When my oldest daughter turned 6, I threw a fairy tea party for her. Evidently, she has fond memories of it because she wanted another fairy tea for her 8th birthday earlier this month.
This year’s menu was much simplier! We served mini-pizzas from Pizza Hut, baby goldfish crackers, fairy-sized carrot sticks, raspberries and blackberries, ginger peach tea, lemonade, chocolate cake, and raspberry floats.
Here are the photo highlights:
In December, everything seems to come in piles. You know, piles of Christmas cards in the mailbox, piles of presents under the tree, piles of cookies and other baked goods on the kitchen counter. And here in the Frozen Tundra of Minnesota, snow piles up, too. This fall we have piles like I’ve never seen before in the 13 years that I’ve lived here.
It’s not officially winter yet, but the snow piles are already mountains. We’ve had two snow storms (12 inches each), an ice storm, a blizzard (23 inches last Saturday) plus 8 or 10 inches more just this morning.
Thankfully, it has warmed up considerably (30 degrees!) so the kids can play outside. Here they are playing in the front yard on the pile of snow that my husband has created simply by clearing off the driveway.
In most places, the pile is taller than my 8-year-old and runs the entire length of the driveway on both sides.
I took this photo as a reference for my Oklahoma friends and family. That’s an Eskimo Joe’s cup sitting in my driveway. I think Stan Clark would be proud, don’t you?
The deep snow in the yard is a little challenging to wade through, but my little Minnesota girls plow right into it anyway.
The other thing that really tends to pile up around this time is laundry. Oh, all the layers we have to wear makes for double or triple the usual amount of dirty clothes! I better go switch another load!
Today’s quest for a Christmas tree felt magical. All the trees were completely laden with snow. Such breathtaking, verdant beauties!
This is the first year we’ve had to shake so much fresh snow off the tree before confirming it was THE one! It was also the first year that my cousin Rachel joined us in the adventure. Thanks for coming, Rae!
Below is a slideshow of my photos from the quest. Merry Christmas!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
What do you get when you combine 11 inches of surprisingly soupy, fresh snow, one lazy Saturday morning, two energetic girls, one playfully productive dad, and one plastic shoe box?
A snow fort!
I hestiated to go out in the snow storm with my camera, which did get a little wet. But it was good that I shot these pictures when I did because a few hours later the snow fort collapsed. So sad. We still have several inches of snow on the ground.
And lots of chilly memories!
It’s a dull, cloudy November day. Outside everything looks brown or gray. I could easily feel gloomy today. Instead I choose joy because today, joy is reading stories to eager little ears. Joy is tickling someone I love with feather. Joy is an impromptu pizza party. Joy is sharing everyday moments with friends who brightly shine Jesus’s love.
Here are some little online blessings — 5 Star Links — that I want to share with you. I hope they bring you joy today.
1. A timely lesson for the upcoming season — 5 Keys to Christmas Joy
2. Encouraging words — a lovely printable: 10 Point Manifesto of Joy for Parents
3. Help in memorizing God’s Word: Verse Card Maker
4. Buttery, Flaky, Buttermilk Biscuits — I tried out this new recipe earlier this week, and it will make you sing. Not that you should ever sing with food in your mouth…
5. But if you do feel musically inclined, may I suggest humming this catchy song: Oh, Happiness by the David Crowder Band? I’m completely in love with it! The upbeat tune is a remedy for my Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Blessings on your Friday!
It had been four years. Four busy, long years since I had sat in the same room with my daddy and my big brother. We had all seen each other separately now and then, but not once had the three of us gathered together.
Four years is much too long to stay scattered in three states, especially when there are little people with whom you want to share your family ties.
So last month, our families reunited. We drove south all day, and they flew southeast all day, and then we all drove east four more hours to the Ozarks. There ten of us gathered to enjoy the fall. One sweet and handsome nephew, who now towers over me at 6 foot-something, was unable to join us. We missed you, Devin!
My parents used to take my brother and me to the Ozarks to enjoy Silver Dollar City when we were kids. We’d ride the bright red train — which always gets held up by redneck outlaws part-way through the trip. We’d drink ice-cold Sarsaparilla, bounce crazy on the swinging bridge, and stumble our way through Grandpa’s House — laughing out our disfigured reflections. Then we’d eat far too much salt water taffy and come home with extra special treasures like shiny cap guns and floppy hand-made rag dolls with yellow yarn braids. Silver Dollar City is a wonderful place for making memories together no matter your age.
It’s hard to recapture old childhood memories, of course, but we created new ones as we all twirled in the tea cups.
The cousins stumbled across the swinging bridge together and made it safely to this spot near the flour mill.
Daddy somehow convinced me to ride some rides I know better than to ride. He’s a completely different person when he has to wear his ball cap backwards. Who knew?
Daddy and I were hamming it up — it’s just a kiddy-sized rollercoaster.
My brother’s family looked calm as they waved to the camera.
Later I followed Daddy onto this giant froggy ride with the girls, thinking it’d be a yawner since little kids usually ride it without adults. But no. Linnea and I somehow got the freakishly high-bouncing frog. Whoah, Froggy! Even my engineer husband later confirmed that our particular frog was mechanically off kilter. Or something technical like that.
Part of what makes Silver Dollar City so unique is the opportunity to learn up close how things were made in the 1800s. With glass-blowing, candy-making, candle-dipping, pottery-throwing, wood-working and blacksmithing craftsmen all strutting their stuff — the whole family can learn a lot!
The girls dipped candles in the hot, colored wax — making something special to bring home and add to their collection of treasures.
Families are a collection of treasures, too. It’s stressful when loved ones are scattered across the country, but I think you treasure them that much more when you are finally all gathered up in one special place. I’m so thankful for my daddy and my big brother and the memorable time we shared in the Ozarks. I love you!
re-posting from 2010
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20
Kids in costumes can be cute, yes. But Halloween really can be annoying.
I have many fun childhood memories of Halloween. As an adult, though, I’ve never really been a fan of the day and all the scary, gross stuff that comes with it. I especially dislike all the scary, gross stuff invading the aisles of nearly every store I frequent. Unexpectedly bumping into creepy, bloody costumes and decorations tends to wig out my kids while we are shopping. And isn’t the world dark and scary enough already? Must our culture go to such lengths to delight in fear?
In our small-town neighborhood, more than a hundred trick-or-treaters come knocking on our door every year. They come early and they come often. It’s a lot of candy. It’s a lot of door-answering. It’s a lot of scary costumes! Sometimes my daughters get spooked, run away and hide.
Every year I’m tempted to be annoyed by Halloween. I’m not spooked, but I am tempted to run away and hide myself. I’m tempted to buy no candy, turn off all the lights and pretend to be gone. It’d probably be easier to hide. It’d be cheaper for sure.
But then I am reminded to make the most of every opportunity.
Ephesians 5: 15-17 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
How often do we have 100 kids knocking expectantly on our door? Would I be foolish to run away and hide? What is the Lord’s will on Oct. 31?
It’s the same as any other day: Love God and love your neighbor.
Neighbor. Oh, the very word reminds me of all those unique little faces that come knocking on the door — some sweet, some scary, some goofy, some painted, some masked, some friendly, and some unfamiliar. Each one is my neighbor. Behind every mask and under every hat, wig and cape is a person God created, a person God loves — and most importantly — a person God calls me to love as I love myself.
Galatians 5:14 says, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “
What’s more, in Acts 26:17, when the Lord first speaks to Paul (then Saul) on the road to Damascus and calls him to be a missionary, He says, “…I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ “
So the Lord’s will is that I use this day, this opportunity, to love my neighbor and to fight fear with faith by shining God’s light into a dark world.
But how exactly?
Well, this is how is looks in our family this year. We offer candy to satisfy the neighbor’s sweet tooth, but we also offer the One who can forgive their sins and satisfy them with His unfailing love.
We turn on all the lights. We let the kids dress up in innocent costumes. We encourage them be friendly and kind to our neighbors. We answer each knock. We give out candy. We give out Christian tracks. And later we pray for each child — big or small — who came knocking. We pray that they read the little books we gave them. We pray that they hear the voice of the Savior as He knocks at their doors. And we pray that they open the door and let Him in.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20
Laurel’s week was full of high-flying, High-five! moments.
1. On Tuesday, she had her very first piano lesson. High-five!
Prior to the lesson, which was at 3 p.m. with Miss Amanda, Laurel was very, very excited. I was certain she couldn’t possibly be that excited about anything else ever.
I was wrong.
After her piano lesson, Laurel was even more excited. I literally had to give her a long hug to restrain her from possible accidental self injury. She was that excited.
She loves Miss Amanda. She loves her new book. She loves practicing her song. And she loves music.
2. On Wednesday, after her reading lesson, I told Laurel I thought she was ready for the Bob Books. High-five!
Older sister Linnea fondly remembers these books in great detail, even though it’s been three years since she last read them — and so she had created for Laurel an intense curiosity about the books several weeks ago. Needlesstosay, great anticipation preceded this literary milestone.
3. Laurel immediately fell in love with the Bob Books. High-five!
She read two of them right away and two more later that day. She carried four of them around all day and even read them in the car!
4. Wednesday evening was Parent Night for Awana Cubbies. High-five!
Both Mom and Dad “shadowed” Laurel throughout the evening as she went from crafts to puppets to coloring to snacks to songs and to story time. Not only did she earn Lov E Lamb patch for her vest, but she also was selected as flag bearer during the Pledge of Alligence. I’m pretty sure her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. (Photo courtesy of my hubby’s cell phone.)
5. After Awana, we picked up and installed a headboard for Laurel’s bed. Don’t ask me why her bed didn’t already have a headboard. I really have no idea and only vaguely remember moving her to a big bed. Was she 2 or 3? I don’t recall. But evidently,when you are 5, receiving any furniture — even very dull furniture — in one’s bedroom is exceptionally exciting, especially when it is late at night.
6. Thursday morning was Laurel’s dance class, during which Miss Desiree had all the girls act out a very lively and imaginative fairy dance adventure. High-five!
Only a few days before Laurel had seen the new Tinkerbell movie, and she and Linnea have been fairy-crazy all week. Hooray for dance instructors who are completely in step with what little girls love to daydream about.
7. On Friday morning, Laurel launched construction on the Starlight School spaceship. High-five!
She busily glued buttons on the control panel and helped me tape together cardboard, styrofoam and aluminum foil. Later, Linnea joined the fun. Together they made a space mural as a backdrop for their intergalactic playtime inspired by the book Regards to the Man in the Moon. The mural even has glow-in-the-dark stars. Like any professional astronauts, they packed extra fuel, food, flashlights, a camera, two healthy imaginations and two Tinkerbell dolls.
When you are 5, that’s a High-five! kind of week.
Oh, LORD, the heavens declare Your glory. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring Laurel this week as she studies the stars, learns how to read, hides Your Word in her heart, praises You with dance, and learns to make joyful noises for You on the piano.
Linnea will be turning 8 before we know it, so here’s an exclusive interview with her.
What verses are you reciting? John 3:16, John 4:14, Psalm 147:5, and 1 Corinthians 15:3
What else have you recently learned to recite? The Goops by Gillette Burgess
What are your favorite books? The Boxcar Children books, Betsy Tacy books, and my new children’s dictionary
What is your favorite Bible story? Moses and the burning bush
What is your favorite movie? Alladin
What is your favorite food? raspberries and Pizza Hut breadsticks
What is your favorite part of mealtime? prayer
What is your favorite animal? horse
What is your favorite thing to say? “This tastes so refreshing!”
What are your hobbies? scrapbooking, photography, making paper gifts, reading
What do you do in your spare time? play piano, ride scooter, ride bike, swing, and do funny shows for my sister
What songs do you sing? “Away in a Manger” and “The American Bugle Call”
How high can you count? To about 1,000 probably
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? I’d go to Florida to pick up sea shells. Even though I have already been there, I still want to go again because it was really fun!
Besides being tickled, what makes you laugh? Laurel’s funny faces, knock-knock jokes, funny stories, and — in the Boxcar Children books – Benny’s peanut butter, banana and mayonnaise sandwiches!
What are your favorite colors? blue, purple and hot pink
What is your favorite game? Twister
What are your favorite subjects in school? spelling, language lessons and math
What are your favorite extra-curricular activities? art and Awana
What is your favorite new thing in 2nd grade? language lessons and my puzzle book
Who are your best friends? Laurel, Lila, Grace, Evie, Vanessa, Chloe, Anders, Annika, Noah, Jacob, Isaac, Naomi, Ada, Samantha and Kelsey
What do you like the most about homeschooling? snack time
What do you like the least about homeschooling? handwriting
If you could live anywhere besides Minnesota, where would you live? Florida
What characters do you like to dress up as? fairies and bunnies
1. Be inspired and encouraged to hide God’s Word in your heart! Read Why Memorize Scripture by Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.
2. Get help answering that nagging “What’s for dinner?” question! Check out these meal planning resources from Jolanthe at No Ordinary Moments.
3. Early bird or night owl? This Proverbs 31 Devotional by Rachel Olsen may completely change your perspective on when the day begins!
4. Make the most of every opportunity! Hand out these tracks with your treats on Oct. 31!
5. GirlTalk shares an unfailing resource for when we moms are at wits’ end with our children.
And I really do know how to count to 5. But here’s a bonus link — let’s just call it dessert!
Dessert. Single Serving Pie in a Jar. Adorable and delicious. Need I say more? (Thanks, Tiffany!)
Starlight Writer 
