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!

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!!!!

Of toy army men, pretzel nuggets, devotions and plastic containers. All part of an answer to prayer.

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 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  ~ Matthew 6:25-34

***

One afternoon, since our move, my son found yet another box to unpack. The box housed Lincoln Logs and about 30 or so little plastic army men.  We hadn't seen them in awhile... and well, he found it kinda fun to play with them again.  Completely understandable.

As he was cleaning up ... he declared he wished he had a plastic container to put them in.  Something like a peanut or cashew container.  Something clear, with a screw-top lid.  "Sorry, bud", I said. "I don't have anything like that right now... and I don't plan to go out shopping anytime soon.  I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you."

The next morning.  I head downstairs, for the day, and there are on the counter sits a container!!  Just like the one my son asked for... except it housed peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets. Okay... this works, but WHAT?!?!

Not sure where it came from.  I asked my husband.  Of course...he knew!!!

Backing up a bit... 

You see, the night before, Scott (my husband) had been out helping my Brother-in-law, do some work around his place and getting home after we all were in bed and then out, the door the next morning for work..we had to catch up over the phone.  This is what I found out.  Because he (John) is a service tech for broken-down trucks, out and about... the story goes that if there is/was an accident or such... and a pallet gets broken... the merchandise gets dispersed and so that is how a WHOLE BOX of peanut butter filled pretzels wound up at our house (mind you, lots of containers!) because what is my brother-in-law going to do with but so many boxes... but share?

Yes!!  6 plastic containers. Not one!!  But, six!!

So - I thought about it and asked Caleb, once he came downstairs, if he had prayed about his need?

"No", was his response. "I wished for it, but I hadn't prayed about it."

We sat down to talk.

I assured him, it was okay... but to listen to me.  I reminded him of our devotional the other evening... when we read from The Jesus Storybook - the passage and story from Matthew 6... about God caring for the birds of the air, the flowers of the field.

And, how that sometimes and more than we realize - even if we don't ask... God still cares enough to meet our needs!!

"You may not have asked GOD for a container, but HE still heard your heart's cry... and through the circumstance of events he provided for you..."

It was really neat to see these words sink into his little heart and mind.  He really pondered this one for awhile...

 *** 

Truth is.  I needed the reminder, just as much.  I still get the chill-bumps; the smile on my face, the comfort in my heart... knowing we have a good, GOOD Father... who cares and meets our every single need... no matter what!!!

The Gift of Encouragement...

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 So, yes! This gift feels closely related to the Gift of a Compliment, doesn't it?

 I actually had to think about how to differentiate the two.

There isn't a whole lot of difference.

Now.  I thrive on encouragement.  I'm sure most of us do.  As well, this isn't something necessarily easy to do, either.  To encourage others.  But, we're called to do it.

I'm going to share a bit about my 9 year old son today.  

Fourth grade has pretty much whipped his hyde.   He's doing fine... way more that he thinks he is, but he won't always hear it.  If you know what I mean?

He needs constant encouragement.  And on one tough night, recently, when I told him that he lights up like a Christmas Tree every time he receives a compliment (see, I told you the two go hand in hand. Compliments.  Encouragement.) - well, he didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.  So, then, I had to encourage him all over again - that, YES! - this is obviously a way that makes you feel loved.  

Compliments.  Encouragement.  Words of Affirmation. 

They all go hand in hand.

We all need daily doses and some of us need more than others.

Back to the whole compliment  side of things.  I'm serious.

Sometimes being told your appreciated is one of the simplest and most uplifting things you can ever hear.

I need to remember to encourage others as much as I know I need it myself.

**this photo was taken the night of Caleb's Winter Concert - with school.  He sang in the choir and ALMOST ranked up to play in the band. ;)  He plays 1st trumpet.  And, is doing fabulous... if I must say so myself.   I'm very proud of my boy!!!!

He loves to play it for everyone - and honestly, it is never a chore to get him to practice.  I can hardly complain of the "loudness" - but he gets it.  He's doing great.  I wish you could hear him play... unfortunately, the video (he asked me to make and to show all my friends... :)) wouldn't load for some reason.

***
Click HERE to read more on the Eight Gifts that do not cost you a cent.

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!!

Seasons Come and Go :: Five Minute Friday

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"Mom!" He complained... "these really hurt", speaking of the new expander appliance he has in his mouth, which only happened to be a few hours old.  "I want to rip em out", he said, with passion!!  And - to my reply - he asked..."what's a season?", as if what he's been through has been an eternity already!

"A season is like the start and end of baseball.  The start and end of football.  The start and end of racing... the first day through to the last day of hunting season!

 Me trying to speak his language... 

"The start and end of spring, summer, fall and winter.  Here for awhile and then it stops.  On to another."

"This mouth thingy - it, too, is just a season.  It will have an end!!  Don't worry!

"The deal is - we've got to be patient in and through the season.   Sometimes we wish for it to end already and other times - we wonder where it all went?  Why did it have to end so soon?

Are you in a season of waiting, wondering and why?

I can relate to my son.  Sometimes the beginning and ending get muddy and it's hard to see or know clearly from one moment to the next... where you're at in the said season of your life.

Personally, I don't always like change, but I do enjoy the fact that seasons come and seasons go!

Update on my son:  he's already pretty much adjusted to this change in his life and riding it out with ease... for the most part!

 Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, comes to mind.. I hope you don't mind that I share these verses with you.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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Joining up with Kate from Heading Home for Five Minute Friday! 

 The prompt was: season

An Ode the Ending of Summer. To the Start of a New Season. Oh! and the Winner of the Mugs and Muffins Giveaway!!!!

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“The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.”

― J.R. Miller, Home-Making

***

It was a good evening to take a stroll with my two girlies.  Big Brother and Daddy were off on a cub scout camping trip - so, when that happens we always like to do something special.
We didn't go far.  Just a short jaunt around some of the pasture.
It was beautiful.  And, it was a beautiful opportunity to "seek and find" all the things that particularly captured our attention.

The sun was setting - peeking its glances through the leaves.  It caught our eye - we smiled back and enjoyed it's gentle gaze.  Hand-in-hand we strolled.  Chatting about our finds.
We found a cocoon, the moon filling the sky.  The farm from a far, the neighbors flowers and a first fallen leaf.  (It probably wasn't the first - but we won't tell...).  A hive for bees... better said, a wasps nest!!  (Oohh, we wonder if our landlord knows about this.  We'll be sure to tell him the next time we see him...)
We took note of the textured milk-house glass windows, clumps of recently mown off grass, and the tall, TA-AAALLLL silos!!

As summer casts its shadow on the garden wall - along go the flowers.  Perhaps?
A new season is upon us. A new school year!! We fill the backpacks and prep the lunch boxes.  It's the end of the day.  Time for a good night's rest!  And.. sleep we sort of did. :(

School, for the oldest, will be here by morning's light!!  Time for extra hugs and kisses.  Prayers.  Whiling away the nervous jitters and giddy excitement.  Time for extra encouragement and much needed, specific instructions...gentle reminders!!  And... this went for Mama, too!
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And... here we are!! Early this morning!! Waiting for the big, yellow 54!

 

Jayne's first day of PreK is coming up - in about two weeks! :) She's so super-duper excited.
***
Oh - and before we forget!!
Congratulations - goes out to  Julia, who is the winner of the Mugs & Muffins Giveaway!! {pocket pouch}

Email me your mailing address - Julia - and I will get this giveaway out to you as soon as I am able.

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Have a wonderful week - ya'll!!