Kindness and Fish

One morning we felt the pull of nature and had to get out of the house. So we packed up our school books and headed to the Botanical Gardens with the intent to walk around some then sit down and complete some school work. We meandered around and had the place to ourselves. We found a shaded spot with benches and started on school work. Then a gardener came over to us with a bucket of fish food. He thought the boys might like to feed the fish in the pond. We put down the books and headed back to the pond. The boys loved feeding the fish and turtles, and even noticed a snake in the water. The boys didn't get much of their school work done that morning, but we had a delightful time at the gardens. Of course we stopped by the playground before heading home. I so appreciated the kindness of the gardener to us, it really made our morning special.

It doesn't get much better than this...

How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

Psalm 116:12

Still playing

I am still playing around with my new camera. It has an option to turn the picture into a drawing.

My Love of Aprons

I love aprons. I do. Last week my Mom sent me an apron in the mail. I loved it when I first saw it. The patterns on the fabric are so pretty, the apron is well made, and it is just a fun apron. When I first got it in the mail I put it on right away and didn't want to take it off.

A few days later my Mom told me the story of the apron. A lady at her church created different aprons to sell. She was trying to raise money so that her son could go on a school trip to Washington D.C. Yes, a class field trip from Texas to Washington D.C.- I'm sure it was a large amount of money to raise. This hard-working mom made dozens of different aprons, in her spare time, after working her full time job. From her apron sales, she was able to raise enough money to send her son on the trip to Washington D.C. This lady is an immigrant and about three years ago became a citizen of the United States. How wonderful for her son to travel to the nation's capitol and experience this special city.

The background of this story makes me love this apron even more. An apron represents work, cooking and cleaning, but work I choose to complete happily for my family. Just as this talented lady labored making aprons for her son, so I labor in my apron for my family.

All Ready!

Luke recently earned his green belt in TaeKwonDo. Becoming a green belt is a big deal as green belts begin sparring. The instructor calls green belts "fresh meat", but really it is very safe and controlled. Luke wanted to try on his sparring gear right away.

Then Caleb and Luke proceeded to practice.

Viking Week

We have been learning all about Vikings this week.

We examined the Viking longhouse and ship Caleb made 4 years ago for his history project.

Luke dressed up as a Viking warrior.

And a Viking battle occurred.

Meet Foxy

Luke had a little bit of money to spend and with it he purchased a stuffed animal fox, whom he named Foxy.

Foxy is a boy fox.

I love how Luke still likes stuffed animals. I'm sure his stuffed animal days are numbered. He will soon become too old for stuffed animals, I know it is inevitable. Luke is growing up!