Full Moon Art Project

I saw this idea a few weeks back and thought it looked really neat.   I used the tutorial on drawing a tree from this website.  

Draw a tree on black paper and cut it out.

Then, starting with a white oil pastel, draw concentric circles, gradually using darker shades of blue.  Finish with black on the very tips of the corners of the paper.

Take a q-tip dipped in baby oil to blend the oil pastels together.

Glue your tree to your moonlit background. 

Finished products:

Michael's (with help, of course...but he had to do a tree, too) 

Tera's 

Daniel's 

I love this project!  It's simple and the results are just stunning! 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 9

I'm overwhelmed by the simplicity of the Gospel today...

God loves us!!!  He really does!  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 

I don't deserve it, but He still loves me!  I make tons of mistakes, mess things up, and sometimes choose to do the wrong thing.  Guess what?  He still loves and forgives me!  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 

Jesus gave His life up for ours so that we could be saved from an eternity without Him.  He loves us that much...not for what we get right, but just because we are His creation.  

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21

He loves you today!  Be thankful for an unconditional love like that!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 8

Today, I'm thankful....

that we are in the "school groove" this year. (most days)

for rediscovering old CDs that I have loved in the past.

for nice people.

that my husband takes our son to flute lessons and I get time with the other two kids.

that almost 50 kids have signed up for a home school pen pal program I started in our local support group.

for healthy, happy kids.

that I have the privilege, right and honor to stay at home with my kids and be their teacher.

for a nice, warm, toasty house.  

for songs that say things so much better than I ever could.  

Laura Story - Blessings (Listen: Aline Barros) from jorgi on GodTube.




 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15

A little push...

Sometimes as a parent, we question our decisions.  The first day of swim lesson, Michael cried the entire time (fake crying, but crying, nonetheless).  I told the head instructor, if he was going to cry on the side, he could cry in the pool.  I wondered if that was a great idea.  

Well, as you can see 2 swim lessons later...

He kicks, tries to hold his breath and go under, and floats with his teacher only holding his head up.  

Tera and Daniel are doing great as well.  Daniel's going out to the 14 feet end (for the first time) and has a great back stroke.  Tera's starting to work on the butterfly stroke.  We couldn't be happier with our college student instructors.


Sometimes our kids just need a little push in the right direction...they may cry a little, but it's for their own good.  

30 Days of Thanks: Day 7

Sometimes things happen in our lives-not so good things. I grew up with a dad that suffered from alcoholism and a mental illness. My parents divorced when I was 7. My mom, brothers and I moved in with my grandmother and aunt. Not the best of circumstances to grow up in. (I'll leave it at that) My mom wasn't perfect, but she sure did love us a lot and sacrificed much for us. I grew up, got married and a few years later lost my brother and dad within a year's time.

I wouldn't choose now to go through those things. (Who would?) But I can see how God has taken EVERYTHING and shaped who I am today. (I'm definitely not perfect or where I should be by any means) I can see where God given me a heart for those who suffer with mental illnesses/alcoholism and veterans. All because I saw how much my dad suffered and wanted to be a good dad. I can offer comfort to those who've lost a sibling or a dad. I've seen people come to Christ through my brother's death. I understand growing up in a divorced household. I also made a commitment to my husband that we wouldn't follow in the path of my parents. 

We can choose to become bitter about our past--the hurts, the disappointments, the grief or we can grow closer to the ONE that made us. The ONE that loves us, the ONE that was with us every minute and comforted us, protected us, gave us His peace and so much more. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 Romans 8:28 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 

1 Corinthians 1:3-4

30 Days of Thanks: Day 6

It's been a blessed rainy Sunday...

I'm thankful for.... 

time alone 

warm soup 

a toasty home

beautiful fire in the wood stove 

protection from the elements 

a car that runs and has been paid off for years 

kids that are healthy enough to drive us crazy 

having all my "faculties"  (for now!)

relaxing times with family

hot tea, warm sweaters and electric blankets

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Psalm 95:1-6

What's Cookin'?

 Quick Corn Chowder

Homemade Crab Rangoon

I have to say...these were awesome!  Lots of work, but it was worth it.  It took a while to find the wonton wrappers in the store.  For future reference, look in the produce section at Walmart.  

Creamy Veggie Chowder

Pasta e Fagioli - Olive Garden soup...very good!

I'm trying a few new recipes this weekend:

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Old-fashioned Pull-apart Buns

Lentils Stew with Capers- another Olive Garden soup

30 Days of Thanks: Day 5

Today, I'm thankful for tiny little treasures held by tiny little fingers...

Every year, we mark the season of thanksgiving by a thankful turkey or a thankful tree.  This year a version of the turkey is back and he won a blue ribbon at the fair! 

I'm thankful for bread rising and pineapple upside down cake.

I'm thankful my home is a refuge.  Even more so that God is my refuge that I can run to!

I'm thankful for sore muscles because I'm physically able to do work. 

I'm thankful for piles of leaves to jump in!  

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:2

Jump right in and join us on this 30 Days of Thanks!  

Kites, Keys, KSO

It's been a busy week, but we still managed to do some "K" activities.  Michael did great in swim lessons this week.  Maybe next week, I'll remember to take my camera.  We had stuff going on every day , so we were pretty light  on the "letter of the week" activities.  We had fun, though!

 Play-doh and lite brite pegs...pre-writing activities

30 Days of Thanks: Day 4

Some days are harder than others to be thankful. When you're not quite feeling yourself physically, it skews your view of everything. Once again, being thankful is a choice. I can sit around feeling sorry for myself or I can choose to be thankful.

I'm thankful for these three....more than words can say!  I love hearing all their antics!  Whether it's Michael grabbing Tera saying "I luv youuu...I luv youuu", because he's trying to be Ernest T. Bass.  Hearing Daniel and Michael singing: "this is not where I belong...take this world and give me Jesus, this is not where I belong."  Tera being so concerned over Michael telling people where he lives at the park that she reads him Berenstein Bears' Stranger Danger book.  Even when they fight, bicker or argue...I'm still thankful! 

I'm thankful Michael and I made a "on a whim" stop to buy pumpkins...and that the woman working the cash register was being slow in getting to us.  Especially when we saw police cars, fire trucks speeding to a bad accident that had just occurred on the road we travel.  

I'm thankful for my small town and good neighbors.

I'm thankful for God's presence in the midst of my everyday life!  

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Hebrews 13:15 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 3

As this week goes on, I'm getting more tired. How can you be thankful about being tired? Then, I started thinking about how God designed our bodies so uniquely. We have systems in place that alert us when things are not going like they should. So, today I'll be thankful for God's unique design that tells us when we need more rest.

I'm thankful for getting our tree trimmed, today. We found out that a big limb that was hanging over the house was dead. Plus, it was great fun for the kids to watch all the machinery right out our window. 

I'm thankful for meeting new friends at the park, being able to buy things we need, and abundant sunshine.

I'm thankful God looks past my faults and loves me anyway. 

We've had a busy week, but my children have stayed focused. We've gotten our school work done with no problems everyday. That's really something to be thankful about.

I'm thankful tomorrow is Friday!

Michael has slept in until after 8 AM every morning this week so far!  

The more I'm thankful, the more my gripes, complaints and annoyances turn into "how can I still be thankful in this situation?"  Try it!

 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs. 

 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

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30 Days of Thanks: Day 2

Today, I'm thankful for beautiful music performed live.  Kids listening, learning and having a blast.  A husband, who gets up early after working late to go with us.  For being a part of a home school support group that organizes field trips like this. 

I'm thankful for new games found at the thrift store with all the pieces and three beautiful kids to play with me. 

I'm reminded that things/situations/the long, busy week,  we dread or just don't look forward to are never as bad as we think it's going to be. 

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

Colossians 3:17 

30 Days of Thanks: Day 1

I'm thankful for:

• little boys laughing hysterically at potty humor
• the sun shining and cool breeze blowing
• being able to sit on my porch for about 10 minutes without being buzzed by a yellow jacket
• flute lessons
• God giving me strength to make it through days when I'm very tired
• free Kindle books on Amazon (Check out this one:  Hope for the Weary Mom:  Where God Meets You in Your Mess...free for the next 2 days.  
• kids being excited about math
• a sink full of dirty dishes 
• grace when I don't deserve it
• friends who'll come along beside me in good times and bad

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 28:7

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Boo at the Zoo

We went to Boo at the Zoo this weekend for the first time...ever. I can only take credit for one costume in this picture...the store bought one. Daniel saw this idea last year sometime in a Family Fun magazine and asked for a bathrobe for Christmas. Tera has been talking about being Charlie Chaplin for months (due to my husband introducing them to all the Charlie Chaplin silent films). We weren't sure she could pull it off, but she was an AWESOME Charlie Chaplin.

 Here are my imaginative kids:

I cannot tell you how many compliments these kids received on their costumes.  Tera was told by at least one person that her costume was the best they had seen all year.  People were calling her Charlie all night.  It was nice to be in such a place where creative people appreciated imagination. 

I just had to get my picture taken with Scooby and Shaggy.  My husband says I look like "Where's Waldo?" in this shirt.  So, I guess I dressed up, too.  :)

I have to say my favorite part of the night was the Krispy Kreme donut at the end of the treat trail.  Michael didn't want his...so, let's just say, it definitely did not go to waste. 

Overall, Boo at the Zoo was a fun experience.  One child was a bit disappointed at the "small" amount of candy versus how much walking they had to do.  It was low key, relaxed,  and not very many scary costumes.  There were volunteers dressed up as characters for photo ops all over the place and all of them wore name tags identifying themselves.  It was a great evening!