A Trip to the Seashore

One of the great things about kids is their never ending pursuit of discovery. God's creation has many opportunities for helping to

satiate the seemingly endless need to discover. I hope I never tire of hearing "Mommy look what I found" as they come running to show me their latest treasure. I hope that I can cultivate a love for the treasures that are contained in Scripture as well as those that can be found in the natural world.

Here I am with my younger brother as we pose in front of the lighthouse. It was such a blessing to be able to spend some time with him and the kids at the beach. Since they seldom get to see him, they were very eager to have some playtime with Uncle Rusty.

I have photographed one of the day's discoveries here and placed it in our bucket. Yes, that is a jellyfish floating in the water. One of two we caught this day and brought back to Grandpa's house with us.

Here is Lil' Liss playing with Grandma along the shoreline.

Not many things in life are as fun as a trip to the beach. While visiting my folks in Florida, we were able to take advantage of their close proximity to the ocean and visit the island of Boca Grande, just about 4 miles away. Normally I am more of a pool Mom than a salt-water Mom but sometimes it feels good to say "yes".

In constant pursuit...

The Homestylemom

When Loved Ones Grow Old

Far be it from me to ever say that I have been shorted when it comes to having a great and godly grandmother. My Mamaw (as I call her) is a vivid part of many of my earliest childhood memories. Her sweet acts of generosity and service permeate the foreground of much of my adolescence. She was always going, always giving, always grinning. Now as the grips of dementia and Alzheimer's are beginning to take the best of her memories, I am determined to keep her alive in mine and those of my children as well. She is the reason that I garden, sew, cook, and keep house with any measure of success. I have many fond memories of breaking and canning beans, picking and preserving strawberries, standing still for fittings, folding laundry, and sweeping of floors with her and under her supervision. Mamaw Mertie was and is a blessing to me and I am saddened to see her in such a state. While she may not want to have to now be in the care of others, it is definitely what is best for her well-being at this time. Each time we part it becomes harder to say good-bye especially in light of the brevity of life. I would not be being truthful though if I did not admit that this parting was especially difficult for me. Moving her from her home seems so final and because of heavy tears I could not even face her after our final long embrace. Praise God for His peace! I find comfort in knowing that even if I never embrace my sweet Mamaw again on this earth, I will see her again! How good of God as I got into my vehicle to leave her home, His blessed peace was playing on my radio "Unclouded Day". Our God is too good. I thank Him for seeking me and placing in me this desire to be in constant pursuit...

The Homestylemom

Fourth of July Fun

This year our town held a 4th of July celebration that was hosted by several of the Main street churches.

We had a great time of fun, food, face painting, and fireworks.

The girls are posing here in their 4th of July outfits: I embellished some jeans and holiday tee's with ribbons to give them a festive look for the Freedom Celebration. To top them off, there were matching bows as well. They look adorable even if I do say so myself!


Just in case you were hoping for a shot of some fireworks, check out the cheeks here on Lil' Liss. She was so proud to sport her red, white and blue just for you. She held still just long enough for me to get this shot...then off to the cotton candy! You could say she was definitely in pursuit...

The Homestylemom

In Pursuit of Fun with Friends

Just a swingin'!

This year we were able to take advantage of "Homeschool Day" here at Six Flags over Georgia. We were blessed by the disounted ticket price as well as the generous lunch that was included. The offer also included a free return ticket as well which we were pleased to use on this visit with friends from our church. We had a great time and took home some very tired kiddos!

A Pose with Porky and Petunia Pig

A Trip to the Tree Top

See that tiny guy on the left? This was his first trip to the top and he did it like a real trooper. What a fun first!

Beep! Beep!

Here is Freckles enjoying an old friend, Bertie the Bus, in the new "Thomas Town" kids area.
This was definitely a day of great fun and relaxation with the kids. I am looking forward to taking them again when they are ready for some more exciting rides. Tender Heart is still so afraid of many of them with any size and speed but that doesn't seem to stop Lil' Liss. She is the first one to jump in line and the first one to be disappointed when she doesn't quite measure up to the height restrictions!

In constant pursuit...

The Homestylemom

In Pursuit of Practical Ways to Cultivate a Love for Home in Our Chidren

Have you ever heard children boo and hiss when "time to go home" is announced. While there are times you are really enjoying yourself someplace and you don't necessarily want to leave, do you revile the thought of going home? Do mountains of laundry or piles of dishes await you? Are you greeted by the forest of weeds your lawn has become? I'm afraid many times our children will begin feeling this way as well. If we are to do everything "heartily as unto the Lord" I believe our homekeeping definitely falls under this category. Our homes should be a place of comfort, comraderie, fun, and spiritual edification. Here is a listing of a few ideas I've employed to cultivate a love for our home in my children.
1. Cook and/or bake together. Not only will it produce lovely smells, occasional messes, and opportunities for developing home skills -- you may get to be around when one of your children discovers a passion. The time spent alone together will often afford times of great intimacy, discovery, and encouragement. In the end you may have made a real bond as well as something tasty for everyone to enjoy.
2. Take time for fun and games. As a "very important and busy" mother this one is probably the hardest for me but one that yeilds the easiest result. I cannot imagine ever suggesting we play a game together and being turned down. It just will not happen. We know many of the educational benefits of playing games but it is equally important to enjoy the actual time spent making memories together as well.
3. Don't park your imagination at the door. Well-written, engaging books have been such a blessing to our family. We have been enjoying a family program of reading aloud for a few years now and I know this is a favorite time of the day for each of us. Find a great book and take a trip together in the comfort of your own home! My two youngest especially enjoy the times when Mom and Dad's bed becomes the giant sailing vessel or the deserted island we have become castaways on. It is quite thrilling for them to hop from pillow island to pillow island on their frequent trips to the restroom. Once I realized I was not to dignified for fun after all, our times together really began to gain new meaning.
4. Welcome their friends into your home. When your child has invited a friend into your home do your best to make them know you truly are glad they came. Rather than being content that your child will be occupied and taking the night off to relax I suggest you have a special evening or dessert planned. Anything that makes both your child and their visitor feel special will go a long way towards forging the bond between home and happiness that you are longing to build.
Stay tuned for more ideas for making mealtimes special.
In constant pursuit...

The Homestylemom