He is Risen!

Moving comes with hard transitions, a sense of loss, and a lot of work (both inward and outward). But I'm also finding that it brings newness, a shedding of the old (both inward and outward), a chance to bloom anew. So, Easter hits home in a new way this year. He has risen and is alive and wants to do the dirty work of making us new! Not much more hopeful than that and I just feel extra thankful for it this year. 

Went with a friend and her seven cuties this morning and took some Easter pictures. Here is a sample of my faves. You can see the rest by clicking on the "Click here to see our pictures" link. :) 

Spring has sprung!

It's all fun and games until they realize they have to get hosed down before a warm bath! 😳 Still, I think that squishy mud might just be worth it! 

In other news, so much fun having my mom a few hours away. Loved spending the weekend with you, mama! Jen

Little snippets.

(Just realized this didn't publish from about a month ago, so posting it now:)

97 year old GG: " You're such a good girl, honey. I bet your parents don't even have to get after you."

Amelia: " No, I'm just really good around old people." 

Then they both cracked up, and Joel captured the moment and it's one I my favorite pictures ever. ❤️

Another one I love from this weekend in Houston, is of my Papa and Ollie. They have a soft spot for each other, and as dad pointed out to me, are the youngest and oldest on my side of our family. Love you, Papa!

That's all for now. We are home safe, and are snuggled in bed early on this freezing cold night! I just finished reading this gem of a library book (if you like this homesteading/ farm dreaming sort of genre I recommend it), 

and am going to fish around for another book and jump back under the covers (and yes, our house has a very efficient heater, but Joel doesn't believe in turning it up❄️⛄️). 

Jen

Little gymnast and a visit from Mammy.

My mama is here for the weekend (hurray!), and came to watch Jubilee's gymnastics class today. She took some cute pictures (it's a "mommy and me" class, so I'm with her) that I'm happy to have for memory sake. 

Those of you who know Jubilee know that she's a little spitfire, and she had never done any sort of class so I wasn't sure how she would do taking directions from a coach,etc. Turns out she loves it and does just fine with instruction, especially when we go to class on Saturday mornings when the gym is quiet. It's been fun to do something with just the two of us also! I know I'm the mama, but I think she's the cutest little gymnast that ever was:) 

This afternoon these two crafty girls worked on a fun project together- a little fairy doll kit mom picked up today at Hobby Lobby. 

I love that her grandmas (and sweet neighbors and friends) encourage and assist in her artsy crafty love! 

All for now, Jen

Sometimes homeschool "successes" are hard to identify, especially if you aren't using a box curriculum or tests, etcetera. So, I really want to be faithful to record afternoons like yesterday, to encourage myself (and any of you in the journey) as I look back.

Our read aloud right now is Understood Betsy. Oh my goodness, we are loving it! It's one of those stories that just sinks into you- the best kind. Even Jubilee, who listens as I rock her to sleep for her nap, follows along and recalls things from the story. Also, yesterday we stopped on our way home from the zoo for a spontaneous viewing of Cinderella (so good!), and when we started reading Understood Betsy later that afternoon and read about a little boy whose mother had died and stepfather didn't care for him well at all, Jubilee said, " That's just like Cinderella, except her daddy died!" Wow, yep! 

Anyway, in that chapter Betsy and her friends decide to sew the little boy some clothes (with the help of her Aunt). At first the friends are so excited about how thankful the poor little boy would be to them, how he would remember them forever and ever because of their kindness. A gentle question from Betsy's Aunt about whether the girls were giving in order to receive praise or to care for the boy, prompted them to give the clothing in secret. 

So, after we read I rested with jubilee while the twins went to have rest time. When I got up, I saw a sweet Saint Patrick's day card had been made and slipped under the door. I picked it up and saw that it said, "To: Mama From:     "

What a cute and thoughtful extension of the book (and we have been studying saint Patrick this week). Then Amelia rushed in to show me a little outfit she had hand sewn for her doll. Oh my goodness, my heart just soared! 

This. This literature based, gentle learning  life is what I hope for. So many days I feel like we stumble along, and then a yesterday afternoon comes along to remind me to trust in this rhythm of learning we have chosen. Given time and space, kids will take what is given to them and they will create extensions in their life- we don't have to hand it to them or force it. Ahhhh, it made me take a deep breath of thankfulness and relief. 

That's all for today:) 

Jen