Nanny's Birthday 9/23/2009

Nanny's 74th Birthday !

Helping the church help others......

Our church was asking people to help those who can not afford a Thanksgiving dinner. We let Chad pick out various items for us to go buy. He thought it was fun and I was happy with another way to instill a great lesson. !

Making pizza.....

Making pizza for lunch :) Chad loves to be in the kitchen. So why not lunch and cooking class all in one ?

Sad or funny ?

Chad just came to me and asked me to measure his waist. When doing so I told him to suck in his stomach as much as possible. In a quick breath he sucked his stomach in and 26".........exactly what my waist measurements were when Gene and I started dating ! Chad's hips are quite a bit smaller then mine were though ! LOL

Thanksgiving is almost here......

Thanksgiving is almost here :) I am not as excited as I usually am when I have my own home but there are many seasons throughout one's life and I know this too will pass. Things are actually going extremeley well here at my parents and for that I am very thankful. Not having a place of our home could be much worse. I am thankful that we do have loving family by our side during this long winter season in our lives. And I do feel spring is just around the corner :) In fact I believe there are some blooms that are trying to peak up through the remaining snow. I want to make sure that not just at this time of year but all year long I remember to be thankful. To be real and honest with you there are times I just plain fail at this. Don't get me wrong I am extremely thankful for so many things among them our health and the bond that has formed between my family. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time with the whole house thing. I am constantly having to RE lay this situation down at the Lord's feet. I am not keeping it there but constantly realizing I once again "picked it back up" and stressing over it. I know as a wife and mother a home is what makes me feel defined. Yet I really truly want to only be defined in the Lord and NOT any thing of this world. I want this but I can not seem to achieve this ! Even as I write this I know that this is something I will never be able to achieve on my own but something the Lord will have to work within me. To be honest I believe the Lord wants a wife and mother to feel conected to her home, making it a place her family feels safe and secure. Making it a place our loved one's want to be at the end of the day. So while I know there is nothing wrong per say with desiring a home of our home I just need to learn to wait patiently and be content in this season :)

Flower from Chaddy........

Chad picked me a flower :) I love the simple things in life. I often ask myself why it is so easy to get caught up in other things and simply forget to enjoy lifes little blessings ?

Chad get's to go with daddy.......

The thing I enjoy most about Gene going self employed is the flexibility. It makes me feel like we are on the right track when I see the excitment in Chad's eyes as he get's ready to ride along with daddy.

Shoe Box Project 9/2009

Shoe Box Project 9/2009

Even though the past year and a half has been really hard on us we are trying to make a point of being thankful. There are so many who do not have a roof over their heads or pillows to lay their heads down on at night. We still truly are so blessed. As Americans it is so easy to feel like we have fallen short because we no longer fit in the traditional "we have it all together" mold. Yet if we take the time to look around it is not hard to see we really are truly lucky people. There are so many others with so much less. This year we have talked with Chad about the upcoming holiday. We shared that with the money we have for the holidays we want to make sure we don't just buy each other gifts but help those in need. That our Christmas will be smaller then in past years not just because of our circumstances but because from our circumstances we have learned how much some one elses gesture of kindness can make your day. We have put together a list of ways we are going to show kindness this year. One of them was the shoebox program. We filled 2 shoe boxes. One for a girl and one for a boy. It was a lot of fun :)

Helping with supper 9/09

I have been trying to incorporate everyday life lessons into our school day. I have been feeling I really need to take advantage of these homeschooling days while I have them :) These are moments to cherish. As a mother it is easy to sometimes let homeschooling stress me, yet God has reminded me time and time again what a precious treat this really is. Most Mommy's do not have the chance to pour into their children the way that I do on such a daily basis. I am trying to not let the days go by in vain. Homeschooling is so much more then just getting the required work done but a time to allow God 's spirit to move. Please keep me in prayer as I try to do what the Lord is requiring of me right now. Pray that I do not become overwhelmed as I so often do but that I allow us to walk in God's peace and stay in His presence throughout the day.

Blessings,

Legoe Projects 9-2009

Chad loves playing with Legoes. He got these small sets for his birthday and was so proud to show them off after completing them :)

November 2009 **Autumn Blessings Art Project

Thanking our soldiers on Veteran's Day 2009

As a school project I had Chad put together a small gift for my cousin Josh who is currently serving our country. We talked about what Veteran's Day is for. How we need to thank and honor those who have served. Also give thanks to those who are currently serving.

Hope Well Furnance N0V. 8th 2009