We Have Been On The Run....

...and we have loved every minute of it! We have had the best two weeks and it is hard to believe it is all over. We had so many wonderful experiences we were looking forward to and each one was better than we had anticipated. I have several hundred pictures to sort through from the last several weeks. I have so many things I am desperately trying to catch up on that it may take a bit of time to put all the things on here that I want to...but that gives me a fun goal to work towards.

But first...the story of why I am the owner of a sadly neglected blog. Two months ago my computer ceased allowing me to sign into my blog. In fact, the whole computer screen went crazy every time I tried to do so. It was really a mystery to us as I could read my blog....and in fact, I could go anywhere on the web....I just could not sign onto the back page of my blog ....which is essential if you want to put up a new post. :) We tried alot of things including many, many e-mails back and forth with out Internet filter people. (Is that a title? Internet filter people?) Everyone was at a loss in how to help me. So my blog became for the most part neglected and I spent my free time on the computer connecting with people on Facebook. How fun to find old friends and family members that you have not seen in years! But last weekend we were at Sarah's house....and her husband may not be a computer technician, but he knows more about what makes a computer run than most of us. I had our laptop with me and I told him about our problem and asked him if he had any thoughts about how to fix it. So he took the laptop and I went on talking to Sarah (we talk ALOT when we are together) and didn't think too much about the computer. I really did not have much hope Paul could fix it as we had tried a lot of things over the last two months to remedy the problem. But lo and behold....in less than five minutes he handed me the computer back fixed! WOOHOO!! I was so happy to sign onto Pleasant Places! I am anxious to look at all my favorite blogs that I had bookmarked but couldn't see. And now I want to get back in the habit of blogging regularly. It is hard though to re-establish old habits...know what I mean?

But before I resume my blog ramblings, here is the wonderful brother-in-law who fixed our blogging problem....and in case you didn't know, he is married to the greatest and prettiest sister in the world....(no comments from my husband allowed on that one! LOL)



I am overwhelmed with all the pictures I need to go through, so I just selected a few quick favorites to post for tonight...

We made a Christmas calendar with my Mom. I will tell more about the "why" during the Christmas season (I love Christmas! Almost as much as Mandy *wink*) but Sarah and I both love this picture of our wonderful Mom and the memories that it represents. I praise our great God for my wonderful Mom...




This is my Aunt Viney and Uncle Lowell...I had not seen them in years and they came to Maine to visit us!!!! What a precious time we had together! I am thrilled that my children got to know these special people. What an important role they have played in my life. I love them so very much and am humbled and honored they drove so far to come be with us. I love you, Uncle Lowell! I love you, Aunt Viney!



My parents came to visit!!!! What priceless memories were made! Grandpa specializes in donuts and ghost stories....and the children are still talking about them! Grandma seeks every opportunity to make a memory and make each child feel special as an individual. They overwhelmed us with love, gifts and thoughtfulness in a thousand ways during the days we shared together. I only wish everyone could be as loved as I have been....I have no reason in this world to ever complain.



Look at these sweet cousins....They always have a good time together.....



So much more to tell. We traveled to West Virginia and made some great stops along the way...including Hershey's Chocolate World. (My daughter will never be the same!) We do not travel much (who wants to with car sick children?) so this trip was a big deal! I will share some pictures soon.

I will sign off for now. I still have blogs I want to read...but I just want to say that I am glad to be back!



Chat with you later...



Thanks for stopping by,

My poor neglected blog......

Life has been full and busy....School has been full steam ahead....and I have great intentions that I do not have time for! I downloaded a bunch of pictures awhile ago to post here and have done nothing with them. And now my WONDERFUL PARENTS are here and I am taking more pictures....so I thought I had better post these quick as next week I will want to put up fresh pictures.

These are random pictures of us enjoying Maine's most beautiful season....Autumn. There are also pictures from Mandy's recent visit. (I so enjoyed spend a few moments with her!) and pictures from a few church activities. I am sorry for not being more diligent to post as of late. I have company for a few days and then we are going out of town for a week, so I cannot promise to be better in the next few days, but intend to be back on track shortly. I hope this post finds all of my blog friends well. God has been very good to us and I am so glad that we serve Him!










































































I hope to chat with you again soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Hello, Friends!

What a busy month this has been! Praise the Lord that such a beautiful season is here. I am so enjoying Autumn decorations and the anticipation of the changing of leaves. The downfall is that Winter follows Fall....and in Maine that means everyone becomes much more housebound. But we will talk about that later....when we have to deal with it! ;)

I have always thrilled when my children pick flowers for me. I have already oohed and aahed over more Dandelions than most people will even see in a lifetime...but how it delights my heart when these humble offerings come through my door. To be loved by my children is such a priceless blessing. I am often reminded how frail and humble my gifts of service to God must appear to Him...yet it makes Him feel loved and special because it is a gift from His child...me!

With that said, Joshua brought me the very first flowers he had ever picked of his own accord. He was pleased with himself and these were clasped tightly in one hand with his other hand in Rachel's. Rachel had taken him out for a walk and he felt like such a big boy! I quickly took a picture of this sweet love offering as my baby's "gentleness" assured these plants a very short life ahead...



And speaking of flowers, one of the precious children from our church, Connie, brought me these lovely blooms. The children of the church certainly love and spoil me! I can hardly walk through the door without getting a note, candy, gift, flowers or hug. God is so very good to allow me to be a teacher. What an amazing honor!



We have been so very busy with so many wonderful things! And we have been getting school up and running. It has been a rough start. We ordered our curriculum later then normal....we switched parts of our curriculum which requires study and adapting on the part of the teacher....and I have 5 different grades to teach. All of this has required a great deal of my time. I know many of my blog friends home school more than 5 different grades in their home, but this has proved challenging to me. God is requiring growth out of me...and the stretching can be painful! LOL So, blogging becomes a low priority during those times. I have missed reading every one's blogs, but I am hoping to have our routines all smooth and happy by October. I sooooo love schedule, routine and organization!

A few random pictures of our recent days....

Joshua fresh from a bath...and I mistakenly asked Daddy to please comb his hair! (I should know better than that by now!) :)



Joshua with "his Hana." He adores her and is missing her very much! (Can you hear him all the way over there in India, Hana??? He keeps asking for you!)



Patch Club sang on the Bickfords last Sunday here...



Some of my children have outgrown their Club shirts, so we purchased some new ones. One of the out grown ones has been given to Joshua. He is still too young to join Club, but he was thrilled to be like his older siblings. He jumped up and down in excitement and was proud to wear Patch the Pirate shirt to nursery! How cute!



Our football party was last week and the boys had a good time. I was so busy hostessing the event I did not get many pictures....but here is one shot. Not all the boys are in it though...



One of our church buses needed painting....so that has been an ongoing project this last week. What hard working church folk we have! I have learned that painting a bus is no easy chore! We are excited that it is near completion...



Now off I go to do computer projects for people I love! I am looking forward to going out to breakfast with Nicole this week(I am so glad she is home!!!) and am anxious to see Mandy. I am so glad she gets to come to Maine for a visit. What a great week ahead! Hope to chat with all of you in blog land sometime again soon!

Until the next time....

Thanks for stopping by,