365:156 - 181 and One Thousand Gifts (411 - 415)

My sweet Wolfman! He's crawling and starting to pull himself up on things.  It won't be long before he starts walking.  He's so much fun!

Kids having fun in our friend's pool.

I took D and E-Baby to Lieds Museum.  We had a great time!  Mr. Baseball and Ladybug didn't go with us.  They were at a church event.

Boo and E-Baby.

Not sure if he's a pirate or a renaissance man.  But he sure is handsome! Tigger is photo bombing.

Future weather girl?

Veterinarian in the making

Or maybe a clerk

Beautiful artist

Ummm...........

Tigger turned 10!  I can't believe he's double digits.  Time sure flies.

411.  Talking to my friend after 3 months of silence. 

412.  Friends watching my kids so we can go to a conference.

413.  Holy Spirit getting hold of Ladybug in a big way!

414.  Sweet friend sending me a note of encouragement when I'm feeling down.

415.  Being honored to hear the testimony of an amazing 16 year old who has been through so much and still has a hard road to travel.

Olympics

The kids have been having a great time watching the Olympics.  Today they decided to have their own!  The events included; Balloon Volleyball, Bicycle Racing, Gymnastics and general calisthenics.  Of course, Team USA won them all! 

P52: "Still Life" (Week 19)

This week's project was "Still Life".  When I think of a still life, I think of a bowl of fruit on a table.  I actually had to google it to see if this qualified!  How funny is that?!

A few days ago, we were at a park for P.E. and I saw the most beautiful tree! It was totally decked out in yellow flowers. The early morning sun was shining down on it, making it seem to glow! I have no idea what kind of tree it is.  I should know.  I see them all over town.  But they are usually much smaller, and more sparse.

Here's my sweet granddaughter playing hide & seek inside under the tree.  I have been so blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with her this last week or so.  She is such a priceless treasure!

P52 "Green" (Week 17)

The weather warmed up enough this week for our first round of water play. I promised the kids they could set up the slip & slide as soon as they were finished with school. Wow! School went exceptionally smooth that day!

Now that our trampoline has been condemned, the kids are petitioning for an above ground pool.  I'm all for it.  If we get a pool, I may never have school issues again!

P52 "Things that grow" (Week 16)

Mary, Mary, quite contrary..........

I planted my garden a few weeks ago.  It's so cool to see my little seeds growing and coming up through the soil!  My yard is alive with colors and wonderful smells and bees busily collecting nectar.  I love this time of year!

This year, I planted tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries,

Kale

Spinach

 My boys planted honeydew melon on the other side of the yard.  Last night two of the plants flowered! They are so excited!

My girls opted for flowers

P52 "Sacrifice" (Week 15)

This one was a no brainer for me.
Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice.  He has paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I could not pay.  I am so thankful that He allowed me the privilege of becoming His daughter!
It sure didn't happen easily.  Yet He waited patiently by as I warred within myself for so long. There were angry tantrums, repentant tears.  I even got up and walked out of a church service because the pastor said something that pricked my heart.  Still He waited.
One evening I finally gave in and offered my dirty and broken heart to Jesus.
That was many years ago.  Seems like a lifetime.  I've never regretted that decision.  My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

P52 "Foolin' Around" (Week 14)

With 7 kids, someone is always foolin' around at our house!  These are just a few of the latest documented cases.

My kids are great!  They bring me so much joy. I love to hear their laugh, and to see them being carefree.  

P52 "Details" (Week 13)

I've been thinking a lot about details this week in response to the challenge.  I have realized that life is lived in the details.  I spend so much of my time on "top level" things such as getting meals together, schooling the kids, daily chores, etc. that I have missed those all important details.

Yesterday we watched a science documentary on Netflix called "God of Wonders".  I was, once again, struck by the perfect way that God has orchestrated the details of the universe,  plants and animals to work in perfect harmony to sustain and promote life.

Did you know that the type of bird, and where it is on the food chain, determines how it takes off?

Just a few weeks ago, the tree was covered with beautiful white flowers.  Now, in their place, are tiny apricots.  How amazing is that!  

I am working my way through the parenting book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" with a group of ladies from my homeschool group.  What an enlightening and convicting book that is!  Successful parenting lies in the details.  Taking the time to have a long talk with a child who has strayed; and really listening to what the child has to say.  Or, admiring a painting they took so much time to create.  And listening to the story behind the painting.

I need to refocus my attention to the details.  The laundry can wait.  Gourmet meals can wait.  (Okay, I never make gourmet meals!!) For the next few days, school can wait.  I think I will go smell some roses!

P52 Hungry (Week 12)

God is so good!  I am continually awed at how He cares for the smallest, most insignificant details of our lives!
Once again I wasn't going to post for this week.  Life has been a little difficult lately and my camera just sits on the shelf and gathers dust.  I had an idea for the theme "Hungry".  Actually I had two ideas.  Both required staging.   So, neither happened.  That's okay, I thought.  Its no big deal to miss the week.  But I was disappointed.  Then God stepped in.
B has been studying nutrition in science lately.  He had to do a project where he prepared a healthy snack.  So I gave him a few ideas and turned him loose in the kitchen.  He made a wonderfully healthy snack for everyone - celery with peanut butter and apple and orange slices skewered on toothpicks.  He brought it outside to his brothers and sisters.
They apparently are not as health conscious at their brother.  This is what they did to their celery!

P52 The "eyes" of March (Week 11)

I wasn't going to participate this week.  My creativity seems to be nonexistent lately.  However, tonight, I gave the kids some cookies for dessert.  Hearing lots of giggles, I turned around to see two of my girls looking at the world through cookie colored "glasses".  I thought it would be a perfect shot.  However, being the newbie that I am, the first picture I took was too dark.  The second was just...weird.  Then another which is what you see below.  While I was trying to adjust the camera for a better shot, my subject ate her glasses!

P52 Be Still (Week 10)

 I really had a hard time with this one. Nothing in my life is ever still. My kids are NEVER still. The weather was not still this week either. We has terrible winds. Even my soul was restless this week.

 I had some old pictures that I was tempted to use. My youngest falls asleep in the strangest places and I have at least a half dozen photos of her. Maybe I'll scrapbook them and post later.

 Finally, this afternoon, B was wandering around waiting for his buddy to finish school so they could hang out.  He was bored to death.  Thankfully, he got the long awaited phone call soon after this shot.

P52 A Great Leap (Week 9)

Our trampoline lost a few springs several weeks ago, so Bob and I condemned it.  

The kids have been so sad.  They loved the trampoline.  So, when I told C to go jump so I could get some pictures, she was more than happy to comply!  I didn't even know she could do a flip!! 

P52 Cabin Fever (Week 8)

"B" was supposed to be doing his school work but obviously his thoughts were far from Language Arts. It was a beautiful day and he just wanted to be out playing in the warm sun playing football.  Shortly after this, I took pity on him and released him from the torture of school.  With a lout shout of "Yeah!" he was out the door like a shot!