Happy Mother's Day... Mother-in-law 2

My Mother-in-love tributes would no be complete if I didn't include my other mother-in-loves.  Were my mom and I have a common interest in reading, and humor. And my other mother in love both enjoy cooking and crafting.... this mother in love was a teacher!  A women after my heart!

Kindergarten was the grade that I feared most, there is so much that hinges on how well you learn to read that I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to teach Curly how to read. But Ya Ya helped me out. And gave me the confidence to know that I can do it!

 She has the same creativity and enjoyment that I do in the classroom.  I can't start planning our school year without thinking of her in some aspect. 

I am super blessed to have so many women in my life that I have so much in common with.  I think family holidays and gatherings would be extremely boring if I didn't have these ladies to talk with and spend time with.  God's planning is ALWAYS perfect!

Happy Mother's Day ... Mother in Love 1

When I think of my Mother-in-Law, I instantly see her kitchen in Lawton. She poured over magazines for months looking for ideas, functionality, beauty..... and her kitchen is perfect.

 She is the perfect hostess. There is ALWAYS room for one more at her table and I don't think I have ever eaten a holiday meal at her house were there weren't "extra" family members and food to spare!

When ever I make a good meal... especially if it is completely from scratch, or one I have "invented" ..... I think of her and how she had inspired me to be a better cook.

 She is also craft like me... she is always sewing something, embellishing something or creating something to give as gifts for the next holiday! She is supper busy!  She and Pop are always out of town visiting someone who has lost a loved one, putting on a wedding, helping some one move... if there is a need... they will help!

She is the QUEEN of packages!  They were awesome to get when we lived in the states, you knew every holiday a box would come stuffed full of goodies for everyone in the family.  Now that we are overseas..... we relish every little item sent with even more enjoyment! I love my mother-in-love!

Happy Mother's Day

I'm going to let you in on a little secret..... I like to take pictures. I really like to take pictures of my kids and nature.  Looking through my picture files is like looking through a National Geographic Magazine (well sort of).  Anyway.... once several years ago my Dad shared the most romantic idea with me.  I honestly think it was the most romantic thing I have ever heard him utter.

 He revealed that when he is on hiking/hunting trips he likes to take pictures of purple flowers to let my mom know that he is thinking of her.  Purple is her favorite color.  So I have adopted that habit too!  I can't look at a purple flower with out thinking of my mom!

 She is a WONDERFUL woman! She is compassionate.... (crying with me when I had a miscarriage) Giving... (sending money to fill my freezer full of meat when we were poor) Even.... (like getting me my first "good" camera after she helped my brother go to Italy) Smart..... (she is a Nurse Practitioner, nuff said)  Determined (she went back to college when I was in the 3rd grade)  Faithful (she has been at the same job for 16 years!)

 Like everyone else, she has her faults.... which also happen to some of my faults so we relate to one another well.  We also have the same weird sense of humor, and we enjoy quoting movies..... actually my whole family does that and now my kids do it too!

 There are some things that I can't put into words.... parts of me that will always need my mommy.  Fortunately she is only a phone call away!

I am truly bless to have the mother I do! 

Thank you God for giving her to me!

Little Critters pt 1

I love all the neat critters that you get to see living in Africa!  Granted we did have lots of interesting critters in the US that God used to prepare us for living here....... More Preperation ??

 This is a baby newborn lizard. It is so incredibly tiny!

 He gets a little lost in this picture with the grey tile and all, but he (or she?) is sitting on the tip of Curly's thinger..... I mean finger.

Itty bitty thing ain't he!