Over the Weekend...

An orchid for her.A sweet treat for him.Dinner out for two.Eleven wonderful years...Celebrated.

Independent God

Our God is in heaven;

He does whatever pleases Him.

Psalm 115:3

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

Winter's Potting Shelf

Lately, my heart and my mind have felt a bit like a potting shelf in winter... tired and somewhat desolate. I'm not speaking of weighty burdens heavy on my soul, just the weariness of everyday life with a bit of uncertainty stirred in to challenge my focus and my faith. Even in seasons of winter His mercies rain down. I continue to count them, offering praise and thanksgiving for each. Therein I find and bask in the Light!
344. Raindrops in the night.
345. An excited school boy telling me all about his field trip.

346. Waiting and wondering.

347. Burn out... on so many levels.

350. Picking flowers with Little Brother.

351. Fresh flowers in the house.

352. Tedious paperwork accomplished.

353. 11 years.

354. Refocus.

355. A thoughtful card from a sweet friend.

356. A rested baby.

357. The long prayed for, joyous news in the life of a dear friend.

358. Lessons from last Sunday's sermon.

359. My husband's creative mind, and his vision for what things can be.

360. Kind neighbors.

361. Stepping out into the dark, breezy, cool, stillness of night.

Daffodils: Two Views

Love and Larks

Our dating years were marked with miles of separation and long distance phone calls. The professor was in graduate school in Ohio while I finished my undergraduate studies and entered the workplace closer to home in the Deep South. Our relationship was born in these circumstances and continued so for 2.5 years until we married. No, it wasn't easy, but it was good... for us. I'm thankful for the ways that God used distance to knit our hearts together.
Instead of typical Friday night dates we enjoyed telephone dates, and we were always anticipating the next semester break when we'd have a chance to actually spend time together. "We'll have larks," is what he would always tell me, quoting Dickens. "What larks we'll have!"
We always have had very happy larks.
***************
Our little town sounds its tornado sirens every Wednesday at noon. The professor tells me that they did the same on campus at Ohio State when he was in school there. Every Wednesday as the sirens would begin to sing he would think of me. Today when I heard the sirens I smiled as I imagined him, years ago, sitting in the studio with the windows open listening to weather sirens and thinking of me.
Sweet memory larks.
***************
We enjoyed watching "Julie & Julia" several weeks ago. {Yes, I realize that we're ridiculously behind in our movie viewing!} On Valentine's Day he surprised me with a beautiful copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. His sweet gift has been fun to read and fun to use in the kitchen!
Delicious kitchen larks.

A Cookie Picnic at the Creek

Playing Pooh Sticks.

Of course, she tried to eat it.

Everything tastes better when eaten outdoors.

Tadpoles!
{February 21, 2011}

The Moments He Gives

Old Man Winter seems to have taken a vacation... lately, we've had the most wonderful foretaste of mild spring weather. I've been throwing the windows wide open to let the fresh air in and we've been living outdoors as much as possible. This afternoon the children and I took a cookie picnic to the creek and then we picked daffodils on the walk toward home. February, with its Spring teases, is one of my most favorite months.
I'm happy to be meeting you here once again. My time away last week was refreshing... a much needed sabbath rest, if you will. Of course, the demands of life didn't relent {in fact, things have been crazier than normal} but God was gracious to give me some gentle, quiet moments last week.
Lately, the professor and I have been examining areas of our lives where we've slowly and unintentionally built up towers of obligations and expectations that we can't maintain. As a result, we're doing a bit of personal deconstructing and some restructuring in order to simplify. I've been praying and thinking a lot about what blogging should look like for me in this season of life and, by God's grace, I'm finding some direction.
Life is demanding at this stage, but, as God gives me moments, I look forward to continuing this little record of His beautiful gifts and this journal of our family's good time moments. I so appreciate each of you who faithfully visit here; many of you offer such kind and encouraging words. Thank you, my friends, for making me smile and for understanding that the rhythm and demands of life are constantly changing. As God gives me the moments, I look forward to visiting you too.

Incomprehensible God

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

Romans 11:33-34

Peace, Be Still

The noise of life and the noise of the internet can be overwhelming at times, can't it? I'm stepping away for a little break... see you soon.

The God of Peace

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Ten on Ten: February 2011

Ten on Ten

Lollipop Lessons

Lesson 1: If a bank teller gives a mother a handful of lollipops and her children don't notice she will tuck them into her purse and promptly forget about them.
Lesson 2: If a mother gets distracted by new carpet installation and dirty dishes the baby will seize the opportunity to sift through the contents of her mother's purse.
Lesson 3: If a 10-month-old rifles through her mother's purse she will undoubtedly find forgotten treasure in the form of a blue raspberry lollipop.
Lesson 4: It goes without saying... if a baby sister finds a lollipop she will help herself, so as to quietly enjoy it... paper and all.
Lesson 5: When a mother discovers her sticky, smiling baby and wrenches the soggy lollipop from a mischievous little hand, she will know that the person who coined the phrase, "It's as easy as taking candy from a baby," never took candy from a sweet toothed, fiery tempered, redheaded 10-month-old.
Lesson 6: It takes approximately 1.5 hours for an electric blue baby tongue to return to its original and natural healthy pink color.
Some days contain more lessons than others.I'm just saying!

In Which We Prepare for Carpet...

Sometimes I think I mark the passage of time by our uproarious house messes renovations. Less than 48 hours ago this place was immaculate. I was fluffing sofa cushions. Now, the bedrooms have spewed forth their contents into our living spaces in preparation for our final major {interior} home renovation. First thing in the morning new carpet will be installed in the bedrooms.

And so, this morning the professor's box of old 16-millimeter films emerged from the depths of our master bedroom closet. {We've toted them around for almost a dozen years and I suspect we'll keep toting them for a dozen more.} Little Brother wanted to know why there was a box of hub caps in the office. Of course, Baby Sister all three think the most recent upheaval is grand fun. After all, it's an opportunity to lay hands on forbidden loot... hub caps included.

This Old Couch

I just keep punching and fluffing those saggy cushions back into shape!photo by the professor

The God of Peace

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Musing with Thanks

Muse[myooz]verb, used without objectTo gaze meditatively or wonderingly.To think or meditate in silence, as on some subject. 5/52 for MCP Project 52

It's been a long, strange, hard week. This morning I was reminded that His grace is enough. When I count His gifts given by grace I'm overwhelmed. His grace is far more than enough...
321. Dandelions in grubby hands.
322. Morning dimples and tousled bedheads.
323. An exciting opportunity.
324. Warm cinnamon toast.
325. Waiting, waiting on God's direction and wisdom.
326. Winter days that feel like spring.
327. Past failures realized.
328. The old gentleman who said, "Allow me." as he opened the door for me at the bank.
329. Numb weariness.
330. My father-in-law's call to tell me that he was bringing barbeque by for our dinner.
331. Baby cries in the darkness.
332. My excited school boy eager to tell me good news.
333. Kitchen floor picnics.
334. Her silky, soft ear.
335. Hard questions.
336. Clean, cool drinking water.
337. A home day.
338. The red bird on our icy bird feeder.
339. The husband who cancelled a meeting to attend Doughnuts with Daddy at preschool.
340. Simmering chicken stock on a cold day.
341. Direction... at least for the moment.
342. Finding a Lego vehicle next to my pillow.
343. A reminder from my mom that some {many} of my shallow worries are not of eternal importance.

Ice Water

Nursing a baby makes a girl very thirsty; how appropriate that the professor tucked a large insulated cup into my Christmas stocking. Throughout the day I fill it up often and dutifully slurp down my water... like a camel.

Ten Months Old...

And still melting our hearts! Life with a daily serving of Strawberry Shortcake is so very sweet.

Morning Sunlight in the Hall

Beauty through the eyes of a minimalist.