Quinn's Unique Trait

I have never known anyone with such a wide fingerspread! This is an interesting quality in Quinn. It's great for saying you're five and for holding big apples. I'm wondering how he can capitalize on this trait in the future? Basketball player? Horse-Measurer? Traffic Cop? Ring Model? Pomegranate Picker? How about some more ideas from some of you deep thinkers? I'll have to check with Heidi and Scott. Is this trait genetic? Is it a result of having his finger slammed in the door when he was 1? An interesting phenomenon! I have no idea why these thoughts came to me this morning. Another interesting phenomenon!

Sharing Faith

Yesterday I blogged about Mom sharing her faith. Andy's latest blog has some interesting thoughts on sharing his faith. Yesterday our faculty had a 45 minute discussion about to whom and why we have the kids give to a Christmas giving project. Should it be an expressly Christian organization? Should it be to an expressly Christian organization that purposefully spreads the Gospel? Or do we trust Jesus to use our gifts in the way he sees fit without having to analyze and overanalyze it? No conclusion was reached. But it was obvious to me that we all share our faith, our gifts, our talents, our treasures, in different ways. And that's okay--in fact, that's good! Tom shares his faith in amazing ways--because God uses him! God made us all different and uses us in wonderful and various ways! What a blessing that is!

Senior, Socialite, Servant!

Let there be no doubt that there is no age limit on doing the Lord's work! This Friday one of my Mom's good friends at Brecon Village will be baptized, thanks to my mom and the Holy Spirit! Two from Brecon will be joining our church this Sunday, thanks to my mom and the Holy Spirit! When Tom first started preaching once a month at Brecon Village there would be about 15 or so in attendance. Since my mom has been there he's been having about 50 in attendance, thanks to my mom and the Holy Spirit! Thanks for doing the Lord's work, Mom!

It's Tuesday! It's Ella!

Good morning! Here's Ella! She hasn't been included yet, but I can never leave out #1 granddaughter! She's growing up so fast! Her teacher reports that she is a good helper and gets along well with everyone and that she's doing great, except that sometimes she complains that she's bored. I sure would love it (I think) if my grandchildren were at one of my schools. It would be fun to peek in on them and watch them interact, see their learning style, get hugs in the hall, and so on. But for now, that's not to be.

It's Tuesday, and it was hard to get up this morning, there was lots of traffic this morning (a lot of people must have taken an extra day yesterday). I have a long day ahead of me, but lots of blessings for which to be thankful! Have a Terrific Tuesday everyone!

Make a Joyful Noise!

Good morning! And happy new week to everyone. I tried several times to post this picture yesterday for "Son"day, but blogger wouldn't let me. So Monday is a good day to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, also! Psalm 150 says, "Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet!" Or how about the "trumpet" vine?

I decided I like the color version better!

What Can I Get Into Now?

Watch it! Lucy's into that stage! What fun! She's also into the chattering stage. She'll tell you a whole story about something with lots of expression and hand and facial gestures. We just don't have any idea what she's saying except when she says "Daddy" or "Ella".

What can I get into now? I finished one of my papers yesterday! Yayyy! I have one to go and I was going to sit down and do it today and get it over with, but I discovered I'm missing a book that I need--a technical manual for an assessment that I give. Sounds like exciting reading doesn't it? So, what can I get into now?

Winter's a comin!

On this crisp, beautiful, "taste of winter" morning, I'm taking you back to a warm, wonderful, "taste of summer" morning. Here's dirty-faced Avery and her "taste of rhubarb".

Many people (crazy, in my estimation) camped out on the sidewalks of some great bargain-giving store this morning. Not me! I'm camped out in my easy chair today with my laptop-- hoping to get at least one of my last two papers completed. I have a refrigerator full of leftovers should I have to take a break for nourishment.

I hope that all of you are enjoying this "taste of winter" morning and that you find fulfillment in whatever you attempt to accomplish today.

"I Will Give Thanks Unto the Lord!"

For:
Four generations of beautiful women and the men who are and were close to them~~the opportunity to remember blessings from the past and think about future blessings to come~~memories of my dad~~wedding plans~~the aroma of turkey roasting as I blog~~friends that I know are thankful in various places around our country~~lots and lots of memories~~JESUS AND HIS LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS! And too many more things to list this morning!! Have a blessed Thanksgiving and Thanksliving everyone!

Quinn Discovers His Baby Cousin

I think this was the first time (last spring) that Quinn acknowledged Lucy in any way, and I love the grin at the discovery! Last night we stopped at Em and Bob's to pick up some tables. They were going to be going to Ella's parent-teacher conferences and the kids were going to the McClelland's. Ella announced that she and Quinn were going to be playing with Lucy! She has officially become a playmate now.

You gotta love this face!

The sad thing about a sad face like this, is that it makes you laugh! And no one likes to be laughed at in their sorrow! She could be a face contortionist!

Following Andy's Lead

I like the way Andy has been posting a picture of the "object of his affection" with each new blog! I thought I would follow his lead. Many of these pictures you will have seen before, but that's okay. These will all be pictures of my blessings! Thank you, God! Besides I'll have something to post even if my blog brain is empty or dysfunctioning. Enjoy! Have a great "Thanksliving" week!

Thursday Already!

It's already Thursday--the weeks seem to be flying by!

I'm a little frustrated with my class assignment this week. You would think I'd have all kinds of information to share about early childhood assessments given that I have so many "early childs" in my family. But I'm stuck on this one. And tomorrow is my personal deadline to get my paper written on assessing social attributes of young children in natural settings.

Maybe I should include something about how when six of them are gathered,at any one given time there's always at least one that is unhappy. Maybe I should include information about things they do when there mother isn't looking (right? Kaleigh?). Maybe I should include the influences of fun uncles and friends (right, Andy?right, Joyce?). Maybe I should include something about the level of energy in one place at one time.

Maybe I should just stick with what the textbook has to say--BORING!

A week from today I will be especially thankful that I will only have one "competency" and one final project left to complete!

Good Monday Morning to you all!

It's Monday morning! This is the day the Lord has made! I hope you're all rejoicing!

I'm in a different routine this morning. St. Paul has Parent-Teacher conferences and I had no one sign up for this morning. So, I'm still home. I will go to Ann Arbor Christian by noon. Then, I have to go to St. Paul for the evening. I still had to get up early to register for next semester's class. I was told I need to get online at 6:00 am in order to get the class I need. So, I'm signed up for next semester--a class about emotional disorders. It should be interesting. I'm hoping that it will be a little less work.

My Weekend: Friday afternoon - my weekly paper - finished! Friday evening - Heritage Dinner Pot Luck and "Country Dance" at church. It was fun! We took pictures, but somehow I've misplaced my cord to load the pictures onto my computer.
Saturday - Praise Team practice, short visit with Mom, Martha Elwell's bridal shower, and out for my birthday dinner with Tom. Sunday - Church and Sunday School (Christmas program music), brunch at Emily and Bob's - games with Heidi, Mom, and Emily, playing with kids. Home to read two chapters about early childhood assessment.

We will miss Joyce's blog for the next few days. She is on a 3 day trek from Orlando to Kansas City with Maddie and Amy. God be with you!

Have a great week everyone!

Some recent pictures (not related to my morning's blog).

It's Here!

It's here! Heaven for Fred, that is! We're so happy for you, Fred! My memories of Fred include a trip to the hot air balloon fest in Howell. I think he asked me about that every time I saw him after that! His hospitality when we'd tag along to Joslin Lake with Joyce and Mark, or Ron and Diane! His smile! His gentle demeanor! Like the rest of the clan, he always made us feel like part of his family! Have a good, time in heaven, Fred! Is it like soaring high in a hot air balloon?

It's here! Ready or not! The snow. When I got to school this morning there it was--settled on the roof and on the woodchips in the landscaping. Sighhhh!

They were here! Christie and Andy and Marlene and Cal (Christie's parents) came for a visit on Sunday. We had a great time, and it was great to get to know Marlene and Cal a little better. Later GG, and the McClelland's, and the Woehlke's came over so that Marlene and Cal could meet the family. Marlene and Cal, come back any time!

It's here! Ugghhh! The rest of my Master's Program! I went to Dearborn last night to meet with my advisor about what classes to take when, etc. By 6:30 last evening, I was tired and cranky, and none of it sounded good, but I'll get through it -- one class at a time!

It's here! Time to do progress reports again. Ugghhh, again!

It's here! Time to get my school day started!

It's here! God's presence and presents all the time! Have a great day!