Weekends at Home

This video was Easter weekend, but just had to share!  Maybe a futures student of our friend, TK, an enjoyer of snowboarding.

For 3 weekends we've had a pretty sweet schedule.  Saturday AM decide on a hiking location.  En route to the hike, or upon our return we would make a series of drop-off/pick-ups, then, hike at a nearby nature area.  Saturday afternoon, we would work in our backyard.  The last 2 weeks had been working to make 2 raised garden beds and a compost container/system.  This weekend, we started a chicken coop.  All the wood has been from around the house and garage, including an old wood storm door.  We still have some work to do and then chickens to acquire...but we have a possible offer.  It will be a summer-only endeavor and possibly only this one summer.  After that, as most of you know, we'll have a new babe and I have long ago decided that we wouldn't have chickens and crawlers/toddlers at the same time.  Just with the hands to mouth factor.

Sundays have been a long morning before 10:45 church, lunch, nap, then outdoor something...biking, more yard enjoyment, snow play...  This week, because Kevin was on the worship team and I had just received a box of dresses from my sister-in-love, we both dressed up.  :)  Including slippers, house crocs, and a sneaker.  Haha.  Enjoying this journey!  Note to grands:  you might have to travel to us first...we really enjoy this schedule and the lack of road time!!

Gearing Up

Well, we've seen it done and heard about it and read about people doing it...  Now, Hobby Lobby is telling me that we should "just get started".  Haha.  We'll see what comes of "nature journaling"...if anything, I'll post some pictures.

Park Day

Saturday we decided to head to a nature conservation area.  Like a previous time, with Grandma, it was already mid-afternoon and a 20 minute drive to this new-to-us area.  So, we packed up some good food, drove through Wendy's for a burger to supplement and headed out.  What we forgot was that the prairie is much windier than in town and so, we were all a bit wind-whipped when we were done.  Also, forgot the pacifier for Miss T and she didn't want to be carried faced in and so she cried through most of the trail.  Consequently, Mama walked faster and kids got tireder...well, lesson learned.  Bring ear-gear, snacks for all and try again later.  It was a beautiful place and Kevin found the spot he would have settled if he had been a pioneer.  ;)  Here are some pictures of some wildlife and some sister love!  Enjoy!

Legos

There was getting to be some possessiveness and fighting over different Lego pieces.  So, we made an agreement...they'd finish up what they were building and then get pictures taken.  After that, I'd post the pictures with their explanations.  Here are their pieces.  Mn's wasn't the full and final, but was what he wanted posted.

Mn:  I built a farm and I made 2 cars. That's all.

Kj:  I have a house and a stagecoach. The stagecoach has a barrel on top. There is a man driving and a  man riding. The clear thing behind the man is a suitcase.  

My house has a coat closet, a bathroom with a shower, a kitchen with a stove and sink, a living room with a fireplace, and a dining room. The man is eating salad. In the coat closet, there are skis that fit the Lego man.

L:  I made a Ice Cream shop, a House, and a Dock with a Boat. The Ice Cream shop also sold smoothies, and the Boat was a ferry.

Holding on Lightly

I heard a sermon this weekend about loving God above all else, even your spouse and children.  It made me think of how I love my foster babies.  I love them all I can while they are with me, but all the time with the knowing that they may soon leave my care.  They are not mine to keep.  God knows the plans that He has for those foster babies just as well as he knows the plans for my own spouse and children, yet, I hold them tighter.  They are MINE!  All MINE!  ;)  They are really God's all God's, he has sent them into my life for a season (which might be our whole, full, long lifetimes, maybe not), just like those foster babies.  I need to be willing to let them go too.

Reflecting on "Who is Number One in Your Life?"

Sermon notes - Luke 14:25-35:
You cannot be a disciple if you don't:
~ Love Jesus more than anyone else (25-26)
      Matt. 10:35
~ Give up your priorities to follow Him (27)
      take up your cross daily
      His approval
      honor Him first
      willing to change goals if show I should
~ Renounce all that you have (28-33)
~ Stay focused and stay salty (34-35)

What do you value most in life?