We had beautiful weather yesterday (and today for that matter.) So a trip to the park was in order! The kids had a great time and I loved watching them.
With so many rainy days, we were all very excited to get outside and play. In the morning, I weeded some flower beds while the kids played on bikes. Then a friend stopped to pick up her little girl that we were watching. I pulled her aside and said, "Hey, what do you think about taking the kids to the park?" She was all for it! Fun Times!
The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing?
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Back in August some friends of ours gave us passes to a local amusement park. We'd never taken the kids before and especially the younger ones were excited to go. Here are some pictures from our day. T loved the bumper cars! Just as I thought, T loved it and Bethany enjoyed most of it...one of the bigger roller coasters I talked her into going on was a disaster. She was so afraid and I felt terrible! Overall, though we had a fun day!
Two weeks ago, my oldest daughter and I went to the Midwest Homeschool Convention. We traveled with a friend and her daughter. We had a good time and God used it to teach each of us more about Himself and depending on Him.
The classes I went to focused much on reaching the hearts of our children, inspiring learning and persevering through the journey of life for the glory of God. I'd love to sit down with my notes and blog about the details. I will work on doing that in the next month or so. (Just a side note: we laughed until it hurt at the Tim Hawkins concert.)
My girl took these three pictures while we were at the convention. We walked to a little restaurant and had lunch in this park. So relaxing and refreshing.
From relaxing and refreshing, we now return to 'regular life' where I'd put off washing the kitchen floor for...ummm...a LONG time. My thinking traveled the gamut, everything from "It's winter time and the kids and dog will be tracking in all kinds of inclement elements." Then I thought, "Always such a big job, let me just wait until after the spring rains." Finally I could take no more. The floor was downright dirty.
Yesterday was the day...I got down on my hands and knees (is there any other way?) and scrubbed that floor until well, we could have eaten off it! =)
Now that it is clean again, I love it. And it makes me want to wash it again just to try to keep it clean.
From here it's an easy jump to the analogy of my life and walk with God. If I neglect my daily walk with Him, 'junk' (sin) builds up quickly. Spending time on my knees, scrubbing out the dirt and allowing His righteousness to wash over me, leaves me refreshed and wanting to get on my knees tomorrow. This verse has been close to my heart this week:
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4
Jesus, draw me nearer. Nearer Lord to thee!
Be sure to visit Home Sanctuary and connect with other Company Girls. Thanks for stopping by!
I've missed posting to Company Girls for the last couple weeks, so I'm glad to be able to do it today...one day late...but still, here I am. I've enjoyed reading and trying to accomplish Rachel Anne's Small Things. March was my first full month and I'm looking forward to keeping up even more this month.
I so enjoy company and love to meet new friends. In addition, spring seems to be here, really here! Seeing the sun shine and feeling the warm it gives, digging in the dirt and planting and most of all, hearing my children laugh and play outside have ALL helped lighten my heart. God is good and gives us incredible blessings. Open my heart and eyes, God, to what You want me to see and do. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you visit again! To my regular reading friends, thanks for coming back to check on me after longs days of not posting. You encourage me!
Two weekends ago I was blessed by being able to attend a women's retreat. Sponsored by our women's Sunday school class, the retreat was held at a state park lodge. The scenery including a big lake was beautiful and so relaxing. The theme of the retreat was The A.R.T. of Fellowship. Our sessions, games, and decorations centered around Abiding in Christ, Relationships with others, and using our Talents to glorify God, build up the body of Christ and be a light to the rest of the world. We each received a little 3x3 canvas to paint something to remind us of the weekend. This sweet little girl was on the promotion material for the retreat and I wanted her on my canvas! I talked a friend into pencil drawing her on my canvas (which is why she actually resembles the little girl) and then I painted her. She sits on my kitchen counter and is a visible reminder of The A.R.T. of Fellowship.
This week the kids and I spent each morning reading Scripture leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the amazing grace and mercy given to me. The blood of Jesus shed for me...I thank God for the faith and heart to even try to take in this life-changing event. I pray that you will set aside time this weekend (and every day) to spend with Jesus, our Savior and our Lord.
A friend posting this on her facebook and it was really good...I'd never heard it before...
Lastly, I found this Resurrection Garden idea and I REALLY want to do this next year with the kids.
We are enjoying a week at my grandparent's farm. The kids are riding their bikes up and down the lane with wild laughter. We've been riding my cousin's four wheeler ALL over. Add to that hugs and love from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins!
I'm so thankful that my kids get to know my grandparents and spend time here at the farm. I spent many a day here when I was growing up. Now that I live 8 hours away, I often get 'homesick' for the farm. The land, the mountains, the peaceful calm of the country...all part of God's marvelous creation.
My kids are having so much fun. My hunny and I are enjoying being here too. Tomorrow, my hunny has 'barn cleaning' duty. I'm going to be running an errand for my aunt, then making some freezer meals for them. It's going to be a good day.
I had a wonderful chat with a good friend of mine from back home. We talked about how God desires our heart and practically what that looks like. He wants us to talk to Him and listen to what He has to say to us. We read His Word which is His way of talking to us...listening and being still to hear what He wants to say to us. I struggle with this...being still. Often I find myself stepping back from activities, busyness and life trying to realign myself with what is most important...Him. "Keep the Main thing, the Main thing" I repeat to myself. Recently I've re-evaluated my activities. I've been able to wrap up some commitments and step away from some others. Ahh, that's been freeing. And when someone asks me if I can do something, I've trained myself to say: "Let me check my calendar and I'll call you on _____ day" or "Let me think about that and get back to you." I received this wise advice years ago (which I need to remind myself of again and again). Pray about each opportunity.
Today was a good day. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Edited to add: I found these good posts that talked about what I tried to write about in my last paragraph. Finding Everyday Grace: Renewed Sparkle I have to say: taking back my time
I had the very fun privilege of presenting a lapbook workshop at CHEO yesterday. At this workshop, the first 30 families in the door received a packet and together we built a lapbook. I ended up with over 50 people at the workshop (the overflow received a handout with hints, websites, etc.) A friend and I worked together to show the folks how to put together a lapbook on lapbooking. :)
I thought I'd post the list of websites that I included on the handout for your purusal. It's quite a long list, however there are lots more sites I could have listed.
The workshop went well and I had a great time. I was so nervous before it began, however once I started talking my butterflies went away. The audience was welcoming and kind. They had lots of good questions during and had lots of encouraging things to say at the end. My prayer was that they would leave feeling like they could use lapbooking as another tool in their homeschool, and God answered that in abundance. Praise Him!
Another conference highlight was meeting Steve Demme of Math-U-See. He is a kind, friendly, funny guy. His smile is the best! He loves what he does and it shows. He had words of praise for the kids and I as I shared with him our Math-U-See journey. What a neat man!
My hunny and I enjoyed being together for the day and our kids had a wonderful time with good friends of ours. Thank You God for a great day!
Before I tell you about my most recent bike adventure, I need to confess a few things:
I have a helmet and a bike...that does not make me a biker.
I am working hard to build endurance and get in shape, but people, it's a slow process. My body, especially, my legs are rebelling each step of the way.
I grew up in the country--really the sticks--no cars, no traffic, no pedestrians--you get the idea. So, I'm a little nervous driving on the side of the road when cars are whizzing past me.
I've stopped eating sugar and white flour. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks! As the brain fog is lifting, I think I can do more than I really can. Enter bike adventure........
My Hunny said that he wanted to go to the library to drop off some items and we needed to go to Walmart and pick up some items. I said, "Hey let's ride our bikes!" I do NOT know how many miles it is, but I'm going to figure it up and then you'll know why this was a CRAZY idea! [remember #1, #2, and #3 above!] Off we went with our helmets securely fastened and my tail light brightly flashing. They don't call me "Safety Hannah" for nothing. :) Up and down hills, across highways, into town we went. My legs were calling me bad names the whole time. I tried to quiet them, to no avail. It began to get darker and my night vision isn't all that good (see why it was a crazy idea??) At some point, between panting breaths I said to my Hunny, "Who's hair-brained idea was this anyway??" Wisely, he did not offer an answer. I tried to tell my legs that we were being green, they weren't listening.
We made it to the library and deposited the items into the book drop and continued on and on and on. Up one particularly monstrous hill (take my word for it!) I heard my hunny encouraging me..."You can do it, almost there; pretend our kids are at the top of the hill." I'm sorry kids, as my bike started to roll in reverse, I thought it was time to get off and walk. To my credit, I kept walking even though my legs were still calling me bad names and kept trying to make me sit down.
Finally I saw the luminescence of the Walmart sign, oh happy moment. I staggered off my bike and stalked off into Walmart only to be called back by Hunny to take off my helmet. I'm sure I was a lovely site--who cares at 10 p.m.?? He waited outside with our bikes because we don't have locks for our bikes. Me and jelly legs went in and got the few items we needed. My mind raced to try to think of who I could call at that hour who would come pick me up and end this crazy shananigan. No one. I exited with a box of Cascade (do you know how much that weighs...me neither, Hunny carried it in his back pack!) and the other things and off we went, headed for home. I had to walk up another hill but at least I was moving toward home. The whole time I was riding I kept praying that I wouldn't fall, crash or otherwise harm myself. I'm glad to say, I didn't! And somewhere near home, I realized that my legs weren't talking bad to me anymore; they could have been numb, but at least they were quietly doing what I needed them to do.
This afternoon, my sweet, sweet man called to tell me he loved me and that he loved our bike adventure. It was the most fun he'd had in a while. That made it all worth it. I've tried to convey the love to my legs; they still are miffed and aren't buying it. They will get used to it. I wonder where I'll want to ride to tomorrow.
Yesterday we went strawberry picking! We had a great time and the strawberries are THE BEST we've ever tasted. We came home and made freezer jam...lots and lots of jam. I'm also going to try this fruit leather. Jennifer over at Life is Not a Cereal had this recent post all about strawberries! I'm going to check out some of her links and really grow this strawberry topic! :) The strawberry freezer pops are definitely on my list of recipes to try.
I'm so thankful for the memories that I am making with my family. We truly had a good time.
Marissa and I had a really good time away. Well, I suppose that isn't the entire truth...Marissa is actually fighting a nasty cold and had the icky cough and nose. We still had a good time hanging out at the hotel. The Creation Museum was neat too, she just didn't feel up to walking around a whole lot. We had free passes from a friend, so I didn't mind not staying too long.
Her dad and I got her a Jane Seymour necklace. I haven't gotten a good picture of her with the necklace, but when I do I'll post it. You can go here to see the whole Jane Seymour Open Hearts collection. We got Marissa the one with the trio hearts in sterling silver. It "symbolizes the love a family shares," quote taken from the website.
Sunday we had a family birthday dinner with taco salad and cherry delight. I didn't take any pictures of that either because she wasn't feeling up to it. In a couple weeks she is going to have a mother/daughter movie night with several friends and moms. Hopefully I'll get pictures then.
We had a good weekend and we are so thankful for our girl!
We had a great time at the game yesterday! The weather was great and the 2 mile hike to the stadium wasn't too bad. We had good seats although there were some seriously rowdy guys in our section. Marissa and I agreed that our favorite part was the first step into the stadium--the enormity of it all! It was great.
My team...well, didn't win. Guess you knew that though. My hunny had the audacity to cheer for the Other team. I suppose I can't blame him; Cincinnati is his hometown, me--I'm just the wife. Just kidding, we really did have a great time together.
[When I get the pictures downloaded I'll update this post. Pictures added December 23rd.]
In other news: we will be putting our Christmas tree up tonight. Yes, I know it's December 15th and I really like to have it up by the first weekend in December. It just didn't happen this year, and that's okay. It will be going up tonight and we are all looking forward to the fun that goes along with that.
Bethany started her nativity lapbook today and it is coming along nicely. We are using bits and pieces from here and there. Below are some of the links we've used: Coloring pages for kids Nativity Lapbook by Angela Frampton Christian Preschool Printables--a great resource for mini books, coloring sheets and more!
Well, I'd better start making dinner. Anyone else in a dinner slump? Ideas?
My hunny is a social worker at a local hospital. One of the doctors there gave my hunny 3 tickets for the Bengals/Redskins game tomorrow in Cincinnati. :) We are super excited...mainly because I am originally from Maryland and am a life long Skins fan! And to go to a professional football game has been on my hunny's list of "Things I'd like to do while on this earth." Thanks, Dr. for your generosity.
So picture it...Hunny, Marissa and I are at the game with our earmuffs, hand warmers and blankets, on the Bengals side (who are not doing well at all), cheering for the Redskins. Hmmm, I'm not sure that's such a pretty picture. So, if you see me on tv on the Bengals side, don't be fooled, I may be sitting with 'em, but my heart is with the Skins!
Update to come...unless I'm hauled out of there for letting out a whoop! for the wrong side.
As I said earlier, Zoey ran away two nights ago. She picked a fine time to leave us...it was cold and rainy. I felt really bad, because I think I was the one who didn't latch her door all the way. The next morning--no Zoey. I searched the neighborhood to no avail (although I did meet another neighbor that we hadn't met yet). I looked under neighbors' sheds, decks, in bushes and behind trees. I even stepped in major doggie do-do with my good gym shoes. I realize I shouldn't have had my good gym shoes on, however, when you are responsible for losing the family pet, you pull on the closest thing, run out of the house pre-shower, looking feverishly for the bunny.
The kids were sad, but as Trenton said, "Maybe she went looking for her mommy and daddy." How can you argue with that?
She was gone all day--the kids proposed that she was out having an adventure (I was just hoping she wasn't the adventure!) Bethany said that she probably ate grass and hopped around. Trenton said that maybe she saw other bunnies...maybe she did, hopefully she didn't.
Then at bedtime, my hunny looked outside the backdoor only to see Zoey in our empty garden. She ran back through the crack in the fence over the neighbors, so you know where we went....yup over to the neighbors again. There may be some Ms. Manners violation when you visit newly met neighbors twice in one day--the very day you met them. We are in their yard, looking, looking...no Zoey.
To bring this story to a close, everyone went to bed except Marissa and I. We saw her finally at 11:30 hopping through our yard. 20 minutes in the freezing cold...we caught her. She is safe and sound in her cage. She knows who her momma is...she knows who feeds her and waters her. :) I'm glad she's home. I didn't realize bunnies had that sense of home like dogs and cats do.
Oh, Bethany made "Missing" signs as soon as she found out Zoey was gone. The above writing is my sweet 6 1/2 year old trying to find our bunny.
The last two days we have spent the afternoon at a sprayground park. The kids have had a wonderful time. It has been so fun to watch them. Right beside the sprayground park is a playground and the kids can go between the two of them. Little guy enjoyed doing just that...he'd play in the water for a while, then go run and play on the equipment for a while. Bethany spent most of her time in the water, although she had her fair share of running back and forth.
The kids were tuckered out, as was their mom, after each day. Tomorrow we'll be home, catching up on chores and school.
School is going well. Both girls are studying presidential elections and The Young Peacemaker. We've added other subjects too and next week, we should be full speed ahead. :)
super hot weather...I think I wilt in super hot, humid weather
an illness of some sort
a torn calf muscle
I'm a do-er. I have trouble sitting down and doing nothing--especially when there are things that need to be done. Okay, I admit it, I'm a "Martha". Remember this post where I was running hard after Him? I said "God is good to continue to reminding me of what He wants from me." I really said that. (Boy, blogs have a way of keeping you accountable for your words!)
Now back to the list of what slows me down...the last one reads "a torn calf muscle". Yes, that's me, right now, since Monday evening. I've always said that exercising is hazardous to my health and now I've gone and proven it. I was just starting out my workout at Curves when I felt a pain in my calf similar to a 'charlie horse'. I tried to stretch it out and started working out again. Then I heard a SNAP. Then a pain I'd like not to describe. The snap was like a rubber band and that snap was my calf muscle completely tearing.
The doctor said no weight bearing (okay, good I'm tired of carrying this weight around anyway). I'll be recovering for at least 4 weeks. Of course, God is still good and I'm trying to learn what He has for me for the next month. It's been so difficult to be down. However, when I am up (like to use the bathroom) the crutches are going to do me in. I'm pretty much a mess--I've got pain all over my body from my head down to my toes. My hunny is concerned that I'm going to do more damage to myself (or someone else) with these crutches.
So, I'm slowing down--who am I kidding---I'm down. I start physical therapy next week and hopefully then I'll be able to put some weight on my left leg. My right leg is rebelling--kicking and screaming that it has to do all the work. And as for my mind, I'm trying to slow it down as well. To use my time wisely and focus on what I can do...read my Bible, write letters, work on lesson plans, etc.
My sweet kids are really pitching in and keeping the house in order. Marissa is doing a fantastic job with the cooking and cleaning. And, I'm trying not to be too much of a nag from the couch.
I've got more to share with you especially about our out-of-town friends who will be visiting; however I've got to go elevate and ice my leg. If you hear a big crash, it's just me on my crutches.
We spent a couple days with a good friend of mine from high school. We had a good time. She lives in a beautiful area full of mountains.
Now we are spending a couple days with my family. While driving here today, we had an interesting adventure with a bottle of Sprite. The bottle would not come open, so after much twisting and smacking it smartly--it opened. And all I have to say to the driver of the brown jeep, I'm sorry we sprayed your windshield with Sprite. I'm sure glad that Marissa hung onto the bottle or I might be making a different apology from behind bars. And to set the record straight...it was my doing. I had to hand the bottle off to her quickly so that it didn't spray all the van.
Yesterday my girls went strawberry picking with a friend. I stayed home and napped the little guy (yeah, I'm a wimp when it comes to 90 degree heat and high humidty!) But thankfully they braved the heat. The reward was sweet strawberries. Lots and lots of them. The u-pick strawberries were only $1.29 a pound!
This morning I made 10 8-oz jars of freezer jam. Yummy! This winter we are going to enjoy the strawberry sweetness so much.
I'm going to try to go once more next week. I'd like to freeze some strawberries whole for smoothies. And of course, we are enjoying them straight out of the colander.
WOW! We had a great time at the Third Day Concert. Trenton brought his guitar. :) We had great seats, thanks Mama Gomer! Trenton was rather subdued, but took it all in. Actually it was sort of overwhelming: the lights, the loudness, the jumping, etc. But it was great fun. Bethany and Marissa loved it too. Bethany clapped and danced the entire evening.
My one big disappointment was that my camera took awful pictures! I don't have a good zoom, so even though we weren't in the "nose bleed" section--it sure looked like it. Marissa may have taken some better ones on my cell phone. I'll have to check those out. I did ask a stranger sitting in front of us if she'd email us some of her pictures. She said she would, I'm still waiting. But, go to their website and what they look like there--they looked just like that.
The concert was very God-honoring and focused on worshipping Him. It was great!
Saturday we visited the softest, newest baby goats. A friend and farmgirl, Pat, has 17 new baby goats--and more on the way! That's a lot of kids! Having trouble posting pictures~~so be on the look-out hopefully soon for pictures of the baby goats and in a separate post--the THIRD DAY CONCERT!!
Edited: okay so two pictures are added. The top picture is a white angora goat named Willa. She is so sweet. Oreo is in the bottom picture with Trenton. They are so tiny.
Those just happen to be the lyrics to a Third Day song. Why am I singing them? I'm glad you asked. Remember when I told you I emailed Third Day? Well, we are hooked up! We are going to be at the concert!! I don't think we will be able to meet them, however hearing them live will be thrill enough.
Trenton is going to love it! The lyrics to the song:
I want to sing a song for You, Lord
I want to sing a song for You, Lord Lord, for You I want to sing a song And I want to lift my voice to Heaven And listen to the angels sing along
A song of Your faithfulness A song of Your grace And of Your loving kindness To the glory of your name With everything that's in me Listen to me say I want to sing a song for You I want to sing a song
I want to live my life for You, Lord Lord, for You I want to live my life I want to praise the name of Jesus Pray above all things You're glorified
A song of Your faithfulness A song of Your grace And of Your loving kindness To the glory of your name With everything that's in me Listen to me say I want to sing a song for You I want to sing a song
And I sing about Your mercy And I sing about Your love Your goodness, Lord Your righteousness I want to sing....
And we'll sing holy, holy, holy We'll sing holy, holy, holy We'll shout holy, holy, holy Are You Lord almighty
I realize the title of this post could start tongues to waggin'. However, read on and you'll realize that in this case, 'gym' is a place I willing went to inflict pain on myself. BECAUSE...Yesterday I declared war on my flab.
Yup, too many peanut M&M's, although I've enjoyed them immensly, have created this crisis. This battle of the bulge must be waged. So I trudged off to the gym (the university I attended allows alumni to go for free!) The drive is about 20 minutes, but for free admission, I couldn't come up with any good reasons not to go.
What a humbling experience. A gym full of young university students many of whom don't even know what 'flab' is, I was a little intimidated. However I marched myself over to the bike, got on and started peddling. Within no time, I was sweating and my heart rate was well over 150. I may have seen a drop of sweat on the girls around me...but I'm not sure. It could have been their make-up glistening under the flattering lights of the gym.
I tried to read so I would distract myself; it didn't work. There was too much going on around me, not to mention the sound someone gasping for air. (That someone was me.) 30 minutes later I tried to gracefully step off the bike only to find that my thighs had left the building without me. I staggered to the treadmill and walked, trying to awaken the muscles in my legs that had gone without telling anyone.
More sweating and more walking until I finally felt as though I'd sufficiently punished my body for the first day. Can't wait to go back this evening. I think I saw some nautilus machines that looked like they could induce some pain.
