The importance of a day

"How we spend our days, is how spend our lives."

Annie Dillard

With Thanksgiving 2017

Oh runs, I am so forever thankful!

Here we come Thanksgiving.  We are used to being without

Andrew on Thanksgiving but that doesn't mean we like it..

hope we will get him again for a Thanksgiving morning!

She wanted to make grandma Carol's rolls we always

had and they turned out pretty easy and so yummy!

Tradition!!

Selfie on the way to church! 

We volunteer each year and the kids really like

helping.  This year we did something different 

and greeted.  The thing we have discovered with

volunteering is that it isn't always comfortable and

sometimes you have to figure out your spot.

This is an area I want more of for all of us in our family!

Aunty Gail again sent us our leaves from

Kansas fall!

We never know who will bless our table each year.

Usually it is the Bowens and beyond that it's

different each year.

I have this thing about going to the beach on

holidays, it just sets my heart right.

So we jumped in the car after everyone left

and even though darkness descended pretty 

quickly we saw sand and water!

Thankful, indeed!!

I was excited for this part and I think we have a new

tradition, watching "Miracle on 32nd Street."

A good day.

Twirl

I have said before that there are certain people who can 

bless us in a way that no one else can.  Andrew,

as my husband can bless me in a way no one

else can because of the nature of our relationship.

If I miss that blessing for him, it is missed.

it can be a weight or an opportunity and blessing!

I remember a counselor telling me she had a vision

that I could twirl without worry that those influential

voices in my life would not tell me that my slip was showing...

and thus stop the twirling.

My girls.  I want them to twirl and I get to just

enjoy them and allow them to see my face brightened

because of them.  

Sometimes playing the role of teacher I can get

more in my critique voice.  I think I have that voice

also inside my head.

This is an area I want to be aware of and bless

my circle in a way that no one else will have 

that unique voice of blessing.

They will helpfully have many blessings heaped

upon their heads in their lifetime but I want mine

to be right in there.  And I don't want them to grow

up remembering that they were applauded and 

encouraged but there was also a critique that

accompanied my voice in those places.

Gigi's doll Snow White.

I wonder how many times little Virginia

squeezed that doll's head or she brought comfort

to my mom.  I love that we have her.

Fall this and that....

Some of the stuff he's into....

I'm into this....

A familiar Saturday scene....

We has such fun on this evening.  We hit the

factory outlets and got into Christmas.

I even bought Christmas flannel p.j.'s!?!

And this guy...who knows???

A favorite spot of ours to eat.

Dev's shoes passed down to me...a fancy

fall outfit for Maui.

We are thrilled...Magnolia in Maui.

I couldn't be happier that he wants to read the Bible.

"Homeschooling isn't as complicated as we often make

it out to be.  Methodologies, practices, manuals, curriculums-

they're all just a means to an end and we cannot let them 

get in the way of what life is all about.  Togetherness.

Real conversations.  Fueling their interests.  And discovering

what learning looks like for our own individual families. Anisely

Lisa Murphy reminds us: "The children are the curriculum."

I desire to live this more freedom in 

our homeschool days!

Native American unit

Dev surprised me and made me one.

This little plant was all but dead.  I cut it way

back and these flowers bloomed.  It is such

a reminder of hope to me!

Trying on her babies clothes....

Another Art lesson

Papa is learning Maui again to head to CO.

Dev and I caught this sunset one evening!

I remember how mom said, "Walk in the light you have."

Planning another Birthday party!

Girls working

Who doesn't love a pad and pencil...

Native American diorama

Maui Invitational

Collecting driftwood for our craft project for Bible study.

Hanging out...