Books and gardening...

 Searching our many book shelves for the perfect read alouds for fifth grade today, I feel grateful I have thrifted (and been gifted) so many books through the years! 

And yesterday I was going through them to find early readers for Oren. 

I LOVE children's books. 

Patricia Polacco, a favorite author of both Hazel and mine, has such a fun story in the book Mrs. Mack! And William Steig's Amos and Boris is going in my sub bag too.

Who couldn't love the Chicken Sisters?

Hazel and Oren have been planting with me and are loving it. They both have little garden gloves and big smiles. We are a good team.

Off to work I go! Fifth grade

Sunday

Garden clean up and green house planting has sure been fun! 

Finding those little joys that can end up being big joys.

Garden starts, seed planting, and enjoying each other. 

We went to little Blakely's funeral yesterday. 

15 months old, healthy and so precious

There are many hurting hearts right now. 

Our prayers matter. 

Many moments of yesterday brought me back to Case's funeral. And his short, precious life. 

I had a special little coffee gathering with great friends yesterday morning... so good for the soul. 

 

Thankful

 

March 25th my dad and my grandpa left this earth - heaven became their home. 

20 years ago for my mom, 17 years ago for my grandpa. That is hard for me to grasp.

I thought of them both all day yesterday.

It seems that I can relate to so much of what my mom loved, endured, liked, and faced... she was a really good example. 

There is not enough of me to go around, I know she felt the same. 

She knew how much Jesus loved her, I know this too. 

She appreciated the small blessings in life and was good about laughing. She found humor in the silly things and maybe the tough things too. 

Both my mom and grandpa Ken were SO easy to talk to! 

They were so fun to be around and so kind.

I am so thankful I was so close to both of them! 

I love how God shows support and kindness through different people in different ways. I would say that has been my biggest blessing this week. 

Forgive my randomness

In our new shop we now have a basketball hoop. Some three on three games were run up there last night and oh I just loved that the kids could do that here. 

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The desert has certainly become home and I love it. 

Little rain fall, the heat of the summer, and wide open spaces have become home. But oh do I love Whatcom County. Maybe more because of the memories than anything else... 

The trees and the green are gorgeous.

When my brothers' were little they watched a show called Fred Penner. It was a very cute children's program! Fred would crawl out of his hollow log! Just outside Natasha and Reese's kitchen doors is this hollow log! It sure reminded me of Fred Penner. 

Our family home is not where we congregate anymore. It is hard. But, Tasha and I took my littles, her littles, and our niece Brielle there this past weekend. Just the feel of the yard and property is very special. So, maybe a spring or summer weekend will allow all of those kids to run that acreage and make memories and have fun! 

 These pictures were taken at my sis Natasha's and at Stan and Adie's. 

Dear friends of ours lost their grandbaby over the weekend. This 15 month old beautiful girl died in her sleep. Please, Please pray for her parents - Taylor and Kylie, her two siblings, her grandparents Rick and Amy and extended family. My heart breaks. 

More from our Lynden trip~

Kai cutting Lane's hair! 

Merit and Willem playing Mario for the first time!! 

Reese questioned our parenting after learning our boys had never been introduced to Mario!! 

#letthegoodtimesroll

 

Weekend Fun

Quick trip to where we love to go, Lynden. 

Cousin fun is a pretty sweet treat! 

Birch Bay and Hovander park were considered... I hope there is time for that next time. 

Ryp!

Ladies early dinner out with Grandma Alma was a great wat to spend a Saturday evening. 

 

Thankful Thursday!

 10 praises/thanksgivings on a Thursday! 

I am doing a Philippians Bible study with a small group of women. It has been such a blessing!

Oren's writing is amazing. He is really making gains!

This baby chick we have is spring therapy, amazing medicine, a gift. 

Hazel and I got a sweet little coffee/lemonade date yesterday!

Willem is driving me around! He has his permit. He does not drive like a grandma. We need to brake earlier. All in all, he is doing terrific!

*The ability to exercise*

Hazel's horse dreamin'

SIBLINGS

Merit's good grades

My family - near and far

Choose JOY

 

March - 

A new life month! 

Spring blooms. baby chicks, calves being born! 

And my biggest "loss" month... with my mom leaving this earth in March. March comes with a wave of emotions. 

And I have to say, I recognize in myself, and in my brothers and sisters that we are truly needing our mom this March. Life's struggles make us long for her care, kindness, and wisdom.

I am faced with such adversity. My brain hurts and my heart can ache - 

But I choose joy and gratitude.

Because, in the midst of the tough, I am SO blessed.

Third grade today! Gotta run

We've missed this. Wild Will #17 - - - Chick Goodness

#thesearethedays

#teamsportgoodness! 

Ohhhhhhh the sweetness. 

And we needed some sweetness this week.