I awoke to the sound of our furry daughter at the door...

We headed out to greet the day together...

We saw rain kissed dandelions...

I assured Maggie that chasing squirrels was a perfectly acceptable pastime.

After church we headed to the Ohio Deli to see an amazing sandwich!

While we waited... Big sis helped her brother color and write names...

Head over to http://www.yelp.com/biz/ohio-deli-and-restaurant-columbus to get all the particulars of this amazing sandwich! The sandwich is less than ten dollars and they don't mind if you share! =) There was more than enough for my husband and I. The kids loved their sandwiches as well. The total bill was no more than a trip to Wendy's with kiddos who don't eat off the Kid's Menu anymore. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere relaxed and casual. Consider a trip yourself. I do not believe you will be disappointed.

After lunch we strolled the campus of OSU

Dodging raindrops and enjoying the sights...

What a beautiful day!

Happy things!

Inch worms...

slugs...

blue skies...

About two hours South West of Columbus...

The Great Serpent Mound lies waiting for your family to discover!

Free to Ohio Historical members or seven dollars for a carload, the Serpent mound is a fascinating mound internationally known. Some have said it was a snake eating an egg; others now believe it is a hognose snake poised to strike. Regardless of the theory you subscribe to, from atop the lookout tower, the view is breathtaking.

Our family traveled today, with our pup in tow and enjoyed a lovely walk, a talk with the friendly staff and a peak at the small museum located inside the gift shop. There are picnic tables and hiking trails to enjoy.
Check out: http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw16/index.shtml and plan an adventure of your own.

Tiny Trees...

Extremely large Koi

A whimsical structure...

with yellow flowers...

A place where magic and nature meet...

My students and I went on a field trip today to the Franklin Park Conservatory.

Though we came to study butterflies... my students were just as delighted by their discovery of a rollypolly bug!

Smart!

Yup... this would be me bragging a bit about our kiddos.... Three report cards worthy to be proud of... That oldest critter even got straight A's.... Sigh... what I wouldn't have done for her report card in High School.... It was A's and B's for me...

thinking....

I stayed an extra hour at work...
I am very glad to have a job...

I headed to pick up my husband before swinging past to pick up my car from the shop...
My husband let me borrow his car...
My father took my husband to work...
I have a loving family...

I had a teacher's meeting after I finally picked my car up...
My fellow Kindergarten teachers laughed ourselves over the antics of our students for a
few minutes when our meeting was over.

I hit the computer looking for a script for our play at the suggestion of my co-teacher...
I found one!

For each reason I want to fuss, there seems to be a reason to give thanks as well. I am not Pollyanna... I find myself tired and cranky... Yet, if I stop... If I consider how each problem could be... without the help of my family... without good friends... Without the belief that God is ultimately able to work everything out... I realize... I am blessed.

Tonight, Tomorrow, Always...
I give thanks,
for my loved ones...
for the blessings in my life...
for the One who made all the good things in life...

(Including some of my favorite.... sleep... chocolate... snuggling... pizza... sunflowers!)

patience when grumpy...

It took a while to lay the landscape fabric under the mulch. It will take even longer for grapes to grow from the twigs I placed hopefully in the earth.

Tonight I've been working on things for our class play, doing chores and helping ferry our older daughter to a movie and back. I am tired and I must confess, I am grumpy.

I know I am just tired but, how I wish I could have a reason to throw a fit.

Instead....

My family was pleasant this evening. We had a picnic at the dog park and played there a bit. In the flight path to our local airport, we watched airplanes circle as they came in to land along with the bitty pooches.

Back at home, my kids helped take the trash around without even complaining.

The kids even told us they loved us as they headed up to bed.

I know I am both very blessed and also very bratty when I am tired.

Perhaps I need to say my "Thank you's" myself and get myself to sleep.

This night and always, I pray that you are blessed with what you need for your adventure through this world. That no matter how dark it seems, that you be given a light. There is always hope.

May you be blessed.

A yummy surprise for everyone!

I got home first tonight and decided to have a cookout. Grabbing the bag of charcoal from my car, I lit the grill and commenced my plans. My son and I headed for the carryout for hamburger buns, a bag of our favorite BBQ spicy chips and some ice.

Back home there was just enough time to make deviled eggs, a relish tray and slice some onions before the coals were ready. The door chimed (It's alarmed so our son can't accidentally leave at night.), and I met my husband at the door with a glass of diet soda.

I returned to the kitchen and stealthily finished microwaving the bacon and cooking the burgers. Dinner was almost done before my guy figured out that it had been our house that had smelled so good when he pulled in the driveway.

Mission accomplished! Yay for me! What a good surprise! I must say that I usually give hints and give my secrets away before it is time.

Sigh... I love cookouts... love yummy treats... I love warm weather!

If you enjoy outdoor treats as much as I do, grab a bag of charcoal and share something tasty with your dear ones!

Evening falls...

Night is here and I have finalized my lesson plans for the coming week. I am tired,though happy. How are you? I imagine that most of you feel as I do after this lovely weekend. I feel blessed and exhausted. I must confess that playing in the park, walking with my family and working in the yard made me yearn for summer. I do not want to go back to "real school". Sadly, I am sure that my students will be feeling the same (yikes!).

I'm chasing my kiddos to bed and crawling in myself as soon as possible. Good night and God Bless.

Tiny sprouts...

Some things take years to come to fruition. The grapevines I have planted will take a while to produce significant fruit. Our ever expanding raspberry patch will take some time to turn into the cobbler producing thicket I dream of.


What a blessing that not everything in life requires long term patience. This happy sprout is a volunteer sunflower. In just one season... just a matter of a few months our yard will be alive with color. Yellows, oranges and browns will rise above the ground in a triumphant row spreading joy to all who gaze their way.

Yes... I sincerely love sunflowers...

Three cheers for spring and the wonder of new life!

Mud!

Stopping at my parents' house,
I collected the small furry companion called,
"Buddy".

Back in the car,
we headed to Blendon Woods to enjoy its very nice dog path.

As my daughters, my nephew and myself wandered along the trail,
leaves blew.

Our bitty pooch chased them merrily.

Enjoying the sun and the company,
we took the patches of mud in stride
and counted ourselves lucky to be rid of the snow.

The kids and I tried to walk around the muck to varying degrees of success.

The dogs?

The dignified Buddy,
older,
wiser
(and with an intense hatred of mud),
managed to walk around the icky stuff and had perhaps one or two drops of mud on his tummy.

Maggie?

Well...
As you can see from the above picture,
she jumped in every puddle.


She even managed to find two ticks
that tried to hitch a ride on her soft white fur.

Silly pup!
I guess everyone is happy winter is over!

Happy Easter!

All things good come from God.

May you be filled with His peace this happy day.

He can move mountains,
make paths straight
or lead you through the darkest valleys.

He IS...
Now...
Tomorrow...
Forever...
The Way...

Spring has spring!

snuggled on my lap...

Properly chastened for nipping her mom, my furry daughter rests warmly on my lap. Mischief, not meaness leads her to use her teeth for naughtiness and I in return give her a little "wack". Now she sleeps, content in knowing her place in the world. She is not the boss and for the moment, she is ok with that. =-)

Chuckle
Sigh
Shake my head...

Wouldn't it be delightful if, as adults knowing our place and purpose in this world was so easily discovered? Life is a gift... A wonderful adventure... I am not the boss either... Thanks be to God!