Spring at Our Home

After a long, cold and dreary winter spring has finally arrived.  I am most thankful to be outside soaking up the sun, before it turns to sweltering air-conditioning weather.  We now spend most of our days outside in the yard, garden, woods or park, which in turn makes it difficult to get any school done.  I have grown to love the outdoors and now take the time to feast upon all the scents and sights that God has created around us. 

Joseph hauled wood and rocks over the fence to build a "Civil War" camp in the backyard.  Of course Elise has to add her green chair and pool slide. Thanks to some dear friends who helped us move five years ago, we acquired a moving blanket.  I don't think they are ever getting it back. 

During Rachel's spring break I swapped kids with my sister in law.   Rachel went to PA to spend time with her cousin and my niece spent time with us.  A rare warm day at the park.

Driver's Ed. Clarke County style.  Dave said this year it's time for Rachel to start cutting the grass.

A beautiful display of Easter dresses.  A soft spot remains for the dress Elise is wearing.  The two flower girls in my wedding wore this dress 16 years ago and it is still in perfect condition.  Nicole had no interest in wearing the other one.  Guess she's too old for matching her little sister.

 

End of the Year Celebration with our co-op Classical Conversations. 

When did this beautiful girl of mine become so tall?  She's even wearing flat sandals.  Celebrating End of the Year "memory work."

 

 

Saved the best for last. 

 

I really have no explanation for GI Joe looking like this except that I have four kids and a dog.  Maybe it was the dog. 

Fender Bender

Backing out of the garage something just didn't feel or sound right. 

Rachel said, "You just backed out too fast, or it's a bike." 

I proceeded to pull forward a bit and then back again.  Then there was an odd noise that normally isn't there at 7am when I take her to school. 

So this is what I found.  I am awesome!  Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do this again.

14 Inches of Proof

This post is dedicated to all of our family and friends living in Utah.  The questions we are most often asked when it comes to weather are:

Does it snow?  How much?  and When? 

Well that is sometimes difficult to answer because everyone's definition of snow is different.  Yes it does snow, but it is more often mixed with sleet, freezing rain, then rain and back to more freezing rain.  It may appear to look like snow but in fact is layer upon layer of ice.  This is what we receive more often than the fluffy, snowball, snowman, sledding kind of snow. 



what we don't want

So last week we actually received a true snowstorm.  Thursday morning we woke to 11 inches of the real live fluffy stuff with 3 additional inches falling throughout the day. The kids were in heaven.  This meant snow days (after math and reading is done of course), hours playing outside, hot chocolate and movies. Knowing we would be house-bound for several days I made a grocery and library trip the day before the storm hit the region.  We wouldn't want one particular child to go a day without some milk. A library run meant lots of movies to check out, a great place to rent movies for free. 


Feb. 13th what we want

Why Joseph is shoveling in his pajamas and robe I have no idea.  We're homeschoolers, maybe that explains it. 

Because of where Dave works he is able to attach a plow to his truck, resulting in a cleared driveway.  The only downside is sometimes there's no where to put the snow, thus blocking my van in the garage.

During snow days we always bake something yummy.  It may be cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, homemade bread, or cut-out cookies.  So in honor of Valentine's Day we decided on sugar cookies with frosting colors that have nothing to do with Valentine's Day because we didn't have those colors. 

For three evenings in a row Rachel and I spent some girl time together and stayed up late watching The Vow, The Help, and While You Were Sleeping. Total chick flicks.
Tonight we'll watch Sabrina, and watch Dave quickly leave the room.

That's how we survived the storm and Valentine's Day!  

New Year Goals for 2014

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.  That is my theme for this year! By His strength, I desire to take small intentional steps towards growing in godliness and living a Christ-centered life.  If my life is not centered on trying to glorify God, then all efforts become futile.

Truth be told, I have never, ever made any New Year's Resolutions or goals.  I always thought they were silly and besides no one ever seems to keep or accomplish them.  For whatever reason this year I wanted to set some goals.  So I sat down to intentionally write them out and decided to post them here as a means of accountability. 

Spiritual/Personal

• Deliberately commit all areas of my life to the will of Jesus Christ This particular goal will be the most difficult, I can already tell.  Simply because of my attempt to commit ALL areas, not just the easy ones.
• Become more diligent about my quiet time in the morning
• Read through the Bible
• Heed God's voice and direction.  Not just listen but put into action what He tells me to do or not to do. 
• Be more gentle in my response to my children and husband Pause and think before I speak.
• Develop a boldness for sharing my faith

Health/Diet

• Drink more water  I do! Not! Like! Water!
• Drink less coffee  As you know, this one will be excruciating.  It is totally my crutch in the morning.
• Eat more raw food. Veggies, fruits, etc.
• Eat more fish and less red meat This is more of a family goal than anything.  Hopefully Dave is not reading this.
• Exercise 3-4 times a week  Either P90X or the NordicTrack 
• Plan out menus more efficiently I was doing this for several years and then fell out of habit. Truthfully, I really became lazy!

School

• Stay on top of memory work
• Start school at 8:30 instead of 9  Ouch!
• Use time wisely Be consciously aware of distractions i.e. computer, email, phone, appointments.

Family/Ministry

• Invite people over for dinner once a month
• Take meals to people in need