a soft gooey center

This is my boy.
He's BIG, rough & tough on the outside.
On the inside.....kind & generous.

How do I know? I see it all the time.

How does his teacher & classmates know?
Because he showed them just how big his heart really is. He didn't say it, he just did it.

For Valentines Day, Ben's class was to decorate a box to collect Valentines. He wasn't going to do it. As they were going to be judged and a winner declared. After a little coaxing on my part, he came up with a great idea. Covered the box in brown paper, the ends in aluminum foil & printed out a picture of a Hershey's Bar. Done.

I was helping at school on Valentines Day, when his homeroom teacher stopped me in the cafeteria. "I have to tell you about Ben today". He won the Valentines Box contest today. He was voted on by his peers. "And then you know what he did? He turned right around and gave the great big Hershey's kiss to the 2nd place student!"

Melt. A Mom moment. A gushy, gooey Mom moment.

Ben also told me about his moment. He said, "the 2nd place winner was looking a little sad that he didn't win, and he did have a good box. So I gave it to him".

Melt. Another Mom moment. Another gushy, gooey Mom moment.

I am so very, very proud of my Sweetheart. All wrapped up in a big, rough & tough boy.
Sshh. Don't tell anyone. He has a soft, gooey center.



"Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk. It must be a thing of action and sincerity."
1 John 3:18

Patient Pup - 1st day of school

Since I've already posted pictures of my children on their first day of school, I thought I'd include the other "kid"! She was also ready for school start!

Here's just a glimpse of Starlight's summer.

Little Mermaid Pup


Little Miss and Wonder Pup


Sleeping Beauty Pup. She's been on the couch since my darlings have left for school this morning. She may need to sleep most of August to recover from her summer.

First Day of School

Both will walk down the big kid hallway.


3rd grade. Sweet. Sensitive. Smart. A bit worried.
My Curly Girl.


5th grade. Silly. Smart. Advanced classes. So excited can't sleep the night before.
Independent. Strong. My BIG boy.


A surprisingly emotional morning for this Momma. Of course, I can cry at a commercial.
They are becoming so very independent. Asked Little Miss, if I could take her picture in her desk at school....."No. Just go, Mom."
My Big Boy, glanced my direction, and said "Hey". That's it. Off I go.

This Dad. Excited the kids are going back to school.
He likes a routine. He works from home. It's quiet.
But currently listening to his own "roar" of music.

Perfect Pairings Matthew 4:19

Matthew 4:19 ESV

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men".

My Ben was determined to catch a catfish on Father's Day while fishing with his Daddy. He knew exactly what hook & bait he was going to use to be successful. And he was! Jesus asked his disciples to come follow Him and bring others to follow Jesus as well. In the process, they gained wisdom & underwent a self-change. Just as knowing that hot dog bait will attract a catfish....living a life that reflects Jesus will attract those around you.

Whew. That was my somewhat "fishy" attempt at Perfect Pairings. For more Father's Day pairings, stop on over to "That's Baloney".

"When I grow up.....

.....I've decided that I want to be a philosopher". States my oldest boy, Ben.

Just last week he wanted to be a blacksmith, but thought there wasn't much use for swords in this day. Although, as my friend, Mary Anne pointed out that if we travel some 50 miles from here, there may definitely be a need for it. Not the swords, but more farm work, and for animals. For a moment, I bet you wondered where we lived?!?

Ben has decided that he could learn to be a blacksmith, as a hobby. But what he really likes to do....is to think about things! "The Thinker"
That's so very true. (and then he likes to talk about them).

He's very much "in-his-own-head". When I think that he is not listening, he can rattle off what I've just said to him, almost word-for-word. He is probably thinking about if he wants to follow the directions.

I've always encouraged my Ben, to stay in the moment.

He is often 3 steps ahead, or 3 days or even 3 years ahead of what we are currently doing.
Watch out, if he gets his mind set on something that he wants to do or wants to go get. He's ruthless. A negotiator. Determined. He'll attempt to wear you out or down. It's not subtle. It's full onslaught of questions, ideas, questions....you get the idea.

Mr. B's Mom says that Ben gets this from his Daddy. As that was his Daddy as a little boy. (Let the record show). hee hee

What a successful man, husband, and father, Mr. B has become! I want his boy to be just like him when he grows up.

I continue to remind myself how these are great qualities.
He will stand up for what he believes in.
He will provide for his family.
He will make a good lawyer.

As the saying goes, everyone needs to know a good lawyer, right? One that likes to think, (and talk).....
........and who can shoe a horse, and make a sword.

Dress-Up Pup

"Look at the camera. It's time for your close-up."



"I can't move by back legs. Must. Lay. Down."



"What you did say? Little Miss goes back to school tomorrow?"

Beautiful Blackhawk Lake

All kinds of lake tracks. Animals. People. Snowmobiles.

For those of you that are concerned about standing on a frozen lake.
The ice thickness is 15 inches.

The kids experienced a whole new meaning to being "ON" the lake.

Exploring.

Blackhawk Lake is in gorgeous rural Iowa.