"Knotting"

Olivia taught Isabel to knit.  It was so fun to see them in their "Knitting club"

We decided knitting should be called knotting.  It really is making a bunch of knots. 

Hugs!  :)

I love these kids!

Christmas 2010

Knitting class

Oh my. I know I am a tad bias. 

But Olivia is seriously the cutest thing on two legs when she knits!!! 

I'm so proud of her.  This was the first time EVER for both of us and she sat patiently and we listened to the instructions and we worked together and before long we were knitting!  We have so much to learn but it was fun to learn a few basics.  Hoping to fit a little one-on-one lesson with the knitting teacher, our friend Kendra, later this week.  Olivia is so excited to go to Hobby Lobby and pick out her own needles and yarn. 

I'm off to practice!~  :)

Isaac

Our family has been spending alot of time in prayer over this little guy.  I graduated with his dad.  Isaac has cancer and had a brain tumor removed yesterday.    Follow his story on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/isaacsteiner/journal

Hugs

More Vacation pics....

My obsession

I am one of "those".  I hear there are not many, but I am one.

Does that make me strange?  PROBABLY.  I have a HUGE, HUGE fascination with....

LIBRARIES!

I love them.  I love the smell of books.  I love the feel of books.  I love the quiet.

Next year, while the kids are at homeschool classes 2 days a week, I will be here:

3 BLESSED hours in the Fishers Library, reading books, listening to the quiet.

I love that my kids are starting to have the love of libraries that I have.  I love to hear:  "lets go to the downtown library!"  which is a HUGE treat for us and if you live in Indy, or come to visit, it is a really fun library for kids.  When we travel with Tommy we look for libraries.  Yep.  We are bibliophiles.  

This year at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library the Summer Reading Program is: 

We started today, gathering lots of books.  Tomorrow is the science program, Logan will be asking every 5 minutes until 3:30 tomorrow.

Love summer learning.

Love that Olivia and Logan love books.

They may not get my love of Brussels sprouts, but so far they have my love of books and libraries.

Hugs!  :)

*side note:  I can't see myself ever owning a Kindle.  I would really miss holding the book. I would miss walking into the library (or the bookstore, DON'T get me started on bookstores!  love those too) But I have learned to "never say never", so I'm not saying I will NEVER own one, but so far it doesn't look likely.  :)

Knitting

Olivia and I have our very first knitting class tomorrow night.  We are BEYOND excited!  Wonder if this could become a new hobby for us?  If not, I have some other ideas up my sleeve... 

Olivia was so excited that on the train to Chicago she said "MOM!  That lady is knitting!"  proceeded to take a picture of her and even a short video.  All in-cognito of course... HA!  my little spy :)

Happy Monday!  :)

Dryspell...

Every now and then I feel like I am in a spiritual dry-spell. For some reasons, actually many reasons, I let my early-morning quiet time get interrupted... I get half-way through my day and realize I haven't talked to God near-enough yet that day... and I neglect the "habit of happiness", and the "choice of contentment" that I desperately try to incorporate into my soul each day. In these times I feel like when I do remember to seek Him, He isn't really seeking me back.
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Then I realized, it's not that He isn't "seeking me back" He is just patiently waiting. Because He really wants ALL of me, not just the hurried; just-can't-make-time-for-you-today me that I have been offering Him lately.
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I post about this as a means of accountability. My alarm is set for 5:30. (did I just put that in writing???) I'm praying the kids sleep past 6:00.
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I'm so thankful for His love, grace and patience.

Stacey

Family vacation 2011

We were so blessed with some much-needed family beach time last week! I can't tell you how much I CHERISH this time. Waking up to the sounds of the waves.... lazy evenings by the pool. I love ALL of it!

The kids have seen "Mickey Ocean" ( more commonly known as Lake Michigan) but this is their first old-enough-to-remember ocean (or gulf) trip!

Tommy taught them how to search for crabs in the evening... the water was wonderful.

And while I love catching crabs as much as the next girl, I took that opportunity to put my toes in the sand and spend time thanking God for his beautiful creation.

More to come.... Hugs!

Celebrating a big day!

Today we celebrated Logan's 5th birthday! (a day early)

The kids decorated the table, complete with party hats, and Olivia-made signs "so Logan would know where to sit"

I can't believe he is 5, I love him so much I think my heart will burst.

Me: "Logan, what was your favorite part about your birthday party? feel free to say it was mom's AWESOME dessert"

Logan: "Nope, it was my new bike!"

:)

I love that while we are so thankful for him today, his birthday dinner prayer began with him thanking God for us. I love his thankful heart.

Happy Birthday Logan, you are such a blessing to us!