Holiday Boys to Men

My parents came for our Christmas celebration this weekend.  They arrived late on Friday evening, stayed up talking and playing, then we woke up and had our Christmas breakfast casserole, opened our gifts then had lunch together.  Typical, right?  Right.  How many of you can relate to the following progression watching our boys at holidays grow to men?

Out there and lovin' it.

In between:  candy in mouth with cocked eyebrow

Fully evolved

...That's the way the holiday starts

One simply cannot celebrate Christmas, especially with children, without holiday treats.  Some treats are only myade for special occasions.  After my first crack at Pinwheels this week, I know better why Mom only baked some of the cookies she did one time a year. 

Evolution of the Pinwheel cookie

As a child, I never realized that the dough had to be made, then refrigerated, next each color/flavor rolled out seperately, followed by being rolled together and another trip to the fridge before slicing and baking.  Yikes!  But, the cookies did end up being pretty.  Worth it?  Maybe not for eating, since they certainly aren't my favorite by flavor, but for looking at, I can appreciate its design, and now I appreciate Mom's special treats all the more. 

This song is for my mom and sister...

 

The kids put together a gingerbread house earlier this month.  It is now in a Tupperware container with some leftover peanut butter cookies that C made earlier this week.  After the kids nibbled on the house, it was too ugly to keep out on the counter, but it was fun having it sit out the first couple of days. 

Finished gingerbread house.  Yes, I DID buy the kit!  :)



The Pinwheels smell so yummy cooling on the counter.  Think I will test one to make sure they are good enough to share.  The things we mothers sacrifice. 

Ornaments

This angel lost her felt wings a few years ago, but she still holds a special place in my heart.

If you have kept track this month, you'll know that I am not adhering to my original plan.  I am enjoying writing off track however and I hope you are too.  Imagine while you are reading that you can smell the cinnamon snap cookies I just took out of the oven.  I've propped the oven door open and am gaining a little extra warmth in the kitchen.  My kids are quietly busy with their schoolwork.  I've just answered an email from my mother.  All is well with my world.

Some of my friends and family members have not decorated much this year for Christmas.  I understand that.  Last year, after just getting back from Belize, decorating seemed extravagant but at the same time we didn't want have nothing for the kids.  Thankfully they were old enough to drag out boxes and they did a fine job of making merry and putting up their favorite decorations.  They did a fantastic job, so this year, they did most of the "work" again.  H, insisted on having Christmas music play while he worked on the tree.  Check!  K carefully sorted through special ornaments.  Check!  C had the dreaded task of checking light strands and there were glimpses of a young boy from Cleveland in my living room except his reason for wanting the BB gun was to put the lights out.  He likes tackling the tough tasks and I am certainly appreciative.   Once again we stuck with the minimalist approach to the yuletide trimmings.

My dad's

There are certain ornaments that I favor.  This ornament is my dad's, which I now have.  Every year he is placed near the top of the tree.  He is delicate, so that is part of the reason he is placed so high.  Another is that it is part of my treasured heritage and I want to place this ornament in a prominent place.

My first Christmas.

 Other decorations are special because they represent my childhood and stir warm memories.  This little girl spent most of the year in a Whitman's Sampler box wrapped in Kleenex, but opening her box and hanging her on the tree by her knotted golden thread awakens my memories as a small girl.  I feel that I should be sharing that old and ugly brown chair with my sister, our feet barely reaching over the cushion, staring at our lit tree in the room with the red sheer curtains and red and black carpet.  Ugly room, beautiful memories.

The dove I crafted in VBS 1980 while my cousin made the mouse for me another time.

I take joy in ogling the elaborate themed trees as much as the next person and appreciate the time and effort and creativity, but to me, nothing really beats the nostalgia of a tree decorated with homemade trinkets.  I love the eclectic flavor of a tree that is covered with love and memories that no other tree on earth can share.  It is the difference of covering one's self with a store bought quilt or a quilt scrapped together from material that was leftover from a dress, or tablecloth, or curtains, or blouse with stories behind each block.  I see beauty in the unstructured color and arrangement of trees with ornaments with stories.  I see getting to share stories with my kids as we look at the tree.  I get to see them spinning their own stories with the ornaments that they make.  I envision them telling their children one day of their own special Christmases and decorating the tree. 

Green

Mistletoe

Red, white and green.  Silver and gold.  Colors of Christmas.  As I looked around our home today for "green", I realized that each item I saw represents a tradition for our family and/or for our culture.  Sometimes the tradition is like kissing under the mistletoe.  We are firm believers in grossing our kids out on a regular basis.  Sometimes we do not even bother to stand under the greenery!  Sometimes the tradition is simply that a particular decoration is hung or displayed in the same place every year.

Victorian tree in the entryway.

Sometimes the tradition belongs to the parents.  Perhaps it is something that is passed from from one generation to the next.  One of ours is that the Christmas story from the book of Luke is read every Christmas morning before stockings or presents are even touched.  Our hope is that this will become part of our (future) grandchildren's custom as well. 

A few traditions belong to the children.  Ours enjoy making silly poses for the nativity figures on the advent calendar.  They take turns every day sticking up a new animal or person and they rotate years so that everyone has a chance at putting Jesus on the board on Christmas morning.  C and K think that H is too silly sometimes and rearrange his day, but he always finds them out and puts his back.  This year we have sheep that are jumping into each other and a sheep kissing a cow. 

One of our advent calendars.
 

There is yet another kind of tradition--the one not kept.  I miss giving H his special ornament every year.  That tradition died out since so many were broken in storage.  (Perhaps I need to create a box for the ornaments and make sure the tree is bare before it is tucked away for the year.)  We used to buy the kids new pajamas.  I'm not sure why this stopped.  I remember as a girl Mom would make a paper chain with something new to do or craft every day.  I tried to pass this on with my kids, but it just became something they "had" to do and wasn't fun for them. 

Here I thought I wouldn't have much to say with the idea of "green", but as it turns out I've had a pleasant visit with Christmas Past.  OH!  That reminds me of another of my favorite Christmas traditions!  I love to watch A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve.  I don't always accomplish this, so perhaps it is not technically tradition, but it is certainly something I desire to do every year. 

I would love to hear some of your traditions!




December Potpourri

I missed blogging for several days due to my lovely phone being out of commission, but my truly fantastic husband is a whiz and he has fixed the problem and I am now back in business!  Yay!

Since the idea of a "photo-a-day" was to get me back into the swing of blogging I will spare you the multiple catch-up posts to stay on track.  Instead, I'm asserting my right to NOT stick with the schedule and do what I want to do. 



B took me out to The Rathskeller this weekend.  I was a bundle of nerves heading out since I am not always a fan of trying something new, which is funny because generally I end up liking what I try.  He'd made reservations, which was good since the place was jam-packed with people.  I had no idea the place was that big.  The dining rooms are intimate though so it wasn't overwhelming.  The food was fabulous!  After dinner we headed down to the band playing in the bar area, but decided against staying since we still wanted to talk--music was too loud to be able to hear each other.  I'd like to go back and take friends with me next time. Any takers? 

Since I was still trying to take pictures for the blog that night, I needed a picture having to do with "Bright".  Again, my husband is so thoughtful.  He drove me to the Circle just to get some shots of the tree.

The following day, the family kicked back at home and played some games.  Remember this one?

 



Shopping

Homemade wheat bread and soups
 

I am not a shopper.  I make a list and stick to it.  Some of you might even laugh at me if I showed you my shopping list for the grocery.  There is a 2-sided grocery list stored on my computer so that I can print off multiple copies to keep in my pantry.  On one side, I keep the menus for the week, marked with notes if it is simple enough for hubby to make on my busy days so he can just pick something.  The other side is divided into the sections of my store in the order that I walk the aisles so that I don't waste time running back and forth in the store.  Of course this makes it doubly aggravating when the store rearranges their shelves, since not only do I have to re-learn where everything is, I have to re-write my template.  (Let the laughing commence.)

I realize that the mention of Shopping at this time of the year refers to gifts, but I don't always enjoy that either.  Not that you haven't heard it before, or is it any less true or important to mention, but this time of the year has become WAY too commercial.  I don't like the pressure of feeling like I HAVE to buy something for everyone.  I don't even want to make something for everyone.  Am I a Scrooge if I don't want to buy something for my neighbors?  Am I a Grinch if I don't want one more party or dinner for each child per club they are in? 

MomII said that she really enjoys Russion Orthodox Christmas.  It is celebrated much later on January 7.  It focuses on Christ's birth and since it is held later, the commercialism has died down.  Here is a link to learn more about this holiday.  I think that I see a Russian Orthodox Christmas unit in our school's near future! 

Since I don't want to go shopping just to take a picture for today's blog, I thought that I'd post what I didn't shop for that I am giving today.  I made bread yesterday and the soup I thawed from leftovers. This is what I gave my family for lunch. (Yummy Zuppa Tuscana and Tomato Spinach Orzo) At any rate, maybe I should have titled this post, "Anti-Shopping".

(Disclaimer:  I have purchased and handmade several gifts this year.  I am not against gift giving or shopping.  I just do not like the HAVE TO mentality nor the guilt that is pushed upon me for not doing so.  This gift is not mine to give, but I can share:  Jesus came into this world to give you the gift of eternal life.  All you have to do is accept it.)

Today's Temperature

Technically, I missed a day of blogging.  I apologize.  It was due to techincal difficulties.  My phone/camera has decided to take a vacation and if it doesn't straighten up soon, I'll be making sure it takes a permanent vacation.  I could have posted last night, but it would have been without a picture. 

When I printed the list of ideas to blog this month, it was 70 degrees!  A couple of days later it snowed.  Now we are in this holding pattern of 40s and overcast.  We Hoosiers certainly know the full range of seasons! 

I am not a big fan of Winter.  It is my least favorite of seasons.  I usually joke that the only good thing about Winter is that it makes me appreciate the other seasons all the more.  There are a few things that I do like about this cold part of the year.  I like looking out at a fresh snow, sledding (with cocoa to warm up afterwards!), knitting without getting hot sitting under my project, seeing Christmas lights, singing carols, having legitimate reasons to sit and knit, feeling the warmth of the fire (even if it is gas and not wood) and my anniversary, which happens to be today.  Happy Anniversary, B!  I love you! 

Joyous

Today's December inspiration is the word "Joyous".  I have been planning all day for what pictures I wanted to accompany my post today and my (having trouble thinking of a decent adjective) phone/camera wouldn't work the way I wanted it too and actually locked up twice tonight.  Isn't that the way it happens?  So the picture I have is not the picture I'd hoped it would be. 

Our church's Ladies' Christmas Tea was tonight.  I had hoped to post pictures of all our happy faces to display "Joyous".  Pastor's wife said, "I just love it when we church ladies get together."  I couldn't agree more.  Who else gets to see you at your highs and lows and still love you?  (Husbands and kids excluded here.) 

This is my favorite church event.  We bring our own tea cups and a creative gift to exchange.  It is probably our best attended event.  This year I received a homemade hand scrub that is scented like pomegranate.  Our hostess also stitched together tissue holders for our purse.  Another lady painstakenly made tea cups from ice cream cones and cookies held together with icing.  She even made the tags.  What creativity and love!  I had a wonderful evening.  I might even call it joyous!

Red

Today's image is "something red".  Since we started our day off baking, I decided to photograph our red cookie cutters.  Miss K asked why anyone would use the large stocking cutter.  I answered that cookies that size neatly decorated would make a nice gift.  Maybe she should take orders. 

My Favorite Christmas Movie



Curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and my knitting to watch this classic Christmas movie is something that I look forward to doing every year.  I love Irving Berlin's arrangements and have since even before watching this movie for the first time nearly 10 years ago.  My high school choir director introduced me to Berlin.  (I got to see my director this weekend at home.  Just the back of his head as he was stepping down the curb at McDonald's, but I interrupted a conversation with my husband to point him out.) 


The voices of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney can melt hearts and Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen are great too.  Often I catch myself singing "Sisters" or "Count Your Blessings" throughout the year.  "Snow" is fun and I like the harmonies.  "White Christmas" is the perfect ending to the movie. 

The dance numbers are fun to watch.  If Judy's (Vera-Ellen) waist got any smaller she'd simply disappear.  One of the funniest scenes is watching Bob and Phil don the sisters' costumes and perform in the club.  Is it just me or should Danny Kaye win an award for his funny faces? 

 

 

The storyline is heartwarming and has purpose.  Can I live and work with the Wallace and Davis team or be another Haynes sister please?  Can Hollywood produce some more holiday movies with this feel please?  Can we have relationships like these characters?  What great times.  Perhaps I should holiday in Vermont.  Maybe the General has room for me at his inn.  I don't even think I'd mind the lady at the front desk steaming open my mail.  :)

 

 



My View Today

The Storehouse

As I mentioned yesterday, I am attempting to blog everyday this month and I am using a Photo-a-Day I found on Pinterest.  (Click here. for list.)  Today's inspiration was to take a photo of "your view today".  Two of my kids competed in a Teen Bible Quiz in my hometown.  My view today ended up being the church where the competition was held.  I remember this church being built, but I'd never been inside.  Great atmosphere for kids! 

I'm looking forward to being here with you everyday this month. 

November

Cutie P making carpet angels

Main Squeeze M running away before I could snap his picture.  :)

Here it is the last day of the month and I let it slip by without a single word on my blog.  Shame on me!  We finished the play.  I will have to post pictures another day.  We had B's brothers in town for a week.  I got to meet my youngest nephew for the first time.  I have a great video of Uncle B giving him a horsey ride.  The kids wrapped up their homeschool Christmas Recital this week, so we have a break from group for a couple of months.  Today we are headed out to my hometown for a couple of days.  My goal for the month of December is to get back on the wagon and blog daily.  I found something on Pinterest that has photo ideas for inspiration.  I am looking forward to this project.  Will you join me? 

Sneak Peek

The kids have their first dress rehearsal for Cinderella this week.  I've been busy sewing and altering costumes, buying makeup, cussing, laughing and going crazy.  Here are some pictures of a couple of their outfits.  Each of them have 4.  This is just a peak into the play and their other costumes.  Hopefully I'll get more photos to post later. 

Miss K gets to play a Rich Boy (pictured), servant, rabbit & horse

Mr. C plays Coachman, Hairy the Horticulturist (costume pictured), villager and priest



Mr. H is not IN the play, but is helping build sets.
In this picture he is enjoying cocoa through a fun straw while
we play a new game before bedtime.



 

I decided to play with Pinterest again.  This was my day yesterday.  I've been trying to get a sinus/respitory thingy too.  See the tea and honey? 

Tweaking brownie recipe and painting salt dough ornaments

Today I'm trying to figure out how to patch a sweater dress that my daughter pulled a thread on at church today.  It's unravelled terribly smack dab in the center of the dress.  Pinterest to the rescue?  Unless one of YOU wants to send me tips here! 

More Than a Minute to Win It

Every year our church holds a Missions Convention.  The above is the promotional copy for this year's convention.  I write this moments after stepping through my front door. 

During the convention, we welcome an AG (Assemblies of God) missionary to speak to us of how God is moving and working through them.  This morning we heard from a gentleman whose family will be traveling to Spain in January to reach Muslims.  One of his speaking points this morning is that the Muslims communities have strong relationships.  They most often do not move far from where they were born and that when they do, they hunger to have the sense of relationship that they experienced before their move (in the case of moving to a non-Islamic community). 

At one point, after a shared meal (delicious paella, gazpacho, salad, etc) the floor was opened for a question and answer segment.  I don't often think of questions (that is until after the opportunity is passed, instead trying to soak up everything else), but I do have thoughts and sometimes I wish I could stop the whole proceeding to talk about the topic more on a personal level.  I can learn some from the speech, but would learn more I think from a real discussion.  Anyway...the question that grabbed me today was this, "What can we do as Christians to begin to talk with and convert Muslims?"  The answer was relationship.  A sea of blank faces as if the question was not answered.  A red herring thrown into the room. 

Our family has been sharing the thought that we were still in Belize this time last year and all of the things that we missed being gone.  The cooler weather.  The homeschool play.  Apple picking.  We sometimes feel it's been "forever" since we were in Belize--the longing to be there again.  Another feeling that it was only yesterday.  The longings that we have are to feel the relationships.  (Ask yourself when the last time was that you lingered over a meal just to talk and spend time with one another.)

Pastor mentioned today that he'd taken a course this summer centered on Islam.  He was able to speak with an imam who grew up in a Baptist church, but converted to Islam because of the hypocrisy and lack of relationship.  Whoa!  Wake up call! 

Back to the question about what Christians can do to convert Muslims...we Americans want the Drive-Thru solution.  We want the magic pill.  We don't want to take time.  We SAY we want relationship, but what do we do that shows that fruit?  Do we make ourselves available?  Do we start conversations with people who look different than us?  Do we do anything that doesn't involve the Henry Ford assembly line of having a rigid set of actions to put together something that "works"?  Do we pray about how God wants us to approach others? 

Our missionary this morning pointed out that we as individuals need to begin with our own relationship with Christ.  It is that we, as Christians, have a relationship with Christ and not a regimented set of things to do daily to make us good, that set us apart from Muslims.  (Not the only thing, I know.)  It is that which we have that others do not, and if we, as humans notice what is different then His Light will be seen through us and it will not be anything we DO, but what we HAVE that will be seen.  But it takes time.  It takes time with others.  It takes relationship.  It takes more than a minute to win...them. 

Ground Chuck

(Skipping over apologies for not writing...)

We started our third week of school today.  Only 34 more weeks to go, but who is counting?  Below are our first day of school photos.  The idea to write their grade in sidewalk chalk and have them lay next to it came from Pinterest.  Note to self:  Sun is great for color, but not for the best smile.  Too much squinting.  That will be our fun story to tell about these pictures years from now. 

We've had our first field trip.  We visited T.C. Steele Historic Site in Brown County.  It was the perfect day for an outing.  The weather was gorgeous.  Fluffy clouds, temperatures in the 70's by the afternoon.  T. C. Steele was an impressionist painter, which I love.  What struck me was his portraits.  Maybe it was the difference between the portraits and the landscapes.  Click here to learn more about his life and work.  Interesting fellow.  I wanted to spend the entire day in his library though.  Impressive collection and I love old books.

Yesterday was our first homeschool group day.  The boys had fun playing with a trebuchet during their Contenders class.  They discovered that pumpkins were too large to hurl through the air, but that cabbages worked better.  Oh, the things that creative teachers come up with! Miss K earned a solo in her Choir class and will be performing it during our Christmas recital.  She's nervous but proud of herself too--as she should be. 

I led the first drama coordinator meeting yesterday as well.  It went well and I felt prepared, but it took much work to get to that point.  I am blessed to have a good team to work with. 

We've been busy with C's Scouting activities the last few weeks.  He's had back to back campouts and advancements.  Yay!  He's also becoming involved with Venture Crew, which is a lot of fun and a new group of kids to interact with.  Our entire family joined in for a night of Venture fun during a cookout this weekend.  We played volleyball, cornhole, fed apples to the horses, played team games, etc.  Worn out!

Because we didn't feel enough was going on, we decided to clean out the attic and have a garage sale.  I only realized last night (where has my mind gone?) that we planned it for the same time as C's Venture fundraiser in Tipton County and K's AHG fundraiser in Hamilton County. 

H has his first electric bass lesson today.  He is reserved, but I think that he is excited and a little nervous at the same time.  B and I hope to hear something other than the bass line of Smoke on the Water.  We are a little tired of that one. 

B is continually on again/off again with work travel plans, but we are looking forward to new avenues coming soon.  More of our own work and less in the direction of contracting. 

I am also starting to move in the direction of my heart with my ministry at church as we've had a new single mom join our church family.  I am praying for real ways that I can help her and spend time with her.  Single moms need so much.  I spent the weekend baking 200 cookies for a program at church and have been rehearsing for our upcoming Missions Musical on the 30th.  I too have a solo!  Fun!

I wish I were feeling a bit more creative with my writing this morning, but I feel tapped.  Actually like Ground Chuck.  (see photo below courtesy of H)

Labeling is fun when H helps.

 

Courage

"Trees" that H made from weeds in the yard

I visited with my mom today while the rest of my gang headed to the NHRA Nationals.  It is now late at night and I received a text that they are on their way home after a fun time.  I'm glad.  I had fun too. 

A couple of times today the subject of discouragment came up.  I had two seperate conversations with two people, but both revolved around the notion of children being discouraged by teachers and how that affected the children as they grew and later once they became adults.  The discouragement faced for both students centered on their creativity, one with painting, the other student their writing.  

I came home tonight and decided to blog on this idea of how in life we are guided so much by the feedback we receive as children and how much of what we do as children is for the first time.  Our young years are a time when children are so tender and oftentimes teachers are not encouraging of the efforts put forth on the firstfruits of their students.  How many times do teachers point out the wrong thing instead of finding something good and complimenting it, nurturing it and watching it grow?  Pointing out the wrong brings with it a desire NOT to reattempt in an effort to avoid more bad feelings.  Our creativity is very personal and judgment upon it is subjective. 

 en·cour·age

   /ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr-/ Show Spelled[en-kur-ij, -kuhr-] Show IPA

verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.

1.

to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.

2.

to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.

3.

to promote, advance, or foster: Poverty often encourages crime.  

 

 

I am a mother, teacher and leader.  I admit that I do not always encourage as I should.  I discourage more often than I'd like to admit.  As we begin yet another schoolyear (I have a Freshman this year and two middle-schoolers!), I pledge to remember to encourage more.  I will concentrate on finding something good about everything--especially the first tries in creativity. 

In a Pickle

It is good to be back in the blogging community.  I just read a couple of my favorites and am now inspired to restart mine.  I've taken a break over the summer to spend some much needed time with family.  My sister and her family were home from Mexico for a little over a month.  It was pure joy to spend some time with them and sad to see them go last week.  It's been such a long time since I've  blogged, that I am a little unsure how to even get pictures from my camera/phone.  I'm in the middle of an update to some software that I use to assist me in retrieving photos from my phone.  I'm not always sure it really is easier.  (note that it is now a day later and I've finally figured out how to get the pictures)

This year I took on the position of Administrative Director for our homeschool group's drama.  This year we are performing, Cinderella:  The Enchanted Version.   Yesterday and today were auditions.  So begins the LONG drama season.  (Actually I've been working on this since May)  Performances are at the end of October and beginning of November.  Whew! 

In the middle of this, I made freezer pickles yesterday.  I haven't done that in YEARS and it felt good!  The boys have been (half-way) tending a veggie garden for a merit badge they are working on for Scouts.  I say "half-way" because between being gone so much for the summer visits and the water bans, the garden has gone a bit wild.  We have harvested cucumbers and one tomato so far! 
Here are the photos of the pickles.  I can't wait to try them.  I think that C may be the only other member of my family to appreciate their goodness.  No one else likes the onions!


Mutant cucumber from friend's garden. 
It's two cucumbers from same stem.
Notice the size next to the deck of cards!

"Taco Salad Bowl" of cucumbers in brine to soak overnight.

5 Quarts of Freezer Pickles!

Not Lacking Anything

The Rock

I've just finished the third session of the Beth Moore study, James; Merchy Triumphs.  First, I LOVE to study the Word, especially Beth Moore style.  Second, last week we focused on trials and temptations and some of the opening lines of James, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4.  (I have to stop right here and tell you that I typed those verses from memory.  Yay!  I'm trying to memorize the book of James.) 

This week in our "homework" and in our group discussion, we spoke about how our personal trials had become blessing.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I personally keep a journal that includes many of my cries to the Lord, triumphs, joys, my fears and failures, the trials that I've fallen into, some trials that were my own doing...we all experience these things to greater or lesser extent.   I mentioned that sometimes I read past enteries in my journal and in so doing, I can see God's hand clearly carrying me, providing for me and preparing me for THIS day and how my trials can be used for blessing for others.  The entry I just happened to read today was this:

December 5, 2009

Here it is, the eve of our first anniversary.  Some may say the last night of what is a magical year since it was the first year.  Newlyweds.  I think it's been nothing short of a miracle that we are still standing after this first year--don't know that I'd describe it as magical.  We started out with my torn ACL during our honeymoon, followed by being abandoned by omitted during the holiday, B losing his job and pension, being put under a microscope for the adoption process, losing friends who didn't agree with the timing of our marriage, a 6 week vacation across 2 countries in a pop-up trailer, an adoption, death of Shawn, Aunt Betty's cancer, Grandpa Jones' death, job search, trying to sell a house, trying to blend our families has a few rough patches--but better than most.  But we also had much rejoicing and some of those times were the same as the trials.  The adoption, the six week vacation, pulling together as a family while I was down before my surgery, during the surgery and healing process, learning to homeschool and being a stay-at-home mom again, being able to have 3 children, meeting and making new friends, having B home so we all could really learn and adjust to each other--love each other.  I was going to say that I wouldn't trade any of it, but that wouldn't be true.  Some of it has been extremely difficult and I haven't yet seen how I can use those things for the Kingdom yet or how they've strengthened me.  I guess it's not for me to decide or see--not now anyway.  I will say that I wouldn't trade my husband for another to have gone through any of it.  God knew that we needed one another, that we sincerely do complete one another when we stand together with our Lord.  I love him and appreciate him like no other.  Thank you, Lord, for this gift of marriage with B, my Adam.

I can tell you that many more blessings have happened since that entry.  Some more trials have come since then too.  But one thing I know for sure:  God loves me and blesses me through these times. Today I know something I didn't know the day I wrote the above words, I may have just blogged this today for the Kingdom. 

(The picture above was taken today by MomII.  We visited my hometown and I couldn't leave without showing her THE rock!) 

Yarn Along

I've given up on the Excel books.  I never really tried too much after cracking the books to help me through one of the workbooks I had to update.  B says that he'll walk me through trying to set up some worksheets later.  I've been given the task of putting all schedules for our homeschool group's drama production into Excel, so I must learn.  I've avoided Excel like the plague for years.  Should've known that it would infect me sooner or later.  But, I did check out these other books and videos from the library this week.

Hubby left again this morning for another week in Texas.  The kiddos are still at home with me this week, so I'm sure we'll be finding some other fun things to do as well.  As you can tell from the photo, I am knitting again.  I am working on my April (yes, April) M1 for Mexico project.  I've seen many hats being made, so I am concentrating my efforts on mittens.  Hopefully I'll catch up on my goal of having one project per month until October. 

I'm also sewing much more.  I'm not the kind of person that likes patterns, so much of my projects have been more from the internet, but I found the ReSew book and I'm planning a trip to Goodwill and cleaning out closets for T-shirts.  MomII and I took a trip to Hobby Lobby this weekend and she bought me an early birthday present of material for the wrap skirt I'll be working on.  I hope it turns out.  I'll post pictures if it does and just lament about it in a post if it does not. 

Jan Karon is one of my favorite authors and when I saw In the Company of Others I had to have it.  I realize now that it is the second book in a set and I somehow skipped the first.  Guess what I'll be hunting to read next? 

The Front Porch Tales reminded me of my front porch pictures and I wanted to see what this book was all about.  So far, very good.  It is a complilation of several short stories that the author has collected over his lifetime and shared as if just swinging on the porch sipping lemonade with you, his guest.  I like the brevity since I can carry the book with me throughout the house and it makes it easy to get a story in between tasks or doesn't frustrate me if I'm interrupted while reading since I really will be finished in one more page. 

Enough writing about what I will be doing.  Now on to the doing....

Bath Salts & Watermark Cardigan

While the family was away, I was able to play.  I am officially hooked on Pinterest now and I tried my hand at a few projects a couple of weeks ago.  Now I get to share them with you! 

The first project is for the ladies of our upcoming study of James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore.  I am really excited to get started on it.  I've had to "hide" my book so that I won't start ahead of everyone else.  Anyway, I'm helping to organize the study at our church and it is my privilege to put together "goodies".  With no parameters I found myself swamped with ideas and having a difficult time choosing something.  I happened across some crafts upcycling fridge magnets used as advertisements by covering them with material.  Great starting point!  Next ran across canning jars at the store and I thought that making bath salts and putting them in the jars would be fun too.  I married the two ideas and this is what I came up with!

I didn't have magnets to upcycle, so I purchased adhesive backed magnet roll.



Magnets "baked" in the sun for a few minutes to allow the paper and adhesive to lay down and fuse. 
The while around the edges is a glitter paint that dries clear.

Jars are filled.  Magnet labels on top and leftover material torn into strips for bows. 

 My other project was also inspired by Pinterest and I did use both of the instructions that I found there.  I used the Watermark Tee Tutorial and the Front Tie Cardigan Refashion Tutorial from Pinterest.  Here are the photos of what I came up with.  The kids like the project and I think that I may try these again, in part or in whole, with my family this summer. 

Waiting for the gel to dry.

After dying and waiting again to dry.

Finished cardigan.  I need to have a full length mirror for
placement of the ties next time.  It's hard to tell when I'm pinning
withouth seeing myself at the same time what it will
look like.  It is very comfortable.

Well, summer camp is quickly approaching and hubby is away more and more for work, so maybe I'll have more creative projects to share in the future!

Happy pinning and crafting!











Post Vacation

Kids with Williams

We survived the first week after vacation.  Above you can see the smiling faces of those who went to Florida.  B took no pictures while he was in Texas, but he was working much and playing little.  I'll post more of my stay-cation another time because I had a few projects up my sleeve. 

The first full day back for everyone was H's twelth birthday.  We played it low-key since everyone had had much traveling the days before so we just had dinner out and then cake and ice cream at home with family. 

I can almost count his freckles!

Friday was a day of rest at home.  Saturday the boys had a Scouts fundraiser at Red Bridge Park.  The annual pancake breakfast.  We didn't stay for the parade this year since Mamaw and Papaw came to visit right after the breakfast for their special time with H to celebrate his birthday. 

Fun time working with friends.

With the record high temps this week, the kids have had fun in the water.  Squirt guns, water balloons, hoses, lake, boating.  I found a huge chunk of foam in the backyard yesterday.  This morning I asked B why it was in the backyard.  He said that H had fished it out of the lake.  I grumbled back that then H could fish it into the trash today.  Then he told me that H had been "surfing" on it while fishing.  I smiled and began to envision H balancing atop this ugly piece of trash pretending to deep sea fish.  No more ill thoughts popped into my head, only fond memories of how H has always been resourceful with finding playthings.  It is good to see the world through his imagination. 

Happy summer!  Praying that you too can enjoy it with kid-like imagination.