A City Life For Me

Well I took these pictures to share yesterday, and then forgot to post them.  So since it’s not Wednesday, I figured I didn’t have to be wordless!  My kids got new sunglasses this week.  Trouble is…Nolan doesn’t like to wear his.  He likes to chew them.  So it was hard to get a good picture.  But for what they are worth, here they are.  Elaine picked apples, and mommy picked camouflage for Nolan.  This is what my kids really do most of the time.  Elaine picks her nose, and Nolan chews on anything that resembles a camera or a phone. I cropped this picture, but I had to hold their hands down while I took the picture so Nolan wouldn’t rip his glasses off. There you have it.  Worded Thursday.

We had the opportunity to visit the Bronx Zoo on Saturday with Ben’s folks.  One the benefits of closing my diaper business is that I had some spare money for a zoo membership, which gets me into four NYC zoos and the aquarium for free.  We found out during our visit that the membership was worth even more, as it allowed us to get into any of the “extras” for free.  And some of the extras were things like the monkey house, the children’s zoo, and the carousel. It was supposed to be raining, but God answered our prayers for good weather and we had sunshine all day!  Ready for picture overload? Nolan was really excited about the snake, to my dismay and my dad’s delight.  My dad can’t wait to introduce Nolan to a real snake when we visit Colorado next month.   Nolan also thought the goats were great…until one licked his finger! Nolan’s first look at a real cow.  And a pretty sorry looking cow it is! Elaine had been asking to feed the animals all morning.  We finally

Here is Elaine and her “Pa” Hamilton on September 6, 2010.  We were at Prospect Park for Labor Day.   And just about a year and a half later, here they are again!  This time at the Bronx Zoo.   She lost her paci, but she’s still the same Elaine.  How fast she has grown up!  Oh, and by the way…I think that “Pa Hamilton” has regained favorite Grandpa status, at least for now.  The light-up ducky helped a TON, and the running, playing, and carousel ride at the zoo didn’t hurt.  But next month it will probably be “Pa Godby” again when we go visit his house!  {This is the on-going competition of the “Pa’s”}

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.  We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to run when we were kids.  On Fridays we write with gusto, unselfconscious and flat out. 1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Today’s prompt is Together… When Ben and I were dating we read the “Five Love Languages” book.  I dsicovered that my love language is quality time .  Things are more fun when we spend quality time doing them…together.  I’m learning this now in my mothering as well.  The things we enjoy the most are the things we do together.  Playing.  Being silly.  Riding bikes.  Going to the park.  Washing the dishes.  Even work can be fun if we are doing it toget

I was planning to skip my Thankful Thursday post today.  But then I got this email from the mom of two of our Children’s Church kids.  And I changed my mind. I shared with you earlier this week how excited we were to have all of our students bring their Bibles.  I also encouraged the kids to read their Bible everyday, or to ask their parents to read with them if they can’t read by themselves.  This mom told me that both of her kids have come to her separately and asked to read their Bibles every day.  Her little boy {who is only 3, but sits very well in Children’s Church} said, “Mrs. Hamilton says if I read my Bible every day I will grow, grow, grow and I want to.”  Well…that was a BIG encouragement to me!  But it started me thinking…where did I learn to teach kids like this?  From my mom, of course.  And though I had some formal training through college courses, it was really just reinforcing what I had observed in my mom through the years.  I guess she had some good training too

Ben and I have been teaching Children’s Church for just over a year now.  And last week…for the first time ever … EVERYONE brought their Bibles!  This is something we have been challenging the kids to do…but inevitably someone always forgets.  Ben wants the kids to understand that they need to bring their Bibles so that they can verify whether or not the Pastor or teacher is teaching correctly.  This is based on the principle in Acts 17:11 speaking of the Berean Christians.  “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” I wanted to do something special for the kids…but not just giving them candy.  Plus, we have two kids with allergies, so we have to be careful in the candy department.   I finally settled on bookmarks and Jell-O.  Okay, that probably sounds lame, but let’s take a closer look! I made these bookmarks to remind the kids to read their Bible

The Verrazano Bridge connects Brooklyn and Staten Island.  It crosses the Narrows and is named for the first known European navigator to enter the New York Harbor { source: Wikipedia }.  In 1964, when it was completed, the Verrazano Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Tonight we took a trip to the walking path that runs under the Verrazano, and along the eastern shore of Brooklyn.  I needed a sunset picture for my April Photo A Day Challenge .  It was a bit more cloudy/hazy than I would have liked, but it was a perfect night to be walking.  And I still ended up with a couple of good pictures.   {the fire ball of sun can be seen in the bottom of the picture, just sinking between two clouds} {before sunset}   {Daddy and his kiddos: Nolan and Elaine} “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3