September 2016

I think September is my favorite month.  It's been productive, yet, restful at the same time.  

We made some carrot cake jam with our homegrown carrots!  It's a new favorite!

Moses likes to hold onto every last bit of summer!

This is the second year that we got to help lead Monarch Tagging with Tremont.  

Where did FALL go??

Fall is my favorite time of year,but, I feel like I missed it this year!  I cannot believe Christmas is next week!   This past month has flown by.  I don't know how that's possible, though, when most days seemed like they would never end.  It has been so, so rough at times.   I'm thankful for these pictures because they remind me that is has also been beautiful...most of the time.   It's been one of these seasons of wondering why I do what I do...feeling like I'm messing everything up and it's beyond repair.  Wondering what's wrong with me.  Why can't I have compassion when I know I should?   When did I become the mom that yells?  I'm doing everything I tell my kids not to do.  Want to know what I sound like behind closed doors?  Listen to my kiddos.  It's great.  I hate that part.  Ugh. I've been critical, discontent, and unforgiving.  It's been one of those seasons of being reminded that I can't do this on my own.  Adoption...totally beyond me!  Homeschooling...oh boy...what am I thinking?  I've had to repent and ask my gracious savior for forgiveness.   I've had to apologize to my kids more times than I can count.   Both have been beautifully loving.   I've been humbled.  I'm thankful for that.   I've had my eyes off of HIM and it feels so good to surrender everything and know that He is able.   I can trust Him with my children and their precious little hearts.  Nothing with Him is beyond repair and He can use ANYTHING for good.   I am a work in progress and I know that will never end.  I'm just so thankful for grace and that God brings so much undeserved beauty into my life.  He is truly good. 

Fall is Here!

It's my favorite time of year!   This year has been so much different.  Ethan has become so passionate about insects and that has led us to study Monarchs.  In the Fall they begin their migration to Mexico.   It's been so exciting learning all about them as a family.   They truly are amazing!  Metamorphosis and particularly the lives of Monarch's points to God's design of our amazing planet.   We watched this documentary and it we learned so much from it.  

Metamorphosis: The Design and Beauty of Butterflies

Ethan was able to find several Monarch caterpillars behind our house.  Only one survived but it did pupate and eventually emerge.   We were able to tag and release it.  As soon as Ethan placed it on a leaf, facing north, it turned and flew south!  It was so neat!

We've had some very chilly days so I made some homemade marshmallows for the first time (actually the 2nd time but they didn't turn out the 1st time)  and some hot chocolate.

This mug was my grandmothers as a little girl.  

Being goofy, of course!