Water + Bubbles = Fun

What is it about water that is so appealing to children? Take one little boy, fill up a small bucket with water, put some toys in the water and you have a magic formula that entertains for quite a while.

Needless to say, most of the water escapes the bucket (with the little boy's help) and the boy is wearing most of the water. But he is having a "boat load" of fun!

And...bubbles! What is it about bubbles that is so intriguing to children? They can be entertained for a very long time with a bottle of bubbles and a bubble wand. 'Course, they want to try to blow the bubbles themselves as well, although they don't quite have the ability to do so. But it's fun to watch them try and to watch them explore.

Children are a joy to watch, to observe them as they process new discoveries and learn the consequences of choices. Sometimes it's hard to let them go through some of the experiences and trials that we know will hurt them, but we know from our own experience that we have to learn from our mistakes. To learn the results of cause and effect: Pull the cat's tail and he will scratch you. Drive too fast and get a speeding ticket. Eat too much and get a stomach ache.

It's all done to help our children (and grandchildren) become strong in the Lord and to learn right from wrong, good from evil, and to make wise choices.

That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. (Psalm 144:12)

Nature Photographer

Last weekend, I was much more patient with my bird-watching and nature photography. I decided to bring out the camera before I sat down on the swing so that I would be armed and ready to take photos. It was a very good plan. Here are some of the photos I was able to take in the backyard.

What? Why are you taking my photo? Can't a bird eat in peace?

Hey, you with the camera! Yeah, you. I'm talkin' to you!

Okay, so the raccoon isn't real. But he's still cute.

Purple lilac in the neighbor's backyard that overhang our fence; white lilac in our backyard (finally blooming after 7 years).

Okay, so I'm not quite ready for National Geographic. But at least I had fun!

New from Old

Twenty-three years old is young, if you are a human. However, if you are a car, it's quite old and bordering on antique. In Idaho, a car that reaches 30 years of age is considered to be a classic and qualifies for classic license plates at a reduced rate from regular license plates.

Our 1988 Toyota Camry station wagon is still running with over 250,000 miles accrued over the past 23 years. It has witnessed the driving abilities of teenaged girls, made multiple trips across the United States, and safely transported our girls to0-and-from high school twenty-five miles away for several years. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking, and it isn't a Timex!

The hood was beginning to show signs of fading and the paint was deteriorating over the past few years. My darling husband bought automotive paint that was color-matched to the car and gave the hood a fresh new look last year. The rest of the car still looks great.

The driver's seat bottom had become thread-bare over the years, and this past weekend, the front seats were given a new look. I had been trying to come up with an inexpensive way to renew the front seats without purchasing hideous seat covers that either didn't match the car color or had ridiculous-looking images on them. Last weekend, I had a brilliant idea: why not purchase bathroom towels and make carseat covers out of them?

I went to JCPenney (my favorite store) and bought four bath-size towels for less than $20. I only had to use three of them as it only took 1-1/2 towels for each seat back/bottom. Two hours later, I had great looking seat covers in a color that matches the car perfectly.