Worship

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Worship

The church that I grew up in worshiped with songs people in our congregation wrote or music you hear on the local Christian radio station. We had drums, woodwinds, brass, orchestral instruments, guitars both electric and acoustic. It was fabulous! This is what I think of when I hear the word worship. My family in The Lord lifting our voices to worship Him. Making a joyful noise in His name.

The worship that can take place not just in the church but the worship that can happen between friends. Where one or more is gathered there I am. 

Being beside the ocean or deep in the forest the worship that I have with The Lord is sometimes stronger than the worship that can be had in a church.  Come as you are and lift his name in worship and glory!

Lift His name up, He is there.

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2)

Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2)
By:  Diana Gabaldon
FIVE out of FIVE stars

my thoughts:
Again LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. It took me a little while to get into the swing on the second book. Once I did though, ugh... I can not stop singing praises about this series.

the run down: 
With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters — Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves...

Let's Do This

Win The Day! 
Well duck fans we are just days away from kick off.  
Oregon will be taking on Nicholls State University August 31 @ 3pm (CT).

Before all the hoopla I thought I'd give you a little family Oregon vs Oregon State humor. 

In Oregon there are two big college football teams to really cheer for, Oregon and Oregon Sate. Their teams play each other in what is called the Civil War. It's a big deal. Depending on where you live in Oregon typically says who you will cheer for. UNLESS... you live in what is known as the valley. This high spirited area has a mashed up mix of both Duck and Beaver fans. Nothing could be worse to find out in high school that the dude you had a crush on actually cheered for Oregon State, sad day. That is until you have a house of split ties. That's right, growing up our house was half Oregon, half State fans. How does that happen you ask. The heck if I know, but it did. 

Every morning our Mom would have 1190 KEX on the radio. I just dated myself didn't I?  Mom's choice radio station man was Bob Miller in the morning. For some reason Mom decided that if she HAD to pick a team she was going to go with Bob Miller and his fancy song, "I'd Rather be a Beaver than a Duck".

I'd Rather be a Beaver than a Duck
by Bob Miller of 1190 KEX Radio

Oh, I'd rather be a Beaver than a Duck
I would rather be run over by a truck
I would rather live on Spam
I would rather kiss Roseanne
I would rather be a Beaver than a Duck 
 
I would rather live in Portland than Eugene
I would rather spend a week in a latrine
I don't own a waterbed
I don't like the Grateful Dead
I would rather live in Portland than Eugene 
 
For a Beaver is a critter that builds new habitats
and a Duck just gets his butt shot off by guys in day-glow hats 
 
Oh, my favorite OSU fan is my wife
And I really do enjoy my married life
So a Beaver fan I are
So I don't sleep out in the car
Oh, I'd rather be a Beaver than a Duck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


It's a catchy tune I will give Mr. Miller that. Have no fear after all the kids in the family decided to be Ducks Mom did convert... at least she says she did... to being a Duck fan.

That said if you are still on the fence as to Oregon or Oregon State and you are going to base your decision off of a song take these Duck songs into consideration...

Green and Yellw
I Love My Ducks
I Love My Ducks (Return of the Quack)
Call Me a Duck
Teach Me How to Duckie

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Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

Well Nina is here visiting!!! So VERY EXCITING!!! We don't get special visits like this very often. Living so far away from family is so very hard but getting a visit like this, priceless. I don't have a normal show and share but thought I'd share the fun that we have been having with Nina!

Nina's little buddy. Rian will not leave Nina's side.

Nina and her boys

Samual and Nina

Louis and Nina catching up on Magazine fashion.

So this just happened!

Nina's little buddy (that is the best pictured smile EVER seen on Rian by the way).

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out oober excited about.

1. Spelling tests, new job and ice cream, oh my! It's been a busy week! The first full week of school for the boys is complete! Both Samual and Louis got did outstanding on their spelling tests! So naturally we went out for ice cream! Hubby is doing an amazing job at work and getting into the groove of it. So proud of him!

2. MOM IS HERE VISITING!!! I know right! surprise visit from Nina!

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Outlander

Outlander
By: Diana Gabaldon
FIVE out of FIVE stars

my thoughts:
I'm not even really sure where to start with Outlander. I've been addicted to this series for years! my dear sister told me about this series when I was in a reading rut. You know, you want to read something good but can't quit find the right one. ENTER Outlander. HOLY mind blowing amazing! I'm writing this review after I've actually read all the series and waiting as patiently as possible for the 8th book. READ this series, Diana Gabaldon is... my hero... the best author EVER... AH-mazing! Love love love this series.

the run down:
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Last

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Last

I'm cheating a little on this prompt. The first thing that came to mind was this song "My Last Name" by Dierks Bentley.

"My Last Name"

I learned how to write it when I first started school,
Some bully didn't like it, he said it didn't sound to cool,
So I had to hit him and all I said when the blood came,
It's my last name

Grandpa took of to Europe to fight the Germans in the war,
It came back on some dog tags nobody wears no more,
It's written on a headstone in the field where he was slain,
It's my last name

Passed down from generations too far back to trace,
I can see all my relations when I look into my face,
May never make it famous but I'll never bring it shame,
It's my last name

Daddy always told me far back as I recall,
Son, your part of somethin', you represent us all,
So keep it how you got it , as solid as it came,
It's my last name

Passed down from generations too far back to trace,
I can see all my relations when I look into my face,
May never make it famous but I'll never bring it shame,
It's my last name

So darlin' if you're wonderin' why I've got you here tonight,
I wanna be your husband, I want you to be my wife,
I ain't got much to give you but what I've got means everything,
It's my last name, oh, it's my last name

I learned how to write it when I first started school 


When I think of my last name, I think of my husband. I think of the bold, handsome man that God blessed me with. The relationship that we were given. My last name, it's just a name. The man that I married, that's my blessing. With every up and down, every twist and turn, every laugh, every tear, every last one of those memories and moments is a blessing that I have with my husband.

I love him to the moon and back to infinity and beyond forever and ever, amen.
 

Win The Day

WIN THE DAY!
It's just around the corner friends! A new football season!!! I can't tell you how excited I am for this season. 

Have you looked at the AP polls recently? That's right not only is Oregon ranked number 3, but Oregon State made the 25th spot. It's in this blogger's opinion that Oregon is going to do some outstanding things this year. Opinion or just very BIG hopes.... or both. Let's GO DUCKS!

2013 NCAA Football Rankings (http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings)

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Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

The new school year is upon us and that means getting back into the swing of schedules. To help with some of the wildness we made a couple award charts. Let's just say that I'm not the best at these charts. Follow through is HUG! Always having stickers or something to stick up there... it just doesn't work for us. So with a little country flair we put these guys together.

Need:
Manila folder (one folder will make two charts)
Clothes pins
 5 small clothes pins
 7 large clothes pinss
 1 old school pin
Sharpie
Push pins
Hole puncher

What ya do:
-Open the manila folder up. On the original fold line cut the manila folder.
-Take one of the cut manila folder halves and fold. We fold it in half because the clothes pins do weigh the chart down.
-With your sharpie right 'SCORE' along the left side and 'DONE' along the bottom of the manila folder.
-In the top corners of the folder punch a hole. This is how you are going to hang the chart up.

-Take your large clothes pins and write one-seven on them. Both sides! So that when you move the clothes pin from one side to the other the number will show. The best way to do this is lay them out write one side and then flip to the left and write them out again. These are our 'Score' pins.

-Take your small clothes and... wait right here! I made two sets. One set is for our older boys, the other set is for our youngest. You can make these more specific to what you want. For the older boys I made pins for:  Chore 1, Chore 2, Behavior, Homework and Bonus. For our youngest I made pins for: Chore 1, Chore 2, Behavior, Behavior and Bonus. These are our 'To-Do' pins.

-With the old school pins I let the boys decorate them. You don't have to do this, it's just a fun touch.

How the chart works.
The chart making is all done! Now how to use it. Let me really push right here, that this is what is working for our family. Use these ideas as a starting point, change them up, do what you want or need to make it work for you. I think that's where my hold up was on doing this before is that it just wasn't quite working for our family.

-The 'To-Do' pins will start at the top of the chart. When the 'To-Do' pin is done you move it to the bottom of the chart to 'Done'.

-If in one day all the 'To-Do' pins are met you can move one of the 'Score' pins over to 'Score'. When the kiddo gets seven scores they can pick a treat!

Couple tip a roos that seem to be working for us.
-Hang these charts in a spot that the kids and parents see. That way everyone is held accountable.
-Follow through!
-The Treats are a BIG deal! Let the kids get involved with picking out the treats. That way their excited about it too. Maybe throw a couple REALLY BIG treats in there. One of our big treats is: if you can earn 14 Score pins you can get a day out at the mall!


Side notes to this as well... we have only been using this for about a week at our house. Every other time that we have tried an award chart it's died out three days in. I said this earlier and I'll say it again, change this to make it work for you. I got held up on the whole, well this is how so and so did theirs. Change it! Mold it! Make it!

Let me hear how your charts turned out!

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out oober excited about.

1. Schools in! I wrote a  little about it last week in the  13 Questions post. So far all the boys are loving it! Getting back into the swing of school/work schedule is going so well. We are so proud of our little guys. We are keeping their schools and teachers in our prayers.

2. I was honored to ride in the 'Crank Out Hunger' bike ride this past weekend! It was a beautiful ride and got to spend some time with some truly amazing ladies! The organization behind this ride is awesome! Check out more about them at Coldwater.

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Two for the Dough

Two for the Dough
By: Janet Evanovich
THREE out of FIVE stars

my thoughts:
Giggling. I found myself literally giggling through most of this book. Evanovich does a hilarious job making two unlikely worlds collide. Not really a cliffhanger when you know there are like... 18 more books BUT so far I'm planning on reading them.

the run down: 
This one's double the fun!

Bounty hunter Stephanie Pum is still learning the ropes at her cousin Vinnie's bail bond office, so when she sets out on the trail of Kenny Mancuso - a suspiciously weatlhy, working class Trenton boy who has just shot his best friend - the stakes are higher than ever. That Mancuso is distantly related to vice cop Joe Morelli - who is trying to beat Stephanie to the punch - only makes the hunt more thrilling...

Taking pointers from her bounty hunter pal, Ranger, and using her pistol packing Grandma Mazur as a decoy, Stephanie is soon closing in on her mark. But Morelli and his libido are worthy foes. And a more sinister kind of enemy has made his first move... and his next move might be Stephanie's last.

Small

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Small

It was in the midst of a conversation relating to work, I stood there with my hands in my pocket. The German/Irish in me must talk with my hands and I went to emphasize a word or a sentence... or just emphasize a head nod. It caught me off guard. When I pulled my hand out there was a little toy.

Every morning in our made dash of getting ready for work/school/daycare inevitable something is grabbed from home that does not go to school or daycare and must stay in the car. Or in this case it made it to daycare and ended up in my pocket. It was a small toy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles plastic sai. You know that thing that Raphael uses, the red mask one, looks sort of like a pitch fork. I see you nodding now.

Toy, small, out of place that it was, it broke my heart.

I know how fast our boys are growing. Everyday there is a new stepping stone met that we jot down. It's the little things that I want to hold onto, to remember, to cherish. Sometimes though it's like walking from an air conditioned room to the blazing heat outside. When did this happen? When did my teething baby begin to play with Ninja Turtles?!

Sometimes it's just that little reminder that someone so small holds my whole heart and I hold his sai.

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Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

This is a special edition show and share. It's the boys FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TODAY! In Define These Three fashion... 13 Questions to start off the new year!

Rian

My teacher’s name is: Ms. M & Ms. S

Grade: pre-pre-K

My school’s name is: :) Elementary School

My favorite color is: Orange

My favorite food is: Peaches

My favorite book is: Little Critter

My favorite song is: You've got a friend in me

I want to be a: Dad

Things I’d like to learn: Letters

My favorite subject is: Coloring

My favorite movie is: Despicable Me

I’m most excited about: Snacks

My favorite sport is: Playing

Louis 

My teacher’s name is: Mrs. K

Grade: First

My school’s name is: :) Elementary School

My favorite color is: All of them

My favorite food is: Pickled eggs

My favorite book is: Star Wars

My favorite song is: Cruise

I want to be a: Police officer

Things I’d like to learn: All about birds

My favorite subject is: Art

My favorite movie is: Star Wars

I’m most excited about: Meeting my teacher

My favorite sport is: Soccer

Samual

My teacher’s name is: Miss B

Grade: Second

My school’s name is: :) Elementary School

My favorite color is: All of them

My favorite food is: Rice and all kinds of meat

My favorite book is: Inside a Dinosaur

My favorite song is: Ghost Busters

I want to be a: Scientist

Things I’d like to learn: About animals

My favorite subject is: Math and science

My favorite movie is: The Incredibles

I’m most excited about: Meeting new friends and learning

My favorite sport is: Baseball

Praying for all our teachers this year, as every year brings it's challenges. Bless these men and women who are working so diligently with our children.