Bum Scootin' Boogie

Now, isn't that a funny way to get around?!

Manchester Millyard Museum

We enjoyed a fantastic field trip visit to the Millyard Museum last week. What a great little gem of a place hidden away in the very mills you learn about while touring the museum.

The staff were extremely friendly and the displays were semi-interactive. You walk through the museum in chronological order, learning about the Merrimack River, the Amoskeag Falls, and the cultures and communities that developed because of it's use.

It was a little challenging for the youngest members of the fam, but we had 3 adults to keep them busy and directed appropriately.

The older children worked with Daddy and Grandma to fill in their worksheets provided by the museum. They each chose a different one focusing on specific details of the history of the Millyard. These worksheets turned the museum into a scavenger hunt of sorts, giving great depth to their experience. Instead of the quick walk-through I sort of expected, we spent several hours in a not so big but very full place. :-)

The exhibits were a delight. Full of detail and description. Some hands-on, but most just for the eye.

We were blessed with our own personal tour guide as we entered the industrial side of the tour. David's mother and father came to Manchester from Canada in their early marriage, both working in the mills for a season. We loved seeing Grandma show us the machines she and Papa worked on in earlier years.

For any local readers, I'm giving the Manchester Millyard Museum a high recommendation for a family field trip. You will learn the amazing history of the Queen City, explore the new cultures still growing there, and enjoy delightful interactive rests along the way. Our youngest ones loved the coloring table in the current art and wildflower exhibit.  My suggestion for a family of any significant size is to purchase a family membership. For an extremely reasonable price, you will have a full year's access to the Millyard as well the SEE Science Center just two floors up. For those frugal fans out there, that's the best deal when you crunch the numbers. ;-)  Stay tuned for pics from our stop at the SEE!!



St. Patrick's Day Missionary Party

Benjamin planned and hosted his first party this year. Celebrating on St. Patrick's day with the theme of Missions was a great way to trade the winter blues for green!

Each guest was asked to come dressed as their favorite missionary, telling their story while we worked hard to guess, Who Is It?  The featured missionaries of the day included: Adoniram Judson, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, Eric Liddell, George Muller.  (kickin' myself for not getting pics!)

Everyone made flags from the country their missionary served and used those to play capture the flag outside (in the Mud and Melt!)

And of course, we had treats. (got pics of those!! :-P)

The treats provided great object lessons the trinity. St. Patrick used the three leaf clover to share the concept that while God has three parts, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, He is still one. We saw this demonstrated with boiling water, steam, and ice. Liquid, gas, and solid - three parts, yet still one subtance. Again, a braid, with three strands, creates one braid and without one strand, it cannot be a braid.

Learning about St. Patrick and his escape from slavery, his commitment to his faith, and his willingness to return to his enemies to share the truth of the gospel is a tremendous challenge to us. May we continue to learn from those heroes of faith, follow their example and pray for the many who continue to go out to spread the gospel!

Many Hats

I wear many hats each day. Some fit better than others, but all are needed.

Today:

5:15am   Nursemaid to my sleepy baby
6am        Disciple of Jesus, Student of God's word
6:30am   Prayer Team member
7am        Chore manager
7:30am   Counselor, Counselee, and Friend
8:30am   Teacher to grades 1, 3, 5, 7
               Nutritionist
               Cook
               Preschool Director
 9am       First Aid Attendant
12pm      Lunch Room Supervisor
               Nursemaid
1:30pm    Naproom Guardian
               Chore Manager

Add in Cheerleader, Referee, Correction Officer, Weight-Loss Supervisor, and Laundress.  Not bad, considering the day is only half done! ;-)

There is one hat that I put on that will replace the many listed above. The mere sight of it proclaims that all of these jobs and more can and will be accomplished by the strength and grace that God gives. I know that to be true, because He is the one who gave the hat to me in the first place. And, by His love and patience, He continues to teach me to wear it with joy. 

It's the hat known as... Mother.

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd : he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Isaiah 40:11 KJV

Sledding Fun!

We had a complete blast sledding with our new friends from church last weekend.

The hill was amazing!

You had to be pulled back up by snowmobile!!

Good Times...Good Times. :D

New Do's

Susannah and I enjoyed a "date" together today. We both were excited to get hair cuts. :-D

Before...

Susannah's first salon hair cut...

After...

She looks so adorable! She was so eager to have her hair cut short. In fact, she had picked out a cut that was much shorter than this one, but Daddy directed her to this as a compromise.  Now it won't get in her face and be so much easier to comb. Good news for a girl who is always on the go!! ;-)

Babiest One

A few pics of our sweet baby Honoree' Faith. She's growing so much, ten months already!