Washington DC trip

The girls and I took another quick trip this summer, this time to the east coast.  I'm 43 years old and had never been to Washington DC!  This was a trip I wanted to do before my girls were grown and gone.  So...we planned it out, as best we could.

One of the first stops was Mt Vernon-George Washington's home.  

The girls were taking a break, looking at the Potomac.

In front of Mt. Vernon

Next we went to the Pentagon and saw the 9/11 Memorial

Our day at Arlington National Cemetery was incredible.  It was such a beautiful, emotional area.  It's also the resting place of a guy who went to high school with me.  

We toured Arlington House and also saw the changing of the guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier.  Amazing!

What's a trip to DC without seeing the White House.  It really looks bigger on TV.  lol!

The night before we saw the Lincoln memorial, it was vandalized.  Someone poured paint all over it!  Can you imagine?  Why?  That meant they had it partially closed off because they were trying to remove the paint.  This was as close as we could get.

I'm thankful the guide book I read said to go to the Old Post Office for a spectacular view.  They were right!  Above you can see the Capital building in the distance.

Just as the sun was going down, we made it to the Capital building.  I thought this was the prettiest government building that we saw.

On the way home we stopped at Monticello-Thomas Jefferson's home.  I loved walking through the gardens and enjoying the breathtaking view.

6 history filled days that none of us will ever forget.  I'm so glad we finally made this trip.  God bless our wonderful country!

A New School Year-the old school way

This summer has passed so quickly.  I haven't even posted to my blog!  I've tried, but had issues getting pictures to upload.  If I can't have a picture, I don't want to post.  :)  Anyway, tonight it worked.  Maybe I can play catch up in the near future.
Besides traveling a lot this summer, my mother has had serious health issues.  We've all been stressed and had extra running and things to do.  Last week I realized that I had not even planned our new school year.  Those who know me, know that I'm normally ahead of the game when it comes to planning and scheduling.  I started last week planning out which books we would use (we follow a Charlotte Mason approach with Ambleside Online).  Once the books were ordered-either online or from the library, I started thinking about a schedule.  Wouldn't you know it, our printer is acting up!  I've always, always, typed up and printed out our schedule. Not this year or at least not this term.  I was able to print one blank form and make copies-that's it!  Honestly I'm thankful that I could get that much out of the printer.  I set to work tonight writing out the schedule.  I have the first six weeks done.  That will have to do for now.  Who knows, I may stick with this old school approach.  I'm thankful just to have my girls at home and be able to homeschool them.  I'll gladly hand write the schedule.  Jeremiah 29:11

A Whirl-wind trip!

3600+ miles in 6 days.  8 states and 2 countries!  What in the world was I thinking??
It all started with taking our puppy to camp (dog training) in Brainerd, MN.  We've made this trip a few times-no big deal.  The dog trainer and his family are friends of ours so it's always nice to visit them.

Then little Emma spoke up and said she just had to visit her penpal who lives in southern MN.  We don't get to MN that often, so I added this stop to our list too.

A few days before we were to leave one of my Canadian friends called.  As we chatted she mentioned that she'd be in Winnipeg while I was in MN.  Seriously?  Winnipeg is only 7 hours from Brainerd.  It wouldn't be a problem to hop across the border for the day!

So, our trip went like this:
Day 1 drive from our home to Foristill, MO (about 13 hours)
Day 2 from MO to Brainerd, MN (about 11 hours)  visited and had dinner with our friends and dropped off the puppy at the kennel.
Day 3 drove from MN to Winnipeg, Canada (about 7 hours)-had lunch with my friend and visited for 4 hours) then drove back across the border and spent the night in Fargo, ND.
Day 4 drove from ND back to Brainerd.  Had lunch with our friends and visited our puppy one more time.  Then drove to southern MN.  Had dinner with our other friends and spent the night with them.
Day 5 drove about 10 hours from Lonsdale, MN to Arnold, MO (just south of St. Louis).
Day 6 drove from MO to home sweet home!  (about 11 hours)

To say we were exhausted is such an understatement, but it was all worth it.  Seeing our friends, sweet fellowship, making memories.  That's what it's all about!  Now to rest for a few days and embark on our next girl's road trip!

Early morning driving calls for a stop by Starbucks! (day 3)

We're in Canada again! (day 3)

Me and my sweet buddy Cheryl.  I was so very happy to see her, even if it was for just a little while.

(day 3)

Here's Emma with her friends Kate and Clark.  Their daddy has trained several of our dogs. (day 4)

Our friends in southern MN-Emma and her pen pal Betsy with the rest of our families. (day 4 and 5)

The Power of Words

I remember middle school and high school like it was yesterday.  There are a lot of found memories, but what I remember most is feeling awkward and out of place-like I wasn't good enough.  Isn't that usually a part of growing up?  Today I hear so much about kids being bullied.  I don't remember any of that going on when I was a youngster, but I do remember how powerful words were.  Kind or mean could make or destroy you.

Lately we've been doing the Basic Life Principles Course by Bill Gothard.  One of the things he speaks of is how a word misspoken can cause a lifetime of bitterness-even if the speaker didn't intend for it to be offensive.  Well, my story is just the opposite.  A kind word (or 2) can change a teen's world.

When I was in 8th grade I was super insecure and shy.  I truly didn't feel that I fit in.  We'd have all of these theme days.  One week it was 'twin day'.  A beautiful young lady who was smart and sweet and a cheerleader (which made her popular) asked me to be her twin.  I was floored! Me??  Seriously?  I felt like I was on the top of the world!  

Let's flash forward 26 years.  We just had our 25th high school reunion.  I didn't go.  All because I still feel that I don't fit in.  Why relive all of that?  Well...I get a message.  It's that same girl from 8th grade saying she missed me at the reunion and wants to try to get together while she's home (she lives 24 hours away).  Once again I was floored!  

I had her and her children over today.  Our time was so sweet, so comfortable.  I can't imagine that she'll ever know how much the visit meant to me.  I hope though that one day, when she gets to heaven, God will have a very special jewel in her crown.  

Never underestimate the power of a kind word.  It can change someone's life.

(Alisa and me, June 2013)

Simply Sweet

The other morning I walked into the bedroom to find little Emma brushing her doll's hair while listening to the audio book Doll People.  She and her doll had on matching gowns which made the scene all the more precious.  As she brushed and the CD played Fraulein, our 1 year old Springer Spaniel looked on contentedly.  The morning sun was pouring in through the windows as I stood there and smiled.  I'm so blessed by simple moments like this...and so thankful.

Crocheting on a rainy Sunday afternoon

Lately the weather here has been so pretty that we're always outside either swimming in the pool, water skiing or playing with the pets.  Today, finally we got some much needed rain.  It was the perfect time for me to pull out my crocheting which has been packed up for a few months.  Back in the fall while we were in Canada I started crocheting granny squares.  For so long I've wanted to learn to make them and never realized it would be so easy.  So today, I'm adding to my granny squares as I sit under my Auburn quilt and listen to the rain.  What a nice Sunday afternoon!

If you 'd like to learn to crochet, check out the Klutz Crochet book.  

My other girls

You've seen their house, now here are my girls-my hens that is.  I never thought having chickens would be so much fun.  I actually look forward to waking up early and going to see them.  They have such unique personalities.  If I don't have snacks (left over vegetable scraps) to bring them they seem to get upset and impatient.  When I bring something new in with me they're so curious.  They love to peck my painted toe nails (when I forget to slip my boots on).  Oh and it's true...diamonds are a girl's best friend!  If my wedding ring dangles in front of them too long, they simply can't resist!  It may seem strange, but these visits with my girls are so relaxing to me.  I'm truly thankful for my girls and the joy they bring to my mornings.