:LIST IT: Our Fall Faves

A compilation of fall frolics here in Kentucky...

• Hiking
• Taking a drive... in a random direction each and every time
• Making cookies and sharing them with neighbors or friends... or not sharing 'em
• Walking through the storefronts downtown
• Giving pedi's to the girls and getting them in return ... this is Sara Kate's fav bonding time
• Movies... bringing back the oldies... BIG is always a hit in our house
• Apple picking... and indulging with Pam's blissful fruit dip...
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup toffee bits
• Mix cream cheese first, until smooth, then add other ingredients...
• ENJOY!!
• Nature studies... complete with leaf collecting and leaf rubbings-- no entomology for mama though...thats Hannah's specialty
• An afternoon at the bookstore as a family... or the library
• Making personal pizzas
• Trying a new recipe with pumpkin
• Going to the park... its cold here though
• Window shopping in Elizabethtown
• Making a new photo wall arrangement
• Purging the home for Goodwill donations... toys, clothes, knick knacks, etc
• Rearranging a room... a few flea market finds work well to spice up the room also
• Doing puzzles
• Re-arranging flower arrangements at home with fall and winter colors
• Color booking with the girls
• Giving horsey-back rides to the kids
• Reading a chapter book together, all cozied up... what other way is there?
• Webcam'ng with far away family
• Building a fire pit outside
• Raking the leaves... DUH!!

...and it can never be left without saying... family photo ops...

Our study of Earth Science comes to a close...

"By the power of the Spirit our eyes

were opened and our understandings were enlightened,

so as to see and understand the things of God..."

-Doctrine & Covenants 76:12

"Our bodies are made up

from some of the same atoms that formed

the sun and the stars and created the planets, moons,

asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

Truly we are all children of..."

... our Creator.

-Seymour Simon, Our Solar System

"For a moment of night we have a glimpse of ourselves

and of our world islanded in its stream of stars...

voyaging between horizons across the eternal seas

of space and time."

-Henry Beston, The Outermost House

"And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls.

Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me;...
And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round."

-Alma 37:7-8,11-12

Book of Mormon

Our moon...

I will never look at our moon the same again.... Thanks to a documentary, I now get teary eyed every time I look at the moon. Good grief!

It's been ever since Hannah has studied astronomy this year for earth science. We studied the planets, the moon, and the constellations. Luckily, her ancient Greek and Roman studies from history coincided with the constellation study in science.

Anyhow, we were able to watch a documentary of the moon, In the Shadow of the Moon (2007) about the first lunar landings with the Apollo missions. --NOW-- I am not a crying kind of woman, but I have found what makes me weep. When the verses from Genesis about the Creation were read on an Apollo mission on Dec 24th... I cried like a baby. When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon... I snorted like a baby because I cried so hard. This history is more than just history, it is a history that we are linked to... us ... here.... It is a history that testifies of worlds and creations beyond the limits of man.

Interestingly, the astronauts that served the Apollo missions remain the only US astronauts who have traveled to the moon. As they described their experiences they spoke with such reverence toward its Creator. I was able to share this and teach this to our children as a apart of their science studies this year. That we have faith, and a new knowledge, that this is the very Creator of our world, our moon, and those beyond it....

Who knew earth science could be so spiritually riveting?

And that my friends... is why... I homeschool!

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

(Genesis 1:1-2,14-18)

And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.

(Moses 1:33,35)

I've Been TAGGED!

So my girlie friend Tara tagged me months ago and I have been staring at this list on my desk for months… so here we go!

10 years ago I was:
Graduating high school, working for UPS and just crushed by a boy… then mommy bought me a new car!!

5 Things on my To-Do list Today:
1. get the netflix from the mailbox
2. create our book list for school
3. hunt down the UPS man
4. dishes, vacuum dining room, fold and put away white clothes, water the garden
5. take Hannah to karate

5 Things I would do if I became a Billionaire:
1. give a large sum to family and take grandparents to Europe
2. design and build a house for us and our extended family
3. start my own company
4. get and PAY FOR my bachelors and master in education
5. travel

5 items near me:
1. my camera (always!)
2. Milano cookies
3. scrapbook paper (and scrap supplies) galore!
4. jordan almonds
5. diet cream soda

3 of my bad habits:
1. yelling
2. going to bed late... so therefore getting up late
3. being selfish with my time

5 places I've Lived:
1. Central Missouri
2. Rialto, CA
3. Riverside, CA
4. Topeka, KS
5. Independence, KS

5 places I want to visit:
1. Louisiana/Mississippi antebellum homes
2. Oregon coast
3. Machu Pichu
4. Ruins in Central America
5. Palmyra, NY

5 vital people to my life: ...okay eight people then...
1. hubby Paul
2. our children (they're a package deal)
3. my mom & mom-in-law (this is ying & yang here)
4. my grandmother
5. my sister-in-law BRIDGET

5 places I've worked:
1. Kountry Folks Restaurant- as a hostess
2. Albertsons- bagging groceries
3. UPS-loading airplanes, and loading packages
4. Franklin Covey- sales associate
5. Stampin Up demonstrator

Something most people don't know about me:
I am 75% hermit, and 25% crab.

Thanks Tara, this was a lot of fun!

Look-a-likes

Golly gee who do we have here?! I was doing a scrapbook page today with the first picture here of Sara Kate... and Hannah says, "that looks like Daddy." My thought was, well... Daddy has a shaved head (perfectly formed I might add) with glasses... so she must be delirious to think this little girl looks like Daddy. I just dismissed the mention for the moment (never bother me with oddball facts when I am scrapbooking)... and then 30 minutes later I jumped up to get something out of the cabinet and I found this second picture pinned on a board above the cabinet... it's of Paul... which happens to be a favorite of mine. I finally found the proof... I always said you would love good as a girl honey!!

Mark's Blessing

Today Mark received his baby blessing. It was performed by Daddy and many dear friends were able to participate in the blessing (as we have no family near to join us) by laying their hands upon his head as they stand in a circle around Mark. Actually there was another baby blessed as well, this other blessing was a very special one because the child, Bryson, was adopted and as the adoption was made final last month he had the opportunity to receive his own "baby blessing" as a part of his new family. It was a special experience to be a part of both of these blessings today.

In Mark's blessing, he was blessed with character... (more specifically) the character of service. He was blessed to have a desire to emulate the Savior and to gain a testimony of the Savior, that will help him (Mark) to do great things. He was also blessed with wisdom through observing others. After his blessing I had the opportunity to get up and share my testimony with the congregation. I shared my testimony of the Holy Ghost, which as members of of the LDS Church we receive through a special blessing at baptism. The Holy Ghost is the spirit which helps us to recognize both good and bad, and right and wrong in our lives, though first we must recognize the promptings and make the choice for ourselves to choose the better part. The Holy Ghost has helped me to see my potential and guide me to make righteous choices. It is through the blessing of the Holy Ghost that I have been able to change and develop myself in ways I could not have done on my own without this spiritual guidance. As a convert to the LDS Church (also known as the Mormon church) 13 years ago I have seen great changes in myself that I would not have imagined possible on my own. I am grateful for the changes that a loving Heavenly Father has helped me to see and make ... revealing a greater potential in me. And, through this I have been able to strive more diligently to become a better wife, mother and daughter.

The pictures that follow are of the girls with Mark before church. The third, is a picture I caught on the sly in Sunday school, which was probably not an appropriate time to be taking pictures... but who could resist Mark with his Daddy. And the last picture was an impromptu shot outside after church. It truly was a special day!! We love and miss our dear family and friends who could not be with us today. Please know we are thinking of you!

What is FREEEDOM...

In honor and rememberance of our Nation's independence day I wanted to share what FREEDOM is to me. Freedom for me comes in many forms...

Trust of my husband Paul
A day of shopping
Literacy
Love and support of Paul and my family... gives me greater freedom to be myself
Religious freedom to practice my beliefs as Mormon pioneers strived for and were persecuted for...
A stack of chick flicks... Pride & Prejudice, You've Got Mail, Sense & Sensibility, 50 First Dates, Legally Blonde (my personal faves)
Being educated through lifelong learning
A balanced checkbook
Scrapping LATE with the girls at Chasing Rainbows Scrapbooks
Being able to run a 5K without falling over dead... I have done it only twice... we all have our seasons in life...
Next... being able to run a 10K
Unlimited book shopping on Amazon.com
Potty trained children
Being a stay-at-home mama
On a date with Paul
A warm night, with fireworks in the sky- MINUS THE MOSQUITOS!!
Extra hot fudge on my Peanut Buster Parfait
Obedient to God's laws... freedom from spiritual bondage

All of these freedoms have come through the freedoms granted us by this great Nation, the US of A.

Hope your Independence Day was a special celebration! May we all continue to experience and value of our own unique freedoms.

Sharing my FAVORITE THINGS with you...

We had a beautifully simple day today. After doing ALL the laundry we drove to Joplin Missouri and perused some of our favorite stores, like Target, Kirkland's Home, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Michaels, and Home Depot. And of course we took the girls to ChuckECheese! We didn't have to do much or buy anything... it was just the company and the simple conversation that stemmed from our perusing. So from this day and our contentment, came the thought of what our favorite things are... besides the fact that many dear blog friends have shared their favorite things as well!! Thanks for the inspiration girls! Here we are...

Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Uh… Jane Austen in general
You’ve Got Mail
Tom Hanks
Gerald Butler
Mr. Darcy… as played by Matthew MacFayden
Will Smith
A&E Biographies
Icees
Peanut M&M’s
Double Chocolate Chip Crème Frappachino
Décor stores
Chunky furniture
An afternoon shopping with Paul and the chitlins’
A week alone with my mom
Target
The Book of Mormon
TimeOut for Women Conference
Amazon.com… more specifically shopping for books
Reading
Baby blue on my baby boy! (Never thought that would happen...since I am not fond of the color blue)
The girls laughing
Sara Kate singing
Baby toys
Flea Markets with Grandma
Baking… cookies, bread, pies and candies
The zoo…especially giraffes
Playing school when I was a kid… and now homeschooling my girls
Reading with Hannah
Hannah’s drawings
A library
A need for design
Color… more specifically red, brown, taupe and black when referring to clothes and décor
Old books
Planning
Organization
Wooded landscapes
Dark wood décor
Damask designs
Talking to Paul
Praying
Holding hands with Paul
Paul in a tool belt
Talking to my sister-in-law Bridget
Sitting up late with Jared and Bridget…awwwh the memories!
Taking a Sunday nap as a family... we got a bigger bed specifially for this reason
My camera… uh this should be at the top of the list
Scrapbooking
…scrapbooking with friends

This Celestial Being

Looking at these small ones... does it ever spark your imagination to wonder and ponder upon the beauty of God's creations? Those little eyes are his, though they may look like mommy's or daddy's they still hold that unique quality all his own. And that nose, those lips, and each dipple may be reflected in his family... but uniquely there is no other that looks exactly as he does, or will have the same personality as our little man. His beauty is all his own given to him by a loving Heavenly Father who knows him personally. I am deeply grateful for this gift that we have been blessed with, an individual spirit created by a Heavenly Father placed in our family. The wonder and beauty of God's creations are a testimony to us of His presence in our lives and upon this Earth.

8 Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of the children of God. And this was the book of the generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
• • •

63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

Moses 6:8,63

A Sunday Afternoon

Sundays are often relaxing days for our family after coming home from church... considering that our Sunday recipe often calls for a family nap. I always thought I would prepare this shining Sunday dinner for my family, but thankfully Paul has comforted me in encouraging a no-hassle cooking regime for Sunday afternoons which makes it so much more enjoyable to look forward to these rare afternoons. As the evenings become longer and the days mildly warmer Paul is always one to round us up for a late afternoon/evening on the porch while the girls enjoy their quiet playtime in the yard. Sara Kate is most often swirling about like a chirping bird, starting up a conversation of reminiscing about her friends and cousins. While Hannah is more often a shy and flightless bird studying the leaves and bugs, and drawing scenes according to her vision and perfection. I will always be amazed at her ability to draw three-dimensionally... truly she gets it from Paul. It is Sara Kate and I that often wonder of people and places, in the past, present and future tenses. This particular afternoon Paul was envisioning patches of flower beds and ornamental grasses, in addition to painting the outside of our house. The peaceful awakenings of these laid back afternoons, spark something different in all of us... while you can imagine the yearning I had to simple snap pictures hoping to catch a bit of this afternoon's sentiments.

These sentiments have also sparked us all to plant a flower and vegetable garden. Since Hannah is enjoying her plant unit for science so much, we began growing seeds indoors these past weeks, and now, Paul and I are itching just as much as the girls, to pluck them in the ground and watch them flourish. Each day the amazement and wonder that flashes across the girls faces as they watch their pumpkin, carrot, sunflower, green bean, corn and cucumber seeds change shapes and sizes in even such a short time as one afternoon... it is truly a spiritual awakening for us all. We are going to prepare the ground outside Monday evening as a family and place these growing seedlings in their new plots. We will be sure to share the pictures as they (the flowers and vegetables) continue to grow.

Paul and Sara Kate enjoying a Sunday afternoon...

What a blossom she is...
It is truly a prize to watch Hannah grow so artistically... and in many other ways... as you can see her toothless smile...
Hannah and her drawings of a farm complete with a barn, corral and its animals...
These kind of afternoons remind me that it doesn't take much, or anything grand even, to spark the spiritual awakenings that often occur on our front porch together. Whether it's a conversation or just a feeling we share alongside such simple sentiments, it is easier than we make it to grow together, and individually,... in a family.

Other ideas for creating spiritual awakenings as a family...

Drawing and painting
Sing lots of songs
Work with puzzles
Read lots of books
Write in a journal
Cooking and baking (the latter is my preferred method)
Playing pretend
Exploring nature... (animals, plants and people)
Grow something
Making crafts and toys
Helping around the house... with dishes, vacuuming, laundry, dusting, etc.
Watching a thunder and lightening storm
Looking at the stars
Visiting the library... an orchard, museum, bakery, or fire station

As a mother and a wife... taking the time to let these things remain simple and unfold naturally offers the greatest reward... that of seeing our family grow together... just as our young seedlings are beginning to... more soon... enjoy your afternoons!

To sew... or not to sew...

Okay so mom sent me a sewing machine like a year and a half ago and it still sits in its box in the closet. These are the genes I come from... mom sewed her first jumper when she was like 7 years old. As a child I remember she had her ribbons on the wall from projects she had entered in county fairs. Then there is grandma... a whole 'nother stitch in itself... who sews my girls doll clothes. Grandma mentioned once... "Aja the only other craft you have to try is sewing... as if to give me that loving push... as I crawled my way AWAY from that abyss... I find myself now circling that ever deepening abyss of trying another craft... and feeling my head swirl from all the jargon and technicalities that come with the precision of sewing. Maybe its just because I am pregnant... maybe it's a mother bears way of nesting before the birth of a cub... whilst visions of knitting socks dance in my head... maybe I have reached a new level of creativity... heaven I PRAY that' s it! Whatever the cause I find myself daily troubled by the reasons and needs I find for learning to drag the sewing machine out of it's original box and heaven forbid... learning how to simply thread the thing and turn it on-- or do you turn it on before you thread it? And if I don't need another reason to peruse Amazon.com for books already... the attraction of sampling the reviews of every sewing manual there is offers no relief... it's like an itch I can't scratch, or a color I can't find, or a word I can't spell. My only relief has been found in perusing and pondering those things I would attempt to create, via this sewing contraption. Those cute minky blankets with matching burp clothes, matching dresses with little boy tees... oh I can hear the words of mom now... when as a child she experienced the creativity and industry of her own mother as she was sent to school in a matching dress to the shirts of her three brothers. I have to say the patterns they have now... aren't your mothers... or your grandmother's fabrics... I must say. But yet I can see mom spinning from this FULL CIRCLE of grandmother, to mother, to daughter... and to think I could replace some idlesome activity of my two young girls with the industry and creativity of sewing. CRAP... that sells the idea alone. There is a splendid website http://www.loveyduds.com/ that has the cutest, insanely coordinated nursery accessories, that has thrown me off this cliff... now if I could just figure out patterns for such creations. So I peruse my way through http://www.fabric.com/ and learn that this may only be another maddening avenue to spend money. And finally, there is my first visit to http://www.etsy.com/... with a mastermind of craftiness for a hefty price... my only question after viewing the breathless sewing creations sold there... can I learn to knit and sew at the same time? ARRRGGGHH!!

Summer is upon us!!

With the addition of baby Mark in early June I am sure our summer will be an eventful one. With schools getting out and the hot weather beginning our girls can only think of one thing, the "Pool Park". We have a dandy water park in our small town, and thankfully it is kid-friendly for the smaller children. I only hope I can figure a way to acclimate Mark to the sites and sounds of such an experience. Along with the excitement of the water park, Paul and I really want to keep ourselves in a regular routine of reading, learning and playing with the girls. For the summer we have some plans for a more laid-back routine that rolls with our small town ways. Feel free to jump in if you have some ideas as well...

Time with the girls...
Exploration Place in Wichita
Tulsa Zoo
Nature book (illustrated)
Journal/story writing (illustrated)
Playing in the garden tending to the vegetables
Sidewalk chalk murals (Hannah's specialty)
Making some new pen pals (once more... complete with illustrations)
Visits from Grandma (Cali), Great-Grandma (Missouri), and Grandma Shoup (Cali)

Time for Paul & I
paint the house
tile the bathroom shower
start running again... at my 6 week postpartum mark
GO ON A DATE!!

My Time
Read, read, read...
finish Work & the Glory Vol 2
my Neal A. Maxwell library
Isaiah for Airheads
The Zeezrom Syndrome
The 7 Habits for Highly Effective Families
Jane Eyre
As a Man Thinketh
...and maybe an afternoon or two of scrapbooking the girls with their new baby brother.

So what might your summer checklist look like... some fun or sun?! Everyone has to freshen up somehow... shake off the winter blues and the spring buds for a full bloom... of you!

Counting down...

We have six more weeks until June 2nd... Mark is scheduled for arrival. I am fond of surprises though, so I have calmly shared with him that he is welcome any time before then. It has been fun looking at the little boy clothes and getting used to blues and greens, as opposed to the girls pinks and purples. I have been particularly into browns and oranges... though I am afraid I may turn him into a wild monkey with all my ideas of brown color schemes and personality assumptions.
Last night, Sara Kate was talking to Grandma on the phone and she said, "Mark Dillon is still asleep, but when he wakes up we will cut him out with a knife. But he is asleep in the blood right now, so mommy's belly is all squishy." It is always exciting to hear the anticipation from a child's view, such as Hannah and Sara Kate's. Though Hannah has gotten used to the fact that he will not talk for some time. I can only imagine her anticipation of playing with him in the dirt, with the balls, and amongst the bugs, beetles and other wild creatures. While Sara Kate is content to caress, cuddle and baby Mark from the start. So it seems both the girls have their unique qualities that will be a welcome addition to having a baby brother.
Other quirks of being pregnant...

Pregnancy Cravings: Guacamole, donuts, soda fizz
Pregnancy Temperament: Unfriendly... similiar to that of a volcano or ice glacier-- calmed only by my dear Paul.
Pregnancy Habits: Walks with the girls, cleaning frantically, and studying the behaviors of these impish creatures called little boys.
Phrases most often heard: The cashier I had never met before at Lowe's, "Wow you've dropped!" Then there is,"Are you still pregnant?" from those who see me randomly in our small town. Strangers often ask the girls if they are excited to have a baby brother, which the girls often respond "HisnameisMarkdillonshoup" with record speed. The word Markdillonshoup is now a household name and may cause confusion when referred to as simply Mark or baby brother.
Pregnancy Appearance: Well... I often wear black to smooth over the bumps, and so I am careful not to wear a white shirt, in the case I will be mistaken as a penguin. I have taken on other penguin habits, such as flapping my arms, usually in protest to the level of noise, as noted by Hannah in her artwork.
Paul's symptoms: Back pain and heartburn... we think he is suffering from sympathy pains. Also severe humor, as a distraction from my mood and discomfort... though it often makes me pee. And a limitless amount of love which seems to radiate from him through it all!!

We look forward to the surprises that await us all!

7 months and counting...

Being pregnant has it's perks... people fall over themselves to open a door or pick up your things, friends call to check up on you, and no matter what your husband still thinks your beautiful. I am trying to see it his way. And today I found my perspective in this shot... it reminds me of a greater purpose I can serve. I am thankful for my purpose here. We are patiently waiting for Mark Dillon to come out and play!

Remembering the gifts of Easter

Growing up I always had the pleasure and joy of easter egg hunts and the surprises that were found in the early morning of Easter Sunday. As Easter's have come and gone, and our children begin to learn the joys of Easter... I am always hoping to find an empty egg on our hunt, just as Mary found the empty tomb on that now cherished and celebrated day. All these eggs may be colored and glittered, but the true gift of this holiday is the realization and testimony that when Mary sought Jesus's dead body within the tomb, she was surpised and even pained not to find him. But then the joy that followed in seeing him and the realization that he, the Son of God, had power over death to pick up his body and live again.This is an eternal gift, eternal salvation, for all who seek after him and follow him. While these eggs hold excitement and joy for young children in their discovery, I find myself as a child again with my own personal discovery and renewed testimony that Jesus Christ lives. There is proof of His life, purpose and resurrection if we seek after it. Happy hunting!!!

Gifts From God

Crafty, originally uploaded by Shoupfam2000.

This hilarious photo was passed on to me from my sister-in-law Bridget and it just sums it up for me.... I never considered myself talented or gifted in any sense... until Paul & I were married. Then it seems our lives unfolded, specifically the roles and gifts placed in our lives. Paul is gifted with people and leadership in all aspects, while we have joked I am a crafty one. Well it may be a little thing to say, I am crafty, but I must admit whether you call it a gift or talent, it is from God. Taking pictures, creating scrapbook pages, and designing the expressions of our home, as well as homeschooling the girls, these are gifts that I never imagined for myself. I am constantly overcome by the feeling that these are the gifts that have been prepared and saved for me, as they serve to bless, touch and inspire our little family. It is the reminder to me that God not only knows us individually, but blesses us individually, with those things that speak to us, teach us and inspire us personally. Paul has met success with his own talents, and while my talents are different from his and used in different ways, it is the balance and the beauty of our own individual gifts, roles and talents that mold us and our family. So call it a little thing, as compared to the great gift of bearing a child. But I am so thankful to share any gift I may have, to bless our posterity with the pictures and pages of our family's history, and to touch our friends and family with these pictures and pages we share, all the while inspiring Paul & I to live righteously and endure together to share the blessings of bearing and rearing these children.

Anticipation

With our anticipation of our third child in June the house is becoming quite the place for excitement. I have found each of us anticipating our own individual excitements... Paul with remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, Hannah and the coming of spring weather, Sara Kate and the business of being a big sister soon, while I have found a much more calming anticipation than the growing of my stomach... Hannah's art. With all the winter weather of being couped up in the house, she has taken to drawing the most vivid and detailed drawings, ranging from animals, to her friends and her own fairy tale stories. The upcoming holiday of Valentine's Day gave her a little direction in this, and me a bit of excitement over what she would draw.


It's a squirrel...
...with acorns...
...and a sun...
... and clouds...
Wow! You are amazing my love! God has truly blessed you with a rare talent.
We thank thee each day for such blessings as this...

Jumping on the BANDWAGON!

This seems a safe place to share the ins and out's of our family with other family and friends. Paul and I, and the girls, Hannah and Sara Kate have been living in Kansas for three years now and are currently held up under 8 inched of snow. I can here the neighbors snowblower as I speak. The snow is beautiful with all its quietness and clean white clouds covering everything. As for each of us, Paul is working hard with Amazon.com as an Operations Manager, while I am at home rediscovering my own education, while I am finishing my degree in International Business in March, the girls and I are uncovering the mysteries of phonics, addition, the human body and the animal kingdom, and ancient history in Egypt at home with their elementary education. It has been fancinating to discover how the gospel truths have been prepared, revealed and preserved throughout thousands of years. Hannah's kindergarten/first grade education at home has been the education revelaed to me in my own blessing, to continue education both temporally and spiritually. And I thankful for the support and direction of a Father in Heaven who leads the education of our family in these last days.
I enjoy keeping in touch with family and friends, and while I enjoy this, I obsess over the preservation of our family memories via photographs. I will use our family photo ops as a springboard for our thoughts and happenings in the Shoup Family. And currently, our lastest happening is the anticipating arrival of another Shoup Family member in June. I am pregnant with our third child who has revealed to us through ultrasound and morse code from inside the womb, that he is in fact a BOY! It is a thrill to our entire family! we ook forward to more... while Hannah and I are off now to uncover the latest thrills of first grade phonics and reading. One more rung on the ladder of childhood discoveries... a thrilling mastery-- to read! TaTa