how could you not love that cute face?


I feel so blessed to be his mom.
God is good.  Thank you for Samuel.

Remember to link up with Hannah's new Wordless Wednesday -- Lovely Photo Wednesday.

Till tomorrow! Or today!  Or soon!


Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire

my thoughts -- miscellany monday style

This is a very typical, and usual ramble from me.  Now you have a glimpse into how my brain and thought-processing goes.  Still like me, okay? :)

1) Caleb, who's almost five, came running in with flowers for me.  Every day.  He finally said to me, "you know why I get you flowers mom?  It's because I love you."  Melted me heart.

flowers right after being picked

2) I still have the last bunch of flowers from Caleb sitting in the window ledge above my kitchen sink.

flowers this morning

3) Those flowers are from my perennial garden. I love to garden.  Something in life that I have a bit of control over.  I know, weird, but it's true.

flowers outside by our deck
4) My perennial garden is huge.  Expands every year.  If any of you were local, I'd invite you over for some coffee and then we'd dig up some perennials for you to take home.

5) I have not canned yet.  Now, the canner from my last Miscellany Monday, is sitting in my garage on my gardening bench.  Soon.  There's a farmers market on Thursday and I will be buying produce.

6) Anyone do a fall garden?  My summer garden (except for tomatoes) is coming to a close, so the bed looks so bare.  I'm wondering -- even it's possible -- to put a fall garden in.  Especially since I live in Minnesota.

7) I know I just wrote about missing summer, but let me tell you -- I'm excited for fall.  Truly.   I love the feeling of the air, going to the apple orchard, the colors, and the more organized days.

Brennan at the pumpkin farm last year

8) Maybe I'm feeling better because I actually did order a chunk of our curriculum.  And none of it came from one of those catalogs I pictured last week.

9) Interested?  Okay.  Here's a sneak peak -- our entire family is going to be studying Medieval History.  I'm excited.  We've done many, many, many years of ancient history and an equal number of years studying American history.  It's time for a year filled with knights, and serfs, and illuminated letters -- I think I'm probably more excited than my kids!  And, yes, even Hannah -- the highschooler -- will be studying this with us.  (She'll get one credit in Old World History and one in British Literature)

10) So now, today, I'm going to start planning.  And breathing a sigh of relief!

wait--that's nothing to do with fall, or plants, or curriculum
that's my obligatory Samuel picture
(he was 3 months there)


Link up with my fabulous friend, Carissa's Miscellany Monday link up.  Still wondering about my curriculum choice?  That post is coming.  Call this the teaser.


Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters


Have a great Monday!!!

pakistan fruit

pakistan fruit
pakistan fruit
pakistan fruit
pakistan fruit

pakistan fruit

birthday cake

birthday cake
birthday cake
birthday cake
birthday cake

birthday cake

Mai Phuong Thuy performed traditional dress-Ao dai $ 3,700

Miss Viet Nam 2006, Mai Phuong Thuy performed traditional dress ao dai at  a wedding fashion show 28 August at the Fortuna Hotel in Ha Noi.

Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy is in a gentle in traditional dress with name "Eyes dress" of the Vietnamese designer Vo Viet Chung, while the beautiful sea Nguyen Thi Loan is in luxurious wedding dress. Bridal night show and charity auction held at Wedding Gala 28 / 8 in Hanoi

Check out the photo collections:










References:

http://vnexpress.net/GL/Van-hoa/2010/08/3BA1FCC3/
http://ngoisao.net/News/Hau-truong/2010/08/3B9D1080/
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifevn/wo/201008/Beauty-queens-model-at-wedding-showcase-932255/

Vietnam still searching for Miss Earth 2010 contestant

Though Miss Earth 2010 will be held in Vietnam for the first time this November, Vietnam has not yet selected its representative.

Top five of Miss Vietnam World 2010 pageant.
The organizing board of Miss Earth 2010 announced events and activities of Miss Earth in Vietnam at a press conference in HCM City on August 25. At the meeting, the local media paid special attention to the host country’s contestant. The organizing board said that the Vietnamese contestant will be selected from the top 15 beauties of Miss Vietnam World 2010 pageant.


“We are considering choosing a deserving representative for Miss Earth pageant. She may be Miss Vietnam World 2010, the first or second runner-up or one in the top 15 of this contest. She must be beautiful, talented, has good knowledge of environment and has a passion for environmental activities,” said organizer Nguyen Cong Khe.Miss Earth 2010 will take place in one month, with activities covering HCM City, Phan Thiet, Hoi An and Nha Trang. Contestants from 90 countries will be in HCM City as of November 4. They will attend a press conference in the city and some environmental activities, compete in the Miss Party and Gala Dinner.

They will move to Phan Thiet to join environmental activities and a festival to advertise Vietnam’s sports from November 15-17. In Hoi An, they will compete in Miss Ao Dai, attend the Earth Hour and the Lantern Festival, to call for fuel saving and natural resource protection.
Contestants will go to Nha Trang to prepare for the finale night and will meet with residents to talk about environmental protection and join various environmental activities.
Miss Earth 2010 pageant will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Vietnam. Vietnam will host several Miss Earth pageants over the next ten years. It is sponsored by the Philippines’ Carousel Productions group, which is closely connected with raising people’s awareness of environmental protection.

References:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Entertainment/201008/Vietnam-still-searching-for-Miss-Earth-2010-contestant-931894/

Maria Teresa Roca

Maria Teresa Roca was crowned Miss Mundo Bolivia 2010 on August 26th. Maria is 24-year-old ad stands 5’10”. Maria Teresa Roca will represent Bolivia in Miss World 2010 pageant in Sanya.
Check out some photos of Maria Teresa Roca in bikini.
>>Maria Teresa Roca crowned Miss Mundo Bolivia 2010

Maria Teresa Roca



Maria Teresa Roca in bikini

Maria Teresa Roca in swim suit

Maria Teresa Roca in bikini

Maria Teresa Roca in bikini

Maria Teresa Roca in bikini

Maria Teresa Roca

Maria Teresa Roca in bikini


Source: flick photos

rachel, oh rachel, where are you??

Wondering?

finding joy has been a bit quiet.

Too quiet.

Intentionally.


August is ending, the summer drawing to a close.  It feels as if it was just June and we had the entire summer stretching in front of us.  Vacations, swimming in the pool, freezy pops at ten am.  Late night sunsets. Sandcastles.

And, now, here I am with just a couple days left of August.  Fall is encroaching, and my blank calendar days are being replaced with ink-filled days.  Routine.  And that's good.  There's something comforting about days that are scheduled, with goals and agendas.  Yet, there is those moments, those breaths of bitter-sweet sadness as you say goodbye to another summer. It's the end of this glorious, spontaneous time, late-night, wonderful time of freedom.  Next time it rolls around things will be different:

Next year, next summer, Samuel will be on the verge of two.

Next year, next summer, Hannah will begin to learn how to drive.

Next year, next summer, Chloe will be a teenager.

Next year, next summer, Grace will move to middle-school classes at church.

Next year, next summer, Brennan will be almost eight.

Next year, next summer, Caleb will be starting kindergarten.

Next year, next summer, Elijah will be able to play in the back yard and will stay there.

That's next year.  For now, I'm going to enjoy my children right where they are.  Right now.  And that meant not blogging for a couple of days.  It meant reading.  Running through the sprinkler.  Playing games.  Picking tomatoes. Ordering curriculum.  Enjoying now.

Next summer will come soon enough. So for now, I'm squeezing all the joy out of this summer as I can.

that's the sand castle I made with the kids in July

How about you?  What are some of those last days of summer freedoms that you're aching to do?


Japanese

Japanese
Japanese
Japanese
Japanese

Japanese