Blessings...

A box-full of treasures arrived on the Plains today from the illustrious "Grandma of the South." <giggle>

To compliment our study of the Middle Ages, we've got coloring books, paper dolls, sticker scenes, fashion plates, and even a cut-and-assemble full color model of a medieval castle!!  I cannot explain how excited we are to get started... especially me as instructions called for an X-ACTO knife, which I did not possess (how that is humanly possible at my age, I'm not sure) so NEW TOOLS had to be bought! :):):) Woot Woot!!

 

And to top it all off, these great "old-timey" books (okay, one is from the '50's - I'm sure there are those of you who will take offense...please don't!!) but the youngest looked at me and said, "They did stuff like this way back then!?"  Couldn't help but smile...

Anyway, it looks like we have hours of fun ahead exploring simple but "cool" experiments like snuffing candles with soap bubbles (using a soap concoction we make ourselves!) playing with static electricity and mothballs and corks, defying gravity with marbles and coins, and so much more!  There's even a section explaining magic.  (The oldest just about squealed with delight!!) 

The "Hobby Fun Book" is filled with fun with pets, plants, water, air, paper (including making "log" cabins with rolled up paper, cardboard doll-houses, covered wagons, tee-pees - oh my!) painting, modeling, chemistry and electricity!

Bravo to these great editors for re-introducing the classics for our homeschool adventures!

Mom got all of these and more from Dover Publishing - we're so excited about their website and products that we're bragging about them...just because!  Can't say enough about the products they supply...

....aand - we can't thank our southern Grandma enough for sending them!

**Yes, Mom...I promise to take pictures every step of the way! :) **

Weight Loss

This has been a big week for me...I've lost a ton of weight!!

No...my clothes aren't fitting any differently and I'm not counting calories anymore.  But I feel so much lighter and freer all the same.

I've wrestled for several years now with a calling, a voice in my heart and my soul that was asking me to change...to be more...to go places and do things I hadn't been able to do because of my own insecurity and fears, to trust and to believe without overthinking...to let go...

...and I hadn't been able to do it.  Most of the time I argued with that voice and I pushed it away.  Other times I re-read the invitation and pondered it a bit...of course, doing what I do best, reading and researching; trying to validate and explain and find a way to make my mind accept.

I was unsuccessful for years.

I was afraid others that I loved dearly would judge me.

I was convinced that I could never live up to the expectations placed on me.

I was terrified of giving up my control...

and I felt heavy.   I felt tired. 

Until...finally...I gave in.  I gave up.  And I lost.

And in doing so, I've finally been able to receive and accept the most amazing gift I have ever gotten...or ever will again...for all of eternity...salvation.

With His unending help, I've shed the weight of the fear I had of my own brokenness.  I have lost the desire to control the things I have no power over.  I am free of the temptation to explain away my faith for fear, or for discomfort...

AND I WANT TO SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD!!!  :)  (Joy is good like that, isn't it?!)

...am I suddenly perfect?  Far from it!! Will I never be afraid, or doubtful, or angry again??  In all honesty, I know that's not true now more than ever.

But I am truly ready to say that...

I believe the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is my Savior and I am ready to LIVE like I MEAN it!

"For I am not ashamed of the good news about Christ.  It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes." Romans 1:16 (NLT)

I believe.

And I feel as light as air because of it... 

Onward and Forward!!

Monday's Mantra...

"Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God."
-Hebrews 6:7

We're seeking all of God's blessings this year in our new garden...

...the kind of blessings that you can only find on your knees, digging in the dirt!

( Annnd...Just a few minutes after these pictures were taken, we got over an inch of rain!! Amen! )

Solitude...of sorts...

I couldn't wait to get outside with my camera today.  After literally watching the weather change...the cold air got my creative juices flowin'!

I tried my best to remain engaged throughout homeschool lessons, but truth be told, I found myself with my nose squished against the fogging glass more than once...

As soon as the last question was answered, I threw on a coat, grabbed my camera and ran.  A few moments of solitude...alone time with the not-so-silent wind through the tall grass...

...I admit it.  I ran for the hills without looking back and as I celebrated my momentary freedom...

...I heard footsteps.  Two sets of footsteps.

I turned around to find two bundled little faces with big grins.

"Where are ya goin', Mom?"

<sigh>

So...completely unable to waste those grins, I grabbed each kiddo by the arm, whistled for Chloe and off we went.

The trip was a complete success!  I got to reconnect with nature, feel the chill in the air that I've been anticipating for months, and even got to wipe my runny nose on my sleeve a couple of times...but in the end...

it was the company that made it.

Wishing you all the warm and fuzzy feelings I've had so many times today! :)

More great pics to follow!!
Onward and Forward!!

Change

Something about cool weather...Autumn...makes me giddy.  Perhaps it's the suggestion of cozy quilts accompanied by my favorite tea and a good book, or even just a day snuggled in a soft sweater.  Let's just say, it's MY kinda weather! :)

And with that sentiment, I couldn't wait to change the header on my blog.

Until I looked at it again.

That comfy quilt border and the picture of my favorite swing, where many of my inspirations pour into my head as my hair sweeps the ground - toes skyward.

Well, I could part with the picture, mainly because I can still see the swing from where I now sit.  But, the quilt had to stay for one more season.  I'm actually contemplating a project and making that quilt material-ize. <wink, wink>  Maybe then I can part with this aging blog set-up! :)

Until then....from our little family to yours...

"May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!" 
(-an old Irish Blessing)

Onward and Forward

Monday's Mantra...a Day Late

Snow Day

Our little farm found itself covered in a thin blanket of white this morning...

...a quiet respite as my camera shutter clicked and captured. 

Winter at last.

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

Matthew 11:29-30

I love this song.  I blast it as loudly as my ears can handle on days I feel hopeless, lost...weighed down, impatient...or just plain tired.

It reminds me that, though waiting patiently for His answers sometimes feels like it TAKES FOREVER (and those words show how very impatient I tend to be!)...He always beckons to us to let Him give us relief while we wait. :)


Enjoy!
Onward and Forward...

Lesson Learned

Compassion.  How do you teach it?  My parents ensured, somehow, that I was steeped in it to the point that I cry at commercials if they're too "mushy."  I can't pass by an animal that appears lost, and I surely cannot stand to see anyone else cry. 

But I have always worried about how I could teach it to my own children...you know, the lesson BEYOND words.

God gave me an opportunity this weekend that still makes me smile...

We attended a swim party for one of my Little Hummingbird's schoolmates - silly sounding in an Oklahoma December but thank the Lord for the Salvation Army pool and its indoor steam spa...er...I mean...pool.

About half way into the party I noticed a girl who had been trying to communicate an insecurity to her mother about sliding into the pool only to be told to "quit being a baby and just do it."  I winced, but minded my own business.

A few minutes later, the girl emerged from the pool without sliding down that scary slide...so nervous she was chewing on her thumbnail and approached her mother again...again the mother berated her and when the girl turned to leave, the mom grabbed the little girl's arm and let her have another couple lines of venom...to which the girl shrieked and jumped in the pool...

Oh...what words to say!?  I know we all "have our days", but the times I remember so well are the ones that ended with some wise woman who approached me with gentle words of wisdom in some public place...some as simple as "It's hard to remember to cherish our children when they act that way, isn't it...?"  Gentle rebuke.  Sweet wisdom. 

Where were the words?...

And then I looked into the pool.  My Little Hummingbird, who was in between me and the little girl sobbing in the water, looked at me with a questioning frown...I could tell instantly what she was looking for - and my heart lept. 

I smiled, and nodded.  My Little Hummingbird slowly waded toward to girl and as she was about to put her hand on that shaking shoulder...she turned to look at me again - as if to ask, "like this?" 

And I smiled, and nodded again. 

My Little Hummingbird's hand lowered slowly and as soon as it touched, the girl turned and embraced my daughter, who stroked her hair and said words I couldn't hear.  And that little girl smiled through her hurt.

And I cried, out loud, in front of complete strangers when my Little Hummingbird turned to face me and gave me a "thumbs up" sign and grin.

Lesson learned...<sigh>...for both of us.

Onward and Forward!

My Favorite Things

I now have proof that this one-time city girl does, indeed, have a bit of "old-timey" in her.  Last week, I bartered (yes- BARTERED!!) with my favorite folk artist; she got some much wanted wood for those chilly nights we've been having.  In return, I got these...

...my own custom-made owl mugs to go with my new favorite tea!! I LOVE BARTERING!!  : }  And to show one of the many reasons why she's my favorite folk artist...tah-dah!!:



Not only is she talented...but she's witty too, making up her own verses for the backs!  I think she gave me a pair with the idea being that I have one to use and one to share...but...ha ha ha....that's just silly!  I'm thinking one for Monday, the other for Tuesday...I'll wash the other and use it on Wednesday, and then...

: } Nahh...just kidding!...sorta...

Onward and Forward!