Lately

This month has been very busy- I literally feel like this season is flying by!

Livy is loving the tree this year.

Calling Bingo at the Nursing Home :)

Troop Christmas party! (Organized by Daddy)

Fun at the Zoo!

Back to Bethlehem!!!! *thumbs up*

Surrounded by community

So, in Katy, Texas- there are a innumerable amount of people who have moved here from far off places! VERY few people that you meet are native Katy-ites. ;-)  Saying that, it can be very daunting to make friends, find a church, or find a good community of like minded people.  I can say that the first time we lived here- I literally didn't get out or know anyone... ANYONE in my area for almost a year.  Looking back- I can't even imagine that!  I literally never went ANYWHERE unless Kevin was with me.  It wasn't until Ethan was 12 weeks old that I met a friend & she was my only friend for the remainder of my time here in Katy.

Fast forward to our second move here- I had gone through enough to know that I needed community of solid friends, but I wanted to be prayerful about how that would play out.  I would need to be intentional & I would need to move outside of my comfort zone in order for that to happen... ALOT. And so- I started that as soon as we got back! I met a coworker of Kevin's wife.  We started hanging out & she was interested in homeschooling- something I love discussing :)  We soon started getting together for play dates & just hanging out.  I can look back over the past 2 1/2 years- and she has shown up numerously for me & I her.  I am blessed by her friendship.

So, when we moved back I immediately began trying to get connected with the local area homeschool group.  I finally got registered & we decided to go to a park day.  I was hopeful in my heart & had a conversation with Katie- Beth (who at the time was really needing a friend).  We talked & we started praying for friends that GOD would pick for us.  We prayed in earnest on the way to the park that day. You see, dark clouds had moved in ... big yuck black ones.  It even started raining on our way to the park.  Normally this would detour me from my goal.  But in my heart I felt like God had something special waiting for us at this park day. So, we prayed.  When we got to the park it was still cloudy... but not raining.  We made our way to the playground.  To say I was not impressed with the local area homeschool group leaders that day... would be an understatement. And a part of my heart grew slightly discouraged.  I just knew there was something waiting for us there!

So I tried to reach out to a few different people, but there was one mom & kids in particular that I was drawn to- and our kids hit it off quickly.  I found out that this was her first park day with this group as well.  She had just moved here in a neighborhood near where we were actually looking at a house to buy THAT day.  She didn't know anyone here.  I'm unsure of all the details, but it wasn't long before we started texting & soon hanging out! Their family has become our very closest friends.  And I really feel like they were picked out by HIS own hand.  We often talk about how blessed we feel to have each others families.  Our kids are amazingly close... meaning they do fight... but they love each other incredibly! It's amazing how God delivers when you simply ask & allow HIM to do the work.

So as much as I'd like to go through EVERY incredible story I have with the community we've formed here- It would take me too long. But I have countless stories like these.  It's been a great journey of learning to be very intentional in meeting new people. Very intentional.  Through this we have a very solid group of 5 families who consistently interact ... IN REAL LIFE! We have an even larger group that meets for field trips & other events several times a year.  It's been an amazing thing to watch as our group grows, not just in numbers, but growing by encouraging one another & getting to know each other. 

This is a picture of one of our field trips :) Silly kids 

Playing Catch up Summer

Summer this year was full & fun!  We normally do not take a full summer off from our studies- but we did this year.  It was a nice change, but I think in 2016 we will continue a light load. ;-)  We spent many days at the splash pad & just in the water in general! :)

Dad being FUN!!!

We played a lot of GUESS WHO! 

We celebrated Ms. A's birthday!

We picked blueberries at a blueberry farm! :)

With our homeschool group at the blueberry farm!

We celebrated 4th of July in old Katy! 

This girl & her bestie enjoying "Hank the Cow Dog" performance on a double Daddy/Daughter Date :)

Swim Lessons with buddies

Ryan Turns 5!!!!!

London Baby! :)

In January Kevin asked me if I'd like to go to London...  Of course I did!  But that wasn't realistic.  But he insisted that it was.  See, my friend, Rachel, was living there so I would have a place to stay! So we started planning the trip-

I was very nervous for various reasons: 1. I'd be travelling by myself. 2. I hate planes. 3. the flight was 10+ hours there & 9+ hours back-- over an ocean! 4. I would be in a different country than my family! But I committed to going & was very excited (even if I did nearly puke before boarding the plane!)  I had my audiobooks loaded on my tablet as well as one of my favorite shows latest seasons! I was ready. As the plane took off- I had some of my scripture music playing in my earbuds.  The song that happened to be playing was The Peace of God

And just like that I was at peace- I felt close to HIM that night.  Maybe it was being in the air & seeing the moon so bright, I felt small- & realized more than before how magnificent our GOD is.  I was in HIS hands.  I settled it in my heart.

As I flew into England- WOW! It was so green & so beautiful. 

Jet lag was gentle on me - even considering how little sleep I got on the plane.  But I arrived & made my way through customs, baggage etc. I made my way out & found my sweet friend! 

We spent the rest of that day just sightseeing. Here are few of those pictures: 

I believe I went to bed that night about 8ish & slept 12+ hours.  I haven't done that in... I'm not sure I've ever slept so long! It was wonderful! :)  The next morning we headed to see Jane Austen's house! Dream come true! 

The next day we spent in Stratford-upon-Avon.  SHAKESPEARE PEOPLE! Love that magnificent writer! So we visited his birthplace! Then we went to Anne Hathaways cottage. One word- beautiful!

I love how beautiful all the buildings are constructed! I mean it is breathtaking! Such history!

We took Wednesday to just chill.  I really wanted to see what "normal life" was like living there. So, we ran to the grocery store! So cool!  Not near as commercialized as our "A.D.D." mega grocery stores.  We are seriously ridiculous- just sayin.  I loved the simplicity of life.  I really just loved it.

After Stratford we went to OXFORD!!!!!!!!  This was a bucket list item for me- and it is for KB as well :-) Actually, she wants to attend university there... hey I encourage dreaming big!!  You see we LOVE C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkein- it happens that they (and some others) used to meet weekly at a place called "The Eagle and Child" in Oxford.  I wanted to eat there- and so we did! :)

Thursday we went to WINDSOR CASTLE! You know, where the queen's lives!

Friday J took off work to watch all of their kids & Rachel & I spent the entire day in LONDON! She took me to a bunch of her favorite spots & a few new to her.  We also visited the British Museum! We rode the London Eye at night & just enjoyed seeing London at night.  It was beautiful.  I know there are a lot of culture differences when you visit different places around the world, but I love it.  I love the diversity and the multi culture!  

ROSETTA STONE! (the back)

Rosetta Stone ( the frontage)

FROM THE LONDON EYE

TOP OF PRIMROSE HILL LONDON BEHIND US! :) #BIGHILL

BUCKINGHAM PALACE GATES

This trip was so much fun! It's so much fun to be able to say to my kids "I've seen that" or "I've been there" when we read through some of our history. :)  We just chatted about the Rosetta Stone the other day!  We watched "Paddington" too- & I was able to recognize some of the places in that movie! :) So cool!

Such a wonderful experience! I'm so thankful for Rachel showing me around & being so hospitable the whole week long! You guys I had a ton of goodies waiting for me when I arrived! I mean AWESOME goodies. Like a collection of Beatrix Potter books that she had been collecting here and there for me at antiquish places! Talk about speaking my love language--- books--- old books :) 

Coming next... my homecoming to my favorite peeps ;-) 

30 things to be thankful for

1. I'm thankful for my immediate family. They know me on the good & bad days- & love me still.
2. For modern appliances.
3. The opportunity to be home with our children every single day.  It's never easy, but I wouldn't miss all the amazing things I get to witness first hand.  I've witnessed all of their firsts & that is something truly amazing in this day & time. Not just things like crawling, walking, talking etc. But things like reading, comprehending math & watching amazing artistic skills develop!
4. My husband who supports me all the way.  He goes with my crazy ideas, but also tells me when I'm way off.  He offers constructive criticism. He encourages me when I'm down. Most of all he's always there for me.
5. Food
6. Toilet paper--- Just being honest!
7. Amazon PRIME! For reals though I love that thing!
8. Snacky dinner nights with a movie!
9. Knowledge that I'm loved by the GOD of the universe. Period- HE loves me & wants me.
10. Smart phones
11. Friends.  This one is huge to me. (Post coming soon about how the Lord has provided)
12. Beautiful FALL days! (Like today! It's gorgeous!)
13. Ability to relax in our homeschool days. Not feeling pressured by those around me. Or having my kids constantly quizzed by family members.  They are able to live in freedom & not be stressed by tests & quizzes.  We are able to learn at our pace.  There is a lot of pressure that naturally comes with home schooling- I'm thankful that I've learned to lean into HIM & not be so stressed. It's more than getting through- it's about relationships. So thankful I've learned that this year. (doesn't mean it's all gumdrops & roses, but it's better)
14. Health
15. Paper plates! (Honestly- best invention ever)
16. VOXER!
17. Essential oils
18. Floss
19. MomHeart Conference (THE BEST) & Sally Clarkson
20. Books- anyone who knows me knows I have a love affair with books. But not just any books!  GOOD books.  Books with amazing language & beautifying content.  One that I read this year was from Elizabeth Goudge.  I read The Little White Horse  & let me just say it was an amazing AMAZING book.  I can not wait for KB to read this one! :) I plan to read some more Goudge books in 2016!
21. Used bookstores!
22. MY TRIP TO LONDON! :) Kevin sent me on a trip to LONDON in May to see my sweet friend Rachel.  I was there a whole week & it was one of the best times in my life! It was also my first time out of the country & ALONE at that! Anyone who knows me knows how extremely huge this was! So so so glad I did it! It changed me :)
23. Paper- notebooks specifically
24. Sharp pencils!
25. Our Homeschool group
26. socks
27. FUZZY blankets & warm fires
28. Our awesome camping trip this past October- seriously so much fun!
29. This blog- I've missed blogging.
30. I'm thankful for being thankful- it really is a gift.

This was fun- give it a try!  Come up with 30 Things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving! :)

Nature Study

“It is infinitely well worth the mother’s while to take some pains every day to secure, in the first place, that her children spend hours daily amongst rural and natural objects; and, in the second place, to infuse into them, or rather, to cherish in them, the love of investigation...

The child who learns his science from a text-book, though he go to Nature for illustrations, and he who gets his information from object lessons, has no chance of forming relations with things as they are, because his kindly obtrusive teacher makes him believe that to know about things is the same as knowing them personally...

Let them once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight and habit through life...

Do children keep tadpoles, and silkworms, and caterpillars in these days? Very few have given us the results of their own observations. We have many capital descriptions from books, and that is better than nothing, but the very essence of natural history is that it should, so far as possible, be drawn direct from Nature."    -Vol 6 Charlotte Mason