For my children

Oh Sweet Puppy of Ours

Our new puppy…
Abigail only wanted a puppy for her birthday, a yellow lab to love!

A birthday girl making a wish for a puppy!

Do wishes come true…

Always for believers!

A sweet new puppy has joined our family. Abigail was sure I said she could have a puppy when she turned six!

Our first meeting

Our first family photo with the new baby…

Our first potty break and running in a field on our drive back to TN.

When it was time for rest they would nestle her in this box surrounded by lots of fuzzy things…
Peaceful in Heaven

My FAVORITE picture! A calm moment for a very hyper puppy!

Nana loves her new grand”puppy”

Sweetness for the holidays.

Another cozy feel in the bed of a Tonka truck!

Comfy enough for sleep.

Growing bigger every day

The things they put this puppy through…

Happiness sealed with a smile!

Our first trip to the vet. She has gained over six pounds since coming to live with us three weeks ago!

Puppy in our shopping cart

Pretend play. I love that they all fit together and enjoy having fun.

Merry Christmas to all!

We are happy to have Lucy Jingle Bella join our family!!!

December 13, 2014
Categories: Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday Thanksgiving Blessing

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet Thanksgiving Blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving to my three little birds.

An awesome new birthday book from Saxton and Synclair

Beautiful fall colors to celebrate a day of thanks to these three of ours!

A cookie…

A cake…

Some fun with our favorite Jaydie Bug

A complete blessing to watch them celebrate one another!

Growing and glowing each and everyday.

Wishing on a dream that this girl of ours grows into a force of change for the future, an inspiration to all who meet her.

We are truly blessed to be a part of each and every moment each of these children experience!

Born at 12:49 p.m. November 27, 2008, Thanksgiving Day, 8lb. 1oz/ 21 1/2 in. long
When her daddy took me to the emergency room on Thanksgiving morning, he said I needed a doctor, I had swallowed a turkey! I cherish that memory!

November 30, 2014
Categories: Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Sky View

A beautiful rainbow right by my door!

Sunbeams

Beautiful sunbeams peeking from the clouds shedding light on the fall colors below.

An unexpected mini hike wrapped in blankets for added warmth!

A spectacular view on the highest point. Many repeated photos reveals my weakness for the constant changing sky around me.
Mesmerized by the contrast of clouds and light!

Can you think of a better place for a drive?

I love our afternoon adventures with my little birds.

We are so blessed with eyes to see these views!

I am completely blessed to be a part of each and every memory of exploration, earth viewing, and family bonding.

November 20, 2014
Categories: Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Halloween and Fall Fun

A warm Saturday evening for trick or treating.

A “haunted” merry go round that went backwards.

Our first Boo At the Zoo, we’re glad we went because the following weekend it poured on Halloween night!

Pin the Spider on the Web at our Library Halloween Party

Foxy Kitty always in her fall color dress

Costume party at Nana and Papaw’s

Sweet and happy cousins!

Fall Festival Fun

Playing in the lake bottoms

Abigail’s rock collection of hearts

Happy Birthday Aunt Brooke

A meal out with Amy and Stephanie to cheer on the Steelers and Broncos.

My three sweet treats!

Playing dress up in the middle of Target

By Abigail

Abigail decided to climb the wall at Nantahala.

Step by step climbing and pulling

Ringing the bell about 50 feet up!

Nana’s favorite “big boy”

Happy 10th Birthday Jayden Shylee!

Homeschool field trip to Historic Ramsey House

Friendly Letter

By Jackson

Letters for our Samaritan Purse Gift boxes

My baby boy is growing so fast!

Playful pups!

Always finding a heart…

So fun playing with this gal of mine!

Pretend play is the best of imagination time! Youthful innocent energy!

November 4, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Excursions, Jackson's Work, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Finally Florida!

Our first visit as a family to the gulf!

A new experience that has become my new favorite!

Psalm 95:5, “The Sea is His, and He made it.” ….

Sunshine, white sands, and blue green emerald waters

My two favorite boys……
These birds visited us poolside each morning.

The water was prettier than any sight my eyes had seen

Or was it the clouds hanging in the sky that my eyes enjoyed most?
“Who cover the the heaven with clouds…” Psalm 147:8

Celebrating time together

Blurry photo but a moment I wanted to keep. Nana and Papaw joined us.

We helped celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary!

Love to capture my daddy giving a smile!

“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Proverbs 3:15 ….
This evening was so entertaining. We were at Margaritaville’s Landshark.

We played silly, had great burgers, and soaked up the amazing view!

“Sunrise, sunrise, looks like morning in my eyes”

What a wonderful feeling, soaking up the September sun and love of my family!

Our favorite sandbox…

Red Fish, Blue Fish

“…and a time to laugh.” Ecclesiastes 3:4
My wonderful girls, happy and having fun!

Sweetness
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4

Always keep this memory, this amazing blessing fresh in my mind!

Sleepy time equals tent time on the sand!

Nana and Jack Sawyer lounging by the pool

What a view while eating crabs!

I can’t get enough photos and of the evening sun, sky, and clouds.

Each memory trumps the one before…

The best place on earth.

“Love the one’s you’re with”

Traveling great distances to celebrate family

Abigail picked one book from the lobby library each morning to read. These were a few of her favorites!

For our part of a history study, we toured Fort Pickens, saw a lighthouse, hit a trail, and even completed their Junior Ranger Program.

I hope the “tree huggers” I am raising take part in halting the progression of this devastating fact in their future.

Signed booklets, patches, and badges, and officially sworn in by the park ranger! A Junior Ranger of The Gulf Coast!

Back on the sand my little man and me!

A little football

Happily running from brother…

Until she takes a fall and of course in dramatic fashion, just lays there!

Back at our favorite eating spot Red Fish, Blue Fish to celebrate

I could drive this road everyday if I were with the one’s I loved

“O Lord, how great are Thy works!” Psalms 92:5

A simple message spread throughout Pensacola’s landscape.
Leave the trace of your toes, collect the memories to take with you!

Although we had to depart earlier than planned, vacation 2014 will remain a reminder in my mind to the work of God’s hand. The view created on our earth where sky, sea, and sand meet for a family bonding more than the days before.

This day is a gift…
I’m grateful for the health of my family to be able to create these kinds of memories! Grateful for the eyes to see the beauty, and the heart to collect the blessings!

Sealed with a kiss to the man I love!!!
Thanks for our adventure!!!

October 26, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Goodbye Long Hot Days

Satisfying summer moments

Full of play and mischief.

I’m not sure if I love the puffy white clouds or the amazing blue between them the best…

Hidden wild flowers growing off the path

Nana’s girls celebrating pink!

Love our playgrounds and a view of the city.

Back at Dollywood with Nana, Papaw, and the cousins

As always, we have fun celebrating Grandparents!

The memories made are just wonderful

You can see, the love is great between these five!

“Continue to bless my children and grow their relationship as one.”

October 14, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Butterfly Gold!

A beautiful monarch butterfly! We didn’t catch it flying around our flowers. We grew it from a caterpillar and hatched it in a jar.
“God changes Caterpillars into Butterflies, Sand into Pearls, and Coal into Diamonds. Using time and pressure, He’s working on you too.”
Rick Warren

We started with these little creatures which had been hatched from an egg of a mother monarch. We found more than we could care for! We harvested the milkweed plant from outside of our garden. We shared many caterpillars with Nana, Jayden, and Elijah too.

Stage two is the larva, also called the caterpillar. For about 14 days we fed it milkweed. It ate and ate and continued to grow in size. It made it’s way to top of the jar, secured itself and then dropped down into a “J” shape.

Stage three is the pupa. The caterpillar formed a hard shell and created this sight. Inside the shell, the pupa changes into a butterfly. This process takes about 10-14 days.
Looking closely you can see specks of gold!

Closer to the time of revealing itself, the once green pupa turns black. Looking closely you can see the outline of the wings within the pupa.
“The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” George Carlin

The fourth and final stage is the adult. It emerges wet and wrinkled.
A miracle in front of our eyes!

As it’s wings dry, tiny veins filled with blood allow the butterfly to grow larger as it prepares to fly.

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, THE MASTER calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Amazing cycle of life

Off to the warm South you will fly…free to be…

October 8, 2014
Categories: Memories, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Grape Juice Time

Finally in the field to harvest our clusters.

Working girls placing buckets throughout the field

An interesting trivia note…
If asked what his favorite day of the year is, other than his birthday, he replies “harvest day!” He LOVES September because of this very day!
I think he likes feeling in charge, being the boss of the other two!

They usually do whatever he says

We haven’t given the girls the tools for removing the clusters from the vines. These two would remove the clusters from our big white buckets and put them into smaller sand buckets.
They worked twice as hard as us adults!

As always, we were blessed to have Nana and Papaw’s hands join our efforts. All clusters were removed and loaded on the truck ready for the juice factory.

This is always a great day!

Papaw and Jackson took a break to visit Ras. He sent them back with some cool golf and fishing gear as a trade for grapes….

Of course these two can find a chance to take a break!

Harvested buckets ready to be emptied into the larger bins

A good feeling

Ready for delivery…

Because we had a delivery time of early Sunday morning we missed church. We left this basket on the church steps.

Our bins were unloaded, de-stemmed, and crushed for juice.

Doug asked Jack Sawyer to hop in the seat and give it a try.

Grapes go in and the process begins.

Healthy, brightly colored, sweet juice!

Once the crushing was complete, Jackson cleaned out all of our bins as well as the equipment.

Afterwards, we headed to the highest peak in Tennessee to soak up the blessings of the earth and the thankfulness of a tedious year of work in the vines behind us!

My little workers are the best!

September 23, 2014
Categories: Memories, Photos, Vineyard . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Fun at the Fair

I love this memory.

The girls enjoyed every ride. Each time it came around they squealed with delight.

Abigail thinks this is her duck that “flew away”

Do we ever miss our ducks!

A camel for petting

Jackson was asked to ride with this little guy. The girls missed him.

Isabela isn’t tall enough for the swings at Dollywood so she was completely excited to ride these for little people!

A game of fishing for a fun prize.

I’m not a big fan of rides but I love sharing a special moment.

This girl is intrigued by all living things. She wants one of these!

We had a fun evening at the fair!

Always moments worth sharing!

September 19, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

2014-2015 Homeschool Class

Another year older, another year ahead for learning!

My second grader…I have a true second grader to teach again! Teaching second grade in the public school system was my last paying job before this young man entered my world in May of 2007.

My kindergartener, by law she is an official student ready for everything.

My pre-preschooler, in “tot school” following her brother and sister!

I have my work cut out for me!

She’s not so sure.

I wonder myself…..

Wish us luck!

My thoughts…

I taught in the public school system for thirteen years as a first and second grade teacher. I have been trained to support a strong foundation in educating children. Most importantly, I have always felt it was my duty to inspire a child to explore learning as a joy, thus creating a lifelong learner.

I had never intended to leave my public teaching job. After having my first child, I then found myself needing to take a one year leave to care for his very colicky needs. One year turned to two after having my second child eighteen months later. Later a third child joined our family and my soul discovered the path and goal was educating my own.

I quickly found teaching them was the biggest blessings I had ever experienced. Not only was it a blessing but a responsibility. Many things pertaining to the pace and expectations from the public schools, as well as the lack of guidance spiritually, helped me finalize my plans to educate at home. My children have been homeschooled for their whole life. Connecting a knowledge of God to our learning and everyday life skills has been the guidance I needed for each of their lives. Starting with life skills, moving on to preschool skills, and now the complete process of education, we are learning and truly enjoying our choices. In our home I am able to maintain high expectations, yet exercise flexibility to each of their unique needs and learning styles. Educating at home also allows me to guard their innocence. Each of my children are thriving at home, in social settings with others, in church, and most importantly in their hearts.

My husband and I feel completely blessed to facilitate the joy of learning for our three children. The connection they are having to the world around them and for the love of their family is priceless. Leading them to love God, learning, and one another has brought our family full circle.

Our schedule for homeschooling is primarily year round, continuing throughout the summer. However for the 2014-2015 school year, we officially began on August 4. We homeschool five days a week for about five hours spread throughout the day. We meet monthly with the Kodak Homeschool group for field trips and socialization as well as attend weekly readings at our local library.

We realize our blessings all around us and know we are living the dream.

September 16, 2014
Categories: Photos, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

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