Reflections of a New Mother

Last month, I wrote an article for Inside Out Magazine entitled Reflections of a New Mother.  It has now been posted to their website in two parts.  If you are interested in reading it, click here and here.

Thankful Thursday

581.  Hanging baskets of bright flowers near the plaza area - so pretty!

582.  6 months of life with our healthy, happy little Isaac

583.  The marvelous effect magnesium is having on my body (Last week it was apple cider vinegar, but this week it's magnesium.  Whatever works, right?)

584.  A precious, new baby boy in the family - Landon Robertson (son of Nathan's sister and brother-in-law)

585.  A great turnout for AWANA training

586.  Sunny days and cool evenings

Picture Catch-Up

My, oh, my - these past several days have been BUSY here at the Britton household!  These pictures tell the stories!

On Saturday, I hosted a ladies' event that included fellowship, a get-to-know-you activity, a chocolate buffet, and the making of greeting cards.  It was a LOT of work to get ready for, but totally worth it!  About 13 women attended the gathering and seemed to have a wonderful time together! 

On Sunday, our little Buggaboo crossed the 6-month threshold! 

How the time does fly!

He is now officially ready to conquer the world...(he thinks)...

...starting with the laundry basket!

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, an AWANA training took place here at the church that 17 people took part in. 

It was great to learn more about this children's Bible memory program that we are planning to launch in September!  Nathan's parents are AWANA missionaries in northern Michigan, so he grew up living and breathing this program, but the rest of us had a lot to learn!

There was a lot of information to absorb, but we are now better equipped and excited about ministering to the children in our community with the Gospel!

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)...(again)

571.  Isaac's new version of a smile - wrinkled nose, gums exposed, cheesy as can be - it makes me laugh every time! One of these days, I'll get it on camera...

572.  The marvelous effect apple cider vinegar is having on my digestive system. (Seriously, this stuff is working wonders!)

573.  A husband who works hard to provide so much for his family

574.  The community spirit that is present in our small town every time I step outside to take a walk

575.  Classical music setting a peaceful atmosphere in my home on a busy day

576.  The warbly voice of dear Ms. Alice over the phone (a 94 year old church member) as she asks how we are doing and genuinely cares to know

577.  The sound of the river swooshing along over rocks

578.  Encouraging things happening at church

579.  Timeless hymns of the faith

580.  Gifts of fresh vegetables from the gardens of others

A Fishing We Did Go!

This past Saturday, we enjoyed a fishing excursion with friends in the Cimarron Canyon.

It was a picturesque place for hooking trout...

...and enjoying fellowship in the beauties of God's creation!

Several chipmunks kept us greatly entertained as they snacked on the sunflower seeds that were thrown to them.

Such cute little critters!

Cool Dude Isaac.

Enjoying the fresh mountain air!

Look who caught a fish!

Getting help extracting the hook.

So proud of his first fish of the day! 

(He caught a total of three by the end of the day.)

Off to the river it goes again to await the fate of its neighbors.

Somebody is ready for a nap!

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn?

Hoping for some more nibbles...

Riverside beauty.

Whatdyaknow? Chipmunks love spicy Dorito sticks! (They must be Latino!)

Believe it or not, this is called a Blue Jay around here.  That's definitely not what blue jays back in Houston look like!  Something about the mountain air must give them mohawks.

Nathan and his first catch of the day!

The ever-present visitor at our picnic site.

(Don't worry; I wasn't actually this close to him.  I just have a good zoom on my camera!)  

Isaac says hi!

Such a happy boy!

By the end of day, seven fish went home for dinner!

An "Egg-citing" Event

We had a great turnout for our youth/family game night on Friday evening!  It was fun seeing some new friends there!

The group game of the night was for each team of two to construct a shatter-proof encasement for a raw egg such that when the egg was dropped in its cup, it would not break.  The materials they could use included yarn, popsicle sticks, scotch tape, and straws.

The girls' team deep in thought over their ideas for the assignment.

Brothers busy at work.

The teams had about 25 minutes to accomplish the task at hand.

It was great to see the creativity they all displayed!

The testing place.

Will the egg make it in one piece?

Yes!

The final round!

After that "egg-citing" game, we played Round Robin around the ping-pong table and then Apples to Apples.  Fun times are here!