These are Awesome Instruments

Hello everyone. How are you all this Tuesday?

Well, today I have something a little wacky to show you. I found this accidentally-on-purpose while looking for something else, and after seeing it, decided you might like a laugh today. Or not. Making music is a very serious matter.... isn't it???

Here we go. I proudly present to you... Vienna's Vegetable Orchestra!!!

Thank you very much, Rhoda!!

I told Rhoda I would do a blog post thanking her publicly for her awesome efforts. In case you don't know what she did to deserve such a mention, here is what she did.

Rhoda noticed my button grab box on my sidebar wasn't functioning right. Possessed with the information of how bad I am at doing that sort of thing, she very kindly made a completely new one for me (button with grab box), set it up and everything, and emailed me the code!!

Everyone give Rhoda a big round of applause!

Rhoda, thank you!! I couldn't do it myself!

With Masses Of Appreciation,
Bonnie :)

P.S. If you would like to grab my button, here is the code. It is also in a little grab box under my button on the sidebar to your right.

<a href="http://blessingsofbonnie.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://servingwithjoy.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/flowerborder_zps015139b4.jpg" alt="Bonnie's Blessings" width="125" height="125" /></a>

The Gift of New Life + Brothers

The gift of new life... a beautiful butterfly in a little green case.

About a third of the way from the right is another one, if you can't see it.

Jacob with his 'invention' of Duplo blocks.

This one is a darker green because it is more mature. We are hoping we will get to see the butterfly come out of it soon!

Caleb with his gun

And the last photo.... two beautiful chrysalises hanging next door to each other. :)

A few (very) old photos

Lydia, now 8

Danella (left) and Sophie in their costumes for a homeschool production.

My costume for said production

Left to right: Danella, Bonnie, Abbie, Sophie. Ben is in front. Weren't we cute back then! Look at little Sophie with her pigtails... awww...

Wow, this was ages ago!!

Jacob, he's 3 now!

Guess who this cute wee chap is. Johnny! His hair was so white! Now it's more brown than blonde!

Let your Light Shine

(Just before I begin, I think this is really cool. My favourites are #8 and #26. Check it out. I don't have a mac computer, but if I did, guess what I would be doing. :P )



I'm sure you have seen the moon on occasion, right? Whether it was a full moon or even just a tiny sliver of translucent pearl, what did you notice about it?

One thing that I love about the moon is that it shines. 

It shines!!

How?

Well, the moon (as you probably know) does not have any shine-iness to it's name. It is actually perfectly dull and dim and dark. Yet it shines. It gives forth a glow.

Job 25:5 says: "If even the moon does not shine..."

The moon does not actually shine with it's own strength. It shines with the strength of another, namely, the sun.

From this page (emphasis added):

The Moon gives off no light of its own but reflects sunlight from its rocky surface. What we call moonshine is actually sunshine reflected by the Moon.

The moon reflects the sun's shine!

Can you see what I am getting at?

As the moon reflects the sun's shine, so we should reflect Jesus's light. We can't shine on our own. Just as the moon has to let the sun shine through it, so we should let the Son shine through us.

Letting your light shine is letting Jesus shine through you. We are not aiming to get the glory, but we are aiming to shine in such a way that our Father gets the glory.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV):

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Let your light shine!!

~Bonnie

Assorted photographs

Danella in the canoe

Ben's turn

Lake Ellesmere

Our most recent puzzle. This one was interesting. You did the crossword, then made up the puzzle (which is of the answers) to see if you were right. We were right. :)

Wee Jana

Finished

Mum and Grandad in the kitchen on Valentine's Day. See all the apricot preserves some of us made that morning.

A few of the decorations

This is from way back here, when we did our bike trip. I am in front, then Danella, then Caleb, then Laura. Dad is between me and Danella.

We're off! Dad (behind us) only went a little of the way, that's why he doesn't have any panniers.

Proud big brother

My Reading Habits

So, I found this little Reading Habits Q and A a million years ago, and I saved it in a draft post. I've only just come across it when scrolling through my post list..... hence why I have no idea where I originally found it!!

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack:
Oh yes. I love eating nuts, fruit (peaches and nectarines and apples... mmm) and anything I can get my hands on, really! I like to eat while I read. Definitely. I try not to get it on the book, of course.


What is your favorite drink while reading?
Milkshakes!! Chocolate or banana. I don't have them very often though.


Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
NO WAY! I could never do that to a book!! Oh well, actually, I have marked a book once or twice. But there was a reason! If there is profanity/swearing/cursing/taking the Lord's name in vain, then I definitely scribble that part out/whiteout it/black it out immediately. Not that the books I read have profanity in them very often, but I've done it once or twice when it was necessary. (And I wouldn't do it to a library book, needless to say!)


How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I am ashamed to say that I am a 'laying the book flat open' person. I should really use bookmarks, but there never seems to be a bookmark on hand where I am reading! Sometimes I use a scrap of paper to keep my place, but usually I lay it flat open or memorize the page number and shut it. (And I'm very careful not to lay it flat open if it doesn't belong to me!)


Fiction, non-fiction, or both?

Both.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I can stop anywhere. I prefer to wait until the end of an exciting bit, but if I am called away urgently I often don't really get to choose!

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
No, I can't say I actually have ever done that. Nor do I want to.



If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
I do. I like to further my vocabulary, and I like to know the meaning of words I read!



What are you currently reading?
The Elsie Dinsmore series. I'm on book #18, Elsie at Viamede. Oh, and I am also currently reading Volcano Adventure by Willard Price. Just for fun. :)



What is the last book you bought?
Personally or family? My family last bought the last few books in the Elsie Dinsmore series, but I can't remember the last book I bought personally! We tend to buy them together or get given them as gifts. I got given some of the Chuck Black Kingdom books for Christmas, which was awesome.



Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I can easily read more than one.



Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
Yes - anytime! I like reading stretched out on my bed or curled up on the couch. It's quieter in my room though.



Do you prefer series books or stand-alone?
Series books are cool because you've got the continuation of the story... but stand-alones are nice too because you know the outcome of the plot once you've finished one book! They both have their disadvantages and advantages, but I probably enjoy reading series books more on the whole.



Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Frank Peretti. I love his books.



How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)

We try to sort them by author. But our shelves get kind of messed up, so often it's just random books anywhere. That is NOT a good way to have your shelves organized, but that's how it ends up. Until I go through and tidy it all up again. :)

Any excuse will do....

In our family, we use any excuse to have a party!! On Valentine's Day we all got dressed up, decorated the house and ate a special tea (including a cake which Danella baked). I do have photos of the decorations which I will hopefully post soon.

We see Valentine's Day as a day to show each other how much we appreciate and love each and every member of our family, and celebrate it with a party! :) It was an awesome evening. The following photos were taken after tea.

All the girls are in pink and the guys are dressed up, too!

Grandma and Grandad with the grandchildren.

Caleb, Danella, Johnny, Sophie and Ben just before tea. If you look carefully you can see some Valentine's decorations in the background.

Grandma and Grandad with Jana

Mummy holding Jana. Note Mummy's cute Valentine's Day necklace. :)

Did you do anything to celebrate the occasion?

Sayna's having another giveaway!

Me and My Twin

That's right - you didn't know I have a twin, did you?!?

The twins... only 14 months apart... that's twinnish enough for me!

Sisters (twins) for ever!

Just horsin' around!

Ignore that completely dumb expression on my face, please!

The tough one for the experts... Which is which? Is Danella on the left or right? Am I on the left or right?