OUR FIRST ROBIN VISITOR OF SPRINGTIME!

YES, I JUST YELLED THAT! 

Because I couldn't yell it earlier when I first saw it!  We had just gathered in the familyroom for devotions, and Ted was instructing us to turn to our passage for today...it would not have been appropriate to distract from that!  We had enough trouble getting everyone moving and gathered for this Monday morning.

I just wanted to share this with Mom and Dad...who are getting snow again today...and with our Canadian family and friends...who are still up to their armpits in the fluffy white stuff.

Spring IS coming...the robins are telling us so!

There is nothing like Sunday dinner!

Walking in the door from our morning church service, we were hit with the aroma of dinner cooking in the crockpot.  There were many grunts and groans and "Wow, this is good!" even if the mashed potatoes were "not like Grampy's"!  There was a moment of frustration as I started dinner this morning...no potatoes in the house to go with our WI roast beef.  In the midst of my quandry and panic, I forgot to add the carrots to the pot.  Thank goodness for our Tupperware microwave steamer...and that our microwave works!  The gravy was so tasty...that it hid the fact that I "cheated" and used a box of instant potatoes. 

If a Sunday dinner of roast beef doesn't have potatoes...is it still a good Sunday dinner?  And if you use instant mashed...will your family still enjoy their Sunday dinner?

It was good and we did enjoy it!!!

The last game of the season...and the awards night

The Warrior team played their last game yesterday morning.  We enjoyed the "year" with Upwards!  It was fun to watch the boys learn skills...and actually use them on the court.

I couldn't tell you the score...I clapped for both teams...I couldn't help it...when they take 6 to 8 shots...you just want the ball to go in the net!!!

The coaches giving out the certificate and a gift...an Upwards basketball!

Since this was Teddy's first year, we didn't know that most kids and coaches wore their jerseys...but with our "jumbled up day" we didn't have time to wash our shirts...and it was necessary!

As a special treat, they had a comedian/magician  come in for the night.  His name was Tim Hannig.  It was a neat presentation and a clear Gospel message.  I loved listening to our children belly laugh!

The coaches for the Warrior team.

Treats with friends sprinkled with lots of silliness and laughter.

A Point Buster Party for Kid's Club

We have been preparing for the activities of today for a long time now!  We took notes as we watched Minute To Win It...and then gathered some special supplies.

This was our second "big prize" for this year.  Each child that attends has a chance to earn 125 points each week.  We set the goal and several children worked hard to earn points each week.  Today...was the reward for all their hard work.  And it was fun to play with them!  As children arrived today...they got to play and "practice" the games.  Here...bounce the pencils on their eraser ends into the cup.

Hang Over...balance the hangers on the broom handle...without hangers sliding to the corners.

Stack Attack...stack 36 cups up in a pyramid and take them down again...without them falling.

We ate pizza and watched the movie, The Secret of Jonathan Sperry.  What a wonderful message!  There were times of giggling and there were times of teary eyes.  After the food and movie, we got serious about the competition.  Each child got to try to "win it in a minute"!  We have some good competitors...who mastered some of the games.

The Big Bounce...ping pong balls bounced into a glass...we only had one "glass" casuality!

This Blows...using a balloon to blow the cups off the table.

Rapid Fire...using rubberbands to shoot the cans off the table.

Uphill Battle...using a metal spoon to keep 3 marbles on the tilted table.

The time keeper and ring leader with all the good ideas!

Maybe we should have made this a competition!!!

Of Sorts...sort M&Ms by color using only one hand and picking up one piece at a time.  Here is some sibling rivalry!!!  Each child got to do this...and keep the M&Ms.

Waiting...and watching...and strategizing!?!

Oreo sundaes...

with M&Ms!  Mr. Ted just asked that if they were going to get sick after all the treats..."please wait till you get home!"  It was fun to plan this activity and then watch the kiddos enjoy playing and eating.  We even kept some of it secret from our little attendees that live under our roof.

Now to figure out how to "bust up" the remaining points for this year!  What will we come up with next? 

"It is going to be a jumbled day!"

This coming from children who were wide awake at 6:00 AM!  It is a busy Saturday...with some exciting things happening today.  I'll be ready to start after a cup of coffee and a shower.

Where have I been?

I went to Dunkin Donut to get a coffee and a muffin while I waited for the girls.  It was music lesson day and I was going to sit at a table, read my Bible, and compose a grocery list. 

It was closed!  Paper in the windows and everything! 

Where have I been? 

 I totally missed this fact. 

Now...where to go?  Gas station it was and I sat in the car with my notebook.

I guess I don't get out much...ha! 

And when I do, I tend to be pretty focused on missing all the potholes in our local roads...YIKES!  Lest you think I am not an observant driver...I saw the stoplights, brake lights, and a guy from the closing Sears store wave at me.  I answered the questions of my children and hummed along with Rejoice Broadcast Network.  Totally missed the fact that the lights were not on at the DD establishment.  Sad!!!  But I guess...maybe...part of their reason for closing...the lack of customers...me being one of them...for several weeks now. 

It's a toss up...Dunkin Donuts or Tim Horton's...I like both!  Nobody is runnin on Dunkin here...

unless it is brewed at home...maybe that is another reason!? 

I've been at home...drinking my morning cup of coffee in my slippers with my husband.

Maturing in our game-playing skills

When we first started playing UNO, we focused on matching colors and numbers.  Then we started reading the words on the cards (on the older decks).  Now, it is time to get competitive!  Ted started keeping score the other day when he played a few hands with the kiddos.  I had my foot up...my toe was throbbing.  I sat and listened in as Ted coached them...and then laughed when they didn't pay attention.  Hoarding the "dirty cards" to "get somebody with" and trying to work with the person next to them is no longer accepted!  "Keep your card info to yourself!"

I joined for a few hands and got to enjoy Ted's strategy!  Now...we have to pay attention...when people draw because they cannot lay the requested color..."Stop...did you see that?  Mom doesn't have red.  So she changed it to yellow and she only has one card left.  Remember that!  We need to do something before it is her turn again." 

 HEY!  Just shush, would you!?!  

"I need to hurry up and get rid of my dirty cards!  I don't want that many points!" said Alisa.  By dirty cards, they mean the cards they formerly called naughty cards.  You know...draw four, draw two, skip, and etc.  Except now...there aren't words...there are pictures and arrows...so..."we don't have to practice reading!"

The cards are smaller too...and I had trouble shuffling.  We almost "played 52 card pick-up".

We still have to say...quite often..."so and so, it's your turn!" Ted decided to change that too after 7 rounds..."if you don't follow...you can draw another card!"

"Yes...and then you will have to practice adding more cards!  And you have lots of cards to practice with this hand already!"

Eating us out of house and home!

You know it is time to hit the grocery store when the only thing you can find for a snack is oyster crackers... that are part of our illness emergency stash in the cupboard!  It seems as if the kiddos have ramped up their appetites again...which also means we will be affected shortly in our wardrobe needs...again!  The cupboard holds a variety of things...noodles, marshmallows, canned goods, dried beans, and a few nuts.  I see now why they were whining "there is nothing good for a snack".  I agree...carrots, celery, and apples for choices...get a little old after three days!  

Time to sit down and make out a grocery list...again.  Didn't I just do that?!

I can't help it...my emotions are running very high these days...

I look at our daughter...I hear her giggle...I watch her skip through the house...I feel her hugs...I listen to her chatter...and I know that God heard the cries of His children on her behalf.  My heart is full of gratitude.  My eyes fill with tears in a moment.  My throat is tight as I try to keep the sobs from choking me.  Our children are looking at me to see what is wrong.
I wasn't expecting these type of emotions...now...a year later.  When I look back and see God's hand in our lives...I am so grateful.  I am thankful that He hears His children...so very thankful!
I can't help but look back over the posts from last year at this time.  I remember how tired we were.  I notice the missing spark in Alisa's eyes.  I see the concern etched in our faces.  I remember those fearful moments. This year is very different in our house.  God has been so good.
As always, God is ministering to my grateful heart through some wonderful music.  Today, I have myself hooked up to the computer as the kiddos are doing their schoolwork...trying not to hum along and sing the words too loudly!  I'm already getting strange looks as I wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

The Cry of His Child

A tiny vessel tossed upon the stormy deep. The elements out of control and the sea was wild. Something gripped the Master's heart and woke Him from His sleep.   It was not the storm, but it was the cry, of His child.

In the earth self-righteous men were busy casting stones. Stephan's life would slip away in just a little while.  Midst the angels' adoration, Christ rose from His throne. It was not their song, but it was the cry, of His child.

He keeps the earth spinning in place, that's a miracle!   With stars, He decorates the heavens for a million miles. Yet, not so busy that'd He'd miss a sparrow's funeral.  Since that's all true, then why, would He not hear the cry, of his child?

The Omnipotent, Almighty God of Abraham, who can hold the entire universe in just one hand, suddenly becomes a tender God of mercy mild. When He hears the cry, when He hears the cry, of His child.

It's a big cookie kind of afternoon!

Translation:  Mom doesn't want to stand around baking pan after pan of cookies!

Meaning:  Mom loves you enough to let you cut your piece of cookie any size!

Happy coming-in-like-a-lamb March 1st!

I honored the beginning with a piece of toasted Irish soda bread in the sunlight!  And the little chair-fillers ripped off another link from their countdown to spring chain...formerly our Christmas school-room decoration.

I am sparing you the nasty angle!

I got brave and took the bandaids off this morning...then I had to sit for awhile.  Then I soaked in peroxide...and had to sit till the queasiness went away...it is back as I type about it.  Upon inspection, the nail is still attached...somewhere and somehow...but with a big gap between...and that is enough.  Will be putting head between knees, if I keep going.  So...the peroxide bubbled away. 

I needed to let it dry out...be in the air...

and this is what I came up with because my feet get cold downstairs.  I am concerned about it getting bumped...but more concerned about watching out for infection!  I don't know what I am going to do when I have to go out...the pressure on my toe from the shoe is painful still...and my slippers that fit...are pink!