Captain America Rides a Bike

Hope your Sunday was relaxing too!

(S)aturdays are for ...

Going (S)hooting with your dad, (S)miling at your momma, (S)tealing from your birdie friends, ... and homemade funnel cakes.

Happy (S)aturday!

Welcome, March!

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

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Giving Up - Hoping

... my Faith is very weak. And when it comes to trusting God with my children, it's at it's weakest. I'm one of the guilty Christians who holds my family higher than I should. I'm aware, and I struggle.



Over the last month, we've learned that Korinne has a condition called Vasovagal Syncope. She is fine. Not fine in the way your child is. But fine. Ballet has been a bit of a battle for me, though. Should she continue? Is it safe? And she should. And it is. But I still worry (though I know I shouldn't).


As we drove to her class this afternoon, she sat in the passenger seat taping her toes. I listened to the sound of the masking tape ripping, ripping ... then the music caught my attention. A song about trusting God. And I got a lump in my throat. And gave her up. Peacefully. Surprisingly.


As she got out of the van at school, Hillsong United came on singing "Oceans" ... which we both love. 

I smiled and said -- "I get to listen on the way home." She laughed and said something about it always coming on when she's getting out of the car.

Then I reminded her, "You know I spoke to Miss Lona (her ballet principal) today." ... 

"Yes, Mom. You told me. Twice," she says, smiling as her lip gloss and eyeshadow sparkle in the sunshine. She knows I worry.

"Be careful," I say. 

"I will. I love you," is what I hear as she shuts the door and walks away with her slightly-strawberry-blonde hair in a neat bun, wearing her hot pink hoodie with both hands shoved in her pockets, her ribbons and flowers Vera Bradley bag carrying her beloved pointe shoes slung over her shoulder, and her purple sneakers on ...


I watched until she got inside the door, and then drove away listening to Our Song, turned up way too loud. Hoping my Faith would indeed be made stronger.

{ this moment }

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

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Moments With A Not-So-Humble Homeschool Mom

Science, not History ... an experiment to find out Kylie's blood type. Hysterical.

As I'm reading the boys' History chapter on Alexander and his horse, Bucephalus, aloud during lunch ... they interrupt me to finish the story (correctly).

As I close our book, I smile and ask -- "Where did you learn that story?" (fully expecting for them to say they read it in one of the Great Books on our shelf ...)

They answer, in unison, "Phineas and Ferb!"

{ this moment }

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

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Happy St Valentine's Day

from Baby Elton John

Our Snow Fairy

I could stand at my dining rooms windows and watch the snow in the moonlight all night. ... *if* I didn't already have something even more amazing to do all night.

Ten Books That Have Stayed With Me

A Nest For Celeste by Henry Cole

1. There Are Rocks In My Socks Said The Ox To the Fox by Patricia Thomas -- childhood, my mom read this book to me. Repeatedly. In Bird Voice. (my dad didn't read me a book. He told me a story. It included sunshine, blue skies, wind, horses, me, and my brother and sister. I will write it down some day.)

2. Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson -- 4th Grade, I clung to every word of this book as Mrs. Sullivan read it. Brian doesn't even remember. (?!)

3. I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier -- 10th Grade, I was heartbroken at the end of this book and couldn't believe my English teacher didn't want to talk about it ...

4. Heartbeat by Danielle Steele -- probably when I was 16-17ish years old, I can only vaguely remember the storyline but I remember reading it poolside at my grandparents condo and feeling so grown up holding it in my hands. It's the only DS novel I've read, it's not something I'd ever pick up now, nor something I'd allow my own 16/17 year old daughter to read. But it's "stayed with me" nonetheless.

5. Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott -- 1998-99, I checked this out from the Library at Ft Bragg when we lived there. Took me a long time to read it (months). It made me think about my lack of faith, looking back ... it was probably what started the ball rolling, leading me to pick up:

6. the first book in the Left Behind series -- 2001, leading me to pick up:

7. The Bible -- which took me years (like 3!) to read through.

8. Sleepy Bears by Mem Fox -- 2003, Kylie checked this out from her school library in Kindergarten. I read it to her, Korinne, and Connor so many times ... I remember thinking, "I want a bunch of babies to read stories to in bed." Seriously.

9. Star Of Light by Patricia St John -- 2008, the girls and I read this in their room at our first house in Jonesboro. We cried. And read. And cried.

10. Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher & The Year Of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill -- 2010-11, these 2 books helped me see what kind of education I wanted to give my kids. I read them over and over again.

Miriam

In my arms. All day. Be jealous.

Judah-ism

"Awww, Momma ... she worked so hard to get that bless you out." -- Judah (as Miriam let out the tiniest, little sneeze)

Heaven

... here on earth.

First Outing

:: saw Dr Lisa. Baby Sissy's collar bone is healing well, no heart murmur, she's weighing in at 9 lbs 13 oz! ::

Band of Brothers

photo by Brian

I know some boys that are going to miss their dad when he has to go back to work Monday!

{ this moment }

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

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A Letter From Judah

Dear Sissy KyKy~

Thank you for leaving your bedroom door unlocked and your black nail polish on your bedside chair. I had fun painting Zach!

Love, Judah

PS: Mom said thanks a lot too.


*This picture was taken when I was still in the hospital with Miriam ... he told Kylie he looked as cute as a bunny.

Baby Sissy Snuggles

... he had a question about his school work. But who can resist? So sweet.

And Now They Have Her

Superbowl Sunday

This year, it was more about the food than the game for us. Wings and Chocolate Nutty Footballs. Yum.

Welcome, February

Baby Love. Baby Love. Baby Love.

Flu

Diagnosed. Just Ray. It's pitiful. 

Cardinal in Milk Jug Feeder

Isms

"Is that funny? Is that funny, Momma? ... all those birds!" -- Zach, in the pitch black 6am of the morning from his crib.

(discussing manna) "It was honey wafers. You know ... just think of Vanilla Wafers falling from the sky for breakfast, lunch, and dinner." -- Kylie. YES! Kylie. The almost-17-year-old apologetics-loving, theological rock, Kylie. 

"Momma, did you know glue is dried milk?" -- Judah (would explain the whole marshmallow snowman/snack a week and a half ago.

"How about * I * read the Lesson, and * YOU * say the answers?" -- a very sick TJ. ... and so that's what we did.

His First Snow Day

His first Snow Day. At one year, eleven months, and five days old. 

(and YES! that is our Christmas Tree;)

On Bows

... we heart the tiny ones.

TJ- ism

... she started to fuss, and he said, "Well! What's wrong with her? She looks so pretty."