Wordless Wednesday - Slip and Slide Edition (and a hint from last week's contest)

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And, since you are all jumping in with guesses for our vacation guessing game contest (note a tad of sarcasm), we thought we'd give the 5 choices....  You just have to determine the order!!   Here they are:  Saint Louis Zoo, City Museum, Saint Louis Arch, Meramec Caverns, and Grant's Farm.  Now, guess away and don't be shy!!

Wordless Wednesday (almost!) - St Louis edition

We have been on a lovely family vacation to Saint Louis, MO this week.  So....  I'm going to post pictures WITHOUT captions of the places that we have visited (so far) and the first one to guess correctly where the picture was taken will recieve a special gift (either mailed or delivered)!! 

No more words to follow, I promise - other than your guesses in the comments....

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Multitudes on Mondays

"Thanks be to God for his

inexpressible gift."

-2 Corinthians 9:15

We are working our way towards One Thousand Gifts (and more!).  It definitely makes me focus on God's presence in all moments of my life - not just during the good, happy times.  He is fully present all the time.  All we have to do is be aware and be in constant conversation with Him.  I read somewhere that the secret to prayer is that it has no end!! 

Thanks be to God for these and all gifts this past week....

#209 - cute, kissable, quiet kids reading
#211 - my lunch helper, Max
#212 - a big sink to do dishes in
#213 - fresh cut grass
#214 - neighbor friends for kids
#216 - Fone's natural love and talent for the piano
#217 - an extra guest for dinner
#220 - clean laundry
#222 - bubble kisses
#224 - 11 years!
#225 - safe travels to FL for my sister and her family
#227 - lilacs have bloomed outside my bedroom window
#229 - kids who offer to help during busy times
#231 - safe and fun travels in Big Red
#232 - trip to our local zoo with friends this past week

#233 - fresh produce from our local organic food co-op

#234 - making it to the parking lot, then car, then restaurant before a severe thunderstorm hit

#235 - lovely trip to the Saint Louis Zoo with the family

#236 - free admission into the children's zoo for the first hour of opening

#237 - free parking at the zoo - still kinda confused with this one, but nonetheless thanking God for this unexpected gift

#238 - Fone helping Pookey walk at the zoo and giving him a stroller break

#239 - educational activity booths at the zoo and interested, inquisitive kids
 

Won't you join us in counting and giving glory to our good

and gracious God, who gives time and time again? 

11 years today

May God continue to bless us in our marriage! 

Changing over of seasons

Happy and blessed Friday to you all!  I'm taking part in another Five-Minute Friday.  Today's topic is "When seasons change".... 



Ready, set, go!!!


Here in the mid-west, we truly get the "best of the best" when it comes to the seasons.  When one season is dwindling down and we are ready for change, we are blessed with a new season right around the corner.

The long hot, dry days of summer become the cool, crisp, colorful days of fall. 

The dampness and dying of life in fall is covered with the crystal, beauty, and sparkling snow of winter.

The deep freeze and cabin-fevered bodies of winter changes over to the newness of life in spring.  (Now, If I were to pick, this is definitely my favorite of all.  Warmer temperatures.  No coats.  The reasons for being outside are endless!!)

And, not that I can offer much complaint about spring or maybe it's my dread of the heat of summer....  but the lovely days of spring must become the hot, hot, hot days of summer.  A few weeks of temps in the 90s would make this fair-skinned momma with fair-skinned children happy.  But, turning on the air and sunscreen is doable too, because I always have in mind the change that is right around the corner...  the cool, crisp days of fall are coming up next!! 

And, that's what I love about the four seasons kind of life.  When you've had enough of one season or are too comfortable living in one, a change in weather occurs to stir things up! 

Thank the Lord above that throughout all this change and newness, His guiding, leading, and loving presence is always the same! 

Ding!!  That's all for now!

Now, won't you join in on this fun challenge of Five-Minute Fridays??

Wordless Wednesday

Max

Fone

Mario

Melody

Ariel

Pookey

Multitudes on Mondays

"Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his

name; make known among the nations

his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise,

proclaim all his wondrous deeds."
-1 Chronicles 16:8-9

As a family, we are counting our way to One Thousand Gifts (and more!).  Here's a peek at some of the gifts that our family has received this past week....


#181- no coats or sweatshirts to have to take with to Mass
#184 - warm breezes
#185 - lots of outdoor play and first picnics of the year

#187 - listening to the birds and bugs with wide-open windows while going about our day
#188 - leftovers = easy meals and a cleaned out fridge
#189 - bumping into cousins unexpectedly at the library and piano lessons
#192 - 3 great days of school this week
#193 - sweet Little Flowers friends for Melody
#196 - successful referrals
#197 - brunch with my Grandma in the nursing home to celebrate Mother's Day

#200 - lego's to inspire creative play and are played with on a daily basis
#202 - Daddy Date Night at Village Inn during the Little Flowers gathering
#203 - no rain for the outdoor Mary Crowning
#204 - beautiful end-of-year homeschooling Mass and potluck afterwards
#205 - a phone call to offer babysitting for our upcoming 11 year anniversary this week (love you Mom!!!) 
#206 - a good cry on the way home after receiving a generous donation of food given to our family
#207 - scratchy, busy birds building outside my window
#208 - little ones who wander in to snuggle in the middle of the night