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.

Sin Pie

Bye Bye Pie

Often times God speaks to me in illustrations, life examples or somewhat of a living analogy.  This morning I threw away the last pieces of the chocolate pie that were left over from my ladies' movie day.  On the surface I realize this doesn't seem throwing away pie could possibly come from God, but it does--for me.  He is THAT amazing to talk to us as individuals and be personal and intimate with each of us and knows exactly how to say something so that we understand and know that it is Him talking.  Today, when I was obedient to throw out the pie, a flood of thoughts washed over me.  Hopefully I can relay them well because as soon as the pie hit the trash can, the first thought was that this moment was "bloggable". 

I struggle with my health as it relates to weight.  The food I eat, the water I drink, the exercise I get.  It is a daily battle for me to keep everything in balance.  Different days take on different desires, or I exhibit different strengths or weaknesses.  I can't seem to do everything right all of the time.  Over-indulging or not exercising or not taking care of my body for me is sin.  About eight years ago God led me to some Bible verses.  The first is James 4:17, which says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."  I know that if I kept the pie, I would eat it and that it is not good for my body to have the pie. 

For others, keeping the pie and eating the pie is not sin.  Their bodies can handle it better or they are not tempted to eat three pieces a day.  I fall into the camp of feeling this struggle is not fair.  I mean, who NEEDS alcohol to survive?  An alcoholic stays away from the bottle.  Now, I am not saying that the struggle is easy for them.  It is not easy.  But, I must eat to live.  I have to deal with this area of sin in my life everytime my body needs nourishment, I have to make a conscious decision to do what is right.  I live with four others who do not face the same struggles as I do and they have to live with me, and I with them.  That sometimes keeps food around, sin around, that I have to look at over and over again.  Sometimes it keeps special treats away from them.  It makes the verse, Romans 12:1 take on stronger meaning or a real physical meaning for me, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."  But I am encouraged in this verse, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."  1 Corinthians 10:13.  Notice that He does not keep temptation away from me, nor does the verse say that God doesn't give me what I can't handle.  He does allow me to be tempted.  He does allow the devil to make things difficult for me.  Translate to:  He does not take chocolate off the earth and sometimes it will sit in my refrigerator in the form of chocolate pie.  But, He gives me an out.  This morning, the out took the form of the trash can. 

I find the 1 Corinthians verse encouraging also because the first part says that what I go through, others experience the same thing.  Support!  Empathy!  Grace! 

I am beginning to feel as if this entry should be a series!!!  I could go on and on. 

1. The consequence of sinful things.  GIGO Effect.  (Garbage: Pie puts weight on the hips and cholesterol in my arteries but Good stuff:  Smoothy equals good choice and gives me fiber to flush out bad stuff.)
2. Helping others with their burdens.
3. Removing the plank (sin/pie) from my own life before I can see to help my brother with his splinter.
4. The sin was my own making.  I baked it.

I don't know if this blog was supposed to help anyone other than me, but if so, know that you are not alone, no matter what your pie is. 

Salud!

Breakfast of Champions in Jesus.  ;^)

Home Alone

The house is so quiet with everyone gone, but I'm not complaining.  I do miss them all, but I am enjoying the quiet.  I think that hubby may have thought I'd have a hard time finding things to do all by myself, but I've stayed pretty active yet not busy. 

After dropping B at the airport on Wednesday morning, I met a friend for lunch.  I ate leftover pizza for supper then curled up on the couch with my knitting to watch Yentl.  Yesterday, I met the same friend early in the morning at Koteewi Park for a brisk walk.  Next we be-bopped over to the flea market for some hidden treasures for her re-decorating project.  After we said our goodbyes I headed over to MomII's for some company.  We ate at the Pan Asian Grill.  MomII had her usual mushroom soup and egg rolls.  I chose the Thai tea, black pepper shrimp and avocado soup that came with fried wonton strips.  MomII asked why I took a picture of my food and my reply was that I never knew what I would blog about so I just snap pictures. 

Doesn't this look yummy?

Last night I attempted to update our attendance records for school.   B set up the sheets in Excel, but for some reason I'm struggling with getting anything to work for me and this was one of my big projects planned to finish while everyone was gone.  I even went to the library to get books to help me, but the computer &/or Excel has other plans.  I spent several hours working and hit save last night only to find out that my work was only correct for about 1/3 of the weeks of school.  Grr!  So, this has been part of my workspace for the last couple of days.

Not a fun activity for my free time.

Last night I watched The Hours while I worked on the attendance records.  The movie didn't make the work fun or easy.  I've decided that my hand-written notes will have to suffice this year.  I wonder why there can't be some sort of Geek Squad for Excel. 

Today I've cleaned the house, made a pinwheel as a mock up for some invitations, mowed the lawn, cooked a batch of homemade laundry detergent and am now blogging before heading out to sing at Hamilton Life Center with my church worship team. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting my friend again to walk.  The afternoon is booked with ladies coming to watch Eat, Pray, Love and The Help with a pitch-in Italian dinner in between movies.  I'm going to make chocolate pie for dessert--the nice kind!  Think a few of us may be making more of the pinwheels too. 

I've been home alone, but not without things to do. 




Growing Gift

Oh, how I wish I were more disciplined at blogging, but for now, I will remain a procrastinator in this area.  I have the obstacles of my sense of needing perfection and writer's block to overcome. 

The children left this morning for a week-long vacation to Florida with Grandma & Grandpa W.  Legoland is their main attraction, but stops to Campus Crusade, Wycliffe and Daytona have also been added.  I am grateful that they have so many extended family members who love on them.  We have no shortage of grandparents for sure, at least 6 sets that I can think of right now.  Some are related by birth, some adopted, but all loved. 

Bed in front.  Cherry, pear and apple trees.  Spring bulbs are finished.

Side bed with cucumbers, green beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, green onions, carrots, marigolds, zinnias and sunflowers.

This weekend we celebrated Mother's Day with yard work.  I pruned and weeded and helped the boys plant their Scout projects for the Gardening Merit Badge.  The kids gave me new pots for the back porch, which hubby filled with dirt this morning so that I could plant my cilantro and mint.  (Cilantro is my new favorite herb.  I've been making green tea with fresh mint and orange slices, so my bottomless supply is a must!)  I also got some pots for the front stoop and filled them with flowers and pretty foilage.  Hubby also bought 40 bags of read mulch that he spread around in the raised beds after tilling all of the ground.  This was a real sacrifice since this is his allergy season and he suffers greatly.  Thank you to my lovies for spending time working in the yard with me this weekend.   

Cotillion

All smiles

Ribbon-tied back

Still smiles post-cotillion. Mom made the jacket for my wedding.

C-man ready to go.

Friends

Some of the girls prepare for photos. 

I apologize for this being photo only entry.  Not much time to think and write.  I spent the better part of the afternoon trying to upload the photos from my camera!