“I may be speaking to some who can say, with an emphasis, that they oftentimes find great crops of thistles springing up in their hearts, and they have to keep the sickle of sacred mortification going to cut them down, and they try if possible to dig them up by the roots. But thus it is; you cannot expect a perfect life of happiness in an imperfect world Eke this. No; your Savior carried the cross, and you will have a cross of some kind or other to carry after him. ??Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee.?? Spurgeon, C. H.
Saturday, December 09, 2017
The Costplus World Market has been in the same location, by Toys R Us, for as long as I can remember. It's one of the few niche stores that has not been replaced by something newer. I'm so glad that they continue to survive. Now my own children love to browse and find things.
Jenn, holding a gather sign. Given that this is so close to Thanksgiving, she thinks perhaps people have replaced "give thanks", with gather.
We love this mirror hung on the wall, but have no clue if it's for sale. It was the only one we found.
Do you know what sitcom this product can be found in?
Sunday, January 03, 2016
We bowl with the gutter gaurds up. At times the bowling ball is bouncing back and forth several times before hitting the pins. Are we bowling or playing pinball?! And it's always suprising when Claire throws the ball so slow that a crawling toddler would win the race, yet with hardly any movement, the ball manages to know nearly every pin to the floor.
We had fun. I definitely recommend going to an old school bowling alley without any screens to distract. I can't stand the new places with darkened lighting, glowing pins, and screens across the wall. I feel as if I'm seeing double as I try to focus on the pins.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
An Escape from Flowery Bits
We thought it would take more preparation and planning to put together a tea party. But Claire, in her youthfull zeal, wanted to have a tea party the upcoming weekend. We had imagined a sizable amount of effort was needed to prepare such a danty and pretty ocassion. But it wasn't as much work as we thought. Brownies were baked the day before, the rice crispy treats popped out of the premade treat sized bags, the waterman was sliced Jenn-style, and the tea was replaced by pink lemonade. Apparently little girls like tea parties, but don't like tea.
We found a spot in the shade, under a massive hybrid tree-bush in our backyard, but the children soon discovered that the tree was becoming a nuisance as it was raining tiny bits of pollen and flower onto their food. A swarm of bees regularly inhabits the bush during times of flowering. All their activity causes bits of flower and pollen to rain onto the grass below. The children held their hands over their food and drinks to protect it from the falling debris.
One of my children proposed I bring out the shade tent. What an exellent idea! And a few short moments later, the children sat in the shade, protected from falling flowery bits.
I left the kids to talk and chat and live in their tea party reality. When it seemed right, I proposed we capture some memorable expressions.
I find it hard to foget these faces.
So stinking adorable, right?
Thursday, September 04, 2014
When Sung by Whitney Houston
Jenn played the Star-Spangled Banner for a homeschool lesson. She searched youtube and found Whitney Houston's rendition. At the end of the song, Matthew asks, "Is that the song for the freedom of black people?" It's nice to know he has a sensitivity to social issues.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
The new dog is always rushed by a pack of dogs. The first time this happened to Tessa, she ran out the park and hid between cars on an adjacent street. We left the park that day and went straight home.
Now Tessa has no problem meeting the dogs and is often prodding them to play with her by nipping at their neck and teasing. Sometimes this results in some fun chasing and wrestling, but there are times when it results in a grumpy growl and a snappy warning.
At times there are 10 to 12 dogs sniffing, wrestling, playfully biting at each other, chasing balls, begging for treats, lapping up water. And of course, there's the usual pooping and peeing. But the concerned citizen need not be alarmed, these owners look out for each other and let the owner know when their dog is pooping.
It's fun to watch the happy dogs. Here's Levi, who always remembers that I have a hip bag of treats. He's such a good beggar.
The dogs often love to play rough and the snapshots capture what may seem to be a horrific scene. They look terrifying one moment and then sit patiently next to each other for a treat the next.
Believe me, there were no animals injured this day.
Many of the owners from this group come back to the park later to play ultimate frisbee. It's neat to see how pets can bring people out of their homes to meet each other and enjoy the neighborhood.
