Teach Me Something Tuesday: Cross stitch and Castle

At the beginning of this year I told you all I was going to learn something new and finish a homemaking craft.  Well I didn't work on it much over the summer but here is my progress and the baby (s) this was intended for is months old so I will save it for another time.  I will just call this my practice piece.  I messed up and had to resew some of it, but thank goodness I chose something easy to work with for my first project.

 

Also not really a homemaking thing but I am REALLY into watching the show Castle right now.  Not the best cross stitching show because you kinda have to watch carefully, it is a mystery after all, but I love it!  It is witty and kinda fills me up with joy (should I be saying that about murder mysteries?).  What do you like to watch while you are crafting away?  Or do you have laser focus when finishing a craft?  Or does your craft not accommodate for watching something  at the same time?

Family Fun Fridays: My Husband's Birthday and Corn Maze

This last week we celebrated my husband's birthday at my mother-in-law's house.  It was our usual fair- his sister and her kids and our kids- playing, talking, and eating.  The simple beautiful life.  The children were helping Grandma rake leaves so it made for some fun pictures.

On Sunday we went to a corn maze in Jefferson, OR called Greens Bridge Garden as a family also with some people from our church.  One of the best things about living in Oregon are the amazing choices of corn mazes and pumpkin patches!  I wish I could visit all the ones in the Willamette Valley!  I never grew up going to a pumpkin patch.  We lived in the city in California and in Hawaii there are no pumpkin patches so it is a big treat for me as an adult.  The corn maze was fun.  We petted some animals.  I watched the girls slide down the hay bales.  I got lost in a little hay maze, but eventually made it out, thanks to Hermione.  We didn't get any pumpkins but we took some cute pictures.  Can't wait for the next pumpkin patch/corn maze!

Feeling the Need for Grace

~For by grace you have been saved by faith.  This is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God~

I am building my faith.  Living every single moment for a hope I can not see.

~But He gives more grace.  Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.~

On my knees, seeking the truth, washing dishes, doing laundry, just trying to piece it together.  There is no flash, there is no Hollywood movie, there is nothing special by itself- only God can mold this thing called being a homemaker.  Glory not for self but for Him.

~And are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus~

Jesus- the Gospel- the gift-freedom-just as if I never sinned-only His death and resurrection

What can I say?  What can I do?  Where can I go?  Without you I am nothing...

And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-on-grace.html#sthash.S01bdsfA.dpuf

And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-on-grace.html#sthash.S01bdsfA.dpuf

And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-on-grace.html#sthash.S01bdsfA.dpuf

Double Joy Dare

Yesterday I collapsed in exhaustion.  I am not completely back but getting there- so here is my double joy dare!

Three Gifts in Information:

Discovering my allergy!  Without the Internet and the figuring out I had physical urticaria I would probably still be suffering in silence.

Church Calendars!  If I hadn't been so exhausted yesterday the calendar would have helped remind me that I had a meeting.  I am glad we have the information available.

Printer and Recipes!  We have a printer- at home!  It is so awesome for homeschool and getting recipes.

A Gift Rattling, a Gift Receding, and a Gift Reclaiming: 

The Minivan!  It was an amazing answer to prayer, but it has been making some slightly disturbing noises as of late.  Still- it is a gift and it has been plugging away so for that I will praise. 

My Doubts!  With so many great things to read and learn some of my doubts about life have been receding. 

Pumpkin Scents!  Bought me my fall candle!  Reclaiming the kitchen for fall and masking the weird mix of smells the kitchen gets when the seasons change. 

Wow

I would be remiss if I was not able to say that I am living part of a dream I have had since I started this homemaking journey.  I love home and part of living in this part of the Internet and being a Christian has been the ever present conviction to homeschool my girls.  Last year one child was in 2nd grade and one was in Kindergarten at the local public school.  But this school year I have the amazing privilege of teaching my middle child for 1st grade plus my youngest in preschool.  I do have hopes to bring my now 3rd grader home and she has finally showed some interest, but for now- feeling so very blessed. 

But blessing don't often come without some trial and set backs.  For us it has been losing our laptop to whatever horrible old age diseases that causes it to just not stay on any more.  I lost some of my pictures or at least the way I use to save pictures on the computer (they were in pretty nicely organized computer files if I say so myself)- most are saved on a thumb drive or still on the camera or somewhere on Facebook.  I also lost a lot of ebooks but I am feeling comfort from the fact that I most likely was not going to read them.  Any way, with very little budgeted for actual physical curriculum  we had decided to use All in One- Easy Peasy for Bible Study, History, and Science.  I panicked when the computer stopped working, but my husband had an extra one on hand- thank you God- for always providing.

In the grand scheme of things- this is all first world type problems- but still it has not been fun.  Prayer for patience and just continued flexibility.  I shouldn't have freaked out about the computer and erased everything.  But it is what it is.  I think it is time to do a weeks worth of Joy Dares to bring back perspective- Lord willing- starting on Monday and ending on Sunday.  I appreciate any prayers and looking forward to getting some joy back into my writing.      

Cramming It All In One Post

This entry will cap off the summer and my hope is to possibly return to my Friday entries (9/11/15).  If you have been following my summer at all you will discover only 5 entries.  It was a busy- but fairly non-productive summer.  NOTHING I planned came to pass.  We had a lot of family time, I had fun, and learned more about my husband and myself- it was good, but honestly I was a little let down.  I thrive off of routine and our summer was just about everything but that.  Summer raised a couple of questions for me like- how do YOU keep your summer from ruling you instead of you ruling it?  How do you keep summer intentional?  How do you communicate your needs (especially about routine and summer plans) without sounding selfish or like a dictator?  These are questions I hope to have answers to in the future but for now I will have mull over them till next year.  Maybe the answer is- STOP TRYING SO HARD.  

With introduction out of the way here is the post on camping at Crater Lake, Family Day in the Park, Corn Festival, and Hermione's birthday/Back to School Party.   

CRATER LAKE 

What a blessing to live in a state with such beauty and variety!  This is the place I would very willingly return to every summer.  Perfect trails for little ones plus ones more challenging as the kids get older, fun ranger programs, and it was so beautiful that words can't describe it quite right.  I know many people have said that- but it is total truth!  It also made me miss my dad.  Camping was totally his thing and I had to be the adult this time and I was paranoid much of the time as to whether I remembered everything or not.  But I want to do it again now that I feel I have some experience under my belt. 

 

  

 FAMILY DAY in the PARK

Unfortunately some of the wildfires followed us home and it was a very smokey hazy day in the park for our church's service.  But it was fun and such a great reminder of God's love for us.

CORN FESTIVAL

Our little town of Aumsville has a Corn Festival on the last Saturday in August.  We love getting free corn and watching the parade but this year- we were IN the parade promoting AWANA- our church's Bible club.  It was super windy and it threatened rain but it was better than walking in ninety degree heat so I took it.  The rain came later but we enjoyed the time we had out.

HERMIONE'S BACK TO SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY


We had a late birthday party for Hermione the day before school started because coming back from camping caused our house to explode with all the laundry and supplies.  It took us about a week just to get to a normal state of house.  But I thought it turned out well considering I desperately need many cake decorating lessons.

Hermione

Ariana

Lucy

8 years old- Third Grade- love this crazy girl!  Can't wait to throw her a massive Harry Potter Party next time.

HERMIONE
This girl is tough and easy, serious and hilarious all at the same time!  You can tell by the get to know you questions that she has really grown up and is very nervous being in the testing year.  She is attended Aumsville Elementary School but I am thinking of homeschooling her because she has such an impressionable heart and I pray hard for her.  We love talking books and I hope we can be great friends when she is older but for know I have to mostly be her parent.  

GET TO KNOW HER:
 
What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite toy?

Legos

What is your favorite fruit?

Plums

What is your favorite TV show/Movie?

Phineas and Ferb, Harry Potter

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Pizza

What is your favorite outfit?

My Big Sis outfit- it is a pink shirt with a skirt that has flowers on it- a Easter gift from Grandma Cheri

What is your favorite game?

Card games- Go Fish

What is your favorite snack?

Yogurt

What is your favorite animal?

I don't have one any more.

What is your favorite song?

Flawless by MercyMe

What is your favorite book?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Who is your best friend?

Madison K.

What is your favorite sport?

Soccer

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Swing

What is your favorite drink?

Root Beer 

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Nothing- sometimes my sleeping mask.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

Chicken

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I just want to have a good life, I am scared of being a grown up.  

Family Summer Update

We have had the busiest summer- EVER!  So many parks!  So many hikes!  So many birthdays!  So hot!  Just to name a few places we have been Champoeg State Park, Silver Falls State Park, Willamette Mission State Park, Independence, Pioneer Park, Porter-Boone Park, Triangle Lake, and a place tucked in a random place I forgot its name. 

If you have read this blog at all you know my husband is just a pick up and go kinda guy so I haven't prepared anything much to share about all these places other than we had family fun and drank a lot of water and Lucy always gets cranky at the half mile marker. 

Crafts in the Park

Champoeg State Park- dress up!

Summer Flip Flops

Caught a Grasshopper

Summer Wheat growing in the yard

Ice Cream!

Lost First Tooth

Ariana also had a birthday!  She turned 6 and lost her first tooth!  She wanted to go to Silver Falls State Park with a few friends for her birthday.  It was incredibly hot, which was reminiscent of the day she was born- 103 degrees!  We had lots of fun swimming and hiking.  I love this kid.  She is smart, fun, dramatic, and loves to dance, color, draw, and hike.  It is time to get to know her even better so lets ask her some questions. 

What is your favorite color?

My favoritest favoritest is red violet.

What is your favorite toy?

My Elsa toy because it was from mom and because I really wanted it.

What is your favorite fruit?

Grapes

What is your favorite TV Show and Movie?

My favorite movie is Barbie movies.  My favorite TV show is Gravity Falls because I watch it with daddy sometimes.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Sandwiches

 What is your favorite outfit?

 My favorite outfit is my Daphne costume because it has fake jewels on it.

What is your favorite game?

 SuperWhy PBS computer game

What is your favorite snack?

Graham Crackers with frosting

What is your favorite animal?

Horses

What is your favorite song?

"Let It Go"

What is your favorite book?

The Bible because I like the LORD

Who is your best friend?

Shay

What is your favorite sport?

It is soccer.

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Swing

What is your favorite drink?

Soda!  (what kind of soda?) the little Coke bottles with soda

What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween because you get to dress up

What would you want to eat for your birthday dinner?

Mashed potatoes and tomato soup

What do you like to take to bed with you?

Dora Blankie

What do you want to be when you grow up?

a singer because I like singing and because Ariana means silver and a good singer