"Bonding" with the Japanese

So, my kids are doing some bonding these days, thanks to The Japanese!! Beyblades, a Japanese animation, and toy have entered my home and taken over. I have to say I really don't care for Japanese animation or their toys. However, I've had a change of heart, at least for this one toy.


All 3 kids, LOVE IT. They play TOGETHER for HOURS with this silly spinning top game!
Any toy, in my opinion, that creates sibling harmony, deserves an award. So Im giving this toy the high honor of being officially named: The Best toy ever brought into the Best house.
Weird freaky toy + sibling harmony = blissful Mommy :)

Summer Reading

Since we began homeschooling 4 years ago, summer became the READ, READ, READ time . Sure we read throughout the year, but summers are a bit more laid back on schooling, so we read a lot . Our local library has a great summer reading incentive program complete with cool prizes for my kids and great dining coupons for the family . Therefore, its an incentive for the whole family . This summer has been my favorite reading time, thus far. Mostly because my girl began to have a heart for good literature, and my oldest boy took a leap from reading chapter books to youth adult books. In addition to those wonderful things, I witnessed first hand the value of a good story impacting my children's character for the better. For the past three years I have heard seminar after seminar on the importance of reading aloud to your children and how it would be a great character building tool. However, we have read, and read, and read, and Im just now beginning to see the fruit of the hard labor. My kids actually long to curl up together and read over watching TV and they beg to be read "just one more chapter". Ahhh.....We have finally started putting a dent in our reading goal list . So, this post is a list of books we've read this summer and how much we enjoyed them .

We started out the summer reading this book aloud:
Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis

This book is a 3 volume christian fiction book series. I strategically chose this 400 page book as our family read aloud to peak Britton's curiosity. It worked. He LOVED the silly story about children that turn into dragons and have to fight off the mighty Slayer. The great thing about this book was it's Christian view point that also had teenagers living a life of faith. The book was fast paced and packed with nail-biting adventure! Chesney and Britton hung on to every word and loved every second of the book. That makes this book a winner in my opinion. After finishing book number one, Britton read book number two on his own. A four hundred page book . He didn't tear through it like I hoped he would, but he diligently read a chapter or two a day until he completed the book. In the end he felt so BIG and realized that you CAN read 400 page books at nine years old.

Another book we read aloud this summer was Mcgee and Me by BIll Myers.

The book we checked out at the library actually had three stories in one book . It was very humorous, enjoyable and taught great biblical values . The children learned how to take up for the "different" child and stand up to the bully in a non-violent,creative way . We also learned how to tackle your fears with God and how to trust Him in the storms of life . Again, these books are on the silly side, but greatly impacted my kids and created a deeper love for books .

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray was yet another great book.

This book was a story about a 13 year old boy, Adam, that lost his Dad and dog on the road . Its about his journey to find those he loved most in his life . The beauty of this book is that it took place in the middle ages . It was a great review of the geography and the history we learned about in our studies of the middle ages this past year.

Last week we listened to a radio theater production of The Hedge of Thorns

My favorite book of the summer!!! This book was written in early 1600's and is based on a true story. The book was packed with wisdom and provided great conversation with our kids. They learned that sin has consequences that may scar you for life. That God sets boundaries and guidelines for us to follow as a hedge of protection. I highly recommend this book!!! The audio version by lamplighter is worth every penny.

Chesney and I read an all time favorite of mine, The Secret Garden.

A wonderful book about how love and friendship can transform a hardend heart and feeble body . I cherish every second I spent reading this classic with my little girl . She giggled out loud and smiled throughout this book while reading at bedtime . Then the next day she'd pack up a "special" bag and head outside in hunt of a place that she could call her own secret garden. Her imagination came to life with this book and joy filled my soul as I witnessed it .

Strawberry Girl was another Mommy/daughter read.

I picked this book up at the Trussville library on the newly placed "Award-winning books" shelf. That's right!! They now have a bookshelf designated for Newbery and Caldecot award winning books . I LOVE IT!!! For years I have been trying to make book lists of classics and good read-alouds . One thing I have discovered is that the award winning books never let me down. SO, you can imagine my excitement to find a shelf that I can just walk right up to and find a GOOD book . It makes a Momma happy. All that to say, I found this sweet little book parked right on that shelf . The name caught my eye, because I have a strawberry loving girl, so the book seemed appropriate . This book was a good ole "Little House on the Prairie" kind of book, complete with a revival and redemption . I must warn you, if you read this book, you need to practice your best country slang and southern draw before reading aloud. Just because your from the south does not make reading dialect of the Florida Crackers aloud easy...

We are now reading Carry on, Mr. Bowditch for our first family read aloud biography. I've heard so many great things about this book! I'll let you know how it goes!!


When it takes two days to write a post, the post is probably too long .
I must find time to write, I must find time to write.

Happy reading to you,
Brook

She's 6!

My precious little girl is growing up. Growing up is a beautiful thing. Each year brings maturity and new experiences. Although its hard to watch my children grow older, it also brings me great joy to witness God molding them and shaping them. This year Chesney matured by leaps and bounds!

She is feisty and passionate, yet so very tender hearted!




She loves recycling anything old into something new. Even garbage found on the side of the road is her treasure.
She also loves to create, invent, and explore. Her hands are always busy with a craft, a collection, or a dirt!



One of her best traits is that she is a giver! She loves to spend her allowance on others! She frequently empties her piggy bank and takes it all to the ballpark. She loves going to the "handstand". I loved that she called it the handstand. I just couldn't correct it. She eventually figured out this ball season that its the concession stand. She always would buy one piece of candy for herself and then spend the rest on her friends and brothers until all of her money was gone. You could see the joy in her eyes as she would give the special treat to a friend! Beautiful, beautiful!!!

I have seen tremendous growth in her shyness this season. She has learned how to make new friends easier.
Here's a pic of a new friend made during a baseball game:


This year we explored soccer for the first time. She LOVED it. She ran her little heart out on the field and never stopped.



There were so many wonderful moments this past year, but I have to say that my favorite memory was of the day we went to the nursing home to pass out valentine's to the patients. Her heart was so overwhelmed with love for the patients. She touched each hand so tenderly and looked into their eyes with such compassion and love. It was truly a beautiful sight to see God's love poured through a child to the elderly. Another proud moment was her compassion poured out to an autistic child
we recently met at the lake. Chesney generally is slow to warm up to any new playmate, however this child she sensed something was a little different and she embraced him with mercy as she played with him. It was so natural for her and all of her fears melted away as she reached out to him for friendship.

Last, I must post my favorite conversation with Chesney. This wraps up her personality perfectly! "Momma, do you remember that space museum that we went to, where we saw rockets and missiles and stuff?" To which I replied, "Yes, sweetheart I do, why?" Then she say's, " Do they have museums like that for art? You know where you walk around and just look at art?" I smiled a big smile and answered, " why, yes sweetheart they do. Your Gram used to take me to the Birmingham ARt museum every year when I was a child!!" Chesney's eyes grew twice and big and she squealed, "Oh Mommy, can you please take me there!"


I see so many precious gifts from the Lord shining through you sweet girl! I look forward to watching how the Lord uses you for His glory!!!! I am so proud of you!!


Here's a few pics/video of her birthday celebrations!!

Birthday Morning:




Mani-Pedi with Mommy :)







Partying with our friends!

Music to my ears!!!

I have been praying and longing for music to fill my home and today it did!!! Britton and Chesney have started their first piano lessons this week. As I was fixing dinner tonight, Britton was at the piano playing. A tear of joy slipped down my cheek as I listened. Hope filled my soul and I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, " Im listening to you daughter of mine. Your desires are my desires!" Just another moment of God's grace and reassurance!!!

"I Want YOU! "

" I want you" is my favorite phrase out of my youngest babes mouth. It makes me melt into a million pieces. This is what Cade says when he just wants ME. He wants me to hold him. He wants me to snuggle and love him. He wants to just be with me. It makes me feel so incredibly loved. I know this phrase will fade away for him like all other cute phrases that come and go in a toddlers vocabulary, however I will always cherish this one!
As I began pondering this phrase, I really started thinking about a want that I have. A want that has really taken me by surprise. A want that really compares to Cade's request for his Mommy. This want was for the sweet little girl that we thought might possibly be our next daughter.Her name was Carmen. I never laid eyes on her, yet I wanted her with every bit of my heart and soul. This took me by surprise because I didn't know I could feel such want for a child that was not mine. You see, we have been praying for many years about adopting. This year, we felt the Lord nudge our hearts that this was the year. We began digging through books, seeking adoption information, asking for prayer support and readying our hearts for a new child. I have been very hesitant in the adoption idea from the moment Keith presented it to me. I always worried that I would not love a child that was not birthed by me. Keith was patient. He just presented to me what he felt like the Lord had impressed upon his heart and he began praying, that was 5 years ago. In the five years, I felt the Lord gently whispering in my ear that I could do this. The gentle whisper grew to a steady voice. Now it rings through my whole body. The Lord has been so bold in wooing my heart to his calling for our family. The last call was LOUD and CLEAR. In April we received a call from a friend that there was a child in foster care that needed a home. You see, I always felt like we would just get a call one day out of the blue that there was a child that needed a family. I believe in the beginning that feeling was just because it would be an easy way to adopt. No figuring out who, how, where..... When the call never came, we believed the Lord wanted us to take the next step and seek a child. Thats where we were in this process. In fact we were going to the adoption agency that very week for an appointment to begin that process. So, when the call came that there was a child, you can only imagine how I felt! Words can't describe it. The only comparison I can give is that it felt the same way when I found out I had conceived my firstborn, after being infertile for nearly two years. For the next four weeks after the phone call I prayed minute by minute for this sweet child. I longed for her. envisioned her in my home as my daughter, Britton, Chesney and Cade's sister. I WANTED HER. The transformation in my heart was from the Lord. He has called us to adopt. He has called us to open our heart and home for a child that doesn't have a home. He opened my eyes to see that I can and will LOVE this child the same as my others. Why I ever questioned that I could love a child is beyond me, because I get it now! I was once blind, but now I see..
As for precious Carmen, we have just found out that she will not be our child. The foster family that has her now is pursing adopting her. It was really hard to hear that news, yet a wave of peace washed over me as well. For my God has called me to open my mind and heart to love a child as my own. He knows who, when, where and how. I know now that I am ready. So all that to say baby girl, whoever you are, I want you. I long for you. I can't wait to have you in our home in my arms hearing you call me Mommy. I am praying for you tonight!!

Out of the Dirt

It has truly been a season of winter in my soul. I have struggled to write anything here in such a long time. This was my first truly blue, dark winter that I can ever remember having. Sure the winter that Mom died I was in a funk. More like time just stood still and nothing around me mattered. That was grief! This is different. A dark, sad, lonely season. A season of much change. A season of why. A season like I've never experienced before now. I am a "see the glass half full" kind of gal. Im a gal of much faith and optimism. A gal full of joy in all things, even the tough stuff of life. Yet, this winter, I had none of that. It was a true depression that just knocked the wind out of my sails. As Ps. 23 says, " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; our rod and your staff, they comfort me." My shepherd walked with me every step of the way through the valley. He nourished my soul and held me up every step of the way. He gave me an incredibly understanding husband to walk with me each day. He renewed an old friendship that He knew I needed for a time such as this. He surrounded me with people that new the kind of prayer I needed! He brought rest into our home. A true rest that we haven't known if all of our years of ministry. He placed me in a beautiful homeschooling community that encouraged me weekly as a Mom and teacher. He has placed us in a church where the teaching is sound, biblical and nourishing. As the season changed from winter to spring, so did my heart and mind! As flowers are blooming and the grass began to be beautiful and vibrant again, so my soul and heart began to bloom joy and hope again! It is so good to FEEL again. My song for this new season has been David Crowders, Wholly Yours:

I am full of earth
You are heaven’s worth
I am stained with dirt, prone to depravity
You are everything that is bright and clean
The antonym of me
You are divinity
But a certain sign of grace is this
From a broken earth flowers come up
Pushing through the dirt

You are holy, holy, holy
All heaven cries “Holy, holy God”
You are holy, holy, holy
I wanna be holy like You are.



Thank you precious Lord Jesus for seeing me through such a hard season. Thank you that flowers can come up from broken earth and dirt!! I don't know what I ever did to deserve such grace, but Lord I am so very thankful! I love you my savior!! Sweet friends that are reading this blog and have know the depths of my misery this winter, thank you for putting up with me!!! For praying with me and for me! For listening and crying with me!! You all were instruments of our Father's hands!! I love you all so much!

Something Wonderful!