Time Marches On

 In 5th grade, the kids do something called "The Penny Book Project." They have to reflect back on each year since they were born, writing about events that happened, ways that God has blessed their family, and the activities that they liked. Haleigh has started working on it, and flipping back through this blog has helped us remember all the fun things we've done, the trips we've taken, and the friends we've visited. 

She finished looking through the 2015 book and said, "Okay, I need 3 ways God has blessed our family." I told her that every single post was evidence of how God blesses us, whether it's through a big trip or the small everyday things that we're doing. 

And that is one of the reason's why I keep writing these posts. It's easy to forget the things we do each day, each week, and each month. We are midway through November already. Soccer is over. Annaliese is playing basketball through school. Haleigh is doing gymnastics. Annaliese and Lydia play piano. Annaliese plays the saxophone and Haleigh is learning the trumpet. All these things fill up our days and are both tiring and fun. 

Haleigh made a cell for science class.

Kyle and I went to Semiahmoo for a marriage retreat...we fit in a short run on a drizzly, cloudy morning.

Haleigh made this poster for Geography.

We got a real piano!

Halloween

Trick-or-treating

More trick-or-treating...they are space astronauts. Kyle is the earth and I'm the rest of the galaxy.

Playing kickball with Kim, Thane, Elias, and Malachi at Bender Fields

Lydia's project

Annaliese's Bible Project

I should tell the story of how we came to have a real piano. We've had a full-sized keyboard for years. And every once in awhile, Annaliese's piano teacher will talk to her about the benefits of having a piano instead of a keyboard. 

Several weeks ago, Lynden hosted the Lynden Music Festival. They bring in musicians from all over and have different events. (We went and listened to a man who played the saxophone and the trumpet.) They also give away a piano to someone who needs it to 'further their music education.' Any one who enters must right a brief explanation of why they think they should get the piano. Annaliese entered and she was selected for the piano! The best part is that the piano belonged to one of our relatives and they decided they didn't need it anymore, so they donated it to the Music Festival to give away! All the girls have enjoyed playing it and their piano teacher was very excited.