Monday, June 27, 2011

My Favorite Things

Six and a half years ago a precious little girl entered our lives rather abruptly.  She was not expected for another two months but because my body did not cooperate her arrival was eight weeks early! 

Dacia Grace entered the world with many medical challenges.  There were many painful days the first month of her life.  When we took her home all was not a bed of roses.  BUT we trusted God that He had made her and given her to us for a purpose.  We were chosen to be her “godparents” for God.  To care for her and to love her as our own.  Regardless of the future outcome, we trusted that God makes no mistakes!

Over the next five and a half months we watched as the vague haze in her eyes transformed into an exquisite baby girl entranced with the world around her.  We watched God heal this amazing little girl that He gave us and trusted us with and that we named Dacia Grace.

Dacia means God’s divine perspective.  Boy has that been true!  She has pointed to God repeatedly and given us and many who know her a reminder of God’s divine perspective on life.

Grace means God’s unmerited favor.  I daily look at her and marvel at where we could be versus where we are!  We are blessed.  Not only did He lavish us with our salvation BUT He has also lavished us with His healing power in Dacia Grace’s life.

This Saturday we gathered with good friends to celebrate her life and to enjoy some of her favorite things.  In light of that her sweet Daddy created a special game……a quiz for her friends to see how well they knew her.  I thought I would share the quiz here.  Leave your answers in the comments if you care to join in.

(1) What is her favorite color?

a) Red

b) Yellow

c) Orange

d) Purple

e) Pink

(2) What is her favorite vegetable?

a) Broccoli

b) Cauliflower (white broccoli)

c) Carrots

d) Brussels Sprouts

(3) What is her favorite fruit?

a) Blueberries

b) Strawberries

c) Apple

d) Pear

(4) What is her favorite thing to do on vacation:

a) Jump from bed to bed in the hotel room

b) Go swimming

c) Play cards

d) Ride on the bell carts driven by Daddy

(5) Who does she love most?

a) Mom and Dad

b) Jesus

c) Tia our dog

d) Baba

(6) What game does she like to play the most when traveling in a car a long time?

a) Fed-Ex – quickly identifying any Fed Ex car, truck, airplane, mailbox, etc.

b) Zip – quickly identifying any VW Bug

c) Eye-spy

d) 100 Questions – like 21 questions

(7) What is her favorite game to play at church:

a) Duck, Duck, Goose

b) Red Rover, Red Rover

c) Poop Deck

d) Tag

(8) What type of clothes are her favorite to wear?

a) Blue jeans and T-shirt

b) Blouses and flowing skirts

c) Fancy dresses that twirl

d) Shorts and button up shirts

(9) How does she like to be called?

a) Dacia Grace

b) Dacia

c) Daash

d) Hey You

(10) What does she like to do most any time:

a) Sing

b) Dance

c) Mope and complain that she is bored

d) Play with her dog

(11) Who is her favorite Bible character?

a) Esther

b) Ruth

c) Jesus

d) Mephibosheth

12) Who is her favorite princess?

a) Ariel from Little Mermaid

b) Belle from Beauty and the Beast

c) Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

d) Eloise from Veggie Tale’s The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything

e) All of the above as she likes all of the princesses and can’t choose just one.

13) What is her favorite dessert?

a) Cookies and milk

b) Ice cream

c) Brownies

d) Fruit

14) What is her favorite thing to watch on TV while on vacation:

a) The Food Network

b) The Cartoon Network

c) Sid, The Science Kid

d) Clifford, The Big Red Dog

(15) What is her favorite school subject?

a) Reading

b) Writing

c) Math

d) Science

(16) What is her all time favorite movie that she’s watched more than any other?

a) Dreamer about a girl, her race horse and her dad

b) The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything – a Veggie Tale Movie

c) Kit Kittridge – An American Girl Movie

d) Jonah and the big Fish – a Veggie Tale Movie

(17) What one talent is she very good at?

a) Solving jigsaw puzzles

b) Doing cartwheels

c) Folding napkins fancy

d) Cracking eggs in a bowl

(18)  What is her favorite wish for all of her family, friends and neighbors?

a) To smile and be happy

b) To obey their parents so they don’t get consequences

c) To grow up to be kind and nice to others

d) To know and love Jesus so they will go to heaven with her.

 

Pictures will follow in another post.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Favorite Poem

Dump Truck

Dump truck, dump truck

Bumping down the road

Spilling gravel as you travel

With you heavy load.

Bumpity, bumpity, bump!

Dump truck, dump truck, dump!

 

This poem has been one of Dacia Grace’s favorite poems since she was a tiny girl.  We found it in a kids literary magazine.  At the time it was so appropriate because there was a big construction site just up the road from us.  We would go see the dump trucks several times a day. 

Concrete Company Field Trip

We were invited by some friends to visit a concrete factory this morning.  We learned that concrete is the glue that holds the sand, rocks and water together to form cement.  The kids were given a chance to mix up some cement. 

Adding sand

Adding the sand, rocks, cement and water.

the finished product

The finished product with fence posts added.

The three amigos were given tee shirts as souvenirs.

three  participants

    cement truck filling up

Here a cement truck is being filled.

 concrete truck unloadingThis is the concrete truck unloading the “glue” (concrete). 

It was a short field trip but very fun.  The kids also learned how to get the truck drivers to honk……pumping your arm with a closed fist!

Monday, April 18, 2011


Outside my window...
are beautiful blue skies accompanied by sunshine and a brisk spring breeze.
I am thinking... 
about paint colors for the kitchen specifically tangerine orange and lime green. 
Wondering if it is possible to get the kitchen painted in the next few weeks.


I am thankful for...
Jesus my Passover Lamb!


From the learning rooms...
We had a good week last week.
We are ready to start another week.

From the kitchen...
Garbanzo beans soaked over night and are ready to be cooked!
Tabbouleh is ready to be made 
as is some tapenade

I am wearing...
Black yoga pants and a gray striped ruby shirt, 
compliments of my husband's wardrobe.


I am creating...
last night I actually put together a menu for the entire week!
The first time ever!

I am reading...
cookbooks!


I am praying...
for my friend's family
whose daughter is undergoing some major surgery this week.
Praying that this will "fix" the medical problems that have been
part of her life since birth.

I am hearing...
Calliou as Dacia Grace gets some unexpected TV time during the week


Around the house...
there are unfinished bits and pieces of things I need to get done.

One of my favorite things...

Sunshine!


A few plans for the rest of the week

Trips to the paint store to look at paint chips,
Menu plans for Easter Sunday and
Dying Easter eggs with Dacia Grace.

My Picture Thought...

Love, love, love this girlie!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook


Outside my window...
it is slightly cloudy and cold with the sun peaking through every so often.
I am thinking... 
about paint colors for the kitchen and the front door.

I'm also thinking about how my emotional well being effects
.the entire house and sets the tone for the day or evening


I am thankful for...
for my sweet husband and how hard he works each and every day.
He is such a blessing!!


From the learning rooms...
We had a hard start this morning but we made it through!
We had lots of laughter and giggles throughout the whole day.

From the kitchen...
Oatmeal Honey Bread is baking!
Leftover teriyaki burgers over rice for dinner.
Homemade lemon bars for dessert,

I am wearing...
Green yoga pants and a red and cream fleece on top.
I am STILL FREEZING!

I am creating...
quite a few blog posts as I try to catch up the extended family 
to all that has been going on this winter.

I am reading...
cookbooks!


I am praying...
for my friend's husband who is in Japan
ministering to the people....
being the hands and feet of Christ to hurting people.

I am hearing...
the click of the bread maker.
the turning of pages as Dacia Grace looks through a book.


Around the house...
there are unfinished bits and pieces of things I need to get done.

One of my favorite things...

Earl Gray Tea ...
which I am currently out of.....
Bummer!


A few plans for the rest of the week

Planning for spring chores, 
planting of the tomatoes and herbs,
and enjoying the home.

My Picture Thought...

The dancing genes were passed to Dacia Grace!

Monday, April 4, 2011

A is for Apple Pie

Many of the units in our Kindergarten curriculum (My Father's World) have fun hands on activities.  To celebrate the end of the A unit:  If I stay in Jesus, I will bear much fruit, Dacia Grace and I made a Streusel Topped Apple Pie.

 Filling the pie


Now we add the flour and sugar


A very proud baker


Finally the streusel topping



The end result was a lot tastier than pretty but I guess that is what matters the most!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Please Will You Share

The only way to show this series of pictures was to make a collage. 


Dacia Grace was enjoying some homemade banana nut bread.
Tia just could not contain herself.  She wanted some so bad.
While she did not get any bread, we did get some great pictures!