Visual Aids

I have been teaching the toddler Bible class for a couple of months now. I really wanted a break from teaching Bible class because I've been a teacher or a helper for several years without a break. When we moved back to the midwest in March, I had a couple of months of break and it was great. For a while. Then I started missing teaching so I am back into it and loving teaching my daughter and niece. This week has been pretty busy because we have been having a Gospel Meeting and Russ and I are housing the speaker. I was able to get one project done, though, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I wanted a visual aid for when we talk about the Bible. I usually talk about the Bible and say the books of the Bible after we finish with the lesson every class time. I think it is so important for children to learn these fundamentals to help them learn how to use their Bibles properly.

I decided to make the Bible out of felt so that I could put it on the felt board. I didn't take into consideration that it would be heavy so it doesn't stick by itself, but I think I am going to add velcro to the Bible and to the felt board so it can stick.

I have never written with my sewing machine (it isn't an embroidery machine) so it isn't perfect. I still think it's going to be a fun visual for the girls!

I am excited to use my new visual! I hope the girls like it!

Growing Up

My baby girl is growing up so quickly! Where has the time gone!?!?

I took her to our local park to play today and she learned to swing by herself.

In her words, "Dat's okay, Momma. I do it mytelfs."

I can't believe my precious girl is almost 3 1/2 years old.

This age has been so fun lately.

My favorite part is that I can say silly things and she gets it now. She will actually laugh at my silliness and usually be silly back. I love being goofy with her.

She tried this climbing wall today and is now a pro. She can be so timid...until she isn't.

 I am dreading next year when she starts school.

I know she will love it, though.

I know she wants kids to play with. I wish we could have given her a playmate close to her age. We tried. It just wasn't meant to be. She will love having playmates.

I don't know what I would do without this beautiful face.

It's a wonderful life.

Mums

The outside of a home is so important.

It is what you base first impressions on.

Usually if the outside of a home is not kept up, the inside is not either.

That is why I think it is so important to have an inviting entry area.

I love having a wreath, an inviting doormat and flowers on my porch. I would even have a bench if there was enough room.

I keep adding things to the area. I added this beautiful Zinia last week.

Here is a close-up of our doormat...just because I think it is pretty.

And here is my new plant stand complete with mums and an aster. The mums and aster will be repotted eventually.

I wonder what Russ would think if I painted the front door teal???

Blankets

I love making gifts for my friends. I would rather create something than buy most of the time.

One of my favorite gifts to make for babies and toddlers is blankets. I back them with minky so they are super-duper soft. I usually sew the childs name on them so they are personalized and then tie them. I have made several of these blankets and have loved giving them out.

I was in Hobby Lobby last week and saw this princess fabric on sale and couldn't pass it up. It came in panels (instead of yards) so I bought 2 panels and made blanket for Chloe Jo and cousin Brianna.

Chloe Jo picked out dark pink minky with white polka dots and I chose purple minky with white polka dots for Brianna.

Even though I didn't put their names on them (there wasn't a good place) they still turned out cute!

The girls loved them!

And that is all that matters.

Little things

Isn't it funny that when you are decorating, the smallest things make big impacts?

We have this large shelf in our house that was left by the previous owners. I really love the shelf, but I didn't really have enough to go on it so it was looking a little bit ... um, empty ... and awkward. I was wanting to make a canvas that had a verse on it, but I just hadn't gotten to it. My to-do list is pretty lengthy right now. I was shopping a few days ago and came across the canvas in the picture. I really liked it, but I wanted to think about it for a while because it was more than I usually would pay for something like that. A couple of days later I went and bought it. I also found the gray ceramic jar. Just those two pieces made the shelf look 100% better.

I was also in the Dollar Tree this week and found these adorable ceramic pumpkins. I bought a few and have scattered them around the house.

Fall weather has finally embarked upon us and I love it. I'm going to try to make a leaf garland for the fireplace sometime in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to post a picture when I get it done!

Kiev, Ukraine journal - 11-5-94 and 11-6-94

*Disclaimer: Please remember that I wrote these when I was 12! I could be a snarky brat! I also am typing these journals exactly as I wrote them, bad spelling and all, except I have abbreviated names to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent.

11-5-94

Today we went with C and F to the Bizzare (market). What they call it is exactly what it is, bizzare. We bought neck scarves because it's SO cold. We went home and cooked this delicious smoked ham we bought. Then dad told us that CC asked us if we wanted to play Saturday night basketball. I got one basket. Then we went home and had a big argument about why dad didn't get to drink hot chocolate when he wasn't here. We weren't yelling or anything we were just discussing it.

11-6-94

Today we went to Left Back Church of Christ. We met Bogdan, Solova, Natasha, Sevetta, Ruesalem, Sasha, and Seargae. Sevetta asked us if we wanted to go siteseeing on Monday and we said yes. The we went and heard Olga talk in russian really fast. After that we stayed around and had dinner. We had our meal first and then had our drink. Our meal was bread, smocked cheese, ham, a candy tasting roll covered with powdered sugar and hot tea. Then we went home and did nothing the rest of the day.

Come on Fall...any time now.

So I started putting out some Fall decor a few days ago to try to entice the weather to turn more fall-ish.

Yeah...that didn't work.

The highs for the past few days have been 104, 107, and 98.

At least 98 is cooler than the day before. :)

Funny thing: I gave my rag wreath a blowout with my hair dryer before hanging it. Worked perfectly!

Party! Party! Party!

Our Housewarming/30th Birthday Bash went off great last Saturday!

We had a great crowd and we really enjoyed getting to visit and to celebrate this new chapter that is opening in our lives.

Good fellowship!

Good food!

Good fun!

We finally took a family picture in front of our house. I've been meaning to do that since we bought the place!

I planned the party menu several weeks ago so I could start buying everything early. I think everything was yummy and we had just enough. There was enough food for everybody with little leftover.

I made tea, lemonade and my favorite red slush punch to drink.

And the food table. It doesn't look like much, but my table is pretty good and there was plenty!
In fact, we are still eating cupcakes.

 I made strawberry and funfetti cupcakes. I decided not to decorate them because I had enough to worry about without adding that to the list! Hey, they taste the same either way. We also had a veggie tray with ranch dip and cherry cheesecake dip with graham crackers.

My sister brought the apples and tofee dip (YUM!). I made the cheese ball and we had Ritz and Club crackers to go with that and the summer sausage and cheese.

I'm so grateful to my Mom who helped me prepare the food!

I'm also thankful that my parents were able to come

As well as Russ' parents

And niece, Alli.

It was HOT out, but the girls were able to play outside for a while.

Brenson Bug was content to stay inside where it was somewhat cool.

I think Russ' favorite part of the day was showing off his new helicopter.
Sigh.
Boys and their toys.

Our First House!

This is a video walk through of our house!

Hope you all enjoyed! Thanks for coming by!

Alzheimer's Memory Walk 2012

For the past 5 years my family has been participating in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. My Grand Pappy has been dealing with Alzheimer's for 12 years so this is a disease close to my heart.

Our team has been Team Gray Wolf since we first started walking. Gray Wolf was my Grand Pappy's handle when he was boating so we are called that in honor of him.

This year Team Gray Wolf raised $1458!!!! That is amazing since our team was small!

When we left our house for the walk it was raining. I was disappointed but we have been praying for rain so we can't complain when it comes! It didn't really matter, though. The walk goes on rain or shine.

Here is our family getting ready to walk for my Grand Pappy!

Brenson was very confused about why we were outside in the rain.

This was the first year that the girls were team members. We have brought them along in the past, but they weren't team members so they didn't raise anything.

This is our whole team. I still am shocked we were able to raise so much with so few members! It just goes to show what can happen even with a small group!

But, alas, the walk was not meant to be. We didn't even get to the starting line when it was called. It started thundering and lightening pretty bad. That's okay, though, because the walk isn't what helps fund research. Our donations do that and we were able to turn them in before going home!

I look forward to doing this again next year!