Memorial Day

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Memorial Day

 

 

 

 

 

So very grateful for all those who have gone before and given me and mine all that we now treasure and enjoy.

springfield

                 TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD
                    by Hannah

 

 

We wanted to go to SPRINGFIELD for a long time and when the day finally came...                                                                                        

We drove for hours.  I was busy watching a movie, when suddenly it stopped.  I looked around, we were parked on the side of the road.  I heard mom say, “It's definitely flat.”  

 We had a flat tire. 

Mom and Dad tried to change the tire. 

It ended up that some-one changed it for us. 

Then we drove to Walmart where they fixed the tire.

 

 

 

 

 

We ate lunch as we waited.  We found-out that there was a nail in the tire! 

 Finally we were able to go to Ab’s house.  

 

 

When we got there, we entered a cool building.  It was the building where you got your tickets.  There was a place where you got to see the important times in Ab’s life and where he walked.  Surrounding Ab's house was an entire neighborhood of homes that were built at the same time as Ab's.   

In SPRINGFILD EVERY THING CLOSES AT 5:00!!!!!!!!  So we only got to see a movie of the inside of Ab's house.  Still it was wonderful! 

 

Soon, it was time to go to the museum.         

 

This is a historic train station that was across the street from the museum.                                                         

 

 When we entered  there was a replica of Ab’s family.

The museum also had a play-space, what life was like in the white house, Ab’s life as a boy, picture gallery, and much more! 

 

My favorite part was ghosts of the library.  It was a show of holograms that walked, talked, and acted.  Our host was the flag carrier in a battle. He was a ghost!         

 

 

The city of Springfield had many St. Patrick's Day activities going on.

 

                     

 

 I had a wonderful trip to SPRINGFIELD! I would be happy to do everything over again!  Flat tire and all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the flow of life

 

 

The creek was a matter of envy.  Every kid wants a creek in their back yard right.  Even Matthew, as old as he is, still wistfully tells me what fun he would have had with a creek in his backyard.  I love that my kids get to enjoy it now and that my grandfather did so long ago.  He had a club house down there and would roast chickens that his gang had "confiscated". 



This creek has seen many generations.  but it never ceases.  just keeps on flowing.  that's how life is.

  

 

 

 

I am grateful, everyday,

that I get the privilege of being a mother to these two beautiful souls as the flow of life propels us forward.

It brings me such Joy.

 



I understand with such depth that the flow of life will continue and they will not always be right by my side.

I see how much they have changed in only just a year. 

They are progressing with this flow. 

 

They are older, wiser, more independent.

  

They are moving forward with this flow of life no matter how that tugs at my heart. 

I understand that I cannot stop the movement of this flow and do not try,

though I sometimes long to.

I only sigh, and say I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be with them in this flow of life
and that we are forever a part of each other.

I am comforted that someday we will emerge at the same Life Spring.  

 

 

And Joy will once again be with me; a mother's companion.

 

 

I will again be grateful

that the flow of life brought us together, as mother and child,

and rejoice that we experienced those precious moments in time. 

 

The best portion of your life

will be the small, nameless moments you spend

smiling with someone who matters to you.

 -Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dance pictures

Just thought I would share Hannah's dance pictures. 

Love .. must always create sunshine,

filling the heart so full of radiance,

that it overflows upon the outward world.
                                                   -Nathaniel Hawthorne

       

To be happy you must be your own sunshine.

CHARLES EDWARD JERNINGHAM

Read more at http://www.notable-quotes.com/h/happiness_quotes.html#e6WbQIyRff4SP6uT.99

 





Practice was held at the church so that one of the parents could set up on the stage to take pictures of all these adorable dancers. 

Boy, those girls sure did have a lot of fun dressing up.  Girls are just like that.

It was so fun to be there for all of their giddy excitement. 

 

I know I am partial, but Hannah is one beautiful little girl.  Inside and out.

 

 

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”  
-John Keats

hummus

I have been posting all healthy recipes.  I figure that if I am going to send a recipe out it should be one that will strengthen both body and mind. 

So, today's healthy recipe is for red pepper hummus.

It is really good.  And good for you.

Ingredients:
1 15-oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 cup drained and chopped roasted red bell peppers
1/3 cup tahini (sometimes I use 1/8  cup peanut butter instead)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (or 1/4 heaping teaspoon of red pepper flakes)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
 
Instructions:
Place all ingredients except for the oil in a food processor. Process until smooth, then add the oil in a steady stream and process until desired consistency is reached.  Chill for at least an hour if possible before serving. Serve with pita chips or fresh veggies or, our favorite, Triscuit crackers.


Bon Appe'tit! 

lucy moments

I allowed Hannah and Caleb the autonomy to make something all on their own while I was working on a moving project. 

I figured they would most likely choose cookies. 
Something sweet and something we have made about a hundred times together.  
Something they could easily do on their own.

Oblivious to me, they chose bread. 
Whole. Wheat. Bread. 

I have to admire their initiative but, man, that wasn't what I was thinking about when I walked into the kitchen and saw this.

They seriously said that this mound was their bread dough rising. Seriously.

The entire kitchen floor looked like this.

Hannah compared our situation several times to the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel make bread. 
Can you remember that one? 

I told her yes, she and Caleb had had a Lucy moment.  A big Lucy moment.   

They helped me scrub that kitchen down.

And then we salvaged that "dough" by adding some water and a little elbow grease.

We kneaded it into a loaf and two bears.

And baked it.

And then we sat down and ate that delicious homemade bread and laughed about our very own Lucy moment.


What about you, have you had a favorite "Lucy Moment"?