Book Worm

Our little Tessa loves books! (understatement)

Tessa: "Mom - you read me a book?"

Me: "Sure! I would love to read you a book. (emphasis on a)"

Tessa: "OK. Me will pick out 5 books."

If I am not available she has many other options.

There seems to always be a willing soul to read her a book (or 5).

When she captures Hudson for a read, he will read to her a story about a little girl that does not put her shoes in her locker and can never find them. (sounds very familiar)

Tessa NEVER knows where her shoes are!! (understatement)

She has missed out on errand opportunities b/c they were nowhere to be found.

Very sad times for her.  :-(

It blesses this mama's heart when I hear siblings teaching/training their siblings with a loving heart.

However, in this particular reading session, I think Tessa missed the teaching - - 

way too tired!

Wordless Wednesday - I promise!

Where's the Loyalty?

Remember this cute little guy?
Pokey the Porcupine

I haven't posted about him lately b/c he has gone back to the "wild side" of life (literally).

Caleb was outside doing chores with Pokey. He had turned his back for no more than 5 minutes and Pokey was gone. No where to be found.

Caleb told me about Pokey's departure when he came in.

I felt sad for him.

Caleb said, "Heh, that's ok. He wasn't very loyal anyway."

Loyal? A porcupine from the wild? Not loyal?

Ha!!

I Took A Walk Today

It wasn't a far walk.

BUT it was a difficult walk.
The final destination would be a mixture of emotions.
Emotions I was not sure I could handle - again.
Bitter-sweet.

It was uphill. A steep hill.

There were rocks. Lots of them.
I wanted it to be flat and clear of rocks.
Just like life - I like it to be easy with no complications.
Trial-free.

As I climbed, my thoughts were flooded with pain and heartache.
I hated what happened 2 years ago today - a complication.
Two years ago, today, I had given birth to our still-born son.
I was empty and experiencing unimaginable pain.
Sweetly-broken.

And then a peace and stillness came over me.
I was reminded of how the Lord carried me.
The Lord completely filled my empty and broken places.
He was (and still is) my comfort.
Perfect-Healer

I made it to the top. (the view from his grave)

It was still. The heavens shedding tears with a drizzle of rain.

It was a beautiful place.
I did not cry but I hurt and longed for my son, Jeremiah.

I love that his little body is buried on hill that we see daily.
I love that my Lord was/is committed to me - through it all.
I love Jeremiah!
I love my God!
I love - because He loved first.


Whether it's from miscarriage, a baby born with complications or a born still little one, we all share deep loss.
 Pain. Heartache. Hurt.
I pray the Lord fills your empty and broken places as He has done and is daily working in mine. He is the perfect Healer for our hearts.


What a glorious day it will be when we see Jeremiah again!

We love you always and forever, sweet baby boy. Thanks for being God's messenger to me of His unfailing presence. He had (and still has) big plans for you.

"a time to be born...a time to heal...a time to build...a time to mourn...a time to mend...a time to love..."
Ecclesiastes 3:2-4,7

Global Warming?

I Don't Think So!

These REALLY were taken earlier this morning...

Need I say more?

I will say though, "My tootsies are still waiting for the day to wear the flips!"

p.s. don't worry, it all should be melted by noon. :-)

It's a Hard Life...

Someone's gotta live it...

AND Toby seems to be willing to sacrifice.

It's Wednesday...

Hang in there!

(and this post was ALMOST wordless - does that count?)

Three Kids...

Which 3?

Cowgirl Up!

Yipee Ki Yi Yo!

Abbi, Dani and I rode for about 3 hours on the rail trail.

It was a beautiful day on our beautiful horses with my beautiful cowgirls.

Dani and Risky

Abbi and Tally

Dani and Risky -  Me and Ranger

It was an enjoyable afternoon...

in our cowboy boots!

Lo-Li-Pop... Lo-Li-Pop

OK - so we LOVE puzzles around here.

While most of you have been enjoying your warm spring sunny days we have been getting rain, mostly snow, cooler weather, snow, mud and snow. Did I mention snow?

Anyway, I got off track there for a minute.

Well, with the cooler weather, we have been keeping ourselves inside and we love doing puzzles together when the weather outside is not so good. Like snow!

We found this cute little puzzle at Wal-Mart. So fun and so cute!

One late evening (we should have been in bed) the older girls and I were working on it. We started talking about all of the yummy candy in the puzzle. Maggie asked me what I would want the most. I didn't have a short answer for her. Long story short - I would pick the lollipop b/c I have never had one before. I have no idea what they taste like - other than lots and lots of sugar.

So, I would pick a lollipop.  Final Answer!

Hilarious what happened next...

Tessa stole this from Wal-Mart.

No! Not really.

That night (at 11:45pm) Hudson came back from helping Brian with an activity at camp with the campers. One of the prizes awarded was this lollipop. The winner of this tasty huge lollipop did not want it and gave it to Hudson. (oh gee thanks -just what he needs... SUGAR!)

When the girls and I saw it - our eyes got huge and we laughed.

Finally, a lollipop for me to taste.

The only problem - I didn't get a taste.

The children had divided it up (the next day) and it was gone by the time I even knew it was open.

argh!

I guess I will go back to the puzzle...

Our Door Of Love

We are having so much fun...

reading your Christmas letters and praying for you!

We love receiving letters/pics from our family and friends during Christmas. I always open them, read the letter and take a peek at the pic. Then I tuck everything back into the envelope and put it in our Christmas letter basket. 

There they accumulate. 

There they wait. 

Then when the holidays are over and we are back into our daily routine, we pick an envelope each morning before our "special time" (aka devotions). We read the letter and pass around the picture. Then I tell the children how we know that person/family (if they don't know) and fun things/memories of them. 

Then the fun part...

We all pray for that family!

After the family is prayed for the picture gets hung up on our schoolroom door.

We are reminded of you daily!

We love you.

(if you don't see your pic - we are not through the basket of letters yet...still more to come!)

A BIG Distraction and LOTS of Contractions!

 Lady (our cat) f.i.n.a.l.l.y. had her kittens!

Every day for the past 2 weeks we have been saying, "Oh, she will have them Today!"

And then another day goes by with no babies.

Yesterday was the day and we were able to watch a couple of them being born. It was quite exciting.

Oh my! - biology class for 5 and 7 year olds right in the barn.  :-)

Seven babies in total

(Free kittens!)

The girls thought you might want to see the proud father:

Toby

She was laboring and he was doing a puzzle - of puppies nonetheless.

A Common View

If you go to the barn, watch where you are going!

Baby goats will be at your feet and begging for attention.

This is a frequent view while at the barn.

(notice my footwear - sadly I am wearing warm insulated boots. NOT flips! (yet))

The baby goats love Tessa.

And she LOVES them!

Lots of kisses on her hands

and her face!

Lots of playing and lots of giggles.

Oh the joys of living on the farm!