Tidbits For Grandpa Wes

Hi Grandpa!!

I got your package in the mail.

Thank-you for the book and DVD. I haven't watched it yet, but I know I am going to love it.

I wish I could have went to the show with you. That would have been lots of fun. Thank-you for thinking of me. Love, Buttercup

Hi Grandpa!!

I had my piano lesson on Monday. My teacher found the song you had requested and I have been working hard on it. I know how to play it now and I have started to memorize it. Do you remember which one you asked me to play? Be ready to watch Moe the Pro's Concert the next time you come! I like this song. It was a good request.

From, Moe

Hi Grandpa. I've been sick this week. I have croup. I am starting to feel better, though.

Love, Coco

Give Me Grace--Sunday

What do you do when your 4 your old hops in your bed before you have a chance to make it and asks you to come snuggle with him and read a book?

What would I do?

Easy question! I'd count my blessings and hop right in!

"Sunday in a quiet time, bless this little life of mine. In the wonder of each day, let me live a holy way. Amen." ~ Cynthia Rylant

Give Me Grace--Saturday

Last week, we were very excited to get a package in the mail from our friend, Peggy. 2 years ago, she helped us create a beautiful, "happy" flower garden in our backyard.

In that envelope, we received the excitement to.........

turn this.........

into this!!

Saturday in early morn
make me thankful I was born.
Give my spirit peace within
Let each day with hope begin." ~ Cynthia Rylant


Seeds are such a wonderful portrayal of hope.
If we desire to plant those little, tiny specks of anticipated beauty, we will....in time.....drink from the goodness of what they will eventually become.

~
Thank you so much, Yardzilla!!
You don't know how much we miss running down the sidewalk to say "Hi" and visit with you as you work in your yard!
Sara

Give Me Grace--Friday

"Friday keep the ones I love.

Comfort them from up above.

Lift their hearts and hold them dear.

Help them know that You are here." ~ Cynthia Rylant

Hard to believe that its has been almost 9 months ago that we moved......3/4 of a year....3 seasons. We've experienced hot son, autumn colors and cold snow. As spring erupts, so much that was unfamiliar is slowly becoming familiar. But, all that was once familiar, will NEVER become unfamiliar. That is a big comfort.....

We look to the west and wonder how everyone is doing.....we will always miss being closer to those we love!!
Have a great week-end!
Sara

Give Me Grace--Thursday

"Thursday open up my eyes....

to your angels...

in the skies.

Let me know their wings are near me,

and that they will always hear me."~Cynthia Rylant

I love this picture and the various angel images we have around the house.....those images draw my mind to a faithful guardian that is so close to me at all times.

Whenever I get ready to take a many-mile journey back home from seeing my 98-year old Grandma, she always puts her hands up in the air and wiggles her fingers around and says......

"Remember, your angels fly with you wherever you go. Your family has 8 of them following you......all the way home."

Such a strong and beautiful truth of security and comfort......and it is always only a thought and a prayer away.
Sara

Give Me Grace--Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Mark!

We love you!

"Wednesday make me full of light."

"Guide my heart both day and night."

"Give me gladness, give me grace."

"Shine your love upon my face." ~ Cynthia Rylant

We are so thankful for a husband and a dad that reflects God's love to his family.

As we said on Sunday, "Cheers to all those years!!!"
Have a wonderful day!

Sara
Ky, Rocky, Moe, Buttercup, Nacho & Coco

Give Me Grace--Tuesday

Tuesday teach me faith and caring,

teach me wisdom, teach me sharing.

Raise me up and make me strong.

Be with me the whole day long. ~ Cynthia Rylant

Yesterday was a beautiful day to be outside. Nacho rode his bike.

Yes! Do you see what is missing from this picture?
More specifically........Nacho rode his bike without training wheels.

My big strong boy. Using his sturdiness and balance to ride.....


and planting his feet firmly on the ground at all the right times.

My hope this day is that our family will grow stronger......stronger in faith.
Knowing that faith helps guide us, helps us stay balanced and keeps us on the right path.....and realizing that this steadiness comes from standing firmly in the One who is the Giver of Grace.

Sara

Give Me Grace--Monday

We found this book at the library. I grabbed it because it was written by one of my favorite authors........Cynthia Rylant. It is a "Child's Daybrook of Prayers" and I will quote from the book each day this week.......

and strive to make the words come alive in our daily life.

"Monday make me good and kind
to all creatures that I find.
Help me love God's whole creation.
Make my life a celebration." ~Cynthia Rylant

Monday is piano lesson day for Moe. We have a wonderful teacher who comes into our home and the whole family adores him. Moe has blossomed under his guidance and has just finished up Fur Elise and is working on a book of Ragtime songs.

As I am writing this entry, I can hear a bird chirping, so the kids and I just opened the window so we could hear it more clearly. It feels good to take a moment and really listen to how beautiful its sweet melody actually is.......a sound that can just get swirled in with the normal din of everyday living.

I hope today that we will recognize the celebration that is going on around us......
and that the unique mix of sounds that reach our ears each day won't just become a white noise that we take for granted.

~The birds chirping their springtime song~the imperfect playing of the piano music as the student gets ready for the teacher~ the playtime conversations of Nacho and Buttercup~ the sweet babbling talk of a one year old~the humming of the laundry machine as we wash and put away snow jackets and pants~
This is the harmony that is going on around me right now......All are beautiful vibrations and tones that blend together and contribute to the celebration of this day!!!

May your day be a celebration!
Sara

Erin go bragh!

"Turn trustingly to the Lord.

Put your faith in Him with your whole heart,

because nothing is impossible to Him." ~ St. Patrick 5th Century

(cake decorated by Moe)

We all had the Irish spirit today and celebrated in our own, quiet little way.

We read a few books about St. Patrick, made green jello and Irish beef stew and had Celtic music playing in the background while we did school this morning.

Coco got her green shoes a-tapping and did her own little jig.....she just couldn't help herself.......it just seemed like the right thing for her to do......for "When.....

Irish hearts are happy,
all the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away."


Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Sara

Spring Training

I signed Nacho up for Spring Soccer today.

He's got the sweetest, most patient coach I have ever seen.

His first lesson started right away and lasted throughout the afternoon.

The location of the soccer field is awesome......

we don't have to travel very far at all for some great excerise....
.

and lots of fun!!

I don't know who had more fun.....the student or Coach Buttercup!

Spring has us all completely under her magical spell!!

Sara

Buttercup's Diary

I saw a bud today.

I was jumping on the trampoline and I looked up and there it was. I was so excited. I ran to tell my mom.

The buds will turn into leaves.

Spring is near.

Written by: Buttercup

3/15/11

Golden Opportunities

This was the view that I woke up to this morning.

Pajama-clad baby girl, all warm and snuggly....waking up with her usual morning radiance, but today, she was a little more GOLDEN than usual.

The sun was shining through her bed-head hair.

~

It was a "spring is so close, let my rays prove that to you" kinda sunlight that made her look different.....I hadn't seen the morning sunrise peak through our east bedroom window for a LONG time. And even when I did, it was short-lived followed by more clouds.

~

Waking up to a bright room put an extra bounce in my step as we tackled the day.....and that bounce stayed with me as Mister Sun decided to show it's glorious face ALL DAY LONG!!!

~

I know other family members must have been feeling some of the same sentiments as I was as I happened to come across this view in the afternoon.....

I don't know if the temperature gauge ever did climb past 50 degrees, but even so, you can tell we are all craving more vitamin D!!

It's early March yet, but we can almost taste spring....and it tastes wonderful!

Sara

Ash Wednesday

"You may think Ash Wednesday is depressing or morbid when a minister puts black ashes on your forehead and pronounces the words, 'Remember you are dust and to dust you will return.' But we do not hear these words with fear or loathing. Rather we hear these words with joy and thanksgiving, for they are not meant to condemn, but to herald a new beginning, a rebirth into a new and glorious life with God. They remind us that our lives here on earth are temporary and that we were made for pure joy in eternal life with the Lord. Happily, we do not wait until death to begin our new life; we begin it right here, right now........."
(Lect. 219) Seasonal Missalette Worship Resource ~March 9 to April 30, 2011
Copyright 2010 World Library Publications

My Little Josephina

Buttercup loves to read the American Girl Doll series of books. We are on our second set....about a girl named Josephina who lived in 1824 in New Mexico. Buttercup had fun dressing like her on Friday. We have also read the Kirsten series, about a Minnesota farm girl who immigrated from Sweden in 1854. I've had just as much fun reading them to her as she has had listening to the stories!

As much as she likes reading the books, she adores pouring over the magazine that features the individual dolls. Each day she announces her favorite top 3 dolls, but the top 3 changes daily!!

We've been thinking about visiting the American Girl Doll store sometime soon......we'll see!

Happy Shrove Tuesday!!

We're having pancakes today!

Sara

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

It was 86 degrees and sunny.....

for a few hours on the morning of Nacho's birthday.

These wristbands were our ticket to an...

automatic temperature rise.....

of about 50 degrees.

Warm water was also included.

We had a fun celebrating "my March 2nd birthday."

Nacho ~ I hope all your wishes.....

do......

come.....

true!!!!

We love celebrating birthdays!!

Good thing we have another one coming up in 2 weeks!

Have a wonderful week!

Sara