The Hibbard Five

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-06-17T11:20:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, June 17, 2013

In the great outdoors...clouds that will hopefully produce a nice, long, steady rain this afternoon. Tree branches sagging under the weight of ripening peaches. We’ve picked five so far. Bugs had gotten into a couple of them, but the good ones were really, really good!

Within our four walls...kids playing happily, taking a day to just rest.

A heart of thanksgiving...for friends. Some are safe places for deep needs and prayer requests. Some love on our children like extra aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Some fill our need to enjoy the company of others. Most of them cover more than just one of those areas!

A heart of prayer...for rain.

Random observations...there is a fly buzzing around me. It has been bugging me all morning, buzzing in my hair and face like crazy! But can I kill it? No, of course not! But, the zapper is in my lap. It’s just a matter of time…

My silly children...are words really necessary?

Well, I suppose maybe they’re necessary for those who do not understand all of the components here. The Lego girl is “Olivia” from the Lego Friends sets. On the right is a Dalek, a “bad guy” alien from the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who (have I mentioned we’re a geeky family?). And now we know what the Doctor and his companions have always been lacking when facing the Daleks – light sabers.

Thoughts from the kitchen...it’s hot. I don’t like to even think about the kitchen when it’s hot. Although we did find a frozen yogurt recipe and have started experimenting with turning our homemade yogurt into homemade frozen yogurt. I can handle that kind of activity in the kitchen when it’s hot!

The first experiment was too vanilla-y, I think, but it’s still good. Especially with the praline almonds and caramel I added in! Obviously, we’re not trying to make healthier ice cream or anything!

On my bookshelf...should be finishing up Finding God in the Hobbit this week and starting What I Learned in Narnia soon. I have an apologetics book entitled Defending the Faith due in a few weeks, so I’ll probably start on that this week. It’s specifically geared toward apologetics in women’s ministry, so I’m excited to read it. And I still really want to squeeze in some fiction…

Projects...I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to tackle this week. But, I’m determined to do at least one project each week that is not related to school, reviews, or editing. I’m determined, I tell ya!

Sounds of the moment...that stinkin’ fly, music from the next room that I actually meant to turn off while I was in there, and the kids playing in the back. Legos, I’m sure. Does a better toy exist? I have my doubts!

Last week we learned...that Angie can sew meticulously straight seams! She had such a wonderful time at sewing camp.

A favorite thing from last week...introducing the kids to Star Trek via “Trouble with Tribbles.” Fun stuff.

The planner...low-key today, at-home schedule all week, preparing the girls for next week’s camp adventure (am I really sending my girls off to camp?).

Because visuals are fun...he loves his sissy. He shows it by dog-piling on her at every opportunity. And, do you notice her hand on his head? She loves to spike his hair. Sillies.

P.S. Ding! Dong! The fly is dead!

Yogurt

2013-06-14T09:30:00.001-05:00

Well, a lovely dose of food poisoning changed the course of my week, so I didn’t get as much posted as planned. I’m now trying to play catch-up on everything I missed while out of commission!

We used this recipe (click the picture for the link & recipe):

The blog author says to use whole milk. Well, we didn’t. In fact, Doug mixed up a gallon of powdered skim milk (because that’s what we had on hand that day). It worked just fine! True, it’s not the rich yogurt whole milk would have made, but it’s still quite creamy. And it kept us from having to buy an extra gallon of milk on shopping day that we then would have had to find a place for in the fridge. It’s hard enough to find a place for all of the little half-pint jars! (This is only a few of them – the baking sheet was full!)

Definitely very easy and much cheaper than a tub of yogurt, even if we had bought a gallon of whole milk! The kids didn’t like the unsweetened, plain yogurt on its own, but they have enjoyed it in their smoothies. And, now that we know what we’re doing, it will be very easy to make some fruit yogurt next time around. Yay for another easy, money-saving recipe!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-06-10T13:25:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, June 10, 2013

In the great outdoors...summer is finally settling in. I love that it waited so long – a “real” spring was nice. Oh, and the peaches are ripening beautifully! This is the same peach I posted a picture of last week. It’s not the best picture, but can you see how the color has changed in just a week?

Within our four walls...everyone busy with projects. Livie’s finishing up school work and Angie & Steven are assembling a wooden model airplane.

A heart of thanksgiving...for a good start to our week.

A heart of prayer...for a godly man who has had a very powerful impact on our community. His wife was killed in a car accident on Saturday.

Random observations...My baby boy has changed and grown so much! The child who once would not even look at people outside our immediate family (including grandparents!), much less talk to them, now races to be with other people. Nearly every week he asks to sit with someone else at church. Never other children – always some adult. Some days he really surprises me with the people he chooses. I always tell him that he has to go ask permission from the person he wants to sit with. He leaves his bag in “our” pew, goes to ask permission, and then comes back to get his bag.

Last night at church, we were doing a VBS recap for the evening service for the sake of those who were not able to be involved in VBS. The children made crafts that are being sent to other children, and they were asked to take their crafts to adults in the church and ask them to pray with them for the children who would be receiving each item. Steven didn’t wait to be assigned an adult. He ran straight to a man he frequently sits with, someone he admires and loves very much. I could just barely hear their voices (not what they were saying) as they prayed and talked together for those few minutes. It was so precious to me!

Adults frequently don’t realize how much children want to interact with them! Our churches offer fantastic opportunities for generations to merge and mentoring to occur. I’m so thankful for a church full of adults who are willing to love on my children and stand as examples of godliness to them! What a precious gift!

My silly children...(this seems like such an abrupt shift from the previous comment, but this is how our life goes…one extreme to the other in a matter of moments!)…It seems that my precious children never cease to come up with hilarious comments or conversations. I’ve taken to writing them down as they happen so I can share them. I’m not going to share one today, but there will be a post later this week!

Thoughts from the kitchen...we tried something new and it worked! Homemade yogurt – crockpot style! I’ll post more later this week.

On my bookshelf...a self-pub YA fiction duo. The girls loved it. I’m not exceedingly motivated.

Projects...I’ve actually gotten several mending items taken care of. I still need to finish Steven’s second pair of pj shorts. I made a mistake on them yesterday and I’ll have to go back and correct that.

I also need to tackle a major picture project. I haven’t sorted pictures in sooooooo long! That desperately needs to be done!

Sounds of the moment...kids playing. A/C running.

A favorite thing from last week...a relaxed Saturday afternoon after a very busy week.

The planner...not much. Angela has sewing camp this week, so we didn’t plan anything else.

Because visuals are fun...Smokey says, “Yes, you WERE done with that math!”

Conversations

2013-06-06T14:49:00.001-05:00

Me to Olivia: Have a milk carton. (Handing her an empty milk jug that needed to be thrown away.)

Olivia (dryly): Thanks. Just what I always wanted.

Angela (without a moment’s hesitation): I will name it George and train it to do all of my math.

Olivia (a few minutes later): Maybe I should build a robot to do all of my math for me.

Me: If you build a working robot, I’ll never make you do math again.

Olivia: It takes math to build a robot, doesn’t it?

Steven (a little while later): Maybe you should build a robot to do your language arts.

Olivia: It still takes math to build it. Besides, I like language arts.

Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on our wall for just one day? It wouldn’t be boring. I promise!

“I just love my daddy!”

2013-06-04T11:47:00.001-05:00

Want to guess what prompted that statement from Olivia? Especially only a day after she was in big trouble with her daddy (and mommy, too, for that matter)!

Well, I was working on a review while Olivia finished up her chores. Then, we were planning on playing a little Nerts for our date time. She walked in to the library and said, “Mommy, someone booby-trapped my door!”

Of course, I’d been given advanced warning, but I played along, laughing all the while.

She had been suspicious when her door was closed. She never leaves her door closed when she’s not in her room. It only closes when the windows are open and a gust of wind slams it shut. Her windows were not open (although they should be! Yes, on June 3 we have doors and windows wide open and it feels GREAT! We can’t get over it! And we love it! Okay – side note ended.). So, naturally, her suspicions were aroused.

Olivia opened her door slowly to see a string right at eye-level. That’s when she came to report to me. Naturally, everyone gathered around, and she then opened the door.

A somewhat loud POP made the kids jump just a bit. Doug had attached a string to a popper and arranged it so that it would pop when she opened door!

And that little practical joke is what made my pre-teen daughter laugh and say, “I just love my daddy!”

That makes me smile!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-06-03T11:47:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, June 3, 2013

In the great outdoors...pure country beauty. The fields are turning either green with corn and rice plants, a luscious brown as the ground is tilled for soybean planting, or golden with ripe wheat, almost ready for harvest. Oh, what a breathtakingly beautiful sight those golden wheat fields are!

Today the sun is shining, but the temperatures are absolutely wonderful. It was a perfect 60° this morning with a breeze from the north when Doug and I went out to walk. Last night, the weather was perfect for our first night of VBS! Comfortable weather the first week of June? Yes, I think I will, thank you! I’m loving spring and early summer this year!

Within our four walls...somewhere…there is a fourth grade Horizons math teacher’s book. In all honesty, I almost never use it for teaching. The student book is so well laid out (and Angela is so sharp in math) that we rarely need the teaching plan. But, it does include information about which worksheets go with what lessons. Oh, and it has this little bitty section called the ANSWER KEY!!!!! Yeah. That little, phenomenally helpful section that keeps me from having to work through every math lesson myself. I did that last week, after getting behind on grading once again. I had to work through seven or eight lessons. Ick. Then I put it off again over this past week because I was sure I’d run across the teacher’s guide. Nope. Still missing. Sigh.

Maybe if I were to catch up on housework, it would show up. Yeah, that’s really an inspiration to fold laundry.

In happier “around the house” news, the windows are open! Doug picked up a new tension rod for the hanging screen, but I didn’t expect to be able to use it this spring since the temps were starting to climb. It’s hanging today, though! It feels wonderful!

A heart of thanksgiving...for the incredible weather, for a smooth first night of VBS, and for a new week.

A heart of prayer...for new relationships. I have recently been able to attach a name to a “future spouse” prayer I’ve been praying for a friend. Can I tell you how exciting that is?!?! Now I get to pray by name! Someday, that will happen with my children as well. I don’t want to rush that day, but it makes it even more exciting for pray for those two young men and that young woman. God knows their names, and one day He’s going to reveal them. (I wouldn’t be at all upset if at least one of them bears the Choate name!)

Random observations...

My silly children...are rather calm this morning. I think Steven is outside enjoying the beautiful morning. I’m not sure what the girls are up to.

Thoughts from the kitchen...there’s a menu plan posted on the fridge. I have no idea what’s on it for today. Hopefully nothing that requires extensive preparation! I suppose I need to preview it to see what I need to take care of to keep up with it this week.

On my bookshelf...about the same stuff as last week. I’m a bit behind on “school” reading with the kids. Still hoping to squeeze a good novel in this summer!

Projects...mostly mending is on the sewing list this week. Christmas ideas are rummaging through my mind, and I think I might actually manage to get a head start on them this year. Several of them are things I can do while watching Doctor Who or Iron Chef reruns now and then. I like projects like that. I can relax with the family, do something I really like to do, and delight in a sense of accomplishment.

Sounds of the moment...birds tweeting outside. They’re loving this weather, too!

Last week we learned...how interesting it can be to drive from here to my parents’ house and back again when there has been and continues to be much rain.

A favorite thing from last week...(or yesterday)…Steven made his public profession of faith and will be baptized later this month! We’ve seen evidence of salvation in his life for months, but he hasn’t quite made the connection to share it with the church and seek baptism. Until now. What a joy it is to know that the hearts of all three of my children belong to Jesus!

The planner...VBS through Wednesday, Bernina Club on Thursday, and hopefully a trip or two to the pool this week. June is a full, full month, but we’re excited about all that’s going on!

Because visuals are fun...peaches!! Oh how I love the process of watching these young trees grow and begin to bear fruit. I look forward to the day when the harvest is plentiful for sharing!

Celebrating Olivia

2013-05-30T12:33:00.001-05:00

It’s taken me a few days to gather and sort through the pictures of a celebration that spanned three days, but here they are!

Each child gets to choose the menu plan for a breakfast, lunch, and supper when their birthday rolls around. Schedules rarely seem to allow all three meals to fall on one day, however, and Olivia’s fell on three separate days!

We started on Saturday evening. For her “dinner” meal, she requested steak, homemade cheese fries, and corn on the cob. Chef Daddy did quite the excellent job on all of it!

After she went to bed, I started working on her cake. Yeah. That was not fun. I should have just gone with the normal idea of using icing, but I thought fondant would make her requested TARDIS cake look so awesome! In my head, I could make it look like this:

It didn’t. I was so discouraged by the end of the night that I completely forgot to take pictures of it. But, as always, my sweet baby girl was happy with whatever I made for her!

We got home from church Sunday morning and had her requested light lunch – peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with multi-grain chips! Surprise, surprise! Then we enjoyed cake.

Well, we enjoyed cake after she finally got the candles blown out!

Yes, we did stick her with the trick candles. It was so much fun! But, if you notice, at the very end of the video she had a slightly puzzled look on her face after she pulled out the first candle. She LOVES to lick icing off the candles, and there was none because of the fondant!! Ooops! We all got a big laugh out of it before running her candle through some icing used internally as “glue.”

After cake, she opened presents.

Angie made her a birthday crown!

Jack, meanwhile, apparently was threatened with death by tissue paper!

Sunday afternoon/evening we joined a big group from church at the Stones’ house for a fish dinner. The kids got to enjoy their first swim of the season while the grown-ups visited. But, the chill in the air, thanks to an approaching thunderstorm, had most of them running for their towels before too long.

Poor little Steven was blue-lipped!

Only Angela and Jada Hillman didn’t freeze to death. Such biscuits!

In pure Olivia style, her greatest fun had nothing to do with the pool! Nope, her real fun was helping Gary bread the fish and get it ready for the fryer! Olivia got it of the bowl and wiped off the excess water, and then she and Jada worked together to get the breading on it. It was yummy fish!

Finally came breakfast Monday morning: chocolate chip pancakes, sausage, hash browns, and eggs. It’s probably a good thing her chosen meals were stretched out over three days – we did get fruits and veggies in between them!

And that is the summary of our celebration of Olivia’s twelfth birthday. She says it was a good one!

Have I mentioned that…

2013-05-28T15:31:00.001-05:00

…the van runs so wonderfully now?

Yes, it’s still old and it still has a limited life span. But, when we had to have it towed to the mechanic, we were really afraid it had breathed its last – or that we would have to put much more into repairing it that it is worth. In all honesty, a thirteen-year-old van with 217,000 miles on it isn’t worth much except to the family that can still drive it!

Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I’d love a newer car. But, we have had no car payment for a while now. That’s really, really nice!

And I didn’t want that to change.

Amazingly, it was just the fuel pump. Yay!

Meanwhile, God provided so beautifully! I know He always does provide, but it doesn’t make it any less special each time we see it. He provided for not only the fuel pump and labor but also the other things we really needed to take care of on the van as well as the tires for the car.

Here’s the most awesome thing. Last week showed that we’re growing in our ability to trust and not stress. God has always provided, but we still tend to worry. Last week, though, the prayers of faithful prayer warriors all around us sent a peace crashing down over us that allowed us to rest and trust. We wondered. And yes, our muscles were a bit tense from the stress of Monday’s events and waiting for the verdict on the van. But we didn’t worry. It feels so much better to rejoice over His provision when we have chosen not to worry! So much better.

We still have a long way to go, but we’re getting better. I like growing, even when it takes some time stranded on the side of the road to make it happen.

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-05-27T21:21:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, May 27, 2013

In the great outdoors...it’s dark. I’m writing this much later than usual. We were hoping to see the planets (Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter close together) tonight, but there was just enough cloud cover on the horizon to keep us from seeing them. Still, I can’t get over just how much we can typically see in the night sky without the interference of city lights. It’s breathtaking even when it isn’t something “special.”

Within our four walls...quiet. The kids are in bed.

A heart of thanksgiving...it can never be said enough – I am thankful for the sacrifice of those who have given their lives defending our nation and our freedom. But, I also can’t help but remember those who died that I might hold an English translation of the Bible in my hands and read it freely.

A heart of prayer...for wisdom and mental clarity as we dive into the full summer ahead of us.

Random observations...I hate fondant. I thought I’d try it for Olivia’s birthday cake. Of course, I’ve never actually worked with fondant before, so I don’t even know if my homemade stuff was the right texture! The humidity might have make it too wet, I don’t know. All I know is that it was a mess. At least it tasted all right, and Olivia was happy with her cake! That’s all that matters!

Now, part of me wants to never touch fondant again, but the other part of me wants to conquer it. I wonder which part will win out…

My silly children...were just goofy today. Downright goofy. Their mother wasn’t a part of that at all, though. Nope. Not one bit. Nor was their father. Okay, so maybe he was a little bit, but not me.

Thoughts from the kitchen...we have a menu plan!! In fact, it’s enough of a menu plan to last us almost a month! Ah…how good that feels. It still needs to be organized, taken from a list of recipes to an organized day-by-day plan, but that’s the easy part.

On my bookshelf...finishing Gospel Centered Woman this week (unless it takes a wacky turn, I highly recommend it!). Working through our summer readers: Finding God in the Hobbit with the girls and a biography of CS Lewis with Steven. We’ll also be starting The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe this week as a family read-aloud. It’s time for Steven to be officially introduced to Narnia!

Projects...Well, I got Olivia’s nightgown done with a couple of days to spare, and I got the sock doll from Steven done at the last minute. I just realized I haven’t heard her name yet. Anyway, here they are.

The gown is so long and full that Olivia will never outgrow it. She’ll either wear it out or decide she doesn’t want it anymore. She can also keep it out in the winter by simply putting a long-sleeve pj top underneath it. I think this just might be the ultimate gown pattern! Angela has already clearly indicated she loves it and wants one too (no surprise there!). I might even have to try one out myself!

Meanwhile, I told Steven I’d get his pj shorts done this week, so I guess that’s the next project! To bad I can’t find a pattern he won’t outgrow!

Sounds of the moment...music playing. Keyboards tapping.

A favorite thing from last week...I got to try out some more sewing machine accessories that have been just sitting there waiting for me for months. My double needle and gathering foot were wonderful for making Olivia’s gown!

The planner...well, the Gleaner’s lunch was cancelled last week due to weather, which was fine by me since I had a sick little boy and wouldn’t have been able to go anyway. It’s been rescheduled for tomorrow, though. Looking forward to it! Praying a couple of our sick ladies will be healthy by tomorrow.

The rest of the week will be light school, editing, trips to the pool, and then a quick trip to Judsonia. Mom’s planning a mansaf, which is nice since several friends have been posting on Facebook about the Jordanian meals they’ve been enjoying lately. Dare I hope for leftovers? My sister Alli will be there, and we even get to love on my nieces (oh, and their parents too – love ya, Ben & Ashley, even though you do play second fiddle now!). I can only imagine how much little Nora has changed since we last got to see her!

Because visuals are fun...I love how they love each other!

Happy Birthday, Olivia!

2013-05-26T14:53:00.001-05:00

Twelve years. We always heard it would fly by, but even with the warning it still catches me off guard more often than not.

I have watched as the daughters of friends and church members have suddenly progressed from little girls to young ladies. It happens overnight and is rather startling.

I thought that I’d be somewhat prepared when our turn came, having seen it happen to those other girls. But I wasn’t. It’s just different when it’s your own daughter. I’m sure I’ll be shocked all over again when it’s Angela’s turn.

It hardly takes a second glance to see that Olivia’s looks have matured over the past year. But, I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve heard comments about how she has grown and changed.

Her personality remains the same – vibrant, rambunctious at times, silly, imaginative, and sometimes caught up in her own little world.

But, she is also interested in more grown-up things. She thinks differently and speaks differently. Although there are times we want to knock some sense into her head, she is showing signs of increased responsibility.

She’s not one of these kids who has found her niche early in life. She enjoys so many things: sewing, drawing, singing, building, and taking apart. She wants to know how things work, and she loves to explore. But none of those things have reached out and grabbed her with a passion, except, of course, her continued love for Bunny and anything camouflage.

But, oh to have her imagination! Oh my! Whole worlds are created in her mind, complete with strange creatures and adventures and even epic battles. I need to hand her a voice recorder and tell her to just talk her imaginative stories out (she does it frequently anyway!), and maybe one day we can get it all compiled and written down. I’d love to read her stories.

Twelve years ago we welcomed our firstborn into the world. She grabbed hold of my heart and has not let go. I have loved being her mommy. I see glimpses now of also being her friend, sharing not just mommy/daughter things but deeper things as well.

Happy birthday, sweet Olivia!

We love you!

Saturday Miscellany

2013-05-25T11:22:00.001-05:00

I have a bunch of random thoughts in my head, none of which really qualify for an individual blog post. So, here you go – a peek inside my crazed mind!

I jokingly told Olivia we didn’t have any birthday presents for her. She said she knew Angie had made her something, and she was pretty sure Steven and I had been working on a gift. How did she know? “Y’all were whispering about something and being very pronounish.” So there you have it! I might have a new favorite word now.
Speaking of Olivia…I think she enjoys her newfound ability to operate a riding lawn mower a little too much. The look of glee on her face is a little scary!!
Steven and Angie, on the other hand, are having a bit more difficulty with growing up right now. They hear a whole lot more, “You’re getting too big for that!” than they do, “You’re now big enough to ____________.” Growing up can be tough.
We have apples! We really didn’t expect to see any this year, but there are two on one tree and three on another! How exciting!
Meanwhile, our peaches are looking fantastic! My friend Julie had mentioned the idea of pruning the peaches so as to encourage the remaining fruit to grow bigger, so we did some research on that. Our trees are technically too young to actively prune fruit, so we left them all. But, the late frost and our many storms seem to have taken care of some of them for us. One tree has lost most of its peaches. We have five nice, big ones and a dozen or so little ones. The bigger tree, however, still has two and a half dozen big peaches and quite a few smaller ones, even after losing quite a few to the frost and storms! I can’t wait to bite into one of those juicy treats!
Angie was taking something out to the garage trash can yesterday morning and came back with the report that there was a baby possum in the can! Oh, was he ever mad! He was hissing and spitting like crazy. Doug dumped him out in the yard and tried to shoo him away, but apparently the dumping occurred too close to the house. The possum got right past Doug and headed straight back into the garage! We haven’t seen him again, so we don’t know if he’s still holed up and hiding in there or if he’s moved on. The garage trash can now has the lid firmly reaffixed.
I accomplished something amazing this week – I finished a birthday present with three days to spare!! (Steven’s gift to Livie will end up being last minute, though.) Here’s what I made – I think this is now my favorite summer nightgown pattern. So easy!
Mary Ann sent out a text on Thursday saying the pool water felt great! We couldn’t go that day, but we fully intended to swim before the weekend was out. Then Friday ended up with a high of 77! No problem, right? Just wait until Saturday’s mid-80’s. Ah, no. Today is once again only forecasted to reach the upper 70’s. Yes, the kids were disappointed, but at the same time none of us will ever dare complain about a late spring. We’ll have plenty of time for swimming weather!
Even so, summer is here. What is my proof? This:

A batch of cake mix – enough for three birthday cakes. For the past couple of years, this has marked the introduction to Hibbard family birthday season, aka summer. I’m excited this year because I’m trying out a different flour. The past cakes have been good but heavy, and they never have risen very well. This year we had some artisan flour on hand that we’ve been using for breads, so I gave it a try. The cake definitely rose well! It’s almost twice as high as previous cakes! I’m looking forward to doing a taste test. Hoping for a much fluffier, lighter cake.

Ah, my brain feels lighter already! There’s more floating around in there, but I won’t bug you with it. I’m instead off to write a review for my other blog, tackle my few remaining edits for this week, try my hand at making buttercream fondant, take birthday pictures, finish a sock doll dress, cut hair (Doug and Steven), wrap presents, and try to make a TARDIS cake. Fun day!

Texas Delights

2013-05-23T12:45:00.001-05:00

Before we left for Dallas last weekend, I wrote a post for my personal blog and scheduled it to post on Friday while we were gone. The scheduling was intentional. The post, The Secret of Friendship, contains my thoughts on how this crazy, long-distance yet very close bond between our family and the Choates works. And work it does! Oh how we love that precious family! We literally soak up their presence.

We planned to meet at a local amusement park near their home in Cedar Hill. Thanks to cell phones and travel updates, we managed to pull into the parking lot at the exact same time!

We started with some go-cart fun.

We ate a quick supper and then moved on to miniature golf. After a little instruction, we were ready to go. We divided up into four teams, per the direction of the children: a girls team, a guys team, and a mommies & Katherine team. Quite the fun division! The girls led the way through the course, and we discovered later that they enjoyed making up their own rules along the way!

The guys team went next, with mommies and Katherine bringing up the rear.

Ready to cool down a bit, we headed in for birthday cake. These two gorgeous ladies share a birthday, and it was such a delight to celebrate together a couple of weeks early!

Sarah made a mouthwateringly delicious chocolate chip cheesecake for the celebration, and Benjamin made sure all of the candles were lit!

We finished up the evening with some arcade games. When a tired but happy crew made it back to the “Choate Bed & Breakfast,” we were greeted by this…and yes, we feel it!

The next day we enjoyed the gorgeous trails owned by Wycliffe. I was too busy enjoying the sights to get many pictures – it was breathtaking! But, this was my favorite glimpse.

Our picnic spot on the trails was the spot where Aaron and Joanna knew God was calling them to serve with Wycliffe. It was special to share that spot with them.

Of course, this sight was pretty special, too.

Silliness is to be expected when the Hibbards and Choates get together, including a game of sardines. (Sarah was hiding while the rest of the kids were counting in the bathroom.)

Look who was tucked in the shower behind the big kids?

Goofiness at the supper table.

And a few “sword” fights.

Of course, pure cuteness cannot be helped, either!

They even enjoy their down time and bedtime together.

And yes, this silly group can go to sleep together, believe it or not!

We say that this trip was just for the pure fun of it, but the truth is that the Choates fill our tanks in so many ways. We are so blessed to have their friendship and are so thankful for those face-to-face opportunities we get!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-05-20T15:16:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, May 20, 2013

In the great outdoors...summer is here, at least if mosquitoes and humidity are any indication! Oh, and snakes. Two awaited us in the garage today, welcoming us home from our morning adventures (more to come on that in a minute).

Within our four walls...air conditioning.

A heart of thanksgiving...for so much!!!

- A great weekend visit with the Choates.

- The blessing of a loaned vehicle to make the trip (we didn’t realize how much of a blessing that was until today!).

- God’s nudges that led to a prayer warrior praying over our family while he worked this morning.

- More nudges that encouraged me to charge my phone earlier than I might have otherwise done so, leading to an almost fully charged phone when a charged phone was really needed.

- Physical protection for Doug when the van died on him on the road to a meeting in Little Rock this morning.

- Physical protection for the kids and me when the car tire separated but did not blow when we were on our way to pick Doug up.

- The provision of not one or two, but five church members in the right place at the right time to help all of us. We didn’t even need them all, but we realized after all was said and done that no matter what decisions we had made, someone was already in place to meet the needs we would have had.

- The provision of two new tires for the car to replace not only the one that separated but also the practically brand new spare in the trunk that something had apparently slashed, leaving us with no useful spare.

- The fact that the two snakes in the garage were not poisonous and were not in such a place that they bit any of us when we returned home and startled them.

- Peace through every step of the way this morning, including peace over all three kids. They weathered it all beautifully!

A heart of prayer...for wisdom as we wait to hear back from the mechanic about the van.

Random observations...I keep thinking of things that need to be added to the grand to-do list (my friend Julie calls it the Mother Load, and right now that’s about how mine looks!). One of the tasks is to create a good, workable summer schedule. In the meantime, may I please have a nap?

My silly children...were enjoying themselves while one of our rescuers put the tire back on the car this morning.

Thoughts from the kitchen...some days, there just are no thoughts from the kitchen. I will say, though, that yesterday’s no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies were a good idea. They sure did make us smile when we got home!

On my bookshelf...I’m really liking this week’s review book, The Gospel Centered Woman. The author has some really thought-provoking perspectives.

Projects...sewing like crazy for the birthday girl! I haven’t made much progress, but hopefully everything will be quick and easy.

Sounds of the moment...just the air conditioner blowing. I think the kids are enjoying some down-time.

Last week we learned...that it doesn’t matter how badly you play miniature golf, as long as you do it with good friends!

A favorite thing from last week...

(more pictures to come)

The planner...up in the air. Lunch meeting with the Gleaners tomorrow and a twelfth birthday celebration on Sunday. Editing, sewing, etc. Beyond that, we’re trying to stay flexible as we await news on the van.

Because visuals are fun...this gorgeous, solid white moth was stuck to our windshield one day last week.

Baby Possum!

2013-05-15T14:13:00.000-05:00

I forgot to post these pictures last week…I blame the head cold. I like having something to blame!

I got a phone call last Monday afternoon from a lady at church asking if my children had ever seen a baby possum. She had found one while working in her yard, so we loaded up and headed out to take a look.

When we got there, it was “playing possum.” Except for a couple of ear twitches, it truly did look dead. Mrs. Betty showed them its little human-like hands and long fingernails. Then she curled its tail around her finger. That baby might have looked dead, but the tail definitely still worked!

When Steven’s turn came to try to hold it by its tail, it “woke up” and started to wiggle and squirm.

The girls enjoyed holding it and feeling its soft fur as it crawled all over their hands. Olivia joked that it was like a kitten – adorable right now, making her want to keep it as a pet. But, she knew what would happen when it grew up!!

Steven didn’t want to have anything to do with the cuddling and petting. He just liked that tail!!

Phone calls like that are such a blessing!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-05-13T16:20:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, May 13, 2013

In the great outdoors...beautiful sunshine, perfectly chilly morning (low 50’s) to walk, and a delightful mid-afternoon high of around 75. This is spring at its best, made even better by the fact that it still feels this way in mid-May! Woo-hoo!

Within our four walls...far too much evidence that I resemble this Dalek when it comes to housework…

Yeah, I need to work on that. Last week I did have the excuse of being sick. This week, though, I must assemble my ~~slave labor~~ precious, helpful children and get caught up.

A heart of thanksgiving...for a continued light mosquito population during the day. The kids have played outside so much this spring with hardly a bite!

Also for the fact that the congestion Doug and the kids are fighting has not turned into whatever mess I had last week.

A heart of prayer...for our 200,000+ mile vehicle as it hits the road this weekend.

Random observations...there’s nothing like chocolate and a good cup of Choffy to help with afternoon focus.

My silly son...has clung to the training wheels on his bike. Last year I took them off and tried to help him some, but the terrific heat and horrid mosquito season kept us from being outside enough to really help him learn how to ride without them. Then came yesterday.

Doug was doing some work on the van, and I sat nearby ready to hand him tools and run errands. As I sat, I watched Steven ride around on his bike, noticing that his training wheels were so bent that he hardly used them. I finally mentioned that fact to him, and he asked me to take them off. I did, and then I got ready to help him learn how to start. Yeah…he didn’t need me. That stinker took right off without a second thought and was immediately racing up and down our gravel road and through the yard. (Notice his “audience” in the bottom left corner of the picture.)

Thoughts from the kitchen...ugh. I still can’t taste anything except the strongest or spiciest flavors. That makes cooking no fun. Although I was able to enjoy the brisket I pulled out of the freezer today. Mmmmm…beef makes it all better.

On my bookshelf...slowly learning my way around this lovely resource…

I’m also working through a book entitled Gospel Centered Woman and I have a lot of kid books coming up. In fact, I don’t have a “me” novel scheduled until mid-July! Something’s not right! I think I might have to remedy that.

Projects...my bolero is done! My next one will be cream colored, made from some delightful alpaca yarn Doug gave me for my birthday.

Oh, and here is Olivia’s shrug. I was hurrying it to finish it so she could start wearing it, but then our weather has been too cool for sleeveless! (Nope, not complaining – just stating a fact.)

Next up: finish helping Steven with Olivia’s birthday sock doll. I’m probably going to knit a quick and easy dress for the doll, just in case we don’t have time to sew up an outfit together.

Also, I’m going to make her one of these easy nightgowns. This is one thing I can thank Pinterest for. Typically it scares me, but occasionally I find something I can repin. (The picture links to the nightgown tutorial.)

Sounds of the moment...nothing much. Of course, my ears are still rather stopped up, so that doesn’t mean much!

Last week we learned...ummmmm…just how light school can be when Mommy is sick and we’re about done with a core! How I love flexibility.

A favorite thing from last week...coming out of my fog.

The planner...finish Sonlight Cores B & F by Wednesday, leave Thursday to head to see the Choates! Nah, we’re not the least bit excited. Nope. Not at all. Oh, and the kids have not stated their intentions to stay in Dallas either. Nope.

Because visuals are fun...well, I’ve already given you several, but here’s one more precious glimpse into my world.

Music to a Mama’s Ears

2013-05-07T11:44:00.001-05:00

The words of Olivia during our date time this morning:

When I feel bad, I don’t even have to talk to you about anything specific. Just talking to you at all makes me feel better, even when we talk about nothing!

1) Moments like that make parenting worthwhile. Every single bit of it.

2) I want to remember that this is true of my relationship with God as well. Even when I can’t pinpoint a specific problem and even when He doesn’t come down and miraculously make everything all better.

Thank You, Lord, for letting me be a mommy!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-05-06T11:33:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, May 6, 2013

In the great outdoors...clouds, wind, tall grass, and a yard too soggy to allow said tall grass to be cut.

Within our four walls...a bit of highly contagious lethargy.

A heart of thanksgiving...that we are almost done with our core work for the year. I’m looking forward to our light summer load, and the kids are looking forward to more time for swimming!

A heart of prayer...for several health issues within our church family, as well as continued prayer for my grandpa and Dad as he takes care of him.

Random observations...some people have elephants sitting on them. Others feel as if they’ve been hit by a semi or bus. In our family, it’s a giant chicken. For years, this chicken has chased us and pecked us. It is currently sitting on my head while simultaneously pecking at me. And yes, it weighs as much as the elephant or semi or bus.

My silly children...actually just one child right now. Steven now has a nerf rifle. I just heard a “bullet” hit the back of my chair. He’s lucky he has “good” aim! (After all, I’m certain he would never intend to hit his mommy in the back with a nerf “bullet.”)

Thoughts from the kitchen...wondering if my family will tolerate soup today, even though the weather is progressing back to warm. It’s in the 60’s today, but there is a very tempting bag of vegetable beef soup calling to me from the freezer. I think it’s going to happen today, along with a pan of cornbread. Yep, that sounds like it will hit the spot nicely.

On my bookshelf...need to finish Beautiful Battlefields this week and read my chapters for our Desperate book study group that meets on Tuesday nights.

Projects...I’m almost finished with my knit bolero. Just in time, too, because when we finish core stuff the kids probably won’t be reading aloud to me nearly as much. That’s when I get to do most of my knitting!

I’ll have to get started on Steven’s pj shorts and Olivia’s birthday present soon – probably a gown. Oh, and I need to help Steven with his birthday present for Olivia. Less than three weeks! Yikes!

Sounds of the moment...the nerf gun. Otherwise, all is quiet as the girls are finishing school work. I should be about to hear some Latin – I think Steven’s getting ready to watch a Visual Latin session. Yes, just because he considers it fun.

Last week we learned...I can’t remember back that far – too much fuzz in the head today. All that comes to my mind is that we learned the name of Bilbo’s sword. Important information, right?

A favorite thing from last week...the cold. It means the heat is delayed that much longer. Happy thought!

The planner...homeschool graduation dinner tonight (Doug and I are both involved in the program), school today through Thursday, Doug’s mom coming for a weekend visit (Shhh…don’t tell the kids. It’s a surprise!), Chick-fil-A Leadercast with Doug on Friday.

Because visuals are fun...Angie has been putting her crochet skills to good use making a jacket and cap for her little cow Alf!

Summer Concert?

2013-05-04T11:32:00.001-05:00

Remember those summer North Little Rock Community band concerts we have enjoyed attending over the past few years?

Like this one in 2010: Concert and Cousins

Or this one in 2011 when Mom was home for a little while and thinking about joining the band when she returned permanently, and we got to enjoy the concert with her and my brother Tim: Catching Up

Then there was last year, when we actually got to see Mom play: Concert & Visiting

Do you notice the clothing we’re wearing in all of those? After all, the outdoor concerts are called the “Summer Concert Series.” They start in May so that hopefully at least two concerts can be enjoyed in early May and June while the outdoor temps are still bearable. The third concert in early July is always expected to be pretty hot.

But, never do we expect this:

Yes, that was my children yesterday! In Arkansas! And they were not being wimpy! The temps hovered around 43-44 degrees, which wasn’t so bad on its own. The problem was the stout breeze and the wind chill which rested somewhere in the upper thirties.

Yesterday Arkansas experienced something that has never been experienced since weather records have been kept. Northwest Arkansans woke up to snow in May!!! One person measured 3 1/2 inches in her yard! A gorgeous picture of snow-covered Razorback stadium floated around Facebook yesterday. In May!!! Some of you might be used to May being chilly, but for us a chilly May means we might have to wear light jackets, especially in the morning and evening. Still being cold even while bundled up in our warmest coats and covered in wool blankets is not exactly our idea of chilly!

I have to let you know, though, that, while we are astounded, we’re not complaining! Well, okay, so the farmers are pretty concerned, especially since we did have frost last night (we’re praying that it was a light, late frost that did not damage to the young crops). But, I’ll take any delay to the humid summer I can get, while still praying for crop protection.

Meanwhile, we enjoyed the concert. The band did a great job, even with cold instruments! The Pine Bluff band joined the North Little Rock band, so there was a bit of variety. Each band played a few pieces independently, and then the two bands played several things together. Much fun, for sure!

We finished the evening huddled around tables at Chick-fil-A for a snack and a little more visit time with Mom, Dad, and a friend who came along with them. It made for a late night, but a fun one!

Irises

2013-04-30T19:50:00.001-05:00

Remember my iris from yesterday? By early evening, it had opened up to this!

Today it opened all the way!

This one on the other side of the sidewalk will probably be open by tomorrow.

As we were checking the rest of the stems, we found six more on the side with the fully bloomed iris developing nicely. They should open up in the next few days. The other side is slower, but there are at least three more making progress.

I have such a black thumb when it comes to growing things unless they require little care. These tough irises are perfect for me! Beautiful and EASY!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-04-29T16:20:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, April 29, 2013

In the great outdoors...It’s actually starting to feel like late April, with today’s high creeping up close to 80. While it is a gorgeous day, I’m definitely NOT going to complain about the fact that it has not felt much like April this month. I’ll take the cool as long as I can get it!

Within our four walls...open windows, but not quite the cross-draft we like to enjoy. We seem to have misplaced the tension rod for the screen that we hang inside our front door to allow us to leave it open for an extra breeze. We’re trying to brainstorm where it might have run off to. It’s a bit stuffy in this room right now because we can’t open these windows, but it still isn’t uncomfortable. It hasn’t made me get up and turn on the fan yet.

A heart of thanksgiving...for a slow mosquito season. They’re out there, but the kids have played outside a lot the past few weeks, and they really have not suffered many bites. Such a blessing!

A heart of prayer...for schedule wisdom. Doug and I are both about to hit summer schedule time and we need to make some adjustments.

Random observations...my to-do list for this week is out-growing its sticky note. Perhaps I should find a safe spot for it anyway.

My silly children...are getting super excited about the pool now that they can wear shorts and sundresses in the afternoon. I can only say, “Remember those nights in the 40’s and days in the 50’s and 60’s we’ve had lately? Yeah, the water remembers too!”

Thoughts from the kitchen...spaghetti today, accompanied by homemade banana pudding that did not set. Believe it or not, it’s the first time I’ve ever made banana pudding, and I’m not sure what I did wrong. It was still good though.

Anyone have a banana pudding recipe that they just love?

On my bookshelf...(well, they’re not actually on my bookshelf yet – I just rotated the picture to make it look like they’re standing upright!)

They actually represent something really awesome. This week I start a short-term editing job with Home Educating Family! The first two are part of my reference material for the job and the last one is more of a guide or training material. Yes, I’m incredibly intimidated, but I’m also exceedingly excited!

Projects...I’m working on a knit shrug now, and this pattern is SO much easier than the crochet pattern!

Sounds of the moment...the computer humming and Doug talking on the phone in the next room.

Last week we learned...that the glass insert of a thermos will explode under the right circumstances. I was preheating the thermos so I could put Choffy in it to take with us for a day of school at the church with Doug. All of the sudden it literally exploded! Not shattered – exploded. Fortunately, the plastic outer portion of the thermos held most of the blast, but some shards did fly up and out, landing halfway across the kitchen or on top of the freezer. Fortunately, none of them got me, and the kids were safely playing in the back of the house (where they DID hear the explosion). And yes, once my heart stopped beating out of my chest, I thought it was really, really cool!

Two favorite things from last week...my new job and “tent school.”

The planner...school (only three weeks left, two of which are not full weeks!), my training begins on Wednesday, and hopefully a field trip on Friday.

Because visuals are fun...my irises are finally blooming! The kids noticed this morning and came in to tell me. I’m not a flower person, really, but I love irises. My favorite is the black iris, but these were much cheaper and still promised a gorgeous color. I’ll get pictures with the better camera once they bloom a little more.

Signs of Life

2013-04-23T11:16:00.001-05:00

How I love watching things grow!! I really don’t have much of a green thumb, and I’m not a huge outdoors person. But, planting trees and bushes and then watching them grow and bloom is amazing!

As promised, here are a few pictures. I showed one of the blueberry bushes yesterday. We have two more tiny bushes that didn’t do well last year, but they seem to be trying this year. I know they won’t produce this year.

And, the strawberries and peanuts didn’t make it. They flooded out. So, we’re on the lookout for some straw bales in hopes we can plant more strawberries in the bales to keep them from flooding out again. We’ve yet to decide what to do about the peanuts.

So, for today’s pictures, we’ll start with the grapes. A couple of weeks ago, even as the weather couldn’t decide between hot and frigid, we began to see the first signs of life on our grape vines. This one turned green first, and we wondered if the other one was even still alive.

But it was! Here you can see a picture from this past weekend of them side by side. The slower one (on the right) is working hard to catch up!

Then we have our clippings. When we pruned the vines this winter, Doug stuck a couple of the clippings in the ground to see what they would do. Sure enough, they’re turning green too! Here’s one – you can see the green leaf, but there are also several more buds trying to pop up.

Next we have the apple trees. One is huge and flourishing nicely, two more much smaller ones are beginning to bud, and a fourth one that we thought was dead is actually showing signs of life. Aren’t these blossoms gorgeous?

I don’t know if we’ll have any fruit this year from the apples or grapes, but the growth has been beautiful to watch, just the same.

The peach trees, on the other hand…

These gorgeous blossoms popped up everywhere on the peach trees.

And now just about every blossom on both trees has given way to this:

On the bigger of the two trees, there are at least 15 dozen little peaches, and probably around ten dozen on the smaller tree! The trees are still babies, so I have no idea how many of these peaches they can carry to maturity. Last year we had a couple dozen baby peaches between the two trees, and only one peach made it to maturity. We’ll see this year!

Just posting these pictures makes me want to go out and look at everything again. So much changes in just a few days!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-04-22T14:31:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, April 22, 2013

In the great outdoors...a gorgeous day of sunshine. A yard desperately in need of mowing before the next rain. Lots of fruit growth. I was going to stick just a picture or two in here, but there are so many beautiful pictures of blossoms and new fruit! So, I’ll post those tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peek, though – our first blueberries!

Within our four walls...quiet as the children have already finished working and are outside (well, Olivia’s not quite done – she’s just waiting for the computer so she can finish). It’s also comfortable. No heat. No A/C. A few windows open, probably to increase as the day wears on.

A heart of thanksgiving...the sunshine and a yard where my kids can play. Prayer support. The blessing of being a reviewer. Friendship. Connection with people I cannot see face to face.

A heart of prayer...several friends in times of great struggle, salvation, daily discipline and focus on doing all for God’s glory.

Random observations...I have orders ready for most of the kids’ school stuff for next year. Now I get to shop for supplements! Angela needs a lot because she is working with Steven for one more year, and their core is definitely too easy for her. So, I have a ready-made excuse to start shopping for some of those books that I’ve really wanted but haven’t been able to get as review resources. Fun!!

My silly children...found great delight in working together this morning. I kept hearing Olivia talking and the other two laughing, and I was afraid that meant no school work was being done. I discovered, though, that Olivia was doing her school work out loud (another blessing of homeschooling – talking her work out helps her TREMENDOUSLY) and the other two (who have always been able to focus even amid distraction) were pretending she was telling funny math stories. All three were finished with their work in record time!

Thoughts from the kitchen...finally, a menu plan, at least for this week! The crock pots will be used heavily. That makes me smile. Today, however, we will be pulling a ready-made meal straight from the freezer. That makes me smile, too. Methinks I need to do one of my massive cooking sprees before it gets too hot so I’ll have a good number of pre-cooked meals in the freezer and ready to go. I’m feeling motivated! Hopefully that motivation will last through getting it planned, doing the shopping, and getting the cooking done.

On my bookshelf...continuing Beautiful Battlefields and starting Shattered, my next scheduled fiction review. Also reading Desperate with a group of friends. (If any of you moms want to join us as we read and discuss, let me know! We’ve got a blog and a weekly conference call for discussion purposes.)

Projects...I finished Olivia’s shrug! (pictures to come) YAY! Really not happy with that pattern, but the end result was cute. Then I found an adorable knit shrug pattern that I want to make for myself, so I’m going to give it a go. It looks pretty straightforward, but we’ll see. Maybe I’ll also get to the sewing machine this week. Hopefully.

Sounds of the moment...still quiet. Except for the occasional ring of the phone. We have a telemarketer who will not leave us alone, so we’ve started ignoring that number. They try at least twice a day.

Last week we learned...that a tent with a screen “porch” works perfectly for spending time outdoors in mosquito country. Yay for the restoration of outdoor school! Even the “room” of this tent is nice and airy when the top cover is off, thanks to the netting in the roof, the large windows, and the vent in the back.

A favorite thing from last week...flexibility.

The planner...a pretty normal week. School. Church. That’s about it. I like weeks like these. Soaking them up before summer’s busyness begins.

Because visuals are fun...Well, I’ve shared a couple of pictures already, but here’s one more: Taking Thea for a ride.

Blue

2013-04-19T16:06:00.001-05:00

How I love this child…

Steven and Angela can dig in the dirt, paint, cook, or do any number of other things and come out with hardly a spot on them. They do get dirty, but it takes effort.

Olivia, on the other hand, attracts mess. She will step outside for five minutes and come in needing a full shower.

All she needed to do earlier this week was put a second coat of paint on her Lego table (pictures of all the Lego tables coming as soon as they’re all done!). She was using a sponge paint brush, and didn’t realize that we considered the brushes disposable. She tried to clean hers. The result? Blue hands! As in, it looked like she was wearing blue gloves.

This picture was taken after she had scrubbed her hands for a good five minutes!

She still has blue on her hands, four days later. I just can’t help but chuckle. Yep, I love this child!

A Sigh and Some Praise

2013-04-16T17:03:00.001-05:00

I thought I finished Olivia’s shrug this afternoon. I put in the last stitches of the bodice as she read aloud to me, and we decided that she needed to try it on to see if she still wanted sleeves. It looked so cute without them, but we wanted to see if the look worked with the dress it was being made to be worn over.

When we finished the “just us” reading (her last read-aloud for this core is The Hobbit, and Steven and Angie have decided to join us for that one), I sent her to try the shrug on before calling the other two in for read-aloud.

It didn’t fit. Too big. Can I tell you how many times I stopped and measured and adjusted the pattern and measured again? Yeah. Didn’t matter. The back is far too wide for her, and by the time it reaches the shoulders, it just hangs off of her. I almost cried. It’s not like a sewing project where I can just refigure some seams or make adjustments in other ways. This has to be totally taken apart and redone.

With some measuring, I realized the front (the harder part), is right, and the base of the back will work. It just needs to be progressively narrowed up the back. Fortunately, the back is stitched separately. So, I have started taking out the stitches in the back and have a plan for making this work. Hopefully.

It frustrated me. A lot. But then I remembered a few things.

People’s lives were unexpectedly turned upside down yesterday in Boston.
A precious friend struggles with back pain that kept her from leaving on a long-anticipated mission trip last week.
Two friends struggle with sudden news about serious health problems with their parents.
My own father is learning first-hand the struggles of being a care-giver.
Several parents I know are heartbroken over issues with their children.

This list goes on and on and on.

Yet, in the middle of praying over all of those needs, I also lifted up a prayer for something as insignificant as fixing a problem with a crochet project. And you know what? After I prayed, the correction idea popped into my head. For the record, I’m not taking credit for the idea, especially if it actually works! But I’m rejoicing in the fact that even as I pray for the big struggles of life, the little things that pop up can be prayed over as well. And as God quickly answers those little things, He reminds me that He’s just as able to answer the big ones – and He will.

What a reason to rejoice…and keep praying!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-04-15T14:31:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, April 15, 2013

In the great outdoors...sun trying valiantly to break through the clouds. It’s taking a little longer to warm up than we expected. No, we are not complaining. The high is supposed to be in the mid-80’s. Slow to warm up means the house stays comfortable longer with windows open and A/C off, especially on humid days like today. I’m just now starting to feel the tinge of heat.

Within our four walls...peace, calm, and quiet.

A heart of thanksgiving...for open windows, people who love our children, and flexibility that allows Doug to work from home some days.

A heart of prayer...for a productive few hours; for the farmers as they work hard to get some planting done before the next big bout of rain.

Random observations...I think it’s time to mess with my thought starters again. I haven’t decided if I’m going to go back to something old or concoct a new starter stream.

My silly children...are being silly at JoJo’s house today. They even agreed to doubling up on some school work later this week so they could have a day at her house! Works for me!

Thoughts from the kitchen...Doug made some shrimp biscuits as a “just the two of us, unexpected extra date day” lunch. Yum!!

On my bookshelf...Beautiful Battlegrounds, a book about suffering that promises to be challenging. Fortunately, I have some light fiction reading to go alongside it.

Projects...same old stuff. Still need to finish the shrug so I can head to the sewing machine. I also need to get my cold-weather clothes put away so I can stop digging through tubs to find my sundresses and other warm-weather clothes.

Sounds of the moment...the dishwasher, tapping of keyboards, and some music in the background.

Last week we learned...that we can plant strawberries in…straw! Hmmm…wonder if that’s where the name comes from?

A favorite thing from last week...a beautiful weekend outside. We started painting the kids’ Lego tables, checked on the progress of the grapes, blueberries, apples, and peaches, finished reinforcing our trellises with stakes, and pumped bike tires for some extra time outside.

The planner...a normal week. Birthday party this weekend. Possibly a trip to Arkansas Post for a colonial event on Saturday, but we haven’t decided if we’re doing that or not. We might not decide until Saturday morning.

Because visuals are fun...Facebook has become very, very dangerous. People keep posting these pictures of decadent desserts, and I want to try them all! I resisted until recently. I had to try this one because it was too easy. Cookie dough pressed down for the bottom layer, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups next (we used minis), and then brownie batter on top. Yeah.