April Fools Day

Here is something I found on the internet about April Fools Day. Try as I might, I couldn't find any solid facts on how it got started. If you have any other comments on April Fools day, please, feel free to let me know what you think! !

Editorial
April Fools’ Day
March 31, 2009, 8:18pm
Although not considered a holiday in its own right, April Fools’ Day (or All Fools’ Day) is celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day-long observance is marked by hoaxes and practical jokes played on gullible individuals who may come from among the members of one’s family, circle of friends, neighbors, or even those with whom one has incurred enmity.
The origin of April Fools’ Day is not clear. There are varying accounts as to how it began. One version has it that it was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar and the term "April Fool" referred to someone who still adhered to the Julian Calendar that it replaced. Another account has it that in pre-Christian cultures, May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer that signaled the beginning of the spring planting season, and an April Fool was someone who celebrated the season prematurely – in April. Still another source, which is based on an English newspaper article published on April 13, 1789, traces the origin of April Fools’ Day to the day when Noah sent off a raven too early, before the waters had receded; it is said that the day the raven was sent off corresponded to the first day of the Hebrew month of April.
Regardless of its origin, April Fools’ Day has become a popular celebration around the world. Among the most popular jokes played on the gullible during the day include borrowing money, sending someone on a foolish errand, getting others to look for things that do not exist; playing pranks, and getting people to believe ridiculous things.
While occasionally lending ourselves to lighthearted celebrations and practices may have its beneficial effects such as breaking the monotony of our everyday life and relieving us from our stressful activities, we are urged to be cautious on who we play tricks on and the types of tricks we might play, in order to avoid a supposedly lighthearted situation from leaving a sour taste.
As we play tricks on other people, let us be mindful of the kind of tricks that we ourselves would find acceptable should we end up the unsuspecting victims. There is still no substitute for the Golden Rule.

Joy

Joy is our small but sweet little dog. She is a white Carrin Terrier. Though she is not a favorite by everyone in the family she is well liked by "her boy": Josh,as well as Micah, and I. Joy is a very smart dog and fairly easy to train especially if treats are involved. Every night Josh will call to her "beddie time!" and Joy will come running! She loves to sleep in his room at night, and seems to take enjoyment in scaring the daylights out of anyone who is walking around in the dark, upstairs hall at night. (that did happen to me once!) :)

Despite having a high pitched bark, she likes to be bossy (as only dogs can) and she thinks she runs "The Hoppman Ranch!"

We are glad for Joy anyways!

Spring... Or Not!

Spring?

Or not!

Yes, we've got snow! I know it doesn't seem like much, but for Rio Rancho to have snow is big, not to mention the fact that it's spring!

Poor Scooter... He was cold! I think it's a safe guess that he preferes the warm days of Summer! :)

Josiah was so excited. He settled down on the window seat in our living room with a warm hat and pajamas, to watch the snow...

Though I don't prefere the cold, I do enjoy the simple beauty of snow.

Off to Feed Chiquita!

Early on a cold winter morning, Mykaela and Keturah are heading off to feed our mini horse, Chiquita.Take a look at Keturah's big smile! (Yes, she is a morning person like her older sisters!) :)

Cutie Keturah!

I set Keturah up for this photo:) This was from about a year ago, so her hair was shorter and would stand up easier! :) Now, her hair is getting close to her waist. When she was even younger, we could put a ponytail up on the top of her head, and it would look like a sprout!

Jeremiah 101!

Here is my fourteen year old brother Jeremiah. He loves to play rubber band wars with Micah, (note the rubber band on his wrist :) work on BizKidz, Practice on the Unicycle, squirt gun fights, airsoft fights with his brothers and Dad, and leather work. He and Jonathan are always doing something together! He is a very creative wonderful brother!








Jeremiah's Philosophy: "Who knows, Who cares, Life goes on" (taken from Sally in the Charley Brown comics: "Peanuts") :)


Yes, I do have a very fun brother! :)

Disclaimers: Jeremiah approves of all the blogger's post's about him, and narrated what he liked and disliked. He is under no obligation whatsoever to preform unicycling in public, for he may fall and get embarrassed. Jeremiah still approves of what I said, yes, he came up with this post's title and no, he doesn't normally dress as showed in the picture above.

Mustard Seed Faith

Matt 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Best Buddies!

The picture was taken by Jeremiah. :)

God Save The Flag!

God Save The Flag
By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Washed in the blood of the brace and the blooming,
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash its broad ribbons of lily and rose.
Vainly the prophets of Baal would rend it,
Vainly his worshippers pray for its fall;
Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,
Emblem of justice and mercy to all;
Justice that reddens the sky with her terrors,
Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,
Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,
Sheathing the saber and breaking the chain.
Born on the deluge of all usurpations,
Drifted our Ark o’er the desolate seas,
Bearing the rainbow of hope to the nations
Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze!
God bless the Flag and its loyal defenders,
While its broad folds o’er the battle-field wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,
Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave.

More With Sisters!

Mykaela and I were cutting up her Shirley Temple paper dolls in my room and Keturah came in. I tried to see if Kala would be able to take a picture of us. She did a great job! (Not sure what I was laughing at though) :) Sisters are the best!!

Yay Keturah!

Goofballs

Well, now you know the true character of Jeremiah, and Jonathan... Just kidding! He's goofing off for the picture, as is Jonathan.

They are so handsome! Yes, when they get together, this is how they act most of the time. :) (I attempted to take a serious picture of them, and they broke out laughing because the plant was in Jonathan's face!)

Mykaela is very happy about beating her older sister Kelsey in "Go Fish!"

I hope these pictures gave you a smile, and brightened your day!

Sunrise

How's this for a morning sunrise? I took this just a couple day's ago. (sorry about our fence being in the way a little bit) :) I am constantly amazed at the different ways the NM sun shows off her gentle, and yet so stunning, beauty.

Rain

Job 36:27-28 "For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly."

Don't you love how the rain seems to refresh and revitalize everything that it pours on? It also brings such a fresh, beautiful smell in the air. Each small droplet reminds me of Noah, and How God promised him never to flood the earth again through the beautiful colors of a rainbow. What a wonderful way to remember such a great promise! We serve such a wonderful God who, you can be sure, will keep his promises!

The Three Youngest!

Here is a photo of Mykaela, Josiah and Keturah on our bridge out back.

Will you be my Valentine?

Out of the all the many (many!) pictures we have, this is one of my favorite's! It was so sweet of Keturah to pose for this one...

 

Sorry, I know that it's past Febuary 14 but I just had to post this! :)

Keturah and Daddy's shoes

No caption needed!

Brothers

These are my two wonderful brothers, Jeremiah and Jonathan. As you can see, they are the best of buddies and love each others company...



           Sometimes...

First Flower Of The Season

Yay, our first Daffodils have bloomed! I hope that frost, later on, won’t hurt it, as well as the wind we are getting right now. (Ok, well, the truth is, this is a picture from last year. [above] We do have one Daffodil that has bloomed though!) :)

America the Beautiful!

America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

After the Rain

This is a picture that I believe I took last year. It was taken right after a refreshing rain! (Rain that NM needs! :)

Job 36:27-28 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

Being Content

Have you ever thought that where you live might be a little boring? Or maybe you wish that you had something that other states have, for example, more snow, rain, or lots more sunshine? For five years, before we moved here, my family and I lived in New Hampshire. Talk about a postcard picture every season! I really miss the colorful leaves there, as well as the greenery and the snow. Now in NM, I never have really have liked the fact that, where we are, it's dry, barren, and the most popular plants in our yard, tend to be tumbleweeds. :) Though, I've found that with every downside, there will be good thing as well. Would you like to see one of my favorite things about New Mexico? Take a look!

Beautiful, Isn't it!


Something else that New Mexico is famous for, is our large Balloon Fiesta, showing off hundreds and hundreds of balloons every year. They will sometimes fly right over our house, depending on the wind.