A recap of the birthday celebration

From Tuesday night...My husband chose a family favorite for his birthday...Japanese Habachi style.
The chef invited Toot to try a trick.
The boys were mesmorized.

Our favorite part of the night: the famous onion volcano.

Lydie was a little nervous about the fire and heat, but we all had a good meal and a good time.

Home for birthday cake and...opening presents. Special cards, a knife set and hiking equipment. Looking forward to another wonderful year together! Happy birthday, Andy!

Happy birthday, love!

As the music at the banquet

As the wine before the meal

As the fire light in the night

So are you to me.

As the ruby in the setting

As the fruit upon the tree

As the wind blows over the plains

So are you to me.

~So Are You To Me, East Mountain South

You are simply the BEST! We all adore you!

A snowy day

Here in the south, snow is very hard to come by. In fact, most adults can name the years that snow has accumulated more than an inch on the ground. The snow days that are set aside for absent school days are a big joke and usually used for severe storm weather instead.
This past weekend, we were at the farm for some r & r. On Saturday, I spent several hours outside with Lydie throwing rocks and drawing in my nature journal. (The boys were in the creek or on the golf cart with their Dad and Poppy.) The weather did not require us to wear even a sweater.

Obliviously enjoying the first colors of spring
That night, when the weather man predicted snow, we all chuckled. Every winter there are at least two snow predictions, and almost every year no snow at all. There is some times a good freeze, maybe a rare frosty glaze on the grass, but mostly nothing more. We were all shocked to wake up to the white view of the front yard. The snow begged a day outside with the sled, four wheeler, snow man and snow balls, and snow ice cream. This day provided big memories with our cousins and farm neighbors! Years from now when we live on our farm in Alabama, we will talk every winter about "The Big Snow of '09"!

*The snow pictures were taken just as the snow began. It snowed at least four more hours after these pictures were taken, adding up to a big accumulation by lunch time!

Echoes

Even in the valleys, His grace is all-sufficient! Praying for the grace to live worshipfully, always in light of the cross, even when the trials are heaping. Fixing my wandering gaze over and over and over again on the beauty of my Savior. Crying out to Him for help today!

How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin

There is an endless song

Echoes in my soul

I hear the music ring.

And all the storms may come

I am holding on

To the Rock I cling.

How can I keep from singing your praise?

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is your love!

How can I keep from shouting your name?

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing.

I will lift my eyes in the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives.

And I will walk with you

Knowing you'll see me through.

And sing the source you give.

I can sing in the troubled times

Sing when I win.

I can sing when I lose my step

And I fall down again.

I can sing cause you pick me up,

Sing cause you're there.

Sing because you hear me Lord

When I'm calling you in prayer.

I can sing with my last breath,

Sing cause I know

That I'll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne.

I can sing!

Another Lydie bug post

I'm on a kick. Two year olds provide so much humor, though.

~Before nap, Lydie wraps her arms and legs around her oldest brother. She looks up at him in tears and says, "Zack-see, sabe me sabe me!" (Jackson, save me...!) She is SO dramatic!
~When her cousin came to stay with us for the day, she really enjoyed being in charge (since she is a whole 6 months older). After Baby O left, the next day she kept asking, "Where's that baby I am in charge of?" We think she might be a little Type A. But even so, she does love to deliver a good kiss. Pictured above: The fashionista in her new vest and blazer with sunglasses and pigtails. And she and Baby O- in her favorite ballet leotard and Mardi Gras beads.

Lydie and reason

I was putting Lydie down for the dreaded nap (that is, dread for her). And she began with the usual procrastinations, "I'm hungry." "I need to go potty." This particular day I had just taken her to the potty. So I explained to her that she was lying. Trying to explain a lie to a 2 year old is interesting. Here's how it went:

M: "You do not need to go potty. You just went potty. You are telling a lie."
L: "But I need to go potty."

M: "You are telling me a lie because you do NOT need to go potty. Telling a lie is wrong, and I want you to tell the truth."

L: "But...why?"

M: "Jesus asks us to be truthful. So do not lie about the potty."

L: "But...why?"

M: "Because Jesus loves you and he asks you to obey Him."

L: "But...why?"

M: "Because, he loves you. Jesus loves you. Does Lydie love Jesus?"

L: "Well, no."

And this is why I should never try to reason with a 2 year old. All I can do is laugh at her candor.

*Pictured above: Lydie taking a picture of me with her "phone camera".

Little glimpses of beauty

Two praises for us this week, and both from art class:

~Toot's habit training has proven fruitful. His art teacher raved about his progress with listening and following her directions yesterday. He also seemed to make great improvements with staying on task and not being distracted easily. Amazingly (by God's grace), Toot has not complained one time about the great reduction in his "media" time. He gets his time on Thursday nights from 6:30 until bath time to play his Wii. The rest of the week he doesn't mention it. And he and Jaybird have been outside so much more, playing checkers and reading more, too. They "dug a hole to China" last week, which thrilled me to no end.

2. The art teacher chose Durer as the artist of the week. I became curious from the brief biography that she sent home and studied further. Durer lived during the Reformation and was a friend of Martin Luther. In fact, I think he painted his portrait. This man's talent was extraordinary. I am especially impressed with his woodcut technique. Here is an example.

And here is Toot's own masterpiece. The letter block stamping at the top gave him the feel of using a similar woodcut stamp.

I am glad to be learning together!

Woo-hoo!

I almost let myself miss the consignment sale this year. I just did not think I had the time or energy to devote 4-5 hours to the process. But then I remembered the "preview sale". I look forward to the early bird sale for sellers and volunteers every year. So I committed myself to the grueling preparations of tagging all of our old stuff.

Yesterday my friend watched all three children while I shopped alone. I had 1 hour and 15 minutes to scour the goods, and a budget of $200 (this is a conservative estimate of what I hope to make from my clothes). My total was $204. Hopefully, I will break even when it's all said and done. Here's a list of my loot.

~9 boy shirts

~8 boy shorts

~1 bag

~1 girl vest

~1 girl blazer

~1 girl rain coat

~3 smocked dresses

~8 girl shirts

~3 girl shorts

~6 skirts

~2 capris

~2 pairs of girl shoes
~6 dresses

~3 toys

~3 books

~1 movie

Here are a few of my favorites:

I'm telling you, these consignment sales are so worth it! Okay, I'm stepping off of my soap box.

Little prayers

The baby's prayers are becoming longer these days. And when I ask for a volunteer at meal times, she always yells, "Me, oh me, Mommy!" and jumps and wiggles. Today at lunch she bowed her little pumpkin head and held her chubby fingers together under her nose and said,

"Dear God,

Jesus loves me.

Tanks for my Mommy.

Tanks for my Daddy.

Tanks for the guys.

Wuv, Lydie Joy"

And hearing her makes me pray,

"Captivate her Lord.

Continue to soften her little heart."

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The cast

My friend and her four beautiful girls (and their dolls)

Silly before the show, captivated when the curtain rose

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides..." C.S. Lewis

Don't want to forget...

Special time at night on the sofa as a family looking at this book. There are only pictures with captions...the rest of the story is up to our imaginations. Fun times!
My Jaybird was very disappointed when the Lego magazine promised a movie, but the movie did not come on as promised. We were very proud when he went and got a pencil and paper and wrote this letter all on his own. "Dear Lego Company, The movie didn't come on- The Power Miner's Mini-Movie. I really wanted to see it. What should I do? Please write back. Your biggest fan, Jackson"

Today we baked cookies to help our friend raise money for a mission trip to Russia. I have been praying for more opportunities to show mercy as a family. The Lord has provided.

I love the sunny days that provide a great setting for more time outside. (In this picture the sun is about to go down and we were still out.) I didn't think I could stand another rainy day!

A yummy opportunity to show the kids fractions. Math can be so much fun when I take the time.

Choosing to think about these things and not how incredibly exhausted I am tonight!

Valentine's day

Morning TreatsWith all the goodies

Love notes put into bags and hidden with cute stuffed puppies A yarn maze for eager children to follow
Bingo! Our Toot found his treasure first
My girl in her Valentine dress Favorite love notes:
"Be Mine, Mommy. Love, Toot"

"Lydie, you scribble real well. Draw here: (He drew a big box). Love, Toot"

"Mission: Have a great V day! Message: You are a great brother. Love, Agent J"

"Dear Peach (our cat), I like you. Love, Toot" *left on the cat's bed

Afternoon Treats

A surprise card with gift cards from Mimi and Papa

For the evening:

Andy and I watched this:

And drank this:
And enjoyed hours of quiet alone!

This was a wonderful Valentine's day!