Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Day 3: Games on the Go (5 Days of Teaching Creatively)

"Having grown up out "East", although I was Nebraska born, I was used to seeing the Pennsylvania farmhouses and barns built in the 1700's. I often felt that Nebraska was a "young" state in comparison. But, after living here for 15 years, I stand corrected. There is history everywhere, you just need to know where to look! " (read the rest of this post at the link/graphic below.)
Join me today, as I guest post about Nebraska on Glimpses of Our Life. Thanks for the invite, Jennifer! <3

50 states blog posts

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Today as I join with the Crew blog hop, the theme is Toys, Games & Puzzles.  When I was a child, we spent many summers driving the interstate between our home in Pennsylvania and grandma's house in Nebraska. We had a fun game we played along the way, once we had graduated from the "Find-the-alphabet-in-order-on-the-road-signs" game. We made a list of all 50 states and then would check one off when we saw a license plate from that state. It kept us busy for hours, and we were excited to cross every state line. Needless to say, we almost never checked off Hawaii or Alaska. Jennifer's blog theme (above) is like a virtual collection of the states. So fun! It is a definite reference for kids who want to learn about all the states. 

My own kids are in the middle of learning all the states and their capitals for our history studies. We have found a host of online games and tools to help with that quest. Here are some of our favorites!


Join us on a blog hop?




©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Day 2: Recipe for Learning (5 Days of Teaching Creatively)



Cooking with Kids: a Recipe for Success


Homeschooling happens in our dining room... most of the time. Sometimes it happens in the kitchen! I love having my kids help in the kitchen. It's so much more than just a mess.

It's where we do MATH:
  • Comparing fractions on teaspoons and measuring cups.
  • Doubling a recipe properly
  • How many servings?
  • Comparing ounces by liquid and weight
  • Conversions to Metric
It's HISTORY:
  • Some of my recipes are from our cultural heritage, like Cabbage Burgers.
  • I have recipes books from both of my grandmas. 
  • We have fun recipe books from civil war camps, frontier settlers, and more.
It's SCIENCE:
  • The amazing reaction of baking soda to vinegar!
  • The different forms of leavening and their best uses.
  • What wonders you can do with a properly whipped egg or eggwhite.
  • Zoology: growing yeast, or making yogurt. Live active cultures!
  • Biology: Oh the meat we've dissected!
  • Nutrition of course. :)
  • Not to mention all the bacteria you are trying not to grow.
It's BIBLE
It's ECONOMICS
It's AGRICULTURE

So get your kids in the kitchen, and be sure you take notes, take pictures, and someone ought to do an oral presentation while you wait for the oven timer. :)



Join us on a Blog Hop?




Monday, March 11, 2013

Day 1: Z is for Zoology (5 days of Teaching Creatively)



Z is for Zoology

On this first day of our series, 5 Days of Teaching Creatively, our theme is "Delight Directed Teaching." This was a tough one for me, at first, since I think of myself as a pretty concrete-sequential type teacher... and while we use a eclectic mix of books, we work from front to back, and usually finish it all. But I've always said I was open to trying new things, and signing up for the Review Crew has really put that to the test!

We have turned over the second half of this school year to trying new things, and being open to following our excitement. It all began when we received our first book for review, the Apologia Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day. :) The kids were more excited than I was to set aside our regular science and pursue this new adventure, but soon we were wrapped up in fun new experiments and I was seeing a new side of homeschooling.

As book after book came rolling in, we have gradually altered our schedule to include these new options, and I'm seeing my kids excited to do school every day. It's an adventure into what we will learn! I still have my master plan of where we are going and the goals I've set for each grade... but I have really relaxed as I enjoy the journey of getting there. There may be a few detours, but we are loving the journey  This is one road trip where we won't be asking "Are we there yet?"

Some of the fun products we have gotten to try so far are:

I think this is my favorite part of homeschooling...being surprised with where it takes us! The most important part of this homeschool journey is teaching my kids that learning is an adventure, and a lifelong one at that. I believe there will be a day when traditional education/college will be less valued than a person with a resume of chasing knowledge! Proving that you can sit through hours of classes will be less important than someone who can think outside the box, learn from mistakes, and love a challenge. Self motivation is a premium quality that can't be spoonfed!

“Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he’s not interested, it’s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating.” ~ Katrina Gutleben

As I experience the journey of learning with my children, I find that chasing the delight of learning for one hour is much more productive than drilling anything for 5 hours. So here we go, as we try and break free from the mold of normal school expectations, and open the doors on unfettered learning. I don't think that means fewer standards, but truly higher, harder, more creative ones. This is going to be quite an adventure!

How are other homeschool families directed by delight? Join us on a Blog Hop! Check back every day this week too!


Saturday, March 9, 2013

5 Days of Teaching Creatively and a Giveaway!

I am so excited to join in a Blog Hop this week! I'll be writing about something new just about every day, and joining with over 80 other bloggers! Please come back every day to read along with the theme. There will be new ideas about homeschooling, recipes, crafts, encouraging words, and much much more. 

I have been so challenged and encouraged by these women already, and I am excited to share my new homeschool friends with you! To join in the excitement we are kicking off with a HUGE Giveaway! Be sure you don't miss out. <3




So, to do this, I'm joining in with Marcy @Ben and Me and Sam @Sam's Noggin to bring you this awesome giveaway during the 5 Days of Teaching Creatively Blog Hop, hosted by the Schoolhouse Review Crew! The Blog Hop won't begin until Monday, but we are starting the fun early by giving you the opportunity to win incredible bundles of books and homeschool resources!

There will be a total of 3 winners chosen -- one GRAND prize, a 1st RUNNER-UP and a 2nd RUNNER-UP! The contest will begin at 12am on March 9 and end at 12am on March 17.  Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter, but read the contest rules, found at the bottom of the Rafflecopter widget, first. 


The GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive ALL of the following -- a $525 value!

Geography Matters -- Profiles from History Package ($50 value) Looking for a way to help your students connect with history? The Profiles from Historyseries is dedicated to telling the stories of people, whose lives are worth remembering. Whether they made a discovery, led heroically in a war, created a masterpiece through music, or art, used a pen to change the world, or impacted humanity with their bravery—they made a difference. We can learn so much by looking at those who came before us. Be ready to change your mind about history, with Profiles from History, Volumes 1, 2, and 3.




The Old Schoolhouse Magazine --  1-year membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com, a new Print Issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, and a Homeschooling with Heart Tote Bag ($90 value)
SchoolhouseTeachers.com is an online classroom and has more than 2 dozen expert teachers who cover 25 different subjects presented via teaching videos, ongoing lesson plans, worksheets, lapbooks & unit studies, writing prompts and other assignments to choose from, students can additionally interact personally with the teachers by asking them questions and gaining feedback.


Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett -- Passport Geography set, consisting of the Combos (K - 12) for United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany ($50 value) 
Taking an in-depth look at world geography with the new Passport Geography™(PPG) series by Amanda Bennett. These one-week studies use a cross-curricular approach (covering geography, history, science, etc.) to take students on virtual journeys around the globe. Each study is interactive, including daily lessons for both elementary grades and Jr/Sr High grades, with no prep required.

Shining Dawn Books -- Early Spring Bundle ($21 value)
Early spring is known for its wonderfully rainy weather, leading to lots of beautiful fungi. It’s also the season when animals busily go about their regular activities after the relative quietness of winter. This bundle will help you to explore each of these exciting aspects of the spring season in-depth.


A+ Tutorsoft -- 1-yr subscription to the online A+ TutorSoft math program -- winner's choice from    grade levels 1st-4th ($150 value)
A+ TutorSoft, Inc. provides Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH Full Curriculum products to help students improve their grades at all levels. Our Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH helps homeschooling families as well as public and private school teachers and students. A+ TutorSoft offers everyone a FREE 30 day trial on all products. Visit the top right corner of our website: http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/. And through 3/31/13 they are offering 50% off all products with code spoffer50!

Five in a Row -- Complete Digital Holiday book ($34 value)
A complement to any lifestyle of learning, this book is different from the Five in a Row manuals. It doesn’t give a specific book to study for each holiday, rather it is a treasury of traditions, memories and ideas for making your own! Each unit also includes calendar pages, blank pages for recording your own memories, and combinations of traditions and recipes, book and movie suggestions, quotes, decorating ideas, and more! 

Knowledge Quest -- Wonders of Old Timeline Book ($25 value)
Wonders of Old is divided into four historical time periods: ancient, medieval, new world and modern. Significant dates are listed at the conclusion of each section as a helpful reference. This hardcover book measures 9x12 and is printed on extra thick 70# paper for durability.




In the Hands of a Child -- 1-Year Super Membership ($75 value)
Super Memberships Save You Time and Money! Each month Super Members receive two free downloadable Lapbooks. These Lapbooks are always brand new and have not been released for sale to the general public. Super Members also receive:
  • 15% discount off all purchases of existing eBook Lapbooks.
  • A free Birthday
  •  Lapbook10.00 off the price of any custom ordered unit

Southern Hodgepodge -- A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook ($20 value)
Looking for an easy way to add art to your days? With A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook – just add chalk pastels and paper! Short lessons for a whole year, 100 pages of tutorials, art for all ages.

Tricia Goyer -- Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska ($13 value)
Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But When singer Ginny Marshall travels to the isolated town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, she is charmed by the town's colorful characters and stunning scenery. She discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between an early missionary to Alaska Territory and his accidental mail-order bride. Written by homeschool moms, Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss.

Frontier 2000 -- No Regrets: How Homeschooling Earned Me a Master's Degree by Age Sixteen by Alexandra Swann and Looking Backward: My Twenty-Five Years As a Homeschooling Mother by Joyce Swann ($20 value)
No Regrets: The engaging story of Swann's experiences growing up as a Southern Baptist homeschooled child from New Mexico earning her education at a highly accelerated pace. At the age of fifteen she became the youngest student ever to graduate from Brigham Young University in its 111 year history.

Looking Backward: From 1975-2000, Joyce Swann homeschooled each of her ten children from the first grade through master's degrees by the age of sixteen. In this book, she discusses the methods she used to teach as well as the obstacles that threatened her success.

____________________________________________

The 1st RUNNER UP will receive ALL of the following -- a $225 value!

Geography Matters -- Cultural Geography Package ($50 value) Have you ever thought that geography was a boring subject? Then you've never used these books! Eat Your Way Through the U.S.A. and Eat Your Way Around the World are a taste buds-on approach to geography. Each state or country has its unique geographical features and agricultural products. These influence both the ingredients that go into a recipe and the way food is prepared. Why stop with only your taste-buds? Let's involve all the senses by adding Geography Through Art! This hand-son approach will supplement any study of geography, history, or social studies. Geography Through Art is sure to make a lasting addition to your home or school library. You'll find yourself reaching for this indispensable guide again and again to delight and engage students in learning about geography through the culture and art of peoples around the world.

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett -- Discover the Senses Download N Go ($9 value) In this study, your child will investigate a new sense each day, learning what it is and how it works, as well as what it does for him. He will learn what impacts that particular sense. And he will meet some of history’s heroes, such as Louis Braille, who helped along the way. Each day, your student will explore and investigate, creating and adding more learning components to his Discover the Senses lapbook—building a wonderful reminder of all that he is learning to be enjoyed for years to come.
Shining Dawn Books -- Remarkable Rain ($9 value)
Quiet and peaceful, or wild and raging – rain comes in many forms. This NaturExplorers unit sets out to examine rain in all its beauty, observe its effects and make you look forward to the next rainy day!
A+ Tutorsoft -- 3-month subscription to the online A+ TutorSoft math program -- winner's choice from    grade levels 1st-4th ($50 value)
A+ TutorSoft, Inc. provides Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH Full Curriculum products to help students improve their grades at all levels. Our Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH helps homeschooling families as well as public and private school teachers and students. A+ TutorSoft offers everyone a FREE 30 day trial on all products. Visit the top right corner of our website: http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/. And through 3/31/13 they are offering 50% off all products with code spoffer50!

Five in a Row -- Set of Five Audio Files from Steve Lambert ($20 value)
We all need some inspiration from time to time! Steve and Jane Lambert have been encouraging homeschoolers on their journey since 1994. These Five in a Row audio files have been recorded at major state homeschooling conventions around the United States and Canada and have been chosen because we believe you’ll enjoy it for its wisdom, humor and encouragement shared by Steve. Including: Where do I Begin?, I Can't Teach All the Grades at Once, Making Your Children into World Changers, On Becoming Great Teachers, and High School and Beyond.


In the Hands of a Child -- 6-Month Super Membership ($55 value)
Super Memberships Save You Time and Money! Each month Super Members receive two free downloadable Lapbooks. These Lapbooks are always brand new and have not been released for sale to the general public. Super Members also receive:
  • 15% discount off all purchases of existing eBook Lapbooks.
  • A free Birthday
  •  Lapbook10.00 off the price of any custom ordered unit

Southern Hodgepodge -- A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook ($20 value)
Looking for an easy way to add art to your days? With A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook – just add chalk pastels and paper! Short lessons for a whole year, 100 pages of tutorials, art for all ages.


Tricia Goyer -- Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska ($13 value)
Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But When singer Ginny Marshall travels to the isolated town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, she is charmed by the town's colorful characters and stunning scenery. She discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between an early missionary to Alaska Territory and his accidental mail-order bride. Written by homeschool moms, Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss.


____________________________________________

The 2nd RUNNER UP will receive ALL of the following -- a $190 value!

Geography Matters -- Adventures of Munford Package ($35 value) Although he's just two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, Munford is all adventure. He can be rain, snow, sleet, or steam. He has traveled the world in search of excitement. Throughout history, he has been present at some of the most important and world-changing events. Fun and educational, Munford will inspire your children to learn more about many of history's greatest moments. These readers make a great addition to your learning experience in areas such as history, geography, and science. This book series is written on an elementary reading level, but provides plenty of read-aloud entertainment for the entire family!


Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett -- Discover the Senses Download N Go ($9 value) In this study, your child will investigate a new sense each day, learning what it is and how it works, as well as what it does for him. He will learn what impacts that particular sense. And he will meet some of history’s heroes, such as Louis Braille, who helped along the way. Each day, your student will explore and investigate, creating and adding more learning components to his Discover the Senses lapbook—building a wonderful reminder of all that he is learning to be enjoyed for years to come.

Shining Dawn Books -- Remarkable Rain ($9 value) Quiet and peaceful, or wild and raging – rain comes in many forms. This NaturExplorers unit sets out to examine rain in all its beauty, observe its effects and make you look forward to the next rainy day!

A+ Tutorsoft -- 3-month subscription to the online A+ TutorSoft math program -- winner's choice from    grade levels 1st-4th ($50 value)
A+ TutorSoft, Inc. provides Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH Full Curriculum products to help students improve their grades at all levels. Our Multi-Sensory Interactive MATH helps homeschooling families as well as public and private school teachers and students. A+ TutorSoft offers everyone a FREE 30 day trial on all products. Visit the top right corner of our website: http://www.aplustutorsoft.com/. And through 3/31/13 they are offering 50% off all products with code spoffer50!


Five in a Row -- Volume 4 Digital Unit of Winner's Choice ($9 value)
Five in a Row was created by Jane Claire Lambert, a successful homeschool teacher with more than 17 years of experience. To use Five in a Row, just pick one of the 70 books used in Five in a Row, locate the corresponding lesson plan in your teacher’s guide, read the story aloud each day during the week and use Jane’s suggestions and lesson plans to lead your children on a wonderful learning adventure. It’s that simple! Each unit covers Social Studies, Geography, Language Arts, Applied Math, Science and Art in a way that causes children to fall in love with learning.


In the Hands of a Child -- 2-Month Super Membership ($45 value)
Super Memberships Save You Time and Money! Each month Super Members receive two free downloadable Lapbooks. These Lapbooks are always brand new and have not been released for sale to the general public. Super Members also receive:

  • 15% discount off all purchases of existing eBook Lapbooks.
  • A free Birthday
  • Lapbook10.00 off the price of any custom ordered unit


Southern Hodgepodge -- A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook ($20 value)
Looking for an easy way to add art to your days? With A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels ebook – just add chalk pastels and paper! Short lessons for a whole year, 100 pages of tutorials, art for all ages.


Tricia Goyer -- Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska ($13 value)
Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams—a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But When singer Ginny Marshall travels to the isolated town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, she is charmed by the town's colorful characters and stunning scenery. She discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between an early missionary to Alaska Territory and his accidental mail-order bride. Written by homeschool moms, Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway



©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Friday, March 8, 2013

Review: ARTistic Pursuits


Photobucket



All of February we had the joy of reviewing ARTistic Pursuits' book for Elementary 4-5th grade, Book One: The Elements of Art and Composition by Brenda Ellis. This was just the right level for Tyler and Emma in the 4th and 5th grades, as that is the suggested age range (age 9 and up). Mayda (age 7) even joined in with us for a few lessons. This book retails for $47.95*, and has 92 pages packed with 230 illustrations. It is a non-consumable comb bound text, meaning it could be used again and again. There are 16 Units, each consisting of about 4 lessons. Be sure to click the product link above to see sample pages.

PhotobucketThis was a perfect fit for our 4 day school week, and we worked through one unit per week easily. In a 32 week school year,you could do art 2 days a week and get through this book easily in one year. Each unit was broken down into these four parts:
  • Building a Visual Vocabulary (first page)
  • American Art Appreciation and History (second and third page)
  • Techniques (fourth page)
  • Application (fifth page)

Each part included engaging instructions and a simple assignment to create something, so the kids could practice what they learned right away. Including plenty of time to create, they suggest you allow for an hour for each session. We rarely needed the full hour to complete the assignment, usually only 20 minutes. The teachers notes suggest that the full hour will be something to work up to, and that by the end of the book the student will be spending much more time on each assignment than they did at the beginning of the year.

For the first seven units the only materials needed were sketch paper, erasers, sharpeners, ebony pencils, and a paper sack. Since my grandmother was an artist, I had most of these items right here in my home. I showed her the book right after receiving it, and she was excited to see what the kids would do. She even read this first unit through with us.

In unit one, for Visual Vocabulary, they talked about orienting your creative space in a vertical or horizontal way, considering the subject matter. The Art Appreciation considered the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware and then discussed creating art from one's imagination. In the session on Techniques they talked about getting set up for drawing and were instructed to draw an object. The final project was the Application of all they had just covered.


We went though the first four units: Space, Line, Texture, and Value. With each one the kids enjoyed reading the lesson together with me, and working on the specific assignments. This week we took our various sketches and visited my grandma, and the kids told her all about what they had been studying. She, being an avid painter, looked over their work with a careful eye. then she turned to me and asked if I'm going to keep using this curriculum after the review. "I hope you do," she said. I was so excited that she liked what we had done so far. We do plan to keep going with it!

Until now, everything we had used has focused only on art appreciation, or on only creating. This book artfully blends both into each and every lesson. The kids enjoyed creating as much as they enjoyed seeing the various American artists.



What I liked:


  • Even though we had never used this curriculum before, it really can stand alone. We jumped in with the 4th/5th grade book and were able to take off without having done the previous books. 
  • The author, Brenda Ellis, stresses that making art helps us see our world with more appreciation and detail. I find that to be very true, and I appreciate the real life value which her perspective gives to this elective.
  • This is a newly revised version for 2013.
  • I find the price to be very reasonable to our family, considering the book can be used over and over for all of my children. 
  • The easy scheduling of this book, and the tips for doing so, right on page 3.
  • The pages are well arranged and visually appealing. 


What I didn't like:


  • Only that I had not tried this curriculum sooner!


Bottom Line:

This one is a keeper. I am so thankful we got the opportunity to try it out. I had never heard of this curriculum, and would have never tried it otherwise. I plan to use this book with all of my students, and will consider buying the editions that follow in the years to come. 


Several different grades were reviewed by the crew, so be sure you click below to check them all out:
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Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com
*Prices are correct at time of review, but may be subject to change.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Frugal Tip: Raise Chickens!



Whether for eggs or for meat, you can't beat a chicken for an easy way to get into the protein production business. We've had three batches of chickens since moving here, and each one has been an adventure. Our first batch was white leghorns, black australorps, production reds, buff orpingtons, and barred rocks. I ordered several of them "straight run" meaning they hadn't been checked for gender. They are cheaper that way, and I figured we'd just eat anything incapable of laying eggs. :) Sadly, we discovered that laying breeds don't have enough meat on their bones to make them worth plucking! I actually still have one of the white leghorns from this flock. But she only lays eggs when threatened. 

cleaning out my flower beds...

The second year we ordered in California Whites, Buff Orpingtons, Ameraucanas, and Rhode Island Reds. That year we showed a couple at the fair and we knew we were hooked. There were still some kinks to work out, like the chickens raiding my garden and doing quite a bit of damage. And we had an incident where the dog ate a rooster. These were the chickens I put in my old pack-n-play. It was perfect! That batch of chickens had a round off egg eating, and once they taught each-other the habit, it caught on like wildfire. We tried golfballs in the nests and all kinds of tricks. I finally sold off that flock when my third flock started laying.


The third year we ordered in the Brown Egg Layers mixture from our hatchery, Welp. We also got Dominiques and Black  Stars. These chickens have been pretty easy going and fair layers. It was good too, beacause that was the spring we also added 115 Cornish Rock chicks to the crowd. We only lost 5 in growing and in 8 weeks we were butchering 110 of the fattest birds I have ever seen! They grew so fast they actually grew out of their feathers faster than they could grow feathers.  It was well worth it when we tasted the fried chicken for the first time. We will definitely be doing that again!

Aside from meat and eggs, the one last reason to raise chickens is how clean your refridgerator will be. You won't let those leftovers rot in the back of your fridge when you know how happy "the girls" would be to eat them up! lol!




linked:

Frugal Family 2013

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Feeling a bit old today

Me, age 2. 


Today is my birthday! I have been reflecting on a few of my favorite past birthdays... :)

My friends, Nicki and Anna and an assortment of sweet babies!

5 years ago today I had the best SURPRISE birthday gift ever. My dear friend Anna, who lives WAY too far away, conspired with my friend Nicki and my hubby. Secretly she flew out here from PA and showed up at MOPS that morning. I cried! I had NO idea at all what they were up to. She brought her daughter, one of my first doula babies... and we spent nearly a week scrapbooking, eating out, staying up too late, and organizing. :) Anna has flown in to my life at so many perfect moments, she is a true gift from above.



Then there was the 25th birthday I spent alone with the kids here in Nebraska, while Ben was working in Florida. We were living in Florida then, but I'd flown back here to help my dear Grandma Lydia out, as she had broken her hip. I remember it was right after my pregnancy loss. Ben was such a sweetie and sent me flowers! We celebrated with candles in Little Debbie cakes. :)

On my 20th birthday I remember, Ben and I were still dating then. He picked me up from my office and took me out to lunch. While we were there eating out lunch, a man with a big scruffy beard started walking toward me, scared me to death... until I realized it was my dad! (In my defense, he'd grown a beard since I'd seen him last!) My folks had flown out from PA to visit me here in Nebraska. I was totally surprised! I had broken my ankle 6 weeks before, and they had been hoping to come see me while I was recovering. That week my mom went with me to get my cast off. Then we did a little wedding planning. :) Such fun memories.

How funny to think how many of my birthdays center around broken limbs... I actually had a broken arm on my 17th birthday too. lol!

I've been so blessed to have birthdays to count, and loved ones to share them with. I'm so thankful. God has been so faithful! Thanks for following me on a ramble today. :)

Ecclesiastes. 11:5-8a 
"As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.
Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.
Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all."



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