So much to give thanks for...

The last week has been full... I mean really full... crazy full... Joyful... and much more.

In the craziness, I keep skipping posting here so this morning I thought I would try to post a few quick things that I am thankful for in the last week...

Last weekend, I spent a day at a community college with Clara and some of the other kids. My mom went with me to help out and I really appreciated her do that! A team of community college students and staff, along with an orchestra teacher, are working together, led by a student named, Curtis, to build a new violin bow arm for Clara using their 3D printer! It was an amazing day and we can't wait to go back for the finished product!

 Meet Curtis... the student who has put many hours over the last few weeks into this project!

 Monday brought the start of a busy week. The started beautifully with unseasonable warm weather, it  brought tornadoes and sirens to our part of the world! Thankfully, the tornadoes missed us, but it led to a bit of excitement for November!

Tuesday, we had our first snow flurries of the year! Nothing that stuck, though part of our world got as much as 20 inches of snow just a few hours away! Tuesday also brought a text that no one likes to read... the "pray now, can't talk" kind of text. There had been an accident on the farm back home. When all was said and done... everyone was ok but the reality is that the day could have ended much different in a matter of seconds. An extra minder to hug your children and tell them you love them every chance you get- along with your spouse, parents and other friends and family members when given the opportunity.

Wednesday warmed up a bit and we were back on schedule, talked about our crazy week and laughed a bit at the weather!

Thursday morning bright and early, news is that there was an earthquake during the night! I slept through it but Shawn was wake as the house briefly shook and things rattled.

Friday brought friends... 11 years ago, our paths crossed at a Bible Storying class for 2 weeks at a Seminary. These sweet friends opened their home to us and over birthday cake and coffee, a friendship started that has last over the years and miles (several States and the Pacific Ocean.) We are thankful for them and can't wait to share our weekend with you guys!

As I think back over the last week, I am thankful that it was full of laughter...

full of awesome opportunities...

full of weather...

full of friends...

and full of reality that life is but a breath that can quickly slip way.

A Master's Class

Lenna & Abigayl had the opportunity to take a strings class Saturday morning with a visiting cellist, Stephen Feldman. Mr. Feldman is a Professor of Cello at Central Arkansas University. I didn't get the chance to go with them (thanks Miss Debbie for taking them) because I was gone at Clara's big weekend at the FabLab (more to come on that!)

Here are a few pictures from their class...

 It was a great opportunity for the girls to learn a little more about the instruments they are studying!

Thankful Thursday...

this week marks 6 months since we met this little guy in China.

He is a beloved brother, son, grandson, cousin & friend.

He lives every moment to it's fullest... usually fulled with laughter and joy!

He loves BIG everyday! Whether it is cars, trains and firetrucks or his FAMILY.

But when it is nap time... he's ready, no matter where he is!

We love you little man!

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

Clara said she needed an Anna... he was just glad to play!

Digging sweet potatoes

 This is the second year we have tried sweet potatoes in the garden.

 I wasn't sure what to expect when the kids and I went to dig them on Friday.

Here is what we found...

 Lots of them! The only bummer... we also found lots of rat tunnels and a bg rat that got away!

Ugh!

We dug on and found this little guy... a barred tiger salamander!

The kids played with him awhile, inspected his feet, watched to see what angles he could climb and just had fun watching him...

A bit later... We spied this as we worked in the 2nd raised bed...

Another one!

The kids played with him awhile before we let him go too..

I don't remember seeing one of these growing up ever, even though they are said to live throughout the State. The first one we saw several years ago at our old house here, then a few weeks ago, we saw one out back on the patio and last weekend one out on some friends' farm. Not sure how we rated find 2 in the same day but we old had fun learning about them and hope we get to see them again!

We are looking forward to enjoying these too!

Blankets for Haiti...

My mom visited a couple of weekends ago.

We spent a morning tying fleece blankets for her to take to Haiti on her mission trip in January to visit House of Bread.

 The blankets sent are handed out to small children and elderly to help them stay warm on cool mountain nights. Over the years my mom's mission team has taken hundreds of blankets and the message of the love of Jesus has been given to those who receive them.

If you are interested in making blankets for my mom to take, please email me at quiltnmama2 (at) gmail.com.

{a few more costume pictures...}

I missed showing ABigayl in her costume on the other post!

On Saturday afternoon, our neighbor had her annual costume party.

Abigayl and her friend were Greek Goddesses....

The kids played games and had a great time together in the beautiful weather...

There were all sorts of pumpkin races...

 

and lots of laughter...

More games...

What a great way to spend the afternoon!

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday...

First tooth lost... check out the little guy who had already grown in behind it!

Those kids of mine...

...they make me smile!

We had Lady Kerr (from in Freedom's Cause...)

 

a ninja...

 

Elsa,,,

 

Olaf...

 

and Legolas...

They had a great time on Saturday dressing up!

Just being crazy in general!

I kept trying to get a good one when they were all looking and not being goofy...

Love this "brothers" pic...

I finally gave up and said, "How about a Chinese style Picture to send to Emily..."

 For those of you who have been to China... you know what I mean! It actually turned out to be one of the best though!

{harvest blessings}

I keep thinking that one of these nights it is going freeze and that will be the end to our garden, but so far... it hasn't! Not the usual for Nov. 2nd in our part of the world, today it was 80!

We still have fresh tomatoes we have been enjoying, don't you love the tomato transport at our house!

I have been making and freezing tomato sauce, this is the first time I have made it but it is amazing in chili which we eat often as a family!
I have one more batch of jalapenos to pick out there and we still need to dig sweet potatoes!

Awhile back, the kids were helping shell Christmas Lima, for some reason, the ladybugs love them...

Wesley & Clara loved letting them crawl all over their arms!

When I was a little girl, I can remember helping my grandma with her Christmas Limas. My uncle has saved seed all these years and shared some with me, I am finally getting enough to enjoy a meal or two and have seed for next season too!

We have had beautiful weather to work in the backyard or on the back step!

Our pumpkin harvest this year was amazing! We planted 6 seeds in the garden a little late because we were going to take a year off from pumpkins, or so we said...

Planting late didn't seem to matter, from those 6 vines we picked over 100 pumpkins, lots of love to share with neighbors and friends!

Tonight I am making pumpkin cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow out of one of the ones I have left that I baked down... yummy!

Look at our visitor! He is a barred tiger salamander.
The boys thought he was cute. We don't see them here but this little guy has been out at the back of our house. Sunday evening we saw one at friends too!