Author: Blog-admin

Today was the official first day of school, and we began with the sweetest reminder: “Today is the day the Lord has made.” That little sign on the table set the tone for our morning, reminding us to rejoice and be glad in it.

I made her a special breakfast—bacon, egg bites, and yogurt with raspberries and chocolate chips.

She was up early ( she does her Bible Study), ready to go, and even made her bed beautifully before starting the day.

What a gift to see her so prepared and eager!

We kicked off with devotion and dove into our subjects—math, history, grammar, and stems. One of the highlights was starting The Outsiders! It’s going to be such a fun book to read together this year. Math felt like such a victory—she is doing it with ease now, which is a huge encouragement for both of us.

Even Rio decided to join us at the school table for a while, bringing joy and giggles to the morning.

Later, during lunch, we added something extra special to the day: LED lights in her bedroom! They can change into all sorts of colors, creating such a cozy and fun atmosphere. She was thrilled, and I know this will be one of her favorite parts of her space this year.

What a wonderful start to a new school year. My heart is full, and I cannot wait to see all the ways God will grow, teach, and bless us in the days ahead.

Ollie joined us! (Dad found this ginormous 7).

I made her a cupcake and got her a snuggly blankie since she’s often cold.

It’s going to be a GREAT year, TATIES! I LOVE YOU!

We added BLUEBELL!

Some days are meant for slowing down. Today was one of those down days with the birdies fluttering around, Coopy curled up close,

and Tatum stretched out with her UNO deck nearby. Sometimes a reset is just what we need before the big school season begins.

The birdies even had their own playground right on the bed—Rio and Bluebell exploring, chirping, and filling the room with joy.

Bluebell’s newness still feels like a treat, and watching them play together is the sweetest reminder of simple gifts.

You see, some days, I really struggle…to where I’m pretty much stuck in bed. Tatum doesn’t show her sadness or her grief, but I happened to see her work in her devotion book. It made me weep a bit.

Thank you Taties.

Dad surprised Tatum with MOJI the panda, another little delight as we get ready for the school year ahead.

It’s these small, ordinary moments—feet up, pets close, laughter and rest—that make the reset days so needed and so special.

School (LIGHT) has started, but our official first day isn’t until next Monday. It’s been a RUFF start in more ways than one, so I decided to surprise Tatum with a special “Birdie” shirt to brighten the mood. Front and center are her beloved feathered crew—Ollie, Bluebell, and Rio—with “Bird Mama” proudly on the back.

This year, 7th grade promises to be joyful and full of growth. We’ll kick things off with The Outsiders for literature, dive into grammar practice, and continue memorizing stems (we’ve got 400 to go after mastering 100 last year!). History is on deck, too, along with three online classes: Writing with Mark, Allegories (C.S. Lewis, Pilgrim’s Progress, and more), and—brace yourself—Physics! (EEKS!)

I’m super pumped for this school year, and I’m praying every day for the strength and health to keep showing up. Here’s to new beginnings, lots of learning, and maybe a few birdie breaks along the way.

Life in our home is never dull not when you’ve got a lively crew of feathers and fur making every day feel like a mini-adventure.

First, there’s Bluebell, our calm and gentle English Budgie. Then there’s Rio, bursting with bright yellow energy, And let’s not forget Ollie, our sweet cockatiel, who keeps watch from his rooftop perch.

When these three get together, it’s a mix of chirps, flutters. Some days they’re shoulder-to-shoulder like the best of friends; other days, they’re in full-on “roommate” mode … polite but with boundaries. (Ribi wants to play with him!)

But the fun doesn’t stop with the birds. Enter Cooper: our fluffy, playful, always-ready-for-fetch pup. Whether he’s chasing his bright yellow ring toy or waiting (impatiently) for the next throw, Cooper brings his own kind of joy and chaos to the mix. Tatum and DAD are his favorite playmates, and together, they keep the energy in the house buzzing.

It’s a beautiful kind of busy here… the flutter of wings, the toss of a toy, the happy chatter (sometimes from the humans, sometimes from the birds). This little zoo of ours is a constant reminder that joy comes in many forms: sometimes with feathers, sometimes with fur, and always with a whole lot of love.

I started drawing her last week as it is a tradition to have the birds pics on the wall!

He is a little harder since he has a lot of white.

GOOD ol’ colored pencil. It’s a bit more forgiving than watercolor .

So I framed and voila!

Rio, Ollie and now BB! (Bluebell)

My favorite thing to bless Tatum with is this blog and my drawings. Truly memorializing her life. I LOVE YOU, BUMBY!