When I rolled over and slung feet over the edge of the bed this morning my eyes were barely open. As my husband would say, you could have blindfolded me with a piece of dental floss. I slipped my feet into his shoes because they were closest to the bed, walked mechanically through the living room, clicked a leash onto the dog's collar and opened the front door. That's when it happened!
A familiar scent, so faint that it could have gone unnoticed, kissed my nose. I shut my eyes tighter, leaned against the unfinished porch post and breathed deeply. There is was again, I knew it! As I stood there, the same breeze that brushed across my cheeks swept through the trees and made the smallest rattling sound. This is not the brushing sound of a summer breeze that moves through leaves moist and alive but the sound of leaves drying and tapping against each other before they fall to the ground. This opened my eyes.
The sky was that amazing color of blue that you can only see when the summer haze starts to fade away. It is bright and vibrant, and though all of the greenery around may be dying, this blue reminds you that something is about to come to life. I closed my eyes again and smiled, this time anticipating things to come.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Jars of Clay
"A Wife for Isaac" was the title of the children's history lesson a couple of weeks ago. We talked about how Rebecca watered the servants camels. Our hands-on activity for the day was to make clay water pots. Fortunately, the discussion went far beyond Isaac and Rebecca.
As the children diligently worked the clay in their hands, they began asking questions about the clay. They wanted to know why it took so long to make the clay take shape. Why did it mess up sometimes and make them have to start all over? Why did the clay dry up sometimes. Naturally, they were thrilled to see that you just have to add some water. They noticed that the longer they worked building up the sides of the water pots, the stronger the pots were.
I was in tears by this point. We talked about how we are clay in the hands of God. We talked about how his water of life makes us pliable. We talked about how our precious Father doesn't throw the marred and broken clay away. Praise the Lord!
Jeremiah 18: 1-4 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
As the children diligently worked the clay in their hands, they began asking questions about the clay. They wanted to know why it took so long to make the clay take shape. Why did it mess up sometimes and make them have to start all over? Why did the clay dry up sometimes. Naturally, they were thrilled to see that you just have to add some water. They noticed that the longer they worked building up the sides of the water pots, the stronger the pots were.
I was in tears by this point. We talked about how we are clay in the hands of God. We talked about how his water of life makes us pliable. We talked about how our precious Father doesn't throw the marred and broken clay away. Praise the Lord!
Jeremiah 18: 1-4 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day
I have a beautiful mother. She is all of those things that just make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I love her because she is kind, warm and copassionate. I love her because she is smart. I admire her. She is consistent, solid and unwavering. She is one of those anchoring roots in my life. She is bold, confident and brave. I love the way she smiles when I say, "I think I just want one more baby". I love the way she cries with me when I my chidren are sick or hurting. I love how she understands my lonliness when my husband is gone. I love how she was thrilled when we had to move in with her while our house was being finished (This could have been some mild insanity. There were seven of us in that house!). I even love how she cried when it was time for us to go home. I love how she can't keep any sort of plant alive and how she hates to cook. God knew I would need to feel useful for something :)
I have a beautiful mother.
I have a beautiful mother.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Walking to Nana's
We are blessed to live just across the field from my mom. It is not unusual, when our school work is done, for the children to ask if they can "run down to Nana's." We always make them call to ask but, that is just a formality. I have never known Nana or Poppy to turn down a visit from the kidos. Last week, Joshua made his first trip across the yard with his brother and sisters. It was one of those priceless moments that you just want to freeze in time. I called my mom so she could be watching and Stacy and I stood on the porch watching them, crying and taking a picture, of course. Stacy asked me if I ever thought that we would be watching four of them walk down to Nana's. I replied that I never knew we would be so abundantly blessed.
Psalm 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
Psalm 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Peanut Butter Day
One of our favoite ways to eat healthier and save some money is to order peanut butter in bulk from our favorite whole foods distributor, Something Better Natural Foods.
The peanut butter comes 9 pounds at a time in a big bucket. Since the peanut butter is all natural, it must be stirred. This is the fun part!
Dad gets to use his power tools in the kitchen. One mixer attachement fixed to the cordless drill and we are in business!
Once the peanut butter is stirred, we divide it into small glass recycled jars. When the process is complete, we have about 9 jars of very healthy peanut butter for about $10!
The peanut butter comes 9 pounds at a time in a big bucket. Since the peanut butter is all natural, it must be stirred. This is the fun part!
Dad gets to use his power tools in the kitchen. One mixer attachement fixed to the cordless drill and we are in business!
Once the peanut butter is stirred, we divide it into small glass recycled jars. When the process is complete, we have about 9 jars of very healthy peanut butter for about $10!
Miracles
What better way to renew my blogging efforts than to share my excitement about our youngest daughters birthday.
It is hard to believe that it has been five years since Lily Grace was born. I remember the tears of joy I shed we the doctor handed her to me. I also remember the tears of fear and heartbreak when at our 20 week ultrasound, the doctor told me that my baby most likely would not live. I remember him looking at me and saying that we would take it one day at a time. The doctor told me that if my baby did survive, she would have some severe birth defects and would not live long. I looked at him and asked "she?"
Lily Grace was born just a few months later. She had many more defects that we thought she would have. She spent the first two months of her life in the NICU at Children's Hospital. At four months old she finally had her first open heart procedure. Although, the doctors told us that the procedure could not be done with any degree of success, God blessed our baby and brought her though with flying colors. She continued to amaze all of us, and especially the healthcare professionals evaluating her.
Today, she is a happy, healthy, normal five year old little girl!
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
It is hard to believe that it has been five years since Lily Grace was born. I remember the tears of joy I shed we the doctor handed her to me. I also remember the tears of fear and heartbreak when at our 20 week ultrasound, the doctor told me that my baby most likely would not live. I remember him looking at me and saying that we would take it one day at a time. The doctor told me that if my baby did survive, she would have some severe birth defects and would not live long. I looked at him and asked "she?"
Lily Grace was born just a few months later. She had many more defects that we thought she would have. She spent the first two months of her life in the NICU at Children's Hospital. At four months old she finally had her first open heart procedure. Although, the doctors told us that the procedure could not be done with any degree of success, God blessed our baby and brought her though with flying colors. She continued to amaze all of us, and especially the healthcare professionals evaluating her.
Today, she is a happy, healthy, normal five year old little girl!
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
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