pretty things

Pretty things around my home make me happy.

Yesterday God provided an opportunity for me to offer a "happy birthday!" to a friend and these pretty things made me smile.

I love the opportunity to get out my pretty tea cups.

My mom gave my sister and me a different matching cup and saucer, every Christmas, for 12 years in a row.

Another favorite pretty thing is in my bedroom.  I love to walk by and see my bed made with the pretty pillows on top.

I'm inspired to make my bed in the morning because this is what I look at during my quiet time before starting school. . .

The smaller pillow in the middle was my favorite find and an inspiration for the curtains which my mom kindly and painstakingly made for us last summer.

But there are a few practical items lying or hanging around the house.

Such as these. . .

One is in the family room,  

 

and one is even in the bedroom. . .

Can you guess? 

They are not streamers!

Can you say FLY TRAP?

Yes, if you stop for a visit watch your head or it may become permanently affixed to the hanging fly trap paper strategically placed throughout our home due to the unusual invasion of a vast amount of flies outside which find their way INside and have been driving. me. crazy.!

Spring around here has been welcomed with open arms but the flies. . . not so much!

Happy Thursday!

lookin' for the light

So it's Friday, late afternoon.

Mr. E. and Z-man are away turkey hunting.

What to do.  What to do.

After staring at each other for awhile, C-man lamenting his boredom, and others throwing out their ideas, momma bear makes a few decisions. . .

We're not going swimming, we're heading to the library, then to the park, then for ice cream and. . . I'm bringing the camera cause I'm looking for the light.

Anyone want to throw on a "nice" shirt and model for me?

Pleeeeease?

C-man, with his sensitive heart and knowing how much mom loves taking pictures, acquiesces while informing me how much he really doesn't feel like it.

And we're off. . .

While at the library we get a call from Daddy on the cell phone announcing that both he and Z-man each shot a turkey today.  WOW!  We're all stunned since such luck rarely befriends us and give a hip-hip-hooray!!

. . . The weather is perfect for fun at the park. 

It's dusk and I read from many photographers that this is a grand time of day to find the glorious light.  I'm still trying to figure this all out so I was happy to have a few moments of practice.

The sun was behind me.  I was trying to be careful of shadows on the face.

The sun is not as intense as in the middle of the day so the shadows I was dealing with were a bit more forgiving.

. . . Back in the car and the next stop is 49 cent cones from McDonalds.

C-man requests an Oreo McFlurry since he has been such an accommodating model.

Momma bear acquiesces this time while the others suddenly become interested models.

Sorry boys, only c-man. 

. . . I decide to take the long way home as I continue lookin' for the light.

Then I found it! 

"C-man please, quick, drop the McFlurry, out of the car!"

I didn't touch up those rosy red lips one little bit.

All natural.

Lucky kid.

     

What a handsome dude!

 

It was exciting for me to find these backdrops because they are so different than the typical woodsy landscape I find around our home.

Plus, they are facing west which was perfect for this time of day.

I know the lighting is good when I need to do very little in post editing.

Unless of course I want to, as in the last two edits.

. . .Alas, we find ourselves back at home and it's time to pick up the yard.

. . . Pizza and popcorn for dinner since momma is trying to please everyone tonight.

Oh. . .  and in case you ever wonder if it's ok to leave the cardboard under the frozen pizza while you bake it. . . .it's perfectly fine. ;)

. . . An episode of Bonanza follows and then lights out boys and girl.

Happy Friday,

P.S.  The title for this post reminded me of this verse. . .

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NASB)
1 John 1:6-7

Monday happenings

After a busier than normal weekend, Monday came fast.

I wasn't completely ready for the week to begin.

But ready or not here we go!

• Noontime brought a walk/bike down to the lake.

The boys love to skip stones.

 

Little A jumps into all the action with her brothers. 

She must have felt right at home as she wanted her clothes off.

Her brothers reprimanded me for complying because "we could get arrested!"

All went well and no arrests were made.

• We enjoyed this book about Galileo during table time today. 

• Today in history. . . John J. McDermott of New York won the first Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10.  Fifteen runners started the race but only 10 made it to the finish line.

The marathon's distance was changed in 1908 in accordance with Olympic standards to its current length of 26 miles 385 yards.

The Boston Marathon was originally held on Patriot's Day, April 19, a regional holiday that commemorates the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In years when the 19th fell on a Sunday, the race was held the following Monday. In 1969, Patriots Day was officially moved to the third Monday in April and the race has been held on that Monday ever since.

Although I'll never be ready to tackle a marathon, I would like to walk in a 5K sometime.

 

• My car made an automatic stop at the McDonalds drive thru on the way to the library. "Seven 49cent cones, please."

 

• Chicken noodle soup is simmering for dinner. Yum!

 

Here's hoping I'm ready to tackle Tuesday with a bit more energy.

Happy Monday!

Simple Woman's Daybook

 

For today April 14

Outside my window..... the sun is shining and it's 70 degrees outside!

I am thinking.... of creating a more organized weekly meal planning schedule.  (Hopefully the thinking will turn into doing)

I am thankful.... for this early spring we are experiencing.  It's really been a treat!

I am wearing...... my black sport pants and a tank top.  I started the day out with a long sleeve top and a fleece vest and then it warmed up and I was way overdressed.

I am hearing......my 6 year old working on a puzzle behind me and the jingling of Lucy cat's collar.

I am creating.....a mental list of projects I'd like to accomplish this summer.

I am going.....to give all the boys haircuts.  And Z-man wants a mohawk for his basketball game tomorrow night.

I am reading.....the latest issue of EVERY DAY with Rachel Ray magazine.

I am praying.....for courage and strength for a friend going through a difficult time.

I am remembering.....today in history, 1865, President Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. (I just read that)

I am hoping.....with all the time the boys are spending in the woods, that our "tick checks" each night are enough to keep those nasty critters from doing any harm.

On my mind.....what sports the boys will and will not be involved in next year.

From the learning rooms....picked up about 30 new books from the library today.  I love new books in the house.

Noticing that....the daffodils have broken through.

Pondering these words. . . "What you are becoming is more important than what you are accomplishing."

From the kitchen.....beef stew tonight, slow cooking in the oven since noon.

Around the house....spring has sprung so I guess I should be spring cleaning, huh?  It's a good thought. :)

One of my favorite things.....watching the three older boys play in the basketball league together, on the same team.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....home school sports club, basketball game, helping with soccer registration, yard cleaning-blowing-raking.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you. . .

So the thought would be. . . "What kind of parent allows this sort of nonsense?!"

I guess that kind of parent would be, ME! 

Momma says, "Only for the next 24 hours."

Z-man says, "DEAL!"

 
Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Wednesday!

procrastination

I have a small creative task which needs to be completed by tomorrow.

I'm procrastinating.

Notice the new blog header?

That's what I've had fun doing while putting off what I SHOULD be doing.

I guess I better heed this advice. . .

The best way to get something done is to begin.  ~Author Unknown

I hope you are having a more energized and motivated day than I am.

Happy Friday,

 

 

Highs and lows

I had a few moments in the car today as I made a run to the library.

I enjoyed listening to Anita Lustrea from Midday Connection on our Christian radio station.

Today she had people sharing about their highs and lows for the day. . .

• "It’s Open Forum on Midday Connection and we’re going to take a look at a spiritual   practice called The Examen. We want you to answer this question: "What’s the high point and low point of your day?" What has been the most life giving or life draining moment so far in your day? If we pay attention, this is often where we see the work of God."

It was interesting to hear how in a given day we all have something that brings a smile to our faces. . .  and at the same time we have something going on in life which causes a more negative emotion.

Anita had a great suggestion.  She has been journaling with her son every night for the last few years on both her high and low for the day and his high and low for the day. 

Wouldn't that be fun to look back upon? 

To fondly remember the highs and see how God's hand has brought you through the lows.

How 'bout today?

Hmmm. . .   My highs would be the sunshine outside and the quiet alone time I was able to have today.

Lows?  Two of the boys have mysterious bug bites which left the Dr. wondering and mommy trying not to panic.  Fleas?  Bed bugs?  Ticks?  Yikes! Suddenly I'm starting to itch all over!

Happy Wednesday!

Heather

He has risen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering an event which placed my beloved in CICU four years ago.

On Easter Sunday he awakened from the drug induced coma.

We will always remember and always be thankful for God's healing and the prayers of many.

Happy Easter! He has risen indeed!

Heather

 

Fire Drill!

Homeschooling, as with everything in life, has its pros and cons.

This homeschool lifestyle is working well for our family in many ways.

One sacrifice which I weekly must come to peace with is that the house is simply not going to be the picture of neat and clean.  And the entire house is never clutter-free and clean all at the same time. 

That's just the way it is.

Also, I need everyone's help to keep the home in order.

So this morning before everyone left for their activities I had the family gather for a fire drill.

Fire drill?  It's when we set the timer for 20 minutes, or even 10 minutes, and I give everyone a simple chore.  Yes, daddy and I help too and we check that the kids chores were done correctly.

The saying is so true. . . Many hands make light work.

In 20 minutes many chores were completed:  vacuuming, clothes folded, mud room picked up, garbage out, floors mopped, bedrooms picked up. 

It was a great way to start the day.

How about a fire drill at your home today?

Ready. . .Set. . . GO!!

Happy Saturday,

Heather

Welcome April!

Not only are we welcoming a new month today but we're a bit giddy over these 70 degree temperatures.

This is unheard of in our neck of the woods.

I can remember ice fishermen still on the lakes on Mother's Day one year!

Little A has discovered the sandbox!

She spent hours out there today.

This sandbox time is serious business. 

I think I was able to have her look up at me for an obligatory smile, twice.

It was especially fun for me to see her brothers in the sandbox playing with her!

I remember a friend commenting that her daughters spent HOURS at a time in their sandbox.

I kept waiting for such an experience with the boys.

The boys had their moments in the sand but it usually lasted only till someone caught a  glimpse of a chipmunk at which time they grabbed their stick bows and arrows and took off for the woods.

Of course the warmer weather brings ticks. . .we've already snatched one off of Little A's head.

April also brings the spring basketball league which means mom makes one dinner before the game

and another after!

And look who lost his last front tooth!

We're remembering this Maundy Thursday and the upcoming celebration of Easter.

I couldn't recall what the word Maundy stood for.

This is what I found. . .

The name of the Thursday of Holy Week – Maundy – is derived from the Latin word mandatum, or command. Hence, the English word “mandate,” or commandment. The idea in “Maundy” is based on the command Jesus gave his disciples at the last evening meal of his earthly ministry, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). In Latin “a new commandment  I give you” is Mandatum novum do vobis. And that is why the celebration day is called “Maundy Thursday” – or “Holy Thursday,” as it is known outside English-speaking nations. Footwashing, included in some Maundy Thursday services, is simply one illustration of how Christians are to love and humbly serve one another. 

It was a Maundy Thursday evening many years ago, after a Jews for Jesus seder dinner, that I dedicated my life to Christ. 

I'm thankful that God spoke to my heart at a young age and that He continues to speak through the joys, trials, mistakes and triumphs of my life.

Happy Thursday,

Heather