Cousins...

Cousins have a unique bond.

They're family, but they're far enough apart to appreciate one another and not drive each other CRAZY!!

They greet one another in shyness after being apart, then cling to each other after a few days together & yell, "I don't want to say 'Goodbye!".

Or they may run with arms wide open & tackle with a hug at first sight.

They might pair off and play quietly, or excitedly call to "Come on!".

Squabbles are quickly forgiven and soon forgotten.

Laughter is contagious.

The activity is irrelevant.

And the time together is incomparable...

Delectation...

Yesterday we drove to the city to watch our kids compete in a Speech competition. We were able to sit in on all of their speeches & were fairly bursting with pride by the time they were finished. They've worked hard & memorized well - for their competition last month with their classmates, and yesterday with other students from around the state.


When we choose to send our kids to HCS, we had no idea that after 5 years many of these people would be more important than "community", and would become "family". These goofy girls, soon to graduate to junior high, have been hanging out together since 1st grade...

After the competition, we stayed the night at a hotel. It was the perfect "mini-vacation" and the kids are asking when we can do it again! Getting to swim, stay up late, drink hot cocoa, enjoy complimentary cookies before supper, shop clearance sales, eat out, jump on the beds, sleep in, and eat way too much for breakfast was luxurious!

And what vacation would be complete without everyone's dreams and desires being fulfilled? Phil dreamed about his bees the whole drive home...so we stopped to say "hello" and see how they were doing.

If you ever wonder...

...what my children have swirling 'round those sweet, silly heads, just check out their creative writing assignments.

By Grace

If the ostrich could fly it would shrink itself and fly super fast. Not anything, I mean not anything, could keep up with it. If you ever wanted to see a second of it you would have to be in an airplane going a thousand miles per hour. When it would stop running it would get big again and start running.

By Noah

I have a friend named Sam. I like my friend. He's cool. I like his Geico commercials. He's funny. Sam kind of likes to walk fast. When I feel his skin, it feels awesome. Sam likes the Wii. Sam smells like deo (deodorant). I like my friend a lot!

By Abbie

(An excerpt of the original, which is 6 pages long! Once she started, she could not be stopped.)

Suddenly, through the midst of their tears, they both saw a bright ball of light that was getting brighter and brighter every second. The girls’ tears ceased as they watched the bright ball of light in awe. Poof! All at once the ball of light was gone! In its place was a skunk! But this was no ordinary skunk. Instead of being black with a white stripe, this skunk was white with a black stripe. The girls and Ralph, who were all terrified of skunks, scrunched up in the corner. “Don’t be afraid,” said the skunk, “for I am your fairy skunk mother.” “You’re our what?” asked Jenna. “Your fairy skunk mother,” repeated the skunk. “I’m here to help you get out of this mess..."

Tuesday's child...

...is full of grace.

Today I recieved what I didn't deserve, but I couldn't be more thankful for this day at home.

A chance to get much needed work done...

Thank you, State Department of Education, for completely overwhelming me with your impossible process...

A moment to think and to do a little of this ...

Thank you, God, for helping me get my perspective back into focus...

A day to enjoy my thrift store gift & "find"...and drink a lot of this...

Thanks, Beth, this one's my favorite & reminds me of how blessed I am with family & friendships...
An opportunity to steal my husband's wool socks and snuggle up to the heater...

Thanks, honey, for providing wonderfully for our family...

And just enjoy today.

Therapeutic

This may look like a big mess...

...but it's really therapy.

The best kind of therapy. And relatively cheap.

I even went a little crazy and pulled out the ribbon. Watch out!

Winter Wonderland

Before our snow from last week had a chance to all melt, Phil & the kids piled up as much as they could, packed it down tight, and carved out the inside to make their own little igloo. They even had a "camp-out" last Saturday night...until Phil decided it was too tight with 3 kids & 1 daddy to sleep there the whole night.

Then their momma bear had a "freak out" & insisted her lil' cubs would NOT be sleeping in an ice structure all night long by themselves, as she envisioned cave-ins, suffocation, or midnight mayhem when one of them woke up & didn't remember where he was...


I know, I'm a fun-hater. BUT even their daddy admitted, the air was getting a little stale & he was worried about them not getting enough oxygen.

They've recently installed air holes to rectify the problem.

This will not prevent me from freaking out.

But I'll breathe deeply, pray a little, and trust their daddy to take care of them.


Before yesterday's big storm, they installed a door to keep out the snow...


...checking to make sure it's all okay in there.

"I can't open my eyes, Mom! It's too BRIGHT out here!!"

Heavy heart...

We've got another day at home. The kids are bundled up watching Andy Griffith. I'm starting on laundry & the usual house chores...but I've got time to think.

I've got a heavy heart today. I'm thinking about my sister-in-Christ, who has said "goodbye for now" to her husband of 3 years, after his battle with cancer. He was 35. It's so hard for me to conceive what it's like to be in her shoes. I'm left with turning my questions to the One who holds the answers.

My mom gave me this little book for Christmas, and it reminds me so much of Oswald Chamber's classic. I'm amazed at how many times it has been just what I needed to hear. Yesterday was no different. We all have our own personal struggles & "mountains" we face, and as Christians, our Father has called us to share one another's burdens, to mourn when our brothers & sisters do, and rejoice in their time of joy as well.

FOLLOW ME ONE STEP AT A TIME. That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world. You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angles charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways. Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence. Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open up the way before you.

If you'd like to read Laura's post, click here. Don't be amazed at her strength...be amazed at God's strength so beautifully displayed through her.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Feb...brrrr...ary

We've started this month off with a "blizzard" - Oklahoma style.

Not much snow, but LOTS of gusting wind!

Phil took the 3 youngest to the sledding hill to slide down at least once before the wind blows it all away. Abbie & I are making homemade hot cocoa & chili, because that's what seems appropriate for a day like today. The gas heater is going strong in the living room, and the patio door in the kitchen in one big sheet of ice. The cat has spent the morning sitting on the window sill, flicking his tail, watching the chickadees and house finches eating out of the feeder in the backyard, and yearning for a tasty lunch of his own.

I'm enjoying our "blizzard" and hoping it lasts another day...