Sweet Otto

We gazed at you sweet Otto
and beheld tiny perfection;
a beautiful small miracle,
so briefly experienced,
yet eternally loved.

Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again.
Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this memory bittersweet
Until we meet.
Fly, fly do not fear
Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me
Above the universe you'll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget.
Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light.
Fly, Celine Dion

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
Psalm 36:1

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1

Dear Lord,
Please provide comfort to those who are mourning.
Heal the brokenhearted. Give Peace in the midst of the storm.
May we seek refuge in Your abiding love for us.
We pray for strength and courage in the face of pain and sorrow.

Due to matters

I am taking a little bloggy break.
Please keep my family in your prayers. We are going through a journey that is heart wrenching. That is all I can say for now. But, I do ask you to pray for healing.
Thank you.

Beneath His Wings,: Abiding in God's Comfort and Love.

My Little Learner

First Day of Preschool Year One

First Day of Preschool Year Two

First Day of Kindergarten

First Day of First Grade

Toes Dancing On Water

To be free to run and dance and dip feet in the water. The joys of childhood. Memories made. Summer can't be over. Here is where we played for the last night before school begins.

End of Summer Splash

This last week we had a wonderful end of the Summer of vacation to the ocean. I love the ocean. Someday, I would love to buy a vacation home on the ocean. A place for us to get away or rent out or just bless somebody that needs to get away for a retreat to the ocean.

As Ric and I were driving home yesterday, we both felt like the week went by too fast. "Wait, we didn't even get to finish reading that book we were so hoping to finally finish!"
But, what we did was to spend time as a family and with friends having loads of fun!

It was a nice way to top off our Summer vacation (Summer heat is still here. So, it is still HOT and what we would rather be doing is swimming ---I wish schools would start after Labor Day--but, whatever. I suppose when and if I can get back into homeschooling, than I might be able to start then. But, that is another matter!)

Highlights of our Coastal Trip:
*Poor Rosi could not crawl the entire time...because it was too dirty and well I really did not want to fish out dirt from her mouth the entire time. She did however find her way into many arms and enjoyed cuddling with everyone. She loved the ocean. She slept during her first time at the ocean. I am not sure why but it seems that Rosi has slept through everyone of her first time water experiences. She slept at the pool, at the lake, and now the ocean. Funny girl!

* Lydia had a near drowning experience in the ocean and it was caught on tape. I will share it later. She practically never wore shoes the entire time. However, her feet are suffering despite her stubborness. She has scrapes, bruises, pokes, sore ankles, etc. But, she LOVED playing outdoors ALL the time! She did end up getting a high fever of 103 on the day we packed up and were leaving. Poor baby. (She is doing better now and eating fruit snacks as I write)

*Sophia despite being fearful of most situations --like the spiders on the ceiling of the bathroom, banana slugs, crawling into a historical indian house or going down steep stairs towards the ocean ---she loved playing in the water and sand of the ocean. She could spend hours there. Sophia also used her imagination and played and played with friends and gathered many treasures to tote in her bag. We have yet to open it up and discover her treasures. She also loved eating fish and chips and a cherry 7-up soda.

We ate toasty marshmellos, sipped on hot cocoa, endured rain for an entire day, ate fish and chips, clam chowder, played card games, went to a used book store, played in the ocean, visited a historical Indian village, Ric was having fun taking pictures with the new camera, and we played and played and played.....

....Now, it is time to get back into routines, schedules, meal plans, etc.

Sophia starts school and dance on Monday. Lydia starts school on Tuesday. Ric and I are starting on a "diet" on Monday. Rosi is working on her next baby step of adventure....more crawling...pulling herself up.

After campin clean-up, then I am off to plan!

Her Personality Traits -- Can you pick them out?

Climb A Tree

We can learn a lot from trees: they're always grounded but never stop reaching heavenward.
~Everett Mámor

Over The River and Through The Woods

To Grandma's House we went:
And had a Fabulous time!

Sophia and Lydia on hike around the vineyard and pond and trees looking for the things to scavenge.

Rosi atop Grandma's Dining Table....she is having bottled water for dinner!

Grandma made beautiful dresses for the girls!

Smelling the Flowers!

And Over the Woods to Mimi's House too!

It was Lydia's weekend to play at her Mimi and Poppies house. She was spoiled and loved it!

Helping Poppie in the yard.

Making (or eating) Aunt Bonnie's Chocolate Cake

Swimming

Playing with Belle

Beauty Salon

Beauty-fied

A girl needs at least 5 combs and brushes

Feeding Horses with Friends

A Buggy Ride


Wow! What a weekend!

Dear Jesus,

Now, before I run to play,
Let me not forget to pray
To God who kept me through the night
And waked me with the morning light.
Help me, Lord, to love thee more
Than I ever loved before,
In my work and in my play
Be thou with me through the day.
Amen.

10 Child Commandments To Parents

1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for a short time, please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me all day long. ( You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kinds of decisions that life requires of me.

8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister.

9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

10. Please take me to Sunday School and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.



by Dr. Kevin Leman, author of "Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours" and "First Time Mom".

One Nightstand

What is on your Night Stand?

You know that structure of some sort that stands next to your bed covered with stuff?

I have a clock, tissue, hair tie, candle, roses that Ric picked for me this morning!.... and a pile of books begging for me to read them!
Now, I have not had much time for reading books lately, in awhile, a long time, a loooooong time!
Not only are those books begging me to read them, I have been having strong urges within me desiring to read! Not just read the words on a TV screen or computer screen. Really touch and feel the paper fibers in my hand books.

So, I am starting a journey. A journey to read more. So, I have decided that one night a week, I am going to take a shower or bath so that I am clean and smelling good, squeeze into some comfy jammies, and dive into my fluffy bed next to my night stand. And, grab the book. Maybe stare at it for a moment and touch the pages....then gaze my eyes upon the black ink on those pages and READ!

I am starting with a group of books called the Christian Classics Series...the first book of the series I will be reading is The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.

One night a week.

I will be reading.

A book.

(Smile)

Summer Afternoon

We left our shoes at the "front door"...


...to lay down and just read for awhile amongst the trees and birdies and blue skies.



What have you been doing for your Summer afternoons?

I am a snail

By perseverance the snail reached the ark. ~ Charles Spurgeon

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. HEB. 12:1-3