Trick or Treat?

Pumpkin carving

Oops! Forgot to get a picture of the final product. Tonight...

Clothed in Stripes and Spots

We spent a glorious day at the zoo.
The fall air was warm, not too hot.
We saw lots of animals, not too many people.

The sun sparkled through the trees to create magical moments.

Rick thanked God over our picnic lunch for his creative display.

Emma and I are studying the senses - so far sight and hearing.
God's creativity certainly takes on a whole new twist when considered from the eye and ear perspective!

I realize that there may be many reasons that God has for using His vast imagination to place the stripes and spots and dots and wings and fuzz onto the animal population. But the way I see it, the greatest reason is to point right back at Him and show His very glory. God revealing His glory is one way that He shows us His heart - whats important to Him. I love knowing what is important to God. Each individual design, stripe pattern and thumbprint hint at God's love for artistry and detail. I love that uniqueness and creativity are important to Him. I love that He is right here, active in the present - putting stripes on the newborn zebra. His care of the details on that zebra is only a shadow of His lavish, intimate care for me and you.

Although there is great wonder and awe in the natural world. None is more wonder-invoking than us. Human beings. You and I. We are the only ones created in His very image. We are the pinnacle of God's creation. The ones He declared to be very good. Why is that easy to believe when we look at an infant's tiny fingers or the sweet smile of our children? But not so much when we look in the mirror at ourselves or try to remember what it is that we are good at? God revealing His glory in and through us - that gives us a picture of His heart.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ...See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? -Matthew

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Rick, Happy Birthday to you!

Five things I love about you, my husband:
1. Your great sense of humor.
2. That you take the initiative in all the Daddy things - diapers, playing doggy, discipline and explaining the hard questions, etc.
3. The unique ways that you think about God and read the Bible.
4. The help that you give in the kitchen, laundry and general projects around the house.
5. That you put my needs and often desires before your own.

A Letter for Daddy: Happy Birthday. You're silly and I like you. I like when you play doggy and Bermuda Triangle with me. I like being with you on daddy/daughter days. You are the best dad in the whole world. I love you, Emma

And from Ethan: A wet kiss delivered on a pudgy little hand.

We love you dear and hope that you have a really great day!

God spoke

For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm! -Psalms

Because he loves it so much...

...he decided to give it an extra big heaping of exuberant love. Well, maybe not love but an awful lot of energy and excitement. Its sad, really, because Ethan brings this book to me MANY times throughout the day to read and talk and point to where the fish are hiding. I guess you could say he is still figuring out how to express himself. Although I love the few wild baby signs and the occasional loud grunting, nothing beats his way-down-deep-inside belly laugh.


I'll take the messes anyday for a few of those laughs.

I pray that you stop to hear those deep down laughs and join right in!

The forgotten mug or iced coffee

Its true: this picture was just taken last sunday (10/21)!

Since I can't stand to miss out on the fun...

. . . I decided to create my own blog. Most of the summer and fall I contemplated whether I could consistently get a blog going. Still wondering, I'm going for it anyway. You, my blogging friends have inspired me. I love reading your blogs, gazing at your babes and feeling part of your world. For sometime I have wondered how to keep up with all our friends and family around the word - maybe this is it!

Hopefully My Little Schoolhouse will give you a peek into my little corner of the world. My family makes up most of that world, but I've been known to give a good ramble about most anything, so beware.

Tonight my corner of the world is cold and snowy. Emma spent the afternoon outside making snow angels and writing her name in the snow. Amazingly, yesterday was 80 degrees and bright and crispy. My gorgeous roses will surely not make it through this night! The glory of God shines brightly in the wonder of the season.

Let me know you stopped by!