~Be Vibrant~

I love colors of fall .... and what a blessing to have the most beautiful leaves in the neighborhood!!!

 While on a walk around the block, we noticed that the other trees did not have as many shades of red as ours (same type of trees). Take a look for yourself. These first two photos are from our front yard. Notice the various (deep) shades of red mixed in with the golden yellow

 The next two photos were from on our walk around the block.

  Our elderly neighbor has noticed our colorful leaves through the years. He mentions it every year.

 He tells us that our trees are more colorful than his because we have children who play in them.   :)   According to our neighbor, when trees get "messed with/irritated" through the year, they turn more colorful in the fall. Hmm ... this just might be an interesting life lesson- besides a good excuse to send the kids over to the neighbor's yard to play (Haha!).

When we get jostled and bumped around in life, we end up more colorful in the end (if we're patient, calm and don't over-react; only through Christ's grace & strength).  :)

Time will tell how we've handled each situation- will our colors be vibrantly beautiful?   :)

 ~We've been enjoying the beautiful leaves, thanks to the kids!   :)

 Woohoo!  Hooray for fall!!!

Enjoy fall's beauty while you can .... it's fading fast!!

[And ... enjoy your children while you can .... they're growing fast!!]

:)   :)   :)

 



~October~

We live, laugh & love ... and in a blink, the day- no, the month- is gone.

 

 Mid-October, I decided to have a Yard Sale with the kids. Not only would it help purge our house of "extra's" for a possible future move (whenever that will be), but we could also make a few extra dollars.   :)

 

Ashlyn was excited to work her lemonade stand, although only a handful of people showed an interest.

Our Yard Sale was open two chilly mornings, so we likely should have served hot chocolate instead.   :)

We're not pack rats, so our yard sale was not a large one, but the whole set-up looked nice if I say so myself. :)

We sold a lot of our stuff, took some left-over items to Salvation Army, and saved others for  E-bay selling!!  :)

 

Like my Watkins display?  :)

 I'm an independent Watkins consultant, and had an Open House one week night. Caramel Apple Cake, Caramel Apple Dip, and coffee were served. It totally hit the spot on such a cold, rainy evening.

My kids become interested in my preparations, by the way, and desire to help however they can. Watkins often turns into a family affair. :)

www.jrwatkins.com/

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'Tis the season for bon fires .....

 The boys' Cross Country Team got together to celebrate the end of a great season.

What fun roasting hotdogs and (later) marshmallows!

 Ashlyn makes friends wherever she goes. :)

Coach Chad gave out certificates to the Cross Country team members, and shared a little about each runner. Caleb improved through the season, and Antonin was a "fire ball" from the beginning. :)

The very next evening, we enjoyed our church's bon fire, hosted by some generous friends who live in the country. There was also a hay ride that the kids LOVED .... but my camera's battery suddenly died.   :(

Here are the few photos I managed to take. 

Bobbing for apples was one of the activities set up for the youth.

 

Painting pumpkins 

 

Fall is my favorite time of year! 

 In winter, we marvel over "winter wonderlands", but I enjoy "fall wonderlands" even more, with vibrant colors God puts on display!!! 
Colors of fall last longer than snow ...but then slowly fades away ...

 I will share colorful fall photos soon!!!

[trees recently reached their peak with colors]

Thankfulness

The Government Shutdown came to an end!!! Woohoo!

We knew it wouldn't last forever, but in the middle of uncertainty, one's mind  questions when it will ever end. The shutdown lasted a total of 16 days, much longer than we thought it would.

 

Every day seemed like a Saturday... there was more time for talking, sharing and planning ... and several times Richard cooked dinner for us!! What a treat not having to grocery shop and cook!!!

[I actually do not enjoy shopping or cooking; I enjoy baking]

 

 

 The Government shutdown wasn't all bad; it was faith-building.

We were able to enjoy quality time together as a married couple & family, and experience how even within a cloud of uncertainty, God is above ALL (even the Government), working in ways unknown to us.

And .... that is worth sharing!!!

:)

 

 

 



~Last Cross Country Meet~

Life continues during a Government Shutdown  ... and today was the boys' last Cross Country Meet, held in Highland.

It had rained the biggest part of the day, but conditions were good for the Meet to proceed as planned.

The coach took the team to Highland straight from school, so Richard, Ashlyn & I met up with our boys in the High School's field. 

 It was a bit chilly, but no one seemed to mind ... I think they loved the idea of not running in 90 degree weather. :)

 

 On your mark .... Get set .... GO!!!

 

Here's Antonin, running in the foreground, ready to pass the runner in front of him. Do you see the runner in the distance, to the left?  That's Caleb!  Normally, he isn't this close behind Antonin, and it made my little Mom-heart happy!!  It also meant I only needed to take one photo [ahem... or simply had enough time for one photo because my memory card was full)!   :)

 

Approaching the finish line, Antonin passed up several boys.

You can see a glimpse of Caleb in the distance ... see him approaching the corner/curve?

 I was still watching Antonin, when I realized I needed to hurry and snap a picture of Caleb, too!!!  Ack! Now I'm not certain I like them running close together.   :)

 

Good race boys... and a great season!!

It's hard to believe that Cross Country is over!

Basketball season is coming soon for Caleb; we are so excited that he made the team!

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As mentioned before, Ashlyn finds things to do during her big brothers' sporting events.

This time, she found a friend or two to play and run with, and pick wild berries (but no eating!!).

Later, she found a lone, single flower to stick in her hair.

 

More to come of our sweet, crazy-fun life ... I'll need to delete more photos off my camera first.  ;)

 

 

 



~Beautiful Days~ :)

Because of the Government shut down, Richard has been able to work on many projects around the house! :)

He cleaned out the shed ....

 ...and then scraped and painted it.

He says he could get used to this "retired living"!

We're loving having him at home with us.

He's also gone grocery shopping and made dinner a time or two, making my days so much more stress-free!

I could get used to his "retired living", too!!   :)

 

 Another plus ... no need for Richard to leave work early to be at our boys' Cross Country Meet in Troy, IL ...

 

Each school who hosts a Meet, can set its own rules, and Troy decided to have three separate races, and to clock each team's fastest runners [FBA's team ran in the first race; we're waiting to hear results].

The "regular" runners on teams were told to run their very best even though they wouldn't be timed, and to try and beat the ones wearing numbers.   :)

 Antonin was selected to run as a "varsity" runner (the fastest 6 on each team).

Caleb was one of the many "regulars", who ran along-side the "varsity" runners.

 

 

When Antonin passed by half-way through his 1.8 mile run, and I saw that he was giving it his ALL, I yelled out, "Pace yourself, Antonin!!!"

I found out later that he never heard me- he was so focused. 

Me- being a worried mother- began praying that he'd make it to the end!   :)

 

I relaxed a bit when I saw Caleb ... he was definitely pacing himself.

I discovered later, however, that he wasn't trying very hard since he wasn't being timed. Silly boy!    :)

 

Before long, Antonin approached the finish line, with one runner on either side of him, which is why you can't see him in this photo. Yes, he was giving it ALL he had!!

 

...And ... here's Caleb nearing the finish!! :) 

He was not far behind Antonin.

Good finish, boys!!

We aren't sure yet how Antonin placed ...

[he was asking why I have to take pictures all the time  :)]

 The course was a more difficult one, with a fair amount of hills (the Troy area is very beautiful, by the way). 

We're so proud of our boys and how they've worked hard balancing Cross Country and homework & studies! :)

The season of Cross Country is slowing to an end; one more Meet left!

 



First week in October

Last Tuesday, I picked the boys up from school and then headed to another Cross Country Meet!

Richard had informed me the night before of a possible Government shut down, so I found this particular Meet a little difficult to focus on the boys.

I wanted to ask Richard lots of questions when he finally found us in the school's field- but I refrained. He had already told me all he knew at that point, and I needed to have patience.

 

While the boys warmed up with their team and talked with their coach, Ashlyn wandered around the field, picking flowers.   :)  :)   She has done well keeping herself entertained during her brothers' Meets.

 

... and they're off!!!

 

Can you see Antonin in the distance, trying to pass the boy in blue?

Yes, I thought about cropping Richard's clapping hands out, then changed my mind- they're kind of cool!  ;)

 

Go, Caleb!!

 

Antonin nearing the finish line ... 50th place!! :)

 

Caleb was determined .... he passed up several runners at the very end, making 55th place!!    :)   We were so excited for our boys; they had both improved since their last Meet! :)

 



We headed home, cheering for our boys- yet wondering what the next day would hold.

Would Richard go back to work in a few days?

 

Richard began taking the boys to school each morning, and found things to do before returning home. This way,  homeschooling Ashlyn could proceed as usual each morning, without too many distractions.  :)

A huge plus with Richard being home the first week of October ... is that I was busily baking goodies, lesson planning, and planning a Ladies' get-together at our church (Mentoring Ministry called "M&M's").
l loved being able to leave Ashlyn at home with Richard in the afternoon, so I could run to the store if I wanted (by myself)!!  :)

 



Yes, the mini-loaves pictured were for the ladies at the get-together.

The theme was on Biblical Hospitality, and how hospitality is not to be confused with entertaining or trying to impress others! We invite people into our imperfect homes, to share our imperfect hearts.  :)  :)  We also talked about ways to be hospitable to our family, fellow-believers, and to the world.

 

After an enjoyable Friday evening ...

 

I awoke bright and early Saturday morning to take my first math test- in 17 years!!!

I cannot say how well I did, but I'm certain I passed. Woohoo!  :)

I would say that I'm excited to register for my next math class [I think I can do this!!] .... if it wasn't for the fact that it's required, and I don't have a choice.   :)

 

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Regarding the Government shut-down .... it's lasting longer than we thought it would, and we're patiently waiting for it to end, one day at a time.  

 

I have purposely kept the news off, and have avoided it .... for peace of mind.

I don't need to hear angry words jabbed at the Government or at its workers, or Government workers lashing back (angry at Govt themselves). 

I'd rather not hear more about Democrats & Republicans refusing to give each another an inch [they had a whole year to figure something out; is this a  childish "stare-down"?]. 

Having an indifferent, unconcerned President certainly doesn't help the situation, either ... 

 

 Yes, I'm married to an intelligent Government worker, and am proud of him. He is a necessary, essential worker.  :) 

It's an honor he's able to use his skills in such a position, for the good of our Country.

 

Of course it's tough not knowing how long this shut down will last, but it won't last forever. 

All the political fuss will eventually end.... right?? 

And then .... there will be something else .....   ;)