Lunch and Recess

Two things (of many) I love about homeschooling...

1. Lunch with my kids.

Trying to be less disposable round here, I picked up these stainless steel straws. We love them. They feel very fancy!



2. Lots of time to play and be outside on these perfect May days.

Boca Grande : 1000 Gifts

We arrived home yesterday from a beautiful week in Florida. Feeling a little dreamy, and so very thankful, the gift list goes on...

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Sand between toes.

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Jasmine scented air.

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Shells in my pockets.


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Sunscreen.

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Bikes with baskets.

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Sun hats.

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Flip-flops.

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Goggles.

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Ice cream parlors.


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Waffle cones.

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Dinners out.

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Babysitting grandparents.

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The outdoor terrace at The Gasparilla Inn. A beautiful, afternoon date.


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Sunsets on the Gulf.

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Seeing the stars. Away from the city.

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Happy jumps in the pool.


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Sea wet hair.

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Drip castles.

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Sunglasses.

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Manatees, turtles, ospreys, iguanas...


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Buckets and shovels.

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Wind through the palm trees.

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Bougainvillea. Everywhere.

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My in-laws.

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Grandparent love.

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Celebrating Papa's 70th.

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Dinner on the porch.

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Sand in my suitcase.

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Sunscreen-scented laundry.

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Getting to meet a talented illustrator.**

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The view as you fly into National Airport.

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Home.


** As I sat on the plane in Sarasota waiting to come home, a man with a big, black portfolio took the seat next to me. I inquired. And he tells me he is a children's book illustrator. I ask more, and he humbly starts to mention a few books he has illustrated. Hannah is on the other side of me (equally excited and interested by this man). It was Frank Remkiewicz (of the Froggy books, Horrible Harry, some Mathstart books, some Curious George, the Animal Crackers box, etc...). He very kindly pulled several pieces from his portfolio to show us. He showed us the process from receiving the text, to story boards, to publishers' edits. Hannah was able to read through a few books he is working on now. "You are the first kid to ever read this book," he told her. My book-loving, want-to-be-an-author-when-I-grow-up, budding artist was in a dreamland (as was I). What a fun 2 hour plane trip!

Shakespeare's Birthday Bash

Hannah and I went to the Folger on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Bard's 446th. Good ole Elizabethan fun... making paper ruffs, designing gold brooches, drawing for the portrait contest. We were able to sit in the theater during a working rehearsal of Hamlet... thankfully, Hannah was there to tell me who was who. : )



The highlight... the arrival of Queen Elizabeth to cut the cake. "God save the Queen!"

Words on Walls : 1000 Gifts

Thankful this week for scotch tape and sweet words in our home, my list continues...


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Her name on her bedroom door. Knowing she is His.

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A message to the tooth fairy from a boy who does not want a stranger in his room... or his tooth taken away.

I received clarification that "I'll" is meant to be aisle... hall would have worked well. : )

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The rules hanging on her door. A well-meaning oldest child.


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That after reviewing her sign, she added the words "and me."

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Valley of Vision. The words I find there are often taped to a cabinet, screen...


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Tracking his long trip together.

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And praying as he rounded the globe.

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The love notes and verses he left around the house for us to find.

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iChat.

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Welcome Home Daddy! Made with much love and excitement.


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Traveling mercies.

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Good news from distant lands.

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Love sent home to us from missionaries.

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The building of His church.

Made New : 1000 Gifts

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears,
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres.

Soaking up the splendor of spring, in the light of Easter, my gift list continues.
Only words to tell of these beautiful spring days. I am without a camera for a couple of weeks.

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Tender green leaves where bare branches waved just days ago.

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Community.

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A weeknight dinner with friends.

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Empty parking lots for bike riding.

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Her desire to bless. My bed made for me.

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Dogwoods.

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Tulips.

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Azaleas.

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Redbuds.

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Spring soccer.

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Monkey bar success.

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When a history book read together translates into imaginative play.

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Overhearing the assignment of roles. "And I'll be the big brother and protect you from the wolves...."

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Enjoying the white space in our schedules.

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A thoughtful post about "preserving life margins."

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Brand new shoes covered in creekside mud. Boys being boys.

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Those freckles scattered across her cheeks.

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His stick collection.

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Handfuls of dandelions. Picked for me.

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Nature study.

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Living in the light of the Resurrection.

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Reconciled. And made new.

Blossoms

The cherry blossoms arrived just in time for Easter.

We spent an afternoon enjoying the blossom-lined streets of a nearby neighborhood...

It's really too bad about those No Parking signs.

Good Friday morning... Blossoms and bagels at sunrise.

at the Jefferson Memorial...

I think we may have started a new family tradition... breakfast under the blossoms.

God's Wonderful Surprise

The resurrection story from one of our favorites, The Jesus Storybook Bible.
(You can skip the first 45 sec intro.)