Apples, Apples, Apples

We went apple picking today!  We all (minus Stephen, he had to work)  loaded up into the vans and headed out to Markam VA.  to Heartland Orchard.
Two hiccups on the way:
1. The "Service Engine Soon" light came on in the big van.
2. Matthew threw up in the car!
We kept on going and it was a beautiful fall day.  However, being the end of September, we had the very last and very slim pickings.  Not to deter us from fun times though.

 



Zackary John News...

 

 

 

About two months ago I began to notice Zackary was having a hard time hearing me. When he would not respond I naturally figured he was tuning me out. I would get stern with him and tell him he needed to "tune into my voice". Then one day he told me I was speaking too softly. Well, I am a momma that speaks to be heard the first time! So I knew something was up.
Two weeks ago I had a visit for him to the Dr. for a 5 year well check of sorts. Minus any shots. At that time I explained to Dr. Ross what was going on with him having a hard time hearing. He had his nurses administer the regular hearing test they do for a Kindergarten physical. Zack failed that. Dr. Ross wanted us to see an ENT.
We had his appointment with the ENT, Dr. Rielly, this past Monday. Zack and I liked him a lot, though I think I could be his mother! It's not that I am old, he is just that young looking. ;)
This office did another hearing test, fail again. There is so much thick fluid his eardrums do not even move at all when sound goes in! Apparently it is like Zack is wearing ear plugs AND underwater!
So, next Wednesday, October 3rd he will have surgery to remove the fluid, put in a second set of tubes and remove his adnoids (sp?).
Zack knows he will be having surgery, just not what day yet. I'll tell him as it gets closer.
 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

 



H.O.P.E. Field Day!

This is a fun day for our local home schooling group.  My children enjoy it, though they are always a bit nervous at the beginning because we do not know most of the people.  It is a large group here in our city.
The kids are divided up by age, 4 and up.  The groups of each age are led to  each event by a parent volunteer.  Each game is run by a parent volunteer.  This year I was the leader of the eight year olds, I had Ryleigh's group.  Therefore most of my pics are of her....

 

At the beginning we play at the play ground while everyone gets signed in.

 

The under 9yr. groups receive a visor and get a sticker for playing each event/game. 

 

Feeling a bit unsure, as we do not know many folks. 

Ryleigh's group listening to the rules for a relay.

 

Savanna and her group off in the distance. 

 

Ryleigh doing the "Quick Change" relay.  This required each player to put on extra clothes, run the next station and change into other extra clothes.  Then tag the next runner in the group. 

Zack doing the bean bag relay.

 

Ryleigh's team doing the 50yd. dash 

 

The licorice eating contest.  No hands allowed! 

 

Matthew fell asleep 

 

The donut eating contest is a FAVORITE of everyone! 

Ryleigh came in first for the 8yr. olds.  That's my girl!  ;)

Brook and Kiren.  Kiren and Brook also do Awana and Lego League together.



 

 

There are over a dozen events for the teams to participate in.  I only got these pics, it is a busy day!  Zackary won 5 first places and got 5 gold stars for his visor.  To top it off he got an extra donut at the end!  What a fun day!  



Trying Our Hand at Gardening

We really did try to "city" garden this summer.  We grew seeds inside during the spring.  Transplanted outdoors, into containers, when it got warm enough.  We tried tomatoes, onions, strawberries, cantalope and a few herbs. 
 

Here Steve is planting our strawberry plants into the upside down hanging bag.

 

Our first berries.  The never got any bigger then a grape. 

 

 

A view of our deck with the containers.  This view always makes me happy!

 

The first of two cantalopes growing. 

 

Tomatoes taste BETTER right off the vine! 

 

Easy-Peasy mairgolds!  Pretty too. 

 

Out first tomatoe was picture perfect! 

 

The frightfull death our first cantalope!  All inner-yumminess completely destroyed, leaving me quite sad.  :0(

 

Scripture Verses

    

     I came across this scripture the other day while reading.  It jumped at me because of the "lights in the world" phrase.  Since we are "Learning To Be The Light" I immediately loved this nugget of truth!

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did ot run in vain nor toil on vain.

 

 



It's All About The Name

I have had thoughts on beginning a blog for over a year.  All of the thoughts have been continually swimming around in my head/heart, getting nowhere.

Recently I began thinking about what I would want this blog to be about.  That was easy, my family, our life.  I also knew that I would want to always glorify God through it.  We would want to testify of His love and provision for us and what He is doing in our lives.  It is our desire to share what we know of Him, what He has done for us. 

The chorus from the song "Learning to be the Light" by New World Son sums it up for me.

It's So much brighter living in your world, Savior what you did for me

You gave me somthing I want everyone, and I mean everyone to see

When we stumble and it all goes wrong, Only you can make it right

So I say oh oh oh oh oh

I'm learning to be the light....

 

It is my desire to be a light and shine for Him today!