Thankful Thursday

Thankfully I am able to stay home with my children. Yesterday I stayed beside Dash as he was a sick little fellow. . He had vomited on Tuesday afternoon. He had a hard night on Tuesday and then Wednesday he just got the trial of the year with the sick tummy "all day". He was a great little patient. Very sweet and agreeable and not grumpy. He is so sweet. I held the little fellow all day! How Thankful I am to heal his heart. You see, Dash feels inappropriate guilt to be held and loved on. His experience in the orphanage the first 10 months still effects him in little ways only parents would see. Daddy man and I are so glad to just be able to be here for him. I just held him, it was so good for him. I held his little head in my hand as we watched movies and I held the cup as he sipped Sprite to re hydrate. He just soaked it up too. His calm is marked with a grateful peace emanating from him. It was a lovely day even though he was sick. It is such an honor and a privilege to be here for him.
His Teacher called to check on him and we spoke. She touched my heart with what she said to me. She said..."that even though she will no longer be Dash's teacher that she hopes that I would honor her with calling her my friend. She said that she always has enjoyed every conversation and that she always wants to be counted as my friend. " ...How touching and humbling to be thought of so sweetly and highly.
We spoke of dash and I told her what a sweet heart he is...she said" not only is Dash sweet but he is dynamic, popular and very intelligent. " She said that "rarely if ever will you find a child who has all three things going for them." she said "he is a very special boy"!
I agree. :)
When My Beloved came home he embraced me so wonderfully kissing my neck telling me how very much he delights in me. I felt like I was floating on a cloud in his arms.
I was not able to go to Doves play last night.
However it was the play that her teacher and class and I put on for the nursing home last week. Daddy man went with her and they had their special time together. Mr Uncommon stood up for another Mother who was being attacked verbally by a woman. Hubby told the raging Mother that it was no way to behave in front of the children. I was so proud of him for defending the woman and guarding the children. He spoke up!
Dove is very proud of the chain necklace I made for her and her friend are all begging one now.


This is her tri-fold on Giant Otters. It looked very nice.

Dove is in the green. Daddy man was able to capture a audio of it. I am not sure how to impart it into the post.

This is a thankful Thursday Morning .
Our weather is now 70* It dropped 30* or more. It was 108* just two days ago!
Dash and I were rock searching and he found a perfect humming bird this morning.
Now if you know me you will appreciate the significance here. God has often spoken to me in hard times through the humble humming bird

This is sitting on Dash's pillow.
He said" it looks like it is flying in the sky for our sky is white like this, this morning"... We have clouds today with promise of rain over the next couple of days.
Dash has to miss the last day of school. Dove is off to school. I walked her down to the bus stop. She is going to watch "Pippy Long Stocking" today at school. Dash was a bit sad about the missing of the last day of school, but I must say he is really being a good sport about it. His teacher said that there is a few viruses going around and suggested he stayed home and away from the risk with his system being compromised.
This morning his lips are a little blue.
I am so glad he stayed home. He is watching Sponge Bob right now and he is softly singing. He is still weak though. Happy enough but weak. What a sweet little patient. He keeps looking up at me and sharing a song and a smile. What a gift this son is to me.
Tomorrow I will have both children home for summer school break.
My little girl is growing up so fast!
She will be in forth grade next year. She has grown up so much emotionally. I still can see the vulnerability but I think that by holding her back this year she will be in such a better standing. The maturity is now developing so I think she will be better able to keep herself safe. She has established her character and it is a strong foundation I am not afraid for her. I think that she will do well now. This is such a huge healing for her. I am so grateful it is so wonderful when we get to see our kids thrive.

She is gaining height so fast!

Wordless Wedensday

ONE WORD ONLY!

ONE WORD ONLY!

Not as easy as you might think. Now copy, forward, or post this and change the answers to yours and pass it on. It’s really hard to only use one word answers.

1. Where is your cell phone? …………..purse

2. Your significant other?………………….. office

3. Your hair? …………………………………….. pretty

4. Your mother? ……………………………….. dust

5. Your father?…………………………………….. unknown

6. Your favorite thing?……………………….. Love

7. Your dream last night?………………….. intercession

8. Your favorite drink? ……………………….. tea

9. Your dream/goal?………………………….. debtless

10. The room you’re in?……………………..occupied

11. Your ex?……………………………………….. n/a

12. Your fear?……………………………………..failing

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?…….. settled

14. Where were you last night?………….. home

15. What you’re not?………………………….. bitter

16. Muffins?……………………………………….. bran

17. One of your wish list items?………….. home

18. Where you grew up?…………………….. Meadows

19. The last thing you did?………………….. Mothered

20. What are you wearing?………………….. skirt

21. Your TV?……………………………………….. silent

22. Your pets?…………………………………….. shed

23. Your computer? …………………………….. nice

24. Your life?……………………………………….. family

25. Your mood?………………………………….. copostetic

26. Missing someone?……………………….. self

27. Your car?……………………………………….. His

28. Something you’re not wearing?…….. necklace

29. Favorite Store?……………………………….. Organic

30. Your summer?……………………………….. loud

31. Like(love) someone?…………………………….. forever

32. Your favorite color?……………………….. changes

33. Last time you laughed?……………….. today

34. Last time you cried?……………………….. yesterday

35. Who will re-post this?…………………….. someone

Tackle It Tuesday

I was up at 6a.m. got the hubby lunch and breakfast (whole wheat toast with butter and a pealed navel orange in a recycled to go food box) for the road( it protects and the kids played until it was time to eat and then off to school. It is nice here in the early morning.
I cut up a nice big melon for the Ladies Bible Study social.
I drove around for a few moments looking at the houses we will be going to tonight. I made a pro/con list for each house. It is funny the things that are more important.
Then I went to the church and joined the others there.
We had a nice time and just after prayer time we were going to begin a study video.
I got a call on the cell phone.
I had to rush home clean up the house making all beds and sweeping floors and just overall detail so that the house could be shown.
I had all the lights on, the ceiling fans running and the incense was lit.The job got done 15 minutes after they were due...but They never came!
So I sat outside in 102* heat at the neighbors back yard with the dogs. For 30 minutes.
Then I came home and melted for two hours.
I turned all the lights off and shut down the shades and blinds.
I turn the house off at 1p.m. so that we save on utilities.
Tonight we go to look at 4 houses that are for sale.
Hay the house is clean...:)

I met the kids as they got off the bus with a snack and a cool drink.
My children are cooling off watching afternoon T.V. and resting.
It is so hot for kids here at school. This is a hard time of year for kids to play or be outside.
Dash has a tummy ache. He turned down a root beer and chip snack. I think he got overheated today.

The Dogs got over heated too.
They are both just balls of fur in a big heap on the cool floor.

Well...as I was finishing this post I heard a funny noise. It was Dash vomiting up his tummy full.
I could not get to him because the pool was blocking the way.
Becca grabbed towels as did I and I used them to walk on.
My sweet boy this is only the third time in his seven years of throwing up.

The washer in running on hot with the towels.
Well...now it is mopped and the walls are scrubbed...
He has a hard lesson he ate Pizza!
My allergic to MILK kid decided to eat PIZZA!
Well he heaved again and now has fallen asleep,
so I guess the evening of looking at properties will have to change course.
Poor kid.
Hard lesson to do what you know you should not do.
Ah... Motherhood:)

Menu Plan Monday

It has gotten very hot here over 100* this week so we use a lot of cooler preparation tips and eat lighter and fresh as apposed to cooked veggies.

I try to cook all things before 1 P.M. it is the time of use plan that saves a lot on utilities and keeps the house cooler in the heat of the day. Rice and such will be cooked and them heated on plate in micro wave at time of service.

Monday: Chicken Tenders Cooked in rice pilaf of basmati rice and wild rice using chicken broth and herbs de' province, fresh cucumber slices

Tuesday: Organic (frozen) Blueberry Pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs with apple slices, and grape tomatoes for the eggs.

Wednesday: Salmon (pan seared), fresh orange slices , rice (sushi) and melon slices.

Thursday: Roasted beef rib roast studded with garlic, carrots celery , onion and potatoes (sweets).

Friday: Popcorn Chicken, Carrot sticks and bell peppers of red orange and yellow raw.

Saturday: Mexican day of Turkey Enchiladas in tomatillo sauce, Tacos and burritos...tomatoes, lettuces, cheese re-fried pintos and cheddar cheese.

Sunday: Guest will be served a fresh Tarragon Elbow Pasta (imitation) crab salad with bell peppers and celery hard boiled egg and such. With a fresh fruit.

Thankful Thursday to Sunday Smiles

Wow! Four Days of fun, Fun, Fun! Thursday... offered an after school storm. I called Dove away from the T.V. and told her she just MUST come outside. She brought out her snack and sat on the porch, while I did dog duty duty :)

We were rained on this the first storm in over 80 days! It was so wonderful!

Dash Hawk had to show me his new stunt. That kid is doing push-ups over the expanse of the fort.

Dove amazed me with her beauty! She is just finishing her snack of "Cheeto's". Oh I just LOVE this image. It so captivates me.
We all then went for a walk around the block in the breeze and rain. We came across two brothers who ride the bus with my kids. They live on a back cul-da-sac. So I went back with the kids and got their bikes and went back to the cul-da-sac to let them play together. There was no parent around so I just sat on a bench in a yard and watched the kids. Good thing too for at one point a car came around the corner and I was able to signal them. Dove called her brother a "Jerk" so I quietly told them it was time to leave. When we got to the house I explained to Dove that name calling is not acceptable and that is why we left. That if she can not treat her brother with decency then she will not be aloud to play with others.

I get "LOST" on Thursday evenings. Daddy Man gives me the night off and I watch my favorite shows. They shoed some of the rescue on Lost and It was a great show.
We had an invitation to swim on Saturday and when I told the agent who is selling our home she set up an open house. Well the house was a mess! I had Friday and Saturday to clean it., but on
Friday... I had to meet Dove at her school at 8:30 to chaperon a community service field trip to a nursing home. When I arrived thy were having a flag raising and a band performance. The music teacher played taps. It was beautiful! They spoke of Memorial day and the service of those who gave and fought for our country.

I had a lost Kinder gardener in my tow and the teacher saw us and came for him and thanked me for helping the tot.

At the end of The event Three names were spoken and I could not make out what was said. Out of over 600+ kids our Little Dove was one of those three names.

Because I happened :)
to be there with camera I was able to capture the event.

She received a"Scholastic Citizenship" award. Dove won a Scholastic Citizen ship award. Only 3 out of 600+ students. We are so happy for her and proud of her good choices. I told her it was about who she is and not just what she has done. She was just shining. She received an award and a water bottle and pencil. With a certificate for a free kids meal also. She went off to class as I purchased year books and signed in the volunteer book and got my badge. I was off to Doves class room to assist.
I wish I would have taken pictures with the camera but I was very consumed with 23 kids. The teacher and I loaded up the backgrounds and the costumes onto the school bus then the children. We had the whole bus. We were off to the nursing home. It was a care unit for Alzheimer's patients. A very nice facility. We unloaded the props and costumes and the teacher followed with the students. They performed the play to an audience of 30 or so patients and three or so attendants. Then the kids sang songs the teacher and I were flying by the seat of our pants. Then I collected the costumes while the teacher and the children spoke about the lessons they were learning. We then had each child give each Lady a flower. It was so sweet! The children were attended with my hand gently on the back while speaking too the individual patients, some of whom were not "home" so to speak". I supported the children as to not have them be afraid. It was a real treasured time. Sorry no pictures I was just so hands on I had no time to take an image. We got on the bus and headed back to a familiar park. The one by our house. We met up with 30 other students and all of them had a lunch and a two hour play time. We arrived a half hour early but tyhe time was right to leave the nursing home.

This little black haird boys Mother lives near that house I like.

Dove loves to climb trees all children are so fond of trees.

We had 7-9 adults and over 50 kids.

The Mother in the image invited us over to play and swim. It was a nice invitation. So I will keep in touch with her over the summer. I told her the story of the car accident and about my memory challenges as to not be offended and to just remind me of who she is when she calls. She appreciated the miracle of the accident. I was hit by a kid doing 120 and I lived a little dimmed in the memory stuff but no one died because he hit my car, that was three years ago Christmas. So Daddy man got a Movie for Dove for her achievement. "Indiana Jones and the last crusade." We had a family movie night and went to bed early. For Saturday morning we had a house to clean!
Saturday...6 am Dash gave the wake up call...O.K. everybody we got to clean this house. Open House was to be at 9 A.M. We worked our brains out! We took the dogs with us this time for my neighbor was having a party at her house. She had a yard full of farm animals that she had rented. The kids and I went to take a peak at them just before we left. Too cute. Farm animals for rent? We arrived at my Dear Old Friends house by 10:30. Hot tired and ready to just pass out! We had mopped every floor and shined every surface! We were out of there just in time.

My Sweet friend had been raised with dogs and has a deep knowledge of them. We watched the establishment of alpha and then we were able to relax. Guess who was alpha out of four dogs?...Willy! Well all was relaxed and we went for a swim. The dogs joined us.
Please pray for my friend Jewels she has two new dental implants that are infected.

Willy had his first swim! He loved it! Rena was not to inclined she got into the first step.

Dove and Willy had a swim together. She is a strong swimmer. We kept the dogs to two at a time due to newly established alpha and all. We did not want to stress Willy out being a new swimmer and all.

Dash stays in the small pool he is not swimming yet. We had a near drowning with him and Dove in this pool a year or so ago. So he just stays in the shallow.

Willy worked hard. He slept hard all afternoon too. We all had a nice lunch of bread and meat and strawberries. Then we all came home after the Open House was over. We were home a short while and I showered. Then we were off... We went to the picture show... "Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian" It was wonderful! We all had Chinese food at Panda. It was a good Movie and the children were very aware of when it deviated from the novel. Steve has read all seven of the novels to them and he just reread the prince Caspian recently to refresh them. We splurged and took them out to Panda Chinese food. (it has gone down hill) . It was very nice to have some family time We came home and I went to bed early. I slept for 13 hours! Wow rested for the first time in a long while. Our day was very full yesterday and when we came home I laid on the bed at 6p.m. Did not get up till 9pm and then just to take my medication. I went right back and laid down until 7:30 this morning! I felt happy this morning really happy. Rested for the first time in so long. I have had insomnia from my medication for a while. I have so little time to blog right now. Forgive me I just must compress my efforts. I am so looking forward to the future and what it is God has in store for us. It is so hard to stay in this day and not long to be moved and sold. This day is so important though well never get it back again.:) I hope that you milk this day for all it is worth. Get every drop of joy out of it. I am so hoping to sell this house soon. I really would like to be settled before long. So that the children can build community before the school year begins. Beauty for ashes. Oil of joy for morning The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. That we might be trees of righteousness the planting for the Lord. As a dear pantith for the waters so my soul longs after thee. You alone are my hearts desire so I long to Worship Him.
Lego Sunday... We arose to a day of "Family time" We felt the need to rest. We had to return to our host of yesterday for our dog dishes and camera. Then a trip to the toy store for the children had earned enough to get the Lego sets they desired. We stoped by the craft store for some glue we needed and I got two strands of purple beads to play with:) We then stopped for the big bag off dog food and came home. The kids started building. Those two saved almost $31.00 all but $2.20 of what they needed to get the sets. They began to build as soon as they got in the door.

I love seeing Dove able to do the fine motor stuff. She had Dash help her. YES! team work!

We have the kids put the plastic bags into separate bowls as to keep things ordered. Dash is a master builder! his little brain just thrives on it!

We placed them at different surfaces to keep the stuff from getting mixed up.

Dash had a grumpy day and Daddy man was doing his best to cheer him up. He kept getting hurt. Just little bumps and such. He is challenged with balance lately.

He is such a Daddy! I took another nap. I just cant seem to get enough rest. After 45 minutes I felt better and came into the blog as they finished the Lego sets.

Dove was able to do a lot of her set without help. She got car sick on the errands that is why the gray wrist bands. They are for divers if you have a kid with sensory stuff try them. You can get them at Walgreen's ore any drug store. Well... on the way to the grand parents now. enjoy your Sunday evening.


Dove realized yesterday that her Bible is a different translation than mine.
I was able to teach her about history of language.
Too cool!

Wedenesday night at skate rink

The childrens school had there tri anual skate night.

Here is Dash Hawk

Dove is in turquoise.
The child in red is her best friend. Her friend is moving to another town next week.

Yes! After what amazed me to be almost 10 years I got up on skates!
I had so much fun! I used to skate a lot. Every time I could in my early married years. I would go while Mr U worked nights. I had a best friend who loved to skate too. Her and I would just tear up the rink. That was 20+ years back now. It came back to me.
It was so cool Mr U just handed me the money and said if it is your heart to skate than...go skate! He did not treat me like a cripple.
I am so glad I took the risk. It was very empowering and so nice to feel the breeze in my hair.
I was VERY careful with my knee. I even amazed the kids when they looked up to see me skating backward!
Dove was so proud of me. It was the most wonderful thing to see my daughter so proud of me that she was giving me lots of "thumbs up".
She drew a "belated" Mothers Day gift of a picture of us skating together. It meant so much to her.

At the end they had a silly dance time and we all had silly fun.

Dash is quite the dancer!
This little girl was very attached to me. She was with another Mom who had given her a ride. The child would come up and just hold my hand. She was so sweet.
Her hair is green with a spray they put on it for fun.

Wordless Wedensday

Dash with camera
From a child's eye...

Pulling weeds and picking stones

I have been working on the lawn a bit this week.

Dash Hawk calls this the jungle.
This is outside the kitchen window.
Sunflowers here are a tradition. Many years ago they self planted and I had several of them for my birthday that year (much to my delight). There is a bird feeder in there that is hard to see.
This morning he and I had a nice intimate time together watering the garden and speaking of terms. Like stalk and pollen. He has so many wonderful questions. He was amazed by the huge leaves on the sunflowers. We have a lovely gray sage out there that planted itself as well. I told him how the birds eat the seeds and then poop them out and then a flower grows...
he said.." you mean there is life in POOP?!...
Smiling I said..."yes there is even life in poop."

Now this is just a happy face!
I showed Dash how the pollinated flower creates seeds.
I love how the bird seed has planted itself into a sustainable resource for those days when I don't get the feeder filled. I always have birds at my kitchen window.

The tall grasses (millet I think) are planted by the falling seed.
If you look closely you can see the feeders.

This (orchid ?) tree is also self planted a gift from the parent tree next door. It is so beautiful this time of year.

Emerging Beauty.
Just like all of us.
We emerge into the shining face of reflected light.
I love how sunflowers follow the sun. This is such a wonderful lesson in our lives.
Rise and shine.

The big tree made it. Thank you for all your prayers.
It has finished it's pollination and now is greening up nicely.

I had a full day yesterday.
I found a box at the door when I got home and look what was inside.
My heart lept! You know how excited you can be over a true joy and pleasure. I love beading! I have been fascinated by Beading Grams dolls and the faces. I have wondered how to do these. That cabochon book is hard bound! It is so beautiful!
Peyote stitch is such an art form. This is a very detailed instructive book! Thank you Dear MILove and FILove for the thoughtful birthday gift.

I left to go to Bible study and dropped off a necklace to that neighbor who gave me the lemons. I passed it to her husband who said " oh this is beautiful" It felt good to see even the guy liked it.
I went to bible study at the little neighborhood baptist church yesterday with a dear friend. I met Debbie there. It was a pleasure. They were on the last unit of the Beth Moore study on the Patriarchs. It was so perfect to edify this place I am in. I have been pretty stressed out afraid of "doing *it* wrong. *IT* being life. Selling a house in this market is all but crazy in the eyes of most. Even my own eyes are pondering it. To do what you know is right in the face of all question and doubt can leave you wondering if it is really the "right " thing to do.
I felt that it was on me to do it just right too. I feel a lot of relief and am trusting more and resting in him better.
I have now met 4 of the women who live in the cul-da-sac that I am interested into moving into. The street is just to the west of the elementary. The house is a foreclosure. It is in need of a lot of attention. Beloved is not terribly fond of it. I am so drawn to it on many levels. It is a street where all of the people are Christians, most going to the little church behind it. Man we could put a gate in the back wall and just walk through he back yard to church!
My children even have the children who might be neighbors in classes. These are great kids with good manners and ethics. Many are also (of all things) either adopted or in foster care. I have been dreaming of moving in. Nesting as it were. I will be selling my hutch and most likely my master bedroom suite. Not the big bed but the vanity and all the dressers. It is too small to fit all of the furnishings. My flesh is at battle a little but I saw Myself selling the hutch. I made a Creigs List add. It is so amazing to consider this simple life.
I look so forward to the buyer coming here. We so hope that they give us a good price and that we can get into the other place cheep for it will need a lot of work. I can see myself growing old there. Doing new gates and planting flowers.
There are benches under the children's widows...can you just imagine them sitting there talking to their friends. I can keep an eye on them too from inside:)

I went to Dash's poetry recital and he did great. He only did half of it because of bing ill he had not memorized the whole thing.

Hairballs!
In the morning jumps my Lab!
Ready to gobble his kibbles.
Chocolate fur trails behind Him.

Hairballs!...Like leaves in fall.
Scattered mounds of brown.
Happy am I , He comes when I call.
We play with such abandon. (he got this far)

He is three times seven,
thats in dog years.
If he keeps this up
He'll be a bald pup.

I'm glad to have him
So thats the end.
Willy Wonka bar Jonas
My hairball friend.

by my Mom

He asked me to write him a poem and that is what I came up with .
After the poetry
I went over to Little Doves class instead of coming home. The teacher asked if I could help a student with a report on a tri-fold he was the only child who had not yet finished. This sweet kid had dyslexia. I do as well so I taught him a few tricks about making a window of paper to copy the words with so his eye did not wander. Then I taught him to identify only the important words out of the sentence and paragraph. He copied them down with greater ease with these and a few other tips. He finished it! So before school was out he was caught up. He was very appreciative as was the teacher who was able to finish the novel reading with the rest of the class. The other children went onto there music lesson and the boy I helped was able to go join them. It really warmed my heart.
My kids met me at the house shortly after.

I pulled weeds while having some intimate time with Dash outside. We sat on the swing and talked of little boy things. He has so many questions. I want to do a better job of setting aside my interests and going to just be with him there to be available to answer some of his many wonders. This child is always questioning. He helped me weed the lawn some , we spoke of "stupid" verses "wisdom" and he gave me several examples of both. Stupid being ...knowing what is right and doing the wrong thing anyway... Wisdom he said is when someone tells you do do the wrong thing don't let them trick you into it, do the right thing instead.... Oh how I hope he holds onto that all his days! Then Dove joined us.
Dove and Dash played with abandon. They were having a great time. She was pretending to be a crook and a bad guy smoking a celery stick. Dash refused to play in her ploy. Reciting our talk to her. He clarified "i am not really a crook but just to pretend...
The weather was so beautiful and the lawn looks so...much better.
Beloved came home and made hot dogs while I finished the lawn.
Well I better set to task around here.

The children have been riding the school bus this week and so I have had an extra hour a day to task.
The task...sleeping mostly trying to catch up on my rest.
We are all doing well now just a little residual coughing at night.

Oh!
For any of you who might want the recipe for Crabby Patties
(Sponge Bob) The kids wrote it down for me so I could make them just right. :)


bun
padey
Ketchup (they used the bottle as a reference to spell it)
musterd
Pickels
onyens
ledes (lettus)
cheees
tamadow
and bun

IN THAT ORDER

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Left over Leg of Lamb diced in garlic Mushroom rice
Fennel and carrot side dish

Tuesday: Speggetti and sauce
Salad of romaine and red onion with homemade croûtons (I save the heals of loaves of bread and then bake my own).

Wednesday: Left over frozen BBQ Pulled beef
Sweet potatoes and beets

Thursday: Honey Teriyaki chicken
Stir fry veggie rice with scrambled egg

Friday: Left over frozen Turkey and gravy on
Rice pilaf with diced celery in boiled with chicken broth

Saturday: Chili, pinto and black been with curry,cumin, bell peppers and diced tomatoes and chillies
Corn bread muffins with cumin, and diced corn.

Sunday: Taco lunch with lettuces cheese and tomatoes.

Deserts/snacks for the week:

Cherry Pie

peanut butter cookies with jam centers

upside down pineapple cake

cupcakes with left over frozen homemade better cream frosting

muffins (pumpkin with clove)

A sweet gift from a loving friend

My dear friend "Amrtia" sent this my way.
She wrote:
"Honor your father and mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you". Ex 20;12
I have constituted this award for my friends who are such adorable,sensitive and nurturing Moms to their children.You can pass this on to others

Thank you.