It looks like I dropped of the blogging radar around June or so. I don't know why. It's not like the thoughts of posting ever left my head. It's just that the posts never left my head. Anyway, I do have a few things to share.
First, I accidentally read a delightful book this summer. (By accidentally, I mean I did not go into the store to buy this book, and it was not the book I thought it was when I bought it.) Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, by Lynne Truss is fabulous. It is above my head in wit and creates a certain insecurity that is hard to escape as you look and laugh at the many misunderstood applications of our punctuation and resulting outcomes. She calls for all sticklers to unite and to speak out against such atrocities! (The title, by the way, refers to the activities of a panda. He eats shoots and leaves. Or does he eat, shoot and leave? See the difference that comma makes? Great, huh?!) She also has two children's books: Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference and The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why You Can't Manage Without Apostrophes. Just great.
OKLAHOMA
In July we decided to bond with our small group from church a little and spend a weekend together in the woods of Oklahoma. And a-bonding we did do. Matthew shouted and cried until the wee hours of the morning. Clay and I were on the bottom bunk of a full-sized double bed. Margo and Andrew were on top, while Matthew was put in the pack-n-play, where he did not want to be! We all finally got to sleep and enjoyed ourselves the rest of the trip.
In July we decided to bond with our small group from church a little and spend a weekend together in the woods of Oklahoma. And a-bonding we did do. Matthew shouted and cried until the wee hours of the morning. Clay and I were on the bottom bunk of a full-sized double bed. Margo and Andrew were on top, while Matthew was put in the pack-n-play, where he did not want to be! We all finally got to sleep and enjoyed ourselves the rest of the trip. We took a ride on horseback through the woods, rode a little train through the woods, and eventually walked through the woods too. We made smores over the open fire and generally had a good time. And to make the trip official, we brought home one tick!
The best line was from a little girl on the trip. We took a small train ride through the woods and saw a deer along the way, which was pointed out and discussed. One adult asked the little girl, "Oh, you saw a deer on the train?" To which she replied, "Uh, . . . no. There was no deer on the train. He was in the woods." Got to love those kids.
THE BRYANSES' COMMISSIONING SERVICE
THE BRYANSES' COMMISSIONING SERVICE
Casey and Renea Bryans are dear friends who are going to Quito, Ecuador to serve as missionaries with Youth World ministry, as soon as their house sells. They are a precious family following God's call on their lives. It has not been, nor will it be, an easy journey for them. It is a privilege to be on this journey with them, and we were thrilled to be a part of their church's commissioning service.SWIM LESSONS and FEED THE HORSE
No fear, that little one!
Just a beautiful place! Who wouldn't love jumping waves at the beach, swimming at the pools, riding bikes through the development, hanging out with family, and visiting the Sugar Shak on a regular basis? We certainly did. Even the rain couldn't keep us from having a good time. The home school mom in me couldn't help catching a crab in the water to study for just a minute. And just so you know, crabs really do not like to be fondled, and they really do pinch the snot out of you with those claws. (I speak from experience.) But, we caught it and looked at it! We also caught a Sea Hare. The sea was rough that day, my friends! And I just had to take a picture of the HUGE spider that guarded the sidewalk close to our house. It was at least 3 to 4 inches big. Look at the dinner sitting next to him. Yuk!
The 13-1/2 drive in the car was worth every minute!
