Insta Friday

I'm linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged for Insta Friday.  Here's my last week in instagram/cellphone photos....no editing, just real life!

 My mom always takes the birthday grandchild out for lunch and shopping for their birthday.  Kenzie just turned 16 and she wanted to go to a mall down the road, so since my mom hadn't ever been there before, I got to drive!  Maggie came along and we all had a great time.  Kenzie found lots of great things...and I finally found a pair of black flats that I like!  I've been looking for quite a while!

 The middle school boys had a game the other night.  Jammer was taking a water break in between quarters.  It was a game where everyone got lots of minutes.  One of the boys looked over at Jammer and said, "This is so much fun!"  Gotta love that!

This is Sunny.  He showed up in our yard the other day...just wandering around looking so cold and hungry.  We brought him in, fed him and warmed him up.  He had a tag with a phone number on him so we called and he was returned to his owner.  We were sad to see him go, he was a sweet boy.  Molly wasn't so sure about the whole thing,  she kept sniffing and sniffing long after he was gone.  

 Jammer has been under the weather all week with a cold.  But even when he's sick he still finds some inner energy to create.  He made this fires of Modore (from Lord of the Rings) one day.  He rigged up some little lights to give it cool detail.  When he called me down to see it, the room lights were out and he had Lord of the Rings music playing!  He's pretty amazing.  

Molly kept looking for Sunny all week.  I also think she was trying to enjoy a bit of sunshine...the sun finally came out the other day!  I've bee missing it.  I want a big snow storm, but then I see the sun and I think I might be ready for spring!

 John gave me a bouquet of roses for Valentines day.  We had a game that night (so romantic) and I was keeping the score book.  Right before tip off, he walked over and presented me with the flowers and a kiss.  The middle school boys were all clapping and one of them said, "yeah!  That's the way a real man does it!" My son, told me later he was so embarrassed that daddy had kissed me in front of everyone!  Nothing like middle school boys for a good chuckle!

 My mom gave me this for Valentines day...she knows me so well!  It's my favorite coffee of all!

And finally, tulips from my wonderful mother in law...love them too!  Hope your week was full of unexpected blessings and moments to give thanks!  It's really all the little things that make a life so full!

MIA

I've been missing in action around these parts....for multiple reasons, but I've missed being here, so I'm hopeful to be back here more regularly.  Here's a quick peek at what's been going on via my instagram photos.  I haven't taken any pictures with my 'real' camera lately, but I am sure that will be changing soon because basketball season has started and my girls have their first game tomorrow.

For book club last month, we read The Great Gatsby and came dressed for the discussion.   I think the book was chosen merely for the costume factor.  Most of us found the book lacking in positive role models.  We came away feeling sorry for the characters and their hollow, self centered lives.  What we decided is that they really needed to get involved in some kind of charity work and get outside themselves!  Anyways, this is my mom and I with our glamorous cigarettes....mom kept losing hers in the egg casserole!  Isn't she adorable!?

We made it through Hurricane Sandy with very minor damage...it was so good to wake up the next morning and see all our trees still standing!  This one is right outside our front door.  We were praising the Lord for His protection.

We don't celebrate Halloween but we couldn't resist getting dressed up for $2 burritos from Chipotle.  We met our friends (along with about 100 other people) and brought dinner back to the house.  It was a fun night of catching up with dear friends.  (John who was taking this photo was dressed up as a coach....how original!)

 My two sweet girls hacked my instagram with their ever expressive faces.... they are such jewels!

 We got to go over to Morgantown, WV for a football game.  There was snow on the way over and we had every blanket and jacket we owned with us!  We tailgated before the game with my aunt and uncle and 850 other fans.  My uncle tailgates before every home game in a tent bigger than my house.  He and about 15 other guys cook and serve the best food right outside the stadium.  They've been doing it for years...and it was great to be a part of it again.  They know how to tailgate....we're talking flat screen tvs, heaters, tables with tablecloths, and a completely themed gourmet meal!

 The Mountaineers ended up losing the game in overtime...but we had such a great time we didn't even seem to mind the loss...or else we were so numb we didn't know what we were doing...our feet and noses were frozen...it was cold!

 I got another cold and this time I ended up at the doctor's with a sinus infection.  On my way home from the doctor's I stopped for a bit of medicine at Joann's....isn't this the cutest fabric!  No idea what I'm going to do with it, but I couldn't resist.

 Maggie finished all of her applications for college a while ago and the acceptance letters have been arriving. It's been very exciting.  We've been thanking the Lord all along the way.  The final school that she has yet to hear from, won't send theirs until mid-December, but they did interview her via skype the other day.  She wore her glasses (they make her look scholarly) and she did a fabulous job.  I kept peeking in and listening.  I'm so proud of her and the hard work she's put in, but I'm more proud of how she keeps turning to the Lord for wisdom and direction.  She's right where she needs to be...waiting on the Lord!

 I found this scripture in one of my notebooks and it was just what I needed that particular day.  I've been fighting some type of cold/allergy/sinus thing for about a month and I was just so sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.  It was a timely reminder to me that His mercies are new every morning....and that's a good thing, because I've been using more than my share of those mercies every day (along with the tissues and the decongestant)!

I did get a bit of sewing in that I'll be able to share in the next week or so.  We're going to be on break this coming week...we all need a chance to breathe and with all of our classes taking a break for Thanksgiving, we decided to do the same.  I'm planning on doing some decorating for the holidays and catching up on some reading and scrapbooking!  Hopefully it won't be a month before I'm back here...but in case it's not before Thursday - Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  

insta friday

Happy Friday!  I'm linking up my Instagram pics with Jeannett!  These are from the last 2 weeks...it's been busy!  We've been visiting colleges and watching baseball games and knocking out some really good school work.  Hope your weeks are going wonderfully!

 My first born turned 18 at the end of September.  We celebrated her special day all weekend long!  I can't even believe she is 18!  That just sounds so grown up...which she is. She's a terrific young woman.  She loves the Lord and is teachable, kind and so fun to be around.

 She's also still a kid a heart because this bear is what she asked for as a birthday gift!  He is 53 inches tall and he took up my entire grocery cart at Costco.  I had some hilarious conversations with people as I pushed him through the store.  She named him Bubba Griz.

 My brother took all the September birthdays (my mom, my honey and Maggie) and the rest of us out to lunch at one of our favorite downtown restaurants.  The cousins bonded over technology.  It was a fun time just visiting with family and being together.  We don't get to do that nearly enough.

Maggie got glasses. She noticed that her eyes were straining when she was in her college English class...good thing I took her, she's a bit near sighted.  

 I had a bit of time one afternoon and I cut into my fall fabric bundle....sometimes just a bit of creativity is all I need to brighten my mood!

 I'm teaching this year outside of our home.  I teach a history class on Thursday mornings and I just love it!  I've got 10 kids in my class and they are all so wonderful.  We took our first quiz last week and they were quite serious about it.  The girls all put up binders to shield their work from 'cheaters'.  The boys, they didn't seem to care....I kept a closer eye on them! ;)

 My sweet friend and I met for coffee and breakfast....I needed it so badly.  Sometimes a friend and a good cup of coffee is just what you need!

 Here's a sneak peek at my new fall table runner...I stayed home last Friday night and got in some much desired sewing time.  It really was fun.  I listened to Pandora and sewed all evening...with the windows open and the crickets singing in the background.  heavenly!

 My guy is turning into a baseball player.  He just loves it (He's on the left with the black batting glove on).  The dugouts have been pretty nasty lately.  A homeless person has been residing in them and doing other yucky things in there.  The boys hung out on the bleachers with us during the last game. It was fun to see them interacting and just being boys.  

My girl Mckenzie is a chemistry whiz....I was so not sure about how she was going to do in Chemistry this year...I was a bit nervous.  But, she has really applied herself and she is doing great!  We are bonding over significant figures and specific heat and calorimetry problems.  So proud of her!!!

Well....that's the run down of the last two weeks.  I'll be back soon with some sewing and a peek at my new journal!  Have a great weekend friends!

gah!

How did we hit the end of September already!?!  I swear it's only been about three days since I last posted!  I guess that's what happens when there is so much going on.  And we've had a lot going on...but I know everyone does!  This will be a catch up post and I'll be back later in the week with some sewing that was done a lonnnng time ago, but I never got around to posting about.  It seems like I'm not pulling out my big camera too often lately.  But thankfully my love of instagram has gotten me recording some of our busy-ness with my cell phone.  So here's the last two weeks+ of what's been going on!

 The girls and I got some shopping time together...it was so fun to have a day to look and try on and just be goofy together.  We were supposed to be heading to Jammer's baseball game, but because of rain it got cancelled!  The girls were just a bit tickled about that fact!

We stopped at Panera for lunch and my mother in law joined us for the second leg of shopping.  Mckenzie, Mamaw and I could have kept on going, but we lost Maggie after about 3 hours...she just doesn't have the shopping stamina that the rest of us do!

 Our wonderful "neighbor" has opened up a local shop and she sells the best produce and baked goods...she dropped some by for us to sample!  If you're in the area, stop by her place...you'll love what you find there!

 I found a tiny bit of time one afternoon to sit and knit.  I started the Textured Shawl and after some starts and stops, I finally figured it out...It's the perfect football game knitting!

 Our washing machine of 19 years finally bit the dust.  We got this monster to replace it!  My dad showed up and peeked in at it.  He thought he might just be able to take a shower in it, it is so big!  As I look at this picture, I realize I need to hang something pretty over that icky gray fuse box door.  Hmmm...

 So thankful for good coaches in our son's life!  He's playing fall ball (fall baseball for Little League) and is loving it!  He is learning so much!  He's playing up in the majors division and I'm amazed at his fearlessness.  Some of those boys are so big and they pitch so fast!

 My September Word Play finally arrived (yeah!)....with September halfway over (boo!)  It's stitched on  35 count linen with one strand of floss.  I need to be outside in the direct light in order to see what I'm doing.  Not thinking this is getting finished this September....you know what I mean!?

 I ordered this awesome journal for keeping track of our days...it's so fun!  I'll post about this soon too!

 My mom had to go in for a heart cath...they were checking her arteries.  She went to Washington Hospital Center and everyone there was super nice and friendly.  All is good and she got a great report from her doctor!  We were praising the Lord for His goodness!

 The next day, Maggie and I headed out for a college visit.  Her friend Abby came too and we stopped at this fun sandwich place called Which wich...it was really good!  I stayed one night and did some important parent stuff and then left them for the weekend!

It was a good visit and exciting to see all of the wonderful opportunities that are available to students!  We'll keep praying and visiting and waiting to see where God will direct.  This was the convocation assembly we attended on Friday.  The place was packed with students worshipping the Lord and soaking up the message.  It was incredible.

So...that about does it...hope your days are filled to the brim with good things!  I'll be back later in the week with some sewing.  Have a great start to your week!

insta-friday

Well, it's taken me all day to get to this...but that's OK, because it's still Friday and I'm sharing my Instagram pics from the last week (actually the last two weeks).  I'm linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged!

 In the mornings I do my quiet time out on the deck...still having good weather, so I'm still out there and so is my ever faithful Molly girl.  She sits in one of the chairs and keeps me company!

 I'm teaching a class this fall called "Forming of America" for 4-6th graders.  My little guy is my guinea pig...I'm running it all through with him first to get his 'take' on things.  He'll be in art class during the actual class time (it's an academy that we go to once a week) but he's getting to do it with me at home.  He takes his role as consultant very seriously especially after I told him I would show his work to the kids as my example!  He was thrilled about that!

 The girls went in the for their yearly physical...only 4 years late!  There were some hilarious moments! They both got four shots...yikes!  Don't they look adorable in their paper gowns!?!

 This has been my afternoon snack all week long...fresh peaches and cottage cheese!  Yum!

 We spent last Saturday on the lake with our friends at their lake house....it was so much fun!  We went knee boarding and tubing.  These are the kids jumping off the lake house roof into the water.

My sister in law is in the process of rearranging their house.   One of the upstairs bedrooms was stacked full of deer heads....kinda freaky!

 I had Maggie sit down in the room for a picture....it was totally unplanned for those antlers to be right behind her head!  We laughed so hard!

 It is awesome having a teenage driver! They can pump the gas, while you check instagram!  This was on our way to the local community college to get a look at where her class was going to be held...she's a senior in high school but is getting a taste of college by taking English 101.  So far, she loves it!

 My sweet friend made me a set of coasters a while ago...I put them out for the beginning of school and every time I see them, they make me smile!  Hope your week ends with something that makes you smile too!