Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Psalm 50

The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun
to its setting,

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 

Our God comes; he does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire,

around him the mighty tempest.

He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:

"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"

The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge!


Today, I stood in awe as I looked over the deck and into the rising sun. The sun was just peeking over the tops of the towering maples. The leaves slowly and silenty landed on the dew soaked earth. The stream played a quite song as if to call me toward it and wade toward adventure. Before I had more than a minute and a sip of coffee the little voice behind me beckoned, "Mom, I am cold I need a sweater!" The reality of moments in time to be treasured slipped away, but alas a need was waiting for me to meet, simple yet for her profound. I let her back in the house almost laughing to myself that she at the tender age of three would see what I see and sense what I sense. She felt the chill and I was surrounded by warmth! How vastly unique we all view moments. I am today grateful that I had that time. I love capturing permanently with photographs. So thankful.... 

Monday, September 27, 2010

I love my friends!






This is a day I will not forget, thank you my dear friends for living, laughing and loving with all of your hearts. Remember the book I gave you years ago called Bravehearts, well you all have one and demonstrate that daily. I love you all. More to blog later. This was a window of time....

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Dear friends celebrating Fall








Celebrating the beauty of Fall is a gift, relationships are a treasure! love you my friend H!! Your kids are grand!!

O lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty...Psalm 104

Last Summer Dress





One evening after a bath (first one in the house since our bathroom was just finished!) I dried them off, put some pretty smelling goodies in their hair (weakness of mine, I love a pretty scent!!) sent them up to get in their jammies. I know Samantha takes such good care of Sara and wondered what she would dress her in tonight. Well, no jammies, a favourite summer dress. What saddenes me is that this will be the last time they can wear them together. Sara can barely get it over her head now. They came down with hair done, smelling so yummy and truly on top of the world because they looked like princesses. They came out and it filled me with joy! So, out came the camera and off they went to dance and pose. I think they are quite used to being photogpahed.
If they could wear the summer wardrobe all year long they would most certainly. Reality is with our winters they must hibernate for a season and when the weather turns and the warm breezes arrive and soflty remind us of God's gift of change, the bin comes out, we hold our breath and try things on. Most goes on to cousins or friends. The odd dress can remain.

Here it is, the last summer dress. They loved every minute!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Us!

Things to be thankful for...

Experiencing Ottawa
Being together
Having fun
Enjoying the site
Finding a restaurant that serves pasta and pizza quickly and actually pretty good!
Comfy hotel
Cold pool (kids don't care)
Kate's Carnival for Cancer (celebration of our friends daughter's fight and win with cancer!)
Watching our boys sumo wrestle
Sara and Samantha eating cotton candy
Crying with my hubby and dealing with emotions from the trip
Loving road trips!!!

Walking this life together


Walking together...
I was reminded tonight at Grace Fellowship (our church) by our pastor that the most important work is under this roof tonight. He was referring to our children. We are to demonstrate Christ to them and lead them to the cross daily. It stopped me in my tracks and again reminded me of what I am doing daily here at home. Educating our children at home is more than reading and math, science and history. Although all of that is important and is getting done, developing their character, sibling relationships, and leading them to Jesus Christ is the most important reason. It brings me back to Deut 6 that speaks about diligently teaching about God to our children when we rise, walk along the way etc. I have a unique opportunity to do that everyday. I resist it some days and think that maybe school would be better and then God somehow draws me back to my children gently and speaks through someone or a verse. That happened tonight and I am so thankful for our pastors and elders at Grace. They love us, pray for us and lead us. We are greatly blessed.
The next pic is another of our trip to Ottawa
Go to Dunc's blog for details, I can't do it justice. He does!! www.isaiah432.wordpress.com I also have a link on the side bar.
 

We stood in front of the parliament buildings in awe of the majestic beauty of our great country. We were both quite moved and shaken by the war plane museum trip just before that (yes even Sara walked with us and was a trooper) I look at this picture and am so thankful for our family. God has given us such a unique bunch!! They all need love, hugs, laughter and road trips!!!! We love taking trips, yes tiring, but I just love exploring life with the kids. Adventure has to go hand in hand with me and therefore it goes with the kids. They are already asking about our next one. We look at one another and say when we recover and catch up on sleep!!

I now go to sleep with the words I heard tonight, they are our most important people to evangelize, our children.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A new day, a short list!!

We began our fifth year of homeschooling this week and I have been wondering what word (s) to use to sum it up. Not an easy task because there are so many aspects that I just love and then there are the road blocks I have to learn to laugh at that are tricky! Here is my short list:

Crisp new books
Working pencils, markers, fresh pencil crayons
Readers yet to be read
A new routine in the same old way?!!
Recess, again but this time with a plan off length!!!! (not just summer recess all day long!)
An older toddler, now a preschooler (although I have to say I will miss the days of play dough and the simplicity of cut, colour and paste!) I love her enthusiasm for school and how much she loves to work so hard in her adorable books
A more confident young man entering grade six
A more diligent worker in grade four
A more decidedly focused very hard worker in grade two
A preschooler full of zeal
New snack ideas
Quick lunches
coffee made by the boys for me (well they are almost into routine for it, they know what to do!!)
New coffee mug bought by me for me as my back to school teacher gift! I know sounds funny, but it made everyone laugh today and that has been one of my prayers lately - to laugh more and keep smiling.
A new school room - what a blessed gift. The kids are pumped and so am I. We started moving in tonight and I already sorted two boxes!!!
A husband that works so hard and loves us so much!
Starting the day with God's word in our journals and the routine of character building that seems to be flowing well
A sweet second born that surprised us all by making our beds and making the rooms look amazing! He organized stuffed animals in a way I never would have - adorable

okay that is a good start! I did this to count my blessings because there are moments when I just can't.

Thank you Lord for what you are doing in our home.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pondering Knight

He is my pondering knight
He searches the waters
He seeks divine grace
Finding answers only Christ can give
This journey is his
To explore and conquer
He is never alone
My pondering knight

My son, I love you