Thankful

I've been sleeping in the living room for the last week. It isn't always the easiest thing because- people go to bed after I do (keeping me awake with bright lights and good conversations.) And get up earlier than I do (waking me up with bright lights and good conversations.) But tonight as I was preparing to bed down on Uriah's mat I realized that I have likely had the best part of the "deal". You see, I've been in the living room because Ivanna got ill. And Uriah isn't sleeping very well because he gave up his comfy mat for me! Anyway - I started listing things I am extremely grateful for... and thought I'd share with you.

I am grateful (and it doesn't really go in this order):

1. Orange Juice from Traders (the unpasteurized kind)
2. My sister-in-law having a new niece or nephew any day
3. The Abbott Family for making music easy
4. Gardening
5. The Word for becoming Flesh
6. My students - who remind me what joy learning is!
7. Lights for being bright and being able to turn them off
8. Laundry
9. Sweeping
10. Naps
11. The Lizard for regularly updating her blog.
12. Hua for being real, but trusting the Lord too.
13. Being able to read
14. Smiles
15. Phone calls - and being able to miss them.

Church History

I wanted to let those of you who care - know that I've been blogging about Church History! Just so you all know - the Lectures have been amazing, and the book we're reading "The Story of Christianity" by Justo L. Gonzalez is excellent.

Here's the link for those who would like to check it out.

Penguins - A Great Read

I read a wonderful book over the summer called Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids, and the Bond of Reading it came recommended (and loaned) to me from Leah. While reading it, I was super thrilled about the ideas it gave me - and the connections I was making. Taking apart books, getting to deeper levels, uncovering the mystery seemed within grasp (finally!) I had begun doing this long ago, but to be honest, I wasn't that good at it.
Anyway, my friend Hua also read the book and with her children we started Animal Farm which is an excellent book. I'm grateful to be putting into practice some of the things I learned.
Everyone who is home educating, teaching or interested in literature should read Deconstructing Penguins.

Apples in the Fall

It is such a delight to spend time in the kitchen. My friend Hua came over early this week to make Apple Butter and Apple Pie. I enjoyed cooking, canning, and singing. But most of all, I enjoyed visiting together. I felt kind of like a sponge soaking up water.


Her son Kapailani, helped with labeling the Apple Butter.
Please note the "ER" are up by the Kerr label.






Her son Nainoa sat on a plum outside while cleaning a paint brush. How is that not hilarious?! I tried so hard not to laugh, but then exploded in laugher behind my uno cards. I reasoned this was okay because I had laughed at myself when I spilled Apple Butter all over my own pants. He is the best of sports because he thought it was funny too. Thankfully he's tall, because he fit nicely into Uriah's shorts while his got stain treated (and I got up from my uno game to do the stain treatment. So don't think me too cruel!) Children are great sources of jokes and laughs!

Getting Calls

I am not much of a phone person. Don't get me wrong, I love to stay connected, I just like to do it in person.
When my sister moved far away last year, taking my 3 year old niece, I knew I'd be on the phone a bit more often. I didn't know that it would make me scramble away from whatever I was doing begging for a turn to talk.
This morning I got a turn and during the conversation Providence (after whispering to her mother, which I could hear the whole time) told me that she wanted to name her baby brother (who is not on the way) "Tom Dooley" What?! I guess we sing to her...

Family

My "cousin" is in town. I write "cousin" because he is my sisters-husbands-cousin. A bit distant right? Anyway, our families have always been close, and he married one of my dearest friends.
My cousins moved away to Texas before Nick was deployed. He's been gone for 9 months and is only home for 2 weeks before leaving again for 5 more months. They decided to spend a week here in California so all the family could catch up too! I've enjoyed a few visits with him, but even more with my Cousin Rose and their two daughters.
I love having a tired little child come up to me and ask me to hold her. Or a packing a bag full of treats for church so the youngsters will be excited. And getting excited about bugs and baby chicks and walks all over again because life is just exciting when you're with children! Pretty much I love everything about being Auntie Osanna.

Because We Can!

Ivanna and I worked on getting things cleaned up in our bedroom. Our new set up has proven to be awesome! But we STILL aren't completely unpacked. We are getting way closer - but days like today keep us from saying "We're done!"
The Trouble:
Our dear friends and renters have bought a house and are moving away soon. The last two renters we've had have been amazing (my sister, and the Johnson's) and they will be hard to replace. There is one excellent family I am praying will be able to move in, but there we don't know for sure if it will work.
Anyway! As a result papa has been talking about possibly having strangers move in. This wouldn't be much of a problem, except the house is 5 short steps from ours. And my bedroom faces that house. I've been thinking... what if they are young people who stay up late? What if they keep me awake at night?!
The Solution:
Thursday night I came up with a pretty noise barrier idea. A tall fence (but lattice rather then fencing as we had two extra pieces on hand.) And pink jasmine growing through it. Everyone liked the idea and I felt like it couldn't wait. So I asked Ivanna and Uriah to help today, and we finished this project. Another project completed!