the school lunch

The school lunch.  I never really got a school lunch, except on Pizza Day... though I now wonder why.  It it so easy to just send a kid to school and get a lunch.  And looking back I even wonder if we just might qualify for the school lunch program.  But all that aside...  my kids qualify for the school lunch program.  Because their school offers it to all students.  So, breakfast and lunch everyday are free.  To everyone.  No matter what.

So, the girls, though.  They had been looking forward to, as one of the very exciting things to do at school, taking their own lunch boxes from home with their very own treats inside.  So, each day we have a little struggle as to whether or not they'll bring a lunch vs get a school lunch.  Check the menu, decide if it sounds good... if not, pack the lunch.  And there better be a note! Bella ALWAYS wants to bring.  Abigail almost always wants to get.

So today, the menu said Peanut Butter and Jelly.  So Bella wanted to bring.  Which is silly, because we always send PB & J.  Only on wheat and with honey.  And I am sure that what they give at school is the "Uncrustables" because it is easy.  So, I am waiting for today when I get them- for them to tell me all about the delicious (white) bread that the sandwiches were made from.  Because they tried them once at Costco.  And they loved the white bread.  So I am waiting for them to come home and tell me how delicious the sandwiches were at school today.  Because we made them get school lunches!

vote as though you're not voting

if you are a christian, this is a great article.

it discusses voting as a general people.

it helped me gain a right perspective

and brought comfort amidst all of the strife.

harvest party and neighbors!

Our neighbors. (yes, neighbors!!  I can hardly believe I am referring to neighbors!  It is more exciting than you know! ...and an entire blog post of it's own.)  So, our neighbors(!) invited us to join them for a literal harvest party.  They are farmers and run an organic farm.

Today we joined them, their friends and CSA members to have a final harvest (aka: treasure hunt) in their garden.  We found pumpkins, eggplant, peppers, arugula, parsley, cilantro, carrots... we harvested them from the ground.  

And then we shared a meal with strangers, made new acquaintances and even some new friends.  And we even tried some wine that had no label because it was straight from the barrels.

And then we walked home....   Neighbors. (!)

Doesn't it sound wonderful?   AND we found dandelion wishes along the way, the girls blew them and we made bracelets from the stems.  It's been so long since I've seen those cute little weeds.  It was wonderful.

sneak peek

Here's a sneak peek at some of the cuteness coming from {amen} this holiday season!  We have been working deep into the night and are in full craft-fair-preparation mode.

Our first event is November 15 for the Holiday Boutique in Atascadero.  We're hoping it is fun and goes well!!  So, here are a sampling of tonight's creations.  (Do you like the onesie, Eva?)

she walks!

Evie's first steps!!

On Wednesday, she was cruising along the wall, to the door... 

I thought to myself... "I bet she'd take a step."

So, I held out my arms, and she did it!  Five steps straight into my arms.

She is amazing!  Five steps!!

Abigail, our official photographer, tried to capture the replay.

peek

8,000

This weekend my friend and I and a few girls from the youth group went to the Revolve Tour.  It is a conference for teen girls in 6th to 12th grade.  It was a lot of screaming and high pitched fervor.  Bands played, speakers preached.  I barely knew any of the speakers or performers... and they were mostly crazy!

There were some tender moments, too.  Like when the 14 year old boy spoke about how when he was 9, he watched a movie about the mass of orphaned children in Uganda, parents having died of AIDS. And he thought he must help.  So, he went on to found "Hoops of Hope" and raised enough money to build a hospital and a school in a village in Uganda.  One boy changing the world.

Or when all 8,000 sweet little voices were singing together:

"This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held"

...8,000 teenagers singing together and giving God all the pain in their life.  The singer quieted her voice, was barely singing, and the whole arena was alive with song, resting in the arms of love.  It was beyond beautiful.

And my ears are still ringing, especially because I came home to 4 screaming little girls and a new bird who apparently doesn't like the screaming because it always starts whistling when the girls start crying or yelling.  Wow!  That was a run-on.

robin's egg blue.

I caught Abs today.... organizing!  I used to do this when I was her age!  I used to LOVE putting the crayons in order of color!  Crazy, isn't it?  This brought back happy memories of crayon-ordering!  So satisfying to a 5 year old.  I remember reading the colors on the sides and trying to put them in exactly the right order, and testing each color to find my favorite.  

And... I thought everyone did this until as recently as last week, when I told a friend that my favorite  Crayola Color as a kid was always "Robin's Egg Blue".  To my surprise, she had  no clue what I was talking about!!  "What kid knows the Crayola Colors?"  She asked!  Well, just me apparently!!  Although, I am convinced there are others.  This could be a partial explanation for my recent and strong desire for THESE.

sweet Evangeline...

Today, Evie is one year old!  It called for the old standard: party, cake and presents.

We made a yummy food feast:  stuffed grape leaves, hummus, Greek salad, and falafel.

We found this adorable pumpkin cake at the grocery store, for our sweet pumpkin girl.

The frosting turned a 'Shrek' shade of green all over her face.  She loved it!  And it was her first sugar high.  She was laughing and rolling and chattering all over the place.  It was extremely funny and cute.

The pacifiers could possibly be the favorite gift... along with the wrapping paper.  And look at those sweet feet!

And these cute 'craft monsters'!  Fitting at the Moore house!

All around it was a nice little time to celebrate Evie and her very first birthday!!

welcome rain

When I woke up this morning, it was raining.  Raining!  I opened the curtains wide and my soul drank in the refreshing rain!  I know it sounds strange, especially to those of you in Ohio, where an overcast day is fairly common.  Here, though, it is not uncommon to have months and months where there is not a cloud in the sky.  I am not trying to rub it in!  Just the opposite, in fact!  There are days, like today, when I welcome a change from the hot sun.  And as I was walking out of the laundry room, I noticed the sun through the clouds, shining morning light on the puddles and wet pavement.  Soon, the ground will be dry again and I found myself wishing the sun would stay hidden for just a few more hours!  I love the changing seasons!!  

And just then, Abigail's little voice began her favorite song from Kindergarten:  "Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, Please shine down on me! Mr Sun, Sun, Mr Golden Sun, hiding behind a tree... These little children are asking you, please come out so they can play with you! Mr Sun, Sun, Mr Golden Sun, Please shine down on me!!"  She is a gift of joy.  Oh, my Abigail.