10.30.17

Thankful for this verse.




Thankful for the downpour that we got! We love seeing all the brown mountains turn to lush green!

Thankful for Tuscan seasoned, steam-able broccoli... yes I have a microwave in my class and yes my class might have hated me for the odor, but Mrs Hebert needed her greens!

Thankful for quick runs to Wendy's when there is no home lunch packed! Schooling together is so great!

Thankful for Hannah's continued love of trying new do's on this very willing momma.

Thankful for these humorous letter boards... my feelings precisely!

Thankful for Auntie T... a sweet widow in our Assembly... she is one hard working lady on a mission to share Christ with everyone she serves at her sushi restaurant at the mall. 

Look behind Harrison- those tracts and Sunday school papers are there for her customers, and she asked Matt to share the Word with her co-worker.

 She has just a beautiful, meek, humble character, that I hope will rub off on me! {and we have loved getting to know her & sampling her sushi creations}

 She is hosting a tract or treat pass out during the mall's  trick or treat tomorrow....

 below is big H pushing her cart around at Costco. She goes all out! 

We are praying for a good response, and we know God will be honored 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... or school... the littles and I were investigating our Pumpkins during the 2nd grade's Family Night 

Hannah and her teacher Mrs Ching

We tried to make this 😍 in pumpkin form 

Thankful for Harrison. Everyday Matt has crazy stories about the drama and sadness that sin has plagued on our youth ...things that 8th graders should never have to experience or feel yet they do... and it's heart breaking and then it's flat out hard to handle as they act like wackos in the class setting- but how can they even focus with all the drama, bullying, nonsense at home, abuse, drugs etc... 

they need Jesus and lots of love no matter how they look smell or act.. ... 

and then I get hard on Big H for not talking nicely to his sibs.... yes in our house that's an issue but I know in the greater picture, he is around so many other things in the school setting that could be way more dangerous and harmful than a few sassy choice words to the sis. Thankful that we are blessed with a son who is strong and can stand up to others, and decline a date ;) & shine his light.

 Pray for our youth- as a whole. Pray for young believers everywhere who go to school, or face friends that may act without morals. Pray hard. These kids are so brave and vulnerable and we need to pray over them with urgency for God to protect them. Just like He did with David... hence me just loving that verse in 2 Samuel...  and so when this kid asks for that weird looking Zombie Frap... he gets it... and it was disgusting, but it was the pure joy he had when he saw the pink "brains" whipped cream. 

Finding fun in the little things. 

Thankful for Fellowship Friday Part 3! It was a Pumpkin Carve- off.... and before that, Keith popped over to take Matt to see the waves. We love having local tour guides!
And then after the pumpkin guts were put away, the guys thought a grill supper was needed at 11pm. I might have showed a little of my not so happy face, but AFTER the food was cooked, and I tasted tested it- I was good!
Gotta love it...honest disclaimer.... I want fellowship & friendship-  but only on my terms.. sigh.... and how crazy is that? As if when we invite others over we get to kick them out {graciously of course ;)} at what seems like a normal hour of 10pm!? Thankful for a night owl hubby who helps me grow to be better.... always ready to help and entertain... maybe that extra hour together was just what we needed ... the food for the tummy might have paled in comparison with the soul food. 

 "Uncle" Nathan Baker is so fun with Hudson!
 {Close friends are normally called Uncles and Auntie here, so we are trying to embrace that.}

 "Uncle" Keith helped Harrison do this amazing batman pumpkin!

 Olivia's purrrfect pumpkin

According to The Today Show, today is #nationalcandycorn day.... Thank you Maria Goff for this post. (She is the author of Love Lives Here... a must read!!)

 Thankful for the clouds! We are ready for Halloween-ish weather, so the clouds are a welcome cool down!

Thankful for Micah Tyler's Song "Different"

I don't wanna hear anymore, teach me to listen
I don't wanna see anymore, give me a vision
That you could move this heart, to be set apart
I don't need to recognize, the man in the mirror
And I don't wanna trade Your plan, for something familiar
I can't waste a day, I can't stay the same

I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
'Til all of me is gone
And all that remains
Is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there's something different
So come and be different
In me

And I dont wanna spend my life, stuck in a pattern
And I don't wanna gain this world but lose what matters
And so I'm giving up, everything because

I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
'Til all of me is gone
And all that remains
Is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there's something different
So come and be different; oh-oh

I know, that I am far, from perfect
But through You, the cross still says, I'm worth it
So take this beating in my heart and
Come and finish what You started
When they see me, let them see You
'Cause I just wanna be different, ye-ey

I wanna be different
I wanna be changed
'Til all of me is gone
And all that remains
Oh is a fire so bright
The whole world can see
That there's something different
So come and be different
I just wanna be different
So could You be different
In me

Listen to it here : Different - A Must Hear

Thankful for Dunkin hosting a fun costume contest! I may be dreaming of winning... a year of free coffee plus cash sounds super legit .... but yeah... 

So the glitter tape is out... and hoping for a Sprinkle fairy mom costume to coordinate with Target's adorable pink sprinkle donut get up for Banana. 

We attempted to semi dress up for an afternoon Trunk or Treat ... Hudson began the costume season as Captain Underpants... but when dress up time came, the spandex outfit with itchy tags and velcro was not happening- so thankfully Target had this Robot shirt that he did love, and no mask or pants, but he can talk like a robot, and so that folks is how this costume crazed mom just learns life lessons...  and big H j.u.s.t told me that he and Matt can dress up on Tuesday!!!!????!!!!🙈 Soooo for this.. he was a baseball player, but hoping for something a little more creative for Tuesday ... and Hannah began the donut outfit... missing is few add-ons... and  of course her Sprinkle Fairy 💟

 We loved how creative the trunk or treat was... each trunk was a bible story, and sadly for Hudson, we had to listen to each story, before the game was played and candy earned... yes we only got through Samson and Moses but hey .... we were impressed by the amazing crowd something like this drew in... and have it saved in our idea bank for one day 😍

 Samson arm wrestling ....

And the success this boy felt. Look that clenched fist of YES and that smile! He did his minute to win it!

 Loved their team work on their Minute to Win it!

10.23.17

Thankful for love notes from my granny. I love her so crazy much. So thankful she is still able to write me notes. I love that she prays for us consistently and seals every card with a cute sticker.
{I love that she wonders when we will come back to USA ;) Yes Granny, Hawaii does feel like a different country some days! }

Thankful for time with God. One big goal of moving to a place with a slower pace was to be able to be still and quiet in the Word more often ... and although we have given up our long commutes and lots of extras out here, time still goes by just as quickly as it did in Chicago {duh!} ...
 so we are getting intentional about listening to those early morning alarms, and getting deeper in the Word... I shared with hubs last night that I need prayer, help and support in two big areas this week especially- Patience and Compassion... {Parent Teacher Conferences all week, as well as some online schooling deadlines, and that time Friday when Harrison walked in at 7pm, and was like "hey mom
 I got a concussion at school"... and it didn't even phase me?! Where was my momma's heart compassion?? Disclaimer- no concussion, just a volleyball spiked on the back of his head for a headache 🙈} Wisdom Hunter's devotion was on Patience... I loved reading the verses that Wisdom Hunter's shared to gain a deeper understanding on Patience... and although I don't hope for any tribulations that will grow my character, I do wonder about the mundane details that I think about as annoyances... as God's way of trying me.
{Interesting that 4 months into living here, my initial reaction to line drying and hanging every ounce of laundry was NO WAY this is crazy, ancient and so little house on the prairie-ish...... now you will find me at all hours out there, with our 3 chickens (sad but true, one is MIA and one we saw in the arms of some teen boys, although we are hoping they ate the chicken, gross but true, out of true need for food and not just to steal).}

Thankful for our sitter! We are so thankful that she lives 2 doors down, is super patient and really into animals. She brings a mini petting zoo for our kids to enjoy !

Thankful for my hunny surprising me with a date! And all that happened on Sweetest Day, which we didn't even know about :)
Eating at a table for two was really nice and my white dress stayed white!

Thankful for Johnny Appleseed's legacy... and for introducing the Hawaiian kiddos to him! We had such a fun afternoon, and there were 9 parents!

Thankful for Hannah's beautiful spirit. I think we are often reminded of this because she is often my hardest to handle too. We are very.much.alike. Insert all the love and all the emotions on your sleeve... The days when she is a hot mess after school. and then we get home and she finds a heart leaf for me, or she writes me the kindest, from the heart note.... yes girl, you are my dream daughter, your big heart, your big doses of spunk & sass... you got this girl and I've got your back forever and always & we will keep sportin' the fake glasses look together. 💗💗💗💗

Thankful for fun baking days & rainbow chip frosting.... and  the leftover frosting doesn't stand a chance to Hudson's sugar tooth!
 This was found, lid off, in the fridge. Who said anything about discarding the evidence 😋😂

Thankful for this water table and for the outdoor space we have. 

My dad had another heavenly birthday .. 10/20. Love these old pics. Don't judge my perm and massive glasses 😆