Thank You

by Diamond Rio

I like how this song draws attention to the foundation of our country and to the many freedoms that we have as Americans.

Thank you Veterans for defending our land and freedom,

Naomi

Children's Books Part 1

I love children's book. I think that they are fun, imaginative and can open up whole worlds to children that they wouldn't know about otherwise. They can help children problem solve, understand relationships better and so much more. Also kids who like to listen to stories are more likely to enjoy reading and children who enjoy reading more often do better in school.

For my Early Childhood Education class we had to put together a list of our favorite 10 children's books and write a little about each book. This assignment was right up my alley, the hardest part, besides taking time to do the writing, was limiting the number of books to only 10.

Here are the first 5 I chose. I didn't do them in any favorite order, but ordered them by which ones I got first from the library. So there is nothing special about the order.

Vera Goes To The Dentist
Written and illustrated by Vera Rosenberry

Summary: Vera has her first appointment with the dentist and things are a little different than she expects. She ends up biting the dentist’s finger, running away and finally has her teeth cleaned after a second try in the dentist’s chair.

Why Read: Vera is such a real character from wearing her favorite skirt to feel strong and brave to her response of running away from her first dentist appointment. I like that Vera overcomes her fear and finishes her appointment with the dentist and finds that things were not as bad as she feared. Vera’s story shows that little people have big events in life.




Not Norman: A Goldfish Story
Written by Kelly Bennett and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

Summary: Norman is a goldfish who was given as a gift to a little boy who really did not want a goldfish for a pet. After trying to trade Norman for another pet the little boy starts to realize just how special Norman is and decides to keep him.

Why Read: A fun story about how any pet can be special from the little boy’s point of view. This story can open up conversation about why kids think their pets are special and what kind of pet they would choose if given a chance.





Good Night, Gorilla
Written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann

Summary: A zoo keeper tucks all the animals in to bed for the night at his zoo. He does not realize that a little gorilla is right behind him letting all the animals out so that they can sleep with the zoo keeper and his wife.

Why Read: This book does not have a lot of words and leaves a lot of the detail of the story up to the reader. It can be a very elaborate or simply told story depending on the reader. I like this book, because it has a lot of artistic detail and the children can tell you their own version of the story if they want to, thus “reading” a book.




Firefighters A to Z
Written and illustrated by Chris L. Demarest

Summary: Goes through the letters of the alphabet, matching each letter to some aspect of fighting fires.

Why Read: Children will enjoy this colorful and detailed booked about fighting fires, while hearing the letters of the alphabet, especially those children that like fire trucks. It brings attention to the need for team work and the bravery of those who fight fires for us.



Franklin's New Friend
Written by Paulette Bourgeouis and Illustrated by Brenda Clark

Summary: A new animal moves into Franklin the turtle’s part of the woods. Franklin when he first sees his new neighbors is scared of them, because they are Moose and very big. Franklin learns to not judge by what an animal looks like, but to accept them for who they are.

Why Read: The story of Franklin learning to overcome his fear and get to know his new neighbor and classmate is very sweet. The book brings attention to the fact it is not what someone looks like that matters and that we all can be friends with someone very different from us. The role that adults play in this book is very good too. They are not condescending or controlling, but offer sound advice to Franklin and try to help him have empathy for Moose, allowing Franklin to make his choice to reach out to Moose and be his friend on his own.

Go Forth and Read,

Naomi

Slumber Party

We had a sleep over at our last weekend with our nephew Kaiser. It was his first sleep over and we had fun. He did such a great job being away from Mom and Dad, just playing and laughing the whole time. Such a delight to have a little person running around the place for an afternoon and evening.

While at our house the dogs and the dog crate were the favorite play things. I think the crate might have just had a slight edge over the bed owner.

Kaiser trying for the Great Escape on our hike, but Uncle Terran was just a little faster and caught him

Throwing sticks into the water for the dogs.

Kaiser was a big help to Uncle Terran pushing the stroller up the hill

Bugs are the best!

Tromping along like the big boy he is

Nothing like an after dinner milk

Nite-nite little buddy. Thank you for only getting Auntie out of bed during the night a few times. You did such a good job sleeping.

Auntie Naomi

Fall's Arrival

Fall arrived this year with heat, our temperatures were in the high 80’s until the beginning of this month were they have slowly dropped to the 70’s we are experiencing now. I am so glad that summer didn’t leave us in a rush, taking her heat and sun with her. I wasn’t ready to see the end of summer this year, quite willing to keep the illusion of summer break even after school had started, through the heat. Yes, that is the reason I wasn’t ready to see summer leave, because it meant the start of school again. I so enjoy my classes and now that I am in them wouldn’t change what I’m doing, but struggled at the beginning giving up my days of freedom. I have to chuckle, because days of freedom for an adult are very different from children’s days of freedom. My freedom meant gardening, going through closets, canning, freezing meals, all those life details that are very nice to do without the pressure of homework and tests.

Thinking about this past summer along with life details it was dominated by three R’s. Reading, Running and Resting… each one is wonderful on its own and together, make for several lovely months of sunshine and fun. It is always interesting to me how at certain times different things dominate; there really is an ebb and flow to all things.

Now we are enjoying cooler mornings, midday hikes after homework and cool nights good for deep sleep.

Naomi

Saturday Snaptshot : Kaitlyn's Pal

Our niece Kaitlyn with Kaia when she was a puppy. Whenever Kaitlyn visits or we visit she and Kaia are inseparable. Kaitlyn is so sweet and prays every night for her furry friend.

Saturday Snapshot: Cute and Weird

CUTE: Bright eyed Kaia

WEIRD: Kojo the earless dog

Saturday Snapshot: Brothers

Terran and his brothers this past fall. Terran, Wes, and Arlin fell victim to No Shave November. Wade made a narrow escape from the whiskers.

Growing Memories

I was looking at my garden trying to decide where to start weeding (yes, I have so many weeds I need to pick a spot to start) this past week when I saw a little plant that is not a weed. It was a little watermelon plant tucked in among the onions growing quite happily. I was a little surprised at first, because we didn’t plant any watermelon this summer, but willing to accept the little guy. Then I started looking and watermelon plants were growing everywhere, under the tomato plants, next to the peppers, in the walk way, and with the weeds. How did this happen I wondered, looking around. We’ve never had a watermelon invasion before and I was stumped. Slowly it came back to me…a warm summer afternoon, people’s laughter, good natured teasing, and sweet juicy fruit.

My Mom and brother Ben came to stay at our house while Terran and I were on vacation in May and then stayed the next week with us. We had a lovely time with them and a watermelon seed spitting contest was part of the fun. We all lined up on the patio and spit the seeds into the garden as far as we could. None of us guessed that the seeds would germinate and grow into the baby plants that have claimed our garden as home.

These plants make me wonder what kind of seeds I plant in life. When the seeds I plant start to grow into plants and make themselves known do they bring a smile or frown? What kind of fruit do they bear? Sweet or tart?

Now these little watermelon plants probably won’t bear any physical fruit at all, because it’s late in the season, but they give me a smile every time I see them. Bringing me back the sweet memory of a time shared in laughter with family.

Naomi

Saturday Snapshot: Bird Nursery

Terran and I in May spent a week vacationing in New Mexico. It was a nice blend of camping and staying in hotels, giving us a bit of rustic and comfort.

One of the nights we stayed in a state camp ground that was a lovely surprise. We had SHOWERS, space to ourselves, and the cool desert night to aid us in sleep. What we hadn't counted on was the bird nursery right outside our tent. 4 am dawned with the screeches, squawks, and chirps that would have done a chicken farm proud. Unfortunately as the sky went from dark blue, to lighter hues of blue and pink our little winged alarm clocks only got louder declaring the day officially started.

After sleep's blurriness had left our eyes we watched the busy parents feed their never satisfied young. Flying back and forth from the nest in their effort to fill growing bellies. When the caffeine from morning coffee kicked in Terran and I agreed it was a wonderful start to the day.

Naomi

July 4th Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day weekend. Ours was brimming full with three BBQ's starting Friday evening and continuing over the weekend. We also made time for a 9 mile run/bike ride with friends, pie making, and a day to ourselves.

Turkey Flats, one of the most lovely spots we go during the summer. It stays cool and green the whole season making it perfect for a run and some biking this past weekend.

Resting after my run. While Terran and his biking buddies regal each other with their memorable trail moments. Turkey Flats is one of those trails that leaves you with plenty of stories.

Terran holding the new little girl of a friends at the family BBQ. We've known this little ones dad since he was a preteen and are feeling our age a seeing him as a husband and father.

Terran and I on a walk on "our day". I'm so glad after the fun and busy weekend that we set aside some time just for ourselves. Kojo and Kaia also enjoyed the time out playing in the water and wrestling for sticks.

Enjoying the moments,

Naomi

Saturday Snapshot

This is our nephew Kaiser on his 1st birthday. He had a pirate themed party and loved his chocolate treasure chest with goodies. Personally, I think that he is the treasure, a very sweet treasure.

I'm hoping to make this Saturday snapshot a regular thing. We shall see...I just like being out and living life too much to always take time to write about it. :)

An Opportune Moment

We have ribs about to go on the grill and potatoes roasting in the oven. Our house is fairly picked up (if the doorbell rang right now I wouldn't be scurrying to hide the mess) and homework is pretty much done. I don't think a better moment to write is going to come along in the next couple weeks.

The news on the bugs is we never saw a one on Kaia or in the house after my frantic cleaning. Thank goodness!!!!

Major count down for the last day of school this semester has begun around here. I have two weeks of classes left and then two final days and I'm finished for the summer. To say I am ready is an understatement. I am VERY, VERY ready to be on my own time again. I don't have a bunch of classes, but our life is a little busier this semester and hasn't had a good flow. Signs of summer break coming... a summer reading list under my math book, a couple races on the calender to train for, a vacation the end of May, and a garden tilled and waiting for more then just spinach and lettuce to be planted.

Times like this when I'm waiting for the end of something and to finish well is going to take time and work. I always think of Paul writing about running the good race. So much of the race is how we finish when we're tired and the end is almost in sight. I want to be a good runner whether in school or running some other race in life.

Sorry to go all serious. I guess it reflects my mindset right now.

Counting the days,

Naomi

PLAN B

I had not planned on waiting so long before I posted and was all geared up to share stories and pictures, but my plan A fell to the wayside. I got sick, had a couple big tests, and then left for a visit with my family. Now here I am a couple weeks later with the last days of my Spring break slipping away under piles of laundry and baths for the dogs.

I know….sounds like lame reasons for not writing more, but we have a time sensitive issue. Kaia when hiking this past week got into some bugs and now has bites. At least we think they are bites and being myself, this means that ALL the bedding must be washed (even though the dogs are not allowed on the beds or furniture), the dogs bathed, and every bit of carpet vacuumed. The thought of bugs in my house is awful to me and the thought of bugs on my cute little dogs is almost as horrifying. I am on the WAR path and no insect shall prevail!




Wish me luck,

Naomi

A New Beginning

After months of silence I have decided that I needed a blog face lift and a fresh start. This cloudy, snowy day while Russia beats the Czech Republic in Olympic Ice Hockey is as good a time as any. So here I am to see if there are any readers left and if there aren't to share anyway, because I feel the need to send my voice into cyberspace.

I'm going to post this so I can admire my new look with a current post on it,

Naomi

Remembering....

I started this blog four years ago today, tough I'm not always consistent about blogging I'm still here. I remember my first post as if it was yesterday and being very emotional about it, as it was and still is close to my heart. I find today that its emotion and heart is still real, I still have the same emotions and thankfulness. Though, now it not only includes my brother who has served two tours in Iraq, but also my sister who is serving there now.

"I have spent more time thinking about Veterans Day today than I ever have before. I've always been grateful to the men and women that have fought for this country, cried during war films, and read books telling of their daring deeds. But today as my brother is on a plane heading for Iraq, I'm humbled by those that would count the cost and go to a foreign country to fight for my freedom. Because of them I can each day get up and lead my life as I feel led not having to fear for my safety or fear a government that tries to dictate what I believe or where I put my faith. What I see today is a little red head boy that I've played with and fought with all my life on a gray army plane going to continue the fight for me, just like he did when we were little and the neighborhood bully (yes, every neighborhood has a bully) would try to pick on us. Because of him, I feel like I have come to a better understanding of this day. It's no longer a date set aside for faceless soldiers fighting wars I don't remember, because my soldier has a face and this war I will remember." November 11, 2004

Thank you Jon, I love you!

Thank you, Salome (and Kaitlyn for not having your Mommy around all these months) I love you both.

Thank you also Daddy for serving so many years in the Air Force and setting a wonderful example of what is to love ones country.

Naomi

Where is your Muse hiding?

Today at church my Pastor commented that my Muse must have left me, because I haven't posted in so long. It's true that it has been a VERY long time, but like I told my pastor I have had homework. My Muse has been busy helping me to write an essay on the effects of Cholera in the cells of the gut and the body. Not very nice I can promise you and will spare you all the grisly details. While I have stuffed my head full of the organelles of the cell and their functions, read and re-read about electrons, protons, and neutrons, always marveling at the incredible way that God created our body; it's been there.

As I struggle with variables, factors, polynomials it teases me with word pictures, dancing around me with words while I work. It won't let my mind rest only on numbers, but pesters me about all the stories that are waiting to be written. Then we wrestle with me coming out the winner as the alarm buzzes at a 5:40 am and I'm out the door by 7 am with my book bag. Leaving my Muse to watch from the window as I drive down the road to the place called Higher Learning.

Still here,

Naomi

Don't Give Up

I am going to blog again! Keep checking, because I will return soon. Summer is always a struggle for me. We get so busy living and I don't write about the things that we have been doing or are doing. It's a time when I don't want to just write about life, but want to be out there living life. Hope that makes sense..:)

Getting ready for a come back,

Naomi

Life Is A Gift

" Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Meeting Kaiser Simon

Last Monday we drove to Montrose to meet our newest nephew, Mark and Tamara's little one. We have been waiting and waiting to meet Kaiser and he was worth waiting for. Such a precious treasure.

Meeting Uncle Terran ( i love this picture)

Melting Auntie's heart (look at his red hair)

A sweet little bundle

Waving bye bye

Naomi

The Constant Gardener

I look around in the garden I live in at all the other rose bushes beautiful and full of blooms of life. All so similar yet so unique, each carefully tended by the Gardener. I look at my own bush, bursting full of color and beauty, then I see a grafted branch and I waver, questioning it's need and the scars it's going to leave. I don't see this graft on many other bushes, yet the Gardener is carefully tending this spot on me. He coaxes life into this intruding branch that is so different from all the others. I see buds on it that look to hold a different color from all the blooms on my bush. I struggle within asking should I allow the sap of my life to continue in this area or should I cut it off, allowing it to wither. Then the Gardener comes applying balm to the tender spots of the graft, promising it will all be okay, that He knows the beauty that those tiny buds hold. To cut them off from life giving sap would destroy some of the greatest beauty on my bush. Though those flowers will burst into color with some pain and heartache it will be good, not just good , but the best that He has.
I look to the bush next to me, so closely entwined with mine that there are no longer two bushes, but one and wonder at the pain and joy this graft will bring him. The Gardner gently works the ground around the roots and asks for trust that though these buds will be so different from others, and looked upon at times as lacking or not quite right, they will the most fragrant.
How can the plant tell the Gardener “No”? When He knows what each bud holds, the weather that is coming, and sees the whole garden, not just the few bushes I do. How can I struggle against the Creator when He has promised “ All things work together for the good of those that love Him”? No, I must embrace the graft, even though I don't understand it and all that it may mean. Take the pain and joy it will bring and give Him the glory.

Naomi