Then there was mud...

and this boy had a blast!

Celebrating a beautiful day here on the gravelly road, warm enough for t-shirts and snow piles quickly turning into big mud puddles.  Of course there is still snow in the forecast for this week, but we're thankful for the glorious day today!

Books While We Wait - March 2014 edition

As you know, we are buying a new children's book each month while we wait. Since the original post has gotten rather long to keep reposting, I'm trying something different.  I will still update the original list and have added a link near the header, but each month I will only post about the new book.  If you want to see the entire list, please feel free to click on the link and review the other ones :)


A Gift for Little Tree by Colleen D.C Marquez

This book is a parable about an apple tree that is unable to grow apples and through careful grafting by the gardener grows apples from the other trees.  It a beautiful and unique adoption story, different than any other we have.  The story is longer than many picture books though, likely for 5+ crowd.  My son enjoyed the story but didn't understand the meaning/symbolism.  He was glad the gardener took very good care of the apple tree and that it was no longer sad :)

Link to the full list of Books While We Wait

This dog...

is always there but sometimes left out when I write about our family happenings. 

He's had a long week with extra construction guys here (lots of barking to protect the yard), noisy tools, construction mess, a colder than normal house (windows out for periods of time so the furnace was turned way down), missing furniture, a new a new wall to get used to and some of his favorite sun-nap spots no longer available.

So I may have been spoiling him a little...

Wordless Wednesday: Fun with Connect Four

6 Pinterest Ideas You Can Find at our Home on the Gravelly Road

After initially resisting pinterest for the first year or so, I eventually caved.  It can be absolutely addicting, can lead to idea-collecting instead of just doing, and the temptation is always lurking to compare to others. But here are several ideas I originally found on pinterest that we've completed and enjoy.

Ruler Height Chart (Similar to this pin)
This one was made by my extra handy husband.  I did help with the ruler markings and lettering.  We added our last name and date we were married.

Pallet Herb Garden (Similar to several of the many ideas in this pin)
Again made by my husband :) Forgive the lack of plants on the bottom.  Our chickens apparently like to eat thyme and cilantro.

Re-growing and Freezing Green Onions -- Not really a project but something I learned from pinterest.  I didn't know you could save the bottoms of green onions and grow them again in a glass of water (totally makes sense just hadn't thought about it).  Also if I'm not going to be using all my green onions, I chop them and freeze.  After frozen, I store them in an old parmesan cheese contain in the freezer (like this).


Menu Board (similar to this pin)
This was great project planned by our MOPS group last year.  Basically a wooden board, decorated with scrapbook paper, mini clothes-pins and small boxes attached (jello boxes covered with paper). The two small boxes store slips of paper with menu options and then I rearrange them on the board as needed.   I have it hanging inside the cupboard door where my cookbooks are stored.  LOVE having someone else find all the necessary supplies and the idea!

Give Thanks Blocks
I used this pin which includes the printables for the letters on the blocks to make this cute fall decoration.

Basket of Birch Branches (like this pin)
I have to give full credit on this one to my sister.  She found the idea, asked my dad to save the birch branches when their birch tree was trimmed and then bought me the basket for my birthday!  All I had to do was kindly as my husband to cut the branches to length and arrange.  I ended up using the fake berry garland instead of greens and lights, because it was what I had.  It also meant I could use it all winter instead of seeming like Christmas decor.

Of course many ideas for Christmas presents last year and this year were also found on pinterest (including the ruler above).  I also use it routinely to find new recipes and kids activities. 

What is your favorite thing to find on pinterest?

Feel free to follow me on pinterest.

Scattered Saturday Scribbles

I wanted to sit down to post an update but my mind is muddled so this post will be a bit random, but that's OK.  It's my blog!

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday we attended the Family Ash Wednesday service at church (kiddo and I).  It was the first time I'd taken him to an Ash Wednesday service.  I wrote the following in my journal:

Having him there [at the service] impacted me more than I anticipated.

Hearing the pastor say "ashes to ashes" while marking his forehead reminded me of his mortality, his inner-Adam, and the big job I have to help him better understand the work of salvation Christ did for him.

Looking down our row and seeing all those young faces with ash made my heart catch.

And then the pastor said something that made tears come to my eyes.  He reminded us that life is uncertain.  We have no guarantee that the those who attended service with us on this Ash Wednesday will still be around to attend next year.

My son may not have understood everything that was going on around him, but God had him there for a reason...

Posts and Remembering

It has been one year since we said good-bye to my grandpa.  I still can't read the post without tears.  He is missed.  Here's a second post inspired by the old barn on my grandparent's barn that I wrote.

The most popular post in the last month has been the one detailed our son's Lego Birthday Party from when he turned 4. Maybe that means I should finish the post I started about his Super Hero Party :)

The first letter I posted to our future child still remains my favorite adoption related post and continues to get quite a few hits a month which makes me smile.  I hope it shares our heart.


Home Improvement Here We Come...
We've been taking a few extra trips to home improvement stores, fireplace stores, and browsing pinterest for decorating ideas... why?  Because we have a home remodel project planned for this spring.  New siding, windows, and major changes to our family room (adding a wall, replacing the fireplace, new flooring, lighting, etc).  I think we have most of the big decisions made but there's still plenty to figure out.  Should be interesting!  Note to self: take BEFORE pictures


Adoption Update
This afternoon I've started working on our homestudy renewal paperwork while Dad and kiddo are at a birthday party... Besides the large pile of paperwork, there will also be a repeat of background checks, fingerprinting (hmm don't think they've changed in the last year), dr appts and a meeting with our social worker.  It will certainly keep us busy for the next month or so!  Another reminder though that we are nearing the 2 year mark of our wait.  I know with certainty that any child God adds to our family is worth the wait!

Can the camera catch me?

This is what happens when I get my camera out... this five year old thinks he needs to race around to see if the camera (and mom) can catch a shot that's not blurry.

Photos and Being His Mom

I had a little extra time so I took a favorite pic from our Florida trip and added some motherhood quotes to it.  I guess I've been pondering how blessed I am to be a mom and the big responsibility it is to parent.  So take a moment to think about the hands you hold, the hands that have held you, the hearts/lives you impact, and those that have impacted you.

If you follow me on Facebook, you've already seen my favorite of these but wanted to post them here too.  (I used picmonkey.com to add the quotes quickly)  What do you think?  Is there another quote I should try?  What is your favorite {free} photo editor?

This is how I'm surviving this bitter cold here on our gravelly road... pondering motherhood and looking at photos of warmer days :)