Pumpkin Softies

I saw the tutorial for these Pumpkin Softies in Family Fun magazine several years ago and made the white ones below out of my son's receiving blanket leftover from baby days.  

Fall Festival at a Farm

One of the advantages of homeschooling is going on field trips at any time, even spontaneous ones.  Last week we decided to go to a farm close by.  Homeschoolers got the best deal, five bags of vegetables per person!  One mom, who had been to the farm before, secured a tractor/covered wagon just for our small group.  Our driver was awesome - he drove us to the fields away from the other crowded groups, helped our kids dig up various vegetables and then dropped us off in the parking lot by our cars (saving us from having to pull our bags in small wagons the long way to our cars!)  

We picked red, white and sweet potatoes, beets, onions, celery, fennel, carrots, cabbage, green beans, butternut and acorn squash, as well as lots and lots of pumpkins

After three hours of picking, we roamed the rest of the farm and played for another three hours!  

Though I wondered at times if we'd ever make it out, we finally found our way out of the corn maze. Next time, I'm going to bring a compass!

With twenty bags of fresh-picked veggies to take home, my children teased me about opening my own produce stand.  What an amazing experience and blessing to see how different vegetables grow and to dig in the dirt to gather your own.  We appreciate the hard-working farmers who make fresh foods available to us!

My Treasures

I'm truly a blessed Mama.

 My three treasures.

Gifts from God that have transformed my heart and my life.

School Pics 2012

I have the best models in the world!

Seasons

From a "Christmas" prelude to Autumn...

Writing flows better now, after more than a year of quietness.  

Sometimes it's imperative to step away.  To attend with full attention to the life.  

And after numerous lessons, moments of joy and grief, I feel released to continue now the sharing of the life.  

The journey continues...

Christmas in July?

Why, yes!
Absolutely.
I looked and looked for a background to update this long neglected blog and just could not find the right one. Until I saw this one.

The last year has been a big shake-up,
earthquakes, heartaches, hurricanes, floods of tears and other unnatural disasters.

A blast of Christmas joy in July seems necessary.
As a reminder that seasons do pass. To look for the hilarity in the midst of a trial. To focus on the One who is the Giver of all good things and Who promises to remain with us always.

Merry Christmas.

His Delight

You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,

         And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 

      It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken,"

         Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate";

         But you will be called, "My delight is in her,"

         And your land, "Married";

         

For the LORD delights in you,

         And to Him your land will be married... 

       And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

         So your God will rejoice over you. 

Isaiah 62:3-5b