Color Week: Blue

{Bathroom Stripes}

{He's Mine}
{Afternoon Blue}

Color Week: Red

{Little Sweets}

{Waking View}
{Kitchen Potpourri}

Color Week: White/Grey/Black

{Morning Shadow}

{Cupboard Simplicity}

{Final Lesson}

Color Week: Purple

Because we finally emptied Big Brother's school backpack in preparation for camp.

Because orchids in the dining room always make me happy.

Because she never tires of reading Brown Bear before her nap.

{Color Week}

Almighty Father

“And I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:18

Life, Lately

We've settled into an easy-going, summer rhythm. The easy-going part... that is the beauty of summer.


There have been swimming lessons... a lot of swimming lessons. My reluctant swimmer has made so much progress!


We've enjoyed simple meals and time to play with our friends...


Friends that are human and non-human. {The professor and I agree, the best kind of dog to have right now is one that lives on the other side of the fence!}


Sometimes I sit on the bench in the shade of the oak tree and...


...watch Sister climb. Then I rescue the little girl who fancies herself stuck whilst standing on a table top... or a picnic basket... or a shelf... or a step ladder... or a chair.


She is always climbing.


Of course, housekeeping never ends.


The professor has had a heavy teaching load but he's finding time to prep the boys for an adventure coming later this summer!


Legos are a part of daily life.


And, speaking of ducks... I'm plotting a little sewing project.


We do a bit of daily schoolwork.


Yes, I'm one of those moms... but then we stay up late reading books.


And, there are more messes and fingerprints than I care to publicly acknowledge!


Next week I'm looking forward to capturing the colors of summer, finishing swimming lessons, driving Big Brother to camp, and, hopefully, doing a bit of sewing.

Brothers Being Brothers

************
I'm still counting with thanksgiving...
431. Baby's happy endurance through a long morning of activities.
432. The professor's thoughtfulness in calling to warn me about bad weather rolling into town... and his reminder for me to put up the windows in my car!
433. A wet, rainy afternoon... at home with books.
434. The backed up sewer line, which means I took a mandatory break from laundry today.
435. Watching Big Brother gently guide Sister away from the potentially harmful things that she loves.

My Best Breads: Everyday Bread

If you've known me for a long time you'll recall a past baking incident that involved a large portion of onion powder that was accidently substituted for flour while baking peanut butter cookies. {Yeah, I know... it was pretty bad really bad.} I'll never be a master pastry chef, but, thankfully, the onion powder disaster was my low-point; these days I choose to believe that my baking prowess has been slowly improving ever since.

Onion powder cookies withstanding, in more recent years I have managed to find and tweak a handful of delicious bread recipes that I make often with a nice measure of success. Over the next few weeks I'll share our family's favorites with you... just don't expect a recipe for peanut butter cookies!


We'll start with my trusty, tried and true recipe for basic, everyday bread. I bake this weekly for our family, and have also found that a loaf of this bread, along with some jam or flavored butter, makes a great gift for nearly any occasion.

Everyday Bread

1 t. salt
2 T. honey
2 T. soft butter
1 T. milk
1 cup warm water
3 cups bread flour*
2.25 t. (or one packet) yeast

*Regarding the flour... For best results use 3 cups of bread flour, or 1.5 cups of bread flour and 1.5 cups of wheat flour. You can substitute a small portion of the flour for flax seed meal if desired.


If you're a lazy baker like I am place the ingredients in the order listed above into your bread machine and use the "dough" cycle to mix, knead, and rise the dough.

If you're mixing by hand place all of the ingredients except the flour into a large bowl and stir to combine. Stir in the flour and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, about 10-12 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover lightly. Let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes.


When your "dough" cycle is complete or your hand-mixed dough has doubled in size, punch down and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Let it rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350. Remove from the baking pan and allow it to cool on a wire rack, or enjoy it warm with butter and honey.

God Heals

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.Psalm 147:3

A Boy and a Camera

If you give a boy a camera it will only be a matter of time before he figures out how to use the self timer. When he has mastered the self timer he will most certainly conduct a mid-afternoon photo shoot. If the boy is typically camera-shy, being in charge of the camera means that it's okay for him to be the star of the show. When the boy shines so does his mama, and everyone has a whole lotta of fun.
Today the photo credit goes to Big Brother, who has taken full command of the Sony Cybershot digital camera that we bought in 2002... just a few short weeks before he was born! I love this boy o' mine.

Hemmed In

At the beginning of this year we were peacefully content with life's circumstances yet God began crafting a vision and a desire in our hearts for something different. Following His lead we began to pursue a new dream. We were passionate and prayerful in our pursuit, confident and excited. As we moved forward we encountered obstacles, small ones at first, then, doors that were open began to close. We grew baffled and tired.
This morning, in a quick note of update to a sweet and inquiring friend, I wrote, "My struggle continues to be in trying to discern God's purposes in where He has led us over the past four months {a journey that has seemingly taken us nowhere}. The professor reminds me that short of our own sanctification we may never know why."
Today, as I've contemplated my early morning thoughts and words, the questions that resound in my heart are very different... Who am I to question God's purposes when His word tells me that all His ways are good? Isn't His sanctifying work in me purpose enough? Why does my pride demand a larger or "better" explanation? Where is my gratitude?
The truth is... despite life's trials and difficult circumstances or, in my case, watching a vibrant dream fade... we are hemmed in by His hand, and there we find grace upon grace. Where grace is tasted and accepted, rather than questioned, certainly gratitude flourishes.
It's time for me grasp tightly to the hand that holds me, rather than cling to an idea that is, thus far, an unfulfilled dream. It's time to find the patterns of grace woven into a dream deferred... because I know the grace-patterns are there and all His ways are good.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:5-6

Lunch in a Bowl

Whether it's a cool salad in summer or some hearty soup in winter, I enjoy eating lunch from a bowl. My most recent noontime favorite packs a whole lotta' protein along with seasonal freshness and some pretty great flavor.... which makes it a winner in my book.
Balsamic Tuna Salad
chunk light tuna, drainedchopped cucumberchopped apple chunksdiced avocadograpes, halvedpepperolive oilbalsamic vinegarKrazy salt
Toss the first six ingredients in a bowl. Per Anna's instructions, blend oil, vinegar, and Krazy salt well. Pour dressing over salad and toss lightly to coat. Serve in a bowl.
Quantities depend on how many you are serving. My ingredient suggestions are based upon what I had on hand today. Use what you have and be creative.

Pimp My Ride, Backyard Style

After switching the laundry from the washer to the dryer Sister and I stepped outside and found the boys intent on accessorizing. Because she happens to love accessories, Sister made sure she was a part of the action.

When attempts in flag-to-bicycle attachment failed, Little Brother suggested a minor alteration in apparel {which was really quite silly and made us all giggle}. While a good idea in theory, when executed the desired result was not produced.


Enter the professor with his roll of duck tape... All that's left to say is, "War Eagle!"

God, All Knowing

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:1-6

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,

by understanding He set the heavens in place;

by His knowledge the watery depths were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

Proverbs 3:19-20

However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived” —

the things God has prepared for those who love him —

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Seeking Refuge

If I were his size I should think that shelter from a sudden summer storm and lizard loving young men would be quite pleasant in a crepe myrtle tree.

Car Cleaning Ninjas

Because summer afternoons at home can be long {especially when baby is napping}.Because it was their idea and this sort of enthusiasm must be encouraged.Because manual labor is good for growing boys who have energy to burn.Because it is good imperative for them to learn how to work, and to work well.Because the satisfied feeling of completing a challenging task is one that is earned.
Tomorrow... they wash!Payment in snow cones deemed appropriate.

Naptime Mischief

Catching Up

I spent the weekend at the beach catching up with seven dear friends from college. My heart is full. Now that I'm home, my laundry baskets are full and, once again, I'm catching up.

God is Merciful

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. Romans 9:14-16

Coloring with Daddy

{14 months old}

A Cup of Cold Water

Sun blazes.Boys, at play, run in and out.A simple cup of cold water offers refreshment.
People everywhere.Life is often blistering.A smile, a kind word can offer refreshment...Like a cup of cold water on a hot day.