{This Moment} - Luau Day

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. Joining with SouleMama, sharing a moment from our week.

A Little Hula Action

He wasn't keen on the idea, but he got over it and wore the skirt. Love that kid.

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Passing this along for you to enjoy...

A friend forwarded me this post from Kelle Hampton likening 'fitting it all in' to the Kentucky Derby. Funny... and true.

My fitting it all in works a bit like the Kentucky Derby. It's a constant race of horses that pull forward and fall behind. They all have their turn eventually of running free and confidently from the front lines, but the poor derby announcer’s frantic commentary is always changing:

“And Family Dinners is in the lead but here comes Sir Craft a Lot from behind with Jog in the Morning gaining quickly. Date Night’s coming in at fourth with Alone Time only five lengths behind. But wait! Family Dinners is falling in the far turn while Playing with her Kids takes the lead and here comes Writing at Night moving fast into third while Read for Pleasure comes down the center of the track!” And I would spare you the heart palpitations and tell you the outcome, but the race never ends. And that’s what makes it work. I never have to feel guilty for the poor horse that didn’t get his rose wreath because every horse has a chance to feel the hooves-slamming glory of First Place—even if it’s just for a little while.

read the whole post here

Piano Lessons

Will started piano lessons this month and is loving it. Our wonderful teacher knows how to inspire him... a visit to her famous cookie jar for well-prepared lessons.

I can't get Hot Cross Buns out of my head.

Hannah's Favorite Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

These are good.

This is the last one and someone wants it.

Who can say no to 5 year-old in Batman pajamas?

Perfect for apple season, these are our favorite Sunday morning muffins. It's a variation of our basic muffin recipe. Hannah requested I sweeten them up a little, so I added a little extra brown sugar to the mix and sprinkle the tops with raw sugar before baking.

Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 C flour
• 3/4 C oats
• 1/3 C brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
  
• 1 egg
• 3/4 C buttermilk or sour milk (add 2 tsp white vinegar to milk to equal 3/4 C - let sit 5 min.)
• 1/4 C melted butter
• one small apple - peeled and finely diced
  
• raw sugar to sprinkle on top
  

Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Combine wet ingredients a small bowl, combine thoroughly, then add to dry ingredients. Stir finely diced apple into batter. Use an ice cream scoop to fill 12 greased muffin cups (or paper lined). Sprinkle tops with raw/coarse sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops spring back when pressed.

Clouds : 1000 Gifts

Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves
to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude.
Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life,
not just in the moments we set aside for worship and spiritual disciplines.
Not just in the moments when life seems easy.

If mourning and dancing are a part of the same movement of grace,
we can be grateful for every moment we have lived.

Henri Nouwen on Gratitude
from Turn My Mourning into Dancing

Everything is Grace. My list goes on...

1126
A long Friday morning walk with my husband... in the rain.

1127
Rising early.

1128
Shelter.

1129
Friendly smiles in a not-so-friendly world.

1130
Routine. It's starting to reappear.

1131
Raincoats.

1132
Umbrellas.

1133
New running shoes.

1134
Feet that can run.

1135
Sun in the forecast after a long stretch of gray.

1136
Soup and bread.

1137
The grace to choose joy.

1138
Friday movie night at our house lately - the Cosby Show on DVD - so funny.

1139
Laughable chipmunk antics in our acorn-filled backyard.

1140
The privilege to prepare a gratitude display at our church - a collection of cards recording their gifts. Reading each one.

1141
Being still.

1142
Knowing HE is God.

Mid-September : 1000 Gifts

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY!

Psalm 126:3

All gifts from His hand...

1112
A message I found for his teacher written just under his name. You are so nice Mrs. M.

1113
Honeycrisp apples.

1114
Afternoon Uno.

1115
Their beautiful daughter. Baptized on Sunday morning. Thank you, Lord.

1116
The neighborhood bike gang. Saturdays on the sidewalk.

1117
Days with Peter... only a little sick and home from school.

1118
His first soccer Saturday. Smiling the whole time!


1119
The girls winning their first game with seconds left to play.

1120
Some edges of leaves just starting to turn.

1121
A long coffee date with a dear old friend.

1122
Whispering to me, with timing only a husband can discern, "You are beautiful. I love you."

1123
"Dad, that was an awesome sermon!" Kids who love to encourage.

1124
Dinner Club on the porch. Celebrating the end of four years with a cozy outdoor dinner and tear-inducing laughter.

1125
This video. Introduced to me by a 13 year-old friend...

All Three

Today is our first Saturday with three soccer games.
We're cheering on the Lightning Rockets!
The Angry Birds! (yes, that is the name the 4th grade girls chose)
And Peter! After years on the sidelines, he finally begins Kindergarten Soccer.

Um, sometime today we should probably mow that grass, too.