"It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas"

Thanksgiving in Napa Valley

Just a few pictures of our trip up to Northern California for Thanksgiving.  Christian drove us up which gave us an opportunity to read "Where the Red Fern Grows" outloud.  Major tears at the end!

I hope to figure out how to get pictures off my phone and onto my computer, but for now here are just a few!



The first ones to hike down, waving to us straglers!



On Thanksgiving we hiked down below Aunt Ellie's house and watched the sunset....totally awesome!
Missed Katherine though....



All the Cousins



Preaching to Myself

"Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.  Twice or thrice

 a day, look to see if your heart is not disquieted about something;

 and if you find that it is, take care forthwith to restore it to calm." 

Streams in the Desert, October 13

 

I want to remember to do this!  Stop and slow down long enough to talk to Him about what is eating away at me.

 

Update....

Some of the order of this post will seem wacky.  I wrote it back in September but forgot to publish it! So here is an update about an update!

It has been over a month since I have posted.  Life has been so busy!  There is a lot I could write, that I need to write about, but my focus is in a different place right now.  Just a quick update...

Katherine turned 12 in August, she is beautiful, inside and out, I enjoy her so much.  She is really growing up and is such a joy to be around.  She is disciplined, hard working, yet has a good sense of humor.

 We started our school year last week!  It is good to be back reading great books together and seeing the girls work hard independently....I think this is going to be a wonderful year.  Lizzy started flute lessons last week and Katherine is back taking violin lessons after time off.  Miss Mary started piano too.  She is so intense, working very hard each and everyday! Twins are at Redlands Christian on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Above picture is on the first day of school with their teacher Mrs. Kidd.......

 We went to Leoni Meadows to Medical/Dental Family Camp.  This is our fourth year and it didn't disappoint.  It is social overload for the kids as well as us adults.  Mostly hung with the twins as the other girls zipped around with their packs of friends! 


zip lining with the twins....what a thrill!



getting ready to hike....

                         Girls backpacked a couple times with Eric, even summiting Mt San Jacinto



more pictures of Leoni Meadows on the night of the western themed dinner
Bruce and Alex with the twins and the kiddos all together below





Some of my best girls.....





*Pathfinders and Adventurers started back up.  Elizabeth promoted to Pathfinders, which is a really big deal.  There is a lot more responsibility involved.  It is neat to see Katherine mentor her in the ends and outs of the requirements.  I love the optional booklet that goes with each year.  Katherine has been faithful to complete it both years she has been in Pathfinders.  They have to read assigned books of the Bible, study them and memorize scripture.  Also, they are encouraged to read books and articles related to health, nature, Christian hereos, etc



Fall is Finally Here

It has been ages since I have posted anything...just a lot going on and so little time.  It is finally cooling down a bit here, at least at night!  We brought our fall box in from the garage and the kids picked most of our pumpkins from the garden.  Katherine made gingerbread tonight and we ate by candlelight.   It's time to embrace the season!

" Delicious Autumn! My very soul is

 wedded to it, and if I were a

bird I would fly about the earth

seeking the successive autumns." 

George Eliot

Some pictures of "FALL" taken today!


It was the girls idea to change up the breakfast table! So fun to have the table a different direction!  It's always inspiring to see them get excited for a new season.....



 the first year we have had pomegranates on our tree

Meaghan nicely gilded these acorns for me last year



creamy white everything



new breakfast room

one of my favorite pictures of the girls...taken in fall of 2009

Katherine 9 yrs, Elizabeth 6 1/2 yrs,  Mary 4 1/2 yrs, and Caroline 2 yrs



a bowl of old spools sitting by the sink in the kitchen...meant to inspire!



Lizzy memorized Psalms 100 a while back and I found she had written part of it out on this little slate in the school room. Love how she takes the time to do things like this.....

Katherine welcomed in fall by making Gingerbread tonight....
the smell of it baking quickly puts you in the fall spirit!

Tasha Tudor books, her beautiful illustrations set the mood

bringing out our little famiy of pilgrims reminds us why we celebrate God's goodness in the fall

"Give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thes 5:18

all colors of pumpkins adorning doors

Katherine testing out the temperature....cool and crisp
weather these days.   Loving it!

brown transferware

The  festive table tonight!

Words from Habakkuk

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."
                              Habakkuk 2:3

Three precious girls, all so different, yet you can tell they are sisters!  Sure miss Katherine....amazing how the dynamics change betweem them when Katherine isn't part of the picture.

Made my first ever cake. i mean PERIOD!!! I am a pie girl, but a cake seriously stresses me out.  So here is BC's chocolate cake recipe which includes coffee in both the cake and the frosting.  Love making something that involves two of my favorite.

Little bean all decked out in her finery...

Sweet Lizzy who is growing up so so so FAST.

"Slow down girly" I want to yell at her, " 

This boy LOVES watermelon, he eats right down til there is nothing and mean  nothing left 

Today most of our lunch came straight from the garden....fresh Watermelon, tomato salad, and swiss chard Eric brought back from his place.  What a tasty lunch!  Makes me want to plant an even bigger garden!

"Currently"

Thank you to the majorly talented emily for this neato idea....

CURRENTLY:

wearing~my favorite capri jeans from Nordstrom, a Banana Republic black shirt I have had for seriously 10+ years, my new favorite wedge taupy colored shoes that were $15  at Old Navy and so so so comfortable, my new gold hoopy earrings that Teri helped me pick out at JCrew, and my Loved gold necklace that the kiddos gave me for Mother's Day

note: no picture needed, wink wink

reading~about David in the Bible~A Man After God's Own Heart, yet an adulterer, murderer, an overall sinner, but a lover of God, forgiven, humbled, forever affected by his behaviors, loved by God

loving~my precious children who made breakfast today! Restaurant Style

the cooks and servers

the hungry customer

after being at the lodge and all of us working, Mary kept our waters full ALWAYS

with water she had chilled

then Thomas did the dishes....sigh....lots of water and soap...everywhere

enjoying~ my cute little topiary tree that sits on our breakfast table, enjoyed my

annual all day trip with Teri to La Jolla to shop

needing~ to thank sweet Maggie for the awesome nonfat latte that she brought to my door this am and for inspiring me to get back to boot camp so my booty can be kicked into shape

planning~ on making lots more pesto to store away for later...this was the yummiest lunch Myrna and I had the day we made several batches of pesto together....home grown tomatoes with pesto and fresh mozzerella...oh me oh my!

doing~ lots of swimming or rather the kiddos are doing lots of swimming, I am doing lots of yard maintenance and sitting on my comfortable patio sipping citrus, mint ice water

and catching up on magazine reading

wishing~ I had more TIME.....time to garden, read, study His Word in depth, alone time, time with my kids, quiet time, time with friends, time to sort out the thoughts in my head, time to just listen.

Mary and I planted some fresh pots of flowers

these white ones  were brought all the way from Montana

the above container I found at a little antique store on Flathead Lake when mom and I were on our trip

its so fun and helps block the ugly steps!

praying for~ my children, friends who are hurting, peace, direction, and hope

love my lizzy, oh what joy she is!

excited about~ Katherine coming home this week, oh how I miss her!  Lizzy doesn't like being the oldest or making her own bed and we all miss her fun spirit in the house!

dreaming of~ being back in Montana, oh the beauty, the peace, the green everything, the sounds of nature, the carefreeness of the kids, and the slowness of life

So here are the "currents" of my life....until next time!