Friday, January 30, 2009

Winter Pictures

If you know me, you know that I like to take pictures. I take lots of pictures! So even when I was too busy to blog, I still had my camera within reach to grab some pictures along the way. Just thought I'd share a "few" from the last month.
The picture above I call "Christmas Snow" If you can, click on it to enlarge it and you will see why. You really can't tell with it the standard size, but full size you can see rainbow sparkles in the snow.

This is Christmas day. Kate on her new bike.


(Above) Kate often finds herself in the position of having to model for me as I try out new lighting techniques.

No mother of the year award here. I was so busy trying to get the settings right on my camera that I didn't even notice that she wasn't wearing gloves! Can you see how red her hands are?

Danny helping Dad bring in the firewood.

Yes, Tyler is still a part of our family, he just doesn't like to get his picture taken. Just wait though, I was able to get a few of this magnificently elusive creature.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A Week of Accomplishments!

First the answer to the questions from last time: It is from Horton Here's a Who-the cartoon, not the movie which I have never seen. It is the cry of all the little Whos on the little dust speck. Not sure why it was rattling around in my brain that night-Danielle, it probably really is some deep spiritual issue, but more likely it is due to Kate's accomplishment this week. Read on....






This has been another busy week, but also a week where God has highlighted the gifts He has given to my children and to me through the blessings my children are to me. So it is Him I praise for their successes and accomplishments. Thank you Lord for these sweet encouragements to my dear ones.

Monday morning we took Tyler to the doctor to get his ear rechecked to be sure that the punctured ear drum had healed completely.(yes, it is healed!) While waiting for the Dr., Kate picked up a Dr. Seuss book, "Mr. Brown can Moo, Can you?" and she proceeded to read the whole book out loud to us-ALL BY HERSELF! Okay, so I helped her with a couple words, but for the most part it was all by herself! She is loving school and really wants to be able to read and she is doing so well!! She is figuring out pretty difficult words that don't quite sound like what they look like and she is remembering words that she has seen before in a book. She is starting to get excited when we are driving or at the store and she is able to read a sign along the way. I just find this time of learning so fun and exciting to watch!

One night this week while putting Danny to bed, we sat down to read from his Bible. He pulled it out and opened it to Numbers 22. I asked why there? And he told me because that is where he is. He has apparently been reading from the beginning of the Bible and that's how far he has read. I asked when he was doing this because I hadn't seen him reading it, and he confessed that sometimes he reads in bed with the flashlight on AND he takes it on the bus to school and reads it!! Way to go Danny! I was so encouraged that he is digging in like that into God's word.

Friday I received a letter from the middle school. Knowing that report cards are due soon, I assumed that's what it was, but it wasn't. It WAS a letter informing us that Tyler was chosen as the student of the month for December in his "Enrichment" (gifted) class. His teacher wrote "Tyler is doing a phenomenal job in 5th grade enrichment. He takes his assignments and projects very seriously. I was very impressed with his story telling presentation. He took a complicated story and retold it flawlessly." Tyler was so excited when I told him. It was very sweet. His face just lit up and he said "Wow. I didn't think I would ever get chosen for that!"

This past weekend the boys had the Father/son bake-off with the Scouts. They worked really hard coming up with their creative ideas for their goodies. Though the kitchen looked like a flour/cocoa bomb went off, they sure had fun! Their hard work paid off with a 2nd place ribbon for Danny for Presentation and a 2nd place for Tyler also for presentation as well as a 3rd place for Taste. This is Kate watching Danny's cake baking. I call her the Ballerina Baker.

Oh and 1 for Rick too-the Sunday paper had a little blurb about the preliminary approval for his plans to construct a new building for the business. That mess should all start, possibly and Lord willing in the Fall.

As you can see from the picture below, Kate has also discovered that she really IS Cinderella!

And my accomplishment? I think that I am finally through with the insurance mess! At least the meeting for the employees was held on Monday, all papers are signed and my days are no longer consumed with co-pays and deductibles and MERP this and savings that and to do the dental or not to do the dental etc. etc. etc. YEAH!

As you can see, God really has blessed us this week, as He does in every week. Thanks for reading through and sharing in our joy. I pray you are seeing His goodness in your week as well.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I am here. I am here. I am here. I am Heeeere!

Does anyone understand my reference in the title of this post?
Just wondering.
Hopefully I will have time to actually post something soon.