Scavenger Hunt~ 10/30

This weeks items:  Macro, Found Texture, Home, Cover, The Tree

 

Macro

 

Linking up my macro shell shot this week HERE:

 

 

Found Texture

 

 

 

Home

I am thankful for home a place where we can snuggle up, get warm, take a nap and recover from a nasty cold.

 

Cover

Very few leaves are on the trees where I live now, most cover the ground.

 

The Tree

 

 

Linked up with Ashley:

I Love…

Last night as I drove home from Bible Study my mind was so full.  It was a revealing, powerful, life changing, God moving, blow your mind sort of night. 

I didn’t think God could possible have more to say to me, crazy how I still put Him into a box.

As I walked into our mudroom with all this stuff on my mind, I was met with the soft glow of happy pumpkin faces.

My heart melted.

 

 

I stepped into the kitchen and a soft “ohhh” escaped my lips.  In the oven were two trays of pumpkin seeds.

 

 

In the few seconds from mudroom to kitchen, God in that hushed moment, opened my eyes.  He showed me that I needed to tell Joel how very much I love him and what an awesome dad he is.

You see, I know he wanted to go bow hunting last night.  He hasn’t been able to get out much at all.  But, instead of grumbling and complaining about having to watch the kids, he had fun with them.  Carving pumpkins, being silly and mixing up a treat. And he graciously let me go to my Bible Study.

I just want to yell for all you ladies to hear…. Hallelujah, thank you Lord for this awesome man you have blessed me with! 

I Love, Love, Love how Joel loves our children.

And I Love, Love, Love, my man with all that is within me. 

 

Thank you Lord Jesus for blessing me with this man.  He is a precious gift from you.  May I never take for granted what a wonderful man he is!

Shift, Adjust, and Go With the Flow

When we first began this homeschooling journey, 10 years ago, I was a major box checker.  I had to make sure everything got accomplished in proper order and in a timely manner.  If things went undone or we got off schedule, I would be stressed.  The perfectionist in me would get all twisted in knots and I would embark on a sacred mission to get every last minute detail back into its proper place.

It had to be that way, right?  Certainly my children couldn’t have a well rounded education if I didn’t keep on with the strict schedule I had picked out at the first of the year. 

What I found, though, was that it was making me so TENSE.  I worried about getting this and that and all the other things done.  I squeezed stuff into our days which made my boys who aren’t big fans of excess book learning, despise school more.  I wanted to try all the neat stuff like lap booking, note booking, nature journals, and art.  My boys…not so much.  I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t love that stuff when it wasn’t really hardcore textbook learning, really, I loved it, shouldn’t they? 

Now that I am older and so much wiser (ha, a few years can really change things around mentally and physically for a gal)!  I have come to the conclusion (yeah it takes me a while) that these things are not for my boys, at least not in large doses.

That’s the beauty of homeschooling and as the years have come and gone, I have learned to shift, adjust and go with the flow.

This past week I put those words to practice.  We took Friday off from school and headed to my sister, Marisa’s, house for a weekend visit.  And when Monday morning rolled around and we were all so exhausted from the late nights of weekend fun, we slept in.  We didn’t even start school until 10:00 that morning. Gasp! (Hands raised to mouth in shock!)  You know what?  It was okay!  Nothing shocking happened and the earth didn’t stop turning because we didn’t stick to our prearranged schedule.

It’s the beauty of homeschooling, my friends.  Tweaking and arranging until it fits the educational and daily needs of your family.

I’ve learned to deal with, live with, and accept some things over the past couple of years

• It’s okay if my boys don’t LOVE school (my daughter makes up for that) and would rather be outside exploring, hunting and imagining. Who wouldn’t?

 

• It’s okay to make them do the work even though they dislike it. As I told my son just today, “Well, you can’t go through life as an ignoramus, so I guess you’ll just have to do the work!” (Said jokingly and with a smile)

 

• It’s okay if we don’t lapbook and notebook every day or even hardly at all.

 

• It’s okay if we only do art and nature journaling on Fridays and sometimes we skip it.

 

• It’s okay if we start school late or even take a day off here or there.

 

• It’s okay if I’m doing schooling differently than others.  It’s okay that our subjects are literature based, that we don’t do tons of workbooks, yet we are more traditional than some.

You see the beauty, don’t you?  Homeschooling is individualized!  Even within our own homeschool, each child has their own individual plan. No cookie cutter education to be found here.  I teach to the needs and abilities within each of my children. 

And it’s okay!

I’m glad we have found our niche. And I’m glad I can change that niche whenever I feel the need to!

Sharing Just a Bit

I had the opportunity a couple weekends back to do two Senior Photo shoots!  I had so much fun with both of these young people.  They were both so easy to work with and willing to traipse with me to several locations for some awesome photo opportunities.

 

I wish I could do more of these!  Photographing kids, even ones who are so close to being gown up…mmmm I just love it!

REALLY, who wouldn’t come away with a smile on their faces after taking pictures of these young people!

Deep Guttural Love

I know he didn’t mean to hurt me.  It was just a small show of boyish independence.  Yet, that night, at that moment, it twisted and yanked and wrung my heart till not only tears escaped my eyes but sobs threatened to erupt from deep within my hidden places.
I have noticed the changes here and there in my oldest son.  He is growing up.  He is becoming more young man than little boy.  His voice has changed.  He would rather hang out with the adult men in our family than with his mom or siblings. He’s watching and repeating and assimilating all the man talk and gestures.  He’s not my little guy anymore. A change has taken place.  A call to independence for my man-child. 
The knowledgeable part of myself was ready to accept this.  My head knew this was coming and was a part of raising children.  I knew I could handle it.  I figured it would make me a little sad. 
I wasn’t prepared for the emotions that took my breath away, the night my son made a silly, unthinking, yet somewhat truthful statement as I kissed him goodnight.
“EWWWW”
Nothing more.  Nothing dramatic or disrespectful.  Just a kid being a silly kid.
But that simple response from my first born caused my throat to constrict with emotion. Tears welled up in my eyes and I had to make a quick exit, but not before I poured an extra measure of momma love into his younger brothers.
Joel saw the whole display.  He watched from the sidelines as momma gasped from the blow and son pushed on towards his goal of manhood.  In the quiet of our room Joel wrapped his arms around me and told me it would be okay, that this was a boy thing.  A learning to be a man thing.
I know.  In my head, I know.
I just wasn’t ready for this.
I wasn’t ready for such independence.  I don’t want him to stop liking my motherly kisses.  I’m not ready for this pulling away.  The inevitable separations.
In my heart I want time to stand still.  My head only shakes slowing back in forth in pity for my heart.  My mind knows.  This is a rite of passage.
I wasn’t ready for the pain that wracked my heart that night.  Tears threatened to spill and the ache in my chest was so immense that I struggled to take a deep breath.  My momma heart cracked open a bit more that night and deep, guttural love spilled out.
I needed something little to hold.  I needed a small someone to hold in my arms, to bandage my heart.  I climbed in my baby girl’s bed and gathered her sleeping, precious form close to me. I buried my nose in her hair, breathed deep and cried.
I cried for the ache of my boy needing me less.
I cried because I still want to gather him up in my arms and shower his tall almost 6 foot self in kisses and hugs.
I cried remembering when he was so small and we snuggled and I carried him everywhere and he loved my kisses.
I cried because this boy who is pushing for independence and manhood is and always will be my baby.
When the flood of raw emotions subsided, I eased out of my daughter’s bed.  I knew that this change was just part of the path of motherhood.  I realized that it was just probably one of those teenage hormone moments.  I took my puffy eyes and bruised heart off to my own bed to sleep off the disappointment of change.
Time has dulled the ache and I know my son, didn’t mean to hurt me.  It was just a kid response that slipped out.  And being the momma I am, I’m still giving him a peck on his forehead at night.  I can’t stop kissing that big kids head.  It is part of me and it just calls for me to place some affection upon it.
And just today I looked out the back window to see my big boy playing in the sandbox with his old rusty dump truck.  My momma heart melted.  He’s not too old after all.
Thank you Lord for my boy who is still boy, yet striving to be a man.  I thank you for allowing me to watch the transformation in his life.  He is a precious gift from you.  May I  forever be grateful for each step, moment and change that comes into my life through my son.

Scavenger Hunt~10/16

This weeks items:  Abstract, Round, Fire, Seeing faces in unexpected places, Stars

 

Abstract

Not a new shot for this week, but I couldn’t help putting up another water and baby oil shot since it fit this category perfectly.

 

Round

Berries on the Asparagus plants

 

Fire

These Sumac leaves look firey with the setting sun glowing through them.

 

Seeing faces in unexpected places

An Indian in my Begonia?  HMMM….I wonder….

 

Stars

 

Linked up with Ashley:

This Makes Me….

All this beauty makes me want to yell at the top of my lungs and tell everyone I see about God’s might power and glory. Who, but an amazing God could orchestrate all this beauty!  Can you see it?  Can you feel it? 

 

  Just take a peek outside your windows. 

 

 

Venture a step outside your door.

 

 

Then breathe deep. 

 

 

Soak it in.

God’s beauty, power, love and peace.

“Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord , for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  I Chronicles 16:30-34

The trees are rejoicing in HIS majesty.  Won’t you join in!

Harvest

It’s Time! 

This past summer my dad purchased this combine and now Joel and him are harvesting my dad’s fields! In years past my uncle and dad planted and harvested my dad’s fields.  I was pretty excited when dad and Joel started talking about buying equipment so that they could farm the fields, with Joel running the combine!  I have ALWAYS wanted to be a farmer’s wife.  Now I can claim to be one! WHOO HOO!

       

This weekend we spent quite a bit of time out in my dad’s soybean field learning all about the art of harvesting from him, picking up rocks, enjoying the beauty of the day, bringing meals and keeping everyone hydrated!

We even got to take rides!  Sis and I went together.  She stood next to Joel and I rode out on the landing next to the door.  She had a big smile on her face the entire time and thought it was hilarious that I was covered in chaff.  Soybeans are super dusty and my hair was pretty covered by the time we climbed down, but it was SO worth it!

 

 

 

 

This past week has been absolutely beautiful!  The color here is at its peak and I can’t stop myself from taking pictures of all the beauty.  I know as soon as we get some rain or wind it will all be gone, so I am soaking up these perfect Indian summer days!

 A neighbors farm across the fields

 A photo across the field of some of my dad’s property

More of my dad’s property

 

I’m obviously getting a little giddy with all the photography opportunities around here!  Not to mention I’m working on editing two Senior photo shoots I had this weekend.  BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!  And what about all the applesauce that needs canning, and schooling, and did someone say they need clean underwear, and really you want to eat again!  Please excuse my absence here of late….my family is calling and I know that each of you understands the importance of that!

Happy Autumn, my friends!

Scavenger Hunt~10/09

This weeks items:  Landscape, The Color Wheel, Black and White, Food, Blank Space

 

Landscape

 

 

Complementary Color

 

 

 

Black and White

One of my latest Senior Portrait sessions!

 

 

 

 

Food

I baked a new bread last week, Poppy Seed Braid bread….so good!

 

 

 

Blank Space

 

Linked up with Ashley