Sunday, October 16, 2011

I can RIDE A BIKE PERFECTLY!

First - Stacia would like all to know that she would like to be called Anastacia and not Stacia or Stashy. ::snort:: 


Stacia  Anastacia learned a new skill. To be more accurate she PERFECTED a new skill. She'd tried to learn to ride her bike for quite a few years. This spring Tanya, a local friend, shared how training is done in Europe. Bikes without pedals....scoot along with your feet and they begin to coast more and more until they are ready for pedals. Stacia Anastacia had been given a bike that was pink, bigger and had training wheels. She was terrified of falling and we had to run alongside to prop her up. 


We took the pedals off Stacia's bike in early summer. We actually pulled out Zander's old bike as it was shorter, lowered the seat and removed the pedals. She loved it and got more and more confident as the months went by. 
Stacia shows how you can ride her pedal - less bike!

Anastacia told Michael she was ready for pedals.



Fuzzy - but precious! She was off like lightening!


Past our street and over to the next...that speck in the middle under the yellow house is Anastacia. 

She's fallen and gotten back up. She told us she thinks she can handle the bigger bike now if we'll take the training wheels off. We still have some nice fall weather so I believe bike rides are in our future. 

She was so excited and yelling, "I can RIDE A BIKE PERFECTLY!" and "WE CAN GO FOR FAMILY BIKE RIDES!"..... I suspect she and I will ride to the produce market tomorrow...but there is a stretch with quite a bit of traffic.  She didn't make her goal of riding before she was 6 - but she DID ride before she was 6 1/2. LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

Saturday Hospitality

We have lots of kids in our subdivision and in the neighboring subdivision. We are blessed to have many children who love to play on OUR street.  We've noted that parents are not often outside...in fact, I'd say I've only seen any adult outside twice in months.  As we've talked about this, Michael and I have become more convinced of the need for US to be outside playing with the kids....and interacting with them...showing them Jesus.  This is really hospitality too....... Saturday we played outside with kids....Jared and Michael participated in a rousing game of street ball....Stacia worked on a new skill (post to follow) and I cheered all on, yelled lots of encouraging words and took photos. The neighborhood kids really seem to like it when Michael and I come out too.....and we are thrilled to take one gal with us to youth group every week now.....I think as a direct result of this type of hospitality (inviting others inside our walls).





Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

A week!

I am determined to review the week before a new one "officially" begins.

A full week of school done by the grace of God.

Another doctor appointment and adjusting to a new dosage of thyroid meds - again.

Stacia and I go and visit with the children during Monday night PWOC.

Arielle and Nolan handle homeschool room on Tuesday and I facilitate a study on Sermon on the Mount. Good stuff.

Parish Advisory Committee meeting this week.

MOPS (Moms of Pre Schoolers) this week. Arielle helps with Mopetts and I am a mentor mom. We discussed home making on a budget. Lots of fun tips.

MOCA (Moms of College Aged) on Thursday night.  This group is meeting a heart felt need for many of us to pray for our children who have grown up and left home...or are Seniors and making that transition.

We learn anew to follow God's rhythm in the dance of life....and we thrill as we wait to see where He will lead next.  Pray with us about ministry changes in our future.

Friday - Hospitality! Good stuff. Well worth the effort and very fun. We had invited 4 families to soup and games. Two could make it - and that was great fun.  The kids and I cleaned and baked.....We were anticipating our friends and so excited to have them over....good tie ins as I continue to work on my workshop for Biblical Hospitality....I want our PWOC to have GUESTS not visitors.

Zander put all the peanut butter in the bombs

We also made Blondies, Tortillia soup (will have to load the recipe), Popovers and Chicken and Dumplings (no recipe).


Our guests arrived bearing Chicken Alfredo Soup and White Chicken Chili - YUMO. We enjoyed each other, told a few stories and then played MAFIA.
We had debated as our guest list always grows so quickly....we'll have to go with smaller groups more often given our house size. I really didn't WANT to do this at chapel - I wanted to invite others into our home.  I think we could have about 4 or 5 more tops in the home.....had 15 this night.

Saturday we ran some errands. We had planned to go to a festival but it was raining so we stayed home......

I had a two hour regional Skype about conference. I also spent a significant amount of time on conference details this week.


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...