He Leadeth Me

Our children and grandchildren were all together last week here in the Springs. Needless to say, we took lots and lots of pictures. Fair warning--this post has lots of pictures that look very similar. But how do you cut out a picture with a little one making the cutest face? So, if you tire of looking, it's OK. Thanks to Kelly and Mandy for doing such a good job with the photography. Don't we have some handsome grandsons?

Caleb is in a superhero stage. He loves to put on capes and other Superhero garb and pretend. I am the lucky woman who gets to be Lois Lane to his Clark Kent. And when I wear my "Snuggy", I am immediately transformed to Super Nana. We often get pearls of wisdom from Caleb when we are in the car together. Not this car, the real car. :) Today, he told Ducca and me that "We are all in God's Family." Now that's what I call a super smart superhero. Photos by Aunt Kelly

If you are looking for a great picture book to use in teaching the following, this is the book for you. Writing Similes Art Using common materials to create art JUST PLAIN ENJOYMENT! Thank you Sally Jordan for recommending this book! Book Cover Courtesy of Follett.org

My two precious children each holding their nephew for the first time. Photo by Mandy

No this is not a left-over photo from last winter. This picture of Batman was taken on an otherwise sunny day in July. Late it the afternoon the sky started darkening. We thought we were in for an afternoon rain shower. The first indication that hail was coming was the clattering on the roof that got louder, and louder, and louder, until it was deafening. This is the aftermath. What fun for a little Batman! Back deck. My poor pot of herbs didn't fare too well. All the plants in the flowerbed that were blooming lost their blooms. The street was filled with marble sized hail. Crazy Colorado Weather!!!

It has been one year since we moved to Colorado. It's hard to believe that it has been that long. We have been blessed in many, many ways during this year. Here are some of the blessings in very random order. We have been able to stay in touch with our friend in Texas. Facebook, e-mail, frequent visits by Karen, and David's continued Texas Real Estate have made it relatively easy to keep in touch. We have been blessed with a wonderful new church home and have made so many wonderful friends there. David has even been asked to be an elder. We left Texas with one grandson and now have 3 precious grandsons. Being semi retired has allowed me more time to spend with them. We have had several visitors come and stay with us and have gotten to see other friends who have come to visit Jeremy and Mandy. David is blessed to be working with Real Estate clients in both Houston and Colorado Springs. I have a new job working with undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Color...

There are several excellent photographers in my family, and I am not one of them. We are having way too much fun with the 3 little guys to spend time uploading photos from all the cameras that are snapping away. But I just had to share this one picture as a teaser for more to come. On the left with the blue and green blanket is Aaron Michael, Jeremy and Mandy's 3 1/2 month old son. On the right is David Sydney, Kelly and Adrian's 3 month old son. Can you tell how excited they were to finally meet each other? The parents and grandparents were much more excited!

On a recent Antiquing trip, I found this antique washstand. I had seen and admired them for a while and had even priced some reproductions, but when I found this one at a really good price and in great condition, I decided to get it even though I didn't know what in the world I was going to do with it. After thinking about it for several days, I decided to put it in my kitchen..... and fill it with some of the different fabric treasures I have collected through the years. These are crocheted doilies, collars and other things that my Grandma Bergeron created with such love for all of her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Oh, how I wish she was still here so that her great-great grandchildren could snuggle in her wonderful lap. One of the treasures that I found was this apron that my mother, Sweetie, helped Kelly and Jeremy make for me one Christmas. This is Jeremy's picture (he was 2 1/2). Kelly's picture (5 1/2) It was made it 1981. It's hard to beli...

This will by my last post about this amazing book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison. I hope I have motivated you to read it. I can't wait to get my hands on her other book, Mitten Strings for God . ENJOY! Book Cover Courtesy of www.follett.org Ms. Kenison actually quotes Clarissa Piniola Estes in this part of the book. So I guess I am actually quoting two very wise women. "Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest word, the tiniest generosity, can cause to be set in motion...Mend the part of the world that is within your reach." from The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison, page 289

Book Cover courtesy of www.follett.org "The secret of contentment, as I've come at last to know, is not in getting what I want. It's not about being in the perfect place or having just the right sort of life. Contentment and grace may just be two sides of the same coin. And they are both mind whenever I remember to stop, look around, and appreciate where I already am and what I already have." from The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison, page 269

(Book Cover Courtesy of www.follett.org) "...there is no such thing as a charmed life, not for any of us, no matter where we live or how mindfully we attend to the tasks at hand. But there are charmed moments, all the time, in every life and in every day, if we are only awake enough to experience them when they come and wise enough to appreciate them." from The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison

This is what my back deck currently looks like. BORING!!! I just cannot decide on what kind of furnishings I want there. That's where you come in. I desperately need your help. Maybe it would help if I tell you what I don't want! I don't want traditional patio furniture. There is nothing wrong with traditional, but I want something different that is unique and me. Here are some things I have considered. A old fashioned picnic table Shabby Chic Patio furniture (I already have a green rusted chair that David is not so fond of) Antique School Desks painted with outdoor paint A glider! OK--what do you think? I need some of your great ideas! Oh, I almost forgot! I don't want to spend a fortune. And one more thing--I'm more of a "back porch" kind of girl than a "deck" kind of girl!

(book cover courtesy of www.follett.org) I just completed a most amazing book. As you know, I LOVE to read, but often I read a book, enjoy "getting away" from it all in the words on the page, and then promptly forget the book. The Gift of an Ordinary Day , however, will stay with me forever. It made me want to slow down and enjoy life more. Over the next few posts, I would love to share a few quotes from the book. I hope you enjoy the quotes and perhaps will want to read the book written by Katrina Kenison for yourself. "When the long bath was done, I dried my son's pruney skin, his body as familiar to me as my own. I rubbed his head, smoothed sesame bath oil into his thin shoulder blades, down his brown arms, and legs, bundled him up in a huge towel, wrapped him in my arms, and kissed his damp forehead. This is it, I thought, the absolute sweet spot of motherhood--these unguarded moments of pure intimacy, love assumed, the delicious hour when time slows at the end...

A couple of weeks ago, we had a delightful visit from my brother Terry and his wife Gail, and my sister Kim and her husband Randy. WARNING! This post contains many, many photos, but we were all taking pictures and it was just too hard to choose. If it makes you feel any better, I probably did NOT include about 200 or more pictueres. Caleb and his dad and Ducca enjoying a burro ride at the Royal Gorge. Terry and me taking a break at the Garden of the Gods hike. Garden of the Gods Aaron enjoyed the Royal Gorge, but most of all his lunch. You notice that David didn't pose with the Texas flag on the Royal Gorge Bridge. Each state had a flag. Everyone stayed at the Gibson hotel, but we strolled the beautiful grounds of the Broadmoor. The weather was gorgeous except for the first day when it was a little chilly. Can you tell we liked the Garden of the Gods? We went twice. Obviously Terry and Kim are stronger than their big sister. Cripple Creak was very interesting and a beautiful dr...