Cousins, Easter Eggs, and Rain!

 Today we were so excited to spend Easter with Tim's sister and her family.  We met them at their church and enjoyed a great Easter Drama and worship time.  I am loving this chance to spend time with my one and only sister in love and her family.  I love that my kids get to spend holidays with their cousins making memories. 

 We went totally nontraditional for the first time that I can remember in my lifetime.  There was no cooked ham/Cornish hens or wonderful side dishes....no china, crystal or sterling silverware.  There was Little Ceasars and salad......paper plates, plastic cups and forks!  No cooking, dishes to wash or clean up other then 5 minutes.  We had a great time with each other celebrating what was important....Easter.  It's not about what your eating, or what dishes you used...it's about remembering the true meaning of why we gathered together today.  HE IS RISEN!!!!

The kids did the whole Easter egg scramble....in the pouring rain!  :)  No rain was going to stop this crew...did I mention it was pouring...yes...not drizzling...not sprinkles....pouring rain and they did not want to wait.  Much candy was gathered, traded, and eaten!!!!

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. ~ Matthew 28:6

Thankful Thursday!

I am so thankful for a little girl named Holland Leanne! I am thankful for days with blue hair bows, clip on earrings and matching jeweled necklaces, dress up gowns and baby dolls.  I am beyond thankful for days filled with girlish giggles while she dances through her day.  I am thankful to watch in excitement as she rides her bike without training wheels "all the way from the top of the driveway mommy!"  I am thankful for each good morning snuggle and good night song.  I am thankful for the big moments and each little moment.  The wiggly first tooth about to fall out any day now to going to her first masquerade dance.  Each day we can find things to be thankful for.  Each day we can purpose to stop the busy routines that encroach upon our lives and be thankful for the moments in our children's lives that are such a blessing to be a part of.  Today....I am very thankful!!!!!

The 5 o'clock club!

 Don’t rest on past reading. Read your Bible more and more every year. ~ John Piper

Trying new things

Tim left for Florida this morning and we are already wishing him home.  Thankfully he will be home Wednesday and bonus...he get's Friday off!!!!  Three day weekends....we love them!

School was a breeze.  We watched a great video by the Moody Institute for our science class today.  I had heard about Moody videos awhile ago, but hadn't gotten around to watching any yet.  "Journeys to the Edge of Creation".  We watched one about the Milky Way and one about the Solar System.  Snuggled up on the couches with blankets....the kids LOVED it....I loved it!  They each drew a picture of whatever they chose from one of the two videos.  We did some extra searching and discussion on quite a few different things the kids wanted to know more about.  There were other things we did as well....but Science was the highlight of school today.

Max tried his hand at cooking dinner by himself.  There was no recipe, there was just a lot of different ingredients that ended up in the extra large cooking pot.  In the end it turned out so delicious!  The kids decided...unanimously..that we will indeed be having this again.  They even discussed different things to add next time.  I'm looking forward to trying their  ideas out.  Great job Max!!!!  

No name...but it was very tasty.

Mail call!

After many, many, many months of red tape, back and forth mailings of paperwork and other such things, four of our kids received a much anticipated package in the mail yesterday!

(Morgan, Becca, Justice and Davidson)

Their new birth certificates! These have been long awaited and highly anticipated!!!!

Justice and Morgan have been as patient as possible.  Neither of them wanted to get their driving permits, passports or other various documents they have been waiting to get without their birth names on them, so patiently wait they have.   The waiting is over and they have me scheduled for a few stops on Tuesday. They are anxiously waiting for Monday when they can call their online high school program and officially change their names on all their school documents.

Another step in healing for my children.  Another chapter closed for them.
They are moving forward!

The 5 o'clock club!

 "The soul can do without everything except the word of God, without which none at all of its wants are provided for.” ~Martin Luther

Johnny Appleseed Day!

We had a day off school today, because Tim had the day off.  However, today was National Johnny Appleseed Day...so we did a spend a couple hours today learning a little bit about Johnny.  I actually didn't know about it being Johnny Appleseed Day until after lunch so I didn't have much time to prepare it, but we ended up going a Johnny Appleseed Lapbook.  :)

I have enjoyed doing lapbook's with the kids because you can pretty much pick ANY topic and do a lapbook.  From Lego's to the 7 Days of Creation.  We can work on a topic together like we did today or they can work on individual topics of their choosing.  

Today we covered:  

History (studying about Johnny Appleseed, looked at different things that were happening in 1774 {the year he was born} around the world)

Geography (mapped the five states Johnny planted nurseries/orchards and where he came from)

Spelling/Vocabulary (learned many new words and their definitions)

Math (Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, estimating and fractions)

Bible (Verse and study about grace, stewardship, and kindness)

Science (dissection of an apple, learning all the parts of an apple, and stages of growth, etc)

Lots of reading and so on.

After we were done Becca asked me if we could do lapbook's full time for school!  Funny girl!

The 5 o'clock club!

“What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” 

 ~  Corrie ten Boom

National Picnic Day 2013!

Today we celebrated National Picnic Day 2013.  Did you know it was National Picnic Day?  Well, it was and it was a B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L day to have a picnic.  We met up with Tim's sister, Kristin, her family, and his mom, Jean.  Did I mention how beautiful it was today?

We met at this specific park because it is the only one with a merry-go-round (that I know of) and the kids LOVE the merry-go-round.  They can spend hours on it....without throwing up mind you! :)  Love the merry-go-round!!!!

The kids took a quick break for lunch, but not to long.  Couldn't waste any time on food when the merry-go-round was just right there...sitting forlornly waiting for them to return.  They went straight back to the merry-go-round...right after eating.  I thought about telling them the rule about not swimming after eating...I figured there had to be a rule about no merry-go-rounds after eating...makes sense right?  Well, I didn't say anything out loud...but I did think it for a few seconds.  I sure would have been right back on that thing as a kid...I probably would have taken the food ON the merry-go-round.  :)  That was back when I had a stomach of steal and could handle the constant round - round - round - round....bleh...making me dizzy just thinking about it.

I love watching my kids having fun!  Hearing them laughing, and watching them just enjoying themselves and each other.  When I was playing around with this photo tonight I saw the little boy in the baseball field and when I pulled it in tighter he was looking so cutely at the kids on the merry-go-round.  I thought it was precious.  I could just imagine him wishing to be on that merry-go-round with the kids.

 The kids even coerced Tim to join them again after lunch.  See...Jameson there on the right "coercing" him.  ;)  Nah....he was already on his way....Jameson was just helping him along.  Becca was singing the ditty..."Hurry up daddy, hurry up *clap clap* Hurry up daddy, hurry up *stomp stomp*".  This made him walk just a little slower which made her sing a little louder laughing all the way.  :)

Just to add a little more flare Tim laid down instead of pushing the merry-go-round...he said he needed a nap....haha!

The kids were kinda disappointed in the man for a few minutes there.  Johnston and Jensen jumped right in taking charge as they are known to do being take charge kinda boys.

 

He did get up and push them without getting a nap after all.  The kids were very happy....very, very happy!

I have an amazing mother-in-law whom my children absolutely love SO much.  It is not hard to love her...she is awesome...she is an amazing woman.  I love that my kiddos have a great relationship with our parents.  I never knew my grandparents very well....if at all.  It has always been so important to us that our children know our parents as much as we could make possible.  Davidson slipped in a conversation with her while Jameson was jumping around.  I'm so thankful for such a wonderful mother-in-law.

Holly and Hannah got on the swings facing each other so they could talk, laugh, and giggle as they swung back and forth in their own little world.  I thought it was so cute watching them just chatting away.

 Beautiful girls!

Looking forward to National Picnic Day 2014!

An early morning call....

Free....free....free.   That is the word that seems to be floating thru my mind right now after a call from our adoption lawyer this morning.  

Free at last, free at last, Thank You God, we are free at last!  

Right now so much is churning inside of me...so much I want to say, but words that have been held in for so long are needing some time to remember how to be freely shared.

   He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. ~ Deuteronomy 32:4

Wordless Wednesday!

The 5 o'clock club!

 

The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord. 

~ George Mueller

Doing the time warp!

Tim got a little excited Saturday when I was browsing youtube and I came across the Time Warp song.  He HAD to teach the kids the Time Warp dance....

....and he gets a little into his dancing and singing!  :)

~ Put your hands on your hips ~

I love how my kids run from...seriously...every direction when Tim starts his dancing and singing. 

Jensen looking oh so cool here.  :)  

This is how we roll in the Jeffries house.  :)

 Here's a pic from back in January when he was dancing with the kids playing Just Dance Kids. 

 I so love this man!!!

Midnight moments...

I have found myself, this year especially, waking up in the middle of the night.  No reason, just an urgency to pray, read the Bible or sometimes God lays it on my heart to watch a youtube video on a certain subject or a certain speaker.  

 

I decided to take a picture of myself this morning...2 a.m.....no makeup, hair messy, a little blurry eyed still....because no matter what time God has woken me up these past months I have woken with a smile...an expectancy....an excitement.  

I was very blessed to have two baby boys who only woke up once a night for a feeding.  We had a great schedule that worked amazingly for them and so once a night I would get up with them and give them that food that they needed or craved to get through to the next morning.  I feel like a baby getting up in the middle of the night...receiving that middle of the night feeding...being fed by my Father.  It feels like extra "food" for my soul.  It more then getting up early and doing devotions...it's different....it has been so rich and filling.

 

 It has reminded me of when young Samuel is awoken in the night and Eli tells him after the third time to say "Speak, Lord, I am listening".  This is my desire.  To be listening....to hear God's voice....to grow in my walk with Him....to learn to be a better daughter to the King, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, servant.  So...when I awake to His voice or gentle nudge...my answer is "I am listening...I am awake...I am happy, Father, to spend this time with you!"

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Week 4!

Outside my window....the sun is starting it's retreat behind the hills. Dusk is falling and the sky is grey.  I see my youngest four running around the front yard with the dogs waiting to be called inside.

I am thinking....about how the Coconut Pound Cake that Johnston cooked today is going to taste.  I have never tasted pound cake...let alone coconut pound cake.  Since today is National Pound Cake Day we thought this would be a fun thing to try.

I am thankful....for a loving husband who came home from work today and went right to work here at our home.  He fixed two toilets, made the kids a basketball playing area, and moved the shed to a new spot.  I am blessed!

In the kitchen....the smell of freshly baked pound cake is hard to resist!  The room is warm still from the oven and dinner (homemade refried bean burritoes fully loaded and Spanish rice) is almost ready for a very hungry crowd.

I am wearing...black capris and a green/white tshirt.  Comfy all the way!

I am creating...a list of the scripture verses we are working on memorizing.  We haven't set a date yet, but probably at the end of March...possibly a Friday night...we will be having a Bible Scripture challenge.   One of the little Jeffries asked if I would make a list of verses for them to memorize and so I am.

I am going...to take the kids to try out the YMCA homeschool P.E. class this Thursday.  A few families we know have been going and have given us great reviews.  The kids have shown interest in trying it out so we will be going out Thursdays instead of Friday this week. Looking forward to trying it out!

I am wondering....if Tim will have a long weekend or not.  Hoping for the long weekend.

I am reading... "Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie O'Martian, "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan, and "In Grandma's Attic" by Arleta Richardson (with the kids).

I am hoping...to have a date with Johnston Thursday night! :)

I am looking forward to...date night tonight with my hubby!!!!  Monday night date night with my man is a great way to start my week!

I am learning....how to be even more understanding of my son who has been diagnosed somewhere on the (Aspergers/Autism) spectrum with a sideboard of other things.  This past weekend he made a mistake that could have badly hurt or possibly killed one of our little kids, but I am so thankful it was myself who ended up dealing with the pain of his mistake.  Of course I would have gladly skipped the experience.  ;)  FYI: Drinking bleach water is not good for you!!!  Pain...lots of pain....will follow!

Around the house...nothing much is going on.  Might get a few shelves put up above our computer table in the school room this week.  This will allow us to put up almost all of our reading books!!!  This will be a nice addition and will clear up my much needed school material shelves.

I am pondering...still...about chickens and our garden.  Tons to think about, research, pray about, research, talk about, research!

A favorite quote for today..."Loving you is as easy as breathing."

One of my favorite things...watching my daughters hanging out together.  As they grow older they are growing closer.  I love hearing them talk about outside relationships, boys, ministry, prayer, the Bible, their futures.  It is truly beautiful to watch.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: School, starting our Easter lapbook, playing a round of cards...it's been to long!
Wednesday: School, ?
Thursday: School, homeschool P.E., library, shopping, Justice's T.A.P.P group, Morgan/Tim date night, Johnston/Me date night
Friday: Planned field trip day with daddy and friends, Jeffries Gang fun night!

A peek into my day...

 Johnston and the coconut pound cake he made!

 Please follow this link TSWD if you would like to read other daybooks!

Funtastic Friday!

Tim didn't have to work until noon today, so we had a family pancake breakfast together. Tim and the older boys went out and cut up some wood for this weekend. It's gonna be a cold one so we thought it would be a good idea to have some wood ready for the fires we are going to want. By the time they were done outside and we were done inside it was time for Tim to leave for work.  He decided to take Johnston with him since this is their week to partner up together. I took the rest of the kids to the YMCA for our monthly home school swim day.  

 (Jensen and Jameson)

It was a big turn out today with over 50 kids.  The kids had a great time swimming with their friends and meeting new ones.  We actually ran into a mom and son whom I and Johnston used to meet up with back when he was a toddler.  The boys were the same age and loved playing together.  After we moved to Idaho I lost touch with this mom.  It was fun seeing her again after such a long time. 

(Morgan)

We made a quick trip to Walmart to get groceries for the week.  Tim made some plans for us this weekend and actually made the menu plans as well!  So we just had to go and grab the items needed.  Nice and simple!  Tonight he planned pizza and salad!  Yum!

 Daddy was already home when we got there so Miss Holly told him all about her day while we got dinner started.  

I love watching them talk together.  She adores her daddy. 

Holly wanted me to get a picture of her and Bella.  She loves her Bella and asks me to take pictures of them all the time.  Funny girlie!

(Johnston and his most loyal Yoda!)

Johnston was excited to tell me about his day with daddy.  They stopped over at the Army surplus store to pick up another ammo box and a new pair of military boots for the boy.  After that they went to pick up traffic counters that Tim had set out somewhere in Athens.  Johnston told me there was a lot of traffic and he was glad that he didn't have to cross the road to get the counters.  On their way home they stopped at Walmart so Johnston could pick up two new Lego sets that he has been patiently saving up for.  He was pretty exited to get a new Star Wars set and he started collecting a new series...Galaxy Squad.  All in all...he loved having a day with his daddy.

(Me and Johnston)

The littlest four have been asking to watch Hotel Transylvania for a while now so Tim decided tonight was the night we were going to watch it while we had dinner.  To say the kids were excited would be an understatement.  They thoroughly enjoyed it so much it was decided unanimously to add it to our collection in the near future.

(Me and Becca)

We had a very late, but special night together.  Whenever I ask the kids what their favorite things to do are (I'm always trying to get new ideas of things to do with the kids) the kids from oldest down always say Friday Family Nights.  So...this is what we do....every Friday.  Sometimes movie nights, sometimes games nights,  sometimes both.  Sometimes we stay home, sometimes we go out.  Sometimes we have friends over and other times we might go to someones house.  It doesn't really matter, as long as we are together they love it and so do Tim and I.  We are truly blessed to spend each day with these amazing young people.