Gratituesday: My Little Hostess

It brings my heart great joy to see Nyla feed and love on her baby dolls just as we do in our home when we invite others to join us. I'm praying I can continue to teach her the life skill of opening her home and hosting fellowships. It's such a great way to get to know others. It's such a great way to tell others about the love of Jesus and to love them for who they are.

Below are a couple of pictures of her playing hostess. Her great-grandmother's tea set is now in possession by my mom so it gets played with each time we go out for a visit. Nyla decided, on her own, to pull up the baby dolls to the coffee table, using various forms of seating. A high chair, a rocking chair, a couple of scooters were used. A good hostess uses what's available and makes it work! Am I right? She didn't want to exclude any dolls, so she grabbed what seating she had. She set the table before them and played tea party. Be still my heart. What a blessing it was to watch her do this all on her own. She went to my mom and asked for a couple animal crackers because, "they need something to eat." 

She provided a time of fellowship for her friends and what a time they had!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22: 6 (KJV)


This post is linked to this week's Gratituesday post at Heavenly Homemakers. Check out her blog for other great Gratituesday's posts.

Gratituesday: Little Moments

I don't always appreciate the little moments I have with my two little girls. They drive me up a wall somedays, sometimes all day. They ask a million questions over and over again, spill a drink or food four thousand times a day, are at my feet playing with dolls when I'm trying to prep a meal, color all over the table and not on their paper. This list goes on and on.

Sometimes it takes looking back at pictures, even from just a few days ago, to fully appreciate how blessed I am to stay home with these girls. I look back and these pictures and laugh at their antics. Naomi wants to wear my sunglasses all the time and I happily oblige. Can I get a picture of the two them together and smiling at the same time? Not a chance at this stage in life but I can tell from their faces they're happy.

I love that homeschooling them means I won't miss all these moments as they get bigger. If Naomi wants to wear sunglasses all day and she still gets her work done, so be it. If Nyla spills yet another drink but cleans it up without being told, I know I'm doing a good job as a parent. Training up young minds and learning life skills is what it's all about after all.

The days are long but the years are short. I like not missing a moment with these two crazies! :)

Yes, we're in the bathroom. ;)

Sweet girls

Cheese!? Or maybe not. :)

Our visit to the zoo last week

Before church this past Sunday. 

Nyla is getting so big. She was copying me with her legs crossed.

These girls love to color!

Naomi's first haircut

Nyla can write her name

A cool day in August meant a picnic lunch on our driveway

Having fun after bath time.

This post is linked to Heavenly Homemakers for this weeks Gratituesday. Come link up and share what you're thankful for in your life!

Gratituesday: To the Zoo

I love having the Memphis Zoo 20 minutes from our home. We're able to pop over there for a couple hours each week, when it's nice, and spend some time seeing and talking about the animals. It's homeschool at it's best! We can see, hear, touch and discuss what we see. 

I love that my parents have continued to buy us a membership each Christmas. This "gift of experience" continues to give and give with each visit. I love seeing the girls grow and learn more about the animals each time. They love it there as much as I do. 

Enjoy some pictures from our visit today!

Nyla pet a sheep. Our sweet Nyla isn't one to try new things, though we encourage her often to do so.
She really surprised me today when she said she wanted to and then actually did.

Naomi's favorite animal right now is the Panda or "pana" as she calls it. 

Nyla still loves the zebra's. 

One of Nyla's favorites is Maliki the giraffe. Maliki was born in January and we're seeing her grow up. It's awesome.
Maliki is Nyla's "friend" according to Nyla. She's so sweet.

I just had to have a picture of her with her face in the hole. Naomi wanted to but she's a little too short. :)

Nyla first stood in front then I showed her how to stick her face in the hole so she could be a giraffe.

"Flaminingoes" as the girls call them.

Gratituesday: Zoo Fun

This weekend we traveled to the Memphis Zoo for a little Saturday morning fun. We have a membership that we get for Christmas every year and I really think it's one of the best gifts. It takes up no space in our home and it's a different experience each time we go. Nyla and Naomi love it more with every visit. I'm thankful for the chance to spend time with just our little family. We have no TV's, computers or cell phones interrupting our time together. It's just us!

Nyla and Mama waiting for the gates to open.

The giraffes; one of Nyla's favorites to see.

The "zeebies" are Nyla's favorites!

Up close and personal

The Bald Eagle

This wolf welcomed us into the Teton Trek exhibit

I'm grateful for the time we get to spend together when we go to the zoo. Not only do we get to spend time together but we get to enjoy God's creations. We may never go to Africa to see a giraffe or a zebra; it's nice to have a place to enjoy what God has made.

What is God doing in your life? 

Daniel's picture of the bumblebee

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
This post in linked to Gratituesday, September 17, 2012

Gratituesday-August 16

I'm thankful for...

My sweet Hubby! I just thought this vacuuming picture was funny. He still does vacuum for me every week which I love; I HATE to vacuum and he doesn't mind so it's win-win!!

Not only am I thankful he likes to vacuum I'm thankful for the man he is. He strives to serve our Lord and learn more everyday. He's getting together studies for a Bible study we're starting at church next month and I love being able to sit with him and talk about what he envisions for the study. I'm praying for him and the people that are to come to it. It's an exciting time in our lives! We have a sweet baby girl and another on the way in November and he's so in love with both of them. I'm thankful he's a loving father and follow of Christ. I couldn't ask for more!

What are you thankful for today?

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Write about it on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

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Gratituesday: My girl

Gratituesday: My girl

I'm thankful for this sweet and beautiful face. I have been truly blessed by my loving Savior for this little blessing.

This post is linked over with Laura at Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday.

What are you thankful for this week?

Gratituesday-Jan 18

This post is linked up over with Laura at Heavenly Homemakers. If you're grateful for something, head on over to her blog and link up!

Today I'm grateful for:

1. My sweet husband for going to work everyday so I can stay home and raise our daughter. I know not everyone can do this, and it's a huge blessing for us!

2. A healthy 6 month old baby girl. We went to the Doctor last Friday and she's on the right track for everything, and above all for others. She is the length of an 11-month old and the weight of a 9-month old. We have a big, strong and healthy girl!

3. I'm really thankful for a pantry and refrigerator stocked full of food. I went grocery shopping yesterday and got everything on my list, plus a few more things and I know not everyone is able to do that.

I've been thinking a lot about hunger in our world today. It's in our world, our country, our state, our county and our city. While I don't see it very much, I know it's there. I've never experienced being hungry or going without a meal, I can't imagine what it's like. So the past couple of weeks I've been extra thankful for having all the food I could possibly need!

What are you thankful for?

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