It’s what I wanted….Really

Every year as Mother’s Day approaches, Buster and the girls start asking me over and over what I want for Mother’s Day. 

This year I told them I wanted a wheelbarrow.   I usually borrow my Neighbor Steves.   Neighbor Steve may be moving to Connecticut so I needed my own.

This was not their idea of a Mother’s Day gift,  but they went along with it and I am so happy to have it.  It is perfect to move my compost from my compost pile to the flower beds and garden beds.  So I’m thrilled.

I’m so thankful for these two girls.  I love them more than they will ever know.

They are so big now I can’t carry them in my arms so….

Joy

 

Technorati Tags: My Chickadees

Because Nice Matters

 

(Virginia with the girls)

A few months ago my neighbor and I enlisted the expertise of Virginia Johnson to teach an etiquette class entitled Polish Plus to our daughters and their friends.  Polish Plus has been a  wonderful experience for each of the girls.  They have learned so much from Virginia regarding etiquette and what to do in social situations.  I know it will give them so much confidence as they make their way in the world.  One of the things I love about Virginia is she teaches them above all to be kind.

These pictures are from the formal tea the girls set up and hosted directed by Virginia.   Virginia knew if they were the ones to organize the food, set the table and then serve each other they would learn so much more. They loved it.  I wish I had taken a picture when the table when they first set it. It was so pretty.

Virginia has a blog that features manners and etiquette not just for young people but for all ages.

You can find it at

http://www.nicedoesmatter.blogspot.com/

If you have a etiquette question she will be glad to answer it. 

Go say hello to Virginia on her blog as Virginia says …. because nice matters.

Joy

Madonna of the Rabbit

Are you familiar with this painting?   It is entitled Madonna of the Rabbit. 

Isn’t it beautiful.   Paige recently found this picture on The Louvre’s website. 

At first she liked it for the beauty of it and the rabbit in it.   Then she started researching and learning about the symbolism in the picture.   Here are some of the things she learned and passed along to me.    Now I enjoy the painting so much more.

The basket has two types of fruit in it ~ apple and grapes.  The apple represents the original sin;  the grapes represent Jesus’ blood shed for us.

During the time of this painting it was believed that the female rabbit could reproduce without a male rabbit’s contribution.   So it was a virgin rabbit and symbolized the Virgin Mary and the fact that it is white symbolized purity.

The painting is set in the Venetian countryside, the part of Italy where the artist Titian is from.

The Virgin is dressed in red and blue, the colors have come to signify the Virgin.

The other woman is a servant of sorts. She is kneeling in a servants posture but is dressed as a married woman from that era. The hint of marriage is intentional because the woman is actually Saint Catherine of Alexandria. During her life she had a vision of being married to the infant Jesus. The thing she is kneeling on is meant to be a wheel on which Saint Catherine was to be executed.  She had been attempting to show an Emperor of Rome that persecuting Christians was wrong. Everyone who was sent to her in the prison to persuade her to change her mind (including the Empress) was converted to Christianity. The Emperor was furious and demanded she be put to death on the wheel however, when she touched it, it broke into pieces. She was later beheaded and has sometimes been called the Great Martyr Saint Catherine. 

The wild strawberries in the bottom corner signify paradise.

The shepherd in the background is in sharp contrast with the main figures. He is supposed to represent the age of pagan gods that Christianity replaced.

Jesus is being held in a white linen. Sacred items are always to be held in this manner.  

This painting is a sacra conversazione,  or holy conversation. This type of painting portrayed the virgin with a saint. The Madonna is always in the center to signify her as an intercessor before God.

Some may not see this as a  painting of the Virgin and Child, but in the time period in Italy it always brought to mind the Virgin when a woman was portrayed with a child.

So there you have it.   A little Art Appreciation courtesy of Paige.  Hope you enjoyed it and we didn’t bore you.  We would love to see the original of this painting one day.  

 

The World at Your Feet

Last night Leah's school hosted Geography Night for 100 5th and 6th graders who signed up to take a walk across Asia. The school brought in this huge National Geographic floor map of Asia. We went to 8 different regions of the map and learned so much. All I could think of was my blogger friends. We had an overview of Mongolia and I thought of Daja. Then The Philippines ~ Hi Charity.

Here are a few snapshots from the night:



Students from the High School's Council of International Affairs were the host of each station and shared information on the culture, religion, forms of government and demographics of different countries in Asia.



This is for you Charity:

This is for you Uncle Ron:

It was a fun way to learn and really be hands on or "feet" on and experience Geography in a different way. From what I understand National Geographic has 3 of these maps....Asia, Africa and The United States. But I think the best way to learn Geography is to start blogging!

Fourteen

My sweet Paige turned 14 on Monday.

I wish you could meet Paige in person. She is such a blessing to know.

She is growing into a beautiful young woman.

I'm so proud of you Paigie-pooh.

Please indulge me as I take a stroll down memory lane.

Paige at 8 months old:

Paige at 4 years old:

Always has time for Daddy:

Wasn't she just the cutest. OK. back to the here and now~

Paige at 14 years old:

Leah giving Paige her gift

(a day early because she couldn't wait):

It's a Snuggie!

She had a great birthday at home with us and tomorrow she

is lunching with friends to celebrate some more.

Happy Birthday Paige!

I Love you,

Mom

It's all Greek to me

Up until this weekend just about everything I knew about the Greek Orthodox religion and Culture I learned from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. ~ Love that movie.



But this weekend I asked Buster to take us to the Greek Festival in Houston. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Houston, Texas hosted it's 43 Greek Festival. This is a four day event and thousands come. They claim it is the original Greek Festival in the United States.

This Houston Greek Orthodox community began with a handful of Greek immigrants back in 1917.
We had a great time watching the Folk Dancers, eating Greek food, touring the Cathedral and shopping in the Greek market.

Here are some pictures from our afternoon enjoying all things Greek.



Inside the Cathedral...


A member of the church gave us a brief history of the Greek Orthodox Faith. It was so interesting. She was so knowledgeable of early Church history. I would love to talk with her more.

Beautiful stained glass:

Looking up you see this:

The Greek Folk Dancers:

The non-Greek food eaters having pizza:

Mine and Buster's Gyro's: Yum Yum!

My purchase from the Greek market... This apron was only .99. I love aprons anyway and when I saw this one for 99 cents I couldn't pass it up. It has some olive brand advertisement on it. It's all written in Greek, but I thought it was fun.

We heard lots of OPA's!!! and had lots Fun!

Buster even missed an afternoon of College Football on TV to go. He wasn't real happy about that. But we went to Pappa's Burger on our way home after the festival and the Houston Texan's cheerleaders were there. So that made up for it I guess haha.

Trust me he wouldn't have been shouting "Opa" if he stayed home and watched his team play. Let's just say the Georgia Bulldogs were........the ηττημένος. *

* loser

Bod Squad

As most of you know I am the mother of two girls. They like to shop at tween and teen stores. It bothers me when I see clothing that is so not appropriate for young girls.

I heard Dannah Gresh on Focus on the Family Radio the other night and she was talking about a petition she is presenting to the Council of Fashion Designers of America regarding sensual clothing targeted to tweens. Anyway you can read it for yourself and if you would like to go her website and sign the petition. You can also find out about Dannah and her ministry to moms and daughters.

This world sends so many messages to our girls and boys and it's our job to filter these messages and point them towards the truth.

I thought this petition was a great idea to let the fashion industry know how we stand.

http://www.secretkeepergirl.com/Bod_Squad_Petition.aspx

See You at the Pole

Today all around the world students gathered around flagpoles in front of their school to pray. Here are some pictures from my daughters intermediate school. It was so sweet to hear some of them pray.


This is a picture of Leah with Eric, the Children's Pastor from our church. One of her school teachers came out and prayed too with her daughter. I'm so thankful that my daughter has these godly people in her life.





A picture of some of the kids praying around the flagpole. Another area children's pastor and quite a few parents were also there to support the kids.

********

Last Sunday Leah went with other 5th and 6th graders from church to deliver these beautiful plants to an area nursing home. The kids brought the plants in and decorated the pots and made cards. They walked into the rooms at the nursing home and talked with the residents and prayed and left each of them with a pretty plant for their room. This was part of September Serve at our church.

The theme verse for See You at the Pole this year was:

I Timothy 4:12 Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.

I witnessed so many kids being great examples by their faith and actions this week. They are such a blessing.

A Stitch in Time

It's September and I have to say it has been sweet so far. Our temperatures here in Texas are a little milder this week and boy are we loving it.


September is also Libby's anniversary of joining our family. Five years ago we found her at a rescue and brought her home.

A post or two back you saw Libby in dire need of a beauty shop appointment. Well, here she is sporting her less woolly look:









Instead of taking Libby to her the groomer, my friend Terry offered to help me groom her.

Well, she did most of the grooming and I watched and hopefully learned. She has a Schnauzer named Moochie and she grooms him. Libby looks great. Thanks Terry.

Now for the stitching part of the post:



Paige and Leah took a sewing class this summer. They made some cute things I wanted to share with you. I'm so proud of them. I wish they could continue their lessons with this teacher, but it will be hard with school to fit it in. Our favorite project was the pillow case they each made.

Here is Paige and some her projects.

Paige also made this cute little doggy:

A close up of her pillow case and stitching.

Leah made a pillow case too:
They also made scrunchies. Not sure if they will ever be used, but it was a good project to learn from.

Paige and I are adjusting to her new school schedule and absolutely loving it. I love having her home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm suppose to be a co-teacher, but really they should call me a co-learner.

Women's Bible Study started back up today. I'm studying the Book of Romans at a Precepts Bible Study by Kay Arthur. I meet each week with a wonderful group of women. We learn so much together.

Then and Now...

Then:

2004 - Third grade and Kindergarten:

Now:

Eighth Grade and Fifth Grade

No more Butterfly and Hello Kitty backpacks. My chickadees are growing up. As you can see Leah likes to take all her key chains to school with her.

We are so excited for both of them. Leah starts Intermediate School this year and is at a new campus. She has a locker and changes classes each period.

This year Paige is excited to begin a new school too.

She will be attending a University Model School that is a Christian Preparatory School. This style of schooling was completely new to us. When we discovered this school we knew it was the answer to our prayers.

The University Model School combines the best of both worlds...Traditional school and home school. Paige will attend school three days a week and work from home two days a week. All new materials and concepts will be presented by her school teachers; then homework and projects will be done at home on the following day. A parent's role is to support and encourage and co-teach when necessary. This model of education gives students the tools to prepare for the future using a college type schedule in a Christian setting. They become independent learners and managers of their projects and work.

There are University Model schools in thirteen states right now with more schools transitioning to this model. Take a look at the website http://www.naums.net/ to learn more about University Model Schooling.

I'll be posting more about this as Paige, Keith and I experience our first year of University Model Schooling.

Sorry, I usually like to keep my post short, but....

One more thing. When it comes to schooling, there is an organization that is near and dear to my heart ~ Moms in Touch. I have been prayed with Moms in Touch groups since Paige was in 2nd grade. This year, 65 moms came for a special Back to School prayer time. If you would like to know more about Moms in Touch International, let me know in the comments section or click on the link. MITI is world-wide.

♥

Turning Ten

My Leah is 10!

She had a fun birthday party with some friends over to

Swim/Eat/Sleep

and

Celebrate!

Blogger for some reason is not letting me move my pictures around.

So they are a little out of order.

Are any of you having problems with that?

We are so proud of Leah. Her sweet personality and compassion for others is a joy to see.

She has taught me so much over the last 10 years and I thank God for her each day.