Monday, January 31, 2011

monthly mosaic

January, 2011
gratitude

a good volleyball game ~ Sloane
Sloane is enjoying being part of a team and I am so happy she is choosing to play sports. ~ Relyn

John Cackley and the free wood he brought for us ~ Jeffrey


Tonight was Sloane's first volleyball game. She looks wonderful in her uniform and we were so proud of her hard work and good attention to the coach. She enjoyed herself, but would have been even happier if her serve had made it over the net.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Joe

Joe
gratitude

Sinjin, my new giraffe stuffie ~ Sloane
new bras and how much fun I had with my camera this weekend ~ Relyn
a fantastic trip ~ Jeffrey


Sloane had some spending money for this trip and was bummed yesterday because City Museum had a lousy gift shop. We were really proud of her because she didn't waste her money just trying to buy something. She was thrilled when she got to the zoo and saw that they had a Build-a-Bear store. She finally got that giraffe she's been wanting. It's so adorable in its zookeeper's outfit.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

just after the slide

Sloane after riding one of the slides
gratitude

the snowflakes and the 2 clay dolphins, 2 clay seahorses, and the dolls and all the stuff at the museum ~ Sloane the rush I always feel when surrounded by the results of creative endeavors ~ Relyn a good, good trip with Sloane ~ Jeffrey

We all have so many things that for Christmas we try to give experiences. Sloane's gift this year was a mid-winter trip to St. Louis. We got a hotel with an indoor pool and went to City Museum today. The zoo is tomorrow. It's been marvelous.

Friday, January 28, 2011

owl mask

owl mask
gratitude

we had a safe trip up to St. Louis ~ Sloane
Sloane had so much fun swimming ~ Relyn

talking about teaching with Relyn in the car on the drive & finding out that I enjoy the book I'm listening to more than I expected ~ Jeffrey


We left right after school and headed up to St. Louis. This is only the third weekend in ten years of teaching that I won't be working over the weekend. It feels FANTASTIC!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

auto didacticism

the best sign ever
gratitude

the book Celia's Robot ~ Sloane
Jeffrey's back is so much better. AND, I have absolutely everything ready for next week. On Thursday! ~ Relyn
my new Stag AR15 ~ Jeffrey


I had to really hustle to get ready for this coming weekend trip because I would not be able to work at all. Sloane really hates it when one of us isn't home at bedtime so I put a hustle on. Not only was I home before bedtime, all my work was finished. I'm thinking about starting to work late every Thursday evening.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

this is why I love to teach

why I love to teach
gratitude

books ~ Sloane
clean kitchens ~ Relyn

a little girl's back to scratch~ Jeffrey


We had a lot of quiet time together tonight reading. I love that.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

at the winter jam

at the Winter Jam
gratitude

the books I got to order ~ Sloane
a great second grade concert ~ Relyn

donation of books to my library ~ Jeffrey


I had a second grade concert tonight so Sloane and her Daddy had a date night. As much fun as they had, Sloane still should have come with me. The concert was that good.

Monday, January 24, 2011

winter shadow

winter shadow
gratitude

my family ~ Sloane
an understanding boss ~ Relyn
the foot massage my girls gave me ~ Jeffrey

Sunday, January 23, 2011

pregnancy

pregnancy
gratitude
City of Ember ~ Sloane
a yummy supper (chicken and rice) ~ Relyn
Sloane's volleyball team ~ Jeffrey


Sloane and Jeffrey enjoyed watching football tonight. I tell you, that sweet girl is game for anything and interested in anything we care about. I love that about her.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

loving Eli

loving Eli
gratitude

Ember, my new fox puppet/stuffie ~ Sloane
ordering the fabric to recover our sofa; thanks, Mom ~ Relyn
Bapak and getting to spend the day with him ~ Jeffrey


We spent the day with my parents today. I didn't get to take any pictures, but we sure had a good time. Dad especially. He beat Jeffrey at Scrabble three times in a row. Ouch!

Friday, January 21, 2011

@ 37 weeks

@ 37 weeks
gratitude

friends ~ Sloane
the chance to take pictures of people ~ Relyn
God's financial blessings and that I will be getting a new gun soon ~ Jeffrey


Sloane said this tonight: "I know we'd have to wait till we get to heaven because then we can know a lot of stuff, but I think it would be so great to interview people and ask them how many times someone's prayer saved their life."

Thursday, January 20, 2011

by the river

by the river
gratitude

sigh... tonight in front of the fire ~ Relyn
fires in our fireplace ~ Jeffrey

Today was a snow day for all of us. Heavenly.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

on the stalk

on the stalk
gratitude
working hard ~ Sloane
the chance to contribute at the RTI meeting today ~ Relyn
the excitement my boss has for education ~ Jeffrey


This is a picture from yesterday. I just couldn't get one today. Sometimes the requirements of life are all I can juggle. I think the two pictures are interesting together. It's the same stalk in both pictures. Funny what a little perspective shift can do.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

there is beauty wherever you have the eyes to see it

there is beauty wherever you have the eyes to see it
gratitude
Alert ~ Sloane
my new camera bag ~ Relyn
volleyball ~ Jeffrey


We went on a walk tonight and I brought along my camera. The day was typically overcast and the light was leaving quickly. I wasn't sure what I would find for my daily picture. Then I noticed the neighbors hadn't pulled out their sunflower stalks.

Monday, January 17, 2011

winter stalks

winter stalks
gratitude
Lauren ~ Sloane
quiet days at home with sweet girls and good books ~ Relyn

playing volleyball ~ Jeffrey


We had the day off today so Lauren spent the night last night and the girls played all day. We made rocky road candy and they worked on the calendars they've been creating, among other things. It was a quiet, good day. A lot like this photo feels, actually.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

from Tricia

from Tricia
gratitude
Lauren got to spend the day and is spending the night. And all these stuffies. ~ Sloane
Yeah. Same for me. ~ Lauren
great singers and singing along. music. ~ Relyn
audiobooks ~ Jeffrey


The photo tonight is of a piece of art my blogging friend Tricia Scott made just for me. When I opened it, I got teary to think that she had made something so beautiful just for me. This is such a treasure.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

inside jokes

inside jokes
gratitude
all the new clothes Ibu bought for me ~ Sloane
a great book club ~ Relyn
connecting a person with the right book ~ Jeffrey


I was just thinking tonight of how glad I am that life isn't limited only to the possibilities we can imagine. For years I have dreamed of hosting a book club, but it never really worked out. The one thing that never occurred to me is that it would be with recent high school graduates - former students of Jeffrey's. Our book club only meets about four times a year - scheduled around college breaks, but we meet all day long. We laugh and talk, eat great food, and discuss good and bad books. We all have such a great time.

Friday, January 14, 2011

time for bed

time for bed
gratitude
missing Sloane; it's great to have a kid who is so delightful that I miss her when we aren't together ~ Relyn
colleagues that help me out ~ Jeffrey

Sloane is at a slumber party tonight so Jeffrey and I have the chance for a big date night. Great, right? Hmmmm.... We were home by 9:00 and I now am headed to bed. Does this mean we are officially middle aged? Don't laugh. It's not funny.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sloane's zoo

Sloane's zoo
gratitude

my family ~ Sloane
blogger friends ~ Relyn
a great school district to work in ~ Jeffrey


Every Thursday night Sloane and Lauren have a play date. The girls asked if they could get out all Sloane's stuffies as long as they cleaned up. Of course the answer was yes. About a half hour later they called me in and this is what I saw. My word!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

starshine

stars shine
gratitude
Alert ~ Sloane
time to really talk to Sloane; she's a wonderful conversationalist ~ Relyn
a warm home on a cold, cold, cold night ~ Jeffrey


I was tempted to just take a pretty bokeh image and be done with today's photo. Then I remembered that the prompt this week was independence. I gathered my energy and tried to generate some independent thought; a new way of seeing. I wanted to capture bokeh and light in a way that hadn't been done before. I hope I succeeded.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

enjoying the snow

enjoying the snow
gratitude
spelling bees ~ Sloane
piping hot Schmoes ~ Relyn
chance to go shooting today ~ Jeffrey


We had stew and cornbread for dinner and s'mores for dessert. Oh, they were good! Jeffrey roasts a perfect mallow. It think it's because he is so patient.

Monday, January 10, 2011

snow falls on Missouri

snow falls on Missouri
gratitude

snow! ~ Sloane
the tender way Jeffrey and Sloane rub my feet ~ Relyn
Sloane made it into the spelling bee ~ Jeffrey


It snowed all day long here. The question on everyone's mind just now is, "Will tomorrow be a snow day?" Jeffrey votes no. Sloane votes yes. I say, we'll need them in February.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

time for snow

time for snow
gratitude
The Secret Garden Grammy gave me ~ Sloane
the way our family works together ~ Relyn
my job ~ Jeffrey


It's a little sad to see the corners of our home returning to their pre-Christmas state. The title of this picture is especially appropriate since they are calling for up to four inches of snow tomorrow.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Star of Bethlehem
gratitude
my new GoGos ~ Sloane
quiet Sabbaths with my family ~ Relyn
all the shooting stuff Ibu got for me ~ Jeffrey


I'm just photographing the last of the Christmas before it all disappears. The house always seems so empty and bare after it's all put away.

Friday, January 7, 2011

on a pile of pillows

on a pile of pillows
gratitude

the library ~ Sloane
the way Jeffrey is always interested in anything I care about ~ Relyn
the chance to make a difference in the lives of young people ~ Jeffrey


One of Sloane's favorite things to do is have her Daddy arrange tons of pillows so she can pile up with a good book and read, read, read.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Kodex No.1

Kodex No.1
gratitude
snuggling ~ Sloane
a great calendar ~ Relyn
JB Petty ~ Jeffrey


I'm not sure how I am going to do taking a photo every day. On days like today, it feels impossible. Too many hours at work, too much to do at home. Tired...

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

everything is extraordinary

everything is extraordinary
gratitude
Alert ~ Sloane
my Cricut ~ Relyn
Relyn's skill with things visual ~ Jeffrey


Tonight we spent some time at Jeffrey's library getting the bulletin boards redone. The governor is coming to visit tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas lights

Christmas lights
gratitude
all my new dragon books ~ Sloane
It was good to be back at school today. ~ Relyn
piles of Hornblower movies ~ Jeffrey


I could look at bokeh all day long. I'm going to try it tomorrow with colored lights.

Monday, January 3, 2011

sometimes gifts are a reflection of love

sometimes gifts are a reflection of love
gratitude
Momma got a new lens. ~ Sloane
my new lens and accessories, but most of all the beautiful heart it came from ~ Relyn

bright stars ~ Jeffrey


Jeffrey scrimped and saved to come up with the money to buy me a telephoto lens (70-300mm). He also bought the camera bag, filter, and hood. It all arrived today, and I am just thrilled. As much as I love all my new goodies, I love him most. The best part of the present is how thrilled he was to give it to me.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

no picture today

I made a commitment this year to actually take and post a photo each day. I hope that by having out my camera each day, I will grow and learn as a photographer. Last year, I took pictures when I could and shared them here whenever it seemed to fit. Perhaps I grew some as a photographer, but not much. It's my hope that by imposing stricter discipline, I'll learn more quickly. I had great plans for this year, in fact. I was going to massively improve my photography and end the year with a real record of our day-to-day lives.

So here we are, day two - no picture. I'm not all that impressed with myself. SHEESH! I went yesterday straight from church to work and stayed at work over 12 hours. Not a camera in sight. Obviously, I am going to have to carry my camera with me everywhere.
It strikes me that I said "was" above. That's actually still my plan. Photo a day, for as many days as are possible. Grow as a photographer. Practice self-discipline, which is always worthwhile. Record of our days. Not a bad plan.

gratitude
a good volleyball practice ~ Sloane
Sloane and Jeffrey came to see me at work and brought dinner. ~ Relyn
time to read great books ~ Jeffrey

Saturday, January 1, 2011

@ 20:11

@ 20:11
gratitude
Comfort Island ~ Sloane
Comfort Island and my family ~ Relyn
Comfort Island ~ Jeffrey


Sloane got a huge Lego set for Christmas from her grandparents. She and Jeffrey had a wonderful time putting it together.

Happy New Year!

We have so much to be thankful for. We fully intend to continue recording our gratitudes each day of 2011. Just for today, we'd like to share the letter we wrote to our friends and family.

January 1, 2011

12:21 a.m.

Dear friends and family,

The ball has dropped in Time Square; the fireworks have exploded all around the planet. And, right here in Clever the neighbors have shot their guns into the air. The Lawson family has yelled our countdown followed by lots of hugging and kissing. After the affection, we began the New Year with prayers and a worship time. As we finished, I tucked Sloane into bed and snuggled her briefly. Now I’m here, writing our New Year’s greetings to you.

I wanted to write a letter to you on the first day of 2011. Along with this letter comes our love and good wishes. Team Lawson wants you to know that you were on our minds first thing this year. And we said a prayer that God would bless and keep you; that you would feel His presence and know His peace.

It’s traditional to reflect on the year just passed and share the family news. Since I’ve done everything else backward, at least I’ll stick to that tradition. If I had to describe 2010 in a phrase it would be full of trials. If I were to describe God, it would be always faithful.

We are all aware of the economy and how it is affecting public education. For this school year, our family has taken a $10,000.00 pay cut. That does not count the pay raises and steps we should have had, or the lost summer school income. We had scheduled an African safari with my parents to celebrate mine and Jeffrey’s 40th birthdays. Cancelled. We could go on and on, but we are all facing tough financial times just now. Yikes, right? Not really. You see, we serve a big, big God. No, we didn’t go to Kenya. But, I had the most wonderful birthday. We lost a lot of income, but we paid off both cars, we can afford our house, and we even made it to Oregon to see family. We serve a big, big God.

Much more difficult than any financial worry was our Oregon family’s trials. We lost Jeffrey’s Uncle Robert this summer. And, the very next day, Arlen’s ordeal began. It was pretty difficult for Jeffrey to accept the fact that his brother might not live to old age. It was terrible to watch Arlen suffer and to witness the pain of our family. But through all that, Jeffrey “learned to trust God more deeply than I ever have before. In life or death, God is in control.”

It would be easy to characterize 2010 as a bad year, but it wasn’t. It was full of trials, but much more full of God’s grace, His mercy, His faithfulness. We serve a mighty God. It was, actually, a year full of blessings. We were able to celebrate Dale and Ethel’s 50th wedding anniversary. Brett came home for family Christmas this year. We were able to be with the family as they grieved for Uncle Robert. Jeffrey was able to go back to Oregon and help bear some of the burdens. We lost income, but always, we have enough. More than enough, we have plenty. Our house is warm and cozy and beautiful. Our family is whole and healthy and happy. I got a new camera (and three wonderful lenses) and am teaching myself photography. We got dogs and are all surprised by how much we love and enjoy them. We both love our jobs and thank God each day for the pleasure they bring. Jeffrey continues his grad school without incurring any debt and he loves every minute of it. Sloane grows more beautiful and smarter every day. More importantly, she grows kinder and more thoughtful. She serves the Lord with all her heart, and that’s everything I could ever ask for.

Yes, God is good. The thing He has taught me most in the past year is that He is faithful. If there is a lesson I learned that I could pass along to you, it is this one: The fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective. Just ask Arlen.

In this coming year, we pray you will take every opportunity to laugh. We hope you will make time to play with your family. We trust you will be involved in your church and look for opportunities to serve. We pray your trials teach you to rely on Him and your joys remind you to be grateful. May you always remember that you are loved; by your Father, and by Team Lawson.

Much love,

Relyn, Jeffrey, and Sloane