseph</i>. It was free on Youtube for 48 hours this weekend. That is one of our favorites, because Greg played bass guitar in a community theater production of it before Alan was born. A high note (you might say, haha!) to end this day. :)</span><br />
<br />amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-64713216993697601572020-04-04T08:46:00.000-05:002020-04-04T08:46:11.806-05:00Freebies and leftovers<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday, April 3<br />Quarantine Day 19<br /><br />Never in my life has the movie "Groundhog Day" seemed more relevant.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We woke up. We ate breakfast (oatmeal. with raisins!). We read and discussed our devotion reading. Said prayers. Dismissed from the table to clean up breakfast, make beds and start math.<br />And then the day filled up and it was bedtim</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e again. The end.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not <i>exactly</i> like that. But pretty close. Every day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because it was cold and rainy, everyone stayed with their schoolwork better. I think when I sit down to make next week's assignment sheets I will find everything mostly done. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch was grilled cheese and tomato soup. Yay for planning ahead and saving that one for a rainy day - literally! I always check the weather when I menu plan. Cozy foods for dreary days, avoid the oven on the hottest days, etc. This weekend I need to take inventory of our stocked fridge and pantry and plan for another week. Usually I plan a menu and then make my grocery list and go shopping. But lately it's been "fill the online cart with whatever you can find and hope you get it when you pick up your order." </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other stocking up news.... we are thankful to have ample space to store a few weeks' worth of food for 8 people. When we lived in Texas we had a second refrigerator (the 'garage fridge'), but sold it when we moved because it was around 30 years old and even thought it was working perfectly we had doubts about it surviving the move. And we were going to be storing all our worldly goods and were trying to make the most of the space we had. Anyway.... a month or two ago, Greg was offered a FREE refrigerator from a church near here. It had been their office fridge and they had been given a new-to-them one. We said, 'uhhh...sure!' but we didn't have a way or the time to go and get it, so it looked like that was going to fall through. Well, apparently they really wanted that fridge out of their way, because after a couple of days they said, "We'll bring it to you." And so they did. And so, now when we have 6 gallons of milk and extra produce and meat to store.... we have the place to put it. Greg says it was like God said...."You're going to need a second fridge." :)<br /><br />So. Back to Friday. The kids spent the afternoon finding stuff to do. At one point at least 5 out of the 6 were huddled around the computer watching the online game one of them was playing. I love it when they all get together like that, even if it is around a screen. Alan especially keeps himself busy, and although he does get on screens, he probably uses them less than Dale and Tyler. Brooklyn has been asking for a couple of weeks to make slime from the pink glitter glue we bought just for that purpose. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwb_m1M0AXY/XoiOfXWt9yI/AAAAAAAAQmY/8_FMMZQNHCcNDjwIaQHf-L9ayHP0xOgPACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoCbwBHLJbBJIhWq8rLydoMvsuS0sD7vQ1C5Wj2fFOXhyoPf_kMwaVdMXJkQ92cP4TOKD0XpNNvhN-jbywnjOCncqNkm_smSMkPk14GizHV-QWtmpN5hBXdA_fB0KBmrHKiWCR3ptsbmRpEe73tb2eF_3oWgZApq3B9HWKK4-BgQzbA66kzpjtSJLn9DlfJ4iBCo8LhpljBRTG9cCk5McnQc7WZ4Pi_b4eDewBcUZl2B7-CDxiKAF-jy58zih5_d_uuM_ZJjHFqCc6XwuJ_FtIdjfNJHvUbA1iT87uG2AJM3knZ4fo8ukXIqdHPnxfs5evMma4OglNKZ0yX-W-KzCy_AfTw0l4nzhM9tJrXf1n51lMvJmFgdT9vYYle_JJglwNng_xn3RH0aIxWInMcethqkqUa0XyMfcBCVWOFIJ0Sf_aRW7yK_7V7SF9378BmVxSKKYH5MEbRv9nOivzei1uJpDPgQ-40ThUbEFppXvrJ8gvVXCjrtH_xIHM3K4tNTKhYYI_LHI9I5Q0Eq0-9qSfb0tV04ejqUcWrZF4AleiVNCtpDMeLhvXP8RtUjzbDrMCOEp2btEH_wX7csxNY1AJ06e-bkrlihSm7WMKyjovQF/s1600/4.3slime1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwb_m1M0AXY/XoiOfXWt9yI/AAAAAAAAQmY/8_FMMZQNHCcNDjwIaQHf-L9ayHP0xOgPACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoCbwBHLJbBJIhWq8rLydoMvsuS0sD7vQ1C5Wj2fFOXhyoPf_kMwaVdMXJkQ92cP4TOKD0XpNNvhN-jbywnjOCncqNkm_smSMkPk14GizHV-QWtmpN5hBXdA_fB0KBmrHKiWCR3ptsbmRpEe73tb2eF_3oWgZApq3B9HWKK4-BgQzbA66kzpjtSJLn9DlfJ4iBCo8LhpljBRTG9cCk5McnQc7WZ4Pi_b4eDewBcUZl2B7-CDxiKAF-jy58zih5_d_uuM_ZJjHFqCc6XwuJ_FtIdjfNJHvUbA1iT87uG2AJM3knZ4fo8ukXIqdHPnxfs5evMma4OglNKZ0yX-W-KzCy_AfTw0l4nzhM9tJrXf1n51lMvJmFgdT9vYYle_JJglwNng_xn3RH0aIxWInMcethqkqUa0XyMfcBCVWOFIJ0Sf_aRW7yK_7V7SF9378BmVxSKKYH5MEbRv9nOivzei1uJpDPgQ-40ThUbEFppXvrJ8gvVXCjrtH_xIHM3K4tNTKhYYI_LHI9I5Q0Eq0-9qSfb0tV04ejqUcWrZF4AleiVNCtpDMeLhvXP8RtUjzbDrMCOEp2btEH_wX7csxNY1AJ06e-bkrlihSm7WMKyjovQF/s320/4.3slime1.jpeg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had it planned as an activity at her birthday party....in SEPTEMBER. We didn't need it for the party, and it's just been sitting around since. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geWfsyY77a0/XoiOfUPwqJI/AAAAAAAAQmc/95C2SgLGHRsjUunvvISjnjK5kG5kDtrlgCEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoD4gK2dxrGwnzTI7u4fyb6ATO89Qmf1QvD06_LhXfbUFne_ijoI7zas90nlmIra0dObp78uUz0hoUPLi6JGSB6eLdY2egLvO_cNfdd4CZzB-tosN85GjNv1u4Q_yEZgj0ZByGwMje7Hy2j7fQn9d6jrH4Z3_PK3n-RUW20PwiihVYceBeTOOPb4FwypJJa2zcMbDBFu91Gm4ZgiLDkbpT_e9sMETGqSaj3iD9jbEA-CvdoqNP231bYeW4djwuJx77B03elkI2rNglxuKThb6WvXXZaKI2_mzsaI52MhP6ZPYtlGVG-0SqEMk8cpaAB1kiFDEHaH15yZYde3fFA06Sn0qIo_GmGXTX3-6O9NxjF2nCtzcTmbwT1z8CmXpKdofiqQafeunqcifC0AIyOVBfxb1gCSsdSxB5WJem_cwkDzPCV7b10MXaI_Rfs36h9jKd5QErYNo92n7nibAXogqSn-iBeU94ulfdwdQnrHEuG0siCEHGVf94jK_lotQNRGR70zG1a5-29cUnhOHGZsKikQ_Qh0heSkU1um3lP-TdlsGQE4rZ3UKmr4aeO92W2YOsjOa3YSCWqDZGz7lrIDiRdOc2aY21QvNnATMJqjovQF/s1600/4.3slime2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geWfsyY77a0/XoiOfUPwqJI/AAAAAAAAQmc/95C2SgLGHRsjUunvvISjnjK5kG5kDtrlgCEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoD4gK2dxrGwnzTI7u4fyb6ATO89Qmf1QvD06_LhXfbUFne_ijoI7zas90nlmIra0dObp78uUz0hoUPLi6JGSB6eLdY2egLvO_cNfdd4CZzB-tosN85GjNv1u4Q_yEZgj0ZByGwMje7Hy2j7fQn9d6jrH4Z3_PK3n-RUW20PwiihVYceBeTOOPb4FwypJJa2zcMbDBFu91Gm4ZgiLDkbpT_e9sMETGqSaj3iD9jbEA-CvdoqNP231bYeW4djwuJx77B03elkI2rNglxuKThb6WvXXZaKI2_mzsaI52MhP6ZPYtlGVG-0SqEMk8cpaAB1kiFDEHaH15yZYde3fFA06Sn0qIo_GmGXTX3-6O9NxjF2nCtzcTmbwT1z8CmXpKdofiqQafeunqcifC0AIyOVBfxb1gCSsdSxB5WJem_cwkDzPCV7b10MXaI_Rfs36h9jKd5QErYNo92n7nibAXogqSn-iBeU94ulfdwdQnrHEuG0siCEHGVf94jK_lotQNRGR70zG1a5-29cUnhOHGZsKikQ_Qh0heSkU1um3lP-TdlsGQE4rZ3UKmr4aeO92W2YOsjOa3YSCWqDZGz7lrIDiRdOc2aY21QvNnATMJqjovQF/s320/4.3slime2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br />We enjoyed Mexican food for supper: an enchilada casserole that geniusly used up leftover beans and rice, and chips and salsa. Then it was Friday night movie night! The boys, Dale especially, were interested in seeing Onward. I think it's pretty awesome that Disney pushed forward some of their releases since the whole country is at home. We thought Onward was coming April 6, but when I saw it was out yesterday, I knew our Friday night was set! And yes, it's super cute. I cried. Which isn't saying a lot. My emotions are all right up at the surface these days and I find myself tearing up at the silliest things. So a good movie like that and I was ready for an ugly cry! I held it together though. I din't want to freak the kids out. Ha!<br />Isn't that pretty much what we're all doing right now? Holding it together the best we can. Thankfully we don't have to hold it together alone. Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (John 16:33 and Matthew 28:20)</span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-33677223045714539142020-04-03T08:09:00.000-05:002020-04-03T08:10:38.989-05:00Time flies when you're... doing....stuff?<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thursday, April 2, 2020<br />Quarantine Day 18</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today began "early" with Greg heading out to get our Walmart grocery order that was ready by 8:00. We already knew via email that a dozen items were simply not available, including the sweet potatoes that were to go with our Easter dinner. :( Boooo. Hopefully all of this, plus last week's Aldi haul will last us until the 3rd week of April. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Breakfast was pancakes and sausage, and then began that phenomenon of "what happened to our day!?" Greg actually did some pastoral work, researching various counseling centers for a church member. Lots of phone calling, texting, internet searching. Plus a lengthy phone call with a church member in the afternoon. He also managed to sanitize every single item from our grocery order before it was put away. At least <i>somebody</i> had a productive day!<br /><br />I think maybe the kids did some math? I called and checked in with my mama ("to see if she alright!" - lol.... from one of my favorite viral news interview videos ever). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then it was lunch time. Seriously?? See what I mean? I have no idea.<br /><br />In the afternoon I spent some time working more on my Easter week lessons. I think I would like to share those here.... just not sure how I'll do that. Maybe a post later today. I finished them in the evening.<br /><br />I got a deep clean done in the kitchen, while my sister was doing some cleaning at her house. We do that a lot - clean "together". It's just nice to know you aren't working alone. Getting the kitchen done that well felt soooo good. Hopefully that will inspire me to do the same in other parts of the house.<br /><br />Alan worked more on the garden boxes. I need to share pics of those - they look great! I just have no idea what to plan there. I want tomatoes but I don't want to go into a store to buy plants and it's too late for seeds. Ideas?<br />Then he used some leftover boards to border off an area in the backyard that I've been eyeing for several weeks for a butterfly/hummingbird flower garden. That I <i>do</i> have seeds for, and I plan on unceremoniously scattering some there in a few days!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8-15t-bPHU/Xoc0mHJpunI/AAAAAAAAQlI/-13goWGJd_stw1JE0o41583hNE9GEDh1QCEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoDHxUCU9arkhBrMeUvY6N4x_zOIffg4qS0DQndbm2FtmgS8RIzPvB1zF1DHFbQ468UaeAO5pQLa-vvZ_zJISYwEBbb2MmxE7wRHYDMBlm4gCUd0KpqtLndgP5aHUMbbApKB94_uz9HBg8u5rcxcudCNy7sqiUgtHRwxpx2F2extc93OzLuaS4t4QnXY2hBouRqkHzo4DR20TVksEWko5oAfCt9fsbpRbhT3M1Je7vzFS2d1_KW8xlTOxQ5LraOx_Ud9-0ggLM8JZ1jlFNtkjaUXhDcZ2ikSoEWRarnN_1t-KS1NYP1RauCb4sWX0a5flfKQF9v6CmucrNxTcgGU33XI7EHy3ZOVYbuXGc40yFaUQ8XJBWFieKefoMKasyTQcFHKPBQG-qFkfLR-vK4YsmOfAUiYLpTQ9oXPDxgrBAl9TnfmtiJvjch1-TJbQB_lmuWf7kReBOGpawTJ5xCCeR5tqGTvXHU6X5Jpqx9_h61a9wa4pVrDIVNSVBFArWGgFuQ8XilGqJgVvjARa7-t6RP5En1CU1iSE4a0DTBNLVfodn86BHyS1dnMi1XYQ3-CzYxe5_jz5O6B_dnZylYO3p2YjCeJjUl5PEU3MMPunPQF/s1600/4.2alandigging.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8-15t-bPHU/Xoc0mHJpunI/AAAAAAAAQlI/-13goWGJd_stw1JE0o41583hNE9GEDh1QCEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoDHxUCU9arkhBrMeUvY6N4x_zOIffg4qS0DQndbm2FtmgS8RIzPvB1zF1DHFbQ468UaeAO5pQLa-vvZ_zJISYwEBbb2MmxE7wRHYDMBlm4gCUd0KpqtLndgP5aHUMbbApKB94_uz9HBg8u5rcxcudCNy7sqiUgtHRwxpx2F2extc93OzLuaS4t4QnXY2hBouRqkHzo4DR20TVksEWko5oAfCt9fsbpRbhT3M1Je7vzFS2d1_KW8xlTOxQ5LraOx_Ud9-0ggLM8JZ1jlFNtkjaUXhDcZ2ikSoEWRarnN_1t-KS1NYP1RauCb4sWX0a5flfKQF9v6CmucrNxTcgGU33XI7EHy3ZOVYbuXGc40yFaUQ8XJBWFieKefoMKasyTQcFHKPBQG-qFkfLR-vK4YsmOfAUiYLpTQ9oXPDxgrBAl9TnfmtiJvjch1-TJbQB_lmuWf7kReBOGpawTJ5xCCeR5tqGTvXHU6X5Jpqx9_h61a9wa4pVrDIVNSVBFArWGgFuQ8XilGqJgVvjARa7-t6RP5En1CU1iSE4a0DTBNLVfodn86BHyS1dnMi1XYQ3-CzYxe5_jz5O6B_dnZylYO3p2YjCeJjUl5PEU3MMPunPQF/s320/4.2alandigging.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Greg and I went for our usual walk/run. I was lamenting how school was suffering again this week, but I have to admit to myself that this happens every year when the weather gets warm. I have such a hard time pulling the kids inside to sit down in orderly places and do math and handwriting and all.the.things. when they are outside riding bikes, playing in the grass, and building garden boxes under blue skies and warm breezes. And we always manage to finish the year, so .... it's ok. It really is. This is one of the reasons we have always started our school year in July or August when it's 100 degrees outside!<br /><br />Pintos and a double batch of cornbread for supper, so there was plenty of cornbread to cover a piece in syrup for dessert. Then another round of worship songs and we all made our way to bed.<br /><br />Levi showed up in our room not long at all after we tucked them in. "I feel sad," he said. I asked him what he was sad about, but he didn't know. This mama was more than happy to snuggle him up close until he fell asleep. I think the whole world feels sad some these days. I hope you are snuggling up some, too. God is with us, holding our hand!</span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-2270909738332701672020-04-02T08:15:00.001-05:002020-04-02T08:15:33.829-05:00Of Snakes and Cakes<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday, April 1, 2020.<br />Quarantine Day 17<br /><br />We slept in this morning because we stayed up late last night. First, everyone except Levi played a game of Mexican train dominoes that definitely went past bedtime. Then Greg and I stayed up until midnight to grab a Walmart grocery order slot. So, morning came early. It's ok though.... today was a cereal day. ;)<br /><br />We have been slowly reading through Purpose Driven Life as a family. We didn't get much reading done this morning, but had a great, fairly extensive, discussion about today's topic, so that's good.<br /><br />It's strange how these days seem to really get away from us. Time keeps marching on. I'm not sure what all I did with the rest of my morning. The older kids were all working on school. I think there was some laundry started. Who knows.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I impulsively decided today would be a good time to use my Valentine's day gift and have a fire and roast hot dogs. We haven't used it as much as I thought we would, mostly because 1-it's been winter, and 2-it's always so ding-dang windy here! That was something we did NOT anticipate when we moved. Brooklyn has decided NWA stands for north WINDY Arkansas, not North West. I think she may be right.<br /><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll tell you one thing, those breezes always get our fire going nicely. No blowing or fanning required! We're pretty pleased with our success of only using 1 match for every fire we've started. We got a nice blaze going fairly quickly, and had those hot dogs going in no time. Tyler brought out everything we needed, all on his own. It's so nice to have kids that know how to do stuff - and do it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After lunch we weren't in a hurry to get back inside. We played around on YouTube, listening to snippets of all the songs we could think of with a color word in the title. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Green Onions, Green Eyed Lady, Brown Eyed Girl, Purple Rain, Love Ran Red, plus others)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alan and Brooklyn got started weeding the raised garden boxes on the side of the house. I had started to reach in and work on it a few days ago, when it occurred to me there could very likely be snakes in it, so I told the kids right then that if they decided to weed it (because you never know what kids will decide to do), that they be sure and use a tool because of said potential snakes.</span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Well it's a good thing. Greg and I were still in the back yard, on the other side of the fence, and Brooklyn came breezing through the house back to us to tell us Alan found a snake! However.... it being April Fool's Day, and me not wanting to be made a fool of.... I didn't believe her at first. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />She finally convinced me she was serious, and things really got interesting! In the end, Alan had to scoop it up with the hoe and carry it to the sidewalk to kill it. I'm very thankful he was wearing boots for all of this!<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent quite a while working on getting kids Bible lessons ready for our church to send out via email and facebook, since we won't be meeting. The last two weeks I sent a Sunday lesson, but since next week is Easter week we're going to provide a lesson per day. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ielZj5ZyH-4/XoXiS7eUeZI/AAAAAAAAQj4/EiCtvWE6kWoTkrOI7sTvGuGohr8PW2D0ACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoDHnBwJN9MUeBWJgAI2sk4ZXxTcWHGL4ClX97pDBKNr5rHPBXaLaD2MS0aR0yWrsMGL3lhEcHuFcC5lDZdjbBHrzQx1vOM9VVLZawEGl1Y0LBCMgTpXs4oVkE6reoa68HiHic6MEd-7eUDTwQbf43Thn_oXaoELFfgfK1wg5ljIlLYI9oFQTymIJcw-8IgxUEvzEdN3eBIVSgpIbBy5oa_S6lWRajlu1mQ_7rC2XkMNhM5NITXYGmZSh-Yv6402aDru-e_osw3fqWerFBfgZJvB1S1HLd4Opf8XKSz2MI8oaQScbgb7N1eXyCLktI4fCiL4BLA-ei43V7zf_MCsz6x4wm-fLwNE_1jjficzlfu0hAhRJ5WCsl-ksjv-F723gZY7Mc9qDU1oQXiQ5h5fCpZpM4iLKuqtqNz4XGts6tgt4uUKT2LmzDxqC6TqijCDE-QT_bACgK_cvnXpetRC6QjU5VFpcv1c7NMYd26pXTXR1pdq2BwVEIiaoKr-VM06UVBz_yKnHDog9SVQk5O-vnieGXlgSFuPbJoakW09TVuMQBbYAplfpOVC7mo7Y8FNfw6mtVeIqza7b_Y30uyc7ZErpwPCtBADJABSMNDOl_QF/s1600/4.1box.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ielZj5ZyH-4/XoXiS7eUeZI/AAAAAAAAQj4/EiCtvWE6kWoTkrOI7sTvGuGohr8PW2D0ACEwYBhgLKs4DAMBZVoDHnBwJN9MUeBWJgAI2sk4ZXxTcWHGL4ClX97pDBKNr5rHPBXaLaD2MS0aR0yWrsMGL3lhEcHuFcC5lDZdjbBHrzQx1vOM9VVLZawEGl1Y0LBCMgTpXs4oVkE6reoa68HiHic6MEd-7eUDTwQbf43Thn_oXaoELFfgfK1wg5ljIlLYI9oFQTymIJcw-8IgxUEvzEdN3eBIVSgpIbBy5oa_S6lWRajlu1mQ_7rC2XkMNhM5NITXYGmZSh-Yv6402aDru-e_osw3fqWerFBfgZJvB1S1HLd4Opf8XKSz2MI8oaQScbgb7N1eXyCLktI4fCiL4BLA-ei43V7zf_MCsz6x4wm-fLwNE_1jjficzlfu0hAhRJ5WCsl-ksjv-F723gZY7Mc9qDU1oQXiQ5h5fCpZpM4iLKuqtqNz4XGts6tgt4uUKT2LmzDxqC6TqijCDE-QT_bACgK_cvnXpetRC6QjU5VFpcv1c7NMYd26pXTXR1pdq2BwVEIiaoKr-VM06UVBz_yKnHDog9SVQk5O-vnieGXlgSFuPbJoakW09TVuMQBbYAplfpOVC7mo7Y8FNfw6mtVeIqza7b_Y30uyc7ZErpwPCtBADJABSMNDOl_QF/s320/4.1box.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />The kids continued on with the weeding/rebuilding project, and Alan even began working to replace some of the corner posts that were rotting. Greg got out his circle saw and helped with that. At some point Alan discovered a second snake. This one was also beheaded at the sidewalk, but instead of being left for the birds, it was dissected. Alan did the work, Daniel and Levi watched the whole thing, Brooklyn was thoroughly disgusted, and Dale and Tyler were inside on the computer and willingly missed the whole thing.<br /><br />Later I broke up a fight over saltine crackers between the youngest two. Quarantine rationing gettin' serious y'all.<br /><br />Greg and I went for our daily walk/run. And see, this is what I'm talking about when I say these days get away from us: we didn't set out until 6:00! What the heck?! We usually stay in our neighborhood, but every once in a while we cross the highway into the neighborhood across the way. As we got ready to cross, I commented that people really must be staying home more, because the traffic wasn't bad at all for 5:00! Except.... it was 6:00. Yeah. I'm ok.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Dale was at home making tater tot casserole and cleaning the kitchen as he went. I told him he was my favorite child, for sure, and he told me that was why he was doing it, haha!<br /><br />We ended the day with hooking up the computer to the tv to see our power point slides of song lyrics we have used for our church services. Greg played guitar and Alan his little drum box and we spent just a little while worshiping together. We aren't always so spiritual.... remember the dominoes, right? And we've seen a lot of movies lately. But singing to Jesus was definitely what we all needed, and I have a feeling we'll be doing it again soon!<br /><br />Actually, that didn't end the day, because then we gathered around the table for fresh-from-the-oven chocolate cake. The recipe is called "crazy cake" or "depression cake". I thought it was called depression cake because it's from the Great Depression and doesn't use any milk or eggs, but it may be because you mix the dry ingredients and make three holes, or 'depressions' and then add the liquids to each one. I don't know. I do know if you searched Pinterest for "depression cake" they ask if you are ok and put a suicide prevention hotline at the top of the page. I'm just making cake, Pinterest. Calm down.<br /><br />Love to all! </span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10068552849260911305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-88593402841577847632015-11-22T21:18:00.000-06:002015-11-22T21:18:25.843-06:00A Tale of Two Services<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last few weeks have not been kind to our family health-wise. We've passed around one little bug or another for so long that we've almost forgotten what it's like to all be well!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because we are pretty adamant that sick kids (and adults) should be kept home to prevent spreading sickness, and because we don't want to risk catching something new when we're hardly over the previous illness, it's been quite a challenge getting the whole family to church!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finally saw a window of opportunity one Sunday a couple of weeks back and planned our course of action. We would not go to Sunday School, and would take all of the kids except Levi into worship with us. Surely our odds of catching something with only 1 kid in a nursery were lower than 3 or 4, right? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Actually, wrong - Levi did get a nasty cold from that 90 minutes, <i>thankyouverymuch</i>.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greg was there early for music practice, so he stayed for Sunday School, and I came solo with 6 kids in tow. I armed Brooklyn and Daniel with their own little backpacks full of quiet activities. We got there plenty early and the kiddos filed into our usual pew. I smiled and nodded hello to the couple seated in front of us. After the kids were settled Alan and I left to take Levi to the nursery. This left 4 children, ages 12, 5, 4, and 3 seated and waiting.<br /><br />When Alan and I returned I noticed immediately the couple in front of us had moved to a different part of the sanctuary. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Surely they moved to sit next to someone they know," I thought, wanting badly to give them the benefit of the doubt.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But no....they still sat alone. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I knew.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They moved to get away from the children seated behind them. <i>My</i> children.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My children who were all seated, smiling, chatting with each other, behaving themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I very much wanted to take it personally. And yet, at the same time, I felt sad for the couple.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, children can be a distraction. They do wiggle. Try as I might, someone usually kicks the pew in front of us at least once. They do whisper some - and everyone knows a kid's whisper is as loud as an adult's talking. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But children also sing to their Savior - ever so sweetly. They also make great sermon observations and ask excellent learning questions about what they see and hear. How else are children able to experience worship without...<i>experiencing</i> it?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though I was determined not to be judgmental or bitter towards a couple I have never met, I was just a little bit satisfied when we left that service that my children had what was probably their best run ever sitting through a service. I don't think they would have bothered a soul! I wanted to pass by them as we left and say with a sweet smile, "I hope you enjoyed the service today." There is no way I would have actually said it, but I sure thought it. I know. I'm bad.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We missed some more services, and then today we decided to brave it again, this time keeping Levi with us, too. Ohhhh my. I was a little bit nervous. As much as I believe in having kids in worship, I just as much believe in not being an obvious distraction. It's a fine line to walk! And with a 14 month old? Oh my.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we repacked our goody bags and chose a pew a little further to the back. This time we chose to leave Tyler with his children's church group. (I'm more for families worshipping together, but that's another post. Sort of.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There I sat, surrounded by 5 kids, ages 12, 9, 4, 3, and 14 months. And have I mentioned? Greg plays guitar for the first half of the service, so I do that part solo.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were a song or two in this morning, and things were going pretty well. There was more wiggling than I would have liked, but no shenanigans and everyone was pretty quiet. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I felt, and saw, the man behind me leaning up towards my ear. I braced myself. I just knew he was going to let me know about the nurseries that were available for my little ones. What would I say? My mind was racing for a tactful answer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Are these all your children?"<br /><br />"Yes, sir. They are," I answered over my shoulder.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He laughed. "Bless your heart." And he leaned back in his seat. It wasn't a condescending 'bless your heart', or an annoyed one. I could tell from his laugh, from his tone, he was being complementary.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I smiled. "Thank you," I replied with relief. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After that I wanted even more for us to be on our best behavior. And they were. It wasn't our best run, but no disasters. I did have to slip out with Brooklyn for a potty stop near the end (and took Levi with us). We missed the end of the service, and therefore missed the complements that gentleman and the couple with him paid to Greg about our beautiful family.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A much more pleasant experience. As easy as it is to drop the little ones off (and I have been very thankful for our wonderful nurseries on many occasions!), I still enjoy being together to worship and learn as a family. It's not too much to expect obedient children to sit quietly through a service. Yes, it takes work, and yes, it is a little distracting to Mama and Daddy. But what is gained by us all is worth it. I doubt we'll keep them all with us all the time from now on, but I have a good feeling it will be happening again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So next time you see a kid or two or five in your church services, remember that Jesus said to let the little children come unto Him, and try not to get too distracted by their too-loud whispers. They're learning, and their mama is probably trying her very best. And if you offer a kind word on your way out afterword, you just might make their day. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-54669941837675814172015-11-04T17:42:00.002-06:002015-11-04T17:42:44.423-06:00Rise and Shine!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but my facebook feed was recently full of complaints about the end of daylight savings time, particularly the early fall of darkness.</span><div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe I'm channeling my inner Ma Ingalls, but I love the cozy feeling of gathering my family in around a warm supper, doors shut tight against the growing coolness of the dark night. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Falling back" just seems to work with my internal clock.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, there is that unfortunate fact that children's internal clocks don't reset so easily. And the little ones can't tell time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was reminded of that fact this morning when I chose to bypass an alarm and sleep in a little bit due to a rough night with the toddler (what happened to "best baby ever"?!?).<br /><br />So at a time I would normally be up, showering, reading my Bible or otherwise starting the day, I was covered up in my bed. Sound asleep. I'm not gonna lie: it was great.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until I became aware of a lot of thumping and bumping against the wall. About the time I was conscious enough to realize that sound was a step-stool, the overhead light came on in my eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bolted upright to discover Daniel grinning at me from the stool.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I soon learned I was not his first client of the day. In fact, I was his last.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Behind him, the living room light shone brightly and a sleepy Brooklyn (who had slept on the couch due to sickness) sat rubbing her eyes and blinking in the bright light.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I jumped from my bed turning off lights in every. single. room from one end of the house to the other, greeted by freshly wakened children from every sector.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we all began our day together thanks to Daniel's internal clock.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good morning, glories!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My little son-shine at his birthday party a few weeks ago. </span></td></tr>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-26995828259381183732015-11-02T15:02:00.000-06:002015-11-04T15:02:33.657-06:00Fall is my Favorite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally...finally the days are cooler. The hum of our 6 window units has finally fallen silent. Rain has fallen after weeks and weeks of drought, melting the dusty lawn back into itself again. With the arrival of true fall weather, the tension of a never-ending summer has finally dissolved.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fall is birthday season in our house. It actually starts with one in August, then 2 in September, 2 in October, and 1 in November. The other 2 come along in January and February.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fall is also reminiscing season. My sweetie and I met in the fall, fell in love in the fall (17 years ago), and were engaged in the fall (16 years ago). Too bad we couldn't wait to be married in the fall; we were married in August, 15 years ago (I wanted June). :) Every year we play our own game of noting the dates that mark the growth in our relationship week by week that first fall. Little mini-anniversaries throughout the whole season.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fall is a season of anticipation. The hard work of the beginnings of a new school year are well underway, and with the arrival of November we eagerly look ahead for Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. November is such a transition month; even though we've traded our shorts for long pants, it still begins with bare feet and short sleeves. But by month's end we will have coats on their hooks and heaters cheerily warming our rooms.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am thankful for fall. Thankful for relief from the relentless, noisy heat of summer. Thankful for the restfulness of cozy, busy days at home. Thankful for the newness of a new season. Thankful for the remembrances of falling in love with a wonderful man. Thankful for the opportunities and anticipation of new memories and more special days just ahead.</span></div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-19356393111409823602015-04-16T21:20:00.002-05:002015-04-16T21:20:49.229-05:00Living the "wildlife"<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was housework, homework, schoolwork, and who knows what other kind of work to be done, but our eyes met over the chaos of lunch, and Greg said, "Let's go to the zoo."</span><div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so we did.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mimi and Gramps gave us a year-long family zoo membership for Christmas, and it is kind of our unofficial goal to go once a month. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were hooked after our first visit in January, went just a a couple of weeks later in February, and have been going crazy to get back since! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather this afternoon was perfect and we all needed the family time out in the real world and fresh air.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's visit was full of fun surprises.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />The first was this bobcat, which totally ignored us:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yZOcmC26Hk/VTBnJU33r_I/AAAAAAAAJvA/57H2gCgOuV0/s1600/CAM15652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yZOcmC26Hk/VTBnJU33r_I/AAAAAAAAJvA/57H2gCgOuV0/s1600/CAM15652.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He paced around his enclosure, obviously aware of our presence, but careful to keep his back turned.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until...two female keepers came walking past on the path, carrying on a lively conversation together. As soon as we heard their voices, Mr. Bobcat could, too, and he turned around and watched them with great interested until they had passed out of sight and out of earshot. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With his familiar friends gone, Mr. Bobcat settled back in to ignore us some more. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The whole scenario was unmistakable and oh-so-fascinating!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that it is spring time, an exhibit we've been waiting on since January is finally open, and it was even better than we had imagined!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's called the Wild Bird Walkabout, and is filled with parakeets. You enter three sets of double doors (to prevent escapees) into the screened enclosure full of the brightly colored birds. For a buck you can buy a popsicle stick coated in hot glue and dipped in birdseed. Then you go a-huntin'!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpdHXj-FyV8/VTBpMcK0rBI/AAAAAAAAJvU/ViNkNAEhSSM/s1600/CAM15657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpdHXj-FyV8/VTBpMcK0rBI/AAAAAAAAJvU/ViNkNAEhSSM/s1600/CAM15657.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> SO...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-Jr271aU5Y/VTBpMljQOwI/AAAAAAAAJvY/13TuDgForcg/s1600/CAM15659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-Jr271aU5Y/VTBpMljQOwI/AAAAAAAAJvY/13TuDgForcg/s1600/CAM15659.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ...MUCH....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxh18WO6EXs/VTBpIKU93sI/AAAAAAAAJvM/1mF8HhFGlnE/s1600/CAM15660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxh18WO6EXs/VTBpIKU93sI/AAAAAAAAJvM/1mF8HhFGlnE/s1600/CAM15660.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>FUN!!!</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2mXEGBrVSo/VTBpSoaZF6I/AAAAAAAAJvk/y54EbrFxI14/s1600/CAM15661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2mXEGBrVSo/VTBpSoaZF6I/AAAAAAAAJvk/y54EbrFxI14/s1600/CAM15661.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPO81mcp4Ek/VTBpYk5E2xI/AAAAAAAAJvs/tu1xEn3xd-M/s1600/CAM15663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPO81mcp4Ek/VTBpYk5E2xI/AAAAAAAAJvs/tu1xEn3xd-M/s1600/CAM15663.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9M-BnK9ufJU/VTBpbXhMtbI/AAAAAAAAJv8/hpwDkv5q9dY/s1600/CAM15670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9M-BnK9ufJU/VTBpbXhMtbI/AAAAAAAAJv8/hpwDkv5q9dY/s1600/CAM15670.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAiulr0amHw/VTBpizSR7CI/AAAAAAAAJwQ/484UdFDm588/s1600/CAM15677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cAiulr0amHw/VTBpizSR7CI/AAAAAAAAJwQ/484UdFDm588/s1600/CAM15677.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RASFU_9tic/VTBpnhIjOTI/AAAAAAAAJwc/hC2QKQEryFI/s1600/CAM15680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2RASFU_9tic/VTBpnhIjOTI/AAAAAAAAJwc/hC2QKQEryFI/s1600/CAM15680.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-px8c_s8JLuA/VTBppBcOjVI/AAAAAAAAJwk/WLArujwLyss/s1600/CAM15681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-px8c_s8JLuA/VTBppBcOjVI/AAAAAAAAJwk/WLArujwLyss/s1600/CAM15681.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You'll notice there are no pictures of Brooklyn feeding the birdies. Almost first thing, one landed on her hand and kind of freaked her out. She wasn't interested in trying again after that! Maybe next time. :)<br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There we were, in a zoo full of animals, and everything came to a halt when Tyler found a ladybug.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65kYL6oPJn8/VTBrTjdV78I/AAAAAAAAJww/N3RaLw0tQrs/s1600/CAM15687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65kYL6oPJn8/VTBrTjdV78I/AAAAAAAAJww/N3RaLw0tQrs/s1600/CAM15687.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He asked if he could keep it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I said no.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were happy to find the giraffes outside today:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PH1PbLTyCVc/VTBr9zBLUfI/AAAAAAAAJw4/xHe8SZ9r9Gs/s1600/CAM15701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PH1PbLTyCVc/VTBr9zBLUfI/AAAAAAAAJw4/xHe8SZ9r9Gs/s1600/CAM15701.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">Fun, fun, day! The gift that keeps on giving. :)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZfzOftfep8/VTBscc3Pz7I/AAAAAAAAJxA/hsHvtF-Vaf8/s1600/CAM15713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZfzOftfep8/VTBscc3Pz7I/AAAAAAAAJxA/hsHvtF-Vaf8/s1600/CAM15713.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZfzOftfep8/VTBscc3Pz7I/AAAAAAAAJxA/hsHvtF-Vaf8/s1600/CAM15713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZfzOftfep8/VTBscc3Pz7I/AAAAAAAAJxA/hsHvtF-Vaf8/s1600/CAM15713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(For those of you keeping up at home, yes, this <i>is </i>a new seating arrangement. Effective as of the zoo parking lot today. )</span></div>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-28780682650048916522015-04-05T22:01:00.000-05:002015-04-14T22:01:50.904-05:00Easter Outtakes<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was raining. And cold.<br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were right on time. Not late, not early.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we did pictures in our living room when we got home.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever tried getting six kids to look in the same direction? Much less look <i>pleasant</i>?</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finally got a good one. But here are all the ones it took to get there.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're welcome. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone was feeling great....</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlSe6BO3S-s/VS3RQJ5KOQI/AAAAAAAAJso/AvV0hhi-S1g/s1600/CAM15325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlSe6BO3S-s/VS3RQJ5KOQI/AAAAAAAAJso/AvV0hhi-S1g/s1600/CAM15325.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />....except one.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byzhG_ucAZ8/VS3RQP6t77I/AAAAAAAAJss/uDhBvwJuKV8/s1600/CAM15326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byzhG_ucAZ8/VS3RQP6t77I/AAAAAAAAJss/uDhBvwJuKV8/s1600/CAM15326.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Not sure what's going on with all the hands...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw7h9Yl-c3w/VS3RQKQrlKI/AAAAAAAAJsw/TQbVYL5Fvl0/s1600/CAM15327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw7h9Yl-c3w/VS3RQKQrlKI/AAAAAAAAJsw/TQbVYL5Fvl0/s1600/CAM15327.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Brooklyn spies something...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbSyanUbfGM/VS3RciWVqWI/AAAAAAAAJtA/vCqjxsz_7I4/s1600/CAM15328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbSyanUbfGM/VS3RciWVqWI/AAAAAAAAJtA/vCqjxsz_7I4/s1600/CAM15328.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />....got it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iUlRygbLC4/VS3Rc5eclWI/AAAAAAAAJtE/KZAnjuxmKE0/s1600/CAM15331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iUlRygbLC4/VS3Rc5eclWI/AAAAAAAAJtE/KZAnjuxmKE0/s1600/CAM15331.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Admire it. (And Levi is finally not crying)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OILRAYAwSgw/VS3Rc4nPagI/AAAAAAAAJtM/II_2293dkXE/s1600/CAM15332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OILRAYAwSgw/VS3Rc4nPagI/AAAAAAAAJtM/II_2293dkXE/s1600/CAM15332.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />That not-crying didn't last long.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3KIX5vJ6VM/VS3RnbUz2JI/AAAAAAAAJtY/O1Eoa9cZpgE/s1600/CAM15334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3KIX5vJ6VM/VS3RnbUz2JI/AAAAAAAAJtY/O1Eoa9cZpgE/s1600/CAM15334.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygsWa6spAKc/VS3RpFcfxJI/AAAAAAAAJtg/JQOZnDil6us/s1600/CAM15336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygsWa6spAKc/VS3RpFcfxJI/AAAAAAAAJtg/JQOZnDil6us/s1600/CAM15336.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Maybe a kiss will help!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kodmThfAfKk/VS3RphY26JI/AAAAAAAAJtk/5imr5BLwpNw/s1600/CAM15337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kodmThfAfKk/VS3RphY26JI/AAAAAAAAJtk/5imr5BLwpNw/s1600/CAM15337.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />That's better....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Almost there....</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--X12cYXx_eI/VS3R1Nj29AI/AAAAAAAAJt8/It2lRpAvEX4/s1600/CAM15341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--X12cYXx_eI/VS3R1Nj29AI/AAAAAAAAJt8/It2lRpAvEX4/s1600/CAM15341.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />...aaaand cue The Sneeze</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acSFsXufU7w/VS3R1M4dSRI/AAAAAAAAJt4/c8TRldP6Ybg/s1600/CAM15343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acSFsXufU7w/VS3R1M4dSRI/AAAAAAAAJt4/c8TRldP6Ybg/s1600/CAM15343.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />We're losing Brooklyn</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMzck8Ef_Eg/VS3R9EzT2hI/AAAAAAAAJuI/5U7XtkibQFE/s1600/CAM15344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMzck8Ef_Eg/VS3R9EzT2hI/AAAAAAAAJuI/5U7XtkibQFE/s1600/CAM15344.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Add Mom</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dwaxlgxIU0k/VS3SAh7Aa1I/AAAAAAAAJuQ/CrfDbAcGhI0/s1600/CAM15349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dwaxlgxIU0k/VS3SAh7Aa1I/AAAAAAAAJuQ/CrfDbAcGhI0/s1600/CAM15349.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nope.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtD3w6bGu6k/VS3SA3eDT8I/AAAAAAAAJuU/Rf6I8BLIKFo/s1600/CAM15350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtD3w6bGu6k/VS3SA3eDT8I/AAAAAAAAJuU/Rf6I8BLIKFo/s1600/CAM15350.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nope.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wq70ENtHBk/VS3SIF5G81I/AAAAAAAAJug/kZ4n-yBzbY8/s1600/CAM15352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wq70ENtHBk/VS3SIF5G81I/AAAAAAAAJug/kZ4n-yBzbY8/s1600/CAM15352.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Not working...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cBzMVKaX50/VS3SLkahi1I/AAAAAAAAJus/aF1rKrMf8vg/s1600/CAM15353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7cBzMVKaX50/VS3SLkahi1I/AAAAAAAAJus/aF1rKrMf8vg/s1600/CAM15353.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Good enough!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqfbs8y6404/VS3SLvPldcI/AAAAAAAAJuo/8tT0lSYvJCE/s1600/CAM15354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tqfbs8y6404/VS3SLvPldcI/AAAAAAAAJuo/8tT0lSYvJCE/s1600/CAM15354.jpg" height="473" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Easter from 7/8 of our crew!<br />(<i>somebody </i>had to be the photographer of all this mess!)</span></div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-39828664053763228112015-03-31T21:36:00.000-05:002015-03-31T21:36:04.615-05:00Last Day o' March<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Preschool Letter O today. We read a cute little owl story then made </span><a href="http://getitdonemomma.blogspot.com/2012/12/alphabet-crafts-free-o-is-for-owl.html"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>these </b></span></a><span style="color: #783f04;">cut and paste owls.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Cut and paste"...why do we say that? Does anybody still use paste anymore? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was fun stuff...that little stick of gooey gluey. I never understood why it was better than the squeeze bottle. I bet paste has been replaced by glue sticks hasn't it? Paste was probably the precursor to the gluestick.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Next on Modern Marvels.."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mercy. Rambly much?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gave two haircuts today. Getting everybody all spiffied up for Easter. Plus they just needed them. Going to be working on getting those boys on a rotation so I can do one haircut a week, every week, instead of 3 or 4 back-to-back.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU3jEHxAefo/VRtY6OOgznI/AAAAAAAAJsM/4gPlBdZVK5o/s1600/CAM15190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VU3jEHxAefo/VRtY6OOgznI/AAAAAAAAJsM/4gPlBdZVK5o/s1600/CAM15190.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It looks like a two-by-four. It's really a paint stick. :)<br /> #perspective</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We got lots of outside time again today. The whole day seemed slower paced. I'm not sure why, and I'm sure I didn't get as much done as my to-do list says I should, but the day was indeed slower paced and peaceful, and for that I am thankful. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dropped Dale off at karate for my first time this evening - it's always been Daddy before. While he was karateing I bought groceries - at warp speed! - and went back to pick him up. There was time to spare when I got there so I was able to go inside and watch him do his thing for a few minutes. Just between you and me? I wish we had him in the same aggressive taekwondo program he was in 3 years ago. He's good at it! I hate that he's having to start all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we got home Daddy had the littles bathed. We shooed them back in the house, as they came out to greet us in various stages of dress and undress. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once in pjs we gathered around for our Easter week devotion. It occurred to me rather suddenly on the way home from karate that I hadn't prepared, so I had Dale check pinterest on my phone and felt a little better. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even so, we ended up not doing any special craft or activity, and I really didn't even have an application or "point" to the evening's reading, which was all disappointing. Ah well...onward, yes? Tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully I'll prepare a little better!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKHrYLiYTiU/VRtZTdusRnI/AAAAAAAAJsU/dYSMqA5IeHM/s1600/CAM15178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cKHrYLiYTiU/VRtZTdusRnI/AAAAAAAAJsU/dYSMqA5IeHM/s1600/CAM15178.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had lots of fun with this happy little boy today. What is this face?! Lol.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of preparing....tomorrow is a silly little day called April Fool's....and I know my little fools will be expecting some Tom foolery and shenanigans. Pinterest, here I come. Nothing like the last minute, is there? ;)</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-51212455372174468332015-03-30T22:13:00.003-05:002015-03-30T22:24:16.413-05:00Monday, Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a week of sick kids, I gave in to the exhaustion and gave up on getting up to an alarm for a week. Then we spent a weekend traveling. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today was the day that I was gonna get back to it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But...I didn't. And I don't regret it one bit. Early rising is highly overrated. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the little face I woke up to this morning. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8HIkjg-QoE/VRoLDZanywI/AAAAAAAAJqk/e5nsOKjtzVw/s1600/CAM15137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8HIkjg-QoE/VRoLDZanywI/AAAAAAAAJqk/e5nsOKjtzVw/s1600/CAM15137.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Actually, that's not true. I woke up to Greg's face, and then he brought me this one from his crib. But this one is cuter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up early or not, today was definitely a little out of routine, as it was a catch-up day from the weekend, and Dale had a dentist appointment early on.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even amongst the unpacking and laundry, we managed to set aside some time for a preschool lesson. We are up to letter 'N' now, and it being spring and all, I decided "Nests" would be a good thing to cover.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First we looked at a few bird books, looking at pictures of some common birds and their nests.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also read the poem <b><u>What Robin Told</u></b>, by George Cooper. It was perfect!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>How do robins build their nests?</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Robin Redbreast told me</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
First a wisp of yellow hay</div>
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In a pretty round they lay;</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Then some shreds of downy floss,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Feather, too, and bits of moss,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Woven with a sweet, sweet song,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
This way, that way, and across;</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
That's what Robin told me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Where do robins hide their nests?</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Robin Redbreast told me</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Up among the leaves so deep,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Where the sunbeams rarely creep,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Long before the winds are cold,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Long before the leaves are gold,</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Bright-eyed stars will peep and see</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Baby robins--one, two, three;</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
That's what Robin told me.</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, we had a fun color-mixing lesson. Green + Red = Brown!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3heFAvLDmKs/VRoLI4MTC2I/AAAAAAAAJqs/EuX7KucxBfY/s1600/CAM15142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3heFAvLDmKs/VRoLI4MTC2I/AAAAAAAAJqs/EuX7KucxBfY/s1600/CAM15142.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We used our brown to paint paper plate halves.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsl7QKCHSbo/VRoLJzGAxvI/AAAAAAAAJq0/gz7SeG5FMkc/s1600/CAM15143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsl7QKCHSbo/VRoLJzGAxvI/AAAAAAAAJq0/gz7SeG5FMkc/s1600/CAM15143.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT-Sfe7SYCs/VRoLPws0ypI/AAAAAAAAJq8/Izox7bs6t8k/s1600/CAM15144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT-Sfe7SYCs/VRoLPws0ypI/AAAAAAAAJq8/Izox7bs6t8k/s1600/CAM15144.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qR7FXZsWkO0/VRoLT3__fXI/AAAAAAAAJrE/Xt7EW0p_iwQ/s1600/CAM15145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qR7FXZsWkO0/VRoLT3__fXI/AAAAAAAAJrE/Xt7EW0p_iwQ/s1600/CAM15145.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> While our paper plates dried we went for a walk collecting things for our nests....</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzkkG2zFXII/VRoLVAi7kLI/AAAAAAAAJrM/q2RLvxZ2YMI/s1600/CAM15146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzkkG2zFXII/VRoLVAi7kLI/AAAAAAAAJrM/q2RLvxZ2YMI/s1600/CAM15146.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...then came back and glued them on. I love how they turned out!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QN9chYrG5sA/VRoO7M_VICI/AAAAAAAAJro/uB3fsaYdzIo/s1600/CAM15157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QN9chYrG5sA/VRoO7M_VICI/AAAAAAAAJro/uB3fsaYdzIo/s1600/CAM15157.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This afternoon I went to check on Dale and see how he was recovering from his dental visit. I was surprised to see Brooklyn all snuggled up with him. It seemed out of character for both of them, and oh-so-sweet!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This evening was our second night of the last week of Jesus Easter devotions. We read about Jesus cursing the fig tree, and then clearing the temple of the money-changers and animal sales.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I printed a picture from the internet and then cut it into five parts. Each kid colored a different part while I read, and then they put them together like a puzzle. Turned out great! I gave them each a penny to glue on, too. No real significance there, it was just fun.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now...off to bed for me. Overrated or not, I have an alarm to (attempt to) wake up to tomorrow!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-89761787232504989092015-03-29T21:43:00.000-05:002015-03-30T21:44:36.981-05:00Palm Sunday Weekend<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Busy traveling weekend! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mama and Levi got to spend Friday night at Mimi and Gramps's house! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rest of the gang stayed behind for the fire station field trip....<br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (if I wasn't so <strike>tired</strike> <strike>lazy</strike> in a hurry to be done with this post there would be a cutie patootie picture here of the kids on a fire truck. But Greg took that pic with his phone and getting it from there to here is more than I care to tackle at this hour. Just <i>imagine</i> the cuteness!) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">....then came on to Mimi and Gramps' for a Saturday night stay.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We woke up at Mimi and Gramps' house Sunday morning, hurrying and scurrying (after a leisurely breakfast, of course!) and got us and all our stuff out the door in time to be on time to Nana and PawPaw's church where Daddy was preaching.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel didn't know much about the preaching, but he thoroughly enjoyed the toy basket in the nursery:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a yummy lunch and wonderful singing service, we headed straight back home in time for potty stops and to load back up and go to our own church for evening service, where we observed the Lord's Supper. At the beginning of the service a group of 4-6 year olds went down to the front for a special children's lesson on the Lord's Supper. Tyler, of course, was part of this crew. The lesson was very interactive, and everyone enjoyed hearing the candid comments from the children relayed for the rest of us. Tyler even piped up a time or two, including making sure the pastor knew that our grape jelly looked just like the bottle of grape juice the pastor was holding up. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the kiddos were all pajamaed up at home, we gathered around for a bedtime devotion. A few years ago we did a countdown to Easter by following the last week of Jesus with a Bible reading and nightly activity. We all loved that and decided to do it again this year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, it being Palm Sunday, we read all about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We started with an Easter egg full of leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The olders were well aware that it was Palm Sunday and quickly guessed at the significance of the leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After we read the passage, everyone from Daniel to Daddy got a leaf to cut into palm fronds, and we hung them all together on our bulletin board. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After some good discussion on how we can welcome Jesus into our own lives daily as Lord and King, just like the Jews welcomed him that day, we said our prayers and went to bed!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-60105261030860448922015-03-24T21:54:00.002-05:002015-03-24T21:54:50.857-05:00Snippets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regular ol' school day around here. Everyone seems to be back in regular health except poor Miss B. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning I sent Alan to the other end of the house so he'd have somewhere quiet to read his school chapter. (He's reading Heidi.) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I <i>said</i>.... "Go lay on my bed" (Which was made, by the way).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is how I found him:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Fully clothed. <i>In</i> my bed. Not <i>on</i> my bed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And two siblings climbing all over him. I shooed them out.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finished the letter "L" today in our preschool lessons. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> See my Little Lions? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This afternoon I came upon Daniel and the cars he had lined up just so. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />He was very proud of his handy work. "It's beautiful!" he said.</span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-54399737282258403802015-03-23T21:42:00.000-05:002015-03-24T21:43:10.073-05:00The Day We Called "Spring Break"<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We kind of had to make our own spring break this year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The week we had off from school was cold and gray and rainy, and by the end of it, we were beginning to succomb one by one to some illness which may or may not have been the flu.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then the following week there were still sick feverish people (we really know how to drag it out), and still lots of clouds and gray.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SO....when this Monday was predicted to be warm and sunny we said, "THIS IS IT!! SPRING BREAK!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we made a run for the nearest park and soaked up every ray of sun we possibly could.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And ate bologna.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look at that blue sky! (And that serious drummer face.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fishing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More fishing. Daddy caught the only fish of the day. But we'll be trying again soon!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's what I did on my <strike>summer vacation</strike> spring break!</span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-3210513402795667942015-03-22T16:11:00.000-05:002015-03-23T16:11:20.295-05:00Truth and Lies<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever been lied about? Had your integrity attacked? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These were the questions that opened our Sunday School lesson this week. I think we've all been there at one time or another. Whether it is a misunderstanding or an intentional attack, it can be discouraging and stressful to be wrongly accused.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lesson was from Galatians chapter 2. We discussed the fact that Paul's credibility had been questioned. In verse 5 we learned by his example that when we are facing these accusations, we should<b><i> not be deterred</i></b> from our goal. We also learned, based on verses 1 and 9, that it is good to <b><i>surround ourselves</i></b> with strong believers we can trust <b><i>for prayer and guidance.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good encouragement for when we face those times of trials when someone is attacking our character, whether it is a family member or a stranger, or anyone in between.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there is more. Here's my take on it:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those times, hopefully, are rare. However, we are all attacked daily in this manner. The book of Revelation (12:7) tells us Satan is our accuser. We can see an example of this in Job 1. He wants each one of us to fail, and to be distracted from the plans God has laid in front of us, so what does he do? He lies. Not only does he lie <i>about </i>us, but he lies directly <i>to </i>us. Jesus said Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. (John 8:44), so we know he must be good at it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have all heard that voice in our head, and it sounds deceptively like our own:</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will never be good enough...</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You blew it...again...</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you really think you can make any difference?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They will all find out what you did...</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What if they knew who you </i>really <i>are...?</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The accusations fly at us, drag us down, discourage us, and most importantly...distract us from what we should really be doing. And that is just his point. When we become discouraged and fearful we step away from a purpose that only we can fill. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what do we do?</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just like we learned from Paul, we must not be deterred from our God-given purpose. Also as seen in Galatians, we need godly people that we can trust. People who will encourage us and point us to the truth. Jesus called himself truth and life (John 14:6). It is only in him that we can answer those accusations in our heads and hearts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>You will never be good enough. - </i>No, I won't! But I am covered by the righteousness of Jesus, and he is more than good enough! (2 Corinthians 5:21)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What if they knew who you really are? - </i>Who am I really? I am the imperfect, flawed, loved, child of the one true God! (Galatians 3:26) That's who I really am, and if you aren't, you can be too. <i>Anyone </i>who tells you otherwise, is a liar.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32</i></span></div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-69382506929573844442015-02-28T10:33:00.005-06:002015-02-28T10:33:43.256-06:00Snow Days!It took until the last week of February, but we finally saw some winter weather!<br />
Hang on to your toboggans, this is a picture-loaded post!<br />
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"Snow Day" 1, which was actually more sleet than snow:<br />
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Snow Day 2:<br />(3 inches of real snow!)<br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-16461718908287855892015-02-21T09:48:00.000-06:002015-02-28T09:50:28.147-06:00Saturday Zoo Trip - Feb 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday was an impromptu trip to the zoo. "Impromptu" as in when we woke up we didn't know we were going, but just an hour and a half later 8 people were fed, dressed, and buckled into the car. In case you didn't know, this is no small feat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The good times were rolling before we ever reached our destination. On the way, we saw this establishment:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YobjuBvnWF8/VPHcxbcuAMI/AAAAAAAAJbk/pN5s7N8peyE/s1600/CAM14077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YobjuBvnWF8/VPHcxbcuAMI/AAAAAAAAJbk/pN5s7N8peyE/s1600/CAM14077.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and said "Look! 'Daniel's Automotive!' ". To which our own Daniel replied, "My 'motive? Huh!", in a tone of voice that indicated he was quite impressed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On to the zoo....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our butterfly with a butterfly:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does every zoo start with large bird exhibits?</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fK5WoOO5ec/VPHeNtsNJsI/AAAAAAAAJbw/2zLofleQZiQ/s1600/CAM14081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fK5WoOO5ec/VPHeNtsNJsI/AAAAAAAAJbw/2zLofleQZiQ/s1600/CAM14081.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't <i>that</i> cold, but Levi was bundled nicely, anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful mild morning, even though it was drizzly. We got to watch some African plains animals up close for quite a while! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many kids can we fit in an elephant's footprint? (Tyler wasn't interested)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elephants are Brooklyn's Best! (that's Brooklyn speak for 'favorite')</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLdmR-Rv6Cw/VPHeTy5fGSI/AAAAAAAAJcM/grajLJoKmMI/s1600/CAM14093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLdmR-Rv6Cw/VPHeTy5fGSI/AAAAAAAAJcM/grajLJoKmMI/s1600/CAM14093.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Giraffes have got to be some of God's most amazing creatures!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting a peek at the rhino: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monkeys watching monkeys:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brooklyn was surprised when this pacing cat appeared in front of her!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Checking out the white tigers:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feeding the ducks and GIANT catfish:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One playful penguin:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lengthy wrap-around aquarium, complete with birds flitting and flying above (and one rambunctiously bathing duck): </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beautiful, happy zoo day!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-17294747544639102302015-02-14T11:23:00.000-06:002015-02-28T11:23:21.737-06:00Valentine's Fun 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First we got out our crayons and scissors...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and got busy creating....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Custom 'punny' valentines!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Then we packed them up to exchange with our friends at our Children's museum play place....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ...where apparently I only took pictures of Daniel.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Valentine's Eve Gramps treated us all to Dairy Queen ice cream. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is what the kiddos woke up to. It was almost like Christmas morning!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Teddy bear from Daddy. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A "love-ly" Valentine's this year indeed!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-14736736210222835892015-02-07T11:04:00.000-06:002015-02-28T11:05:03.457-06:00Saturday Feb 7<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent the afternoon today at the lake celebrating a friend's 4th birthday! The day was beautiful and mild. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After play time and pizza and cake, we all set out to explore a campground island. The fourteen of us, yes, 14 - and that's just two families! - tromped and raced and walked and admired for an hour or so, then headed back to the 'mainland'. The idea was for the kids to keep running and playing at the playground there while the adults enjoyed some nice park benches. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But after we crossed the bridge and all turned right toward the playground, one little explorer turned left instead. His brown head soon disappeared down an incline, so I sent the others on ahead, and said we'd catch up. I quickly followed his trail, since he had been headed toward the water. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is how I found him:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My contemplative one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just enjoying the beauty of the water and sunshine.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admiring it all as God's creation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm always thankful for his perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And always thankful that he can still be a kid. On this day, we enjoyed a few quiet moments together and then I easily convinced him to join the others at the playground.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOy8-NFJWO4/VPHzvolyRaI/AAAAAAAAJkU/RBXLbHedY8U/s1600/CAM13756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOy8-NFJWO4/VPHzvolyRaI/AAAAAAAAJkU/RBXLbHedY8U/s1600/CAM13756.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where we snacked on lunch leftovers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And swang. (Dirty face alert!) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't fun days like that wear you out, too?</span><br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-13478179735033446372014-12-09T20:56:00.000-06:002014-12-12T20:57:14.690-06:00Tuesday, December 9<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Away in a Manger - again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing on yesterday's manger theme, today we made a handprint manger craft.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While waiting on the handprints before we could add baby Jesus, we sang Away in a Manger, adding in quite a few ASL signs and motions. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweet and simple today! No pics of the actual crafting...it was pretty hands-on for me!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-33122423863010317272014-12-08T20:29:00.000-06:002014-12-12T20:31:35.069-06:00Monday, December 8<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Away In a Manger!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">We read </span><a href="http://mssscrafts.com/devotions/adventtreasurehunt/"><span style="color: #38761d;">Advent Scripture Reading Day 7</span></a><span style="color: #783f04;"> - "A Baby is Born!" and colored these sweet pictures of a manger filled with the name JESUS. Today's art supply: markers!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were also busy organizing our pantry from yesterday's bounty...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ...cleaning up shattered ornaments...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and loving on this sweet baby face! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday! (and Happy Birthday to my Daddy!)</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-56048180588455200682014-12-07T20:08:00.000-06:002014-12-12T20:08:44.045-06:00Weekend: December 6th and 7th<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday's stocking was simple and sweet:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It held our Charlie Brown Christmas DVD!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to a ladies' cookie exchange and luncheon at church. Yummy! The kids and I made quick work of those 6 dozen cookies I brought home! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday was a special day. Each year, local churches 'adopt' seminary families for Christmas. They find out likes, sizes, and wishes of each child and purchase gifts for them. This Sunday evening we visited our adoptive church. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greg preached, and then we enjoyed a fellowship meal and brought home not only presents for all the kiddos, but also bags and bags of groceries! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were truly blessed by this very generous church.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(the seats in the background were still empty because they sent us through the line first)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ooohing and aahing over the lights we could see on the way home one of the kids exclaimed, "We didn't do the surprise stocking!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, but we certainly had plenty of Christmas on this very blessed Sunday!</span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596079868751583870.post-63722602336674721142014-12-05T19:55:00.000-06:002014-12-12T19:55:51.498-06:00Friday, December 5<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was all about Bethlehem! Our surprise stocking held watercolor paints and .... the van keys!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We looked at the globe to see where in the world Bethlehem is, then painted pictures of shepherds on the way to Bethlehem. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also watched this video, on what the stable and manger were probably really like:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After supper we met up with friends and drove to a church in a neighboring town that was hosting a "Walk Through Bethlehem", an excellent outdoor reenactment of what the streets of Bethlehem might have been like when Jesus was born. The kids (and mama and daddy too) loved it!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, of course...there were cookies, too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Lots and lots of cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716308225177195585noreply@blogger.com0