Abby Goes Back in Time...

Abby had the awesome experience of going with her 4th grade class to Rose Hill, a one room school in Perry, OK. Abby was soooooo excited about going that she could hardly sleep! It was so much fun for her to dress up and "go back in time." She loved carrying her lunch in a tin can, wearing braids, and of course, her prairie girl outfit...It's all about fashion, right?!

Rose Hill School
On the museum grounds stands Rose Hill School, a one-room country school built northeast of Perry in 1895. In schools like this one, students received their education from the first through the eighth grade. The school contains most of its original furnishings, including a cast-iron stove and wooden two-seater desks.

A Day at Rose Hill School
Rose Hill School is not only an exhibit of a traditional one-room schoolhouse from Oklahoma's early days, but also a place where children can learn what education was like when their great-grandparents went to school. Now, fourth grade students from all over the state come to Rose Hill School for an enlightening and educational experience of what life was like for young people who lived in 1910.

Dressed in period clothing and carrying makeshift syrup buckets containing their lunch, students participate in the living history program, "A Day at Rose Hill School." They pretend to travel back in time to become scholars attending one of Oklahoma's early one-room schools. Greeted at the door by a stern-looking school marm, the students file into the classroom and take their seats. During the day, the scholars have exercises in cursive writing, cyphering (arithmetic) with slateboards and chalk, and reading from McGuffey's readers. Scholars also study history, geography, do chores, and play games.

Pumpkins Galore & Owen Turns Four!

In honor of my handsome, lovable, funny, testosterone-filled, passionate, adorable, easy-going baby boy's 4th Birthday...thought I'd share some pics from our visit to the Pumpkin Patch.

This is your new favorite pose...the "hmmm...I'm thinking long & hard pose" :)

We went with his bestest buddy who ironically shares the same name. :)

These boys had an absolute ball!!

There's just nothing better than good ol' fashioned, wholesome fun!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! I cherish every single moment I have with you and thank God daily for blessing me with your life. When it comes to my mothering experience, you are the icing on the cake! XOXOXOXO

Perfect Pairings ~ Deuteronomy 16:7

Roast it and eat it at the place the LORD your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents.

Deuteronomy 16:7

(Our 1st Marshmallow Roast outside...didn't have a "tent" to return to, but opted for a bedroom instead! lol :) )

Fall Get Together

Many have asked to see pictures of the new outdoor living room.

I don't have many, but here are a couple from earlier last week.

We are currently having the buffet on the right faux finished. It started out a dark brown, then red, then cream, and now all distressed (pics later).

Had some dear friends over for a get together Friday night...

The girlies decided to eat up on the swing set :)

The lil' guys at the picnic table

The Big Peeps at the table

After dinner, it was time for a *Bubbly Dip!

The Momma's hung on the couch

A mini fire (don't have good firewood yet) kept hands warm

Found out that Citronella candles don't keep the bugs away...but do serve as entertainment for kiddos

Time for a big, yummy Merritts football player cookie!

Sweet Baby Bryce was an Angel alllll night

So thankful for friends of old...the ones on the left are friends from college and the ones on the right have been with Greg & I from the beginning...we all met when we were just 14!! There's just somethin' super special about High School Sweethearts.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."
- C. S. Lewis

Daddy Date Night IV

My Handsome Boys on their way to "Daddy Date Night" at Owen's School. This is Greg's 4th round of the Grand Event! It is amazing to see how excited a 3 year old can be about something! Shows how much His Daddy is Loved...

Of all nature's gifts to the human race,
what is sweeter to a man than his children? - Cicero (106-43 BC)

Will Rocks the Wedding

My cousin got married on Saturday. Many family members gathered.

Children who had a "talent to share" were asked to be a part of the reception entertainment.

My Mom asked Will if he would be willing to play guitar. Initially, he hesitated in saying yes. But after a quite enticing bribe from Oma, he was on board! :)

It was his first time to perform publicly (since his guitar teacher doesn't hold recitals).

I was so incredibly proud of how calm and collected he was. He brought his own amps, cords, etc. and set the whole thing up himself.

He then played "Here Comes the Bride" in a modern, rock format - of which he learned just this past Tuesday at guitar lesson. So clever! He & his teacher came up with that one. :)

Music is a big deal to God. He not only created it, He desires it and is awesomely blessed by it. Did you know there are over 1150 scriptures in the Bible that refer to music in some fashion?!
It's true.
I was taught years ago by one of our associate pastors that there is one thing that we can give God that He cannot give himself...and that is our worship.
One of the most meaningful ways to worship God is through music. Music allows us to go to a place that is very hard to get to otherwise.
Can you imagine the delight God must get when we sing praises and make music unto Him? What a sweet aroma!
That is one of the most important reasons why we have chosen to have each of our children learn an instrument...we want to grow them into authentic worshipers. We want them to have a venue to praise God in a unique & personal way.

Praising God that He has given us such a faithful & talented son who is learning to be such a wonderful worshiper!

David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments...
II Samuel 6:5

Perfect Pairings ~ Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24