This week's Roses...extended version.

These are the special moments from our very hectic lives over the past few weeks.  

The Roses sent to us have been amazing, although sometimes difficult.  We are traveling on an 

amazing journey together as a family.  We are grateful for every moment, rose and blessing sent from above.  We are truly on this beautiful journey to grow closer to the One who Is.  

Beautiful ballerinas at their end of year recitals.

Amazing Nature centers and guides who love to share their love with our homeschooling group.  Great friends who work so hard to set up these amazing adventures!

This is Alligator Pond.

Yep, that's a REAL LIVE alligator!  

In the exact middle of the screen, next to the reflection of the white tree, you will see the creature from the above picture.  We were pretty close.  

Sunbathing turtles.  They were pretty big.  The alligators will feast on these and other small animals in the pond.  

A tarantula was next...

Mr. Al with a corn snake on his neck.  We learned so many new things that we didn't know before about all different types of reptiles.  

The kids were able to ask any and every question they could think of.  

Love was mesmerized. He couldn't pet the snake enough.  

FYI, sweet boy, we will NEVER have one in this house.

Pickwick Society with our dearest friends.  Sewing and crafting at the park on a spring day is another amazing joy of homeschooling.

And it wouldn't be Pickwick without snacks.

Little brothers chasing geese and ducks.

More brothers and more ducks and a momma who is now snuggling that baby in her arms.

Congratulations to the V. family!  We can't wait to meet that sweet girl.

 Highschool group.  So grateful that my children have such wonderful friends.

Thanks to another great mom in our HS group, we had classes at the Houston Zoo.  I took the kids early in hopes that we would see the animals more active.  It worked. Except for the sleepy bear, we saw many active animals.  The two leopards were wrestling and playing.  It was so cute.  The zoo has a commemorative of all the Cougars who have stayed at the zoo.  We had to stop and take a picture for Daddy!

I will wake the dawn...

"My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and chant praise.

Awake, O my soul' awake, lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn.

I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Lord, 

I will chant your praise amount the nations, 

For your kindness towers to the heavens,

 and your faithfulness to the skies. 

 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; 

above all the earth be your glory!"   PS 57:8-12

Every morning I wake early to say my prayers, read the Bible and read other books that are encouraging me to grow closer to Christ.  This has been working well until recently.  Love has decided that he also needs to wake early.  He also is ready to begin his day and does not like to wait.  So I find myself torn.  I so want and need this special time in my day and yet, now I find that I have to stop and actually live my vocation.  It's definitely a gift (or rose) that I have the opportunity to work on the virtue of patience.  I can always use the practice.  

Morning is my favorite time of day.  It always has been.  I am a morning person.  I find that if able, I could get a day's worth of work done by 11:00 AM.  Thank you God for my precious mornings.  Without them I definitely lose my focus.

Whenever we rent a house at the beach, I always wake early and grab my camera and catch the sunset.  This time I didn't have my Nikon, so I grabbed my iPhone.  

This Weeks Roses

When you are 12 and have OCD and a virus, life is hard.  But the roses were bountiful!!  No pics though.  We also had two extra boys for Love to play with this week.  After listening to three girls play for years, I fell in love with the imaginations of three boys.  There are so many differences and I appreciate them so much.  Thank you God for the Roses of this week.

The Cornerstone...

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."  Luke 20:17

Riding the Heavens...

"There is no god like the God of the darling, who rides the heavens in his power, and rides the skies in his majesty"  Deuteronomy 33:26

This is the sunset from last October when we had a quick trip to the beach at our favorite beach house.  So beautiful!!  Taken with my iPhone.

The Kingdom of God

"The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, 'Look here it is,' or, 'There it is.'  For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."  Luke 17:20-21

This week's roses...

Having my nephew want his 6th birthday to be at Auntie Julie's house!!!

Another weekend of Honk Jr!!!  

Receiving roses for a job well done from some very special people!!

Best director, EVER!!  And wonderful friend, teacher and mentor.

Finally...a whole family shot.  Even though Love did not want to be in it.

After spending the weekend with special cousin.  All within a few minutes.  

Exhaustion...

Peace!

A fun Monday at the park for a picnic with some pesty squirrels.

LOVE! 

Repent...

"A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me." PS 51:12

Money bags...

"O you of little faith?  As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore.  All the nations of the world seek of these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides.  Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your belongings and give alms.  Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, and inexhaustible treasure in heaven that not thief can reach nor moth destroy.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."

 Lk 12:28-34

Dear Lord,  Please allow my 

money bags to be full of things that only please You!!