A historical perspective: One of the reasons I home school

It is that time of year again... It's time to go back to school...

During this time of the year we find ourselves answering lots of questions about where we go to school and when our school starts... these questions come from friends, who know we home school and are curious about how we do what we do, and the cashiers at Target who are simply making conversation as we checkout... The question hangs there for a few moments... And then... the answer comes, "Actually I am home schooled...."  This is usually met with two responses...

One response goes something like this, "Oh, wow!" Then they look at me and say, "Wow!" "You have got your hands full!"  The second response usually goes down like this, "Really?"  "I have a sister-in-law that home schools.  Good for you!"

So as everyone goes back to school, I find myself in conversation and processing again why we continue to home school and what keeps us educating all of our kids at home...

We have many, many reasons we started to home school and we continue to home school...  But as I was visiting with a friend last night... I realized one reason I home school is because I love to teach my children!

I think as parents we have a natural, God-given desire to teach our children.  It begins when we bring them home from the hospital.  We teach them how to sleep through the night. We teach our children to walk and talk.  We teach our kids to go to the potty. We teach our children how to ride a bike and then we teach them how to drive.  We teach our children how to make bread and how to cook and how to take out the trash and mow the grass.  Many of us also teach our children hobbies too... how to play golf, how to throw a football, how to play the piano... I believe all of us are teachers... and most parents  desire to teach our children important truths... and life skills... hobbies... we desire to pass along our wisdom and knowledge and experiences...  Most of us love seeing our children learn something new... we love seeing them excel in an area... it is a natural thing...

Like you, I have enjoyed teaching my children different things as they have moved through the different life stages...  But, I also have the desire to go further in the education of my children. I want to teach my children how to do chores, but I also I desire to teach my children handwriting, how to read, literature, the arts, scientific truths, grammar, history, geography, music appreciation, foreign language, mathematics... I love it all!

When our country was young... home schooling was the way you were educated.  Most of our founding fathers were educated at home.  As more people came and settled our country, schools started in communities... and if your child was not needed on the farm or needed to help out the family in some other capacity... you were allowed to go to a community school...

However, at some point, in the history of education, the state decided to get involved in the education process.  And then, through the course of time, our country began to look to the state to educate  children in academic subjects... People started believing they couldn't educate their children in all the different areas of life as they had for many years... and they started to believe that only certified teachers were qualified to do this... and in general, parents took a giant step away from the education of their children...

As "back to school season" rolls around again, and children everywhere are sent to school to be educated, it makes me grateful I was introduced to the concept of  home education.  I am thankful our country allows the freedom to choose... I am mindful of places in this world where the state runs everything...  I am thankful to live in a land where the government has not taken this choice away.  I sort of of feel like I am walking in the footsteps of our founding fathers... But beyond all that, I am grateful.... Because, quite simply, I love it!

The Merry Ol' Month of May

Whew!  Can you hear that?  That was a loud and very definite sigh.  I am not going to lie... I am a little relieved the month of May is coming to an end...


As I look back on the last month, it was pretty much a whirlwind. It was chocked full of birthday parties, banquet dinners, graduation parties, field days, planning meetings, field trips, garage sales, showers, more birthday parties, more graduation parties, more birthday parties... I start to get overwhelmed just looking back at my Daytimer.  And yes, I still have a Daytimer.  And I use it.  And I am not afraid to admit it.

Celebrating Garett!

Perhaps it is because of this season of life, but the last few years, May has been a non-stop flurry of activity.  It is almost like being on the tilt-a-whirl at a carnival.  You are enjoying it, but it seems like everything is spinning and even though it is thrilling, you are so ready to get off the ride!  


It seems when the kids were smaller, May was a more laid back month.  We went to the River Festival, we celebrated Mother's Day, we spent time outside enjoying the Spring, we planted flowers.   But not so much now... 


To be sure, I love all the fun and the blessings and connections with friends and family the merry ol' month of May brings.  But, I will have to admit, I am ready to settle into a summer schedule that is a "little" more laid back.  And Memorial Day seems to usher in that slower pace... days at the pool, trips to Sonic, family vacations... I know I am ready.

Leap Day 2012

So, I had thought it would be cool to do something special today. Something memorable. Something to remember... as a way to mark a "special" day... Because, after all, you don't experience February 29th too many times in your lifetime.

I was born in a leap year, although after leap day... And now... ahem... a few years later we are at leap year again.... And no, I am not going to share how many leap year's have occurred in between...

Alas, it was a rather ordinary day. I went to the mall. I completed our bi-monthly Sam's Club run, I helped Garett with grammar, and then I got ready for small group tonight. Nothing extraordinary -- most of it rather ordinary and not-so-special.

In retrospect, this blog post may be the way I commemorate a not-so-ordinary day! I hope you had a great Leap Day! Blessings...

When the truth hurts...

One of my new year's resolutions was to read through the bible this year. What a blessing it has been... and what a joy to read the words of life on a daily basis...

Today, I was reading in Psalm 36 and the words really hit me upside the head...

"There is no fear of God...For in his (her) own eyes he (she) flatters himself (herself) too much to detect or hate his (her) sin." Verse 1-2

Wowzers! How true is this verse?

My brother and I were talking about some of these very things this past week...

We were discussing how we focus and work to build "self esteem" in our children, in others, and in ourself. We tell our children they are great and special and perfect and so lovable and kind and pretty and loving... It is pretty much the way we roll in our culture...

And yet, I believe we are flattering ourselves WAY too much. So much so that we are not able to detect or hate the sin in our lives.

Do you really see and hate the sin that is present in your life? Do you really believe you sin? Honestly, it sooooooo hard to see it in yourself, isn't it?

Now others. Now, I see the way they fall short ALL the time. That is easy. It is so obvious. But, myself? Not so much.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I believe in words of encouragement (we are told to encourage one another) and showing kindness and love. So, I am in no way saying we ought to walk around and tell everyone how lame they are... nor am I advocating some sort of negative self-talk...

But, I am suggesting that we all need to take an honest look in the mirror and ask ourselves these tough questions... "Do I really fear the Lord?" Or "Do I flatter myself so much that I am blind to my own sin?"

We are encouraged as believers to "speak the truth in love..." Sometimes, the hardest person to do that with is ourself.

Blank Spaces...

Happy New Year!

I spent this second day of January creating some blank spaces in my house...

The day began by saying goodbye to family, reorganizing the house, doing lots of laundry and putting away all the Christmas decorations.

And I realized while going through these chores, that all of these activities created blank spaces... Spaces where our family had been and enjoyed time together, spaces where all our Christmas decorations had been... blank spaces.

Before all of the family left, I got out my calendar to check on some dates in the summer... and as I looked through it, for the most part the year has lots of "blank" spaces too.

It got me to thinking... I kind of enjoy some blank spaces in my life.

Although, I would not rank January as my favorite month of the year, there is something kind of refreshing about the blank spaces in our lives in January, isn't there?

After all the parties and activities throughout the holidays, it is kind of nice to not have too many plans for the next few weeks. And I don't know about you, but I also like some blank spaces in my home too.

In an ironic way, there is something about blank spaces which create a sense of expectancy... an expectancy of what will come... you know nothing is there now, but you know something will be there eventually, but what will it be?

So, as I look around at some of the blank spaces in my life, I am also looking forward with expectation to this new year and what it will bring!

I love studying history...

One of the great joys of home schooling my children is the opportunity to study history in depth. Sorry, Mr. Groves, but my "early bird" high school history class just didn't cut it for me (we took this class at 6:45 in the morning -- meaning we were asleep through much of the class.)

That class did little to inspire my current love (and passion) for the study of history. But, I am willing to admit it now. I love history. I love history because of what I learn of mankind. I love history because it gives us such an perspective on current life; which is someting that only understanding history can do.

We are currently reading "A History of US" by Joy Hakim. These are some amazing history books. If you love history, you will not be disappointed in reading them...

Tonight, we were reading about the muckrakers of the late 1800's... and how they ushered in a new era in journalism, "investigative journalism."

Anyway, we were learning about a guy named Lincoln Steffans. He has an amazing quote from his book called "The Shame of the Cities" -- which incidentally made him famous...

Here it is...

"The misgovernment of the American people is misgovernment by the American people!"

Completely brilliant and spot on. Well said, Mr. Steffans.

And so, once again, studying history helps me fully realize the realities of my current world. It also reminds me of another great writer, King Solomon, who said, "There is nothing new under the sun." So true.

God is Good...

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear former president George W. Bush speak when he came to Wichita.

He told many stories as he reflected on his past and his experiences as a son, as a business leader and, of course, while he was a president.

One story he shared touched me greatly. I will always remember it.

He shared a story of visiting a village in Africa. He was able to meet with a group of orphans who had lost the parents to the AIDS epidemic. As he was leaving them, he said, “God is good.” And they replied back in unison, “All the time.”

I loved this story because of the truth it tells. God is good. All the time. In times of joy. In times of sorrow. In times of hope. In times of hopelessness. In times of prosperity. In times of want.

Bush shared that even though these orphans had the "right" to be angry and bitter and cynical... they weren't. They praised God in spite of their circumstances.

Bush went on to discuss how different America would be if this would be our motto -- what would we as a nation be like if we would recognize the goodness of God all the time! Wow! It makes you think.

The coolest thing about the evening was when Bush left the stage for the evening, he said "God is Good." And in unison, the audience of 4900+, said back "All the Time."

One of the highlights of my year!

That is what I call a dry spell...

Whew! That has been a bit of a dry spell... maybe the drought that swept over the plains of Kansas this summer affected the writer of this blog... To be honest, I haven't had the time nor the desire to post much lately. But, I feel the desire to write growing inside me. I am feeling the need to express some feelings -- the need to analyze and process.

I can't help but wonder if the desire to write isn't directly related to the long, endless nights of late fall? I know that as night falls here around 5:30 p.m., I can't help but feel a bit lonely. Yes, I can feel that way in a house full of kiddos. Have you ever experienced that feeling in the late fall?

Whatever the reason, it seems this time of year lends itself to a creative outlet. I am not exactly a crafty kinda gal, or a seamstress, or a scrapbooker. And to be honest, I can't figure even begin to figure Pinterest out (althought it looks like great fun.) So, I guess that leaves me with writing. Yay! I am thankful for the blog world. Lots of great writing at a click of the button.

I hope your fall has been blessed... Looking forward to sharing some thoughts with you soon....

The Impact of One Man's Life

I remember when I met Delane Butler (back in 1989,) he had this weird looking computer with a small screen. It was different from all the computers I was used to.

But according to him, it was way better than any PC. He also told me of the creative genius behind this computer, a guy named Steve Jobs, who helped invent this fantabulous computer.

We married and I went on to write many college papers on that Apple computer. And through those early years of marriage, I also continued to hear a lot more about Steve Jobs and his latest creative move.

As my husband continued to pursue graphic design vocationally, he decided he needed a bigger computer screen. And of course, the computer that all graphic artists needed to have was an Apple computer. So, we bought another one...

Not very many people had Apple computers in the early 90's. It seemed like it was just the artists of the world. And a few teachers here and there. These were the days before the iRevolution. Yes, there was a time before iPods, iTunes and iPhones. Radical, huh?

When it was time to replace this computer, I convinced my dear husband to get a PC. He. Did. Not. Want. To. But, he was now in a different vocational role and he didn't do much design work anymore. He gave in. We had a PC for a while. It bombed a lot. And did weird things. And every time it did something inexplicable, I would hear something like... "We should have gotten a Mac...."

When we decided to get a laptop, there was really no big decision. Well, maybe a little. But thankfully, we got a Mac. And when our PC bit the dust, well, we had learned our lesson.

It is weird how you can have a fond attachment to "things" in this life, isn't it? I mean, come on, it is a computer. It is basically a bunch of plastic, and some glass, and circuit boards. And yet computer technology has had a profound effect on our lives. It affects the way we live. The way we work. The way we communicate. The way we interact. The way we learn.

And then there is my favorite invention from the Apple people. The iPod. I mean, wow. It is one of my most favorite inventions ever. Okay, penicillin first. But then, probably the iPod. It is great. Having volumes of music and pictures and video and lessons and audio books all at my fingertips in a little tiny case -- that also happens to be cute and stylish. Awesomeness.

And I haven't even mentioned Mr. Jobs' contribution and influence on the genius that is Pixar. I mean where would animation (and modern day pop-culture) be today without Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, Up...?

So, as my story comes full circle. It seems fitting that my dear husband was the one who broke the news of Mr. Jobs' passing to me. He had logged onto the internet and read it first.

Like so many today, I have reflected on the contributions accredited to Steve Jobs. It is amazing to think about how one person's life and creativity and genius can have such a profound impact on the world. Indeed, his life has affected my life in many ways. And I never even met him.

And yet, as I truly think about it all, I realize it is all just stuff. And more importantly, I am aware that when we are done, it all goes back in the box.

My Labor Day Weekend...

Labor Day. The holiday in and of itself is a little unusual. I would venture to say many today do not even know the full meaning behind the holiday.... but that is an entirely different post!

I know for me and many others it has traditionally been seen as the final curtain on summer and the realization that "real life" is now beginning... After Labor Day, we set aside the more leisurely pace of summer and we officially get back to our regularly scheduled life...

We found ourselves on the outset of the weekend without scheduled plans. I was trying to make casual plans with friends for dinner... We had a come and go wedding celebration we were tentatively planning to attend on Saturday... And then on Saturday, a friend called and asked us over for a cookout one evening.

And other than those few things, the only thing we wanted to definitely accomplish was a trip to the drive-in (because this fun tradition was still on our summer "to do" list....)

So, the weekend was basically open. Unscheduled. Up in the air. Not normally the way I roll. Because, those of you who know me, know I love my schedules and to do lists.

But, I put schedules and Daytimers aside this weekend and let the weekend kind of just "roll along." When the husband got home on Friday, we had a brief conversation about a few things we would like to get accomplished and a "very loose plan" was made... Because, come on, you can't take the schedule completely out of a scheduler!

Anyway, all that to say, it was a fantastic weekend. It was almost as if not having a lot scheduled to do... gave us all the freedom to get a lot accomplished! Not that this even makes sense. But it was a very productive weekend -- And yet at the same time it was very laid back and relaxed and fun. So hard to explain. I guess it is kind of like vacation should be. You know, ideally, when you go on vacation, you get to go and do and see a lot... but all the while you are feeling relaxed and calm... Doesn't happen very often on vacations, does it?

Many times, we use long holiday weekends to cram in a quick trip to visit family. Or family comes to see us. Or we plan a house project. Or we make plans to have a big get together at our house. But not this weekend.

And I am not going to lie. I had to fight the urge. The urge to schedule something big this weekend. The urge to have a bunch of company over for a dinner. The urge to not go somewhere. The urge to not have a schedule with plans. It seemed weird to just stay at home and be.

And yet I liked it. A lot.

Summertime and the living is Easy... NOT!

It used to seem like summer was never ending... it literally went on and on...

Now? It flies by... Can you all believe kids are going back to school?

I know part of it is due to school districts starting classes earlier than they used to... (remember when you started school after Labor Day?)

But, I also think this article by Mitch Albom in this week's Parade magazine may help explain how summer has become too busy and overscheduled that it literally flies by...

The Joys of Summer | Parade.com

It makes me want to buy a hammock and get me a big old pitcher of lemondade and a good book...and then go play in the water sprinkler.

The Waiting Room

DISCLAIMER: I am on a soap box. You are warned.

So, today, I visited my dentist for a regular cleaning. And as soon as I walked into the waiting room I was bombarded with CNN News set at a rather loud volume.

Now, I am not someone who lives under a rock. I am relatively "plugged in" to the outside world. I have the internet. I read the news updates online. I read the paper. So, I knew the stock market is not doing well this week.

However, I really don't want to be barraged with economic doom and gloom while waiting to have my teeth cleaned! Isn't a visit to the dentist disconcerting enough? (Sorry, Audrey!)

Which brings me to another thought. Why on earth do doctors offices feel the need to even put televisions in their waiting rooms? Can't we as American's sit patiently for a few minutes and wait for our appointments? And for that matter, what's up with fast food restaurants having televisions... and hotel breakfast rooms... And then on top of that, the televisions are always set to some news network! I guess our plugged in world just can't get enough news at home (or in their hotel room.) And, if you really can't wait to see what is going on in the world, all you have to do is whip out your iPhone and check the status of the world. Right?

Okay, so back to the doctor's office... If I were a doctor, and I had patients coming into my office, I don't think I would want them to be annoyed, worried, and anxious about the issues of this planet prior to our visit. (To be sure, this is just the prescription to raise blood pressure!)

It seems to me that if you feel you simply must have a television in your waiting room, make sure you have the channel set to something that will make your patients comfortable and at ease. Usually, waiting rooms are not the most fun places to be anyway. First you have the wait. Then the anxiety of whatever will happen at the visit. Then the knowledge that you will be paying for said procedure. Then all the many, many, many forms you have to fill out. And then the doctors add insult to injury (pun intended) by blaring the media's perception of our world.

Can't we just go back to quiet waiting rooms with magazines?

Reasons why I home school...

We have many reasons we home school our children... And some may even surprise you...

As the school year begins, I sometimes question this decision. Sometimes I want to live within a different reality. When my curriculum arrives, the panic sets in. I have to get through all of this and teach several different subjects to several grades all the while dealing with the shenanigans of a four year old?!?!?

But I believe I was called to home school. Why? I am not sure. I may never know this side of eternity... But nevertheless, this is where we live. This is where God has confirmed we need to be...

Today I was reading a blog. She beautifully describes many of my feelings about the whole issue. Give it a read... It spoke to my heart.

http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2011/08/why-i-still-homeschool.html

As I think about how quickly my children are growing up... I am confident of this... I will not get to end of my life and wish I had spent less times with my kids. I know I will look back on all the hours I spent with them "home schooling" them with fond memories...thankful I was blessed with extra time with my kids... Blessings.

Drought!

Like most of the midwestern United States, it is HOT in Kansas. Triple digit temperatures for many days. And little rain. Which naturally leads to a drought. I know this. It is simple. And yet, today I internalized it when I saw first hand the effects.

I was driving downtown Wichita and I saw the Arkansas River. It was nothing more than a muddy stream. And seemingly overnight all the grass in our city is not green anymore. Instead, it is a lovely shade of light brown. The effects of our drought became blatantly obvious to me today -- although, for several days I knew it was hot and dry and we had not had rain.

Odd, I know, but seeing all the effects around our city of a literal, physical drought made me think of my spiritual life. So many times, I am in a drought spiritually but I don't really know it. I know I am dealing with junk (severe heat) and I know there is little water being poured into my parched soul. But usually, it sneaks up on me. And then I see something which makes me realize I am in a spiritual drought.

As I was out driving around today, I thought, "We need rain. Badly. Like now!" Spiritually, you get to that point to. "I need God. Now. Badly."

Why is it we sometimes have to experience a severe drought in our lives to realize our constant need and dependency on (living) water?

Jesus says, "Whoever believes in me...streams of living water will flow from within him." Sounds like the answer to the droughts in life!

A few more pics of New Orleans....

The Streetcar on St. Charles Street. Running through the Garden District.

We happened to turn down the street the wedding procession was coming down. Coincidentally, we had seen the wedding taking place in Jackson Square earlier. We should have gone to the reception and pretended we were long, lost cousins from Kansas.

Beignets and Cafe au lait.

I think this is the oldest restaurant I have ever eaten at... 151 years in business. That is a long time for a restaurant.

New Orleans

Thankfully, I have been to a lot of places throughout my life. But, I had never had the opportunity to visit New Orleans. So on our trip to the South, we made it a destination spot.

We had several reasons to see New Orleans. We studied American History this past year, and you cannot study US history without realizing the importance the city of New Orleans played in our country's history. (Above is Jackson Square named in honor of Andrew Jackson. If you don't remember, Jackson helped save the city of New Orleans during the War of 1812.)

A simple walk through the French Quarter and you can feel the history. I loved the old bricks and the gas lanterns and the old windows and doors. We ate beignets at Cafe du Monde. Yummy. We heard different musicians on the street. We heard jazz and saw people dancing with ease and abandon. We happened on a wedding procession being led by a jazz band. Classic.

After our tour of the French Quarter, we drove through the Garden District and watched the streetcar go up and down St. Charles Street. We were amazed by the beautiful homes in that area. They are quite simply beautiful. We saw Tulane and Loyola University.

Fast forward to more recent history. Katrina. We saw the Superdome. We were on the interstate where it showed a different kind of procession -- the people who had sought refuge on higher ground. And then we saw all the abandoned houses. Still boarded up. Hotels in ruins. Shopping centers that are now parking lots. A city that has not recovered...

New Orleans is a city of contrast. You have many cultural influences diverging. Religion and voo doo. French and American. The New Orleans of yesteryear with its strategic location on the Mississippi and the city of today devasted because of its location during a hurricane. A city with great wealth and affluence and a city with great poverty and need.

I am thankful we made it a destination point! It is good to see and experience the contrast and the tension of this city first hand. My daughter remarked, "this is the strangest city I have ever seen." I would agree.

Sunblock...or NOT

The Butler's were going on vacay. We were heading to the Sunshine State -- finally getting some beach time. Being the awesome, thoughtful, mom that I am... I bought the 50 SPF sunscreen. Surely, that would be the needed extra protection for my fair-skinned kiddos. Well, not exactly...

So, evidently, the spray on sunblock...Not the best sunblock. (Conveniently, I read a whole article about this in a magazine on MY WAY HOME.) For starters, applying the spray on stuff at the beach is not the best idea. Because, yeah, it is windy. And half of what you are spraying out blows away. Then, as you apply it, you can't really see it or feel where it has been applied (unlike the oily greasy feel of the white lotion.)

So, short story long... we all got burned real bad. No bueno. We spent the rest of our vacation walking funny, aching, itching, not hugging each other (not that we walk around hugging each other anyway, but you get my point) and looking blotchy. The kids think Mr. Man looks like he has a mask on...

So as you head out for summer fun, I would highly recommend you stick to the good old-fashioned lotion stuff. I put that kind on my face and it didn't burn at all!

A chapter in my life...

For the last eight years, I have attended a bible study on Monday nights. Tonight was the last night of this year's study. And, unless God leads me back to this particular bible study, tonight was also the end of this chapter in my life.

Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) has been an amazing part of my life. For those who are not familiar with it, it is an international, expository bible study. Usually you study one book of the bible each year, and of course they bring in parallel verses, books, etc... This year we studied the book of Isaiah. Next year it is Acts. The cool thing is that everyone, worldwide, is studying the same thing at the same time!

It is hard to quantify what God has taught me through this bible study program. It is hard to adequately convey what BSF has meant to me through the years. BSF came into my life during a time of spiritual transition. And the teaching, encouragement and fellowship I received through BSF, has indeed been a great blessing.

Tonight as we gathered to share what we had learned this year, I was overwhelmed by all that has happened in the last eight years. There were so many truths and principles spoken into my life each and every Monday night. I can't imagine what my life would have been like if I had not been a part of this study. I am so thankful God led me to this study.

If you are searching for a bible study to join next fall, consider BSF. It may very well be just what God has planned for your life.

Hope and Joy

We have recently come face to face with death. Delane's grandmother, Anna Belle, passed away last week. She was 95. She had been married 77 years. She had given birth to 15 children. She sewed a lot. She baked a lot. She hugged a lot of babies. She made people feel special. She lived a good life. She did good things. She had a powerful influence in many, many lifes. She was a great woman.

But all this would be meaningless without her faith...

And so at the visitation you heard laughing. At the cemetery, friends and families lingered visiting and reconnecting and laughing. There was sadness because we were saying goodbye. But there was also an expectancy in the air. A little bit of joy. Yes, joy. Why? Because there was hope.

You see when you have faith that this human life is not all there is... When you believe something better is waiting.... When you believe an eternity in the presence of God is available... it gives you HOPE. And true JOY.

So, as we come to Easter, the time when we remember the resurrection of JESUS... the time when those of us who have FAITH reflect on what HIS death and resurrection mean to us, we have HOPE and JOY.

My prayer is you have this HOPE and JOY in your life...

Springtime in the Plains

We have lived in Kansas for 15 years... And I can say unequivocally, spring is my favorite season in Kansas. When we lived in Indiana, I would tell you that fall is my favorite. Fall is glorious back that way. But here? Here the spring time is glorious. Even with the wind. And even though we are put on alert for severe weather from time to time. Spring is my most favorite season in Kansas.

So what makes Kansas so special in the spring? Well, for starters, it is beautiful and lush and green. All the grass, bushes, trees, and plants seem fresh. And right now they are blooming and budding. Gorgeous.

I love seeing those first Forsythia plants start blooming. Then the Bradford Pears. Then the Red Bud trees... It seems every week there is a new plant or bush to enjoy in all its radiant glory. You most definitely see first hand the work of an amazing creator.

In addition to the sights of spring, I love the sounds of spring too. I love to hear the wind blow and feel the breeze flow through the window. I love the sound of the birds chirping and calling their mate. I love the hum of the neighborhood lawnmowers powering up for their call of duty.

It makes me feel alive and excited and thankful. There is just something magical in the air in the spring! I love it!