CHIEFS, JV

HAPPY 16th Birthday MERIT!!!

Keep shining!! Keep working hard!

You are amazing! Happy Birthday first born!

Friday, October 12

 Such a pretty afternoon!

Hazel went out to check for eggs in her egg apron (beautifully sewn by my sister Natasha) and she filled it with eggs!

Joy in the Journey

A mom and friend recently made such a good point, she said that on social media any of us can  portray to be who we want to be, whether it is reality or not. Sometimes what we think is so perfect or great or beautiful comes with struggles that are not visible on social media. Maybe debt, maybe hardships, maybe fighting, maybe lonliness...

It's refreshing when people can share the joys and struggles, the tough moments and the joyous ones.
I hope I do that too. And I hope that my thankful heart is evident.

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Fleeing from the dark---

My heart hurts for those experiencing dark days. I have them too. There are days we can shake off the darkness or hide it. There are days when an encouraging friend, prayers or scripture can help turn it around. But some days there is a weight.

There can be times of being criticized or moments of feeling envy or moments of feeling like I have failed. 

Everyone has these days. When they show up too often, that is when one can be worn down. When they show up often we have to work harder at finding JOY in the JOURNEY. I recognize, too, that I have have not faced some of the things many have faced. Each road being unique.

Representing being happy and cheery through my blog when my mood isn't, has made me sort of want to ditch the blog, from time to time. I contemplated that often this summer.

But then I had to stop and think even on dark days, I can be ENCOURAGING and that is a promise I have made to myself. A promise to be encouraging.

Even on dark days there is light. 

And that is what I love, if we wrote down five hardships in a day or five "negatives", my hope is that any one of us could find five blessings, five thanksgivings...

I know children who are fleeing from the dark (I know educators who are their advocates. Who work at making them feel safe, cared for, valued.) I know adults who are fleeing from the dark. 

But I know there is light.

I LOVE this verse: 

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.

I cling to this freedom.

And through this freedom and through this light, I find JOY in the JOURNEY.

A woman I greatly respect, her name is Twyla, would always answer "good" or "great" when I asked her how her day was. She once said "you know, they are all good - some are just better than others."
An attitude of gratitude.

AUTUMN

 I love pumpkins!

 The Episcopal Church here in town has such a beautiful garden!!
Several summer stops there, along with Autumn stops too!

Mid -Week Post

Oren loves trips to the creek and cabin.
He is a big fan of walkie talkie communication too.

October is my favorite.

What a beautiful couple!
Sounds like Homecoming was a blast!

Willem's got a game today! I love watching his team play!

Fall Color

 Enjoying my friend Marilyn's yard... and most definitely her company!

 My nasturtiums and a fall sunflower

 along Crab Creek

Oren Paul

Football, Happy Hens, Thursday

Such a fun game yesterday. Tied with a min. left in the fourth, we lost.

Our Frontier 7th grade team put up a fight against Endeavor's 8th grade team. The crowd, coaches and players were certainly into the game! 

chicken farming is glorious before the really cold days hit
plenty of eggs, no heated water dishes or frost bite...
HAPPY HENS


My goal tonight is not to fall into bed.
My hope is to get just 15 minutes of reading;  Mary Higgins Clark. I am half way through a great book of hers.
I have probably read 15, maybe 20 of hers. The mystery and suspense is so good.

I am excited to teach 3rd grade tomorrow.

Crisp mornings and warm coffee - little time to sit and lots of moving

Hazel is in a Leaping into Books competition and this girl's reading has been FANTASTIC! Also, most days I read a book to her in addition to her reading. We are being introduced to both old and new children's literature. Our list of favorites has increased.

These homecoming preparations are fun and funny and interesting. I want to learn how to make a wristlet.

Willem's team - the Warriors - had a GREAT game tonight! It was tied with a minute left in the fourth! Our team lost but played with a lot of heart.

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This was a summer of no camping for us, quite unlike the five previous summers. Merit played a lot of out of town week day games. Double headers typically and not tournaments (baseball). So going there and back in a day often made sense. Also, Willem only had two away tournaments compared to other summers where he was out of town more.

Camping and baseball are fond memories of ours. We bought the 5th wheel when I was pregnant with Oren. Lately, Oren asks to sit out in the camper with me. We usually visit. We see if Connie the cat or Nellie our dog has followed us out. Sometimes he plays with the toys that are stowed away in the camper. My mornings with this guy are precious. And during a week where I sub, the mornings with him become even more precious.

Winter memories will probably be made in the camper, even if that means it just being parked in our driveway.

Oren throughout the day sometimes talks about once everyone is home in the evening … will dad cook over charcoal? Will we watch football in the shop? Will Hazel and I play restaurant? He misses this crew.

Today was full! Dentist appointments for Oren and Hazel, a wonderful, much needed coffee date for me with dear Marilyn, a doc appt for me, a football game for Willem, basketball sign ups for Willem, we ordered Merit's wristlet for his date...

AUTUMN GOODNESS

Crisp mornings and warm coffee 
The cilantro has reseeded itself and is coming back up
The chickens are laying like crazy
Laundry piles
REFRESHING walks and talks with friends
Breakfast  Dinner burritos at 7:30 pm with FARM FRESH eggs
A mom who doubts some decisions
Kids who run around happy
Football's on and when it isn't baseball is


Having been justified by faith, we have a peace with God.
Romans 5:1

If any of you is having troubles, he should pray. James 5:13

God is good and each day is a gift.