What did YOU choose?

October is NOT quite here yet and there is MUCH discussion at The Glen about WHAT to dress up as for Halloween Trick or Treat. I am a planner and appreciate a good plan. BUT, when it comes to costuming, things have gotten to be progressively MORE complicated.
When I was a child my brother and I participated in Trick or Treat with GREAT joy. Children dressed up in simple costumes...a witch, a ghost (if your mother allowed you to cut a sheet) or most often some form of hobo or scare crow having adapted some much too large clothing items your parents had worn. We certainly did not spend large amounts of money on costumes. Now there are COMPLETE Halloween stores and the discount marts have AISLE upon AISLE of costumes, make up, masks, shoes and the like! But what entertains me most is the NAMES of said costumes.

Not JUST a Fairy but a Blue Fairy, Flower Fairy, Buttercup Fairy, Gothic Fairy (?), Garden Fairy and Evil Fairy. (Now since when are there EVIL fairies people??!!)

Not JUST a Queen but a Queen Bee, Medieval Queen, Drama Queen (I do HAVE one of those in REAL life) De Nile Queen and ready for this? Dead Prom Queen Zombie!

I did NOT make these up! They are just a small sampling of what was in the store! ACK!! Now I am making an enthusiastic attempt to challenge my girls into creating an amazing and unique costume out of all the dress up things we ALREADY own!! Wish me luck!

What was YOUR favorite costume as a kid?

I don't exercise...it makes my coffee spill.

Snaf-FOOs...

Hmmmmmm, when there are children around things happen. Things...you know...JUST HAPPEN. Unexpected, sometimes shocking, mostly innocent, sometimes humorous but almost always startling things happen...

1.) Who would have thought that when you are adding sugar to your freshly sliced strawberries and it spills all over the floor...that cleaning it up with a sopping wet dish cloth would leave a sticky gooey mess...it doesn't show...but it DOES make a great SUCKING sound when you walk through it with bare feet...

2.) If you THINK you have a uni-brow and you happen to take your shower in Dad and Mom's shower (which has Mom's razor in it) you may want to shave between your brows...WITHOUT a mirror...no one ever said you run the risk of shaving off your eye brow.

3.) When there is a delicious two liter bottle of soda in the fridge...no-one would know if you drink several ounces of it and replace it with water right?

4.) If your bangs are a bit long...and you are a BIG GIRL...you could cut your hair yourself and then HIDE the cut strands and put on a head band to hide the "unique" haircut you have given yourself...after all...people do self portraits why not self haircuts?

5.)If you happen to find a really cool, green oil pastel crayon in your sister's cubbie...no one would notice if you colored grass on the back of the blue denim sofa right?

Fall pleasures

I had my first glass of apple cider yesterday. It was delicious! I watched the kids in Emma's class grind the apples then press the cider from an old fashioned press and had a FRESHER than FRESH glass straight from the press. NOTHING LIKE IT!

I am celebrating!

First, because I always love a Friday...something carefree and exciting about them even when I've nothing planned! Second, I am celebrating because I have logged SIX HUNDRED POSTS here at The Glen! I am hesitant with my excitement as I find myself wondering WHAT on earth I have said/written over the last three plus, plus years!!!! Hopefully NOT all drivel but quite a bit such as it is! What started as a simple log of our journey to Sam blossomed into something I now see as a BIG part of my life! I have met SO many new friends and you are such wonderfully interesting people! Truly...it is a privilege to have a glimpse into your lives. I look forward to my frequent visits to your pieces of real estate on the world wide web! And those of you that take the time to comment and e-mail...your imput, thoughts and sharing of your lives is a blessing to me! Thank you!

OH! Guess what?!?! I am getting a present of sorts for this Post Anniversary...a nice, new look!!! Blog Designs By Alexis pulled together a design unique to The Glen! Alexis is an awesome gal, the oldest of six kids, three adopted from China. She has a heart for the orphans left behind and is a very special young woman.
Okay...and I have to admit that I am always looking for an excuse to celebrate.
Happy weekend all!

Theme Thursday ~ Wild

This is a book I have read SO MANY times over the last fifteen years that I might just know it by memory! Being Momma to three boys and two (not so girlie)girls...I have a house FULL of WILD THINGS....


Come on...when you are having a bad day or you're feeling kinda testy...don't you roll your terrible eyes and show your terrible claws??? But it is nice to know that after you have thrown your WILD, terrible "fisty puff" that someone out there will still love you huh??

THEME THURSDAY

See you at the pole...

We are all pleased to be up and out the door early today to pray and celebrate around the flagpole!

Do I believe that God is on MY side? I am much more concerned with whether WE are on God's side.
~Andy Andrews

Let fall begin...

The fall temperatures and fall foliage are quickly arriving and have me eager to get out and about on my bicycle. Sam loves a ride and we are blessed to have a GREAT trail near our home. We set out for a little exercise...there is NOTHING like high speed and wind to energize the soul!! The trail is usually quiet...that is until Sam gets jazzed and starts singing!

This plant might make MANY freeze in their paths...it is the dreaded rag weed plant which is in FULL, glorious bloom all over The Glen and the bike trail. So many people suffer from horrible allergies when this plant is in bloom.

Our bike path is also frequented by horse back riders...I have to stop here and there to look over the open fields. The midwest is home to me and that means there are corn and soybean fields as far as the eye can see.

These horses are very friendly and always say "hello" as Sam and I pass their paddock.

Now that fall has officially arrived I believe the apples are about ready for picking!

Hmmmmm, well it's Monday morning...the beginning of a new week. I have my list for the week and have consulted my Day Planner so as not to MISS anything...NOW, what am I missing? A large dose of motivation and COFFEE!!

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And...she's off!

Enjoy your weekend.

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Theme Thursday ~ Over The Hill

I cannot see what is over the hill...I used to spend a GREAT DEAL of time trying to set up and organize and figure out WHAT was waiting for me over the hill. Surely I could prepare for it in some way. I tried to anticipate the unknown. I always figured that I could plan for anything. Truth be told I do NOT want to know WHAT is over the hill anymore. I am done looking to the future...my future is planned out and I am going to rest in TODAY. I am thankful and blessed IN TODAY.

I am going to look around at the things on my path as I meander up the hill and be glad for them.

For more go to Theme Thursday.

Goin' to the chapel

Doesn't this look like the perfect place to have an October wedding?!??!

Simply GORGEOUS!

Through the eyes of a child...

Emma has an eye for beauty...she is creative, expressive and interested in color and living things. She has a love for God's creation untainted by the outside world. Last evening I knew she had my camera and had gone for a walk...I often watch her as she heads out on one of her adventures...she sings and talks to herself...her hands expressive and dramatic as she lets her imagination take full hold of her...here are some of the beautiful images she so thoughtfully left me on my memory card. They are very special to me...to see how she carefully photographed what is beautiful through her eyes.

I was at the market when in my long check out line, an elderly woman caught my eye. This woman was in her early 80's, she wore a simple, print dress, nylons, sensible shoes and her lovely white hair was pulled up in a knot on her head, she wore glasses and no make up. What really caught my attention was when the cashier greeted her she spoke with a slightly southern accent. I suddenly felt home sick and was overwhelmed with missing my Mamaw...my Mother's mother. I grew up "across the field" from my grandparents and for the bulk of my life saw my grandparents daily. In summer I would get up and eat breakfast at home then skip across the field in time to partake of Mamaw's cooked breakfast. I didn't knock...I was always welcome and played endless games of checkers in their home. My grandmother expected me to help her with chores and I did the work as it never occurred to me to disobey her. As I played outside she would always call me with both my first and middle names and I always came...as it never occurred to me to disobey her.
My brother once told me that Mamaw had "eyes in the back of her head" and I believed him. I wasn't afraid of Mamaw, I loved and respected her. As my grandparents became older I would often come in and find them in their front room...Mamaw in the left chair and Papaw in the right. There is great comfort at finding things the same. They had a cuckoo clock in the hall and I spent a great deal of time perched in a deep hall closet directly across from it trying to get a peek at the Cuckoo bird. Whether I was there for ten minutes or several hours when I announced I was leaving my Papaw would always say, "Don't rush off now."
As I watched the sweet woman in the grocery line one hundred tiny recollections welled up inside my head bringing Mamaw back to me even if for a brief five minutes. I am blessed to have these wonderful memories. Although she has been gone for nineteen plus years my memories most certainly keep her alive.
Who do you miss?

What IS that?!?!?

While unloading "THE LIMO" of a rather LARGE load of groceries this afternoon, I went to close the hatch and a movement caught my eye...
Asher:

Clarice:

I have a couple of free loaders!! (Free·load·ing = slang, to take advantage of the charity, generosity, or hospitality of others)
Cats are the EPITOME of free loaders...then, tell me...why do I like them so much!????

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL...oh how I love Friday! Hope it is a GOOD one!

Theme Thursday ~Rhythm

There are weeks, days, hours, minutes, even fractions of a second that I strike a rhythm that is just RIGHT. At that moment it feels perfect and peaceful as I am truly playing the music I was intended to play. I find this beautiful rhythm despite the world constantly spinning out of control with off key interruptions around me. I feel absolutely euphoric at these times! I work hard to keep that rhythm but it often escapes me. Having experienced that amazing rhythm it has me constantly craving and yearning to find, accomplish and win that rhythm again to have and keep for all time! I am reluctant to let it go...ever! Yet, when it comes to my musical masterpiece it is not perfect nor would I want it to be perfect. I would miss out on so many experiences, although, painful and uncomfortable they certainly make me grow and stretch beyond my closed and selfish little score adding substance and depth to my rhythm simply for having endured them!


"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Nietzsche

Go to Theme Thursday for more of the rhythm theme...there are some AWESOME posts out there!

Wednesday already? NOT complaining!!!!

Whenever we have a Monday holiday it throws me off...I mean A LOT! I have one of those brains that does things according to the day of the week...tasks around the house, errands, work assignments...so for me...today is TUESDAY.

We had a wonderfully relaxing Labor Day weekend...as always when on holiday it went TOO, TOO fast! Here are some highlights:
Our Fire Department does a good, hot breakfast two days of the weekend. It is a MUST for our family when planning our weekend.

We had gorgeous football weather...I have a favorite cheerleader...second row, second in from the left...in braided pigtails...

It's NOT Labor Day without a parade...Nate is the third cornet from the right. The little kids are always thrilled with the floats that throw candies and even ice cream sandwiches!! Another exciting thing this year were Kazoo's....yeah, I am tired of those!

While Hubbie was out grilling up a Labor Day Feast there was a misty rain coming and going...then the kids were excited to discover a rainbow over the horse pasture...a real treat!

Our community does a fireworks display...it is SPECTACULAR...we were grateful that the rain stayed away so we could all enjoy a beautiful evening sitting outside.

Justice for Lavender Banks

I am asking my blog readers to ACT on behalf of a little girl you NEVER knew but she is gone from this earth due to violence. Even if you are NOT involved in the adoption community, really don't know the situation, or just don't think you want to take the time...I ask you to take five minutes and make a DIFFERENCE in a four year old's life that was ended too soon.

My dear friend, Ohilda, has set up a form to fill out, appealing to the District Attorney's Office to pursue justice for Sweet Lavender's death. You see, Lavender does not have family advocating for JUSTICE...but what the courts do not realize is that Lavender WAS loved and there are thousands of people who want justice for her. Don't think for ONE MOMENT that your acting on Lavender's behalf is a waste of your time as it is NOT...it makes a difference.

Please go to Ohilda's Blog and simply click on the links she has set up...I just did...it took less than five minutes I NEED to make a difference in the life of Lavender and you can too.

I will NOT give up.

I will NOT give up...

I am NOT light hearted in my writings today folks. My heart is heavy and overwhelmed with grief. Our adoption community has suffered a GREAT blow recently in the death of an innocent little girl...only four years old. I am ANGRY, I am INDIGNANT, I am HORRIFIED and these are only a few of the feelings I have experienced as I have tried to process WHY this little girl is dead. You see her mother murdered her. Do you have a sense of shock? You should. Don't say to me...this kind of thing happens every day. IT DOES but does that excuse this heinous event? Sweet Lavender was brought home from China, coming into a family that was approved by Social Services only to be beaten and murdered less than a year after her arrival in the United States.

Image courtesy of A Bouquet of Blessings.

You see, I have a passion in life...I TRULY believe that every child should have a HOME...not JUST a home...but a FAMILY. I know, I know, go ahead and send me the e-mails of how it is IMPOSSIBLE for all the homeless children of the world to have families. Or, how living in an orphanage or foster home is JUST AS GOOD and that the caregivers love the children. The caregivers are PAID and that child does not have a sense of BELONGING. Don't get me wrong...I say BRAVO to the people who foster children...and each circumstance is wildly different. No matter what the child's AGE, DISABILITY, APPEARANCE, BEHAVIOR, COLOR or RACE each and every one deserves the love of a family!

Lavender is gone now but her short four years on Earth have left a HUGE MARK on me and MANY countless others. She was old enough to know that she was coming into a family after orphanage life...she looked forward to it...I SO ENJOYED watching her joy on video clips...but then she suffered the greatest betrayal...the very one that was to protect and care for her hurt her to the point of death. Her life will not be in vain...

Again...EVERY DAY we read in the news, see on the internet, watch on television the horrific abuse and neglect heaped on little children...am I doing every thing I can do to help? What can I do to help so that even one child is spared from being the topic on a news piece. I live my sheltered, poshy life while a little one, may be in my own town, is being neglected and abused...

Be confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Friday Fill In!

And...here we go!

1. I feel excited! (Come on folks it IS Friday!)

2. Labor Day Weekend is always fun. Our little community parties!

3. Right now, I can hear these things: Sam laughing at himself...a ball game and one of the dogs barking.

4. There are no sweets in the house and I'm glad 'cause I would have them gobbled up RIGHT THIS MOMENT! Oh for a cookie!

5. The last time I ate seafood was months ago!

6. The weather is going to be AMAZING this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying home (the football game is away) tomorrow my plans include Labor Day Festivities at the park and a football game and Sunday, I want to TAKE A NAP (of course!!!!)

Dear readers...it has been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY at The Glen and I am torn between blogging and getting some MUCH NEEDED things done!!! I DO love a good project or two!!

Theme Thursday ~ BEGINNINGS

BEGINNINGS should invoke feelings of optimism and hope and adventure...but I find that BEGINNINGS bring a feeling of anxiety along with resistance to change. I prefer things to remain STATUS QUO but even in pushing myself to TRY new BEGINNINGS, I know (as I consider myself a practical thinker on MOST fronts) that they are good and wonderful and full of blessings. God PUSHES me DAILY to stretch myself and try new BEGINNINGS and for this I am grateful.
Traveling around the world to bring home a little boy who has done NOTHING but fill our hearts with love and laughter.

Making a country field into a haven of rest and peace called Killeny Glen.

A new year and the joy that it will bring simply because there is family with which to share it.

New love and beginning a life TOGETHER.
MelissaEsterlinePhotography

A new school year and the excitement over NEW socks...even Hubbie got new socks.


For more BEGINNINGS go to THEME THURSDAY.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Laughter IS TRULY the best Medicine!

More Wordless Wednesday photos HERE!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidoscious!!!!

I missed the 45th anniversary of the film MARY POPPINS on August 27th. A FAVORITE!!!!!!


I have sung "just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" on MANY occasions coaxing Hubbie the kids to take nasty medicine! And OH, HOW I WISHED on many occasions, as a child, that my toys, clothes and books would march themselves into their proper places while I watched dancing with glee!
Do ya think I could get Mary to come over and hang with the kids while I go to a book shop or an auction for awhile?

Do you have childhood memories of this magical Nanny??