Friday, February 25, 2011

our week in pictures...




 warm days calling us outside to play

:::


 "flowers" and a card brought to mama

:::




A late Valentine's Day Party

:::


And now the snow is back... an afternoon full of hot chocolate and books

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I'm great at coming up with projects.  I think it must have started when he worked out in the garage for months and months after work. I saw his hands work hard.  I saw the beautiful work that came forth. Closet organizers...  hope chests... an overhang...

After we moved into our first house and John-John had his own room, it only seemed natural to ask Dad to build him a bookshelf.  He was still working and the project slowly came together in the afternoons.  And then a couple of years later I saw this dollhouse bookcase in a magazine that I loved and thought would be perfect for Faith's room.  I would hint and then I would beg and plead...  he finally (and maybe a bit reluctantly) began working on it.  It was amazing.

Then I saw a doll bed in this same catalog that I thought Dad could make with the boys... it turned into a Christmas present.  A present to treasure.



A couple of months ago, I found a grand idea for storage under the boys bunk bed.  Hey Dad.  Another email was sent with the picture attached.   He grabbed the boys and they went shopping for the supplies. A couple of afternoons later and it was done.



I already have more plans.




But, I wonder, if he dreads my emails.  :)  

Monday, February 21, 2011

Questions, answers, conversations while walking, natural discussions about great varieties of things, an atmosphere of reality; an atmosphere of honesty.  The family - a place where truth is to be discussed, taught, lived, and passed down.
Edith Schaeffer 
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

He's two years younger then his brother and already he is inches away from being the same height and if you have them step on the scale you see that already he weighs more. We've always told his older brother that he needs to be careful, his brother will all too soon pass him up.
He gets dirty, puts holes in his pants too fast, he can challenge his brother in a wrestling match, needs to be reminded to change his socks, loves to climb trees, and he can throw a mean pillow in a pillow fight.

Yet, he loves nothing more then hold your hand as we walk or to sit next to you with his arm around you, he rubs his daddy's back and cries when he finds out that his Daddy is not going to be home all day on Valentine's Day.

He loves with every fiber of his being.






Today as he sat reading to me, he slowly made his way into my lap.  He kept reading but my mind started wandering...  Here is my son, seven years old and about the size of his brother, climbing into my lap and it's not the first time it's happened in the last few weeks or months.  I put my arms around his stomach and thank the Lord for this moment.   I rest my chin on his head, and I pray that the Lord would bless him, I pray that the he would love the Lord with every fiber of his being because that's how he loves.




He plays hard and he loves hard.




((I'm treasuring these days))




Oh, my son.  We love you.

Friday, February 11, 2011

a week in pictures...



...We worked on some fun projects.  It was perfect for the coming of Valentine's Day...



...The snow came at the beginning of the week while we were still getting over the sickness, making us just want to snuggle up inside.   We snuck outside for some play on Wednesday and Thursday and now with the warm days, the snow is almost gone...




...and time spent making valentine's for those we love...



Tuesday, February 8, 2011

It's a cold and snowy day.  School is done and I find myself with some quiet time, so I grab my book and some hot chocolate.  But, I want to stop first and record the beauty that surrounds us.  Even with long nights and sick little ones, we have much to be thankful for.

**little ones who are starting to feel better, starting to show signs of life again**

**time spent laughing together, playing games in the early evening**

**warm drinks**

**quilts made by Nana**

**fun valentine's day projects being worked on**

**chicken soup**

**nap time**

**humidifiers**

**extra snuggle time**

**special notes from Daddy**



Friday, February 4, 2011

Our week in pictures...


Why is this sweet little girl so happy?  



She was found sitting in her brothers room...




Enjoying her sister's potty training jar of M&Ms!



Life is so hard when Mommy decides I am done eating chocolate.


A bunch of sick little ones.  

Covered in quilts, books read, special movies watched on the laptop....



And time spent sleeping in Daddy's arms.



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

a simple book list...

The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost guiding the reader to the truth and the life.   
A.W. Tozer



  • The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
  • The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer
  • What Is A Family by Edith Schaeffer
  •  George Mueller of Bristol by Arthur Pierson
  • The Attributes of God by AW Tozer
  • Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor
  • Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
  • Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
  • The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  • Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
  • Pocketfull of Pinecones by Karen Andreola
  • Lessons at Blackberry Inn by Karen Andreola
  • Mission Minded Family by Ann Dunagen
  • Laying Down The Rails by Sonya Shafer
  • Reflections of the Psalms By CS Lewis
  • One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
  • Six Days Of War: Jun 1967 by Michael B. Oren
  • Don't Make Me Count To Three by Ginger Plowman
  • God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
  • Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
  • When Children Love To Learn by Elaine Cooper


There is the starting of my book list for 2011.  I'd still like to add to it... maybe some books on American History or ....  


What are you reading right now?  What books do you love?