Jenni's Seasons

  Marie was 11 on Tuesday.  It is now Thursday.  Gifts are opened, party is over but life is moving quickly with no time to record these precious times in words.   Family and friends that we call family minus a brother and a cousin Today is Community Bible Study and Co-op.  Tomorrow we will have to catch up on schoolwork, housework, laundry (and maybe blogging?) as we've been out of town since Saturday.  THIS Saturday and Sunday we will be spending in two different areas of Nashville for two different soccer tournaments for two different kids.  Somewhere we will breathe and I will (hopefully) play some tennis.  Marie had an awesome party and here is a picture of her with all but one of her grandparents.  Her Mammaw (my stepmother) is caring for her dying sister in St. Louis so is not in the picture.  For some reason, Grandpa Foster doesn't look happy but I assure you, he was.  So, not playing favorites here but to be fair: I *will* find time to journal this special day for M

Margaret is slowly but surely decking out our front porch for Fall.  I still have my summer stuff out. . .I know, I know, it is October 21st.  I *really* need to let that season go.  Maybe today.  I just took this picture below (6:45 a.m.) and if you can feel a picture I'm sure you can feel the chill in this one. . .I think it was in the 30's last night. But the sun is rising and I think it's going to be a *beautiful* day.  The forecasters are calling for 57 degrees. . .still chilly but with the sun it will be a perfect fall day. Saturday Marie started the day with an 8:30 a.m. YMCA soccer game in her least-favorite position:  And this is why. . . But she forgets that she saves a lot too (why aren't we as good about counting those?) And, as usual (we keep telling her this since she can't see it from her vantage point), there aren't any defensive players around her, protecting her! She just doesn't give herself enough credit as a Keeper.  It's a hard

Just snapped this picture for my year-long " picture of the day " project.   It captures our simple, wonderful life completely :) Not enhanced, not (really) posed. . .just a moment in time that I am blessed to be a part of.  We just got home from our weekly library trip and they are taking a last break before finishing up schoolwork for the day.  It's a beautiful, gorgeous, October Monday.  Thank you, Lord, for our life together. ~ Jenni

Earlier this week, when I was an empty-nester , I had lots of time to browse and enjoy blogs. . .hopping from one to another, pinning , and finding more and more things to interest me.  One thing I found as I went from one blog to another, which led to another (and, unfortunately, I can't remember who directed me to these. . .but this is the original author ) were these Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies.  Wow. I couldn't stop thinking about them.  I know it's crazy.  I am crazy.  But finally, I couldn't take it any longer and just made them .  One thing that was keeping me from it was that I don't have a lot of chocolate lovers in this house and was afraid I'd make them and then be the only one to eat them.  My mother-in-law happens to be here, though, and loves chocolate cookies as much as I do so I finally had a partner in crime.  I'm so sorry it took me days on end to just do it. Or maybe I'm not.  I've eaten too many. Anyhow, this is how I made the