Dreamseekers and Company

I’ve been trying to figure out why my grocery bills have been going up and up and up. I know part of it is grocery prices in general have gone up. Part of it is I’m buying more expensive (more humane and natural) meats. But you know what? I think the main difference is that it takes me two carts to do my monthly shopping these days instead of one. It never used to take two! At least this month and last it took two and before that it was a careful stacking act so nothing was crushed.

$240 today on groceries for my main monthly shopping, though, so I feel good about that. It should be the bulk of this month. But then, I usually think that and then I see the real damage at the end of the month when all the additional apples, bananas, lettuce, bread and the like are added in.

Carolyn is sleeping with me now for the first time in her life since she was a newborn. We’ve tried sleeping in the recliner and she does not sleep there. Don’t know why it took so long to try our bed; maybe because we thought it’d be the same as the recliner… play, play, play! Ok, so she’s not sleeping that great anyway. Last night she was awake from 3am-6am other than 5 minute crashes. Then she slept from 6-7. I’m pretty tired! Wish I knew what bothers her at night.

Things you may hear if you live in a house with a blond four-year-old:
“Mommy, I’m going potty. I went poop mommy. It’s my first time going poop today. I went last night though. Just two pieces though.”

Oh – and have I shared this story about Maggie?

“Maggie: My feet are talking to each other.
Casey: What do they say?
Maggie: I don’t know… They’re talking in Spanish.
Papa: I bet they complain about all the puddles you jump in.
Maggie: No, they LOVE puddles!”

Family Bible time consists of Brian reading a portion of the Children’s Bible and the kids practicing memory verses for AWANA.

Distractions galore! 🙂 Anna had a LOT this week, since she was doing mostly review.

Carolyn outside:

All the kids have a cough and occasionally run a low fever. I thought they were over it so we went to OMSI for some homeschoolin’ fun. It was fun. 🙂 Got some good sleep the last couple of days, so I’m feeling ready to take on… the weekend! lol

First items on list today (now that the kids are fed and dressed): Get dressed myself, make banana muffins, go to the library, have some training time with Smoke. And return emails. Really want to do that!

This is the sight most nights at Bible time… although Jordan is more often somewhere else. Maggie has a hard time learning verses if she’s not moving.

This is what happens after the kids go to bed. Brian, the dogs and I sack out on the couch with a book. Yes, Smoke usually sleeps like that!

Smoke doesn’t pay much attention to who is petting him. 🙂

Maggie too!

Smoke getting some lovin’ in our upstairs hallway

Time for a walk outside!

Smoke and Wyatt are pals

Smoke and Frank took longer to warm up to each other, but they seem to have things settled.

Carolyn didn’t want any help walking up the road!

Frank is around here somewhere too… I had four dogs and five kids tromping up the road. 🙂

What to do with this particular sodden corner of the property?

Looking out… it’s beautiful!

Carolyn is out and ready to march!

She fell down. And stayed there for fifteen minutes before I picked her up and brought her inside out of the cold.

Jordan alternately had fun and had melt downs at OMSI.

Carolyn at OMSI… smiling for the camera while sitting in the stroller.

My new friend’s daughter came and helped with Anna and Maggie so they could do more at OMSI! (Thank you Wendy! Thank you Allison!)

Water baby

Have I mentioned that we bought suspenders last week and that I love them?

Carolyn loved the low water tables. And I could hardly keep her from drinking the water, even to take a picture.

It was very important for Maggie to move water. Not sure why!

Anna checks out the tornado water.

Water table fun!

We played at two different water stations! Maggie is carefully carrying three beakers full of water to pour into the water here.

I replaced her book three times…. and when we found her at bedtime, she was almost asleep in this swing.

Just been a bit of a good week and a hard week. We are pretty tired. I have some important things that I need to do that I just cannot do even though it seems like I should be able to. I am not giving up, but I am discouraged today. Maybe because I pushed through hard times… and then found out it was hard because Anna is sick (again/still) and her fever is back. I’m praying we get some sleep tonight!

Tonight Brian and I looked at a picture of our property and dreamed and planned what sorts of things we would like to do here. Plant nut trees here, plant fruit trees there, bring a water line up here, drain this there, build garden beds here, plant shade trees over there… it’s exciting! Even if we don’t see it come to fruition (ha! lucky pun!) for years.

Goodnight!

Have some things on my mind that have really turned us to prayer.

Also, we watched the second Hobbit movie. I left the movie really disturbed. First of all, there was tons of violence just for the sake of violence. I was there for the story, the slapstick jokes and the good guys winning, not to learn and watch 101 ways to decapitate an orc. Secondly, other people there were enjoying the disgusting, evilly intended and gruesome scenes. Nothing states the depravity of man like people cheering for casual death and pain at others’ expense. Finally, in this movie, Gandalf’s light was overcome by Saruman’s darkness. That was exactly how I felt while watching the yucky parts of the movie. It wasn’t until I was in bed falling asleep that I finally found peace when I remembered that DARKNESS DOES NOT WIN.

Truth:
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Psalm 30:5
…weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Not all things are heavy around here, though!

Watch out for the elusive and highly dangerous inside-out hat girl:

All the girls on their new little bench. Thank you, Dave!

Carolyn wanted to wear Jordan’s preschool backpack when he got home one day. (Yes, she was still in jammies at 4pm)

Backpack girl: