Where has Valerie been?!

Here...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and, finally, here!

BUT ISN'T SHE CUTE?!?!

Learning Disabled

I have never thought about myself in this way before, but

I am seriously learning disabled!

(Spiritually speaking, that is.) At various times in my life I have suffered from all of the following:

1. Spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder: God has tried various means of revealing His character to me and I simply do not pay attention to Him.
2. Spiritual Hyperactivity: I try to DO all kinds of things for the Lord without seeking His purposes and relying on His strength.
3. Spiritual Dyslexia: I get things completely backwards and start to think that I am in control and God doesn't know what He's doing.
4. Vision Impairment: My focus becomes so self-centered that I can't see God's plan unfolding in the lives of people around me and across the globe.
5. Hearing Impairment: I forsake my Bible reading and therefore cannot hear God's clear voice speaking to me.

These thoughts came from the introductory video to our new Bible study series at church. We are going through the Beth Moore study on the life of Paul. It's gonna be good! Today I was the only "young lady" there - everyone else was at least 25 years older than me. But you know what? That's okay. I have a lot to learn from the older ladies in my church. It's not that the other young moms in our church don't go to Bible study - it's just that I'm the only one who is going to the Thursday morning group this fall.

And speaking of disabilities ... this little girl is always telling me that she has "short term memory loss" these days. It's a great excuse for so many misbehaviors! (Methinks that perhaps she has been watching Finding Nemo a little too much lately!)

Going ... Going ... GONE!

Normally at this time of year we head over to Julia Davis Park in Boise for a lazy Saturday at Art in the Park. Not this year. Nope. This year was very different! On Saturday we drove over to Twin Falls to watch Chuck do some BASE jumping during the Perrine Bridge Festival. It was a very exciting day! Not quite like walking around on the grass and looking and expensive photography, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and trinkets. This year I had a strangle hold on my girls as we watched guys with "serious thrill issues" jump from a bridge spanning the Snake River Canyon.

Valerie would take her thumb out of her mouth long enough to say "Uh-Oh" every time someone jumped.

Sierra and Ally liked looking down into the drop zone to see who could land right in the middle of the target.

Going....

Going...

GONE!!!

What's next?!

Deep Thoughts

What do you suppose is going through her little mind?!

Seirra Elise, First Grader

Sierra is tucked away in bed after her first day of first grade. According to her, "IT WAS AWESOME!!!" She has been so excited about being one of the "big kids" this year and staying at school all day. (Wish that I could say the same for myself.) Last night she was so wound up that she couldn't fall asleep. Marc and I finally let her climb in bed with us to help her settle down. She jabbered and giggled for over a half-hour before I finally said, "Maybe we should stop talking now." Seconds later, she was fast asleep.

This morning was downright chilly as we got ready for school. I was the one with the butterflies in my stomach while she kept asking if it was time to get in the car. I have decided that this will be our traditional first day of school pose - leaving the front gate, even though we actually leave through the garage door.



A few days ago we got to meet her new teacher, Mrs. K. I really don't know the teachers at the school, but this is one of the two ladies that I was praying for. (There are 5 first grade classes!) She always seemed like a pleasant and organized person when I saw her in the hallways last year. I am so pleased that Sierra is in her class, and just look at how happy Sierra is:

Back to this morning - I wanted to get a shot of all three girls before school, but Valerie was obviously not interested in holding hands with Ally. Typical Val-Val. That girl has a mind of her own.

Eager beaver was first in line to go inside and didn't even turn around to wave good-bye. It all happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to cry. Good thing.

While I counted the minutes until 3:45, I enjoyed watching these cute little rascals try to get along with each other.

Grandma Phyllis called right after school to ask how the day had gone. We knew that she was praying. Sierra used every superlative in the dictionary while she was on the phone.

Aunt Susie had dropped off a back-to-school gift for Sierra earlier in the day. Thanks, Suze!

I hope that at 7:30 tomorrow morning she will wake up as cheery as she did today!

Country Girls

Say hello to my:

Veggie pickin', barefoot lovin',

grass rollin', dirt movin',

rodeo watchin',

goat feedin', cow milkin'

COUNTRY GIRLS!!!

Cousins

One of the reasons (among many) that I love living in Idaho is that these kiddos are getting to grow up together:

Ally (4), Valerie (1), Annie (2), Sierra (6), Riley (8 months)

There's nothing like...

...holding your baby cousin's sweet cheeks in your hands.
...getting together for 4th of July celebrations.

...chewing on dominoes together.

...and throwing rocks in the river (or at each other) all afternoon.