Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Before the rain









Aren't little helpers the best??!


Monday, September 27, 2010

1000 Gifts: September's end


"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24


Rejoicing in the gifts of His hand, I add another page to my journal~

0757
rain

0758
RAIN, glorious rain!

0759
and the prospect of more to come

0760
garden helpers, even as the season comes to an end


0761
end-of-summer deliciousness, ripening on the vine

0762
and the anticiaption of a few more tomatoes from our backyard experiment


0763
homemade mashed potatoes-- made from our-very-own-garden spuds

0764
and end-of-summer color... I'll take it as long as it lasts!


0765
a birthday celebration and the joy that comes with turning six

0766
special friends and a dinner at Wegmans (a birthday first for us... and likely a first amongst all six-year old boys... but that was his choice... and it turned out to be a blast!)

0767
hiding in the bathroom for 60 seconds (please don't tell me I'm the only one who does this :)... only to be interrupted by my very confused two-year old... "You potty training??"

0768
those unexpected moments of levity

0769
and the reminder that they grow too quickly.... so cherish it while it lasts!


0770
meals around the table

0771
being reminded by my two-year old daughter that we forgot to say grace

0772
an email from a special gal whom I've never even met face to face...
and her words of encouragement, her words of truth, her words of compassion...
that point me to Jesus, every. single. time

0773
a community of believers and the accountability it provides

0774
darling kindergarten girls and the opportunity to serve in their class

0775
and eternal security, found only in Jesus Christ

"... and the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
from the inside out
Lord, my soul cries out..."

~From the Inside Out, Hillsong

holy experience

and the list continues...

Friday, September 24, 2010

Six.


Happy birthday, Big Man!

You're the 6-year old apple of my eye, and I love you with all my heart!


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten

This past week... something new.

Here's the sketch: Fridays= co-op days. This year, Big Man is a part of the kindergarten class-- nine 4 and 5-year olds, all energetic, enthusiastic, and excited about learning and playing and exploring. Led by a fabulous team of women, these children will surely thrive! So needless to say, Big Man adores this time. And every single week we count down the days until we get to go back. Of course when we have a week off from co-op, near tragedy strikes. But that's a whole other story~

Back to Friday. I was able to sit in on the beginning of the kindergarten class before I had to leave to teach my own, and while there, I was able to observe their regular morning routine. Circle time, Bible time, poem time-- this go round a sweet little one about manners.

We say "thank you"
We say "please"
And "excuse me" when we sneeze.
That's the way we do
what's right
We have manners
We're polite!

Well, before reviewing the poem, Mrs. D. asked the kiddos if they could remember any of the manners they had discussed the week before. Of course, little hands flew up and immediately a whole plethera of manners were discussed and demonstrated and discussed once again... until an eager little beaver raised her hand and shared this one... a "manner" I've never ever heard before., but one I will surely never forget. In her squeaky little voice she emphatically stated:

NEVER sneak out the window!

Hmmm... I never realized window-sneaking was such a problem in the kindergarten co-op arena. But now I know, and now a whole classroom full of kindergarten blessings knows that they are NOT to go there either.

Surely this new-found knowledge will come in handy in the days and weeks to come... after all, I DID learn it in kindergarten.

Monday, September 20, 2010

1000 Gifts: September blessings


"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes,
and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the true life lies."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

So once again I give thanks for the everyday things and the incredible gifts of His hand~

0734
home

0735
our very own beds

0736
a roof over our heads, a kitchen full of good eats

0737
the reminder that we are RICH while millions are not...
and the burden to give, to do, to offer something more

0738
answers... whenever they may come

0739
this sparkling brood... my nest of four

0740
and their constant chatter, their endless mirth, their childlike faith... their joy

0741
a fun new toy and the music he creates :)


0742
plus a turn or two for his favorite little protege


0743
with summer's end, her very favorite possession (at least for this moment in time)~
this end-of-the-season find... her very own flops


0744
a weekend with my folks and Saturday picnic fun

0745
patience


0746
face paint


0747
and charming results



0748
watermelon


0749
a special someone to share it with


0750
and togetherness


0751
a morning in the church nursery, my boys-- helping-- at my side

0752
an afternoon nap

0753
and then "Sunday School Musical"-- a production written and choreographed by a favorite 14- yo friend

0754
the ministry-- the faith-- of the students involved

0755
and His ways... so much higher than my own

0756
redemption

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His love endures forever."

1 Chronicles 16:34


holy experience

and the list continues...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Back in the saddle



Wow! It's been a while, a long while...

But we're back.... back from our two gloriously restful weeks at the beach... back to life as we know it here in the burbs. And it didn't take long. In fact, as soon as our feet returned to northern Virginia soil, we hit the ground running. It's funny how it works like that... no gradual return to normalcy for us. Just vacation, then LIFE with no transition in between. And, much to my dismay, the home repair fairy didn't show up while we were away. No, the house is still a mess, and I am just as anxious as ever for repairs to be completely complete. Thankfully, three very kind gentlemen are here now-- they're starting from the outside in, securing new roofing, new windows, new flashing and the like. And hopefully, in a few more days, they'll head indoors: to my kitchen, to my pantry, to my laundry room... and the dust will really start to fly.

But God. is. good. So far the boys and I (after two and a half years with a little girl, I still say that-- the boys and I :)... make that, the five of us... have been able to function normally even as hammers pound and trim pieces fall. School is well under way, and the boys are swimming like fish once again. The beach is a far too distant memory (unfortunately) as World War 1, transitive verbs, and algebraic equations now take center stage in our minds. But fun we're having-- with a field trip in to DC (the Wright Brothers plane is at eye-level now, right on the floor... down from the rafters for a special display, and wow, is it cool!) and a special play date with no-longer-faraway friends. A leisurely afternoon in the woods with favorite people will truly do wonders for your soul! Ah, and lest I forget-- a new development on the home front since we've returned from vacation... Bub is now in the youth group at church (I know, will someone please tell me how THAT happened!), and this trying-to-be-brave mama is rejoicing with him over this very exciting time (as she clings to the Father and trusts that He really does have her boy in His hands).

And every day I'm being reminded... over and over and over again... that even though the pace is somewhat frantic at times, even though I can't always see the forest for the trees, even though I collapse into bed (often earlier than I'd like) at the end of another exhausting day-- these days are gifts. Gifts from Abba Father to be used for His glory as we study and work and play and pray. Gifts to be cherished, gifts to be embraced, gifts to be nurtured and savored and treasured. Gifts that rush me to the feet of Jesus and keep me there~

And that's a good thing... because isn't that exactly where I oughta be?

Happy Thursday, everyone... it's good to be home!

Oops! I almost forgot... congratulations Stephan & Jessica on your recent engagement... I am so very, very happy for you! May the Lord pour out His blessing on your marriage and your new life together, and may He be glorified through it all!