Flood!

I have not blogged much. I will probably be slowing way down now that the kids are out of school. I'm trying to set a good example to them of doing things rather than just sitting at the computer. I told them no computer or TV...so how could I go and do it? Kind of hypocritical.

Please pray for the people in Broome County, NY and in PA...there is heavy flooding. Many people have been evacuated, lost their homes. It is very bad. This is only about a 2 hour drive from here.

Ants!!!!

We are having an ant problem here at my house! They are everywhere! Agggggggggh!

Field Trip!

Today I went to the water park here in town with my 3rd grader's class. Actually the entire 3rd grade from our primary school went on this field trip. My daughter is a very active and outgoing child and I think she fears nothing. She went on every water ride...including "The Screamer." We had a lot of fun! I'm not much of a water park person as a rule...but I did it anyway....and ya know? I really ended up having a lot of fun!! It was a little cooler than I would have preferred, but otherwise the weather was gorgeous.

I went on this dark blue water slide (pictured above) with Audra and it was great! At one point you go inside of a tunnel that is pitch black. You can see nothing! At the very bottem, our raft capsized and I got a noseful of water and I came up coughing and choking. I still had a great time. I mostly hung out with Melissa, the mother of one of my daughter's best friends. Audra and Sarah had way more energy than we did and we were frequently losing them. Luckily, it is a small waterpark and about 80 percent of the people there were 3rd graders and parents.

I have no photos to share of us because I didn't want to keep track of a camera and keep it dry, etc. The photo above is one I borrowed off of the park's website.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the year...and it is only a half day. Then we are off until September.

Art Blog

Decided to create a blog for just my art work. You can check it out here. http://scillysartspot.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think.

Down Under?

"Mommy, what time is it in Australia?"

"About 11:00 at night."

"Oh...so they're all in bed?"

"Probably a lot of them are."

"Where is Australia?"

"On the other side of the world."

"You mean it's down there?" (points down to ground)

"No...it's waaaay across the ocean."

"But I thought it was down under."

Lonely

I have been lonely. Partly it's my own fault because I decided to lock myself in my house to do some serious painting. I was commissioned to do a piece for a lady this past February. However....I just started it a few weeks ago because I knew she wasn't going to come back into the area until July. So...I'm a bit of a procrastinator. Anyway, I am making progress on it...but I am getting lonely. Although I love painting, I can't do that all the time and nothing else. Today I was longing to have a cup of coffee with a friend and conversation. Even though I had Fernando Ortega singing in the background and my paintbrushes for company...I felt this emptiness. Blogging definitely helps, but nothing can take the place of a friend "with skin on".

I've had many good friends over the years. God has truly blessed me with wonderful people. Think back. Who was your best friend when you were growing up and how did you spend your time? What things did you do? Do you still know this person? Tell me about it.

My boy

I thought it was only fair that I post a picture of my boy since I posted a picture of my girls. My boy is 11 years old. He's a real good boy. He's smart and he even helps me with my computer problems. He's a pretty good photographer, has a good sense of humor and plays soccer. We went to his soccer game tonight. His team won! Way to go guys!

Anyway...I'm very proud of my boy!

Who are you?

I've noticed on my cluster map that there are those of you who stop by...people in England, Spain, Germany, Japan, Minnesota, California, Texas....

Stop by and introduce yourself.

Sleeping girls and dolls

A few months ago I went into my daughters' room to look at them before retiring to bed and this is what I found. They were wearing the night gowns I had sewed for them...with the matching pj's for their dolls.

This picture makes me smile.

English words?

Australia and the United States are "two countries separated by a common language." That is what my friend Colin used to say while he was living here in the U.S. He is from Queensland. He and his wife, Ruth lived here for a year while they interned at our church. I remember toward the end of the year I was sitting with him at a picnic table listening to our children play together. I marvelled that his older son...who had been enrolled in American Kindergarten for the duration of their stay had no trace of an Australian accent. I mentioned this to Colin and he said, "He's actually bilingual." Apparently when the kid was home with them or speaking with relatives on the phone, he could speak in a perfect Australian accent.

Anyway...because of blogging I have learned several Australian words.
capsicum=chile pepper or pepper
boiled lollies=hard candy
petrol=gasoline
tram=stroller
trolley=grocery cart
footy=some sport played there. I guess it's a combination of soccer and American football?
jelly=jello or gelatin
college=some place people go to study before they go to university?
university=college or university

I'm sure I'll learn more.

Burnt Coffee and Soiled Diapers

Today I babysat a 4 year old (Sophie) and a 21 month old (Hallie) for a friend while she had an appointment for a couple of hours. I forgot how much work it all involves! I went to go heat up a small pan of coffee on my stove when I was distracted by Sophie who wanted to try out the tricycle. I forgot about the coffee and ended up pushing her on the swing and keeping her little sister from running in front of it. I had to dig out my baby gate to keep Hallie from climbing the stairs...and I had to move all my paintbrushes to higher ground. Meanwhile back out at the swings...we tried out the slide and the monkey bars. I was getting tired and Sophie said she was hungry so back to the house we went...where I discovered that my coffee was burnt! The entire house smells like burnt coffee and kind of a "melted plasticky smell"-I believe from the handle of the coffee maker. Peeeuh!! I grabbed the coffee maker off the burner...making the discovery that the handle was waaaaayyy hot. I dropped the coffee pot on the floor and so burnt coffee was all over. Grabbed Hallie so she wouldn't step in it...while telling Sophie to get back. Cleaned up the mess and started to get them lunch. I had very little food that actually appealed to the girls. I gave them little pieces of cheese and bread and juice and started hunting for some fruit while Sophie attempted to butter her own bread while I wasn't paying attention. I was scraping most of the butter off her bread (she had put quite a bit on) when their mother came.

They are just beautiful little girls! They look like they should be clothing models because they look so perfect. Anyway...I am exhausted!

Talking Shop

I've been painting for 5 hours today and it's time to stop. I am very intimidated by this project. I am just worried that my client won't be happy with it. Particularly with the flowers. She never told me what kind of flowers she wanted on it...just "muted pinks and yellows" and "no geraniums." Whatever!

I think I've completely killed my liner brush. It is now so worn out that it is forked...which ironically is perfect for cat fur! Anyway...I just want this project to be done and check in hand!!! My new motivation to get it done is getting to start a mural in the bedroom of an 8 year old girl. It sounds like a fun and light project! I need something to boost my confidence right now!!

The above is a picture of the wall of a bedroom I did last summer for a teen. Electric guitars floating in clouds.

I look so forward to this upcoming project! Would it be selfish to ask you to pray that my client loves my painting?

Getting Creative!

Hey everybody! Get your creative juices flowing and have some fun! Click here
Just click and drag your mouse around the screen to create your own colorful masterpiece!

My Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Here is a picture of my core group for Community Bible Study. It was taken at our Sharing Day Brunch...the last meeting of the year. That's me in the back. Third from the left with my arm around Alona's shoulder.

How I love this group of women! Every Wednesday morning from September through mid-May we got together to study the word of God. This year we went through a study called "Return to Jeruselem." We went throught the books of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, Nehemiah and Malachi. If you think it sounds like a lot...you are right, it was. It was also so amazing! It was challenging, but learned a lot! Community Bible Study is an International Organization that encourages people to read and study God's word. If there is a Community Bible Study near you, I encourage you to get involved!

We have broken off study for the summer and will resume in September. I believe we will be studying Galatians and Hebrews next. For the summer I am going through a Max Lucado study called Next Door Savior. So far it is going pretty good...but I miss my fellowship of women.

What are you studying in God's word? Any suggestions for me?

The Lure of the Computer

I have not been very useful today I must admit. Been wasting a ton of time on the computer. I have decided that blogspot is evil and am challenging myself not to open it for an entire day. Actually...I'm kidding. It is not really evil but I have a hard time getting motivated to do much of anything at all when I've glued myself to the machine. I have become convicted that I'm not really doing what I should be doing as a wife, mother, homemaker, friend, etc. So...I will not be back until atleast Friday...which will probably be Saturday Aussie time.

So tomorrow I will spend time in the word of God and in prayer. I will inquire of the Lord as to how He would like me to spend my time. Afterall...everything I have....including time is given to me by Him. I dare not waste it.

Wedding Cake

Check out this nifty wedding cake I found!

Congratulations, Jamie!

Today we drove to Buffalo to watch my darling husband graduate from college. I am very proud of him. He worked so hard. It wasn't easy...working full time, father of three children, and hubby to me, but he did it! He now has a Bachelor of Science degree! I took pictures...but can't add one to the blog yet until I get it transferred to a disc or something.

After a small reception of sandwhiches, cookies and iced tea....we drove to Niagara Falls, Canada to show the kids the falls. Even though we only live 2 hours away from the falls, the kids had never seen it before. It was absolutely beautiful weather and of course the falls were breathtaking! We have an amazing God to think up and create such an amazing piece of wonder of nature. I couldn't help but wonder while looking around at all the touristy stuff what it must have been like there a couple hundred of years ago...or before that when just the indians of North America were around. Even more beautiful I suspect!


Anyway...we walked around for a couple of hours, ate icecream and visited a beautiful botanical garden...and then we were soon back in the United States and on our way home. So here we are at home, Jamie is just finishing up mowing the lawn...and soon the kids will be tucked into bed. I think it's great to live where we live. How many other kids in the U.S. will be able to say to their friends tomorrow, "Oh I went to Canada yesterday...saw Niagara Falls."

We Like to Read!

I've always loved to read. I'm sure this was fostered by my own parents reading to me. Here are a few pictures of us kids enjoying stories being read by either Mom or Dad. I was discussing with a woman named Ruth the titles of good children's books. So I thought I would create my own post regarding this subject. What are the best children's books out there? I want to hear some of your favorites.
I really enjoy Kevin Henkes. He is the author of Chrysanthemum, Sheila the Brave, and Wemberly Worried. He's written quite a number of others that I like as well. Ruth and I both like Shirley Hughes too. She's the author of all the Alfie and Annie Rose books as well as David and Dog (or Dogger depending on which edition you are reading)
Feel free to add chapter books to the list as I have older children. I always seem to enjoy the Roald Dahl books and my children do too.

So...how about it? What are your favorites?

Night Owl or Morning Dove?

Ok...are you a night owl or a morning dove? I'm a night owl...which I've been ever since I can remember. Even as a kid...I was wide awake at night.

The other night my husband muttered something about being a blog widower as he shuffled off to bed. Uh oh!

The computer never sleeps. I was just conversing with some people in Australia where it is approximately 2:30 in the afternoon as I type this. It is about 12:30 AM here. Yikes...must go to bed so I can be awake enough to get my kids off to school in a few hours!

Cheerio!