The Hibbard Five

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.

Random Thoughts on Country Life

2013-04-13T19:35:00.001-05:00

I know it’s not the best picture…it’s hard to get aerial flight captured with a camera phone, but Doug tried anyway. I was too mesmerized to go inside for the real camera until shortly before the bird flew away.

We walked outside around lunchtime, and the kids noticed a bird of prey flying in circles over the field just across the street. They asked if it was an eagle; thinking the bird we were watching was a high-flying bird, Doug and I both quickly answered by saying that it was probably just a hawk. Immediately, we doubted our answer. Sure enough, as the bird turned, we realized it was flying much lower than we’d previously thought. Which meant it was much bigger than we’d normally thought. Then it turned again, and we saw the white head and tail. Oh how breathtakingly glorious! A bald eagle, flying right over our town, right over our neighbor’s house and yard! We watched for several minutes as the eagle circled looking for prey before flying off to the northeast. Wow.

Sometimes it can be annoying living so far away from a “real” city, but then we have days like today.

To enjoy the sunshine, we take family walks through town, fanning out across the road until a car comes by. We take turns kicking at a stone down the road, seeing how far we can kick a single stone before it disappears into the grass.

Bikes with fresh air in the tires can be ridden up and down the gravel road by our house.

The perfect climbing tree that’s planted just on the edge of the neighbor’s yard can be freely climbed.

We can’t walk to the general store or post office without running into someone to talk to, whether we know them or not.

It’s okay to walk through town in our yard or paint clothes on a nice afternoon because nine times out of ten, everyone we meet will be wearing theirs, too.

We actually can enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon at home because it’s a big deal to get anywhere else. It takes intentionality, and it’s easier to intentionally stay home.

And then there’s that eagle.

Yes, today was a nice day to live in a small town.

Easter Pictures

2013-04-09T11:37:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time, I spent a great deal of time and effort on pictures. I don’t do that so much these days, now that I get to write so much more (which I love even more!), but every now and then it’s fun to go back to it.

Easter Sunday we had nearly two hours to fill between our sunrise service and Sunday school, so we took pictures! Here are my favorites.

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-04-08T15:45:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, April 8, 2013

In the great outdoors...spring! A freshly mown lawn (with several ruts from the lawn mower since it was still quite swampy when we worked out there on Saturday), signs of growth all around, the standard, stout, 10-15 mph breeze that is typical of a prairie spring (it’ll progress from a breeze to wind when it gets back above 20 mph tomorrow), temps just into the 70’s, and even some sunshine peeking through the clouds. Oh yes, and children! How desperately they needed to go out today! They were pinging!

Within our four walls...quiet for the moment. School clutter lying all around me.

A heart of thanksgiving...for tasks completed midday Friday so that we could truly rest and enjoy some peace last weekend. We needed that.

A heart of prayer...for so many friends, especially many of my ministry friends. Health problems, family struggles, church issues, and so many other things seem to be hammering hard right now. So thankful for prayer support!

Random observations...I have a lot of pictures to sort. A whole lot. I believe that will be my first project when we switch to our summer school schedule.

My silly children...wear themselves out quickly the first day they get to play outside after being stuck indoors for a while. Mean ole Mommy makes them stay out there, though, instead of letting them come in and play on the Wii or just read. It’ll be too wet or too hot again soon enough. STAY OUTSIDE!!

Thoughts from the kitchen...meat! Oh, how I love meat! (I’m sure I’ve never mentioned that before.) Doug thawed 5-6 pounds of ground deer and beef for me, and this morning I put it all in the food processor to get it well mixed. The beef was less lean than we are accustomed to, and the deer was too lean for a meatloaf. The combination worked beautifully for a nice, big, cheesy crockpot meatloaf. Oh it was so good! Another crockpot (so thankful for TWO!) browned the rest of the meat so I can refreeze it and have it ready for lasagna, spaghetti, tacos, and whatever else we come up with.

On my bookshelf...just finished Larkin’s Journal yesterday. I enjoyed it – I was just late getting it done. Now I need to speed read my next book, once I look to see what it is!

Projects...I got the writing project edited and done last Monday night. I didn’t get up the nerve to submit it until Tuesday morning, but it’s so nice to have both it and the blog re-launch done. The normalcy of just school and my weekly writing is refreshing – and it just might let me sit back down at the sewing machine again very, very soon. Meanwhile, I’ve made progress on Olivia’s shrug, and now I’m contemplating her birthday presents. Wonder what I can come up with…

Sounds of the moment...a banging door. Must be Steven heading back outside.

A favorite thing from last week...the weekend. Sunshine. Rest. Peace. Time outside. Very nice.

The planner...Doug has a couple of things this week, but it’s just back to school for the rest of us. Six weeks left. YAY!

Because visuals are fun...Li’l Doug in Daddy’s shoes.

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-04-01T11:01:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, April 1, 2013

In the great outdoors...gnats! The buffalo gnats evidently got tired of waiting for spring and decided to go ahead and appear in full force while the temperatures were still in the 50’s. Yesterday I almost swallowed half a dozen just walking back and forth to church, and I’ve already suffered a bite. Ouch.

Today, though, we have the weather they were waiting for! Beautiful sunshine and temperatures forecasted to climb close to 70! I must say, I’m not disappointed it has waited this long to warm up. Heat will come soon enough…

Within our four walls...a little school and quite a few chores.

A heart of thanksgiving...for the sunshine, a good night’s sleep, no damage from the storms that started blowing through Sunday around 3:00 AM (which is why we really needed a good night’s sleep last night!), and the chance to visit with Grandpa Friday after our Tuesday trip was cancelled (he went into the hospital Monday night and was there until Wednesday).

A heart of prayer...stamina for my dad as he and his brother and sister take turns with round-the-clock care for Grandpa. Also for a friend who is dealing with her father’s sudden health crisis.

My silly children...have been deprived in their education. We all love Visual Latin, and they have a great April Fool’s joke. I will be honest, I really hate pranks, but this was one of those truly funny jokes. Unfortunately, despite my children’s love for Dwane Thomas and Visual Latin, they could not really enjoy the joke because we have yet to expose them to the wonders of Star Trek. Tragedy, I know.

Thoughts from the kitchen...shepherd’s pie today – perfect use of leftover potatoes and burgers!

On my bookshelf...a review book entitled Larkin’s Journal – YA fantasy fiction that the girls have already devoured. Trying to motivate myself to read it.

Projects...I’ve made a good bit of progress on Olivia’s crocheted shrug, even though I’ve had to drastically alter the pattern because my yarn is a size too big to match the gauge of the pattern. Hopefully it will look okay!

I have all the rough drafts written for my major writing project. Hopefully editing won’t take too long. It feels good to have that much done.

We did get the ministers’ wives blog launched! YAY! What an awesome team we have! Go to www.arminwives.com or click on the image to check it out…feel free to share it!

Sounds of the moment...silence. No children noises. No music. No nothing except the normal hum of an electrified life. I wonder how many noises I would discover if I lived without electricity. No, I don’t really care to find out.

A favorite thing from last week...good trip to Judsonia.

The planner...light school week – math and language arts only – while I get the final six weeks planned. Bernina Club on Thursday and then yard work later this week, if the dry forecast holds.

Because visuals are fun...aren’t they handsome? This is Steven with Read, one of the younger boys at church. We finished Sunday school early, so they played for a few minutes. These two really enjoy each other’s company.

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-03-25T14:09:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, March 25, 2013

In the great outdoors...a hint of blue sky and sunshine after so much dreariness! Also, lots and lots of wind. Remember this picture of our trellis?

This is what one panel looked like yesterday in the 30+ mph wind.

This was after we tried to fight the wind and secure the trellis. We gave up. Well, that’s not actually true. There were two panels blowing like this, and we managed to get one secure. We thought we secured this one as well, but within about fifteen minutes it was blowing again. We decided not to go back out. I could hardly keep my balance while helping Doug try to secure the thing in the first place! And yes, the wind was HOLDING the trellis up like this. It flapped higher – it never fell lower than this through the course of yesterday afternoon. Today’s not quite as bad, but still very high…and very cold. The temperatures are in the 40’s, with the wind chill still in the 30’s. Funny to think that last year most of the farmers had already done a good portion of their planting by this time and that our temperatures were already steadily in the 80’s. Ah, the south – we only know that summer will be hot. Every other season is completely unpredictable!

Within our four walls...much cackling as the children play nerts. I love hearing them play together!

A heart of thanksgiving...for God’s peace and presence that is incredibly tangible in ways I cannot even express.

A heart of prayer...for baby Preston’s family, the preemie I’ve mentioned here several times. He died yesterday. It was a tough thing to tell the kids, especially as I also had to tell them that my grandpa is not doing well either. Praying for the hearts of my children as they work through all of this.

Random observations...I don’t want to work today.

My silly children...Steven got a riding/push toy from Doug’s parents on his first birthday. He still loves that thing even though he’s long since outgrown it. I cannot even think of giving it away.

Thoughts from the kitchen...leftovers. Mac-n-cheese. Steven says there’s nothing better than mac-n-cheese, leftover or otherwise!

On my bookshelf...I’m right in the middle of Whence Came a Prince. I got ahead on reviews enough to dive in yesterday, and I’m devouring it. Oh, such a story! Such a trilogy! It’s hard to put it down to actually get some work done today! (Like I said – I don’t want to work today!)

Projects...this week I will be getting the minister’s wives blog launched. So excited! We have such a neat group of writers, and I can’t wait to see what they have to share. Over this week and next I also hope to finish the major writing project due the middle of next month, get the LAST (yippeee!!) six weeks of school prepped and planned, and finally get next year’s school planning and purchasing done. We’ll still do school through the summer, but only math, language arts, and maybe one or two other things. Then we’ll start back with a full curriculum in July.

Sounds of the moment...I’m listening back over my recording of a writer’s conference to get some quotes for my writing project. The kids’ laughter is floating to me over the sound of the recoding. I love that!

Last week we learned...that some books just cannot be read in coordination with the school schedule. They’re too good to put down! I think Seven Daughters and Seven Sons ranks as the all-time favorite Sonlight book for my mom and youngest brother and sister (the rest of us didn’t get to use Sonlight). I read it, too, as a teen, just because they loved it so much, and it has long been a favorite book of mine. I have looked forward to reading it with Olivia since I first realized this was the core that contained it. As I expected, we could not put it down. We ended up finishing it a week or two early. Some books are just like that.

A favorite thing from last week...our visit with Mom and Alli. We played and visited and played some more. Such fun!

The planner...no school this week or next to give me time to get projects and planning done. So, that’s the main force of the planner for the next couple of weeks! With Easter activities worked in, of course, and the excitement of welcoming back new episodes of Doctor Who. (Yes, we are geeks and proud of it!!) We are also moving our visit to my grandpa up from Friday to tomorrow and keeping the rest of the week flexible just in case we need to go back.

Because visuals are fun...I wish I could capture just how much Thea lights up when she sees Olivia. I love how much these two love each other!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-03-18T15:55:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, March 18, 2013

In the great outdoors...large puddles rimmed with yellow, explaining why Angie’s sneezing like crazy and my eyes are burning. Ah, spring.

Within our four walls...blankets going through the wash before being put away for the next seven or eight months. I’ll miss the feel of snuggling down under them.

A heart of thanksgiving...for my wonderful husband. There are still days I find it hard to believe God blessed me so incredibly.

A heart of prayer...for my mom as she takes a breath during spring break (she’s back in college for another degree!). For baby Preston, the preemie I’ve mentioned recently. He’s doing well, but still fighting lung issues which must improve before they can really attack the fluid on his brain. For those on my “in need of salvation” list. It can be easy to grow discouraged by the length and seemingly unchanging nature of that list, but then I remember names that used to be on there. That keeps me praying!

Random observations...When we worked on the grape vines a couple of weeks ago, we did some late pruning so we could redirect one of the vines. Just out of curiosity, we took the two small branches we’d pruned and stuck them into the ground in a free spot near a trellis. When I checked them this past weekend, all three – the original vine and the two sticks – were starting to bud!!! I’m so excited! The second established vine hadn’t budded yet, so I’m watching it closely. All of the apple trees are showing signs of life – even the Fuji that we thought was completely dead! Doug had reached down to bend the small trunk to see if it had any pliability to it, and it just snapped in his hand. But, one little branch protruding from near the ground just below the break seemed less brittle, so we left it. It’s hard to tell if it’s even above the graft, so it might not actually be Fuji. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with it!

My silly children...pull up weeds and grass from around the yard (we haven’t started mowing yet, although when it dries out we’ll need to!) to make cushions and other such props for their imaginative play. Yet, weeds and grass in the grape/blueberry/strawberry patch or the Peanut Gallery or around my irises remain undistrubed. I’m not quite understanding this.

Thoughts from the kitchen...ugh. I really need to reintroduce some discipline to menu planning because I’m tired of cooking and bored with the recipes we have been eating.

On my bookshelf...I did get to read Fair is the Rose last week! Ahhhh…so good! But, haunting since I haven’t finished the story. My friend Karlyn returned the last book in the series Friday afternoon, raving about how wonderful it was. I’m being a good girl, keeping up with my work instead of diving right into it. I’m racing through my current review book (an easy ready, fortunately!), in hopes that I can finish it and squeeze in Whence Came a Prince before I have to start the next review book. Maybe squeezing in Fair is the Rose wasn’t such a wise idea after all! But it was soooooo good!

Projects...Olivia’s shrug; pj shorts for Steven; practicing my knitting; writing. Fun stuff.

Sounds of the moment...the kids playing in the next room. I’m surprised I haven’t heard exclamations about the brightness outside as the sun tries to peek out from behind the heavy clouds.

Last week we learned...or, rather, were reminded, just how fickle an Arkansas spring can be. Actually, the weather of our whole week can be summed up by what we experienced yesterday. We walked to church feeling comfortable, Steven and I in short sleeves, and the girls in sleeveless dresses with light sweaters. The walk home shortly after noon was chilly, especially for Steven and me. The walk back to church for an afternoon event at 2:00 was cold, even though we had all donned light coats – heavier than our jackets, but not quite our heavy coats. By about 3:15, we were all shedding our coats as we meandered around town, and by the time we headed back to the church about half an hour later, Angie was shoving the long sleeves she had changed into up as high on her arms as she could, I was feeling hot in my short-sleeved sweater, and Olivia got a headache from growing too warm. Our walk home last night around 7:30 was pleasant. Yep, this is March.

A favorite thing from last week...the relaxed pace. It actually felt like a rather long week, in a good way. Such a nice contrast to the recent weeks which have sped by like an express train.

The planner...school Monday through Thursday with some light independent work on Friday; lunch with the delightful Gleaners class tomorrow; my sister Alli and hopefully my mom coming for a visit Friday/Saturday.

Because visuals are fun...have I shown you the possum chandelier? I can’t remember…

The Provision Post

2013-03-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I told you I’d post the specifics of how God provided this year. I still get chills and tears as I realize just how amazing it is!

First, as Doug and I pulled stuff out of the attic, we realized there was nothing for Steven up there. I first thought, “Oh no!” Then I immediately took a breath and reminded myself that God would provide, even if it meant providing perfect sales and shopping success when we went to restock his closet.

Doug reminded me of a bag in the top of Steven’s closet, but there really wasn’t anything useful in there, other than one pair of shorts. As Steven pulled out his drawers, though, I realized that we left out many more shirts and shorts than I’d remembered. In fact, we’d left out just about everything! When all was said and done, all but a couple of shirts still fit from last year. I was stunned! He’s grown an inch and a half since the end of last summer! I just knew no shirt would fit him, even if his shorts still did. I was wrong!

He needed only two things: a new suit and pj shorts. He’d outgrown his old suit, and although he’s poured himself into it in recent weeks, he really wanted a new one before Easter. His sweet Daddy had it ordered for him in no time flat, and you should have seen the delight on his face when it arrived! Meanwhile, my mother-in-law had already handed me adorable material that would work perfectly for pj shorts. He was set!

Then came the girls. I expected Olivia to have dress clothes, but to be in need of everyday stuff. After all, she’s grown more than Steven did! And, I expected many of Olivia’s hand-me-downs to not fit Angela because they are built so differently. What did fit, I expected to look very worn out because Olivia is hard on clothes.

I was wrong, on all counts.

I feel like the Israelites wandering in the desert – God kept their clothes from wearing out. What he did with my children’s spring and summer clothes is no less miraculous. With few exceptions, He kept them fitting my children and kept them from wearing out.

But it gets better! They don’t even need shoes!!!!

We have never entered a new season without needing to buy at least some shoes. But, even though their feet have all grown, they need no new shoes! Casual or dress!

I’ll be crocheting Olivia a shrug to replace one she outgrew, and I will probably make her a couple of gowns because she prefers sleeping in them rather than the shorts and t-shirts currently in her drawer.

We’ll be picking up a couple of pairs of capri leggings for Angie to wear under a a few dresses she absolutely loves – dresses that still fit except for the length.

We’ll do those things because we can, not because we have to. God took care of the needs, and added wants on top of that!

Can I say that this really isn’t about being able to afford to shop? We could have gone out and bought new clothes. We’d just rather not. True, we don’t want to spend that money if we don’t have to, but you’ve seen the clothes out there for preteen girls, I’m sure. Yeah. Not too thrilling, even for people who like shopping. (I don’t really fit that category.)

No, this is about trusting God and getting to see Him do some awesome things. That’s a hundred times more fun than being handed $1000 and told to go outfit the kids could ever be! It just makes me smile, big time, and it makes me praise.

Just Trust

2013-03-15T16:46:00.000-05:00

Warning…this is a bit lengthy. I usually put this type of post only on Joy of Writing instead of here, but I just had to share it here, too, for those of you who only read this blog!

Eleven years ago we were coming to the end of Olivia’s first winter. I began to panic. We’d been given a ton of clothes as baby gifts, and she had so many outfits that she wore some of them only once or twice! But her summer outfits were size 6 mos and under, it was about to grow too warm for her winter outfits, and I knew she needed new clothes. As the weather began to turn, we loaded into the car and headed thirty minutes up the road to the Carter’s outlet. (How I loved that store!) We purchased her basic necessities and prepared to finally wear out some clothes.

Then came the hand-me-downs. I honestly felt foolish for panicking – and for shopping! We were flooded with so many amazing clothes that she didn’t wear out those Carter’s outfits. They were passed down to her sister, and then to more children after them. I determined that year not to panic ever again. I determined to pray and wait. God has been faithful every single year. Why do I ever doubt?

But, I do. When we moved to Arkansas, we moved away from the people who handed us down clothes. I worried. Then I prayed. And we were handed bags.

Then came last year. I had just gone through seasonal clothes, amazed that once again we had plenty even though we had been given no new hand-me-downs for quite some time. I barely finished the sorting before I was handed a couple of bags of clothes, some of which were perfect fits for Olivia right then, and even more that would fit her her over the next year or two. I’d just stash them in the attic and wait for them to fit her!

But, God challenged that mentality when I heard that the friend who’d passed the clothes on to us had another friend who could use what we didn’t want or need.

Thankful for the “new” shirts that lined Olivia’s drawer, I looked at our discards: two little Wal-Mart sacks by the door, full of random t-shirts the girls said they probably wouldn’t wear. Everything else – a huge trash bag full of beautiful clothes – was destined for the attic. But I couldn’t do it. God convicted me with the same old line He’s had to give me before: Trust Me.

I kept the shirts in Olivia’s drawer, thankful for that provision. But I returned everything that did not fit right then. Everything. Ouch! That hurt! I wanted that bag of clothes! Those things would have looked adorable on my girls! But, with release of the future stock of hand-me-downs also came a freedom to trust.

I thought about that bag again this spring as Doug and I pulled clothes out of the attic. What would fit? What wouldn’t? How much would we need to buy for Olivia, who had grown tremendously since the previous summer? How much better off would we have been had we kept that bag of clothes? I just knew very little would fit her. I prayed, and trusted. And once again God provided – this time more beautifully than ever before.

One of these days, maybe I’ll learned to not panic, not stress, and not hoard. Just trust.

And now, I’ll leave you hanging, because the specifics of this year’s provision from the hand of God are worthy of an entirely separate post!! At least, they are for my remembrance, even if not for your reading!

My Talented Children

2013-03-13T12:14:00.001-05:00

It all started when Angie decided to fold napkins as we discussed quiet times every day at lunch. The folding reminded the kids of origami. Then they remembered they had Fun With Easy Origami.

And Angela remembered Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Inspired by the napkin folding and the two books, the kids pulled out paper and began folding away!

Angela took pride in making some little bitty animals. The one on the left is a crane and the one on the right a butterfly. I was amazed at the detail!!!

Some of these creations ended up wrapped in boxes and bags and given to me for my birthday! So, I now have flowers with interchangeable colors, a box to hold the petals not currently displayed on my stalk, a penguin, a crane, and a butterfly gracing the top of my desk. How I love watching my children create!

Wonderful Family Day

2013-03-12T17:01:00.001-05:00

Some family days are good, but others are just about perfect. Last weekend we had one of the just about perfect ones – and it just happened to also be my birthday. What a sweet birthday present! We didn’t really plan anything for the day. We just enjoyed it as it came along.

Doug made breakfast to start the day, and the kids decided they couldn’t wait until lunch to give me my gifts. So, I opened sweet homemade gifts of origami and crocheted goodness, as well as a delightful collection of yarn and knitting needles! Doug had already given me his gift – Joulies! They cool warm beverages to the perfect drinking temperature and then keep them there for a long, long time. They’re amazing!

After breakfast I had a delayed date time with Steven (we usually have it on Thursdays, but we had to be in Little Rock this past Thursday) and then played some nerts with my girls.

By lunchtime the beautiful sunshine was just too much to resist, and Doug suggested a picnic. (I took this picture with my phone and couldn’t see what I was taking because of the sun. So, I ended up cutting off Doug’s head. Oops!)

Doug had planned ahead, picking up some brisket from Whole Hog while we were in LR Thursday. Yum!

Dessert was downright fun! I’m not a big cake fan, so I requested something non-cake with chocolate, nuts, and caramel. Doug more than rose to the occasion! His creation was inspired by none other than the hilarious Tim Hawkins.

And here it is…the Snick-a-loaf! Not exactly a bunch of Snickers smashed together, but something even better.

Is that not awesome? He used a loaf pan to create three fourths of the shell. The “nougat” is a cheesecake mixture. Once he had the nougat, nuts, and caramel layered, he spread another layer of chocolate over them to finish the shell. It tasted even better than it looks!

After lunch, we decided we just had to stay out in the sunshine. It was an amazingly gorgeous day!

None of us have much of a green thumb, but it is still fun to try our hand at things occasionally. Last year’s grape vines grew more than we expected, so we hung a trellis to support them during this growing season. We had also noticed that the meter reader was tramping right through this area where the grape vines and blueberry bushes were planted, so we decided to fence it off. We didn’t get quite enough little fencing, and this picture was taken before we went to Wal-Mart for the rest of it, but you get the idea. We also have a few strawberry plants there.

On Sunday we “enjoyed” quite the downpour, and the whole yard was flooded again. So, we will have to just wait and see if anything grows. But, it was fun to plant!

While Livie and I worked on that little patch, Doug, Angie, and Steven worked on their own little experiment – peanuts! Just a small patch, but we’re curious to see what happens. They walled that segment off, too, and Angie graced it with a title. Yes, it’s the Peanut Gallery! I love that kid!

Jack, meanwhile, found his spot among the pile of dead branches waiting to be burned or chopped for kindling. I cannot imagine how he thought that comfortable, but he is an odd cat!

As you can tell from most of these pictures, the clouds had rolled in by the time we were done. The day was still pleasant, though, and we finished off our day by tending to the fruit trees before heading to Stuttgart for the rest of our fencing.

We discovered last year that our little stakes did not succeed in helping the trees grow straight in the face of our powerful prairie winds. So, we restaked them all. In the process we found this…

The first buds. These two branches are on the smaller of our peach trees, and this made up most of the buds on that tree. The larger one, though, was literally covered! I missed getting a good snow this year, but now I’m praying that we are done with the late freezes and snows. Even as far south as we are, we can have highs ranging anywhere from the 80’s to the 20’s in March – sometimes both in the same week! But, it looks like even though we might still have lows in the 30’s, our little buds should be safe this year.

We finished the day off with date night and changing our clocks a night early so we could make the DST adjustment on Saturday instead of Sunday. Yes, it was definitely a wonderful day. Ah, how I love precious days with my family!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

2013-03-11T09:10:00.001-05:00

For Today...Monday, March 11, 2013

In the great outdoors...a blustery day. Cold wind, but the sun is trying to peek out as well. That’s a beautiful sight.

Within our four walls...some housework should get done. A little of it will today, but for the most part this is a writing day.

A heart of thanksgiving...for provision. It never ceases to blow my mind how God can provide simply by expanding the life of what we have.

Also for the strong, vibrant voice I heard on the other end of the line Friday. Grandpa, who will be 92 this month, called to wish me a happy birthday. I have not heard that much life and energy in his voice since before Grandma died a year ago. I know there are many things I would have picked up seeing him in person that I couldn’t see over a phone line, but it was nice to once again hear Grandpa sound like himself again.

A heart of prayer...for a good and productive writing day. For the Choate family as they continue traveling this week. For spiritual and physical healing for many.

Random observations…time change stinks. It was even worse than normal yesterday. We changed our clocks Friday night to make the adjustment on Saturday instead of Sunday. Since we use our Kindle Fires as alarm clocks, we switched them off automatic time and reset them manually. Apparently, they are programmed to update the time zone whether they’re on auto or manual! So, on Sunday morning they adjusted for DST – on top of the adjustments we made Friday night. Our alarms went off at 4:00 AM instead of 5:00 AM. We didn’t get to the bottom of the problem until we were actually up and “awake.” Yeah.

My silly children...are gone today. Doug arranged for them to go home with JoJo last night – you can imagine how “disappointed” they were to discover that news!! They tried to be stoic, not letting me know just how much they would have preferred to be at home doing exciting things like chores and school. I mean, after all, it took Steven all of two minutes to race up to JoJo after church and say, “Can we go to your house right now?!?!”

It’s really weird to be home without them. Nice every now and then, without a doubt. But still strange.

Thoughts from the kitchen...no kids? No telling! I need to get back to regular menu planning.

On my bookshelf...I’m trying to be super, super, super diligent with writing today so I can read Liz Curtis Higgs’ Fair is the Rose this week. It’s book two in a series based on the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, set in the Scottish highlands. My friend Karlyn is a book ahead of me, and she said it just gets better and better and better! I remain continually amazed by how Liz Curtis Higgs can take a very familiar story and still keep me on the edge of my seat as she retells it. She did the same with Ruth. Phenomenal author!

Projects…the sewing bug is biting again. I need to make some pj shorts for Steven, I found an adorable crocheted shrug I want to make for Olivia to replace the one she outgrew, and there are a couple of other things I want to sew as well. Oh, and Doug and the kids stocked me up on yarn and knitting needles for my birthday! So, of course, I want to use those! Time to plan my first real project!

Sounds of the moment...music and tapping keyboards as Doug and I work.

Last week we learned...that Joulies really do work. Wow!

A favorite thing from last week...an absolutely wonderful family day for my birthday. I’ll share more later in the week.

The planner...today will be a little different, but the rest of the week is pretty normal. I don’t think we really have anything on the calendar…well, except for the fact that Steven has been invited to a birthday party on Saturday.

Because visuals are fun...we sorted through spring clothes Saturday. Angie had to try on everything…

Happy Birthday Ann!

2013-03-08T10:13:00.001-06:00

Around our house, typically four days a year are met with beautifully worded, wonderfully pictured birthday posts.

Except there’s five people in this house. One of them doesn’t get the beautifully worded, wonderfully pictured birthday posts. Why?

Well, because if there’s anything beautiful and flowing in this house, it’s because Ann Hibbard is the one who is beautiful and flowing, and it just comes from her. Usually, in the amazing interactions with our children or the great things she does, I’m too caught up in wonder to even think about taking a picture.

So there’s no real way for me to explain the awesome wonder that my wife is. If you know her, you know how much she does and how wonderful she is. She writes for Home Educating Family, both reviews and columns. She’s one of the behind-the-scenes people trying to minister to Arkansas Baptist minister’s wives, but you’ll rarely see her take any credit for it. She’s frequently the reason church folks put up with me.

So, Happy Birthday!

Quote of the Day

2013-03-05T11:43:00.001-06:00

Steven, after struggling a bit in our math drills and informing me that his brain wasn’t working:

It’s hard to remember things after you’ve gone to sleep.

I know the feeling, my son. Believe me, I know the feeling!