Reminded of this tonight while talking with a friend...

a cute idea from pinterest

One day at a time is enough...

don't look back and grieve the past, it's gone.

don't be troubled about the future, it has not come yet...

live in the present and make it so beautiful, it will be worth remembering.

James 1:2-6

"...but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing..."

I believe that God allows hearts to be knit together through the trials of our lives. 

The packing chronicles

We are making progress...packing and purging.  I have found things that have been in drawers and closets for years untouched and unviewed.  Things saved because of the memory...but what good did it do me buried out of sight?  Memories don't have to be attached to things...and I am separating those things now.

A good friend came to visit and helped me pack some memories yesterday.  We are down-sizing to a place that has no basement (we will have a storage place), and the reality is...some things must go...no matter what!  We are putting a lot of thought into what to take, how it will be useful, and where it will fit.  Our new nest will be smaller, but feathered and cozy just the same! 

A birthday treat

with my sweet mother-in-law.  Ashlynn can breathe easy now...she was a little concerned because I didn't get cake or ice cream yesterday.  I survived!

"What did you get for your birthday?"

A supper of Chinese food!

Hugs!

Numerous texts!

Cards!

Beautiful renditions of Happy Birthday!

Candy!

Candles!

Smooches!

Various calls!

Cardboard boxes!

Answers to prayer!

Oh...and an accepted offer for our housing needs! 

It's official...we move next weekend!

We will call this our "unofficial" start to school.

It will be very different from every single year thus far.  The classroom is pulled apart...instead of put together.  The supplies will be old...instead of new.  The clothes will be every day stuff...instead of dress code.  The schedule will be flexible...instead of rigidly planned.  The special touches missing...instead of carefully thought out.  The prayers and hopes we have for our children to have a year of challenge and growth are very real!  There are opportunities ahead that are exciting.  We will hit the ground running, and we want to have our heads already in the schoolwork game.  So, we have some of our work to get started with this week (and possibly longer) as we also continue packing up the house and playing with friends till way after dark!

"How much do you think we need to budget for school needs?"

I sat for a few minutes trying to think through what we would need to comply with the school handbook and supply list.  I gave a figure...but really felt I was going to be way off.  Three years of not "doing the whole shabang" made me very doubtful of my estimating abilities.

Grandma has been shopping with the kiddos for supplies and backpacks.  If you ever need a personal shopper...she is your lady!  I have her number for you.

I need to pull out a bigger box and clearly mark it!  Not for storage!!!

We found beautiful clothes...and did not pay top dollar!  The kiddos were troopers and the whole experience was...wait for it...ENJOYABLE.  Yes, I said it...we found everything we were looking for with God's help.  We learned what brands to look for.  We talked about how many different pieces could mix and match.  We even had a couple pieces with tags from the original store still on them.

The Lord also saw fit to bless us with the shoes we needed.  Teddy was pumped because his are just like his cousin's! 

Cade, the picture helped!

A break for lunch...and funny sayings on my cup!  These days...I am not a waitress or maid anymore.  I sat at the table with the kiddos and "saw" how grown-up they are getting.  They were and are a blessing to my heart!  They think it is funny that I keep telling them I need their help because my brain is scrambled.  Case and point:  Monday, after being out with Alisa to get packaging tape and stuff, I came home and told Ted the air conditioning in the van wasn't working.  Not a good thing to have to say.  He went out to check and came back in shaking his head, "It won't work when it is on defrost and floor!"  After all summer with the ac in the "On" mode, why would it be on that?  Sunday night...was rainy and foggy.  Duh!

Scrambled, even with the help of lists and my little secretaries.

I am still so excited about their choices!  Boys are definitely easier and cheaper to dress sharp. 

Girls have to have cute layers and accessories! 

After tallying up the totals, I was over by $2.88...and a few dollars that Grandma waved me off about.

We made a good team, Grandma!  Thank you! 

I hadn't even thought from that angle!

Today's adventure included school clothes shopping at one of our favorite places followed by lunch.  "Is there a Fazolis where we are going to move to?" Teddy asked.

Ummm, I'm not sure.  I don't remember seeing one, but I don't remember looking either.

Then Alisa asked me, "Is this going to be the last time we do this?" as we drove away from Fazolis.

Uhhh, yes, I guess it would be in this town!

I keep thinking at what is coming.  The kiddos are thinking about where and what they won't do around here anymore.  I hadn't even thought about it from that angle.  We sure enjoyed our day out together...and God answered our prayer for finding the specific things we were looking for...at good prices! 

And we thanked Him for it!

"Day by day...and with each passing moment...strength I find to meet my trials here..."

I'm not sure what you see when you view a sunrise, but I see the grace of God shining in my life...He has given me another day to follow Him.  We viewed this sunrise from the interstate on Saturday morning as we drove "trusting in our Father's wise bestowment, we've no cause for worry or for fear..."

God has answered some very specific prayers in the life of our family.

"He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best..."

"Lovingly it part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest."

Ted has accepted a job and we are moving our family to the state in the shape of a mitten!

We are working right now to iron out the details of housing...in the vicinity of this pretty little lake.

God has led us to a wonderful church and school...and so the thoughts and plans for our homeschool year have changed dramatically!  I now get to make special treats for teachers and our kiddos lunches...good thing I marked some ideas!

I took this picture to commemerate our trip fare...not one bit healthy!

But after the many trips through Chicago...you figure out what works for you!

It was a fast 36 hours.  God keeps answering prayer and opening doors.

"Every day the Lord Himself is near me, with a special mercy for each hour;  all my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counsellor and Power."

"The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid; 'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,' This the pledge to me He made."

And so...we step out in faith trusting Him moment by moment!

Ted starts in two weeks...and we very well could move in two weeks too.  He has guided many decisions we have made in the last nine months that have prepared all of us for this move.  He prompted and provided for us to take care of some "fix-its" and freshening up around the house. 

Packing and purging have begun in earnest...thankfully,

we had been doing some off and on this summer already.

We are excited to see how the Lord is going to work these details out!  He sure has answered in ways that make us look forward with expectancy!

A Friday night treat

We found a neat site via pinterest making various popcorn combinations. 

Tonight...Smores Popcorn!

Popcorn, Golden Grahams, Mini-marshmallows, Mini-chocolate chips layered in a pan and popped in the already hot oven to make the chips melty.  Stirred.  More chocolate chips sprinkled over the top.

Lots of smiles and three thumbs up!

Too funny

His friends were selling candy bars.  He had some money stashed.  He bought one and brought it home.

"Mom, this is mine.  I will be so mad if I come in and find half of it gone! 

I paid good money for it....well, I paid a dollar...and it is mine!"

I smiled and said it would be safe in the fridge.  I wasn't going to touch it! 

I know exactly how he feels...it is chocolate...and chocolate disappears!

An hour later...he came back with two more candy bars and handed them to Ted and I, "For you!"

I am wondering now...if he thought we would take his chocolate...or was he just being sweet?!

Forgotten photos from our fourteenth celebration

Some years we keep things simple!  This year a short drive, shopping, and Chinese food.

The sunset was beautiful!  A reminder to me that God is still at work in our life...every minute...every day...every week...every month...every year!  And His work is beautiful!

There is some proof of His beautiful work in our family...hanging on our wall.

How easy it is to get all shook up about life...forgetting what He has done for us!

We are blessed.

Unexpected events of the day

A package from the great northwest that smelled like autumn!  I know it is my birthday,

but I kind of forgot...but was reminded that it is soon...as in next week! 

An impromptu request for childcare...I forget what it is like to have an eight/nine month old crawling around, babbling to toys, and rocking with a bottle...his foot constantly kicking.  He fought the naptime slumber...but I could go down in an instant after rocking!

I was reminded that we can have plans for our day...but then God steps in and re-orders our plans...and you may have a house full of little people...spread all over the floor.

Once again, I was encouraged and challenged from the writings of Oswald Chambers!

"Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes."

We never know what God is going to do in our ordinary day living.  We never know the impact that we have.

Turning our sights toward school!

I need to post this somewhere in our schoolroom...for my benefit!

Yesterday, we cleaned the schoolroom and purged junk (read that as all the craft and mess that is created and never taken care of by our three chair fillers of the elementary age).  Three bags of garbage...ok...Mom may have went a little nuts...and they weren't HUGE bags as our garbage can is small in the schoolroom.

It felt good to clean and straighten.  It looks nice, but it needs something fresh...my brain is whirling right now!  We'll see what I come up with!

This picture made me chuckle...because of the clock!  It is 8:15am...the time we usually start school...and the kiddos are still sleeping!  My how our days have changed!  My once up-at-the-crack-of-dawn-risers are now sleeping in and I am up-at-the-crack-of-dawn!  I love the quiet of the morning...now.  Quiet time with the Lord is truly quiet and the second cup of coffee can be enjoyed in peace.  School days are going to be hard on the students...especially when...

a couple of days wake up time has been 9:30 and once even 10:00!

We are ready to go pick up some school supplies...finally!  Teddy went through the bucket of markers...and had to throw most of them away.  After three years of use...it will be a good and needful purchase!

I have browsed around pinterest and found such neat posters and signs.  I like this one...because as Mom and Teacher...I tend to not always think before speaking...I just deal...and usually out of exasperation.  THAT IS WRONG!!!

I don't have any teachers for my students to give cool gifts to...BUT I have some students that this idea could be tweaked for.  I also have to figure out what treat will fill our candy jar...oh the strain!

We are going to be doing things a little bit different this year...I think...and in praying and preparing...I am asking the Lord to give our students a good year...full of learning experiences!

School begins after Labor Day...we have some fun things to do before then! 

A sweet treat to end the night

Sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting from a can, strawberries in their own juice...no sugar added.

A sweet way to end a summer night!

The dog's days of summer

He looks like I feel! 

Thanks to my cheery friend...

I now have the heebeegeebies! 

All I have to say...it was a good thing I was doing dishes this morning...because there was a BIG BROWN SPIDER hanging out on the silverware holder of the dish drainer.  No amount of coaxing or threatening would get the girls to do dishes ever again, if they had been startled as I was!  Our conversation with Miss Cheery last night about "how to tell if it is a brown recluse spider" scrolled through my mind in the 2.5 second flash as I looked for a utensil to squash the surprise arachnid.  I have been itching and twitching ever since...then...

I walked through the livingroom and saw this book that I had dug out of a drawer again.

I WILL NOT BE NICE TO SPIDERS THAT SUDDENLY APPEAR IN MY HOUSE AND SCARE ME WHILE DOING MY WIFELY/MOTHERLY DUTIES!

Trying to distract poor Alisa

Last night while being helpful, Alisa found out that the metal part of the tongs were hot.  She brought the tongs inside for Daddy who grilled some supper...only she didn't tell us what happened.  When we gathered around the table, I could tell something was wrong and questioned her, but she wouldn't say.  Her face was telling me there was something to be said!  I was expecting a full night of stomach flu...she kept disappearing to the bathroom.  Finally...in tears...she told us...after we were done eating...

when her sister went to find her and found out the problem.

Burns hurt...no matter how minor or major!  Some of the pain you just have to deal with...but we can make it a little more bearable...if you tell us!  The feigned bravery melted completely and the tears flowed.  I'm thinking the pain factor out-weighed the relief factor by that time.  I'm still not sure why she chose to suffer in silence...unless embarrassment was a concern?  She had done nothing but be helpful!

Oh my heart.

Aloe, cold pack, ibuprofen, and a dose of AFV for distraction purposes.

This morning...it doesn't hurt like it did...and now we can see the diagonal line across the three fingers.

I think next time...she will carry the tongs by the wooden handle AND tell us so we can help with pain relief sooner rather than later!

And thanks to a loving sister...who thought it best to let Dad and Mom know her sister was hurting!

Birds are beginning to flock together!

I like date nights!  I like Goodwill!  I enjoy a date night that includes a stroll through Goodwill with my 25% off birthday coupon actually in my purse!

For $4.00...we found birds and little wreaths to turn into nests!  Ted kept pointing out the ducks and geese, "They are birds.  They have feathers."  He was right...just not the look I was trying to achieve.

Still looking for bird houses and bird cages...but I don't want to buy them. 

Anybody around our area have any collecting dust that they would allow me to borrow for two days?

I'm not looking to alter them in any way...just add to the whole bird theme.  Send me an email or comment!

Thank you!!!

Our kiddos are soooo funny!

This afternoon the kiddos went with Grandma down to see Grandma-great.  I guess they were concerned about how we would spend the afternoon.  "What are you going to do while we are gone this afternoon?"

"We are going to smooch!" said Ted. 

Alisa giggled. 

Teddy grossed out. 

"Well, I hope Mom can make it that long!" remarked Ashlynn.

It is a good thing for our children to know that we love each other...

and still like to "smooch" after all these years.

They need to learn from Dad and Mom the what, where, when, and how of actions that are appropriate.  We are not about to leave it up to the current trends of this world!!! 

For Ever and For Always...No Matter What!

It is a Happy 14th Anniversary to us!

There is a sign that says: Home is where your story begins.

Our official story began on August 18, 1998 when we said, "I Do!"

It is a true story that we have entitled...For Ever and For Always, No Matter What.

Every year has proved memorable for us...and we know there are lots more memories to be made!

As to where exactly we would find our story on the library shelf...we are unsure.  This non-fiction work holds many different genres within its covers...comedy, drama, history, romance, mild bouts of tragedy, and various scenes of suspense.  As for the characters that have been added to this story...well, they are just that...real characters!  We are thankful for what God has done for us and for our family...and our story is unique to us!  We are thankful that God is writing our story

and we always look forward to the next chapter!

The first recreational fire of our summer

A beautiful night for a fire...with temps in the 60s..rather than the 90s. 

 It is more enjoyable to roast hot dogs and marshmallows!

Smores with dark chocolate or milk chocolate...and the marshmallow may or may not be charred.

A new game...99.

Sticks in the fire...sticks in the air...and hopefully no fiery sticks on each other!

With love from Canada!

Say not, my soul, “From whence

Can God relieve my care?"

Remember that Omnipotence

Hath servants everywhere.

His help is always sure,

His methods seldom guessed;

Delay will make our pleasure pure:

Surprise will give it zest. 

His wisdom is sublime,

His heart profoundly kind;

God never is before His time,

And never is behind.

Hast thou assumed a load

Which none will bear with thee?

And art thou bearing it for God,

And shall He fail to see?

Be comforted at heart,

Thou art not left alone;

Now thou the Lord's companion art -- 

Soon thou shalt share His throne.

JJ Lynch

 

I am thankful for encouragement that comes in all forms...and from various parts of this world!  This was one piece that I couldn't keep just for myself!

Realization

I haven't worn slippers most of the summer.  I pulled them out this past week and have been wearing them because my toes have been getting cold!  Wow...that is a foreign word around here!  The slippers felt funny to me...when I looked...yeah...it is time for new ones!  It looks like it has been a rough...two years...in my slippers!  It certainly has been busy and full of growing!  I got these ones right after Alisa's hospital stay,

and they have served me well! 

I snapped the picture of my slippers and then saw the background.  The evidence that my job as Mom continues...laundry still piles up, tripping hazards abound, and things wear out.

I can tell our family is growing up...the laundry is folded, the little-bitty-hard-plastic-pieces-of-pain are in a container, children aren't under feet but off exploring, and this Mom's simple pleasure is not an escape...

but a new pair of slippers!

The bigger they get...the prouder he is!

Ever since Grampy and Grammy came, we have had a bucket on the kitchen counter with "bugs" soaking in it.  Counter space is a greatly coveted commodity, but I love our son and endured...till yesterday..."The bugs are as big as they are going to get.  It is time to take them out and dry them off."

I know I will see them again...after they shrink down.  Ahhh...a gift that keeps on giving!

Today was (or is) National Relaxation Day

I didn't know that...but my body must have.  It was a good thing I had a good book to keep me company and the kiddos had friends to play with outside!  I'm hoping that with some extra rest,

tomorrow will feel better to me!

I like to bake...

it makes the whole house smell so good and makes my family smile!

Thankful for the rain!

This has been such a hot, dry summer and we have spent a lot of time hiding out in the cool house.

For some reason, hiding out inside today isn't a burden!  We are thankful for the rain!

A lovely bed and breakfast

We arrived in misty rain...a very fall-like day!

This place reminded me of a Better Homes and Garden feature.

Beautiful antiques and quilts.

Some of the ladies played and sang around the grand piano.

This bedroom reminded me of going to Grandma's. 

She had metal frame beds that creaked with comfy mattresses too.  This particular room had two double beds and two twin beds.

The upstairs sitting room.

The flowers throughout town were gorgeous!

So glad we didn't have to try and load up in a wagon to go to supper on Friday night in the rain!