Been a tough day…..so I thought recording some blessings would be a good idea!

Late night games in a warm bed – I still didn’t win!

Bookshelves full of books and kiddos who love books.

Babysitting the grand pup. She loves to guard the farm!

A thumb. Make that two thumbs. Never has mattered which one.

The big red stoneware pot hard at work again.

Painting a snowy scene in the woods.

Pj’s that don’t have feet. Cause wearing boots is a 24 hour a day job.

The joy of filling these kiddos with nourishing delicious food!

Collecting things that Tate will need. While we wait, it helps me to do something for our little man.

The library. Makes teaching fun and free.

Treats in a mug. Just because.

The fire. Let me rephrase that. The working fire.

Second hand stores. Cause a certain sweet pea is busting out of the size 3T.

Ahh, those blessings! Still super easy to find!

I need to see my Mom soon, though. Soon.

And I miss my Dad.

Been a tough day, but it was still FULL of blessings.

This past week has brought a new normal.

We are on the other side of constant doctor appointments, surgery, hospital trips, healing, the holidays…..and we are learning how to cope with loss – which has not been easy.

Our days are full here at home though, and have a rhythm to them again that allows us to know what to expect next.

Which means school is moving along!

With a turn of my chair I go from the study of government, to multiplying with decimals, to learning about cranberry bogs, to playing with glue….

….and I am loving every single second!

We “rowed” the book Cranberry Thanksgiving – it is the cutest book! A little late for Thanksgiving, I know, but there were tons of ideas on line when I planned this back around Thanksgiving time.

Science is always fun when you mix acids and bases.

We also made silhouettes because one page in the book is done this way!

Now we are reading Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, so we made some bird seed doughnuts to hang in the trees outside.

During our Bible time, we have been listening to some powerful sermons! Love when the kiddos tell Blake all about them in the evenings!

Since Blake and I had to leave in the middle of the night for Milwaukee, some super sweet newlyweds and their dog spent the night here!

And then enjoyed some morning cuddles.

Jie Jie did a craft with Eliza and Lane while I was away…

During our Friday house cleaning, we knocked out another winter cleaning project! The boys’ room. Ok, then. Note to self: go upstairs and check on things more often…

Addie and I also have been looking for new food ideas. We made some grain-free pancakes with quinoa flour. Quinoa has a very distinct flavor, but everyone gave them a thumbs up!

They made a great photo opportunity too!

It seems in just the last two weeks this little one’s language has EXPLODED!!

It makes us laugh all day long!

Because she says things like : “No problem.” “Just a second!” “I’m Liza. It’s me!” “Sure!” and when we don’t understand what she is saying, she will say “Show you. Show you!”

She is also working hard at counting to ten.

I would say our new normal is way too much fun!! So many blessings!!

How they love to be their Daddy’s fancy shoes!!

As Blake and I continued our drive home yesterday after asking for prayer from you all, we were so blessed!

Blessed with support.

Blessed with prayer warriors for friends!

Blessed with technology that allowed a post to be made, and then comments, e-mails and texts to be read as they were written in reply.

So blessed!

I opened the scriptures as Blake was driving and read. Out loud.

We prayed together too. Out loud.

Then I turned to Ecclesiastes to share something with Blake from a sermon the kids and I listened to this week.

While doing that, I glanced down and saw this verse highlighted….

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

God’s truths penetrate your soul if you let them.

Thank you, Lord, for this timely truth.

We stopped along the way for this yumminess! Sipped it the rest of the way home.

The scenery was beautiful, even though the roads were SO sloppy.

I was so glad I was not the one driving. Country living is so much more quiet! As we headed into the city during rush hour, it was bumper to bumper traffic, and often we were sitting still.

We made it home safely, and the kids and I had a quiet afternoon.

Thank you for praying with us. Thank you. Please keep praying with us! We are excited to watch the Lord move through your prayers, and see how He continues to write the story of our little man Tate!