M. Family

New pictures on the tara d photography site :)

Sleep

We put our kids in their beds every night. But sometimes they don't stay there...



Ok so by "they" I mean one small boy. If we're in our rooms he'll fall asleep by our door and if we're downstairs he'll pitch his bed at the top of the stairs.



Ah, little buddy. Why in the world do you have such trouble sleeping?!


Wait what's this over here next to you...



nevermind.

School Days

School has been back in session for almost a month now. It's always an adjustment getting everyone into a grove but a welcomed one. I have really enjoyed our structured mornings learning together. This year I picked out Taylor's curriculum, unlike last year where I used a packaged one. So far I have loved everything we're doing! It's not a surprise that her two favorites are reading & history. For this years literature program we are using Drawn into the Heart of Reading. It's been amazing. I give her three books on each genre we study and she's learning how to do character webs, traits, and retail the main point of each story. This year Taylor asked to learn latin. Yes you read that right, she asked me. Occasionally I wonder if she's my child. I found a great beginning latin program from Vertias Press and off she went. "Oremus".




I had one goal for Trevor. Read. He's shown signs of being ready but his little lightbulb wasn't going off. Well within the first week of beginning a structured reading program with him he started reading! It's been quite exciting seeing him progress. Yesterday we were driving and he was spelling out signs left and right. "STOP, mom stop!" "Keep Left, mom keep left" then he asked "Mom what does CVS spell?" Wasn't quite sure how to answer that one :) I find teaching my child to read as one of the greatest rewards as a mom!



What does Rylee do? She just kind of goes with the flow. She too knows all her letters and sounds but isn't quite ready to blend them together. I bet by the end of the year she'll be reading from watching Trevor. She's also getting really good at painting faces :)

Mrs. Boomsma

You may remember this post back in April. Well Saturday our dear friend Andrea tied the knot! Our kids were privileged to have been asked to be in the wedding. They had so much fun getting ready and opening their play bags Andrea had created for them (which was awesome Andrea). Andrea was the most beautiful bride I've seen in awhile. She was glowing inside & out! Their wedding was full of creative touches. Her husband Zach is a gifted musician and wrote music for the processional and their first dance. You should've seen all the girls while Andrea danced with Zach to the song he wrote. Not a dry eye in the room :)

Andrea, it was very evident as I looked out at ALL the people who were in attendance at your wedding how deeply you've affected so many. Including our family. You have served with your WHOLE heart during your single years! What an example you are and what a blessed man Zach is to have you as his wife.

Here's some pictures of the kids getting ready to make their big walk down the aisle.

I just love these shots of them playing. There were so many I had to throw a few together!


Taylor getting ready


Andrea had picked out these awesome bow-ties for the boys. I believe Trev is trying to negotiate here with Ms. Andrea. But Ms. Andrea is no stranger to Trevor's ways and she ends up winning :)




He looked like such a stud too


Janelle came in to say hi... ah two of my favorite people :)


The coveted basket. Rylee took her job seriously, throwing those flowers every which way. When the ceremony was over she insisted on going back down the aisle and picking them all up :)


Taylor was just a baby when Andrea first started baby-sitting her.

The ring. I wasn't so sure about this but was assured it would be fine. Trevor had the ring in his pocket and His job was to walk it down the aisle and give it to Zach in exchange for candy. A pretty fair trade for a kid. I was a little nervous of a repeat of this last wedding but as you can see the promise of candy did the trick. That and my repeating, "Trevor don't fall this time ok?" over and over to him.







The girls made it too just in case you were wondering... but you usually don't have to worry about them :)


We love you Mrs. B!

*props to my friend Ruth who made cake :)

Tara D Photography

Well I have a happy announcement to make... taradphotography.com is up and running :) It continues to be a work in progress but I'd love to share it with you as my family & friends first!

Rock Of Ages

Recently I've been thinking and praying a lot about security. As we embarked upon church planting my desire for security has only increased. The Lord keeps reminding me that security cannont and will not be found in this world. Only in Christ alone.

I've been listening to this song on repeat for the past few weeks. It's from Sandra's McCracken's Cd The Builder and The Architect. A friend recently gifted me the album and the whole cd has blessing! Wish I knew how to put the song on my blog but the lyrics alone are powerful.

Rock Of Ages

Rock of Ages, when the day seems long
from this labor and this heartache I have come
the skies will wear out but You remain the same
Rock of Ages, I praise Your name.

Rock of Ages, You have brought me near
You have poured out Your life blood, Your love, and Your tears
to make this stone heart come alive again
Rock of Ages, forgive my sin.

Rock of Ages, bind Your children until the kingdom comes
Rock of Ages, Your will be done.

Rock of Ages, when in want or rest
my desperate need for such a Savior I confess
and pry these idols out from my heart's embrace
Rock of Ages, I need Your grace.

Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me
who am I that You would die to make me free?
to give me glory You took the death and the pain
Rock of Ages, my offering.

Rock of Ages bind Your children until the kingdom comes
Rock of Ages Your will be done.

Rock of Ages, it is done You cried
the curtains torn and I see justice satisfied
now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand.

Rock of Ages, my great hope secure
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul
bind Your children with cords of love and grace
Rock of Ages, we give You praise.

Rock of Ages bind Your children until the kingdom comes
Rock of Ages, Your will be done. "

So thankful that I have a God who never changes. He remains the same. Rock of Ages let your will be done.

Hospitality With Young Children

My poor little neglected blog. Even though I haven't been very faithful to write on this blog, I was asked to write for the Sovereign Grace Pastor's Wives blog. What an honor! Unlike how I write here, this post needed to have correct spelling, proper grammar and coherent thoughts. Man that took a lot out of me :)

Here's a excerpt from my blog post...

"I enjoy hospitality. And I enjoy my young children. But it takes work to enjoy hospitality while having young children. Do the two really go together? Gone are the days of carefree cleaning and complicated meals. Now I’m apologizing to my guests for the cake that has a small bite in its side - a small boy snuck in an early, unapproved taste! Or come a little early and one might hear me remind my three year old that "No, it's not your birthday, and no you may not blow out the nice scented candle to make a wish!"

For the full article go here.

I do have high hopes of posting some updates and pictures this week!