Long Drive!

 

We're back from our trip to New Hampshire.  We did a lot of country driving.  We tried to avoid the major roads in favor of the back roads.  We see more that way but it does make for a long trip!  We stayed the first night in a nice hotel in Keene, New Hampshire.

Kent Falls, Connecticut

 

Kent Falls, Connecticut....can you see my cute posing model in the picture?

Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut

Hogback Mountain, Vermont

 

The second night we stayed in Catskill, New York.

Catskill Mountains, New York

Catskill Mountains, New York

my souvenirs...awesome smoked cheese and pure Vermont maple syrup

We're pretty tired of driving.  Today is just a rest day.  I've got some laundry going.  #2 son is doing school.  My manly man is off through next week.  He goes back to work on the Fourth of July.  Next week, we're not sure what we are planning to do.  #1 son takes his drivers licence exam July 2nd.  We are petsitting that weekend as well.  Maybe we'll try to go camping?

The next two days we will busy as #1 son and I help out at church during youth conference.

 

My Day, My Plans

 

For Today...

Outside my window... darkness approaches...hey the fireflies appeared Sunday night.  I've been looking forward to them.  They are so unique and different!

I am thinking... about friends and family and had this verse running through my head all day~

   "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "  Jeremiah 29:11

From the learning rooms... letter P and number 10, some review of past letters and numbers.

I am thankful for... contentment

From the kitchen... tonight we feasted on homemade fried rice, egg rolls and wantons.  Yummy!  Tomorrow I am preparing to have those great steak burritos we loved so much last time.

I am wearing...jeans, short sleeve navy tee, bare feet with newly painted toes...

I am reading... A silly, silly, silly christian "romance"  It is so silly I may not read it at all and find another book to read.  It reads too much like a harlequin romance novel, not that I know such things...

I am hoping... we have a great, safe time on a few days away from home.  Yes, we are driving to New Hampshire to trade auto parts for my husbands Toyota project.  We are taking #2 son and the dog along.  #1 son will stay close to our church to help prepare for youth conference we are hosting Thursday and Friday.  We're leaving Sunday after the morning service, and coming home Tuesday afternoon.  I'll be sure to take pictures.

 

I am creating... I am getting things organized for a ladies tea I am hosting July 11th at church.  Hospital-i-TEA, to be exact.  My devotion is pretty much done.  I am ironing out some wrinkles in a Miss Manners quiz.  I found two doorprizes at the flea market this week.  I need to find a couple burgundy table cloths at the thrift store and but or borrow another tea pot.

 

I am praying... for wisdom, for answers to prayer, for my witness to others, for my love for my husband, for my children...and so much more!

Around the house... It should be getting quieter.  I smell a cinnamon air freshener and hear the dehumidifier running across the room.

One of my favorite things... Music like what my Dad used to listen to.  Golden Oldies.  I wish we had a radio station for them around here.  I haven't found one yet that has what I want.

A few plans for the rest of the week... well I am all packed already, my church clothes are already pressed, #2 son's clothes are packed and his church clothes are ready.  I need to pack some cd music for our trip.  I gave up packing for my manly man, he thought the outfit I picked for church was too casual.  I gave up on him!  Have to make sure the house is clean before I leave.

Here is a picture I am sharing with you...

((there are some things about Alaska that I miss--that is a salmonberry, it made great jam! (that is my hand holding the berry..))

 

 

Busy Week So Far

 

We've enjoyed a busy week so far. 

A friend we used to know from Alaska has been in the area.((She now lives in South Carolina.  momomma5))  We had dinner together over here on Monday night, (Grilled chicken breasts, potato salad and baked beans with chocolate chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert.)

 

On Tuesday we drove to where our friend staying in Pennsylvania. 

We toured a flea market.  

I endend up making a couple purchases, even though I didn't think I would. 

 I bought a beaded honey spoon and a silverware wind chime.  I'll use both of those as door prizes for the ladies tea I am hosting next month at church. 

We enjoyed a pizza lunch and watched the children play with water guns and swim in the pool.

Today I played catch up on my homemaking with grocery shopping and laundry.  Whew...now it's off to church.  We are staying a little bit later to practice a quartet special for the Sunday after next!

My little friend Emma and I...

 

 

Happy Birthday To a Special Lady!

 

Today is the birthday of a VERY special person in my life.  Happy Birthday to my sweet sister.  May your day be extra special, extra blessed and just plain WONDERFUL!

Isaiah 26:3   "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. "

I love you sweet sister!

Family Saturday

 

We had a very nice day yesterday.  We loaded up our van and took a drive in the New Jersey countryside.  It was a bit stormy yesterday but not uncomfortable.  I am posting some pictures!

  This is a pretty little lake we drove around.

          Complete with a pretty chapel.

         And my sweet posing boy.  This is his "smiling" face.

  These fishermen were pulling up to the dock by the chapel.

 A beautiful front porch on a cute home.

  This little building houses the rest rooms for some fancy mansion that sits behind this building and on the hill.

 A beautiful stream but kinda brown with mud from all the rain we've had lately.

  Looking at pretty houses across another lake.  This lake had beautiful lily pads with white flowers in full bloom on each pad.  I wanted to pluck a flower but they were all just beyond my reach.

 Mr. Frog using his God given camouflage!

 The spillway over the lily pad lake.

  At the bottom of the spillway were several types of fish that had gone overboard with the heavy rains, stuck in shallow puddles.  My manly men felt sorry for the fish and caught several.  Another helpful stranger brought down a bucket and they were catching the fish with their hands and stuffing them into the bucket.  The helpful stranger with the bucket left before we found out if he returned the fish to the lake or took them home in his bucket???

  This last picture was where we got a good laugh for the day.  We are driving down a dirt road to get down to look at the Delaware river. (( just beyond the treeline, on the left side of this picture.))  Daddy had just commented that all the farmers' field corn we'd seen that day was doing very well and looked good and healthy.   #2 son looks over at this field and says "Wow, that sure is a BIG garden!" 

 

 

 

Flashback Friday...I Was Tagged!

 

I was tagged by my friend Lindsay  (by-the-way...have you been to her sight yet?  She is a hilarious writer, you should check out her blog). Here is my tenth picture from my first folder.

 

This is really not the  tenth photo in my first folder.  This is the tenth photo in my third folder.  The other two folders only contain two pictures.  And isn't it totally appropriate that this photo is about food!  This the the table at my home, set with food for a ladies fellowship that I hosted, February 16, 2007.  It was someone's birthday so one lady brought a cake to share, for the birthday girl.  I'm not sure what else is on the table maybe~ eclairs, fruit pizza, frog eye salad, crackers with cheese and cocktail sausages in barbecue sauce...Ohhh... it makes me hungry!  I probably did the devotion for this meeting too, don't remember what...it may have been this:

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A short Bible study on Titus 2: 3-5

 

(Verse 3)   “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; “

 

(Verse 4)   “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,    (Love=strong affection. Funny how we have to be taught to have affection for someone other than ourselves!) 

 

(Verse 5)  “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

 

The text for my study is the part of verse 4 that says women should love their children.  Sometimes I let the other part of this text were it says to be a keeper at home, get in the way of loving my children.  I believe that it was written here in the order it was most important.  Keeper of the home is almost last on the list. 

 

Yes I like having a clean and organized house and life style.  I am not a professional at either one.  By staying organized and keeping up with my home I should be able to spend more time loving my children.

 

Do I show my children love that they may perceive as love or is something I would perceive as love?

 

My Perception                                                              Children’s Perception

Doing the wash                                                             Read a Book

Cleaning the house                                                      Have a Date

Cooking                                                                         Play a game

 

Making a special time with my children as important as I perceive keeping my home.

 

1)      Give attention each day

        a.    making time for only them

        b.    listening to them

        c.    paying attention to what they say

    

        2)      Be positive

a.       commend right behavior

b.      encourage strengths

 

        3)      Be personally organized so it is easier to make time for special times with your children.

a.       have laundry day

b.      make a menu plan

c.       have house cleaning day

                        d.    be consistent in discipline

 

4)      Set the mood for the special time.

a.       Soft music

b.      Special snacks or drinks

 

Here are some things my children enjoy doing with me-

 

#2 Son                                                                            #1 Son

Watch Sesame Street                                                  Have a lunch/dinner date for only us

Read books in Momma’s bed                                    Go to the mall

Color together                                                              Play board games

Craft together                                                               Watch mystery movies

Be a cooks helper                                                        Make favorite meal

Help with housework

Morning cuddles in bed

Eat popcorn

Watch a movie

Kiss goodnight

**((Close in prayer))

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According to Lindsay, I have to tag 5 people...the question is...will they play?  Who's pictures do I want to see?

laurieh,  richgem,  thecopswife,  onehappymomma and  sharons_place

Here are the instructions: Open your FIRST folder. Find the TENTH picture. Post that picture on your blog and then tell the story about that picture. Then tag five friends and have them do the same.

Enjoy your weekend friends!!

 

It's Thursday

 

For Today...

Outside my window... Warm, humid and raining.  Tomorrow WARMER, humid-er, Rainy-er

I am thinking... about summer plans and what to do with some time off my manly man will have soon.

From the learning rooms... Letter N and number 10

I am thankful for... so much, my thankful list is long...

From the kitchen... Salmon patties, Mashed potatoes and garlic broccoli

I am wearing... khaki capri's, pink tee, sandals

I am reading... Corsair by Clive Cussler

I am hoping... my manly man decides this way to spend our 20th wedding anniversary

I am creating... remember the project of hanging the alphabet?  It's still cluttering my desk, it maybe a good project for today!

I am praying... for so many things and so many people...

Around the house... I actually am smelling something good, a plug in that smells like cinnamon vanilla.  Better than the cat litter box over there in the bathroom!

One of my favorite things... iced vanilla latte.  I enjoyed one yesterday on our family date, but had to share..........3 ways!!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week... home school, home school, more home school.  Maybe Alison and Sienna will come over tomorrow for playtime.  I am wanting to fire up the fire pit and have hotdogs and toasted marshmallows, maybe Saturday...

Here is a picture I am sharing with you...

Memories of our family date yesterday, NO INTERUPTIONS!! (Yippee!!)  We saw Night at the Museum 2 and I loved it.  I also liked the first movie just as well.  We enjoyed mall food and had a good time walking around and people watching!