Our 4th of July picnic!

For many years now, our family didn't really have 4th of July plans. We usually go to a fireworks display somewhere but our 4th of July was pretty open. My husband and I were talking about this a few days prior to the holiday and we wondered how many other people had no plans. We decided to do an impromptu picnic at our house. This can be hard for me sometimes because I like to have my house to a certain level (of cleanliness, organization, and food prep) but I am beginning to enjoy the last minute stuff just as much! This was one of our best 4th of July holidays so far! Thanks to all the families that came out and enjoyed celebrating with us! Just maybe... we'll keep this as an annual event! We are blessed by our American freedoms, and blessed with our wonderful family and friendships and we are all so abundantly blessed by God and His amazing love towards us!!

Here is a photo collage I made of some of the photos from our picnic. I used "Smilebox". Click the purple play button and the images should enlarge indidividually.

Create a free digital collage

We also had an uninvited visitor: No one seemed bothered by him for the most part. I didn't greet and welcome him (I do not like snakes!) but instead asked the kids to encourage him to wander back into the woods! :0

Happy Resurrection Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

This is just a fun photo. My daughter thought it was funny that the store had bunnies bigger than her.

Some of our Easter eggs:

My 5 blessings on Easter morning:

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

He was pierced for us!

Today we wore red dots on our palms. It was a reminder that Jesus died on the cross for each of us. All day, when we looked at our hands, we remembered, and were thankful. We are thankful for this everyday but this reminded us over and over again what a Sacrifice was made on this day in history, for you and for me!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Valentines with a message

My girls are in a Missionary Girls Club at our church.

They meet once a month or so. It is run by a few of the "older" woman of our assembly. This too is so sweet to see the older woman teaching the younger.

(It is a wonderful thing to do for young girls or young people in general if you are looking for a club to start within your church,etc.) They learn about a new missionary each month and make a craft or write letters, etc for them. Sometimes the missionaries are in town and can speak to the group. They also do other things to help out or witness to others.

This past time was during a snowstorm so they had to cancel it. One of the leaders sent home packets of the craft for us to do at home. I am so thankful for it because if was such a fun time with my girls, sitting and making these sweet Valentines. They are going to be handed out at the church service we do at a local retirement home.

The hearts are woven together (a little tricky at first) and they make a pocket. Inside the pocket, we placed a white heart with John 3:16 printed witht he VALENTINE letters in red. The front said Happy Valentine's Day with our church name and the girls were to sign their names. We also included a tract about John 3:16!

"For God so loved the World that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!"

Here is my (middle) daughter with her favorite heart Valentine she made! :)

Easter

It has been awhile since I posted so I wanted to do a quick post. We've been busy working on our home( mostly with outside work) as well as working through our (home)school lessons. We've had a lot of fun times as well!

Here are a few photos from my Easter...

My girls...

My Boys...

I feel very blessed as a mother! The Lord is so good!

I hope you and your family had a wonderful time celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior! He is now sitting on the right hand of our Father in Heaven! Hallelujah!

Our Green Meal

Just for fun... for St. Patrick's Day...

We had a green meal. It was very good. Even the children ate and enjoyed the soup.

We had Cream of Asparagus Soup, homemade green bread, and Watergate salad.

Cream of Asparagus Soup
2(15oz.)cans asparagus
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1 c. light cream
3 T. butter
2 T. flour

Drain cans of asparagus, reserving liquid. Chop asparagus stalks, reserve tips and set aside. Add water to reserved asparagus liquid to equal 4 cups. Put into 2 quart saucepan with chopped onion and chopped asparagus stalks. Add bouillon and parsley. Simmer 10 minutes with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat; blend until smooth in processor or blender. Melt butter in saucepan, add flour to make a paste. Slowly stir in soup stock, stirring until thick and creamy. Slowly stir in cream. Add tips. Serve warm.