Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip to Mellon Bluff Nature Reserve......we actually went to a different location for the never ending hike along the salt marsh. I would have enjoyed this more if the littles did not decide to conk out all the way out there. Zoe literally cried all the way back while holding my hand that she just wanted her Mommy to hold her. Mind you little Ella Bella was on my shoulders and I was wiped out too. Kendra was trying to help some but I really did want her to be up with the kids and the guide so she knew what was being said. Zoe finally snapped out of it when she saw an Ox..........a 19 year old ox. We were told that they normally only live 10 years so it was very old but friendly and allowed all the kiddos to touch and pet it. Ella Bella got within inches and decided not to be so brave after all. We got to see wood storks, fiddler crabs, banana spiders, caterpillar (unknown as to type) and several native plants to our coastal area.
Did you know the Indians made a tea out of one plant in the area just to sit around and throw up with their buddies? How disgusting! It was also their way in determining who was the strongest to lead them into battle. Odd but true.

Rest

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

1 Peter 5:8 KJV

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The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 12:9 NIV

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No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 11:14,15 NASB

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Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 RSV

If you have been reading my blog lately, you will come to realize that I have been made to rest. During that time, I have been reading, reading, reading. Books like Faithful Parents, Faithful Kids....... The Life You Want Your Kids
To Live..... The Bible........then I have started and am in the middle of a series by Bryan Davis called Dragons In Our Midst. (My hubby read these while in Iraq and brought them home and asked for more and said these are keepers for our collection)Kind of a Christian fantasy take on spiritual warfare laced with lots of Biblical references. This piqued my curiosity so I picked one up and was unable to put it down for long. I digress some......sorry......but the series is good. So onto church this past Sunday, we learned once again of putting on the full armor of God. Heard it before.....same old story but this time something gave me pause to stop and think. The comment that we as Christians need to prepare as the election is near and we could be headed directly into trouble clicked with me. I personally feel there is only once choice at the elections........the other scares us to death. If he wins he will play a major role in our lives as my husband is military and will be called to do his bidding. YIKES!!!! BETWEEN THOSE TWO.......I can only vote for one with a clear conscience putting aside all personal feelings and after spending time in prayer about it. I have downright fear and anxiety over one of them. So along with this Sunday morning message.......Kendra's Bible Studies have been on Angels and how they are ranked and what we know about them. Her questions and learning have tied right in with my gut that this is a time to prepare while not in battle for times ahead. To me it seems that we are on the verge of a time when we will need to have our whole suit of armor on. As I do not think we will be able to rest for much longer.......... We have allowed prayer to be taken out of our schools, we have allowed the words in God we Trust to be removed from our money, we have moved our government away from God and his directions..no more posting of the 10 Commandments in government buildings...will we continue to move our country away from the things of God. Just remember that although one can spout Bible verses........do their life choices follow suit? Even the devil can quote the Bible!!!!!!!!!!!! are you ready for what is ahead?

Art????????

click on that to enlarge. It distorted when I tried.
Yesterday afternoon, I ran to the store to buy oil and butter to finish the cupcakes. We also needed bread. Zoe and Danielle were both asleep and so it was a perfect time to slip out while Big sister was in the living room working on homework and being quiet too. I was only gone 20 minutes but when I returned this is what I found. Zoe had covered all over the wall surrounding her bed in blue crayon. Back to the store with kiddo to get a Magic Eraser. Tomorrow (Saturday) she will help to clean it up. It is not art if it is not on an acceptable canvas especially when you are in a rental!

Butterflies

Okay after realizing how much we have been in this week and since my B12 shot kicked in. We made the effort to get outside today. Butterflies were everywhere. All monarchs today which is not the norm. We usually have a few others in the mix. I was hoping there would be others today to have the girls see the difference but it is all good. We watched them, took pictures, came inside and had lunch designed like them and then took naps. For after dinner dessert we had butterfly cupcakes. We compared that the butterflies we saw outside were orange with black spots like the cupcakes we were about to eat. Then they named some other orange things. Orange is Zoe's favorite color of all time. Tomorrow we have some crafts to do to go along with this theme as we did not finish today.

quietness

Things have been quiet here....mostly cause I am wiped out. We have not done too much extra learning besides the normal classroom stuff as I have been sleeping a lot. About every two hours I doze off. Thank goodness the kiddos nap that gives me several hours in the afternoon to do the same. On Monday, I saw the Oncologist and for the most part we got good news although he did order further tests to make sure his initial feelings at looking at my numbers, my history and a quick physical were correct. He did say though that I will have to have blood transfusions every 6 months for the rest of my life and B12 shots every couple of weeks to sustain my body from damaging itself since it cannot absorb the iron and b12 on its own. Wow. But it is doable. and the first one will be this week. Maybe I will actually feel like tackling that long list of things to do to prepare for the holidays, John's homecoming and our next military move. Orders in hand and looking forward to a change! Since I love discovering new things and areas I am looking forward to it!

But quietness has been good. I have actually enjoyed telling people that I have backed off and so in so is now working with whatever it is.......FRG, Freecycle, Angel Food, even the church's food pantry. UGH. It makes me tired just thinking about it. The kids have seen more of me. Yes, they saw me the same amount before but now the phone actually rings less and they actually have me for some of those defining moments. Kendra and I have some pretty insightful discussions, Zoe likes to have several books read to her at a time and Dani well she needs someone to constantly look after her (and now I am really here to do so). She will sit for about 15 minutes quietly to watch Dora or long enough to glance at the pictures in a book but she loves to go and do. This time of quietness has allowed me extra Bible Study time and I like that. I needed recharged...... physically, emotionally and spiritually. Quietness can be a good thing although it is SO unlike me. As my very full schedules in the past have shown.

Beach

I LOVE THE BEACH!!!!! For two reasons we decided to head to the beach today despite the fact gas jumped so much yesterday. Not going to share them here but it was just something I needed to do. We of course had extra rugrats with us...Don't we always????
Today we got the experience of seeing not just one but two horseshoe crabs....one even still had the tail attached. It was very cool to see one up close and personal. We spent 4 hours just jumping waves and enjoying the sun. Kendri worked on a sandcastle a bit too. When we got back to the van we broke out our new summer tradition of fresh melon that we have waiting in the cooler for us. It is so light and refreshing and quite hydrating. We love it. I just wish the beach were a bit closer. Not bad though considering our next location will be a bit further from the ocean by an hour.

HowGreenAreYou

hat tip to MorningRamble

Your Life is 68% Green

You live a very green life, and you're aware of how your actions help the earth. Of course, it's hard to be totally green. But when you make a tradeoff, you know why you're making it.

How Green Is Your Life?

Cheerleading

Kendra is cheering for the Liberty County Recreation Department. Here are some pics with her squad. Her coach is my neighbor which is rather convenient and helpful if she does not catch a move and needs extra help. It just happens to be Rashai's mom too....so we know she is a good person and not one to have an issue if she needs to miss a practice if school work is not done. She also stresses school first so we think alike. The littles of course got bored watching these girls practice over and over so they hit the park (15 feet from where the girls were cheering)

$1FUN

Walmart had this clearanced for a measly dollar. Although I purchased it I was unsure of the success it would be with the kids. I was pleasantly surprised!!!! I believe you can hook multiples together which would be even more fun. Enjoy the pics. The neighbor kids saw and heard my kids squealing in delight and came flocking to enjoy it too. The more the merrier.