It really IS a special time!!

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Talk about cultivating relationships - let's start with one way it gets played out at home.  So, this has been (obviously) going on for awhile, now, but... it makes we wonder what "people" think (neighbors, etc.) - and yet, quite frankly, I don't care.  We've been doing this sort of thing since each of our kiddo's first days of school. 

It came to mind the other morning while waiting for the Big Yellow 29 - and I'm out on the porch with my son.  He's twelve.  It was cold.  Like... r e a l l y COLD! outdoors - and I started to do what are something that resembled (ahem!) jumping jacks... just to try to keep warm. And.. this is what I hear.

"Mom! - YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME!"

Really?!?!!  I laughed a little.  Thinking here he is - here we are.  From day one of school mornings waiting for the bus... either I'm here or it's my hubby.  Sometimes it is both of us.  Often, just one. Mostly, just me.

Here's the thing.  I'm pretty much 100% positive - while it may "LOOK LIKE" an overprotective parent hanging out - watching every little thing... that there are kids looking on from inside the bus - wishing it was their mamma who was the one who just took 5-7 minutes outdoors, with them.

It is really is a special time.

This is when - prayers get prayed.  Hugs are given.  A listening ear is offered. Maybe a verse or two from Scripture is shared.  A song.  A ditty...a laugh.  A simple conversation.  And... even a kiss on the forehead with that one last affirmation getting shared.   

Yes!! It really is a special time.  And... while that time may be fleeting.  I'm still going to be there - as long as I'm able.  I don't know that there are too many others who still choose or who are able to enjoy these types of moments with their growing kids.

I hope my kids will remember, these times.  I truly hope they choose to cherish these memories as much as I do and will.

** These verses from Ephesians 3:17-19, are my prayer - for my three beautiful blessings!

a Winter poem - by my ten year old...

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:: Winter White ::

Gently falling 

Winter White -

all are dancing 

in the night.

Waking up to

piles high, 

the snow has drifted 

to the sky .

From the window 

I did say, "Oh, the 

snow -- stay home,and play."

Rolling, Tumbling 

Winter White 

snowmen family 

in our sight.

Gently whisper 

"nighty- night"

Dreams of snowflakes

through the night.

~ Aubrey S. (10 yrs)

**

I'm proud of my little one.  She was home "sick" the first day back to school in the new year and we got talking about things she is looking forward to in the upcoming school days.  She mentioned that she will be venturing into poetry.  So we sat down and started writing.  I helped to tweak or challenged her to use a "deeper word" here and there... but this is HERS!!!  I love poetry.  Always have...

 The snowflake mug mats were a gift from a dear friend... whom, I don't want to forget.  Ever!!

Dusty Paths

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This morning I was writing out a note of encouragement to a friend of mine.  Her daughter and mine are pretty near the same age and Aubrey wanted to bless her friend with a note - to Get Well!

Broken bones are no fun!

I got to thinking about how often this friend and her family - in their own quiet way - are the best and I mean THE BEST homemade card makers and they're always filled with lots of love and encouragement.  I mean, ALWAYS!

I don't know how many times we've received a thick packet in the mail... from this dear family.  "Just because" or truly because we were walking through something...hard to go through.

They have their own moments and hard times and I (honestly!) don't know that I have been as faithful.

While thoughts came to mind as I wrote this note this morning... "dusty paths" came to the forefront.  Wanting to acknowledge their time of  "difficulty".   A daughter; arm recently "casted", as well as  a job that is over the top stressful... well, I can only imagine.... I know it's been really rough right now, for the husband.

Things. Many more things could be mentioned - that they as a family are going through.

And, while we know God walks these paths before us, beside us and behind...

These paths, they feel dusty!

That's what I wrote.  Acknowledging their "dusty paths"... ways that don't seem clear.  Or, paths that are not filled with ease.  Certainly, not flower strewn pathways.. but in them... there is good!

I miss our old home and farmstead... its part of my own "dusty path".

And again. We walk these paths one foot in front of the other... knowing, God is holding our hand.   Confident he has a plan that far exceeds our own.   I'm encouraged in Scripture... these words of reminder.

 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

    ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

    and you will find rest for your souls.  ~
Jeremiah 6:16

Naturally, Budding Art and Artists

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When fun - HUGE, GIGANTIC - white things pop in your yard outta the blue and you've got two youngsters, nearly born with pencils and paintbrushes in their hands... these two!... and when Dad and brother are away on a camping trip and you - as a mama - gotta come up with something creative to do with your girls... well.  We didn't have to look far!!

Out in our backyard -we were provided with such an opportunity!!

Look at these art-forms!!

My girls!!  They pulled out their paintbrushes...

I whipped up a batch of homemade cornstarch paints (*recipe below) and my girls went to town.

Painting "the town" - red!!

That's what this became.  Little houses.  A mini town... per say.

**And I, I CANNOT believe it.  I ended up NOT getting a photo of the finished work!!  

It looked like the Mario Brothers.. lived there.  At least, that is what Scott and Caleb said when they got home and saw all the colored (painted) mushrooms, out across the lawn.   

Don't ask me.  I don't know much about Mario and his brothers.

The funny thing is.  These mushrooms only grew in this particular spot on the lawn.  Only to get mowed over once or twice but that is all they grew. 

Such a neat part of Creation!!   I enjoy finding things like this. 

I'm glad I got a photo of these beauties...

I'm glad my girls had the opportunity to see them up close and personal.  So intense, too!!

Did you Jayne's face??

Paint Recipe, anyone?

Equal parts of cornstarch and water. Mix well.  Divide evenly and color with food coloring.  

It all washes off in the rain...

Easy, Peasy.

***

Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art the mushroom.  ~ Thomas Carlyle

First Day ~ Back to School!

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Here they are!!  Our First Day - Back to School! - photos, as promised.

Caleb, 5th grade - Aubrey, 3rd grade and Jayne - 1st grade!!!

Prayer of Blessing!

Boarding a packed Big Yellow - 29!

You only get to do that "first day" one time... so, I suppose by hanging onto these photos for a day, or so, and sharing them later - spreads out the moments, right??  For our family, our First Day - is extra special in that we have entered the doors of a BRAND NEW, to us, SCHOOL!!

That's what happens when you move to a new location.  Our kiddos seemed quite nervous about it. Trying to imagine life at a "new" school.  Missing their old friends and well-known faces... 

 But... as the summer wore on and we ventured out to different community events (ie; VBS and Kids Kamp, etc.)... they were then able to interact with other kids and well, guess what??   They now have "new" friends at school, and some, even in the same classrooms!  Kids they met out and about over the summer!!   I knew it.  I tried to tell them. :)  This is, though, one of those things they have had to discover, on their own, and excitedly share with you - once they get home!!

I tell you what!!   As a mom, its a blessing to get back into some semblance of a routine. Because, as you can imagine our summer was just a tad bit "different"... then normal.  Oh sure, there are still bumps in the road, to be hurdled.   We had quite a few, just this morning... but, we chalked it up to "we're still working out what this new routine is going to look like".  We're used to being out the door by 8AM... here it's more like 8:15.   So, we have time...a few minutes, at least... to create some healthier habits.

We always have a time of family devotions in the evening before bedtime... but, it is my goal and prayer to add in even some MORE of God's Word... to our normalcy. 

Sitting to the breakfast table is part of that and a good place to start.  Hopefully, we have everyone's attention, right??

So, yesterday... beings it was the 28th of August, I pulled out two verses from Proverbs 28 to share with the kiddos.

I'd like to share them with you, too.. because of what keeps being mentioned ever since.   I love it!

Proverbs 28: 19-20

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies 

will have his fill of poverty.

A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager

 to get rich will go unpunished.

 You might be wondering how, in the world, do these verses fit in with a first day of school scenario??  Well, after some dialog, here is my son's deduction from these verses...

C: I get it.  So, working my land is like me doing my school work.

M:  right!!

C :  If I get distracted and don't pay attention I will become "poor".

M: right!

C: So, if I don't do my job (like, school, for me, right now, is like Dad going to work!) then I won't get paid.  Because, my pay is my education... ??

M: (proud moment) YES!!!!!

***
Let's just hope and pray this "new attitude and new thought" sticks
- all year long!!!!

fmf :: play

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What is fmf, you ask??   Five Minute Friday.
An opportunity to share in five minutes, your thoughts, on the prompt word given.  Not a lot of overthinking or time spent...
This week's word was: Play

 ***

Oh the things you find when one of your kiddos asks if they can play with your phone!!

Scrolling through... it makes me nearly laugh at all the fun and creativity this girl provides...
Here are just two I've found, recently, on my phone...
Silly girl!!  I often find she's recorded videos, songs... antics. :)

Being the middle child - she is often adaptable to others taking charge at what to play but before long - you can hear her calling the shots and everyone, then, follows Aubrey... :)

My daughter is a lot like me - growing up.  As the oldest child, I was always creatively coming up with new ideas and things to play - make believe. 
One day I'd be a nurse, the next a school teacher, the next a mom...
Always pretending to be someone else and someone older than me.  I NEVER played things as my own age...my bike was always my car!!!
Oh, and when it was time to do the dishes or help in the garden...
Nope.  I was off, playing or hiding... pretending I had to use the bathroom.  BAAADDDD!!!

I don't know what I would have been like had my parents a cell phone to play on.

***
Linking up with fiveminutefriday.com

Celebrate

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Before another "normal" day slips by... I want to say....

We have had quite a few things to celebrate over the past several months.  Things that I've been just too busy (?) to share... and that is not my heart.  So here, we are...

Birthday's -  for all three of my kiddo's

One is now nine.  One is eight. and One turned five!!

And, then of course there is the entry to Kindergarten - for my youngest - that just makes my heart go pitter patter!!  I'm excited and yet, I can't believe it.

STOP GROWING UP! I want to say...

My husband earned his Wood Badge - with Scouts!

And, Caleb has advanced to Weblo's... we're looking forward to another great Scout Year!!

Most recently, something to celebrate is the Baptism - for both my son and my husband.

I know I'm a little like, way behind the times here - but wanted to at least get these special moments documented... so, forgive me for these being so "late in the game".  If you follow me on Facebook - you may have seen a lot of these photos, already... 

For the record!

Enjoy the photos!!

Caleb wanted to play "happy birthday" while we sang..

The eight year birthday - around here is a big deal!  There are so many photos I could share for Aubrey's birthday - as she had a special time celebrating with a sleepover, outdoor movie and lots of other fun!!  It was hard just picking only a few..

***

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Kindergarten has been such a blast for Jayne, this year!!
This photo was from her first day of school!

***

Again, there are (I'm sure) many other moments of things I could have documented here... where I've neglected to get them up on the blog here... but, such is life.

These are blessings just the same and I don't want to forget them - just the same!!  I love my family!!  I love what each one means to me in their own unique and special way...  I love seeing the way our family is growing, changing and coming into it's own.

:: I wonder what the next few weeks and months will bring!?!?!?    God sure has been so good, to us!!

Changes!

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Change is in the air.  I love it!!  Although, I don't necessarily love change, per say - I do like what this particular change is bringing!!  Fall is just around the corner.

We feel it with the warmer days and cooler nights.  The temperature changes in their fluctuation keep us guessing - at times.

Comfort food (I promise another recipe, soon) and candles all aglow are a must!

School is in full-swing - my older two fully enjoying every minute. My little-one eagerly awaiting her turn... and well...

Today is the day!! - my baby heads off to Preschool, as her first official day of school!  

Wow!! here we go!  

My middle child...Aubrey... celebrated her 7th birthday - earlier this past week.  I feel bad - but, life has been so busy, lately - that even a simple cake didn't get made.  

She was happy, nonetheless, with brownie bites in it's place.  Oh - and we'll see in about two weeks if Aubrey's elbow is healed and her cast can come off - to stay.  We're praying to that end.

It's been a busy past several days.  And that busy will continue on into this week.

With my husband being cubmaster for our son's Cub Scout pack  - we have Recruitment and Popcorn Fundraising going on simultaneously.  I'm just doing my best to stand by and offer full support.  Even though it requires less of "us" in these moments - we can still make the most of what "us moments" we can muster.  :)

The clock does not lie in the hour of what time we've been retiring most nights - here of late.

With all of this... we take the time to slow and notice.  There is one last bloom with the gerber daisy and our bunny-friend is still on visitation mode. :)  We enjoy seeing our little friend almost every day-the kids especially - and a hush falls to the room as every one looks on and watch her enjoy her green-grass-nibbles.

I'm in my last few stitches to the baby quilt I've been working on.  I promise to show it when completely done.  In the same breath - there are doctor and dentist appts.  Scout pants to re-hem as my son has grown several inches from last year's Scout year!  There are the girls closets and drawers to go through again. 

 This is what the seasons bring.  Changes!!

This is what I like to remind myself...

Don't let yourself get so busy that 

you miss those little but important extras in life --

the beauty of a day...

the smile of a friend...

the serenity of a quiet moment alone.  ~ unknown

Have a wonderful week!

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** This post was linked to the Art of Home Making Monday link-up!