The Redelsperger Family

I love pictures. I found the coolest spot to take pictures in Old Sacramento, and the sun was behind the clouds so it was a perfect day for it. Unfortunately trying to get pictures of three kids who are not very photogenic, (Not to mention their parents!) presents a bit of a problem. Regardless I think they're pretty cute. Maybe when GranJan comes with her fancy camera we can head back down there and take some fancy pictures. In the mean time, here we are; unedited. Our "little" family of five! Grandma and Grandpa came for Thanksgiving, what a joy to have them here! Tana and Grey help complete our family!

The picture is a bit grainy, but you can see the general gist of it. This picture was taken my senior year ('97) at the Summit Ministries program in Manitou Springs, CO. My two friends, Garrett and Kevin and I went together. The Sunday before we were headed home, we hiked up the nearby mountain and had our own little communion service. Then we each had some individual prayer time. I didn't realize that Kevin had taken this picture of me during that prayer time, until he gave it to me the following Christmas in a frame. I came across it yesterday. Every time I see it I'm filled with fond memories (like the sweater being knit by Garrett's grandma)and I'm amazed at how long my hair was. I'm growing my hair out again...

Today as I was doing the dishes and Grace was sitting at the table doing her homework, I found myself humming this tune...and counting: 1. My loving, faithful, amazing husband 2. Running water 3. A dishwasher to do most of the work 4. Being able to stay home 5. Children to clean up after 6. The little things my kids say that brighten my day 7. Impromptu to "I love you"s 8. A friend who volunteers to drive you to WinCo at 8pm even when you have a Thanksgiving Day sized grocery list. 9. Money to buy not just the needs, but the "wants" as well. 10. Ears to hear 11. Eyes to see 12. A mouth to taste (I LOVE good food) 13. A nose to smell (even those stinky diapers!) 14. Hands to hold, to work, to play and to love with 15. Smiles (from anyone, but my kids smiles are my favorites!) 16. Laughter 17. Tears 18. Lessons learned 19. Guidance 20. Chocolate 21. A good book 22. The Good Book 23. My Church family 24. Agapeland 25. Potty trained children 26. Not potty trained chil...

So Wednesday we had Ada over and did all sorts of girlie things. Thursday was Hayden's turn to come over. I'm not so good with planning a play date for a boy, so he did some of the same things we did with Ada (minus the finger and toe nail painting!) In spite of my planning or even lack thereof, he seems to have a good time. When it was time to leave, he didn't want to go, and the next time I saw him he kept mentioning that he wanted to go home with us again. This made my day, as I desire our home to be one that all our kids friends find fun as well as safe. A place to be themselves an d to know they are cared for. We cracked walnuts (which turned out to be loads of fun with him. What little boy wouldn't like smashing nut shells with a hammer?), then made vanilla brownies using the walnuts we had just shelled! Grace is so infatuated with this sweet little boy. Ah, the simple life of a five year old! The pictures I've chosen are Grace and Hayden, watching a video, ...

So I came across the site of another blogging Mom who likes to promote other bloggers on her site. Once a month she posts links to others favorite blog posts. It's kinda neat. I've put her link here .

We've been faithfully attending story time at the Sacramento Public Library for quite some time now. Our Rancho Cordova branch of the library is closed for remodel now through January 2010. (Though according to Noraa, it's because Ms. Jess, the children's librarian, "...just needed some alone time!") We've been going to the Fair Oaks branch instead because we just can't go two months without our weekly library trip! Each week the kids pick out books, and enjoy doing the self check out. This week a book caught my eye as it had a CD with it and my kids enjoy listening to stories in the car as well. It was called "King Bidgoods in the Bathtub". At the time I picked it out, I didn't realize that Audrey Wood was the author of other books that we love! (She and her husband Don Wood make a GREAT children's book team!) Since we checked the book out Tuesday, Noraa has asked me to read it to her so many times I have it memorized already! Sh...

Grace has made some new friends at school. Ada is her "girl best friend". Today Ada came over for the first of many play dates. We had a number of activities planned for the short three hours they had together! Ada really enjoyed playing in our back yard. We cracked walnuts together, then came inside for some girl time when we painted finger and toe nails. Then, right before Ada's dad came to pick her up we made chocolate chip cookies! A good time was had by all!

Today at lunch I gave the kids grape juice to drink. Grace took a sip and said, " Mmmm, this tastes like Communion !" So I asked her, " And what is Communion Grace ?" She then told us that Communion is when we drink the blood and eat the body of Jesus so we can remember Him. It led to a wonderful discussion of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, and how thankful we are that Jesus came to be our perfect Savior. (side note: When Grace was talking about Jesus, Buggy chimed in with, " Yeah, and then they threw him in the lion's den !") This isn't the first time we've had this conversation, and I hope it won't be the last. I soak up these times when my children, with hearts turned toward God, listen to every word that I impart to them. I pray their lives will be infused with daily reminders of our Wonderful Merciful Redeemer. I love teachable moments!