top 10...

I've been bragging on my kids lately and all of the awards and accolades that they have received during the past two weeks of 4H... so, I thought I'd share an award I got from The Trendy Treehouse for my entry in last week's photo contest.

As I have said, this is one of my all time favorite pictures of Emily...

I'm glad someone else liked it too!

still waiting to out grow it...

It is said that wisdom comes with age... I'm beginning to think there are some things you never out grow.


For instance, my man has never out-grown his need for an occasional road trip and I haven't out-grown my love of children's books.  So, today, we sent the kids on to friends' homes and took a quick road trip to buy my girls' school curriculum used through Craig's List.


We were blessed to have our road trip take us to Saugatuck, MI.  I know there will be those that read this post who have never seen Michigan's West Coast.  Honestly, next to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the west coast of Michigan is my favorite place on earth and Saugatuck is a beautiful little town right on the coast.


I had visions of splendor this morning thinking of our trip.  Why is it that time seems to speed up while one is on vacation?  There was no way I was going to be able to get everything on my list done because time seemed to go in hyper-speed today.  We didn't do nearly all that I wanted to do and we still were VERY late picking the girls up this afternoon.


We did get what we went for, though... and I am thrilled with the books.  On the way home, I was contentedly riding along thankful for a little day of relaxing when I decided to use Chad's phone to look up a Sonic Drive-In... I forgot that there are some things you never outgrow...


I remember so many times getting car sick as a kid and my mom would reassure me that some day I would outgrow this affliction.  Well... 41 years later, I still get car sick.  Ugghh!!  and while the majority of the time of our road trip sped by... the last hour seemed like a 100 hours.


I'd love to never out-grow my love of children's books but I could be really happy to out-grow being car sick!

Friday's Fave Five... at the County Fair

Once again, I'm linking up to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five.  Each week, Susanne asks us to post the five things we are most thankful for from that week.


Here is my five favorite things from the county fair...

1) AIR CONDITIONING!!  We've had rain, heat indexes of 104 degrees and storms.  I'm so thankful that we can bring our camper to the fair and can have a place to escape the elements... with the heat this week, I've been most thankful for the air conditioning in our camper!

2) 4H AUCTION Each year the 4H kids have the opportunity to auction their animals and make a little money in exchange for their hard work raising the animal.  Eric auctioned his chickens... small breasts and all... and did very well.  He will use this year's auction money to help pay for next year's animals and feed.  

3) FAIR FOOD  This is one of my 2 favorite food stands at our fair.  I'm a fair food snob.  I hate buying food at the carnival stands.  However, I love to spend our fair food money at the local stands that support local not-for-profit organizations.  This one is a local food bank and soup kitchen and the profits from the sale of food during the fair help their organization throughout the year.  Their fresh cheeseburgers are soooo good!

4) THIS MAT My Dad made me and my sisters these mats last year for Christmas.  At the time I thought I liked it but now I know I LOVE it!!  For the first year we haven't had sand burrs in our camper.  I love that all the sand burrs fall between the slats and stay outside!  I've heard several acclamations of "Where did you get that mat?  I want one!"  Thanks again Dad!!

5) CAMPING AT THE FAIR We are so blessed to be able to camp at the fair with friends!  In this picture, our camper is the farthest one that you can see along the row of campers.  Of the other campers, only the pop-up is a family that I don't know well.  The others are filled with friends.  It has been so fun to have the kids play in the evenings together and to be able to run back and forth between the campers.


my one not-favorite-thing....

THIS HILL... we climb it several times a day to get to buildings, barns, etc.... the picture of all of our campers was taken from the hill.  The kids love rolling down it, riding their bike down it and running down it.  I don't have quite such a love affair with the hill...

the calm after the storm...

It's 8:23 p.m. and all is quiet... all are at rest... all is well.  It's the calm after the storm.


A small thunderstorm moved through our area early this afternoon.  Before the storm, the heat index was about 104 degrees.... after the storm, the temp was 75 degrees.  In about 30 minutes, the temperature dropped about 30 degrees.  


Amazingly, not only was there a storm brewing outside... we had a small t-storm brew inside as well.  And, after a little lightening and a little thunder, the inside temperature has dropped 30 degrees or so and all is well and all is calm again.


I wish there were a way to help my children understand that God created their bodies to need rest.  For whatever reason, they just don't get it.  We've been running hard and fast for weeks and in particular, this last week.  Late, late nights and early mornings.  All day on the go and begging to stay up late for yet another night of fun with friends.  Hot daily temperatures make for hot tempers.  And as tempers heat up, storms brew.


My kids also don't seem to understand that it doesn't matter how old you are, you still need rest or you might just explode into a 13 year old t-storm that melts into a 13 year old puddle.  


And, after that puddle falls asleep... the calm after the storm.

discrimination?

I've shared this on facebook today and I just have to blog it... mostly because I have found it quite humorous all day...


Today was chicken judging day...

and Eric received a blue ribbon for his pen of two broilers...

These lovely birds were not in the running for champion broilers because...

their breasts were too small.


Does that qualify for sexual discrimination?

was lost... now found!

Dontcha just love it when lost items turn up in the most unexpected places?  Take our camera, for instance.  Seriously, who would have ever expected it to be in the mom's purse?  Really!?  So, now if I can just find my brain....


Now that the camera is found, safe and sound, here are a few dog show pictures of Emily and Ebony...

This is the beginning of Ebony's showmanship class...for this event, the 4H students had to be dressed up 

I hate that this picture is blurry but I think it's a great picture of Emily and Ebony in action.

Here the judge is checking Ebony over and asking Emily questions.  Since Ebony is not a pure breed dog and this is not an actual AKC dog show, the judge simply checked to make sure that Emily takes care of Ebony.

This is Emily and Ebony showing in obedience class.  The 4H kids were allowed to change into shorts and their club shirts for this class.  Ebony placed 2nd in the class!

This is Emily and Ebony (in the background) entering the outside ring for the agility class, 2nd place again!

I wish this picture wasn't blurry... (at this point I had almost totally drained the camera battery) but I love this look on Emme's face.  She was having such a great time!

I'll post more fair pictures tomorrow.  I don't claim to be a photographer but I love taking pictures of my kids having fun here at the fair.

Last night, I hired my friend, Marah, to take our summer family pictures here at the fair.  We had so much fun!  You can check out a sneak peek on her blog...

memory lane photography

it's all worth it...

I wish I could post pictures for you of the girls' animal shows yesterday. It was amazing and they both did great.... however, as is typical during fair week, the camera (with pictures on the memory card) is not to be found right now... I'm always missing something during Fair Week and this year I seem to be missing my brain....


The two day dog show was an incredible experience for both Emme and Ebony.  On Saturday, all dressed up, Emily first showed Ebony in showmanship.   Because Ebony is a mix (the nicer name for Mutt...) we didn't expect Emily to place but it was great experience... in a hot... very, very hot tent... but great experience nevertheless. 


After lunch, a much more casually dressed Emme demonstrated obedience with Ebony.  This was a crack up because Ebony is bad at obedience... I think she really doesn't want to be told what to do but she did GREAT!  I don't know if it was because she was so hot and tired or if it was because Emily was having so much fun but either way they placed second!!


Sunday's show was all out side in the hot sun.  We tried to squeeze in as much shade as we could but with his new haircut, Chad's head is a lovely shade of pink today.  


At the last minute, Emily opted to show in all four classes yesterday afternoon.  This made for a long day but it was great experience for Emme and I think she will do better next year because she now understands all of the shows and all of the classes.  At the end of the day, she placed second again in agility!  She had a wonderful time and came back to the camper all laden with prizes and ribbons.


I missed Emme's award show because Ellen showed Horse and Pony last night.  Because of her age, she is led by lead-line on the horse.  She and her "big girl" friend, Julia, and Julia's horse, Lady, did poles, barrels and keyhole riding last night.  And, she came running back to the camper with a plaque and a ribbon excited with her prize!


Seeing Emily's smile during the dog show and Ellen's grin while riding through the poles, I was reminded, anew, of why I do what I do... it's all worth it for me when I see my kids having a blast, doing what they love to do and doing it to the best of their ability.  Those precious smiles are what fuel my fire for 4H.

Friday's Fave Five...

My favorite blogging time of the week has come around again... time to link up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for another week of Friday's Fave Five.


Here are the five things I am most thankful this week...


1) my kids... I tend to repeat myself often on listing the kids and Chad as my favorite things.  It's really because they are!  This past week, my kids have been amazing.... We've been running around for 4H.  The two older kids have shown a lot of responsibility and maturity in getting their things done and done well.  


2) my friends... this is another I've repeated over the weeks of listing my favorite things.  There was a time, in the not to distant past, when I felt alone... without friends who understood me or my choices in life.  Now, I'm not only blessed with friends but with friends who are willing to walk alongside me and encourage me.  It's only because of His great mercy that I have been blessed with a wide array of friends... different ages, different walks of life, different views but all very precious to me.


3) my church... last Sunday our church had a big church picnic after the morning service.  Once again, I was moved at how God blesses me.  He heard my prayers for a home church where Chad and I could grow in our faith and our children could as well.  As He always does, He blessed above and beyond what I could have imagined.  Yesterday I spent the day with a new friend from church.  It did my heart good to hear her testimony of how our church has met her needs and the needs of her children.  


4) 4H... This time of year, I become very overwhelmed with all that 4H entails.  However, if I allow myself to take a step back and see all that 4H offers my children... I realize, anew, how much I love that my kids are involved in it.  We have an awesome 4H club with an incredible leader who takes a personal interest in each project the kids work on.  She's amazing and we are blessed to be part of 4H with her!


5)  my God... I can not list my faves each week without thanking the One who gives me blessings.  I love the way He works in my heart and in my life and I love, even more, the way he works in the hearts and lives of my children!

and on the agenda for today...

 Sixteen years ago, I made a basket.  I loved weaving it... watching it develop into something usable and beautiful.  Unfortunately for me, the class I took was the last class offered.

All of these years later, I've lamented that I don't know anyone who could teach me how to make a basket...


... until today!

and the results are in...

I would love to promise that this is the last 4H judging results post for 2010.  However... there are a few more things to be judged... such as dog and chickens.  For the next few days, though, all results are in...  So sorry for those of you who are bored to tears...




Emily


miscellaneous crafts...

                                                           (blue honor)


mock dog show...

                                            (75% on obedience, 100% on showmanship)


update on Eric...

                                                    (chosen to be reserve champ)

for the love of watermelon...

While at the grocery store this morning, I sent Chad a text asking him what he wanted for lunch.  The answer... watermelon.

Lunch today was only Chad and Ellen and together they devoured a quarter of the very large melon I brought home.  

While I wasn't here to hear this lunch time monologue, Chad assured me this is how it happened and Ellen's giggles were enough to verify it.

Ellen.... "My tummy hurts... I think I ate too much watermelon... I think I'll have another piece"

... is it any wonder we call her Ellen Melon?

and on the second day...

Our second... and thankfully last... day of 4H general project judging is wrapping up.  One more project to be judged and a mock dog show tonight and then... a few days reprieve before Fair.


Here's mid-second day wrap up (once again, please don't feel like you have to read this post if you really don't care how my kids have done with 4H this year....).


Eric...


fine arts...

          (this one was judged yesterday but we found out today that it is Grand Champion)


Collections...

                                                     (Grand Champion)


Miscellaneous Crafts...

                                                      (blue ribbon)


Emily...


Miscellaneous Crafts...

                                                     (blue honor)


The kids are thrilled with their results.  I'm thrilled with their hard work.  Often there is a lot of excitement when they sign up for a project in January.  The excitement then trickles down until there is little-to-no excitement for their project when it's time for judging.  This year, I was impressed at how diligent they were in doing a good job finishing their projects for fair.

summer fun...

Joining up with The Trendy Treehouse for shutter love Tuesday.... 

This week's theme is "summer fun" and for years our family's summer fun included several trips a week to the city's fountains.  I love this one of Emme!

at the end of day one...

*** disclaimer... for those of you who are not close friends or family and who really don't care how my kids did on their 4H projects, feel free to stop reading now....


...fini... finished... all done... turned in today.  Phew!  All 4H projects were turned in this morning and this mom exhaled loudly.  Feels so good to be finished!


Here is how the kids at the end of day one...


Eric...

                                            (blue honor ribbon~potentially champion)

                                                              (blue ribbon)

                                                             (blue ribbon)

                                                          (blue honors ribbon)


Emily...

                                                             (blue ribbon)

                                                                (blue ribbon)

                                                                (blue ribbon)


... stayed tuned... results from second day of judging coming tomorrow...

slowing time down...

Looking back... it's been six weeks since I last added to my list of One Thousand Gifts hosted by Ann at A Holy Experience.  


Honestly, there have been more times than I can count in these last days when I would think "oh, I'm going to add this to my list of One Thousand Gifts" only to lose the thought about 30 seconds after it went through my mind.  


Life has been crazy.  I'm learning that it is up to me to slow it down... to stop... to cease... to be still and know that He is God and that it is He that has made me and not me making myself and I am a sheep of His pasture.  Wisdom comes with age and I am also learning that life will not slow down naturally.... instead, it seems to pick up speed with each passing year.


...starting where I left off six weeks ago, I am grateful for these gifts bestowed upon me by my Creator, my Sustainer, my Deliverer, my God... numbers 21- 36  on my growing list of gratitude...


... a restful picnic day yesterday with my church family
... watching my children play uninhibited amongst friends who love them for who they are
... the occasional times when the not-so-little-one still climbs into my lap
... the comfort of air conditioning on a hot summer night
... new friendships that feel as comfortable as my flip flops
... the seventeenth summer with my man
... the responsibility I'm seeing in my children 
... the love my daughter has for Jesus
... the joy of friendships that have stood the test of time
... the freedom we still have in this country to outwardly praise Him
... watching the joy of fireworks on the faces of my children
... enjoying fresh summer produce
... early morning snuggles and late night kisses
... children who have grown up enough to enjoy sleeping in
... a man who willingly works overtime to provide cash for our upcoming camping trip

testing... 1...2...3...

I love learning new things... and in this bloggy world, I have learned much.  


My lesson today... did you know that you can SCHEDULE your post to publish at a different time than when you finish writing it?!?  


Ok...  so maybe the world knew this and I'm just learning but I just discovered this little nugget of blogging truth.


So, I'm testing it... hopefully, if it all works out well, this post will be published in a few hours rather than now...  and, if this works, I can use this little tool as I post reviews for TOS!! Woo hoo (especially considering my first review is due when we will be camping...)!!


I feel like my husband each Sunday as he sets up and tears down sound equipment for our church.... testing... 1... 2... 3...

you might be a 4H mom if...

My sister has shared with me that she is envious of our laid-back schedule during the school year.  One of the joys of homeschooling, for me, is the fact that our school days can be relaxed and laid-back.  The longer I homeschool (just finished year 8), the less I rely on the clock and calendar and the more relaxed I become.  Summer, though, is another story...


Actually, I don't feel like we've even experienced summer yet... you know those long lazy days of summer with nothing to do....  We finished school in mid-May and immediately began 4H projects.  This is when the tables are turned.... While my sister blogs about camping trips and days at their local beach... we are swimming in 4H... meetings here and there, practices, chores, and projects galore!


Our 4H projects are due on Monday and our local Fair begins the following Saturday.  I will be posting much about 4H in the next few weeks... including how well my kids did on their projects.  Until then, though, here's a tribute to my fellow 4H moms...


You might be a 4H mom...

...if you have spent more time in your vehicle in the past 3 weeks than in your own home... you might be a 4H mom.

... if your dog automatically walks out the door to your truck for the many, many dog training meetings she is used to going to... you might be a 4H mom.

... if you have a box of finished projects safely tucked away... you might be a 4H mom.

... if this is what your cart at Hobby Lobby looks like... you might be a 4H mom.

... if your table looks like this... 

... or your ottoman looks like this...

... or if your kitchen looks like this... you might be a 4H mom!




...I've heard it said that 4H builds character in your children.  I'd like to politely disagree with that statement.  I think 4H has built more character in me than in my children... patience, patience and more patience!

4th of July special...

 

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WAY old...

Here's the postscript to my last post on my sister's birthday...


Me (driving around doing 4H errands): "Today is Aunt Gabe's birthday.  She's 39."


Emily:  "That's creepy"


Me: "What?!  Why is that creepy?"


Emily:  "Because 39 is old!"


Me:  "If 39 is old, what does that make me?"


Emily: "WAY old!!"

birthday wishes...

For a few days now, I've had the thoughts of this post running through my mind.  There is so much I wish to say and words fail me.


Thirty-nine years ago today, God blessed me with an incredible sister.  I wish I could say that I recognized the blessing right away.  According to the stories that I have heard from both my mom and my grandmother, I was less than thrilled at the prospect of being a big sister... to the point of not talking to my mom for a couple of days when she showed me my new baby sister.


I'm just stubborn enough that I didn't really realize the blessing of my sister until I was in my 20s.  Pathetic, eh?  


However, twenty years later, I can say that not only do I recognize the blessing of my sister, I love her deeply.  She is an amazing woman....


~my sister mothers five children all at the same time!  That blows my mind!!  I can hardly mother three kids.


~my sister has taught me much about speaking less and listening more.  I doubt my sister's mouth has very many accidents... mine mouth has accidents all the time!


~my sister's taste in decorating and clothing is incredible.  Some day, I am going to hire her to do a redo on my entire house.  Her home is so inviting and so relaxing... just the ambience I desire for my home.


~my sister doesn't talk the talk until she is walking the walk.  She loves Jesus deeply.  She works out her salvation with fear and trembling in her own heart and then shares what she has learned.


~my sister stands by her man.  She willingly talks about some of the storms their marriage has weathered and how those storms have strengthened them.


~my sister has a quiet confidence about her... though she may be rattled to the core inside, she rarely shows it.


~my sister is absolutely beautiful inside and out.  When we were younger I was often envious of her outward beauty.  The older I get, the more I am envious of both her outward and her inner beauty.


On this day, June 29th, I wish Gabe an amazing 39th birthday!  I love you!!


... feel free to stop by her neck of the blogging world to wish her a happy birthday as well...