Kick-Off To The Holidays

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Sticking with tradition, we kicked off the holiday season by shopping for and packing some Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes!

As we got ready to head to town to do this, Addie Mae commented that this might be her favorite tradition that we do every year!

I think I agree!

Yesterday afternoon my crew and I headed to the Dollar Store to get all the supplies for our boxes.

I wish I could have recorded the WHOLE thing on video!

These kiddos say the cutest things – and their hearts are so sweet and giving!

After dinner last night we packed up the boxes and made cards to go inside each one.

It was super fun, and busy, and noisy – JUST the way I like things!!

And with that, the holiday season is off to a roaring start!!

First up is Thanksgiving, of course!

But in our world – first up (hopefully BEFORE Thanksgiving!!!) is a GRAND BABY!!!!

Priorities, folks!

We are looking forward to that precious baby more than I could possibly convey – but we are looking forward to the holidays and all that they bring with them too.

Happy holiday season, friends!!!

When We Look Back

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Do you all ever look back at something that you have done and say “Did I really do that?”

We sure do. All the time!

I know we will say it again when we look back on this past month someday.

“Did we really do all that??”

The best part of looking back and wondering how we did it all is seeing the Lord’s answer to our prayers in every single detail along the way.

We had begged Him for strength, health, unity, protection, safety, organization, for many other things and to make a way for all the details – and HE DID.

We stand in AWE!!

Things as we moved my Mom could not possibly have gone any better than they did!!

To God be the glory!!

We spent four weekends in a row in Illinois.

This past weekend was four days, four states, and four Moschels – but we got my Mom’s move to her new place finished!

We are so grateful for the boys help this past weekend.

We could not have done it without them!

We never really felt without things we needed – like food, a hot shower, or a good night’s sleep!

Well, maybe when a jar of pickles was dropped and we only had a small roll of paper towels and some windshield wiper fluid to clean it up, we felt like we were lacking in some supplies – just saying!

We had the MOST important things though!

We have been getting up in the middle of the night a lot this past month to allow for travel time.

It is such a beautiful time of the day to travel!

We saw so many sunrises!!

And beautiful skies and fall colors!!

We had a bit of time one day this past weekend after the moving truck was loaded to wander around town.

We got to show the boys all of the places that held memories for us – it was so fun!

This is where it all began – almost 30 years ago now – our very first home!

Isn’t it so cute?!

Speaking of home – it has always been and always will be my favorite place to be – but it is just SO much sweeter when you have been away.

I missed my kiddos SO much!

Addie Mae kept Twin Oaks running while we were away.

This girl can run this place better than three of me!

There were all kinds of fun things planned in advance, fun places to go, and good food to eat!

They even had a little cookie decorating party at River’s place.

Another day they helped Clyde celebrate his third birthday with pancakes and dinosaurs!

Don’t worry – we didn’t miss the family party – it’s coming up soon!!

Tate and Eliza made Clyde a card and they were so cute!

I bet you can imagine what we came home to?

Well, there was crying in my eyes.

Because we are just so unworthy to be blessed with children like we have!

First was a delicious meal….and I had not eaten literally ALL day.

THAT SOUP WAS SO, SO, SO GOOD!!

Of course the house was spotless.

And someone had let an elf loose while we were gone!

The little three talked our ears off and showed us all the things, including this darling craft they made!

We found a box of goodies waiting for us too.

We have the sweetest of sweet friends!

I put that Starbucks gift card to good use already and had a wonderful treat while I waited through Chad’s long appointment at the orthodontist this morning!

Thank you, sweet friends!!

Yesterday and today had me enjoying the simplest joys to the fullest.

Home is the best place to be!!

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind and yet it has been so good.

We are making plans to all go and visit my Mom and my brother at her new place, and we can’t wait!!

First, though, we have a grand baby to welcome into this world!!

I’M BESIDE MYSELF EXCITED!!!!

Did you know it’s a girl??!!

I can’t get David, Kayla or even Clyde to tell me her name – so we are anxiously waiting to know!!!

In the meantime, you can find me here at Twin Oaks – teaching Math, reading to my kiddos, playing games, baking some yummy treats, making soup, and drinking all the coffee.

But the best is yet to come!!!!

It’s The Little Things

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Blake and I never really envisioned what life would be like as we entered our 50’s – but I do know it was on both of our hearts that we would continue doing the things that bring us so much joy.

Oh. My.

How the Lord has blessed the desires of our hearts!

JUST LOOK.

Our daughter.

Reading to her niece, nephew, and brother.

I know.

I know!!

Our grand babies.

Addie Mae sent me these photos while we were in Illinois!

Speaking of Illinois, Blake and I spent last weekend there again with my brother and drove away AMAZED at all that was accomplished.

Here’s just one of the many stacks of boxes we made!

We had a date while we were there too, since we were dining alone in a cozy little spot in the basement.

The drive back and forth from Wisconsin to Illinois is pretty!!

In the midst of all that is going on, Blake told me he has several vacation days to use up by the end of the year!

YAY!!

He took one of them the week before last, and he and his crew put grout on the backsplash they installed quite a while ago.

It takes some time to dry, and the finished color as it dries is perfect!

The day Blake was off, we also made an attempt at getting our annual family photo taken!

By our most favorite photographer ever!

Unfortunately, we were missing Grant, so Kay just took some head shots of the kiddos for the blog.

Lane had a horrible, horrible cough for weeks.

It kept me on my knees quite a bit!

There were lots of days that he just could not function.

I am SO, so thankful he is better now!

Kayla shared some flowers she received with me!

They were SO beautiful!

I haven’t taken many photos of our meals lately….but I did take some one evening.

Our food choices have shifted to comforting winter foods!

The bigs work hours are shifting for the winter months too!

They both have jobs that are seasonal and slow down for the winter.

I am loving that fact!!

I found a love note for me one morning.

It made my heart sing!

These gifts of ours are the sweetest kiddos ever.

Blake and I have some big plans in our heads and in our hearts, and we are excited to see how the Lord directs and blesses those desires!!

The BIGGEST thing on our hearts right now is the birth of our granddaughter!!!

We are waiting and more excited than ever!!!

Sweet baby girl, we cannot wait to welcome you to our crazy!!

And to hold you and know your name!!

Lord willing, it will be very soon!

School Days

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As of late I have not been taking photos as much as I normally do.

It really hasn’t even been on purpose either way – but I am grateful for the photos I do have!

Our school days are full, enjoyable, and my all time favorite kind of day!

There is SO much I could say about the blessings of still having four in school at my age…it is just the sweetest season!!

I have been setting up “Creative Corners” in places here at Twin Oaks.

If you put out the invitation, they will come!

Since our bird feeder just got put back up on the deck, I set out an invitation to draw birds.

All four of my crew enjoyed this corner, but the two littles literally played here for an entire afternoon!

Tate and Eliza really love all things paper and pens!

We have been running with a unit on fall, leaves and pumpkins the last couple of weeks.

I LOVE to gather library books.

Books are such a wonderful way to fill our time!!

We also really enjoy crafts here at Twin Oaks.

This salt painting was super fun.

I only know that because I made one too!

Worship comes first in our school day.

So. So. Good.

Chad is really growing in his ability to play the guitar, and is even starting to play on the worship team at church.

This was how school was going on Monday.

They were learning, and we were enjoying our time…..

….I had an idea though – and soon our read aloud location looked like this!

We read lots of books in there with flashlights!

Pretty soon there was an expansion project going on, and they played in that fort ALL day.

These are the best of the days!!

I will admit I was a little beside myself this summer when I would think about having a high schooler to teach again.

Silly me!

It has been SO good.

Chad is a driven, purposeful, self-taught student.

He is doing very well with his studies this year!!

Looking forward to the pace that winter, snow and ice bring…..because there are no snow days here at Moschel Academy!

We have lots of goals for our school year this year, and the Lord is blessing the burdens He has given Blake and I!

Grateful, grateful for SO much!!!

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