My mom teaching Emma to shoot with a red rider bb gun...she didn't shoot her eye out.

Today...

...we had a lovely morning nature study outside. (After Bible and scripture memory as usual) The first thing we saw (and heard) was a cardinal. We watched it for a little while with binoculars. Emma is getting very good at recognizing the songs of many different birds - especially the cardinal, blue jay, and dove. You should hear her bird call...very amusing! I'm not quite sure how she does it, but it actually sounds very much like a dove!

Next we found a large grasshopper that didn't seem to be the least bit afraid of us, nor did it care one bit when we caught it for observation. We studied it, read about it, and made a nature journal page. Here E and A are with the grasshopper right before we let it go. It really wasn't scared of us at all...it finally did decide to hop away though.

This is the blog we use for nature study...wonderful!

http://www.handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/

So we did move on to more "schoolish" things after that...math, geography, copy work, hymn study, poetry and reading for today. Afterward Emma spent the afternoon having "school" for Alex...much to his delight. This is one of those things that I just loooove! First she taught him to read; then they went into her room for a well over an hour doing more school. I think she was teaching him math, then I heard Tchaikovsky echoing down the hall...looks like Emma has studied up on Charlotte Mason as well! LOVE it! :)

It's been a wonderful day...something about the clouds, cooler temperature, and a little rain...it's refreshing. It's His joy that comes in the morning. And the rest of the day, as well...

Back from hiatus

Well, maybe, that is...
We all know my track record for blog posting is not the best...BUT...I'm not apologizing, as we have had a lot going on over the past several months. So much, in fact, that I may not even write a summary of everything that has happened...at least not right away. For now, let's just say that God has been faithful. He has changed us, helped us grow, and never has He for one second let us go...through grief and joy, and through the ordinary days that lie in between.
The bottom line is that I've had several sweet, far off friends who've asked for updates, so, here I am, attempting to be a more faithful blogger, once again. :) Let us see how that will go...

August Staycation

So in August we had a family staycation - (that's right people - August - yes, I'm once again posting months behind...it's the best I can do right now :) My parents came down along with my nephew Seth, and stayed for a few days. As always we tried to pack in the biggest possible punch in the short time that we had. We went to the Rain Forest Cafe and Riverwalk, Sea World, and our amazing neighborhood pool...AND we had a family birthday party for our little big Alex's 4th birthday! It was so much fun - busy but fun!
I need to get the pictures of Alex's party from my mom so I can write about that in another entry! Here are a few pics from Sea World...it was the kids first time to go, and they had a blast! They loved Shamu and we got some great pictures! The rides and water park were a big hit, too. Here are a few pictures from the day...

I LOVE that picture - so typical of E and A right now - she leads and teaches and he listens...most of the time. :)

Grandpa E and Seth...where is Grandma? Grandma - I need some pics of you!

Me Myself & Lies

So hear I go - taking a deep breath as I attempt to share with you a bit of what I've been learning over the past few weeks....
....I just finished the most amazing - life changing - Bible study entitled "Me, Myself and Lies" by Jennifer Rothschild. I had NO IDEA what was in store for me as I dove into the Bible and the book along with some friends this summer. The study was all about taking a long, hard look at what we are letting our minds dwell on each day - each hour and even minute, really. And not just the things that we purposefully think about, but also the things that just kind of pop into our heads but then kinda stick around and fester for a while. After looking at these things, and realizing that many times my "thought closet" was full of hurtful labels, worries and fears, I then began to learn how to completely replace those things with the Truth from God's word, and get rid of that "stinkin' thinkin'". It's been amazing (for me) to see the trasformation in my thinking and trusting...I'm just so glad that our Heavenly Father never gives up on us and is ALWAYS at work in us until the day He brings us home. Praise Him!

So here are a few things from the book that especially hit home for me...
"Who I am, and what I struggle with are NOT the same thing."
"Start paying attention to where your thoughts are wandering during an idle moment."
"To dwell on untruths is to hold His truths in low regard."
How often do we waist our emotions - because we are not exercizing faith.
"A surplus of emotion usually preceeds acting without wisdom."
"You can't always control which thoughts pop up, but you can control through God's Spirit, what you do when one knocks. Be alert and say - no entry."
"Trust God more than you trust your feelings and abilities..."
"HOPE will ground you, anchor you, and make you unshakable."
"You may not FEEL equiped for the battle, but you are equiped."
(All of these in quotes are by Jennifer Rothschild)

These are just a few highlights from 6 weeks of study - and of course she had us always diving in to the Bible - I have many verses that I've now added to my offensive weaponry. Here's a new favorite....
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry "Abba (Dad!) Father". The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
I added the "Dad!" :)

If you ever have the opportunity - I would highly recommend this Bible study! ...And a little "shout out!" to my Bible study girlies - I love you guys and I'm so thankful for you!

So, there ya go - a little peek into my journey through God's word this summer....can't wait for the next one. :)

Bad Blogger - BAD!!!

So I ran into a good friend last week at the store (whom I haven't seen in forever!) and she informed me that I'm a bad blogger. Well, what can I say? She's right - considering I haven't blogged anything since, um, April!?

So, here I am, sheepishly attempting to recap the past few months in the form of a blog or two...
I owe it to my far away friends and family, right?
But where do I even begin?

I'll give you the quick run down, along with some cute pics, and I'll try to post more detail in the coming weeks...starting with some things I left out, and hopefully getting us back up to the present. :)

FEBRUARY - Started my very first Gruene Market Days with my dear friend Brandy Webb - she makes THE most adorable clothes for little girls, plus shopping cart covers, and more!


MARCH - I'm not sure what we did in March! That's what I get for not blogging!
I hardly even have any pictures of the kids for March...hmmm....I'll let you know if I figure it out.
Oh, I know - we started to really enjoy our back yard - Now that spring was breaking through, our big shady yard was sooo nice....



APRIL - I (Megan) celebrated my birthday...no need to mention age really...I'm still in my EARLY 20's...(Ha! I just caught that typo! I must be subconsciously wishing I was still in my early 20's!!! OK - so that should be early 30's)
We added another Market Days to our schedule - Boerne Market - which made for a busy month!
We had a great MOPS and POPS
Emma had a special trip to Grandma and Grandpas house - just her - she had a blast!
AND, we had our family pictures taken by a good friend - Amber Walters...AMAZING Photographer!!!



MAY - Was a busy month! After the Swine Flu scare settled down, we had to cram everything that had been postponed into about 2 weeks...sooo
We had our last MOPS, Emma's gymnastics show - the "mini olympics", and her last day of pre-school, graduation, and fun day.
Emma's graduation was HILARIOUS! They had her standing right in front of this air vent that shot air straight up from the stage - so her hair was wildly blowing through all of the songs, like they had a wind machine on her. And of course she was playing right into it. Cute. Funny. So Emma.



JUNE -We pretty much spent every other day in June at the pool - Emma is a FISH and can dive down to the bottom of the 8 foot pool in our neighborhood to pick up diving sticks. AND - drum roll please.....Alex learned to swim! He still needs to practice quite a bit, but he is getting better every time we go.
Emma had her 6th BIRTHDAY!!!, and decided to to opt for a family party at Rain Forest Cafe with one friend. That was HER idea! Amazing! What a break for Mommy and Daddy!
Her favorite presents were a toy Hamster that rolls and has a wheel, and her very own desk that Mommy and Daddy made for her...



Whew! And here we are in July! I guess that means July can have it's own separate little spot in the Blog. Lucky July. ;)