Birdwatching

We have a new favorite past time. I must say, I never knew birdwatching was so interesting.

It all started when we spent the afternoon at my sister's house. They recently moved further into the country and have several bird feeders outside the house. My boys and their cousin (and myself) spent a good bit of our time that afternoon marveling at the beautiful birds that were showcased right outside my sister's kitchen bay window. What an entertaining lunchtime we all had! We saw cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, bluebirds, blackbirds, just to name the ones I knew. Such beautiful creatures that God made for us to enjoy!

So, of course, a bird feeder for our bay window immediately jumped to the top spot on my boys "must have" list. The next day, their Daddy did not disappoint when he walked in the door after work with a new bird feeder and a big bag of wild bird seed!

The boys spent a sunny Saturday morning, helping Daddy set a post in the ground outside our bay window to hang their new feeder from. Unfortunately, it rained for the next few days, and not a one bird came to our feeder.  However, when the rain stopped, we were finally rewarded!

We do not live in the country, but hopefully we will still see a few birds like this one and a few others from time to time!  We've got our bird books on the windowsill ready to look up whatever we might see! Such fun for little boys who love everything outdoors! :)

Carson's 5!

How did this happen? 

My baby is five years old? 

His two favorite stuffed animals had to be present to share in this very special moment.

But they are about to have company!

 

  He was so very happy that Mommy and Daddy said even though he was a big boy now, 

he wasn't too old to have his very own pillow pet dolphin!  :)

 

Cranky the Crane was a very special edition to our Thomas collection!

This half wall Jeff built to separate the dining room and living room a little is such a great thing!

I mean, where would these guys hang out in our tiny house if it wasn't there? :)

 Aunt Sarah just couldn't resist playing with the trains another minute. :)

A little hacky sack practice with Uncle Dan!

 

Again, the wall proving itself very useful.

One Happy Birthday Boy!  :)

Thunderous Thaw

When an ice storm is followed by a rapid rise in temperature . . .

it begins to rain ice chunks . . .

and tree branches . . .

There was a dull roar from the sounds of cracking and smashing ice and this is what the ground ended up looking like.

Simply amazing!

And More Snow and Ice

I love taking pictures of fresh snow. And I love how the newly fallen snow hushes everything. A beautiful quiet time, just me and my camera. :)

 

 Then, of course, this is the name of the game . . .

Carson  found some rabbit tracks in the fresh snow.

 

 

   

 

 

 

And then came the ice storm. More beauty!  
 

 

And from the sounds of it, I should find another quiet moment or two in fresh snow again soon! :)

January Beauty

 A little snow . . .

 and a little ice.

A glaze encasing even a lonely patio table in beauty!  :)

Pondering Prayer

The boys are learning about the doctrine of prayer in their weekly Truth Tracker class. And not so coincidentally, our ladies' Bible study is currently working through Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, by Cynthia Heald.

Hmmmm.

A timely study.

I have so much to learn.

Mmmmm!

Just using up the leftover candy canes after a playful afternoon in the snow with the boys! :)

1.1.11

I received the most encouraging email this week which was just the reminder I needed as I begin this next year!

Scripture says it best . . .

...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 3:13-14

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.

~Lamentations 3:21-24

A Peaceful Evening

It's oh, so peaceful.
Little boys eyes closed in their beds.
Mommy under a fleece throw 

stringing popcorn for the tree.
Daddy studying diligently

for a final exam in the morning. 

 All is quiet,

tree lights twinkle,

candles burn,

music softly celebrates Christ's birth.

A peaceful evening 

in the midst of whirling December.

                                                              ~ Suzie