Oak Trees at the Lake

This last weekend was our family's 4th annual weekend at a lake cabin near us.  We had a great time even though the lake was flooded 22 feet higher than usual.  This lake is so peaceful and beautiful, with post oak trees growing everywhere around it.  Scientists have tested some of the oak trees and some are 300 years old.  Miss E and I had fun collecting acorns to use in our fall décor.

I have been thinking about Isaiah 61 again lately.  It is one of my favorite chapters because it's full of hope for our suffering world.  In verse 3 it says that our righteousness will be like great oak trees, and I was thinking, why did it say we would be like oak trees and not like cottonwoods or elms or cedars?  I think it's because oak is so long lasting.  The righteousness God gives us through Jesus is just like that, steady, firm, and immovable.  What a blessing! 

To all who mourn in Israel,

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks

that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!

For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation

and draped me in a robe of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:3,10

Happy Mother's Day

~Me and my children~

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!  Being a mom is a wonderful gift from God.  I am so thankful for each one of the six blessings he has given us, and they treated me very well today. (:

This week SJ, our fourth child, found a robin's nest up in a tree.  He had to climb quite a ways up to see it, so he took my camera up there and every half a day he would go up and take another picture as the little baby robins slowly hatched.  It's been really fun to see his pictures and watch the progression!

Cracks in the shell...

Pushing his way out...

Mama Robin was always quite concerned when SJ was taking pictures...

All out, and the second egg (on top) is starting to crack...

We're hungry!!!

Baby birds aren't very cute.

 And this is SJ, he's a very unique child and brings us lots of joy. (:

Our oldest is graduating from high school this week.  I am trying not to think about it because it makes me sad, but we are also very proud of him and the man he has become.  Life goes by too fast.

Moments

Oh my goodness, life has been busy lately.  We have a Senior this year, and letting a child go is new territory for us.  I'm not sure if I really like it!  On the one hand, we are proud of him and the man he's becoming, but on the other hand I still think of him as that little six year old shooting his cap gun and riding his stick horse around the yard.  Like everyone says, it goes too fast.  

We have one in track, so we've combined a couple of the far away track meets with field trips to new places.  Seeing the real Apollo 13 command module was fun!

Now we are in the best month of the year, May.  The grass is green and the sky is blue, and the temperature is just right.  The moments fly by, so enjoy them!

Field Trip Time

One of the advantages of home schooling is being able to take lots of field trips.  Getting to see history or science in person is much better than studying it in a book!  So now that the weather is warmer we decided to head out and see what we could see. 

 

Our first stop was this old mill.  They are currently restoring it, so we didn't go inside, but it was fun to imagine how life might have been 140 years ago when this mill was built.

 

 

Here is an early photo of the mill, I'm sure it's good fishing there below the dam!

 

After our windy picnic lunch we stopped at the oldest courthouse still in use in our state.  The boys liked the cannon out front, as well as seeing the old jail in the back of the courthouse.

 

 

The jail was full of signatures of inmates scratched on the walls and bars, along with marks keeping track of their time.  I do not enjoy touring old jails, but the kids thought it was interesting.

 

 

Then we toured this old ranch.  The original owners spared no expense in the building of their stone house, barn, and outbuildings.  We enjoyed seeing the old house and figured if we lived there we would lose people, there were so many different rooms and nooks and crannies!

 

Now we're ready for another adventure!

Happy Easter

 

"God sent His Son- they called Him Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive.

 

He lived and died to buy my pardon;

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

 

Because He lives I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

 

 

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

 

And then one day I'll cross the river;

I'll fight life's final war with pain.

 

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns.

 

 

Because He lives I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives."

 

~Gloria and William J. Gaither~

 

And that's exactly why I want to wish you all a Happy Easter--

because He lives!!!

 

Christmas Reflections

A few of my favorite things about Christmas 2015...

 

 

Miss E's excitement about everything "Cissmas"- it was all new to her this year (since she doesn't remember last year) so every tall tree in the store or at church was just amazing!

 

Hearing DJ say it was his best Christmas ever.

 

 

So much good food- (I haven't had to cook much the last few days, since I overdid before Christmas)

 

Using the kids' great-great Grandma's white rose dishes and their great Grandma's silver at our Christmas brunch.

 

Playing table games with the family- we got a new one for Christmas called Carcassonne, it's pretty fun so far.

 

 

My grandparents good example!  Even though my Grandpa is now in the nursing home my Grandma faithfully goes there twice a day to help him eat his meals.  They have been married for 62 years now and their faithfulness is a great example to us all.

 

Good visits and relaxing times with our family.  We are very blessed.

 

Our Christmas day service at church was really worshipful- we always end our service with the Hallelujah Chorus, sung by anyone who wants to join the choir on stage, and it's my favorite part of Christmas morning each year.

 

And He shall reign forever and ever!

De-stressing Christmas

 

I'm writing this post to remind myself next year not to make Christmas so complicated.

It doesn't have to be liked 100 times on Pinterest or featured on someone's blog.

All it has to do is bring glory to the One whose birthday we are celebrating and provide a sense of security and good memories for our children.  If Mom is stressed nobody's happy, and this mom seems to be fairly easily stressed these days...

 

Maybe I'll try these ideas next year--

(I'm writing them here so I'll remember)

 

No shopping for gifts online, spending hours researching reviews and trying to get something "just perfect".   Just go to town with Andy one evening and buy everyone something.

 

The decorations do not need to be trendy or photo worthy.  Just warm and welcoming.

 

Store bought snacks are fine.  Don't stress about making 5 types of Christmas cookies.

 

Play lots of music- Christmas music always puts me in a better mood, and playing it myself on the piano is even better.

 

Spend some extra time in Bible study, this month our pastor has been doing a series of sermons on Christmas from Mary's point of view and I have really appreciated them, maybe look them up and listen again online?

Welcome to Winter

We are having a cozy Thanksgiving weekend at home this year, since we are getting freezing rain on and off.  It didn't seem to bother this squirrel though, since he was busy eating this hedgeapple he held real still so I could get his picture.

The last few roses, covered in ice.

The house is a wreck, as I'm deep in Christmas decorating.  Thankfully we had enough leftovers from yesterday I didn't have to cook much today.  It's been a good time of doing puzzles, playing with old forgotten toys, and watching movies.  We have lots to be thankful for.

What a Trip

 

This last weekend we went out to Colorado to visit Andy's side of the family.  One day we took a little trip over to Utah to see Arches National Park.  It was a beautiful day, not too cold, and just perfect for hiking to see a few of the arches. 

 

It had snowed a day or two before, and the snow with the red rocks was just beautiful.  We really enjoyed our time there.  This is Landscape Arch below, it was my favorite one.  Part of this one broke off back in 1991 while people were underneath.  That would be scary.

 

 

It was good to see all the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins again!

 

Then came the trip home...  It was definitely one of our most adventurous trips.  First we had to cross the mountains, where it was snowing.  The roads were wet and slushy most of the way, but part of the time they were more snow packed.  Miss E threw up all over her clothes and blanket about half an hour after we left.  At Vail pass there was a wreck so we had to wait 30 minutes there.  The sun was peeking through the clouds on the snow covered mountains and it was really beautiful.  The picture is not nearly as good as it was in real life.

 



 

As we came out of the mountains we got ahead of the snowstorm, but then we ran into the thunderstorms.  The sky across the plains of Colorado was really pretty, you could see just where the storms were- no need for radar out there!  As we were coming into Kansas this thunderstorm was building up and I told Andy, Colorado might have mountains, but we have clouds!  Famous last words...

 

Because a few minutes later this tornado came out of those beautiful clouds!

 

 

We pulled over to the side of I-70 and watched it cross the interstate.  It was really amazing.  After living here for 27 years this was the first tornado I've ever seen.  It was probably about 5 miles away.  Thankfully it didn't hurt anyone, it was pretty small as far as tornadoes go.

 

All of that made the trip take about 14 hours instead of the usual 12.  We were all very glad to be back, and thankful to God for getting us safely home!

Summertime

 

Summertime is pretty great in many ways,

and one of my favorites is vacation time!

Over the 4th of July weekend we went down

to the Ponca City, Oklahoma area and had

some good family times together.

 

 

I had heard about this waterfall at a small fishing lake

so we went to check it out, unfortunately it was just

a small trickle of water coming down.  I'm sure it would

be prettier after a lot of rain.  But the kids still had fun

playing in the little pools of water below the waterfall,

finding crawdads, minnows, and snakes!

 

Ponca City has their city fireworks over this lake,

so the three youngest had fun swimming while

we waited for the fireworks to start.

 

In other news, DJ made this bench and Adirondack chair

(with a little help) this spring and we just got them all painted

a couple weeks ago.  I especially like the bench he made out

of our old dining room chairs, he came up with it all on his own!

 

 

And here's an extra of our little princess...

 

 

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;

to you our vows will be fulfilled.

O you who hear prayer,

to you all men will come.

When we were overwhelmed by sins,

you forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,

of your holy temple.

Psalm 65:1-4