Mid-November

I think it's not so much that Justus is Mr. Always Organized in Every Way ... because he's not. Sometimes, yes, but not obsessively. I think what makes me notice it as often as I do is the inevitable comparison with his sibling. Thus, it particularly tickled me when one day he said, "Natasha *sure* is a collector!"

A couple days ago Justus brought out to N and me two outfits he was trying to decide between to wear that day. We gave him some input, and he took off to his room to change. When he returned, he said, "I chose this one because I mowed it." I said, "You mowed it??" "You know, eenie meenie miney mo."

In Jeremy's Sunday morning sermon last week he was talking about the difference between a son in a house and a slave in that house. Justus whispered to me, "In our house I'm a son and a slave."


We had such a unique weekend! With Elaine out of town, Mitch & Jo offered to keep our children Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon, "So you can have the house to yourselves." !! It was like having a weekend away, without going away ... hence my description, "unique". We had a lovely, relaxing time. So did N & J. :) Of course, this isn't something we'll want to do very often b/c ... WE MISSED OUR YOUNG ONES!!!!!!!!!

Here is a list of the birds we've had so far.
1.) Eastern Goldfinch (IA state bird, only one pretty male last summer, but recently some females!)
2.) House sparrows (EVERYONE has house sparrows every day -- invasive species)
3.) Nuthatches (sometimes two at a time, and all day every day)
4.) Male & Female Cardinals + fledglings. :) (every day)
5.) Downy Woodpeckers (male and up to two females at a time) (most every day)
6.) Blue Jays [they eat only ("birdfeeder bully"), but sometimes there will be two in view at the same time] (3-4 days a week)
7.) Mourning Doves (once every week or two; they prefer eating off the ground...)

New Winter Visitors:

8.) Dark-Eyed Juncos (most every day)
9.) Black-Capped Chickadees (every day)
10.) Purple Finch (1-8 at a time, males & females, 3-4 days a week, the last 2 weeks)
11.) Red-bellied Woodpeckers (They showed up last week, up to 3 at a time!! They have no red on their bellies, only on their heads, and they're so big they make the suet feeder 'suh-WING' back and forth!! They like to sit on the edge of the roof above the suet feeder, so all I can see is their two-tipped tails!! argh! lol)

Natasha is enjoying drawing pictures of what she read in her personal devotional time. She's reading a chapter of Genesis at a time, and her pictures are ... remarkable, I think. Today we got a picture of sheep at a well, and Leah with her first four sons, drawn age-appropriate: standing, sitting, crawling, and on her lap (might need to visit the topic of gestation).

We're reading a book called "Stories of the Pilgrims". Mmm....

Natasha is now learning seasonal Christmas songs! Last week "Jingle Bells". This week "Up on the Housetop". Jeremy is scheduling a recital for them at the end of Dec. Fun. Wanna come??!

We pray you are well; please enjoy a pleasant, safe, reflective Thanksgiving holiday.