new

new haircuts +

new markers =

new fun!

getting there

I'm getting things ready for Fall in the classroom.

Last summer I had two weeks to prepare, talk about chaotic.

Not this year.

I have alot of piles and my floor is covered but...

I will be ready!!

not on the summer to do list

but... check!

School supplies are purchased and ready.

Is it just me or does each year get more and more expensive?!?

26

more days until the first day of school.

I'm really not looking forward to when they go back.  It means:

Sarah is a Kindergartner

Grace is a 2nd grader

Summer is close to being over

The pool will soon be put away

Lazy mornings will no longer exist

Gymnastics, ballet and violin start

Preschool preparations really begin

Life gets busier

conversation over lunch

I love listening in on conversations between these two, especially over lunch. I will stand back and watch, let them be. 

Today's conversation had to do with:

a Phineas and Ferb episode they love plus a few impersonations

the best color in the world which led to an argument

 the proper way to dip your carrots and apples in ketchup

how to best toss apples at Truman to get him to catch them in his mouth...

You know all the BIG topics in the world :).

{and yes we do own a hair brush, just doesn't look like it}

yesterday is done....moving forward...

Good news!  They found the problem.  Basically the solenoid that helps keep the battery cool is worn and in the heat, it was shutting down/over heating the battery.  So we ordered a kit and will move forward.  I'm so relieved they found the problem. God is good.

my intentions were good

The following story will make you cry, laugh and scream (at least that's how I lived it out).

The plan was to drive down to my parents yesterday, just me and the girls.  We were looking forward to spending some time with them and cousins, always a joy.  An hour into our drive the car quit, just stopped.  I had an electrical warning flash on my dashboard.  This new vehicle is a hybrid so I was totally clueless as to what this could mean.  I looked it up in the owners manual and then called Art.  It said to try and start it up, I did, it worked.  After trouble shooting and googling the warning, we decided it was possibly a fluke and decided to drive on.

Long story short, we ended up in Sullivan at the Ford dealership.  What is it with me and Sullivan/our cars?  If you remember, this is where I totaled the Pathfinder when I hit a patch of ice on my way to my Aunt's memorial.

We spent three hours at the dealership, totally bored.  As you can see the girls tried their best to keep busy.

The technicians let the car sit for two hours before looking at it.  So when they went to test drive it, NOTHING happened.  All tests came back normal and functional.  I was told there was nothing they could do.  I called Art yet again asking his opinion.  He said if it were him he would proceed to my parents.  So off we went, three miles later it quit.  At this point, I had had enough.  I sat there hot under the collar, frustrated knowing I was going to get many tears with my announcement we were turning around and going home.  We became the car of tears, all of us balling.  We were hot, frustrated, tired of sitting and just wanted to go to Kapaw's! 

With each quiting moment pointed towards home I prayed.  I prayed for safety.  I prayed for peace. I prayed to find joy in the moment.  The only thing I could come up with was that God was helping us get home by the car starting again after every stop.  We were inching our way home. 

As we got closer to home, my prayers turned to the roads ahead.  We had to cross the old bridge in Washington to get there.  Ugghhh.  I hate that bridge on normal days but now it was a BIG symbol of frustration.  Would I stall out on the bridge?  Luckily, I stalled before.  We pulled over, turned the car off and sat for awhile hoping to give the car some time to rest.   We made it over the bridge, the next frustration were the hills and curvy roads that laid ahead with NO where to pull off, just deep ditches.  At this point the car wasn't even going 5 miles before quiting.  After almost causing two accidents where big quarry trucks were involved my nerves had had it.  Did I mention it was rush hour of the day for these country roads?  People were headed home.  I pulled over onto an old farm road and parked.  I called Art crying saying I was done!  The car was done too.  He knew at that point I wasn't moving.  I was 8 miles from home.  We sat in the scorching heat, waiting for over an hour for him. 

Grace had to pee.  Of course!  She could not hold it.  I told her the only alternative was the bushes.  She accepted and off we went.  Needless to say we both were laughing by the time she did her business.  When we got back to the car and Grace announced it was hard to squat and pee, Sarah had to go but after hearing her sisters story she decided to wait it out. 

Art arrived and we, the sweaty hogs jumped for joy into his air conditioned vehicle. The car started up for him and off we went, me following closely.  We got home!  Praise God!  We dropped our things off, used the facilities and headed back out for the dealership in Chesterfield.  I followed Art again.  The car hadn't done it's thing for Art yet and in my head I was really hoping it would just so he could see it in action or non-action in this case.  It quit right before the bridge (thank goodness).   It started back up and we made it to our destination.

Dinner was Chick-fil-a and welcomed by all.  We were hot, tired, hungry, sweaty - looked horrible but fed.  It was family night and there was a man there making balloon animals, he helped to brighten our spirits.

We got home to stay.  The girls were thrown into the bathtub and I jumped in the shower.  The frustration of the day hit me and I sobbed in the shower.   While dealing with the car was frustrating, the part that really hurt was that I wasn't able to get to my parents.  I really felt the need to be there, to see my parents, to help.  I got out of the shower, got dressed, got the girls to bed and sat down to call my Dad. 

Talking to him or Mom always makes me feel better and he did just that.  He said "it is what it is."  He was glad we were home and that God had taken such good care of us.  He had protected us, I needed to be reminded of it. 

The day is behind me.  The car is in the shop, we're waiting and praying for answers and a fix.  I am choosing to be happy today.  I am not going to do much other than eat, play with the girls, catch up on project life - basically do things that only bring me joy.  After yesterday I, we need it. 

scorcher

Not a good week to be outdoors UNLESS it is in the water!

following through on a summer to do

It has been so hot here that following through on this summer to do was an easy YES!  Just wish I could have joined in the fun :).

{the end! HA!}

celebrating 90

Art's Dad, Paul - turned 90 yesterday.  We met up with him and the rest of the family for church and then lunch out to celebrate.  It was good to be with everyone and enjoy Paul's life.

 

friendship

 Thank you for showing love and true friendship to me and to you know who.  I love you sister!

summer favorites

We all have our favorites, these are mine for this Summer season.  Some I can't live without, some that are extra bonuses and make life sweet in the Missouri heat.

My BIG hat.  I don't do yard work or mow without it.  It protects me from the sun.

 At the beginning of summer I told Art I was not going to buy the "cheapy" flip flops this year.  I do it every year and wish I hadn't.  For me, they are rough on my feet when worn long periods.  I wanted a pair that I could wear without worry and I found them.  I love these, super comfy.

Chore cards!  God bless em'!  They have been wonderful reminders to the girls on what steps they need to take next.  You can find them here.  I am definitely carrying these over into the fall!

Fresh, just picked this morning in the heat from our favorite orchard.  Bonus on top of all of the bounty was that we got to sweat with Jonica and her boys to pick them :).  I'm thinking peach surprise!

New books.  I know this is a fall thing but I got in on a deal, buy three - get three free.  I couldn't pass that up!  Any new resources that make my life easier in the classroom are a favorite!

Our BIG fan.  It sits at the bottom of the basement stairs pushing cool air upstairs.  It makes a difference in how hard our air conditioner works on days like today when it's 99 degrees and rising! 

Which leads me to our basement.  I love our basement in the summer, especially now since we have a tv down there to watch a movie, play wii etc....  Truman loves the cool tile.

BIG beach towels! I love that I can wrap myself and a cuddly girl up in these and be comfy and dry.

New lounge cushions.  After 15 years of using the old, we bought new.  We were overdue.  These are bright, colorful, fun and wonderfully water resistant (especially compared to the old ones).

Pool.  Quite simply one of the best purchases we have made for our family.  The gift that keeps on giving.  Countless hours we spend in this.  We've seen Sarah go from meek to wild in the water this summer, it helps to have a big sis showing her the ropes too.  So much fun and right outside our door.

Lastly, something Art and I can't get enough of this summer.  Watermelon.  We have been on fire picking out some deliciously sweet melons!  I usually hesitate when buying to get it home and be disappointed but this year it's as if we can't buy a bad one.  They are a favorite for breakfast these days.  AND I eat mine with salt on top, something my Papaw Perry taught me.  The salt brings out the sweet flavor, if you haven't had it, try it!  You'll see what I mean.  Even the color of it screams SUMMER!



our 4th

Sarah being her mischievous self for the camera.

 This is where Grace would stay, forever if she could. 

 Checking out the merchandise.  The girls wanted one of everything.

 Some favorites.

 Had a picnic style dinner on the deck. 

 Sparkling strawberry brownie crumble.

 Lighting up some snake fireworks, they love these.

 Fireworks didn't bother this guy.  He was calm as a cucumber, he is the perfect dog.

 Sparkler fun with the girls, complete with pink rain boots :).


(Missed you J and B, hugs and prayers)

joy at midnight

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!" Philippians 4:4.

This was yesterdays devotion.  Philippians was written by Paul to express the Joy he felt towards the Christians at Philippi.

In my world, as of late, one might think it is hard to rejoice.

Last night I laid in bed, in pain, thinking of those on my prayer list. Feeling sorry for them and myself.  I was sulking when this verse popped in my head.  "Rejoice dag nab it in God, and again I say rejoice!"  **The dag nab it is of course not from Paul, just my oww Missouri version.**  Paul used an exclamation mark (!) at the end of the verse.  So as Grace has learned this year, he said it with excitement! He said it with JOY!

So who was I not to follow the scriptures command?  I started rejoicing right then in the fact that I had food in my belly!  I have my healthy, loving husband of 20 years snoozing next to me!  I have two sweet girls to give me joy each and every day! Dag nab it I will rejoice!

So I rejoiced, at midnight.

Then I fell peacefully asleep.

I wonder what today's devotion will bring?