Sweet Momma Moment

Disclaimer: Events such as the following do not always occur in our home, but when they do, they are so very sweet!

My kids don't begin school until 8:45 (that seems so late to me) leaving us plenty of time in the mornings.  I've taken a bit of advantage of that and they generally have a chore or two to do before they head out the door.  This morning I had them for-go their normal chore and pick up the basement.  My reasons were two fold.  Even though they are responsible for cleaning parts of the house each week, they still need my attention occasionally!  So, I covered those chores and they had to clean up the basement.  Part of our basement consists of a large room where we have a vast majority of our toys that I don't often have them pick-up.  Needless to say, Legos and Playmobil have pretty much taken over that space and I find little joy in picking them up.  Off they went and it was really quiet.  I was busy with other things thinking that I should check on them to make sure cleaning up was actually happening, but I never did.  About the time we needed to leave for school, they all appeared and declared the basement cleaned.  When I returned, I went down there and it was beautiful!  I found the above note on the table downstairs that Luke had put together.  They had all worked together and did just what was listed.  To put the cherry on top, on the way out the door, Luke grabbed Hannah's backpack and carried it to the van.  She asked him what he was doing and he reminded her that it was help each other day.  Sweet music and thoughts to my ears and heart.  Definitely makes up for some of those "other" times....

Christmas Tidbits

We've had a bit of slower Christmas season than in some of the years past leaving room to relax, not post on my blog and just enjoying family time.  There are a few tidbits that I thought I'd share.

***

Last weekend (which was beautiful for this time of year!), we headed out to a local church and walked through their "Journey to Bethlehem".  It was very well done.  We enjoyed the sheep, horse, and baby camel. More importantly, we caught a very, very small glimpse of some of what Joseph and Mary may have experienced on their journey.  It was good for the kids and me to have a better understanding of how they may have been in fear of the Roman soldiers and that they were most likely not treated fairly, not to mention that they didn't even have a room to stay in when Jesus was born.  It was a different, but good way to reflect on this Christmas season.

***

We had a lyric debate of a popular Christmas carol this weekend.  What is the line in We Wish You a Merry Christmas?
a. bring us a thing of pudding (Luke)
b. bring us some piggy pudding (Hannah)
c. bring us some thingy pudding (Andrew)
d. bring us some fig and pudding (Chris)
e. bring us some figgy pudding (Kim)

So, we had Google settle the debate and "e" is the answer.  I won!

***

Chris and I had a good chuckle when overhearing Hannah and Andrew try to determine what day six and seven were in The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The conversation went something like this.... I'm sure it's not exactly right, but it's close.  They were confusing each other....

Hannah: (singing) .... six swams a swimming, seven...
Andrew: no six laying geese
Hannah: six geese a laying
Andrew: seven... what's seven
Hannah: seven geese a laying
Andrew: seven swimming geese
Andrew: seven laying swans
Mommy (after having a quiet chuckle):  it's six geese a-layin' seven swans a swimming
Hannah: proceeds to sing the correct words

All that to say, we all failed when it came to 10-12.  Google wasn't handy and I never took the time to look it up so I still can't recollect those...

Thanksgiving Snapshots

Thanksgiving week started with a read along of the traditional Thanksgiving story done by Andrew's 1st grade class.  I was thankful to get to see him do it and thankful that they got to tell a big part of the story (for a public school).  At the end, his teacher had them go around and give their name along with what they were thankful for.  Andrew said he was thankful for his family.

 What a treat...we got to host my entire side of the family for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure we've all been able to be at our house.  I loved it.  It was also the first time we'd all been together for Thanksgiving in 9 years.  That year we drove from Oklahoma to my sister's home then in Iowa with 2 month old Luke to surprise my parents.

 This little lady can not wait to get her ears pierced.  I'm sure she feels like 10 is far away, but it will be here too soon for her Momma.

We also got the tree up and decorated.  We've had a pre-lit tree for a few years and kept making due with the ones that wouldn't light.  All of that came to an end this year.  Chris and I with the help of Luke cut out 1000 lights from that tree and then strung ones that worked.  That took us at least 2-3 hours of both of us working on it.  Glad that's done and it should be much easier in the years to come!

Thanksgiving Days (part 4)

Thanksgiving 2013

I'm also thankful for our military friends that serve as family.  What a delight it has been over the years to celebrate with those God has brought into our lives to serve as family.  If there is a holiday that Chris has been absent for more than any other, it's been Thanksgiving.  The first one he missed was when Luke was a baby and a family from church invited us to celebrate Thanksgiving with their extended family.  We've been blessed to do this other times during our marriage.  Those days are just as special as spending them with our true families.  Never would I have guessed that God would provide and bless us so deeply in this way.

Thanksgiving Days (part 3)

I'm thankful for this family where I get to serve as wife and mom.  They love well.  It's not always easy, but God promised that life wouldn't always be easy.  I would call it more of a journey and adventure.  God certainly has put us in that place in life and I wouldn't want to do the journey with anyone else.  So very thankful for this family!

Thanksgiving Days (part 2)

Today, I'm thankful for my family that I was born and raised into.  God planted me in a home where he knew I would flourish, be loved, given good examples and be challenged.  I am deeply blessed in this area especially knowing this is not the case for so many in our world.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be where I am today in life and in my relationship with God if it wasn't for them. 

Thankful that we're now back in the Midwest where it's much easier to spend time with them after just a short car ride.  Looking forward to seeing them in just a few hours!

Thanksgiving Days (part 1)

I'm not very good at being consistent in doing daily blogs, but I thought I might give it a try - at least for a few days - this Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving so often gets lost in the rush of daily life, preparing for time with friends and family and Christmas is just begging to be noticed.  So this year, I wanted to try something different.  Something that would help me focus a bit more on what I'm truly thankful for.  So, we'll see how consistent I can be over the next few days...

Today, I am truly thankful for God, my relationship with Him, the fact that I can truly trust Him - no. matter. what!  God is never ever surprised by the events in the world or the events in my life.  I'm so thankful that He is so much larger than any of that.  This morning as we were going through the kids' devotional that God is so powerful that He only spoke the words and the world came into being.  If He is that powerful, it's beyond amazing and beyond words what else He can do.  I could go on and on, but I will leave it at that.  I don't deserve this blessing, but for it, I am eternally grateful.

Keepers of the Covenant - A Book Review

Keepers of the Covenant was a historical fiction book based around the story of Esther, Ezra and the Israelites that returned to Jerusalem from exile.  I had a lot going on while I was reading this book so it took me awhile to get through.  However, the story stuck with me and I was able to pick it up and know exactly what was going on.  I appreciated the story line, but I really appreciated the author's insight into the thoughts and feelings of the people as they made choices and lived during this time.  Culturally, this was so different than our world today so I really liked her thoughts as to why the characters made some of the choices that they would have made.  I also marked a couple of places in the book that I really liked and I never usually mark quotes in fiction books. She gave me real insight into the animal sacrifices (p 353-354).  Finally, I will leave you with this truth from page 240.

It was easy to rise up in faith and heroism when we faced a clear-cut enemy.  It's much harder to resist the enemy of gradualism and assimilation, much harder to maintain a passion for God when we're bogged down in the daily routine of life.

I received a complimentary copy of Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin from Bethany House Publishers.

He's Home!

It had been awhile - around 3 1/2 years -  since Chris had deployed.  Thankfully, this was only another 70 day absence.  I say "only" because we've had several friends experience 6 months or more for a deployment.  We haven't gone that route...yet.

Things went quite smoothly for deployment number 8 (I think that's the count now).  The kids and I kept busy here on the homefront and Chris kept busy flying.  There are always "things" that come up, but this time around they were of a more personal nature for myself and the kids.  Nothing big and absolutely nothing bigger than what God can handle.

Thankful to have him home!

Ultimate Sacrifice

Today is Veteran's Day.  This is a holiday I appreciate more and more each year.  I don't ever remember celebrating when I was growing up.  Now, my kids get the day off, they had an assembly to recognize veterans and have written more than one note of appreciation to a veteran.  In a world where things don't always look so swell for America, I was deeply touched by all that my kids were given the privilege of celebrating.

Through this, they've been reminded of the sacrifice.  Not to mention, that they live the sacrifice.  However, they most likely can't verbalize the sacrifices they make as a military child or the ones we make as a military family.  Yes, we've sacrificed time together, moved hundreds of miles from sweet friends and close family on multiple occasions and sent my Husband and beloved Dad into the unknown.  I'm thankful for the blessings, though.  Without any of those sacrifices, we wouldn't have been blessed with the gift of friends that serve as our family when we're far from home.  God has also drawn us closer to Himself through all of this.  Plus, we've gotten to see some pretty fun places.

I think of the sacrifices, though, of those that came before us.  Technology today makes it so much easier to be apart.  Skype and Facetime, not to mention a phone, are great advances that have helped bridge the gap.  However, there was a time when people had to rely on "snail mail" and would sometimes wait weeks before hearing important news from home.  I've even thought back to earlier times such as in the Bible.  When those men went off to war, their sacrifices were even greater.  They didn't even have the luxury of mail.  The family must of waited months at times to even know if their loved one was still alive.  All of these are in the area of contact with home.  I also think of the weaponry and how so many more lives were lost before modern day technology made weapons so much more precise.

I guess Veteran's Day just got me thinking about sacrifices people have made for their country and their freedom.  There is one Sacrifice, though, that makes all of this pale in comparison and is the most meaningful to me.  My God sent His only Son, Jesus, perfectly man and perfectly God and without sin, to die for me and my sinfulness.  He did this so I could spend forever with Him.  That is a sacrifice that surpasses my understanding.  Some men may die for a good man, but this Man died for me, a person full of sin.  Jesus is the only one who would ever do that.  For that, I am forever grateful!

Odds & Ends

We haven't been up to much recently, but I thought I'd post a few of my favorite pics of the past several days.

The Trio in their new spirit shirts.  They have a character building program at their school and the assistant principal wanted all the students to have a school shirt to wear to promote the program (at least that's the way I understood the story).  Anyway, they decided to tie-dye a shirt for every student in the building - nearly 700 shirts!  When I heard this, I thought they were crazy.  Parents provided the white shirt and they did the rest.  I was there a couple of weeks later when the entire school was decked out in their tie-dye shirts and I must admit, it was rather neat.  (Their school colors are blue & yellow.  Each grade was either all blue or all yellow.)

 Halloween was not a lavish affair in our home this year.  I know I've said this before, this is my very least favorite holiday, but I do try to have fun with the kids.  This year we went with a sports theme and I pretty much let the kids just pick out a uniform because this Momma was lazy in the costume department.  So, we ended up with a soccer player, a 49er football player (with the world's smallest football) and just a big kid in an even bigger jersey (not sure how Chris came into possession of this jersey because he didn't play football, but the kids think it's fun occasionally).

Fall leaves are quite interesting to my kids this year.  This can probably be attributed to the fact that we didn't have one tree in our yard when we lived in Georgia and Kansas and the wind was always blowing in Oklahoma to keep them out of our yard.  So, it's not uncommon to see the kids with a rake outside.  This was my favorite use of the leaves - the sidelines of a football field.  I was amazed at how truly rectangular it was.  However, it's probably not the safest one around with that tree in the endzone.

We received word this week that some sweet and dear friends will most likely be moving to our area sometime in 2015.  One of their daughters is Hannah's closest friend.  Here is Hannah getting to talk to her and her reaction to hearing the news that her sweet friend will (hopefully) be just a few minutes away.

The Great River Road

The forecast for today was to be stellar in the weather department.  So it didn't take me long to figure I wanted to get out and enjoy the weather and the fall colors.  We started our day at the Lewis and Clark Historic Site.  Chris and I had been there several years ago so it was fun to take the trio.  They're just getting into history stuff so they were soaking it on.  The consensus was that they would not have wanted to live in the one home room they also had on the premises.  Afterwards, we headed up the river a very short distance to check out the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  This was educational as Luke asked me before we left if there was a waterfall where the two met.  I'm sure that was a bit anti-climatic, but now they know what that looks like.  After a short break for lunch (I must mention that the mix your own flavor soda machine at Wendy's was a hit.  As a public service announcement - grape and lime Fanta are nasty!) we headed up a tower to get a better view of the confluence.  Andrew wasn't so sure about the height and they convinced me to walk to the bottom.  Thankfully, they didn't want to go up, but the down made me dizzy.  We then headed up the road a bit further and stopped at the locks and dam.  I think this was the best part of the day for everyone.  They really like watching the barge go through the locks.  We were so close.  We could easily talk to the workers as they passed through on the barge.  The last thing I wanted to do was to go see some of the fall colors.  Everyone else thought that was a great idea as well.  We got stuck in a horrible traffic jam.  So, I had to just be satisfied with looking at them from the van as we sat on the road.  It was a very fun day and we will definitely have to go back to this area and explore it some more!

Checking out the Lewis and Clark's quarters before they headed out on their expedition

 The Confluence Tower (150 ft)

 At the top (it was just a bit chilly in the shade, but the sun was lovely!).  You can see the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in the background

 Large Refinery.  This one belongs to Phillips 66 and it's their largest in the world.

 Another picture of the confluence....

 The barge going through the locks

 What I wanted to see more of - the beautiful fall colors.  It was a lovely area to see them, but my pictures aren't great because there was nowhere to pull off and I was supposed to be driving...

These bluffs with the fall colors were beautiful!  As you can see in that line of traffic...so did a  lot of other people!

End of Season Celebration

Last night was the end of season celebration for Upwards.  We have loved this program this year and will do it again.  It is structured, which I greatly appreciate, and the coaches care and really work with the kids during practices and games.  I feel like all of them learned some things this fall and grew up just a bit more.

Last night, they introduced all the kids with the NFL theme music playing in the background.  Each of the cheerleading squads did a short routine followed by some fun competitions and a slide show.  The games were fun, but they tied them in with some of the character qualities they learned during the season (cooperation, endurance and humility).  The kids were thrilled when at the end of the night they each came home with a trophy and coupon for a blizzard (yeah, I think they liked that last part the best!)

Here's just a few pictures from the evening.

 

 Hannah's part in the program

 #9 Andrew Robey played for the Buccaneers in the K-1st grade division

#6 Luke Robey played for the Packers in the 2nd-3rd grade division

 Fun game time.  Andrew was chosen to help with this game.  He's clear on the left.  He was so excited and dancing around.  You might have to enlarge the picture to see his expression.  I love it!

 The beginning of Hannah's cheerleading routine
(Hannah has pink tennis shoes on...)

Flag Football Season Complete

 What an absolute beautiful day to end flag football season.  With temps in the 70s, we actually got warm at the game - a far cry from the few weekends where I wore my winter coat, gloves and ear coverings (like last week!)

The kids had great games and it was a pretty sweet ending to a great season.

Hannah cheered nearly the entire game - now that they know more cheers.  I really don't think cheerleading is her "thing", but I think she had a good time with the other girls and it gave her something to do.  Even though, it might not be her thing, she always did her best and did what the coach asked of her.

Andrew had a good season and liked his coach.  I think that's because his coach would play catch and entertain him while I watched Luke's games.  Throughout the season, it was not uncommon to see Andrew pulling flags and running nearly the length of the field for a touchdown.  He even caught a pass or two and ran them in for touchdowns.  His last couple of games weren't the best, but he was having fun and loved to have his hands on the ball.  He's ready for the next football season to come around....

Luke had a great season.  He had some great plays on both sides of the ball.  He pulled quite a few flags and some of them were within feet of the goal line.  He also ran the ball in for touchdowns a few times after running the length of the field.  Today, he caught a pass in the end zone for a touchdown and threw a pass into the end zone also resulting in a score.  He was so excited!  They only won two games this year and one of those was today.  He was thrilled.  He has liked soccer, but he's been saying that flag football is now his favorite.

Here are a few highlights of the today and representative of the season.

Praying before the game
Andrew is blue #9

 Hannah's routine at half time

 Each player received a star sticker after the game.  The different colors indicate different areas of excellence such as offense, defense, effort, leadership and Christ-likeness.  Andrew is receiving his final stars from his coach.

 Each player was introduced by name at each game.  Here Luke is running out for team introductions (white #6)

 Luke with a flag

 Playing center

 Running...

 Luke catches an interception

 Playing quarterback.  This was his touchdown pass that resulted in a score.

Transitions

I've been thinking about this post for a bit.  I hope that I concisely fit in everything that I've been thinking and feeling over the last months regarding our move nearly four months ago.  I often get asked...."are you settling in? did you find a church?  are the kids settling in at school? and any variation of those questions.  I thought I'd give you a window on some of my observations since making our move over 600 miles from our last assignment.

First up is school.  The school transition was probably my number one concern going into the move.  I never moved while growing up and I never switched schools as well as a vast majority of my classmates.  So, to experience this was uncharted territory.  When we had moved to our last assignment, Luke was going into kindergarten.  Moving after they all three felt established in a building and curriculum was something new.  Honestly, I think I was the one most concerned about the transition.  The trio seemed to handle it quite well.  They were quite tentative at first, but we went over one morning before school started and the principal met us at the door and showed us all around and gave us insight into how the school ran.  That morning played a huge part as well as the meet the teacher evening in making their school transition quite easy.  Oh, I must also mention the great teachers that had prepared them for their new school curriculum as well.  It's been a rather seamless transition as the kids seem to just be in a good spot. Yes, there are things that I prefer about our last school over this one, but there are things that I also prefer about this school over that one.  I think that would be the case no matter where we lived.  So, what I considered my main concern with moving has turned out to be a mute issue. 

Next up is church.  Our church transition has been the most daunting.  At our last assignment, we had very few choices when it came to churches.  We basically chose on the non-negotiable theological issues.  However, there were things about the church that I struggled with the entire time we were there.  So, it was with eager anticipation that I looked forward to moving to a larger metropolitan area with more choices in churches.  Instead, the search for our new church home has been one of frustration and discouragement.  I don't feel like my expectations are unrealistic (spiritually impacting children's ministry, genuine worship and God's Word spoken directly to our hearts hosted by a welcoming congregation), but we have once again faced a hard time in finding a church home that is a good fit for our family.  We faced this once before in Wichita, but God graciously gave us a church home that deeply impacted my life because they were what a church should be.  After being a part of a church that did church right, it's really hard not to compare every other church to it.  However, this is a new place and we must move on.  I think we may have found a church, but I've always been a believer that you must attend more than one week before making a final decision.  So, we are just waiting to see if this is the place for us.  I am thankful for friends from a previous assignment that have been a huge blessing to our family as we've shared the church search experience.  It's been good to be held accountable during this time of transition and to have their added insight and discernment.  So thankful despite how hard it has been.

Now for the unexpected transition.  There was one transition that I didn't see coming and it has been huge.  Our last assignment was in a rather remote and undesirable part of the US (there is a reason why Oklahoma was one of the last places to become a state!)  That alone made it a wonderful assignment because no one was distracted by having to go to this and that activity.  We were all the activities.  You saw the same people everywhere you went.  There was community!  I think it's always been this way for me, but I think I can better put it into words now.  I will take community any day over the amenities that larger metropolitan areas have to offer.  Yes, I enjoy all the fun stuff to do while we are here.  However, I miss the community.  There are so many people.  I have people I know around, but I rarely see them because there is so much to distract.  We are into our own things and don't take time to invest in others.  This probably goes somewhat hand in hand with finding a church since that is usually where I find my community.  However, I've come to realize the importance in the fact that people are what matter.  Yes, it's great that Target is just down the road, but I can get whatever I want and need now in a few clicks on the computer.  I'd much rather spend time having meaningful time with people that God has put into my path.  This is still a work in progress  and may be for some time to come.  Don't get me wrong.  I do like it here.  I'm in love with the scenery and the more rural setting.  I think it's beautiful and I'm sure when we move on, I'll be sad to say good-bye, but the community is what I have deemed as important and that needs some work.

Well, hopefully, that makes a little sense of what it's been like for the last few months and a glimpse of what our life is like in our new place.  Don't get me wrong.  Things really are "fine" here, but there are a few things that are proving to be struggles just below the surface, but they too shall pass....

Field Trip #3

Our token field trip picture

Today was Luke's much anticipated field trip.  He's waited patiently while the other two enjoyed theirs and he was more than ready for today's outing.  I, on the other-hand, was not overly thrilled, but I wasn't letting him go alone on a field trip - especially this one to a movie. 

I have a soapbox over the entire affair - the fact that they took a field trip to a movie when there are so many other really neat outings they could have done instead.  The fact that they picked the movie they picked for him to watch.  The fact that we didn't see previews that the teachers made sure to mention.  However, we sat through at least 10-15 commercials that were not entirely appropriate for third graders.  I will stop there and jump down off my box before you really get me started.... 

Yes, I know I could have pulled him from the field trip.  However, I prayed, thought, and sought wise counsel before signing off on his permission slip.  The decision wasn't made lightly.  In the end, it provided a great groundwork for more discussion.  It was even a good object lesson that tied in with our family devotions.  We've been going through the most recent book published by Children Desiring God called God's Wisdom.  It goes in depth in giving Biblical examples of wise and foolish decisions and how we as Christians should live.  Before the movie, I told Luke to look for wise and foolish choices that were made.  I thought he did a good job of distinguishing between the two.  That doesn't change the fact that the entire movie was based on a worldview that our family doesn't operate under.  However, it brought up some good discussion for us.

So thankful this one is in the books.  Rumor has it that 4th graders get to go to the Science Museum.  Now, that sounds way more fun!

A Day Off

 Watching the cars on the interstate pass underneath

Kind of a day off...

We have done so much this week.  I'm pretty sure I've run around everyday this week and today was no different even though the kids were home.  I wanted to do something fun with them and they always enjoy the science museum.  I've been wanting to take them back, but with flag football games every Saturday, we just hadn't made it.  Evidently, there were several families that thought the same thing because it was busy!  We had a good time, though, watching science demonstrations (with a multitude of jr high students on a field trip...) taking in some of the other exhibits and finishing off the day with two special areas they have - Lego mindstorm and a discovery room.  I took Andrew to the discovery room with all sorts of different toys - the magnets were the biggest hits - while Hannah and Luke did the Lego Mindstorms.  You had to be seven to do the Legos.  I assured Andrew I would take him there after he reached that milestone.  Of course, that was the best thing.  They had a little competition at the end.  Luke and Hannah were delighted that theirs tied for the championship!  We will definitely be doing that again!

 Andrew and the magnet toys

The tying championship lego creation

Field Trip #2

 The hippos - this is where we always find them at this zoo!  They look the same every time.

Today, was day number two of my field trip chaperoning.  Yes, this day was also a bit more challenging, but the kids in our group did a fabulous job of staying together, enjoying the animals and  never complaining.  The first challenge was the forecast.  It was not nearly as stellar as yesterday.  With the forecast of rain on and off for most of the day, it didn't sound overly fun.  However, I must also remember some of our best family outings have been on days just like this because there is no one else there!  That was precisely the case today.  It had essentially stopped raining by the time we got there and we only had showers shortly before we left.  That was far better than the torrential downpour that we'd had earlier in the morning.

As for the animals, the ones we saw were active.  I must say my favorites for today were the sea lions.  They were wanting to play and were really showing off when we went through the exhibit.  We actually got to see all the big animals that we had time for and even saw the cheetah, which is usually so very elusive and likes to hide in the tall grass.  Our free time seeing the animals was when the second challenge was faced...we got lost.  OK, not really lost, but we were certain there was an exit for an area when the workers told us there wasn't or it was closed.  Not sure which it was, but we retraced our steps and I'm sure we did about a half mile in very short order and got back to the building just as the teacher was calling to see where we were - ugh!  We made it, though, just in time for their vertebrate class.

After a quick lunch and visit to the insect building (because it was now raining), we loaded the bus back home.  I must say that ride could have been over much sooner and I learned something.  I think Hannah gets motion sick on the bus.  We sat in the front of the bus on the way there, but were in the middle on the way back - thankfully, not the clear back!  She was not feeling good by the time we got back to the school.  (she doesn't ride the bus to school, so thankfully, this is very rare)  She informed me that she wants to go on future field trips, but she wants me to drive her in the van.  We might just have to do that!

 One of several elephants

We made it...thankfully, I have a few more days before field trip number 3!

A First

Today, I chaperoned my first school field trip.  Honestly, it was probably one of the easiest as well.  Andrew's class visited a local pumpkin patch.  It was a beautiful day just perfect for pumpkin pickin' and visiting the farm.  This was a new place to me and we will definitely have to go back there again.  I'd better save its location, though, because I wouldn't find it without the gps!  They had a fun play area for the kids before we headed to the pumpkin patch.  They had all sorts of the pumpkins for the kids - just the perfect size for them to carry.  On the wagon ride back, the farmer pointed out various crops and even stopped to pull a late season watermelon and sliced it open for Andrew's teacher to taste right there.  It certainly looked good!  The final stop was to see all the animals complete with feeding the cows and holding baby chicks.  Oh, I forgot what I think was Andrew's favorite - sampling the apple cider (he wasn't keen about the bees that also like it!) 

Now, round two of field trip chaperoning happens tomorrow.  Hopefully, it will be as successful!

The Skies

 Just a couple of beautiful examples of Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Thankful for a McDonald's Fundraiser

So, first of all, I never thought I would write thankful with either the word "McDonalds" or "fundraiser".  I'm ok with McDonalds from time to time, but it isn't my favorite and fundraisers just aren't my thing.  However, the kids came home tonight excited that their teachers were to be at McDonalds tonight for a school fundraiser.  I figured we could squeeze in a quick trip for ice cream between dinner and flag football practice.  We did it and I'm so thankful.  One thing I have felt lacking was that I just didn't know the kids' teachers and I really felt a disconnect there.  Thankfully, two of their three teachers were there.  They spotted us and came and chatted for quite a bit.  It really was a good environment of not talking about the kids' progress in class and just getting to know them a bit better by personally interacting and watching them interact with the kids.  Plus, the principal came up and called us by name.  She never ceases to amaze me as to how she knows who we are when there around 700 students in the school and I wouldn't put it past her to know all of them.  Finally, as we left, we saw one of our neighbors that also has a daughter Hannah's age and they've been able to connect a bit.  For one of the first times since moving, I caught a brief glimpse of a community.  For that I am thankful even though it did take place at McDonalds on a fundraising night!

BOO!

Honestly, I could easily skip halloween.  It's just not my favorite holiday.  However, there are a few fun things of the season that I enjoy.  One of those is being "boo-ed".  I had never seen this done until a few years ago when we were in pilot training when we were boo-ed for the first time.  Since then, we've been on the receiving end a few times and a time or two, I've even started it.  (I just don't think of it every year...).  Anyway, if you aren't familiar with the premise, you are boo-ed in secret with a treat that is left on your doorstep with instructions to pass it along to a couple of other recipients in secret.  You also hang part of the note in your window so you arent' boo-ed more than once.  It's just fun.  This year we were once again on the receiving end - although, we know who it was from (thank you!)  The kids loved the treat and were fascinated and excited to pass it on.  We picked a couple of neighbors and then we were off.  They thought it was super fun to sneak up to the door, leave the treat and run like crazy so they wouldn't be discovered.  I'm pretty sure they enjoyed the giving just as much or, more likely, more than they enjoyed receiving their treat.