Here Comes Sandy

We're ready. As ready as we can be.

Peter and Dad getting the leaves out of the gutters Saturday afternoon. They were full again the next day. Sigh.

My husband arrived home from his trip just in time to start on storm prep. The two week trip to Turkey, Cairo, and South Sudan was incredible. I'll post photos after this storm settles and we regain power. Losing power is expected - we always lose power.

We have bottled water and ice for the cooler. The dining room table is covered with flashlights, batteries, candles, lanterns, and chocolate chip cookies (there is no sense trying to weather a storm without chocolate chip cookies).

Off to make pancakes... while we still can.

Take care!

Fall Fun at Cox Farm

Grandparents make everything more fun!

October

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Some color from of our week...

 

 

 

This project remains a favorite.

 

Fridays at the Farm... and the Nationals

We are spending our October Fridays at a friend's farm learning all about the animals there. Today Anna taught us all about "ruminants" and caring for pasture. My kids declared it the Best Day Ever and are ready to pack up city life and buy a farm. It was that fun.

After farm "class" we had a picnic lunch and made a quick stop at Homestead for pumpkins. 

milking goats...

...and doing other important farm chores like moving picnic tables.

Every year. This sign never gets old.

AND last night...
A wonderful couple from church offered us tickets to the Nationals playoff game. It proved to be an absolutely spectacular night of Washington baseball! A perfect crisp October evening with the whole stadium on its feet and a walk-off home run. Wow! We are so thankful we could be there. Looking forward to Game 5 tonight... just watching from the couch : ) .... Let's go Nats!

Thankful : 1000 Gifts

We keep the family gratitude journal near the table and pull it out at meals mostly. Daily we pause and pray that our eyes would really be open. And we try to count the innumerable gifts.

It's been too long since I have counted the gifts here. Sharing a few from our family journal today.

1232
Monday's math lesson made a little sweeter by a quick trip down the street. Three Kids' Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream and a Grande Latte for Mom.

1233
Friends on the sidewalk going to school.

1234
Daddy's humor. -Hannah

1245
Cheerful chores.

1246
That Gershwin (our fish) is still alive. -Will

1247
Questions like "Will there be nametags in Heaven?"

1248
Fried eggs. -Hannah

1249
The Heidelberg Catechism. 

1250
Wednesday nights at church.

1251
Big hot pretzels. -Hannah

1252
Regis and Lydia engaged!

1253
That we are not monks. -Will

1254
Third grade Sunday School. -Will

1255
Cream cheese and pumpkin butter on bagels.  -Peter

1256
Mom getting dog books at the library. (We may be getting close here) -Hannah

1257
Sleep. -Peter

1258
Right before the storm.

1260
Karen and Andrew engaged! 

1261
Books and blankets.

1262
Mousetraps. -Mom

1263
The Nationals in the Playoffs. -Will

Lately

Life lately has been full... quite honestly, a little too full for me. I'm realizing more and more that I need wide margins in my schedule. There has been no white space for many weeks and I am feeling it. This afternoon rain cancelled our plans, and I couldn't be happier for these few hours between morning and evening worship. The Redskins are on, pumpkin bread is cooling, and everyone is resting... well, everyone but my dear pastor-husband. 

A few catch-up photos. No rhyme or reason here. Just a few glimpses of the blur of our past month. 

 

Homeschool Days at the Maryland Science Center.

An accidental picture with Hannah's camera. Inner Harbor, Baltimore.

Backyard football with some creative gear.

This is just one of Peter's many "school uniforms."

Will trying out a new position.

The girls' team is undefeated so far!

Peter is loving every minute of soccer.

We took down the play set - it was falling apart and really not safe anymore. Very sad.

Sunny school days at home.