Author: Blog-admin

Ministry starts at the home. It’s one thing to be a light and love on others when we are out and about; it’s another to be this way at home.

Such was a Hay Happens meeting on Sunday this week. I wanted to do a family craft, but I wanted it to be intentional and purposeful. I set it all up with our mission statement and verse. ALL READY!

We each got two cards: One for each of us to give to the other.

On the front: What you are grateful for that person. In the inside: An encouragement and a prayer for the week.

After much coloring and thought, we presented them to each other. Tot started. She read mine to me.

I love you, Tot.

Now Daddy’s.

She nails it. I love her heart.

Now, it’s my turn to share Tatum’s. This is her cover….grateful for her!

Then the inside: Encouragement and prayer

LOVE YOU TOT!!
Then my HHH.

What does it say inside?

I love you honey.

Now Doug will share Tatum’s first.

Look how cute his drawing is! Tot’s hair turned pink!

And inside:

Now, my HHH will share the one for me, his HHW.

Blue hair? OK!
And inside? WOW.

We all just spoiled each other. Let’s live this this week and pray and encourage each other.

Cooper?
We love you too you sweet little doggie!!

YAY! We get to go out!
And guess what? One of my past students is our babysitter. WOW! Lauren Breakstone, a lovely now 18-year old, was my student back at Tesseract eight years ago. I ran into her at Sprouts, and now she can babysit. She even attended Tot’s first birthday party. (this was in November 2013!!)

Isn’t that cool? I also had her older brother, Gabe, and I went to college with her mom, Susan. It has come back around as now she can hang out with the Tot while honey and I go out. Such was last night.

He’s a handsome dude, that HHH.

What a blessing all around!

She woke up this morning showing me a list she had made for the Balance Landscape boys. She’s been loving on them daily. Donuts one day; Gatorade every day (we went and stocked up so they’d have some goodies to keep them cool); lunch maybe one day. We look at it like a ministry and a way to be a little Jesus.

Tatum’s life verse is Matthew 5:16: “Let your Light shine so that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.” YES! She is living it without me telling her to.

So she wanted to find out what the guys like for lunch:

I asked her to ask them what time they like to eat as well. She goes out there often to check on them. They have become buddies (she and Eric at least).

Later this Friday, we headed to the Paradise Valley Food Bank. I have been volunteering there now for a while and during the summer, I’m bringing Tot with me. This was her first day.

One of the volunteers helped her put together a food box for a family of one.

Nancy then came in and gave her her own name tag.

Next, a family was to come in about one hour, so Tot insisted putting together to food box by herself. I stood back and helped if needed.

She followed the list perfectly! I barely had to help her.

What a life-giving day. On the way home, I asked Tot how often she thought about herself today…like problems or tummy aches…. She mentioned NOT AT ALL. When we are serving others, we forget about our own problems (We are serving Jesus when we serve others). We focus: Jesus Others You. It’s how we get JOY.

I love serving with you Taties. You truly are a joy to be around and everyone notices your giving, generous heart.

Mama always buys Tot the prettiest clothes. She insisted we go to lunch so Tot could wear this dress. Hmmm….twist my arm!

We headed to Cheesecake Factory. Mom got there after us, so we took a few pics before she showed up.

Tot took my pic:

WIth glasses?

Nah….I want one with you, Tot.

We just started to get silly. Tot spied Cooper’s name. Do they have a Coopy too?

Hi Mama! You look so beautiful.

No glasses…. please… we want to see your beautiful face!

Tot had sliders, I had salmon, and mama had a chicken salad. It was perfect. Thank you, Mama for treating us!

Today was a tough day for our Twos-day due to Praxis today. I would be presenting in the afternoon, so we had a shortened day. I figured, let’s go to brekkie, bring our work with us, and enjoy each other.

Luci’s here we come! Tot wanted eggs and sausage. Potatoes filled the plate, so she was plenty filled up!

During our breakfast, we did our new devotion from Focus on the Family, our new Piggie and Puppy book brainstorming, and Bridges.

Day 2 of summer is becoming more exciting! We decided to bless our landscapers with some Krispy Kremes.

It was a great Two Girls day!

It was our first day back since CO. We finished school, then immediately went to Colorado for HCA. (Hay Colorado Adventure). Today, we would begin our summer “schedule” of sizzling, spicy, sweet schooling and other surprises!

I’m going to give her incentives after 150 points (one minute = one point) for reading, 100 points for Math, 25 points for Piano, and 50 points for Bible.

Our landscape plan also began to unfold today when Balance Landscaping tore up our driveway. It’s all beginning now!

And now the driveway is all cabonkers! WOW! Where did it go?

Ok, back to our spicy summer. We started a new devotion today and of course a bible verse of the week. This week: Eph 2:5 “Even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” Easy to remember with a little treat of yogurt thrown in.

Meanwhile, Tot and I decided we’d like to love on these guys through the month. Tomorrow, DONUTS for the crew.

After this, we’d head into the art room for Brainquest and Math.

She began Day 1 in Bridge book…

This was no problem for the girl!
Then onto Brainquest.

Math!

Tot had a haircut appt then. She wanted it all chopped off, so Brandy to the rescue.

SOOOO CUTE!

In action…. playing

And then…our journal. MONDAYS and FRIDAYS, Tot and I will work in our journal.

We read them to each other:

What a great first day. More to come! I love you TOT>

Let’s hit the pool now!

We often like to review some of the highlights of our trip. It’s a way to create our memories because we are choosing to remember all the good.

DAY 1:

DAY 2:

And it only gets better.

And finally…

Let’s never forget: