sunset

gratitude

getting a lot done on my science project ~ Sloane
Sloane's diligence and perseverance in her homework and makeup work ~ Relyn
getting so much done on Mom and Dad's deck ~ Jeffrey

*  cell photo

lovin' the necklace

gratitude

getting all my math finished ~ Sloane
libraries ~ Relyn
a great hike ~ Jeffrey

Can you tell I am running low on pictures?  I actually took this of one of the contestants necklaces on The Great British Baking Show.  Great show, by the way. 

good advice

gratitude

I got a lot of homework and makeup work done. ~ Sloane
time laughing with friends ~ Relyn
a quiet evening at home ~ Jeffrey

Spotted in a shop in Gearheart, Oregon.  I want this sign for my class.  

Hometown Heroes

gratitude

MMEA ~ Sloane
SO MUCH:Sloane's wonderful day, the band's near-perfect performance, Sloane's excellence in the trio portion, my wonderful day of excellent and inspiring PD, the "feel" and spirit at C of O, that Sloane was healthy enough to go on the all day band trip, and for all the band nerds that greeted the eighth grade band like hometown heroes.  It was amazing! ~ Relyn
Sloane's great experience with the band ~ Jeffrey

about 75 Nixa Jr. High students making our 8th grade band feel like a million bucks

talk about good friends

gratitude

I went to the doctor and am feeling better.  ~ Sloane
my dad, who is always ready to serve, and who drove from downtown Springfield to Clever to Nixa so Sloane could go to school for part of a day.  ~ Relyn
good book talks and Dr. Hearty ~ Jeffrey

Sloane has such wonderful friends. They showered her with gifts and cards (mostly candy - they know her) when she got back to school today. 

happy stuffies

gratitude

a good day at school ~ Sloane
Sloane had a great day back at school, and her teachers took great care of her. ~ Relyn
Sloane's good day at school ~ Jeffrey

The monster in the middle was a get well gift from one of Sloane's best friends. 

OUCH!

gratitude

I'm feeling better.  And for Mason. ~ Sloane
God is healing Sloane so quickly.  I am also thankful for wonderful, thoughtful friends like Lisa and Mason Miller. ~ Relyn
Sloane is feeling better & for brains like Joss Whedon's. ~ Jeffrey

This was Sloane yesterday when we finally got home from the hospital.  She is one tough cookie.

scary

gratitude

being alive ~ Sloane
Sloane is obedient and God is faithful ~ Relyn
God's hand of protection and a wonderful boss ~ Jeffrey

There aren't many things scarier than your child needing a brain scan.  But, God is so faithful and He gives us strength just when we need it. 

my sweet girl

gratitude

gum ~ Sloane
good books ~ Relyn
great books of history and for classical music and for being able to learn weird things on Youtube like how to untangle a necklace ~ Jeffrey

I just love this girl.

.

gratitude

her MMP is working well ~ Sloane
all that Jeffrey accomplished today ~ Relyn
a good time at Papa and Grandma's ~ Jeffrey

I haven't been taking many pictures lately.  I need to work on that. 

finding light in the oddest places

gratitude

good books ~ Sloane
we got my gallery wall redone in the laundry room ~ Relyn
hair cut ~ Jeffrey

the Christmas tree viewed through a glass

one of my little lovies

gratitude

snow days & playing with the puppies all day ~ Sloane
a snow day today & yummy quesadillas for dinner ~ Relyn
the work we got done in the garage ~ Jeffrey

at free recess

the view tonight

gratitude

getting home safely and that everyone on bus 24 was safe ~ Sloane
This was my view for nearly 45 minutes tonight. We made the nail-biting drive home past wicked curves and endlessly steep hills at no more than ten miles an hour only to get stopped about a mile from home on a straightaway. Forty five minutes later and I knew why. That little hill was wicked slick. We almost didn't make it up. We stalled in the middle of the road several times. Sloane clocked it and it took 8 minutes and half our tires to move 300 feet. Thank God for His hand of protection. ~ Relyn
the girls got home safely and an early call on the snow day ~ Jeffrey

the view tonight

New Year's Eve

gratitude

jumping on the trampoline in 2 degree weather ~ Sloane
we got a lot accomplished today, and I am so glad for the way Jeffrey and I work so well together ~ Relyn
the work we got done ~ Jeffrey

It's an old one, but I haven't taken many photos lately.  * cell photo

Cure for Dreaming

gratitude

hanging out with Mason ~ Sloane
an evening with Jeffrey & a great lunch with Arlen and Lucy ~ Relyn
Arlen and Lucy~ Jeffrey

This year I am going to start bookstagramming.  * cell photo

Sloane and the zamboni

gratitude

Ibu & Bapak ~ Sloane
a good hockey game & lots of good family conversation & a great conversation with Devyn ~ Relyn
time with Ibu & Bapak ~ Jeffrey

She's got a thing for zamboni's.  At the MSU Bears hockey game  * cell photo

on the drive home

gratitude

Taco Bell ~ Sloane
quiet night at home ~ Relyn
quiet night at home ~ Jeffrey

oh that sky  * cell photo

proud of my girl

gratitude

swim team ~ Sloane
fun dinner with Debby $ and selling JD to someone who will love him ~ Relyn
a great walk at the OC ~ Jeffrey

on Sloane's Instagram  * cell phoot

Bapak's birthday

gratitude

youth! ~ Sloane
movie night in my classroom while the girls are at youth group ~ Relyn
a big screen TV in Relyn's classroom ~ Jeffrey

Relyn's Dad's birthday  *cell photo

Yes!

gratitude

Mason ~ Sloane
David Almond & other wonderful authors ~ Relyn
the moment when my wife and daughter got home ~ Jeffrey

one of my favorite quotes *cell photo & editing

she has a great sense of style

gratitude

the puppies ~ Sloane
a great teaching day with awesome ELA lessons ~ Relyn
Mr. Casey is supportive of me getting back into classrooms. ~ Jeffrey

Sloane on New Year's Eve  * cell photo

mitten cookies

gratitude

starting discipleship group back ~ Sloane
getting to Michael's to take care of an errand & a very productive evening ~ Relyn
time at Barnes and Nobel ~ Jeffrey

a treat from my mom

mom's Christmas table

gratitude

a day doing nothing ~ Sloane
a friend who shares her Netflix password ~ Relyn
a do nothing day ~ Jeffrey

I haven't taken photos in ages, can you tell? 

that face!

gratitude

ice skating with Sage ~ Sloane
date night at home ~ Relyn
Chinese food with my wife ~ Jeffrey

from a November photoshoot

pretty package

gratitude

swimming and a good PE coach ~ Sloane
getting to talk about poetry with my coworkers ~ Relyn
a great walk ~ Jeffrey

from Grammy

under the tree

gratitude

an amazing youth group ~ Sloane
I am thankful that Jeffrey is the kind of dad who goes out again after expecting to be home because his daughter forgot something at school. ~ Relyn
MLLMAS ~ Jeffrey

Sloane on Christmas Eve

Christmas around the house

gratitude

a good first day back ~ Sloane
a great new doctor ~ Relyn
I got to take my walk indoors ~ Jeffrey

table and tree

Sloane's tree

gratitude

spending my last day of freedom hanging out with mom ~ Sloane
a wonderful day with Sloane ~ Relyn
chili pasta skillet ~ Jeffrey

the tree in Sloane's room

Christmas living room

gratitude

getting to go hunting and having a good season ~ Sloane
accomplishing so much at school ~ Relyn
the Missouri Conservation Department ~ Jeffrey

our living room and tree

Relyn's new avatar

gratitude

hiking and for Tara ~ Sloane
a productive and restful afternoon ~ Relyn
a amazing hike this morning and a wonderful afternoon with my wife ~ Jeffrey

Relyn, by Jeffrey

in Papaw's watch

gratitude

The Great British Baking Show ~ Sloane
binge watching The Great British Baking Show with Sloane ~ Relyn
Two Rivers Park ~ Jeffrey

Sloane on New Year's Eve