This 'n' That

Like I was saying...

There's grace for this.

And there's grace for that.

An app for that...

These days, I am truly wondering if it will ever end.  Maybe the more pertinent question is,

"When will it end?"

We have had sickness after sickness after sickness this fall and winter.  The kids pass it around, and the parents get it too.  And the more kids there are, the longer it takes to get rid of it, I'm realizing.

We have never had a stomach bug in the family since the kids were born (or maybe even before?).  So we made it nearly 7 years without suffering through that.  But I always knew that it would come to visit us eventually.

And it has.

This morning, as I was lamenting the start of another bout with illness, that iPhone commercial was stuck in my head.  You know, the one that says, "There's an app for that," over and over again.

Then it struck me that I needed to change a word or two and it could become a much more meaningful phrase to have stuck in my head.

"There's grace for that."

Yep, grace for that.  Grace for this.  Grace for every problem, situation, trouble, trial that comes our way.

God gives us grace for whatever we face, just when we need it and not before or after.

So I will praise Him in this storm.

My Future Mountaineer

She was only tickling the keys (from much lower) when I left the room.  Just thirty seconds later, her brother informed me - in shrieking mode - that Cupcake was..."Oh! Oh! Oh! on the buttons you press on the piano!"

He wasn't kidding.

And yes, I let her stay there while I spotted her from behind and instructed Boo-Boo to find my camera. 

We love the ZOO! Do you?

It was a warm, spring-y day.  The nicest day of the year to date.

What self-respecting, home-schooling mother could resist ditching school in favor of a field trip to the zoo?!??

Not me!

The kiddos certainly didn't object.

In fact, it looks like they were rather enjoying themselves.

Miss Cupcake certainly enjoyed her first trip to the zoo and found the Giant Panda rather enthralling...from a safe distance, of course.

Everybody loves...

...an Oreo!

And Cupcake is no exception.

I just wish I had captured the look of joy on her face when I offered her a second one.

First Grade Photography

On an unexciting Friday evening, I pulled out my old camera for the boys to play with.  Mr. Blue-Eyes (aka R2D2) had been asking for it.  So we charged up the batteries and off he went.

I thought it would be interesting to see how his pictures turned out.

Here's what we got:

...a picture of himself and the new gap in his teeth...

...a picture of a picture of his sister...

...a picture of the contents of my pantry...super-exciting, I know...

...the glass punchbowl that belonged to my grandmother...

...and last, but certainly not least, a glimpse of his belly and the inside of his shirt!

Moral:  Be thankful for digital photography and home printing where no one

ever has to see your pictures but you.

Signs of Spring

Only a month ago, we wondered if winter would ever end.  We were buried under snow that came up to the kiddies' middles.

But just as the Lord promised in His Word, there will be seasons until the end of the age.  And, although it's not official yet, here comes spring!

I forgot to plant crocuses in the fall, so we haven't seen any of those around our place yet.  But there are other signs, like...

...big boys riding bikes again...

...babies mowing the yard...

...and best of all, bare baby piggy-toes!

March 4, 2000

...the day I pledged my love and faithfulness to my new husband. 

...the day I left all that I knew - same town, same neighborhood, same house since I was born - and set off on a new adventure with him on the other side of the country.

...the day I left my father's protection and found myself under the protection of a husband.

...the day that the Lord made us one, till death do us part.

Ten years ago today.

I just read this quote today and thought it was a beautiful picture of a loving marriage:

"It is no wonder if so many years, so many endearments, so many obligations have produced such an uncommon effect, that by long habit, it is almost impossible for me to draw a breath, in which you are not involved."  -- John Newton to his wife Polly