Grateful...

Count It All Loss

2012-01-27T11:09:00.000-05:00

Our women's Bible study has been moving through the book of Philippians at, frankly, a faster clip than I'd like. These are some of the pages in my Bible that are underlined and note-scribbled, without ever having heard a sermon series on the whole book. Many sermons reference passages in Philippians, and many studies cross-reference to it, and many, many times the lessons found there have been a balm to my soul.
Read more »

Middle Ages Wisdom for Parenting Today

2012-01-23T12:36:00.002-05:00

Since we are studying the Early Middle Ages I thought I'd expand my reading in order to better teach the kids as we progress through the centuries. I'm therefore reading Thomas Cahill's Mysteries of the Middle Ages. While I don't agree entirely with his interpretation of the motives behind some of the early Christian leaders of the Church, I do find his tracing of the actual history to be fascinating.
Read more »

Briefly...

2012-01-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

I've written and re-written this post over and over again, usually in my head while I'm driving, out for a run, or otherwise engaged away from the keyboard. When I do finally sit down in front of my computer, the screen stares back at me just as blankly as I stare at it. While away from the desk my ideas grow and grow, but sitting here I doubt. I'll therefore keep this brief, and over the next few days try to set down in smaller bites that which is stirring in my heart.
Read more »

God Is At Work

2011-12-31T13:00:00.001-05:00

I've recently come across a Japanese word which I find, to my shame, may actually describe the facade behind which I have been living. A brief internet search brought me to an Australian article about the earthquake and tsunami which summed it up this way:

"The Japanese word gaman, a concept that defies easy translation but broadly means calm forbearance, perseverance and poise in the face of events beyond one's control...

Giving Thanks

2011-11-23T12:41:00.001-05:00

I admit, sad but true, that I am mentally and emotionally affected by gloomy weather. Today dawned— barely— under a heavy blanket of fog. The fog has persisted throughout the morning and into the afternoon, with brief periods of thunder, lightning, a peek of sunshine, and a return of heavy cloud cover. Ugh. Peel me off the couch. Add to this the discovery this morning that our coffee maker has died, (It's only a year old— engineered obsolescence, anyone?) and the temptation to go back to bed is almost overwhelming.
Read more »

To Live is Christ

2011-11-22T07:56:00.001-05:00

I am a tad bit late on this post- but then, that's the story of the past few months, isn't it? Our Women's Bible Study kicked off in September and we have been meeting every week. Taking a hard look at my own schedule of homeschooling I decided that I did not have the capacity to responsibly lead both the daytime and evening studies this year. Another couple of ladies graciously accepted the leadership of the daytime study so that I can focus on five days of homeschooling with only one evening a week of study with the ladies.
Read more »

Reluctantly Vegetarian

2011-11-16T06:38:00.001-05:00

Several years ago, December 10, 2007, to be precise, Erin came home and declared that she was going to be a Vegetarian. Her reasons were all health related, not sentimental or squeamish in any respect. Erin wasn't worried about the cute fuzzy-wuzzy animals, which was good, or we'd have had some serious talking-her-out-of-it to do. She had considered the health history of her family in light of new information learned in Health class at school and her decision was made. Bam. Done.
Read more »

Kelly Academy

2011-11-15T06:59:00.001-05:00

We are now into our 4th calendar month of homeschooling for this year. Beginning in August we have been pursuing together a deeper knowledge and understanding of the the history of the Middle Ages through the development of the church, reading good, old books like Eusebeus's The Church History and Augustine's Confessions. In Literature we are exploring the worldview and literary merit of various works from Tolkein's Hobbit and Fellowship of the Ring, to Dorothy L. Sayers's The Nine Taylors.
Read more »

13.1

2011-11-14T08:20:00.001-05:00

The longer I ~~avoid~~ contemplate the Half-Marathon I ran on September 10th, the more I will forget and the less I will eventually learn from it. (Actually, So much time has passed since I last posted, and so much has been going on, that if I don't pick somewhere to begin I may never get back to this blog. This may be the easiest place to begin.)

So, a Half-Marathon, 26.2/2, t h i r t e e n and one-tenth miles.
Read more »

Photo Page

2011-10-14T17:19:00.002-05:00

I've taken the plunge and joined Smugmug for a safe place to display and sell my photos. I'm still developing the site, (no pun intended) so check back often to see how I'm getting along figuring it out! Just click on the tab above and you'll be whisked away to my Smugmug!

MIA

2011-10-05T06:57:00.001-05:00

I've been Missing In Action here for almost two months. My time has not been spent lounging on a beach, to be sure.

Here's a snapshot:
Read more »

As The Mother of a U.S. Army Soldier...

2011-08-08T18:32:00.000-05:00

Friday, as we were all going about our lives here in the Land of the Free, thirty of the Brave gave their lives in pursuit of our enemies in Afghanistan. They died when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot out of the sky by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by insurgent forces. Evidently, this was the deadliest single incident for U.S. forces during the entire ten-year war.

My son, whose "job" with the Army is to maintain and repair CH-47 helicopters, will be deploying to Afghanistan in the near future.
Read more »

Strength Upon Which I Can Depend

2011-08-04T19:46:00.001-05:00

Since I am training toward a half-marathon, and a hilly one at that, about six weeks (!) from now, I'm purposely seeking longer and more challenging routes to run around home. Last week I mapped out 7-miles of road which include a couple of serious hills, yet does not require me to run past my home until I'm returning at the very end, thus eliminating the temptation to bail early.
Read more »

More Blessed in Giving

2011-08-04T12:36:00.002-05:00

When Kate asked us a couple of months ago if she could invite some of her friends she has made while living in Lancaster to come for the weekend of the music festival, Father Folk, we readily agreed. We've not had the chance to become acquainted with her new friends, and spending a weekend with them here would be a great way to do just that. Kate seemed to be on top of the details and planning, and she pledged with all the sincerity of her soul to manage the entire affair.
Read more »

Bountiful Dealings

2011-08-02T12:14:00.002-05:00

The past few weeks since my last post have been busy in some ways, and rather relaxing in others. Jim and Erin went away to camp in Virginia while Isaac and I stayed home and found ways to enjoy our time together in spite of the heat wave that practically annihilated any outdoor activities. Once our adventurers returned home we had a pleasant week together, all four of us, for the first time all summer. Wineberries have been jammed and peaches have been deliciously preserved. Books have been read and movies have been viewed. A good time has been had by all.
Read more »

Just Who Do I Think I Am?!

2011-07-14T13:35:00.001-05:00

Tuesday morning I slipped out the door for a morning run, and as I watched the sun cast my shadow along the road in front of me, a mocking voice whispered in my head, "Just who do you think you are, out here running like some kind of athlete"?
Read more »

Encouragement and Goals

2011-07-09T09:20:00.001-05:00

Over the past few months I have been running again, and I have found new friends with whom to enjoy this pastime. When I began running a year and a half ago the solitude was priceless to me, I had a friend in FL who was encouraging my progress, and I had a goal for which I was reaching, so that was enough to get me outdoors on a regular schedule. Since this spring though, I have found that I needed more reasons to get out, in part because my need for encouragement was changing and I hadn't set any clear goals.
Read more »

Entering Her Rest

2011-07-02T05:43:00.001-05:00

Since we moved here less than 5 years ago, we don't have a long history with any of the folks who have become our friends. In most circumstances this has no bearing on our relationships, and they are growing individually as God gives grace. One relationship which surprised me, however, was my friendship with Ann.
Read more »

Now That I've Had Time To Think...

2011-07-01T09:08:00.000-05:00

I'm not very good with spontaneous conversations, especially when there's only a moment to reply. This morning, near the beginning of my run, I passed a neighbor who faithfully walks her dogs every day and has seen me running since I began the Couch 2 5K program a year and a half ago. As I approached her on the road this morning I called out a greeting, to which she replied, "You're looking *fabulous!" (*she might have said "marvelous", or "great"- I was surprised, so my memory isn't reliable on this point.)

I simply said, "Thanks! Isn't this weather lovely?!"
Read more »

Sweet Blues

2011-06-30T06:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was blueberry jam day in my kitchen! Over the years I have made a lot of things from blueberries, but this is the first time I've ever jammed them. It won't be the last. Oh- sweet yumminess!

Untangling Notions

2011-06-27T12:50:00.001-05:00

I had a revelation this morning.

I have been operating under conflicting assumptions. There have been two streams of thought, undercurrents actually, which have been carving subtle grooves into my thought processes, causing a contradiction of which I was consciously unaware.
Read more »

Jam Session

2011-06-27T07:35:00.000-05:00

Long, long ago, in a lifetime far away, I gardened, harvested, pickled and preserved like nobody's business every year. From freezing fresh-picked sweet corn, to pickling green beans, to saucing tomatoes, to making lemon balm jelly, (be still my heart) I spent a lot of time working with a hot water bath canner and all of the jars, rings, and lids that go along with it.

Read more »

Boot Camp

2011-06-24T14:48:00.000-05:00

And just to continue the information burst after the weeks of silence, I'll quickly mention this new project for the summer. A friend of mine posted a link on her Facebook page to a slim-down challenge with a catchy name. The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans Burst into Summer 6 week online Bootcamp. (See the cute new button on the right of my page->)

What's not to love?!
Read more »

Summer Officially Arrived Early

2011-06-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

Our year of Home Education came to an end a tad bit earlier than I had realized it might. I had scheduled an evaluation with a teacher who lives nearby, and is approved by the Mason Dixon Homeschool Diploma program- more on that later, maybe. As I spoke with her on the phone while setting a date and time for our evaluation, she told me that Isaac's Boy Scouting activities would all count toward days of education, and help to fulfill the required 180 days needed for a full school year.
Read more »

Continuing the Catch-up

2011-06-23T08:47:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, where was I? Oh yes- we ran our May Thirsty Thursday 5K and then the next day Erin, Isaac and Jim packed up and headed to camp. Hickory Run, that is, in the Poconos, with roughly half of our church. Every Memorial Day weekend a large group of families from church go camping together, and we have loved joining this tradition. We have neighboring campsites reserved a year in advance, so just about everyone around us is someone we know.
Read more »

Thirsty Summertime Thursdays

2011-06-22T09:36:00.000-05:00

So these last few weeks have been pounding by so quickly, with so many things going on, I'll have to hit the highlights in a few quickly successive posts. If I could get it into my head that not every post needs to be "meaningful", then I'd keep up with current events a bit better.

The May Thirsty Thursday 5K was postponed a week due to the weather. It was actually scheduled to run on the day of our crazy rainstorm adventure, after which I think I'd have gladly gone out and run for 3.1 miles, just to use up the extra adrenaline! So on the fourth Thursday in May, Erin, Isaac, and I, plus some friends who've never run it before, went out to Trooper Thorn's for our favorite 5K. This would be the first race for me of the year and I was looking forward to setting a baseline time. I was fairly confident that whatever time I achieved would be easily beat in future races, since it was a sweltering 90 degrees.
Read more »

I Live A Sheltered Life

2011-06-21T17:24:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know, it's been a month since I've posted anything. Not merely a month, but a very busy month, filled with exciting newsworthy things like running races, camping, cliff-jumping, finishing the homeschool year, planting a little tiny veggie garden, and sending everyone away so I can have a solitary week.

This is not, however, what I'm coming 'round to write about tonight.
Read more »

Sometimes The Best Blessings Come in Little Packages

2011-05-26T15:54:00.001-05:00

In recent months as we have prepared for Rebekah's time in Virginia we had two major concerns. The first was answered by finding the perfect living arrangement for her- renting a room from a wonderful family who attend the church she'll be attending. The second concern was; what will she drive while down there?
Read more »

May 22, 2011

2011-05-22T19:06:00.000-05:00

I'm having a difficult time sorting out how I feel about yesterday's non-event. The Rapture didn't happen; we're all still here. Actually, I know what I'm feeling, the many reason why I feel this way are what need sorting out.

As I watched the evening News, with story after story of anguish and loss, wars, floods, murders and mayhem, the anchor then turned to the story of those who believed in the Lord's imminent return by saying, "Well, fortunately, the Rapture did not happen today."
Read more »

Never a Dull Moment.

2011-05-19T16:42:00.000-05:00

You know, some days are just more exciting than we are prepared to endure.

We've looked forward to today for a few weeks, since it's the final day with our Home School Co-op, which means the kids would be reciting poetry of their choice in front of an audience, Erin would enter a couple of her paintings in the art show, we'd stay for lunch, and then join the group at the park for a fun and relaxing afternoon.

Ohhhh, the best laid plans...
Read more »

Between Williamsburg

2011-05-08T22:04:00.004-05:00

This week we have had so many things happen that sorting them out could be done simply, or a big complicated mess. Let’s take the simple path.

1. Jim and I arrived home from Williamsburg late Sunday evening. Having stopped for coffee ¾ of the way, we weren’t sleepy at all, so we sat down with Kate and Isaac to watch a movie. This took us to far later in the evening than I am usually awake, so when my cell phone rang at 11 pm I was glad not to be in bed. My Mom was calling to tell me to turn on the News- Osama bin Laden had been killed. We switched over to Fox News and saw Geraldo Rivera running through the breaking news. Unbelievable. I jumped onto Facebook and saw the reactions popping among my friends.

Williamsburg Weekend

2011-05-07T08:24:00.000-05:00

Last weekend Jim and I were blessed to be able to get away for a couple of days. Well, we were blessed, and we got away for a couple of days, but it wasn’t only for vacation. We went to check out a couple of options for Rebekah’s living arrangements for the summer.

Thoughts on Osama

2011-05-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

I don't have the time now to get my thoughts down on the recent news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Here are some links to articles written by wiser heads than mine.

I'll get back to you on my own thought- it's been a busy week.

Wild Weather

2011-04-27T20:38:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago my son texted me to let me know that the power was out where he is stationed, at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina, and there was a tornado warning in effect. Continued texting assured me of his well-being. I checked later that evening online and saw that the area had indeed been hit by several tornadoes, and there were already photos and video footage available of the damaged areas. This morning I was tagged in a Facebook post written by a friend in Georgia, informing me that a mutual friend in Alabama had a near brush with a tornado in her neighborhood, but was okay.
Read more »

Confessions of a Non-Confrontational Calvinist

2011-04-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.disneywallpaper.info

In the movie Toy Story, there is a character with whom I particularly relate. Rex, the big green dinosaur, towers above the rest of the toys and has a mouthful of teeth and a fearsome roar, but it quickly becomes clear that Rex is a coward. In a scene that returns to my mind on a regular basis, Rex shakes his tiny little fists and declares, "I don't like confrontation!"

Yea, that's me.
Read more »

We’re Not From Around Here

2011-04-20T09:29:00.002-05:00

Many Moons ago, waaay back when Jim and I had one child and were expecting our second, we made the decision to leave the Army life behind. We had met while both of us were serving in the Army, married while on Leave, and spent our first three years as husband and wife living in Germany, where Jim was stationed. (I left the Army in order to get married.) One reason for our decision was that we wanted to have a family, but we did not want to have to uproot ourselves every few years in order to move around wherever the Army sent us. We wanted to be settled as part of a community.

God has a sense of humor.
Read more »

Tuesday Ten

2011-04-19T08:48:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a moment out of my week to list ten things for which I am thankful.

1. Coffee, ready and waiting for me when I stumble downstairs in the morning. Jim, being a night owl, works late into the night on his class work, and before he comes to bed in the middle of the night he sets the coffee maker so that I don't have to fumble with it when I get up.
Read more »

P2R, Week 1

2011-04-18T09:19:00.001-05:00

The first week of memorizing the book of Philippians is now behind us and I think we had a strong beginning. Looking through the little Memory Moleskine it appears that we started off easy with the memory work. Further in, the weeks involve a lot more memorization than this. We each spent time individually working on our verses during the week, but once a day we gathered to read them over together. A couple of evenings, Isaac was the one to remind us to get our books and read together.
Read more »

Raining Cats and Dogs

2011-04-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Kate came home for the afternoon and, due to a project on which she was working, did not leave until about midnight. It had rained all day yesterday, with the rain becoming heavy at times. Right when she left was one of those times. Jim helped her carry a last armload of stuff out to the van and then ran back indoors. In his rush, the front door did not close securely.
Read more »

Partnering to Remember

2011-04-12T07:03:00.000-05:00

A few years ago I found the blog of a Christian pastor, Timmy Brister, who had the idea of reading through the Puritans, one a month, for a year. The discipline of embarking on such a quest "with" someone else, following his posts through the year and reading the comments of others on his blog, was an adventure. While I didn't make it through all of the books, it was a blessing to have read those which I did.
Read more »

New Title

2011-04-11T16:04:00.001-05:00

I began this blog years ago almost by accident. I had friends who went to Kazakhstan to adopt a boy, and they started a blog to keep everyone apprised of their progress. One day I just HAD to comment on one of their posts, and stumbled into creating my own blog by mistake. I was sitting at a public computer in the clubhouse of the apartment complex where we were temporarily living as we waited to move into our new home in our own adventure.
Read more »

Under Construction

2011-04-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

If you've visited this site lately you may have noticed that it has been changing in appearance. Blogger, having recently been acquired by Google, has given me many, many options for customizing my blog. As anybody who knows me will attest, I love arranging and re-arranging rooms until I like the results. Spring cleaning is upon us at home, and the furniture is being shifted around in order to customize our home. I'll move a few things, look at the result, sit in the room for a while, leave it and return later; all to gauge how comfortable I feel with it. One thing that has been a steady constant for me is that I don't want my home to feel as if I've just walked into a furniture store, with everything matching and new. That just wouldn't reflect my personality.
Read more »

Thursday Thirteen

2011-04-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

Many moons ago I was in the habit of posting a weekly note on Facebook titled, "The Tuesday Ten". Spurred on by a friend, Kilby, I would take a moment out of each Tuesday to focus on gratitude. Alas, like most good habits, this fell to the wayside. I would see occasional thankful notes written by friends, but my own notes on thankfulness merely added to my growing pile of good intentions, and we know where that ends up. I now have a new friend who weekly posts a "Thankful Thursday" on her blog. Like a good poke in the ribs, this has inspired me to pick up right where I am and express my own gratitude.
Read more »

To Be Prey, or Not to Be Prey; No Question

2011-03-29T15:16:00.005-05:00

[Disclaimer: The following is NOT a How-To guide, it is a How-I-Responded story. Thank you.]

Let me state right off the bat; I am a dog owner. My dog is a Shepherd mix, which means that she is large, she has a strong protective instinct, and she will bark her freaking head off at anyone who happens to be walking along the street as if they are the first wave of an assault of Visigoths intent on our murder and utter destruction. We don't need an alarm system; we have Vali. Because I own such a large and obnoxious dog, I am sensitive to others' reactions to her and do my utmost to keep her from annoying or frightening people. (Unless you are a Visigoth intent on our murder and utter destruction, in which case she is free to be her protective self.)
Read more »

A Road Runner’s Plea

2011-03-26T19:25:00.004-05:00

I have been running for more than a year now, with a brief hiatus during the winter nastiness, and I have a few thoughts which I'd like to share with drivers. I realize that, for a driver, the few moments involved in driving past a person running down the road are quick and almost not worth considering. I know that to be the case, because until 16 months ago I was behind the wheel giving very little thought to those lunatics running on the side of the road. Now that the shoe, (the high-stability, lightweight, wide, New Balance running shoe, that is) is on the other foot, allow me to suggest a few things for you to consider.
Read more »

Virtual Ligonier

2011-03-25T18:23:00.004-05:00

While we lived in Florida we were blessed to be able to attend the annual Conference for Ligonier Ministries, in Orlando, several years in a row. Now that we live so far away, we enjoy the blessing of watching the conference streaming live on the internet. Rather, I should say, the mixed blessing of streaming live on the internet. Because the live webcast affords us the ability to watch from home, it means that as we are watching the conference, we are- say it with me- still at home.Read more »

True Beauty in Christ

2011-02-19T17:39:00.003-05:00

The following is a talk which I gave at our Church Women's Fellowship this morning. We enjoyed a lovely brunch together, had a lesson in tying silk scarves and an accessory exchange, some songs, and then I shared what had been on my heart as a result of going through the book of 1 Peter with my Bible study group for the past several months.

When you hear the word, "beauty", what comes to mind? Personally, "tall" and "svelte" top my list. Images of physically beautiful women are all around us. Every grocery store checkout line has magazines plastered with the world's ideals of glamour and beauty. Television and movies parade for us endless images of beautiful women. There is an entire industry devoted to convincing us that physical perfection is not only to be desired, it may even be within our grasp. If we take their diet pills, wear their fashions, use their makeup, and subscribe to their magazines so that we can keep up with their ever-shifting definitions, we too might achieve their ideal of beauty. The beauty that we see emblazoned across the world's standards is representative of only a slim percentage- no pun intended- of women today, and yet, for all of the billions of dollars spent on the beauty industry each year, it is missing the mark.
Read more »

Ice World

2011-02-04T09:31:00.002-05:00

We have had quite the onslaught of winter weather lately. Most of what we have been getting is in the form of snow, which can be plowed off the roads and will look beautiful and even provide entertainment. Last week Isaac was able to build one big snowman in the front yard and a giant snow head in the back. They're still out there. Only now, they're covered in a thick layer of ice. The winter storm which swept across the nation, coming up from Texas, caught us on its fringes, sending us wintry mix and ice instead of more snow.
Read more »

Field Trip!

2011-02-04T09:16:00.003-05:00

Last week we celebrated Jim's birthday. Depending on whom you ask my husband is now either 41 or 49… (long story). If you subscribe to the idea of "love languages", I would say that Jim's love language is "Doing Stuff Together", with a strong accent on "Historical Interest", otherwise known as, "Old Stuff is the Best Stuff". So instead of a pile of gifts, we gave Jim a field trip day into Philadelphia. We live so close to this city which is filled to the brim with "Interesting Stuff", "Old Stuff", and "Interesting Old Stuff", the kids and I figured we'd be able to find something just right for Jim. With a little bit of internet research I found a museum in Philly which fit the bill perfectly.
Read more »

Marching for Life

2011-01-27T11:18:00.010-05:00

Many moons ago, way back when I only had three children, I went to the March for Life in Washington D.C. I took my then six-year old Nathaniel and five-month old Rebekah. Kate stayed home with friends. We went with a busload of people, many of whom we knew and would help me along the way with my baby and the stroller. I had been active in the local Pro-Life group, so this was an issue with which I was familiar, as was Nathaniel. He had made a poster for a contest, which he won, the prize being the tickets for the bus to Washington. That year, 1993, the March fell on the day after President Clinton's Inauguration. While we marched, our new President reversed years of pro-life progress by issuing five executive orders reversing Title 10 regulations banning abortion referral by federal employees, repealing the Mexico City Policy restricting federal funding of international organizations that work to reverse countries' abortion laws, negating the ban on funding for fetal tissue transplants, ordering military hospitals to perform abortions, and asking the FDA to "review" the import ban on RU 486. The timing was certainly no coincidence and was a symbolic victory dance for the pro-death camp which had found in William Jefferson Clinton a man after their own heart.
Read more »

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

2011-01-23T17:12:00.002-05:00

I've not mentioned anything lately about running for the simple fact that two circumstances occurred simultaneously and sidelined me… for now.

Circumstance Number One, when I went for a Saturday morning run with the running group in mid-November, I got as far as 4 and a half miles, was feeling great with my breathing and rhythm, was no longer minding the cold temperature, when my knees both began to hurt. A lot. This wasn't a crankiness about the work I was putting them to, this was a downright mutiny. I tried walking a bit, thinking that after a brief break I could pick up again with the running- after all, it was going so well. But when I slowed for a walk they suddenly hurt even worse- in a weird, weak way. I actually stumbled and almost fell. Once I had walked for a bit the pain was gone so I resumed running and the pain returned almost instantly- and the knees had recruited my left hip to join them in their mutiny. I finished the distance, (for a total of 6 miles) somewhere between a limp and a run. Anyone watching my halting gait may have thought I was rehearsing for an upcoming audition for the role of Quasimodo.
Read more »

A Few Points of Clarification

2010-12-31T09:01:00.003-05:00

After my recent confession I feel that I need to clarify a few points. Weak and imperfect as I am, and miscommunication of what I've written being a distinct possibility, (all fault being my own) here goes.

Let me first and foremost declare that outside of Christ I am nothing, can do nothing, and have no hope whatsoever. He saved me, dead in the trespasses and sins in which I once walked, following the course of this world, a child of wrath, not because of works done by me in righteousness, but because of his own great love and bountifully rich mercy toward me. God saved me from death, from bondage to sin, from an eternity in hell, to be made alive in Christ, raised up with Him and seated with Him in glory. (Eph. 2: 1-7) To quote a friend, "(1) I did not deserve it and (2) I did not deserve it and (3) I still do not deserve it."

To Be Honest…

2010-12-29T11:29:00.005-05:00

There are some topics about which I don't write here simply because they cut too close to the heart, and I don't want to sound as if I'm complaining or being negative. Yet there are things through which we are living now, circumstances which seem to dominate our lives, through which God will ultimately be glorified. But if I've said nothing, how will anyone know? What follows is not a complaint, nor is it a masked plea for money- really. I've waited until I'm in a good mood to write this in an attempt to keep the negativity at bay.
Read more »

My Baby is a Teenager

2010-12-11T21:48:00.001-05:00

Thirteen years ago my baby boy was born. Thirteen years.

My other four children have each passed, at three year intervals, into their teens. But each of them had younger siblings who were coming up behind them. Isaac is the youngest of my children, the last of our crew to accomplish each milestone, the baby with whom each passage is a last for me. Along the way with the rest of the kids some milestones were lost in the flurry of activity which was our life. Pausing momentarily to celebrate each child's accomplishments was the most we could muster for many occasions. Every child is equally precious, but not every child has had equal time when it came to their day in the sun.

Nathaniel's thirteenth birthday was a day shared with all of his siblings around him; Isaac had Erin at home, and phone calls from the brother and sisters who are living away, (Rebekah's call was on Skype). I'm struggling at the moment to remember what Nathaniel's party might have been like, but all I can accomplish, by doing the math, is figuring that we must have been in Florida- only 9 months into our time there, and therefore couldn't have yet known many kids well enough to have over for a party. (Fill me in on the details if you can, First Son.) I'm pretty sure that we wouldn't have been quite as comfortable allowing the kids the free-ish rein to do their own thing and then watch a movie as we did for Isaac and his friends last night. The guys began with games in the basement, moved quickly to pizza when I brought it home, then cake, stories about Isaac, and a movie. (Isaac ran the remote during the movie and fast-forwarded through the scene which he had deemed- on his own judgment- too racy for the guys to watch.)

I had assumed that by this stage in the game of rearing five children, I'd have more of what resembles an "act" together and be better at the celebrations which predictably come around year after year. Yet, I don't. I had hoped that with the decrease in craziness, I might have more time to plan for parties and birthdays and simple focus on each of my priceless children. And here I find myself, days before the birthday, scrambling to figure out what we are going to do. These days which are the same date each year, focused on those dearest to my heart, still seem to sneak up on me and surprise me from a blind corner of the calendar. Time is flying by and I am a poorly organized person, a combination loaded for defeat in birthday party planning.

We had a friend in Grove City who would decorate the whole house the week before the birthday of one of her children, in anticipation of the day, with signs and banners, balloons and gifts. In Florida, many birthdays were closer in resemblance to carnivals, with the rental of giant bounce houses and inflatable slides, huge party games, a magician or another sort of live entertainment, and enough food to feed a small village in Ethiopia for a month. I have neither the forethought for the first, nor the finances for the second kind of festivity.

There was one family tradition about which we learned while living in Florida that we have been able to incorporate into our birthday celebrations for our children and has been a blessing for us, and, I hope, them as well. Once everyone is around the table, or at least in the room, and focused on the birthday boy or girl, we ask everyone to share a memory or something special that they appreciate about him or her. While this is fun and even enlightening at times, there has come a deeper blessing from it than I originally anticipated. We have always tried to emphasize character over stuff; love and fellowship over gadgets and things. While many gifts which have been unwrapped at the birthday parties have gone on to be played with for a time, and then broken, lost, or simply fallen out of use, the gift of loving and kind words will never fade. As my children have grown more autonomous in their friendships and the time they spend with friends isn't always in my presence, it is neat to hear the stories and memories that are shared. To hear what their friends remember most fondly about them, or what is seen in their character, is a gift to my children which they will cherish long after the candles are blown out and the wrapping paper is gone.

This year will be sparse on wrapped gifts, birthday and Christmas alike. I pray that the gifts of love and words of blessing will fill our hearts and the time which we spend together will build special memories for each of us. I cherish each of my children and hope that their memories will be as thin as mine on the details and the stuff, and full instead of the love which we share.

The Lazy J

2010-12-10T10:10:00.005-05:00

I'm not entirely sure what has prompted this memory, but it surfaces now and then, so I'll share it here. My memory for the years and specific dates of things that happened when I was growing up is rather fuzzy. There was a period of two years, maybe only one and a half, during which I spent almost every weekend in heaven.

Well, not literally in heaven, mind you, but as close as a pre-teen girl growing up in Texas could get; on a ranch surrounded by horses. My entire life I have loved horses. When I discovered that I could draw, it was horses that appeared on my pages. Many of my homework assignments had bright little steeds cantering up and down the margins of the notebook paper. I knew precisely where the horse books, fiction and non-fiction, could be found in the school library, and those were the books that I checked out- repeatedly. One summer my parents rented a pony for my exclusive use from a nearby farm, and though I wasn't allowed to move into his stall, that pony made for a fabulous summertime. I swooned over photos and posters of horses the way other girls were swooning over Donny Osmond. My favorite smells even involved horses. Burying my face in a horse's neck and mane and breathing deeply; the smells of saddle leather; even shoveling a stall conjured vibrant, familiar, "horsey" scents. The softest and best sensation in my memory is stroking a horse's nose. The places right in the center and on the sides of a horse's muzzle are the silkiest things I've ever touched. And then there are the sounds. Hoof beats of every speed; the creak of leather as I settled into the saddle; the clinking of the metal bit as a horse tossed his head; gentle nickering; all music to this Texas girl.

My desire to spend more time with horses inspired my Mom to find an outlet for me. She discovered that a distant relative owned a ranch outside of town and rented horses for an hour at a time to city folks who wanted to go for a ride. We made the half-hour drive one Saturday morning to the Lazy J Ranch and met our cousin Randy for the first time. (On a side note, my memory of Randy has him looking exactly like Matthew McConaughey. There always seemed to be plenty of pretty and giggly girls who knew nothing about horses coming out to the ranch each weekend.) For a mere $4 one could purchase the ride of a horse throughout the many wonders of the pasture beyond the corral. (I'm being facetious here- it was the most boring acreage in north Central Texas, and that's saying something! However, from the back of a horse, those acres were my favorite place to be…) I can't remember the name of the broken down, sway-backed, black mare onto which Randy first put me, but the ride was calm and sedate. Not quite what I'd had in mind, but cautiously safe for my first ride. In the days and weeks after my first ride, as Randy grew more confident with my riding skills, I came to know many of the other horses. Highpockets, a tall, rangy bay, was quite a fun ride, and therefore not always available. There was a brown thoroughbred mare, whose name I forget, which I rode on a number of occasions. She was a safer choice and yet fun as well. The quieter horses (meaning, boring) were the last requested by the regular customers, and I had to get there early, or wait for hours if I wanted to be choosy. That was fine with me, because I stayed all day long. While I wasn't riding I learned to muck out the stalls and groom and feed the boarded horses. I paid my $4 for one hour of riding and worked like a slave for the rest of the day- for free. Yet I'd have paid them for that privilege too, I loved it so.

There was one horse which was not often requested by regular customers. Peanuts, a deep bay cross between a Welsh Pony and a Quarter Horse with a stiffly standing black mane and a white stripe down his nose, became my favorite horse. Peanuts had the stubbornness of a mule, and if he wasn't ready for a ride, nothing would move him. Many a customer would howl for Randy's help to get the little guy going, only to request another mount when nothing of their own effort worked. There were times when I'd arrive and Peanuts would already be out with another rider, so I'd sit by and wait. Before long, a lone rider would come early into the corral saying that their friend's horse was in the middle of the pasture and wouldn't move. Randy would hop up onto the nearest horse and ride out to rescue the marooned customer. He'd lead them back in, help the poor fellow or lady off, and look my way. "Show them how it's done Barbie!" he'd call, and I'd run over, jump into the saddle, and spur Peanuts into a quick canter around the corral. There was no magic to it, I just knew this little horse, and he knew me. The hours we spent in the pasture were filled with imagination, and an occasional jackrabbit to chase as well. When I rode to a certain point in the pasture, along a little rise, if the sun was sliding lower in the sky and the shadows grew long, our combined shadow looked like a Spanish Conquistador, with Peanut's legs lengthened and his valiantly arched neck emphasized… One weekend Peanuts' saddle broke, Randy left it in the tack room, and I was allowed to ride Peanuts all weekend on my own, bareback, since he was "unrentable" without a saddle. I adored that little horse.

I not only rode Randy's horses, but was privileged to ride some of the boarders' horses as well. A woman named Joann boarded her mare Sharlee and Sharlee's filly, Shandy, at the ranch. Many horses are named with a combination of the Sire's and the Dam's names. When Joann had Sharlee bred to Randy's stallion named King, she decided that "Shar-King" would sound more like a burger joint than a fine, purebred Quarter Horse, so she named Shandy after my cousin Randy. Shandy was a high-spirited, finely-tuned two year-old mare with a deep brown coat, dappled a bit across her rump. What a beauty. After Joann had her "broken" by a professional Wrangler, she still needed to learn her "manners". Joann was a bit too old to climb into the saddle of such a flighty mare, so she asked the fearless girl who groomed her every weekend to give it a go. Shandy was a whole new experience after riding the rental horses. If her hooves ever really touched the ground, I didn't feel it. I spent hours in the saddle teaching Shandy to neck-rein, back up, smoothly transition from walk, to trot, to canter, and back again, and generally behave like a lady.

Then there was the Blacksmith's stallion, Tres Bar, (Trey Bar). A big and powerful Quarter Horse, Tres Bar wore a spectacularly bright chestnut coat. Though he was as light on his hooves as Shandy, there was a strength beneath the saddle which I hadn't experienced with the mare. Riding Tres Bar was like sitting on a thundercloud before it breaks into storm; with a current of electrical expectation conveyed through the reins to my hands. Though he was powerful, he was also mannerly, his strength held in check by a gentleness which spoke to careful and consistent training. They may have been mad to put me into his saddle and send me off, but I loved the few rides which I was allowed on this magnificent animal. I'd take him into an unused pasture, with no other riders in view, and put him through his Rodeo paces. We'd gallop and slide to a stop, pivot in place, and curl around imaginary barrels. There was no jarring to his trot, and his canter was as smooth as floating, but to gallop Tres Bar brought a thrill of adrenalin at the imminent danger as we took flight down the bare dirt track between the pastures. This was when, hanging on for life, I felt like an afterthought on his giant back, with my hands grasping his mane as well as the reins the steel pistons of his legs drove us forward, his hooves pounded the dirt and his rhythmic breath sounded like a freight train. Those few moments stretched to feel like a lifetime, and yet were over in a flash.

On rare occasions now, 30 years distant from those blissful rides, something will trigger these memories, and I can hear the creak of saddle leather, smell the musky, warm scents, and almost feel that nameless elation of riding these horses which live in my memory. The days of going out to the Lazy J Ranch ended with our move to San Antonio. I've been able to ride friends' horses, and have had an occasional rental ride here and there in the years since. Yet never have I felt again the joy that I knew at the Lazy J. Randy's horses and the others which I rode there weren't mine, certainly. They were as close as I would ever come though, to feeling as free on horseback as if I were on my own horse. I've not been blessed with the privilege of owning a horse, and likely never will. But God gave me a year on horseback which will forever be mine to recall with gratitude.

(And, for the record, unless it's the year 1979 and you are Randy Jones, I won't respond to the name "Barbie".)

Thanksgiving Weekend, 2010

2010-12-01T11:03:00.001-05:00

December has arrived in a blustery, rainy gust of weather. In recent years it seems that this final month of the year arrives rather quickly, though the months preceding it are no shorter than before. Why then am I surprised that we are already facing the final hurrah of the year? In ten days we will celebrate Isaac's birthday, we will then decorate the house for the Christmas season, Kate and Rebekah will arrive home for the holiday, and before we know it, it'll be time to adjust to a new number for the calendar year.

This past week with Thanksgiving was full to the brim with activity, family, and wonderful food. Perhaps the time flies quicker that way. Kate came home Tuesday, and Wednesday Jim and Isaac made the long drive to get Bekah. We only had her here for four days, but we made the most of our time with all of the girls under one roof. Thanksgiving day we cooked up a feast, with each of the kids assigned certain recipes or tasks to complete. I think that this was the easiest Thanksgiving feast we've ever prepared, and it must be because we were sharing the work and not rushed about the timing. The girls chose which pies they could not live without, and each prepared their favorites. Erin loves the Cranberry Streusel pie, Bekah had to have traditional pumpkin, and Kate made another perfect Pecan Pie.

Naptime followed our meal, and then the cleaning up. We had an invitation to join friends for dessert, so we packed up the pies and drove across town for a nice evening visit. Erin and Isaac learned to play pool while Bekah played Rummicube and Kate shot a few photos. Blessed ending to a full day.

Friday we slept in- no Black Friday shopping for us! Sitting here now, I'm asking the kids what exactly we did do on Friday, and we're coming up blank… It must have been calm and relaxing all day. Imagine that. Oh, we did have a bonfire in the evening for Bekah and friends. Marshmallows were toasted; a movie was watched.

Saturday was another blessedly full day for us. Last year we invited Jim's cousins to come over the Saturday after Thanksgiving and join us for pie and leftovers transformed into soup. We had so much fun then, and multiplied that fun with seeing them at the wedding and Fourth of July party over the summer that we repeated the invitation. This time we asked the Nelsons to come along as well because, while they aren't actually related to us, they might as well be. Mark and Brooke and their four boys live with cousin Ginger in what is affectionately known among the extended family as "the Group Home". Since they have been there long before our re-connection with Ginger and the Carlton gang, they have been part of our every visit and our kids, Isaac especially, have enjoyed having someone their own age to hang out with.

So the morning was spent making three kinds of soup and more pie- can't have enough pie! At the appointed hour Ginger, Gladys and Alexys arrived with homemade rolls, salad, and approximately 700 deviled eggs, (give or take a few hundred). When the Nelsons arrived we settled in for our feast. Every chair was filled, every bowl used, and the conversations and laughter flowed. Our dining room was filled to capacity as was the kitchen table, and once we were all seated there weren't any objections to placement at the "kids table". Once we finished our meal the Dads and kids went outside to shoot the potato gun, to which the Nelson boys added a twist. Shoot the potato straight up into the air and see who can catch it when it comes back down. It would take a Nelson to dream that one up. Those of us who stayed inside enjoyed a quieter visit with a bottle of zinfandel.

Before long the kids came back inside to thaw out and dig into the pies. Then they played ping pong, foosball, air hockey, and darts in the basement. The noises coming from downstairs testified to the general fun being had, with occasional exclamations, and once a cry of, "Cease fire, cease fire!" After the sun went down- which is still far earlier than I'm used to- the guys all suited up for a game of airsoft outdoors. Like I said, Isaac really enjoys this gang! We sent them out with the simple instruction to not aim for the face.

Meanwhile, back in the house, Jim brought out some old family photos which he'd come across and we passed them around as Gladys and Ginger helped us identify who was who in each picture. This prompted storytelling which the girls enjoyed immensely. Tracing family resemblances in the pictures, figuring out relationships, which generation was which, and stories of those who live now only in the photos and memories made for a very interesting and entertaining end to the day.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a tradition to keep. The family gathers at Ginger's for New Year's, will be gathering at Angie and Guy's for the Fourth of July, and we will welcome any who will join us for Thanksgiving Saturday.

Sunday was a quieter end to the weekend for me as I drove Bekah back to Hyde Park after church. Four hours each way made for a long time in the car, but I took along some sermons on cd to keep my mind occupied and the drive was an easy one. For her next trip home she'll try taking the train at least to Philadelphia, if not all the way to Lancaster. School has now resumed at Kelly Academy after a week's break. Back to it then!

Taste And See

2010-11-22T07:24:00.006-05:00

Last night we celebrated Thanksgiving with our church, together with the Chinese church who also worship in our building. The evening began with a service in the sanctuary with praise songs, hymns, Scripture readings, and reflections on thankfulness from our Pastor. The floor was then opened to anyone who wanted to share.

And here is where I always encounter a struggle.

See, so often I find myself feeling as if I have monopolized the talking in Sunday School class, Bible study, or small group. (Even when I'm not teaching, as I am now.) Surely others have something to say. There are always, within any given group, certain people who can be counted upon to stand up and share. Perhaps if I'd sit quietly this time, others would also have an opportunity to do so. Everyone knows what I'd say anyway, right? After all, I've said it in Bible study, small group, and Sunday school class on many occasions.

And yet I found myself pulling the pew Bible from the rack to begin with a verse.

The pages were pristine. I had forgotten my own Bible at home in the rush to get out the door with the food I'd prepared for the meal after the service. My Bible has become a comfort to me in so many ways, partly because I've learned where to find certain verses simply according to which side of the page they're on, and how they are underlined. I'm not very good with remembering the "addresses", so to speak, so I rely on visual clues, of which the pew Bible was bereft.

This actually added to what I was going to say so I began with my gratitude to the Lord for my Bible. The pages of my Bible are not only familiar for the underlinings, but also for the various sermon notes which I've jotted down over the years. From authors, to theologians, to the pastors of churches to which we've belonged, I have written various comments which have impressed upon me the meaning of the texts being expounded. Some of them are attributed with the name of who said it, even a date here and there; others are anonymous. Most come from hearing a sermon live, some on cd, and even some from books I've read. I often refer to it as the "Barbaranne Kelly Study Bible", since I have collected so many notes over the years. R.C. Sproul is in there, as are Sinclair Ferguson, John MacArthur, Steve Larson, and Robert Godfrey. Our former pastor Rick Phillips graces much of the books of Zechariah and John and the letters to the Ephesians and the Hebrews. My beloved study leader and mentor in faith, Toni Barnhill is quoted on many a page. More recently my Pastor Wendell and our new assistant pastor Ross have found their way onto the pages as well.

As I reflected on this, I realized how rich and full is the teaching that I have been blessed to receive over the years. An understanding of doctrine and theology did not bring about my salvation. And yet what I have learned over the years has taught me so very much about our Saviour- the tip of the iceberg really- such a breadth and depth of mercy, love, wisdom and grace, the knowing of which serves to increase my love for and my wonder at such a God.

I am, therefore, so very thankful for the faithful preaching and teaching of God's Word under which I have been privileged to sit and learn. From those whom I've heard while at conferences packed with thousands of believers, to the Pastors who have not only preached to us from the pulpit, but have also prayed with us and walked alongside us through the various trials to which we have been called, God has graciously put us in the way of the truth, and we are so very, very blessed.

As I shared last night, I was not able to say quite as much as this which I've written. The inevitable happened- I began to blubber a bit. This would be another reason why I hesitate to stand up and share in gatherings such as that.

I wasn't yet finished; I still had a verse to share-

Oh, taste and see that the Lord
is good!
Blessed is the man who takes
refuge in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints.
for those who fear Him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want
and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord
lack no good thing.
-Psalm 34: 8-10

(The note next to this in my Bible says, "Look back and see the goodness of the Lord through hard times. Toni B. 2-20-02")

My point in coming to this particular verse was to share how thankful I am that, though we are going through a trial which is weekly becoming more and more severe, our church has stood by us and supported us in prayer, as well as financially, through it all. Though we are suffering, we are experiencing no lack of what we actually need, and we are comforted by the love and the fellowship with which the Lord has surrounded us. Our church has become family to us in this trial, and we are so very, very grateful.

I did manage to choke out most of this before I sat down, and was unable to sing most of the next hymn. Gradually composing myself, I listened with a grateful heart to the rest of those who shared and then prayed. As with every Thanksgiving service, there would be a basket in the back for offerings for the Deacon's Fund, with which others in need would be helped- and which has helped us.

As we were preparing to leave for the meal Wendell made one final announcement. There was to be an addition to the collection of offerings. A second basket would be placed next to the first, for offerings for Jim and Barbaranne. Oh, the flood of emotion! There was no stopping the tears now. Gratitude, relief, overwhelming love for these dear people and our Lord! Jim grasped my trembling hand in his as we joined in the closing prayer.

And still, my gratitude for the funds which will help to meet our needs being as genuine as can be, I recognize that money comes to an end. According to our worldly needs, they are being met, piece by piece, step by step, moment, by moment. The bills are being paid, only just; the wolf, as Dave Ramsey says, is being kept from the door, only just.

More deeply realized is my gratitude for our most desperate need, met and accomplished once and for all on a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. This need could only be fulfilled by Jesus, who took my place before the bar of God's justice and paid- in full- for my every heinous sin, that I might stand with Him in Glory when my life is over and my joy in eternity begins. Paid in full.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ my dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ( personal cross-reference, John 17:17)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
-Ephesians 3:14-21

And yes, it's underlined.

Seasonal Eye-Candy

2010-11-02T18:10:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year again; when the leaves on the trees turn Technicolor and the air blows cool and crisp. Rain or shine, the vibrant hues are breathtakingly beautiful. Around every corner another view awaits. The beauty is magnified by knowing that it is all too brief. Within another week or so the leaves will have fallen, leaving bare branches clawing at the sky, awaiting spring. So get outdoors and revel in the glorious display of Autumnal brilliance!

Home Education

2010-10-27T09:20:00.002-05:00

In answer to the questions being lobbed my way by friends and family as to why we have taken up the education of Erin and Isaac at home, I offer the following response:

I had said that I would never again homeschool. I figured that there would be no need. But lately we've been watching way too much of Glenn Beck to be comfortable with what is being taught in school. We were having discussions with the kids concerning the actual facts and trying to fill the gaps that way. But then Erin asked if we'd homeschool her, and we couldn't turn her down. She has been making straight As for years now, but has finally gotten a teacher who expects her to be building upon something that ought to have been taught in past years- which wasn't- and Erin hit a wall. (Besides the fact that she utterly despised this particular teacher. Erin simply can't learn from someone for whom she has no respect, and day one of the school year, with the first words out of his mouth, she lost all respect for this man.)

I was on the cusp of having My Own Time All to Myself and was floored by her request. But God convicted my selfish heart and I'm now in- hook, line, and sinker. If we were withdrawing Erin for reasons concerning teaching correct and full history, teaching from a Christian Worldview, (which is actually a wider worldview than the narrow interpretation required if one is avoiding the whole truth) and concerns over the sinful environment which they have to deal with, (which was not nearly as bad as the Florida schools, but they were becoming sensitive to it here) we needed to also withdraw Isaac in order to remain consistent in our convictions.

There are more families in our church who homeschool than those who don't, so there is a world of support for us already. I tell folks that when Erin first made her request, I dialed 911 and Piper W. answered. She is our closest church neighbor, being only three miles away down our hill, and she is the President of a local homeschool co-op which meets once a week and has classes for the kids (gotta socialize these hermits after all). Erin and Isaac will take their science classes there, so my kitchen won't be exploding with experiments, and we don't have to purchase a bunch of fancy equipment. They have work for the class which they'll complete during the week at home, but a more knowledgeable teacher is at the helm for their science education, which is a relief. Piper and another friend were able to lend us about 80% of the books we'd need and we are chugging right along.

What has come out of this, and I find slightly amusing, is a reaction from the kids' school friends which we didn't anticipate. Erin and Isaac are the first homeschoolers that most of their (non-church) friends know! Isaac's first day at home ended with an evening phone call from one of his Scouting buddies with whom he had a number of classes, asking him what he did all day, what time he woke up, if he has school books, will he get grades... Evidently most of their friends had been peppering Ben with questions all day, and some of the teachers had expressed real dismay that we were taking one of the delightful students away! At last week's Cross Country meet, a dad of one of the boys on the team with whom Erin is friends asked me about our change in "educational arrangements', sincerely interested, if not perplexed. Erin was in the Student Government Assoc., and we sat with this family at every SGA banquet and would hang out during every XC meet, so the conversation was comfortable, but still, to me, amusing. Since we know so many homeschoolers and have even done it before, I didn't realize what a foreign concept it is for so many others.

When we moved from South Florida, we chose our home based in part on the school district. Our kids were, in every measurable respect, thriving in the school. Most teachers loved them- Erin practically had a fan club among the teachers at the Middle School, which Isaac discovered on his first day of 7th grade. ("You're Erin Kelly's brother?!" exclaimed one teacher.) So on one level, it makes no sense for us to have pursued this course. Yet we are pursuing it, and expect our kids to end up knowing more real history and understand the worldviews that have driven events, and see the hand of God behind it all.

That's it in a nutshell. I do not expect to be perfect, nor do I expect every day to be sunshine and roses. But I am taking the full responsibility for these kids as their parent. God entrusted them to Jim and me, not to the PA Department of Education.

And Hey, maybe I'll learn something as well!

Colleges, Cross Country, and More

2010-10-25T15:49:00.002-05:00

All of my best intentions to continue with regular posts here have been brushed aside in the past couple of months by the stream of events which have flowed in such a constant fashion that I've not had a chance to catch my breath. My last post was in the middle of Nathaniel's visit here and our trip to the Glenn Beck rally in Washington D.C. Since that time we have delivered Kate to her new home in Lancaster, where she is attending the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, (PCAD) we enjoyed the rest of our month-long visit with Nathaniel at home, Erin and Isaac began their school year, both of them running with the Cross Country teams for Mifflin, we took Rebekah to Hyde Park, NY to begin her education at the Culinary Institute of America, (CIA) and we returned home to yet another adventure- educating Erin and Isaac at home.

I'm sure that there was more in between, but those are the highlights. (I need to catch my breath here, gimme a second.)

Yes, the time has been flying by. Kate is thriving at PCAD. Not only does she love her school and studies, but her church and the RUF group have been a blessing. To hear the excitement and delight in her voice on the phone just makes my heart sing. Art school is no fluff business; she has a lot of studying and homework to do after hours, which she is pursuing with diligence. Being only 30 minutes away means that Kate can come home more easily for a weekend here and there, which was a big help when it came time for us to deliver Rebekah to school.

Meanwhile, Erin had been running with the Cross Country team all summer, training with Coach Jack Heim and the girls at the school and around town, running in Nolde Forest on Saturdays. Erin's strong sense of self-discipline and determination feature prominently in her running. Coach Heim has been training runners for over 20 years, and his girls are often the best teams out there. He has fostered a tightly knit team on the field and off. The girls would have sleep-overs and dinners together and made t-shirts to wear as a team before meets. From local dual meets to invitational meets farther from home, Erin has loved running with the team. An undefeated season was topped off quite nicely last Wednesday with a team win at the County Championship in Kutztown. Not only did the girls' team win, but the undefeated boys also won, and the top runners for boys and girls were also from the Mifflin teams- so they literally "ran away" with every possible victory!

Isaac has also been running with the Jr. High Cross Country team. Attending practices diligently, running at the dual meets, he has been a real trooper, according to his coaches, and has grown stronger and set high goals for himself. I especially appreciate the way the meets are run, with the Jr. High and high school teams going to the same places on the same days for their races, so that I can cheer for both of my kids instead of having to choose between them. The strength of will required for running the distances for cross country has been impressive to watch in Erin, though not unexpected, and almost startling to see in Isaac.

In the midst of this we delivered Rebekah to the CIA in Hyde Park, NY. A dream come true for her and still amazing to me, we packed up the car with her belongings and drove four hours away to the beautiful campus on the shores of the Hudson River. We spent the whole weekend there, orienting ourselves to the area, finding the nearest grocery store, attending a church that we thought might be a possibility for her, (and ruled it out) and getting to know the campus. Sunday afternoon we moved her into her room in the residence hall on campus. Her sweet roommate, Jennifer, told us that she had been praying for a Christian roommate, which answered our prayers as well. Sunday evening Jim and I had a bit of a parent orientation with the Residence Hall advisors before hugging Bekah goodnight and leaving for our hotel. Rebekah had a dinner on campus following her RA orientation, which was a peek into what her meals would be like for the foreseeable future, (and motivated her to check out the workout facilities at the recreation hall!). Jim and I found a fabulous little restaurant not far from the campus and enjoyed a quiet dinner. The next morning was parent orientation for us while Rebekah continued with her freshman orientation. We were able to see her here and there between things, but her schedule was rather tight. In the middle of our lunch in the Apple Pie Bakery and Café, which was magnificent, our sweetie stopped by for a final goodbye hug, having determined that there wouldn't be another chance to see us before we left. Sniff.

Long drive home… in the rain.

Since there is quite a bit of overlap between all of the aforementioned events, it would be fruitless to expect any downtime now. See, a mere three days before we left with Bekah for Hyde Park, Erin asked me if I would withdraw her from school and teach her at home.

(Insert smelling salts here)

All that I will say at this point is that we are now homeschooling both Erin and Isaac. The rest of that story will be a post all its own.

God has blessed this whirlwind of activity and shown grace upon grace to us, more abundantly than we could have asked.

Images of Honor

2010-08-31T08:06:00.014-05:00

This post is merely images which tell the story of the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington D.C., on 8-28-2010, far better than I can. These are a collection of images caught not only by myself, but also by my son, Nathaniel, who serves in the Army and is now home on leave, and my daughter, Kate, who is about to leave for Art school. (I have no idea why this is underlined- sorry.)

Restoring Honor

2010-08-30T11:39:00.005-05:00

photo courtesy of AP News.

Well, we did it. We ended Summer with an amazing trip to Washington D.C. for the Restoring Honor Rally at the Lincoln Memorial with Glenn Beck. We learned about this event months ago and had thought that we'd join one of the local Patriot groups on a bus. As the day approached, however, we changed our plan to allow more flexibility. So, early Friday morning we piled into the van with lunches packed and water bottles full and drove 2 1/2 hours to Silver Spring, Maryland to catch the Metro into D.C.

We and hundreds of others who were also headed for the rally squeezed into the train, (we actually had to wait for a second train before we could board!). Easily recognizable by the folding chairs, patriot t-shirts, and friendly faces, those headed for the rally carried with them an air of excitement. Once we reached our stop in the city, the way to the Mall and the Lincoln Memorial was easily found- we merely had to jump into the flow of the crowd. It was so exciting, not only to be in Washington for such an event, but to be there with the whole family.

We arrived before 8 am, and there were already crowds numbering in the thousands filling the area in front of the Lincoln Memorial and around the reflecting pool. As we walked from the Washington Memorial, around the WWII Memorial and toward the reflecting pool there was so much to see, so many people, it was difficult to take it all in. Sarah Palin later said what was beginning to dawn on us, that, "we are not alone". Many thousands of people had traveled to Washington D.C. for a common purpose; we shared a common bond. We don't want to see our Nation "fundamentally transformed", we want our Nation to be restored to the Honor and ideals of our Founders, (which, no, do not include slavery and reversing women's rights).

Working our way around the pool to the left-hand side, (facing the Lincoln Memorial) we walked forward until we found a patch of grass big enough to accommodate our family. Many people had brought chairs, but we had not, since we didn't want to be hauling the extra weight all around the city and on the Metro afterwards, (traveling light!). By the time we settled in there was still an hour and a half to go before the beginning of the rally, so Nathaniel, Kate and Isaac went for a walkabout to see what they could see. They rejoined us before the event began and just in time for the flyover. Behind us we heard the crowd applauding and shouting, and as we turned to look we saw a formation of geese flying right down the center of the crowd over the reflecting pool! What a cool sight!

There were several "jumbotron" video screens around the area so that we could see what was happening way over on the steps where Glenn Beck and his guests would be speaking. The first face we saw, after a beautiful slide show, was a Boy Scout, who led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. When I saw that I almost cried. The next three and a half hours were filled with speeches by Glenn, Sarah Palin, and Dr. Alveda King. Glenn introduced us to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization which provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions. Sarah Palin presented three heroes from our Armed Services who endured great sacrifices in the service of our Country. Glenn then presented three medals of merit along his theme of "Faith, Hope, and Charity" to three men who embody those principles in America today. Dr. Alveda King, MLK's niece, encouraged us to seek the Lord and remember the essence of her uncle's message in judging others not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character- which I not only strive to do already, but request of others concerning their judgment of me as well.

Through all of the speeches and presentations ran a thread of humility, service to others, and hope for our future, all undergirded by the idea that we must turn back to God. Not collectively, but as individuals and families. Now, when Glenn goes beyond the basic ideas and treads into theological territory, we disagree with his interpretation of Scripture, and the astute listener on Saturday would have picked up the Mormon hints that he dropped periodically as he spoke. But we do agree on his basic premise: that we stand before God as individuals, and before the future of our Nation can be secured for our children, we must repent of our sins and serve God openly and honestly. We must pray with and for our children, and they must see us praying and see that our faith makes a difference in our lives. We must be changed before we can affect any lasting and true restoration in America.

Near the end of the rally we shared such a beautifully moving experience. Accompanied by bagpipes, the crowd sang together the timeless hymn, Amazing Grace. I know I cried as we sang.

Once the Restoring Honor rally was finished we sat in the shade and waited for some of the initial dispersing of the crowds to clear so that we could walk together to the Jefferson Memorial. We had neglected to bring a map of the area, but Nathaniel's handy-dandy iphone with its GPS app led the way. There was an area closed off due to the construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and we had to find our way past a fence and across a field, where, coincidentally, another rally was setting up... Neither Jim nor I have ever seen the Jefferson Memorial, and it was worth the hike to see. Once we finished there we took a moment to purchase some cool beverages for the kids before heading back to the Mall area to see other Memorials.

Figuring that the way we came was actually more direct, we re-traced our steps and stumbled right back into the other rally area as people began to flood in through the narrow fenced-off walkway. This was, as it turned out, a rally organized by the Reverend Al Sharpton to remember Martin Luther King Jr. on the 47th anniversary of his "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, yet situated next to the future monument to the Civil Rights leader. As we swam like salmon fighting upstream against the flow of people flooding into the area through the narrow pathway, we held onto one another so that we didn't get separated. Glenn Beck had urged those coming to his rally not to bring signs. These folks had signs. Those we saw were not friendly signs. And here is where I find my heart troubled.

In the past couple of days I have read a few of the blogs and opinion pieces written about the rally. The majority of them seem to be in the same vein and tone of the signs and t-shirts that we read in that crowd, and reflect a foundational misunderstanding of why we were there and what we believe. I've been thinking a lot lately about being misunderstood, and here it was displayed before me, as clear as day. When I protest- and let's be clear, the Restoring Honor rally was NOT a protest march- but when I protest a policy being championed by our President, I am disagreeing with an idea, a plan, or a law which I feel will do damage to our Nation. I am not, nor have I ever, protested because of the skin color of the man who holds the office of President. I disagree entirely with everything promoted by Nancy Pelosi- and her skin is the same color as mine.

Glenn's message on Saturday was that we need to "pray, be honest, and serve others", delivered with humility. The clips that I saw on the News of Al Sharpton's comments were "fight, fight, fight", delivered with anger. I'll take him at face value, please take me at mine. An open exchange of ideas without hurling invectives or twisting one another's messages is the only way to be understood. Is the gulf so very wide between us that honest debate is impossible? Perhaps. I am no good when it comes to such conversations anyway, but please don't tell me what I'm "really saying" when you won't listen to me in the first place.

Moving right along, we visited the Korean War Memorial and had the opportunity to thank a couple of Veterans for their service, which was a moment that I won't soon forget. I pray my children remember. We then went to the Lincoln Memorial and took a good long while soaking in the words of the addresses which are etched into the walls. After this we walked to the Vietnam War Memorial where we slowly took in the many, many names and the offerings left for fallen loved ones, memorials in their own right. Time was quickly passing and we were moving slower by the minute, but there was at least one museum which we might be able to reach before it closed.

We managed to arrive at the National Archives with a few minutes to spare before they closed the line down. It seemed fitting, somehow, to finish our visit to our Nation's Capitol by seeing the documents written by our Founders. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, together with the Bill of Rights, were on display in the low lighting and cool interior of the building and were captivating to all of us. The kids, I'm afraid, were more familiar with these documents because of the movie National Treasure than because of what they have learned in History class at school. But we have been watching Glenn Beck's "Founders' Friday" programs, and have been filling in their educational gaps at home. Too quickly we were told that the Museum was closing and we needed to leave.

Our exhausted crew made it back to the Metro station, onto the train, and back to Silver Spring. Hungry, we stopped into a Mexican food place that made the best- and biggest- burritos we have ever been served, with delicious tacos for me and a Mexican take on Gumbo for Bekah. The drive home was a snooze-fest for the kids as I tried and failed to stay awake so that I could keep Jim company as he drove.

We are now a couple of days removed from the day in D.C., and trying still to process all that we saw and heard. Pray, be honest, and serve others. Nothing new to those of us who listen in church and read our Bibles. Refreshing to join a sea of others who believe the same thing. May God have mercy on our Land.

Empty House

2010-08-23T07:42:00.002-05:00

What a blessing to have Nathaniel fly home last week for a whole month of post-deployment leave! Now that his unit has left Iraq behind for good, they are all allowed an entire month to get away. Nathaniel arrived on Tuesday morning, having flown from Hawaii the day before, and with the exception of a nap or two, hit the ground running. With the end of Summer quickly approaching, the weeks have filled up with more and more activities.

After a bit of recovery on Tuesday, most of the family joined me for a run on the Thune trail. I forget now exactly how that came about, but in the end it was a demonstration of the route we would be running for the Thirsty Thursday race, and convinced Isaac and Jim to join us two days later, along with 400 of our closest friends, for the 5K!

Thursday evening Erin, Nathaniel, Jim, Isaac and I donned our racing numbers at Trooper Thorn's and took off with the pack. I was so proud of Isaac, who has only recently begun running with the Middle School cross country team. Since this race is so very crowded on a narrow trail, I had him stay right with me until the crowd thinned out and he had gotten the hang of it. Right before the half-way point he looked at me, said, "I'm passing!", and took off ahead. Passing people at this point was difficult since there were now folks running in both directions and we didn't have the whole trail. I saw him after he'd turned around, and caught glimpses of him ahead of me on the straight-aways later, but he was running his own race. What fun for us to have been able to complete that together. Erin and Isaac each came in third in their age groups, the rest of us were thrilled to finish. I was still behind my first time, though I suspect that my starting position had something to do with it, since this time my running felt alright.

Saturday we all piled into the van to go to cousin Ginger's for a Birthday/ Graduation/ Eagle Scout/ going away to join the Navy party for Kyle Nelson, (not a relative, but might as well be). Nathaniel was able to meet and be met by this branch of the family at last, and we enjoyed a relaxing evening visiting with Ginger, Gladys, Brent, the Nelsons, and the gang. We had planned to leave around 6-ish; 7:30 arrived and we said we needed to go; at 9:15 we were finally back into the van and pulling away... Good times.

Yesterday was a blessed Sabbath of worship with our church family, lunch then rest at home, and prayer meeting at the Sallade's in the evening. In between, the kids were all busy packing. Nathaniel, after all, had plans, which were a mystery. All week he had been dangling this mystery over their heads, tormenting them with clues and non-clues. All they knew was that they were going away for several days and they needed to pack for a water activity, a theme park, and a tourist destination.

This morning, bright and early at 5 am they left for Busch Gardens, Water Park USA, and Colonial Williamsburg, all in Virginia! At some point in the first couple of hours of driving he told them where they were going. What a treat! With his military discounts the park tickets are very reasonable and the hotel rates within easy reach. Their first stop is Ft. Eustis, where Nathaniel trained for his job in the Army, to pick up the tickets. So they even get to see a bit of his personal history which we'd only heard about from him before now. But the most special aspect of it all for me is the love that these kids share with one another, that they would so enjoy going away together like this. They are going to build a lifetime's worth of memories in the next few days, and they are will need to work together and get along even when they are tired or wanting to go in different directions.

Once they get back our lives swing into high-gear with one last day-trip for all of us, school beginning for Erin and Isaac, and Kate leaving for Lancaster to begin at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. But for now they have this time together, just the five of them, for fun and memory-building.

What Beauty, Language

2010-08-17T04:17:00.002-05:00

Ever since I can remember, I have loved words. I can't recall the exact moment when the shapes on the page began to make sense to me and became decipherable language, but I clearly remember sitting in my reading group in first grade at the Episcopal Day School, waiting impatiently for the slower readers to stumble over their portion of our text, (Dick and Jane, of course); reading ahead to pass the time until my turn arrived. Books were wonderfully magical, and I devoured them as fast as I could. Through these portals I was able to visit far lands and different times. From a sweltering courtroom in Maycomb County, Alabama, to flying across the finish line on the back of the wild Black Stallion, the adventures possible through books were limited only by the time available to read them.

Certain books still stand out to me. One Sunday morning when I was a child in Wichita Falls, TX, where the "Blue Laws" were still in effect so most stores were closed one day of the weekend and Treasure City (think Kmart- but sorta dumpy) was the only place to pick up a garden hose since they closed their doors on Saturday in order to serve the Daddies in town who hadn't realized until Sunday morning that the garden hose at home was inoperable, I lingered in Books as Dad found what he need in Lawn and Garden. (Somewhere in downtown Reading there's a chop-shop that could cut that sentence down and sell it for parts...) I convinced Dad to buy The Golden Stallion, a large format, illustrated, chapter book about- yup- a boy and his horse, (horses were my thing). I may have started reading it on the way home, and once there I do remember spending the day physically on my bed, as my imagination spent the day way out West on a horse ranch with a wild Palomino. Dad looked in on me a couple of times, I think, and by day's end I had finished the entire book.

The Swiss Family Robinson, Smokey the Cow Horse, and Heidi I first read at age ten, when I spent the Summer with my name-sake and her family, the Hicks, in Cocoa Beach, FL. Yes, swimming at the beach was very memorable; Barbaranne took me to see the new movie everyone was talking about, namely, Star Wars; and I spent so much time in their pool that I developed a case of swimmer's ear. Yet she also took me to the library where I chose a stack of books.

The Summer of 1979, I lived with my Mom and brother in an apartment complex as our home in Wichita Falls was being rebuilt after the tornado that destroyed our town on April 10th. The gang of folks who socialized around the pool each evening and weekend had a book swap and I acquired my copy of Watership Down.

All of this reading widened my vocabulary and my Dad believes that it's responsible for erasing my Texas accent almost entirely. The magic of a well-written story which fires the imagination is replicated nowhere else. Though the movie screen may fill in some details, those created by the mind are far more enduring. I went through a Stephen King phase as a teenager, and I'll tell you that his book caused me to be wary of Saint Bernard dogs far more thoroughly than the movie Cujo ever could. Ideas are expressed in words which then rattle around the intellect, get sorted through in the heart and mind, and help to shape what we believe, and therefore, who we are.

And yet, written words are just that, scribbles on a page from a human imagination. Until one opens the Bible. In the Holy Scriptures we find words which not only produce images and ideas, but Words of Life which can save the soul. The words of Scripture express spiritual realities; eternal, non-subjective truths; and cosmic mysteries. But even more than that, it is a mystery that the same words which can be read by all and intellectually apprehended, when accompanied by the grace of Christ, will actually transform the heart and mind of the reader. This is why we read in the book of John that, though Jesus' crowd of followers departed in droves after a particularly difficult teaching, his chosen twelve remained.

So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,..." (John 6:67-68)

As Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for us, on the night of his betrayal, he distilled his requests of the Father down to what he, in his infinite and loving wisdom, knew to be most important.

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

The writer of Hebrews would later explore the mystery of the transforming power of God's Word.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

There is no question in my mind or heart that the Word of God is to be given the highest place, therefore, in our home and the church. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he did not destroy his arguments with the brilliance of logic or attempt to reason with him. He answered him with the Word of God, against which the deceiver had no defense. If the Omnipotent One relies so on the Word of the Father, how much more must I? In our day and age, those who insist on objective truth are ridiculed and suspected of haughty pride. And yet to embrace the truth of Scripture is to acknowledge that I am nothing outside of Christ. I have no wisdom, power, or gifts of my own; all to Christ I owe.

I therefore defer to Scripture, to the Words of life, which will build a foundation of rock upon which God is preparing me to weather any storm which, in His providence, may threaten to sweep me away.

Beautiful Morning

2010-08-14T10:52:00.007-05:00

Saturday mornings of late have been refreshingly busy for Erin and me. She runs with the Cross Country team in Nolde Forest on Saturdays, and I've been running on the Thun trail with a group from A Running Start. This morning, however, was a bit different.

Earlier this week I stopped by a house on our street to ask the folks who live there permission to photograph their flower gardens in the early morning hours. I have been running past this house on occasion, and their home is almost swallowed by the vibrant plant life growing all around. Trees, flower beds, and a vegetable garden all attest to a love for beauty and growing things, yet the wild state they are in also speaks to a lack of ability to quite keep up with it all. Scattered all through the beds are morning glories, phlox, tomatoes, cucumbers, and regally waving above them all; sunflowers galore.

Every morning since I received permission to photograph to my heart's delight, the days have dawned to overcast skies and drizzling rain. Now, I am thrilled to have the rain- and so is my poor, parched yard. But these were not the conditions in which I wanted to shoot photos in a flower bed. This morning brought the return of the sun, and my plans to run were shifted as the flowers took priority.

I dropped Erin off at Nolde and drove to the garden. I have a Minolta film camera that was generously given to me by a friend, as well as my digital SLR. Still testing the Minolta, I was planning to duplicate my shots on identical settings with both cameras. Wandering around the flower beds as the sun slowly rose gave me many more things to shoot than I originally planned, and the film was soon finished. There are numerous gadgets and gizmos fashioned by the elderly couple who lovingly tend this garden intending to keep the birds and varmits away from their veggies. Whimsically scattered among the plants, these became some of my favorite shots.

As the sun crested the row of pine trees to the East of the property, there was a magical 60 seconds or so when everything first caught the direct rays of light and I shot as fast as I could, moving gingerly through the garden. Even the cucumber vines took on an endearing quality in this light.

At some point I realized that I was finished and went back to the car. Picked Erin up after her run, got home, loaded the photos onto the computer and took an initial look. These decisions won't be easy- there are a lot of neat shots mixed in with a lot of mediocre and poorly lit shots as well.

Since the morning isn't as blazingly hot as we've recently experienced, I went for my run, stream-of-consciousness pondering of the photos and their possibilities gave my mind something to do other than list the roll-call of physical complaints as I pounded down the road. I ran my normal, relatively flat, three miles and grabbed few sips from my water bottle which I'd left on the bench in front of our house. Erin had put my energy-chewy-thingies next to the water, so I popped one of those and continued back on the road in the other direction.

The hills are this way.

Down the one severe drop I ran the way Erin had learned in training, opening my stride up and letting myself fly down the hill. It was a bit scary as gravity took over and I knew that the wrong placement of a foot here would end in disaster, but there was an exhilaration as well. One and a half miles later I turned around and headed back home, walking on that one severe incline, and finished strong.

Six miles.

I have finally run six miles! I don't know, since the uphill walk broke it up slightly, if I experienced the five-mile thing where it doesn't hurt anymore- a theory one of the Saturday morning marathoners shared with me. But I am euphoric over getting that distance under my belt! Good, long stretching with my kitty Emmi, refreshing shower, and I'm ready for the rest of my day.

I think tomatoes may be involved...

Extreme Good

2010-08-04T09:37:00.004-05:00

We've had a unique bit of excitement here this week. A local family was chosen for the show Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. On Monday I took the kids on out to the site and we enjoyed seeing the progress on the home and meeting some of the cast and crew. (You can view our photos of the experience here.) We've watched the show occasionally over the years and have found it to be one of the few reliably "safe" programs for family viewing. I've also found it to reliably be a tear-jerker, and must have a box of Kleenex nearby. Over the seasons they have progressed from merely doing a fabulous remodel of the homes to completely demolishing the old house and building an entirely new one in it's place.

The woman for whom the crew is building this new home, Tricia Urban, lost her husband to a heart attack the very day of their daughter's birth, nine hours before their baby was born. Having gone through labor and childbirth five times myself, I cannot imagine what it would have been like without the strong presence of my husband. The thought of going through it with the fresh knowledge that he had only just died and would never be there as our child grew up is simply inconceivable.

As with all of the families featured in the show, Tricia and her daughter have been sent away for the week. They are in Orlando at the Disney parks, and she has a personal assistant assigned to her whose job, among other things, is to keep her away from the internet to insure that she will be completely surprised when she returns to her new home. So, not only are they having a whole new house built for them, but they are having the vacation of a lifetime as well. This is a good deed on a massive scale.

One of the reasons that we have enjoyed watching this show is that it is so refreshing to see the selflessness and desire to help others that is demonstrated in each episode. The cast and crew choose from an avalanche of appeals for help, and they provide something which the families in question might never otherwise have the opportunity to have. The families range in tragic stories from having lost loved ones, to suffering from birth defects, debilitating disease, or accidents. There are always children involved, oftentimes many children. Their stories never fail to pull at our hearts and it is such a blessing to watch someone with the skill, talent, and the means reach out to help them.

However...

Scripture clearly tells us that our greatest need, above all others, is our need of Christ.

As creatures who wear God's image we share, in a shattered and fallen aspect, and to a far lesser degree, some of His qualities. The desire to help others and do good for the downtrodden is certainly an image-bearing quality which ought to be encouraged and emulated. There is a good reason why so many people are drawn to this television show. Seeing the good done for these families in need, when so often we don't know how, or we don't possess the means to do it ourselves, is magnetically attractive. Doesn't Scripture encourage us to help those around us? Most assuredly, it does.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it" -Proverbs 3:27

"And we urge you brothers,... encourage the fainthearted, help the weak,... always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." -1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" -Titus 3:14

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." -James 2:15-17

And yet, in a few days the cameras and crew will be gone, the excitement of the vacation will subside, and that dear, poor, lonely Mother will still be facing the days and nights ahead without her husband. There are needs that can be met by money, skill, and effort, but no amount of sponsor-financed altruism can replace Tricia's husband. From what I have seen, those on the cast of Extreme Makeover realize this. They are seeking not to replace an irreplaceable loss, but to bring a bit of heaven on earth to ease the life of a hurting family. This is common grace, and though it may come immediately from the hands of unbelievers, it ultimately comes from the decree of the Eternal God. In his teaching on the Providence of God, John Calvin writes:

"...we (teach) God the ruler and governor of all things, who in accordance with his wisdom has from the farthest limit of eternity decreed what he was going to do, and now by his might carries out what he has decreed. From this we declare that not only heaven and earth and the inanimate creatures, but also the plans and intentions of men, are so governed by his providence that they are borne by it straight to their appointed end." -Institutes, (I: XVI. 8)

So what has been accomplished in the construction of this magnificent home for Tricia and her daughter has been decreed by God himself. The cast and crew are carrying out God's work on behalf of a poor and hurting family. All good deeds are tainted in some way by our own sin, yet in the humanly-weighed balance, this deed is very, very good. Returning to our ultimate need however; the most comfortable house with the latest of updates and technology will not fill the hole in our lives for which only Christ is suitable. And on the other side of this coin, building such a house for one in need will not gain us Christ. The Bible teaches that only one who lives a perfectly righteous and sinless life will inherit the kingdom of God. The bad news is that it clearly teaches that we cannot live that kind of life; no amount of good deeds will weigh in God's balance if we have a single sin to our name.

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it." -James 2:10

"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." -Isaiah 64:6

"None is righteous, no, not one..." -Romans 3:10

But there is one man who did live a perfect life, one hope given to us by God's rich mercy; our Savior, Jesus Christ, who obeyed the law perfectly and died the death of a criminal on behalf of those who would believe.

"But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." -Titus 3:4-7

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:8-10

So the best and brightest hope for Tricia and her daughter, freely offered and eternally brilliant, is Christ. The beautiful home provided for them is still a gift from the hand of God. Those building it have not earned themselves a single rung on the ladder to heaven, but salvation awaits those who will believe in Christ alone. And we applaud these good gifts given by our Father above, looking to Him alone for grace and mercy in our own times of need.

Up and Down

2010-07-27T07:19:00.002-05:00

This past couple of weeks have been up and down and mostly calm. For myself, I reached a new goal in running, then promptly became sick and wasn't able to run at all for the balance of the week. On Tuesday last I ran 5 miles, the first three being on a new, difficult, and hilly stretch, the final two familiar and flatter. Then I woke up Wednesday with "that feeling" in the back of my throat and head, and ended up spending the next two days on the couch with fever and yuck. I contacted Sorita to ask how soon I should resume running, and she suggested that with the heat as high as it has been, I should wait until I am really all better.

I did get a lot of reading done on a book that I had anticipated would take me far longer to read. A Patriot's History of the United States has turned out to be easy reading for such a thick book. Recommended by Glenn Beck, we ordered it months ago, but I've only recently had the time to pick it up. I won't summarize it here, but I do recommend it - good clear history of our nation.

The big news for our family- the Up for the past weeks, is that Nathaniel has redeployed from Iraq back to Hawaii! No more war zone for him; Praise God! We get regular updates and phone calls now with the news of his return to "stateside" life. Hawaii is still dreadfully far away, and we were not able to be there for his arrival, but his Commander's wife arranged a special surprise for him.

Several weeks ago- before we left for Michigan, we received a letter from this dear woman with a request that we send her some special things and a new set of sheets for our returning soldier. She recognized that a number of the men had families who would greet them with special homecomings, but the single soldiers would be returning to empty barracks rooms. We gladly packed up some framed photos, a book or two, and a couple of other things with a new set of sheets for our soldier. I also tucked his cell phone and charger into the box, so he could call us right away. An email exchange with the organizer of this surprise confirmed that she had gotten the items safely and had set his room up. The phone she kept and charged herself. Nathaniel called us from a buddy's phone as he reached the various stops on his flights from Iraq to Ireland, Alaska, and finally Hawaii. But when he arrived at the base in Hawaii I received another- more surprised call from his own cell phone! The Commander's wife had called him over after the Welcoming Ceremony and handed him his phone and told him to call his Mom- now!

What a blessing to participate in some small way in his return, even though a trip to Hawaii to greet him was impossible. If he'd been anywhere that my car could reach we would have made it there, one way or another. But a flight to Hawaii is out of the question. Phone calls, facebook, and email do make the world smaller, but being there for our son's return - second return- from the war has never been possible and we can't recover that. He'll be coming home for a month visit in a couple of weeks, yet to welcome him returning with his comrades isn't meant to be.

So, I guess that it was an up, and a down.

Now we count the days for his arrival here- Praise the Lord!

Great Expectations

2010-07-17T09:32:00.006-05:00

In my mind, I am a stronger runner. I go farther and with less effort in my imagination. As I am lacing up my shoes and planning where I'm going, I expect to do much better than I normally- lately- end up doing.

If, however, I expected it to be as hard as it turns out to be, or harder yet, I might leave the shoes under the bed and check out what's on TV instead.

This morning I joined the Saturday morning group from A Running Start for their weekly run. Dropping Erin off to run with the Cross Country girls and Coach in Nolde Forest, I then got to the Brentwood Trailhead a few minutes early for the 7:15 start time. The others who showed up were all either long-time members of the group, or already long distance runners. As they reviewed how far each expected to run, I suddenly felt very conscious of the shorter distance that I was hoping to run. One lady was only going 8 miles, another 12, and yet another 20. The lone guy in the group, Jim, was going the distance with whoever would run the farthest. With his fancy GPS watch, and telling stories of the marathons and ultra-marathon relays he's run, he still projected a friendly, humble attitude, enthusiastic about running and everyone who gives it a try.

When it came to my turn I told them that I simply had to be back at the car by 8 o'clock so I could drive back to Nolde to pick Erin up from her trail run. Sorita took a look at her watch and said that that meant we would run 22 minutes out and back, so they could drop me back off in my time frame, and then they'd continue on for the rest of their respective distances.

And I was beginning to fear that I would be running alone.

Instead of going down the Thune Trail, with which I'm now pretty familiar, we branched off onto the Angelica Creek Trail, well marked and mostly following the creek, with more turns and little hills than the Thun. These folks like to talk and visit while they run, and Sorita and I caught up on the past few weeks as we ran. I soon needed to simply listen though, and gradually fell in with the second, and then the third rank of runners. Before long I was bringing up the rear, and assuming that I'd be running alone. They rounded another bend and were out of sight.

Then I saw Jim running back to keep me company and we gradually came back within sight of the others. Wow, was it ever getting warm,... and steamy humid. One after another, as I fell behind, these super-duper runners came alongside to keep me going with encouragement and even a squirt from a water bottle and some kind of chewy electrolyte... thing. We arrived at the turnaround point and learned that we'd run 2.3 miles already. Sorita declared it to be a fine warm-up, and we were off again.

In the end, I made it. The most significant hill on this portion of trail is right where we began, and thus, right at the end. Jim talked me through it and encouraged me to finish strong, giving me the finish point to aim for. Giving everyone the Victory sign and finishing to their cheers, I gratefully made it back to the car and my own water bottle. Driving back to Nolde to get Erin I was completely drained. I stretched once I arrived, since the girls weren't finished yet. (Without the stretching I would end up atrophying into the shape of the couch later...)

Home, green protein smoothie, shower, giving my feet some extra TLC... I am exhausted. If I had realized how very difficult it would be, I may not have gone. The heat of the morning is beginning to be really oppressive, the unexpected hills, the sauna of the humidity, all combined to wipe me out. Besides that, I'm now going far enough that I will have to invest in one of those belts to carry water, and maybe some of those chewy electrolyte... things. Frankly, squirting a bottle of water over my head would have been fabulous.

But it's a great feeling. I finished. I am glad that I went.

Another Thirsty Thursday

2010-07-16T07:23:00.002-05:00

Last night was my second opportunity to run the local Thirsty Thursday 5K, and I was blessed to be joined by a friend from church, April. She and I ran together when we went camping over Memorial Day and I had told her then about this race series. Having run on her own for a couple of years now, I was thrilled that she could come out for the race. Not that we are running to "win" anything, but having a specific goal in view and participating in an event makes the running more fun. And at least for me, it keeps me feeling accountable when I'd rather not lace on my shoes and head out the door. And, there's a t-shirt. Proof.

So we met at 6 to register for the race. April's husband Bill was there and I brought Erin to root for us, run the camera, and hold stuff for me. After we'd finished the paperwork and I showed April how to pin her number on we spotted another friend, Steve, whose wife goes to church with us and both of whom camp with the group on Memorial Day weekend. Steve is a real outdoorsy adventure seeker, having climbed mountains that the rest of us read about, so we didn't expect to see him until after the race was over.

Last night was far warmer than last month's race, and only about half the people turned out than before. This made for a less crowded start, which was a lot easier. Once we were off I pushed myself harder at the beginning than I had before and was feeling good for about the first mile. But, even in the shade, the heat was getting to me. I haven't been training as I should, and right before the half-way turn around point I slowed to walk for a brief interval. When I felt April's encouraging pat on the back it was all I needed to pick up the pace and run again.

I walked a second time for a bit, until April caught up, and then we ran the rest of the way together. At the very end I pushed it a bit again, running on the strength of my arms, focusing on them and not my tired legs or screaming lungs, and finished in 32:41, one second slower than my first 5K in April.

April came in right behind me and we found our cheering team. A towel for my dripping face, some water to cool me down, beer and a pretzel to fortify myself, and it was time to go. I don't know if I'll run the August race if the heat is still so high, but I'll definitely aim for the September run. Meanwhile I need to bump my training up if I'm going to improve my distances. Walking on the days that I don't run may help, and gradually lengthening my run distances certainly will. Erin is running hills once a week for strength with the team, and I certainly have plenty of those to choose from here.

I just came in from a brisk walk this morning and stretched just as I do when I run. Time to jump into the rest of my day.

Her Emminess

2010-07-14T20:24:00.003-05:00

In March I received a beautiful gift; a quilt made by my Dear Auntie in San Antonio. Our Emmi also received a gift, the box in which the quilt had been mailed. Emmi loved her box and we didn't have the heart to throw it away. So, for all these months, the box has belonged under the coffee table in the family room, where Her Emminess could cuddle up whenever she wanted.

Over the past couple of weeks, however, we have noticed that she has been avoiding cuddling in her nest. Emmi is funny in that she prefers clean, flat places to take her feline snoozes. Milo will find anything cozy- blanket, pillow, lap- for his naps. Emmi likes paper, the floor, the windowsill. Her box, evidently, was no longer as clean and spare as she liked.

A recent order from Amazon has provided us not only with the book that we ordered for Bekah, but a new box for the Emmster. Tonight as we watched the News we found that she was once again contentedly curled up in her box.

Ahh... New Box Smell.... Gotta love it.

Pure Michigan...

2010-07-14T09:33:00.009-05:00

Since we had driven all the way to Grand Rapids for the Wedding Of the Year, we might as well take a few days off in the area. The "Pure Michigan" commercials had been working on us, and we explored their website for ideas. Knowing that the weekend of the 4th would be filled to the brim with activity and excitement, I was looking for a quiet hammock in the shade, water fun to include beach and fishing, and photographic opportunities not available to me in the hills of Pennsylvania. We found just what we wanted in Presque Isle, Michigan. In fact, two of the lighthouses were featured in this lovely ad. Watch for the boy running up the interior stairs of the Old Presque Isle lighthouse, and the next one they show as well; we saw them both.

We drove the several hours from bustling Grand Rapids to the quiet of Presque Isle, (pronounced, Presk eel) and a simpler lifestyle. Folks in Michigan "talk with their hands", so I'll describe our location in the same terms. Since Michigan looks like a mitten, the approximate location of Presque Isle would be near the tip of the index finger. Right on Lake Huron, with Grand Lake mostly separating it from the "mainland" the area gets its name from the fact that it is "almost an island"- which in French is Presque Isle. Not so much a tourist mecca, this is where people come to unwind.

Our host at the Presque Isle Lodge, Robin, gave us a tour as soon as we piled out of the van. Across the road from the lodge there was access to Grand Lake, with a pier and a canoe for our use. The main lodge was charming and rustic, having been built in 1920. The original owner even made most of the furniture in the building, with sturdy log construction that has lasted through the years. Just up the road, about three miles, was a small grocery, the Portage store, where, according to Robin, the kiddie-size ice cream cones were still more generous than he could eat. Across the street from the store is a pizza shop and a restaurant right on the harbor. Beyond that by another mile or so are the lighthouses. The old lighthouse had been built too short and in the wrong location to be seen clearly by the ships on that portion of the lake, and had to be replaced by the new lighthouse further out on the tip of the "isle".

Our first evening we got a pizza and some ice cream and kept it simple. Jim and Isaac bought bait for a morning fishing trip, and when Isaac and Bekah went to the pier to throw a line into Grand Lake they discovered that there were only 1 of the promised dozen worms to be found in the box. I was reading and Jim was visiting with Robin in the lodge when Isaac told us about it, and Jim left to go back and get replacement bait. I then overheard as Robin went into the office and made a call to the store. He told them what had happened and that Jim was on his way. "I told him you'd take care of it" he said. Then, "...and could you send along a quart of orange juice with him? I just checked and we're running low. I'll be by to pay for it in the morning. Thanks."

We have entered Small Town America, and we're going to love it here!

Each morning began with breakfast made by Robin, who joined us the first two mornings since we were the only guests. (Note to self- booking a B&B for the days immediately following a big holiday weekend may insure a quiet visit...) The first morning Erin and I woke up early and went for a 4 mile run on the lovely and flat road that runs in front of the lodge. Jim and Isaac, however, had woken even earlier and were out in the canoe on Grand Lake by the time Erin and I hit the pavement.

At breakfast we decided where to go and what to see. Our first day we borrowed bicycles from the Portage Store to ride to the lighthouses. You read that right- borrowed the bikes. Yup. We enjoyed the slower pace and had a lot of fun. Many, many photos were taken, and many, many stones were skipped or simply tossed into Lake Huron. The afternoon found us at the bit of sand beach in Presque Isle Bay.

The next morning we took a hike to find another vantage point from which to photograph the old lighthouse, and we found the stones on the beach and the scenery in general to be fascinating and beautiful even though it was overcast and hazy. That afternoon we went into Alpena to see the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, where we learned a lot about the Great Lakes and the shipping industries- and hazards- over the past couple of centuries. We then explored Alpena and found some cute shops in which to browse.

The third day we went into Rogers City to visit the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum. Since it was rainy an indoor activity was just the thing for us. This museum is dedicated to preserving the memories of three particular shipwrecks on the Great Lakes that involved men local to the area. All having occurred within living memory, we were shown photos and relics by a former sailor who had sailed on one of the ships before the wreckage, and another gentleman, who was one of two survivors of one of the wrecks, told us the stories of the actual wrecks. We began to realize how profoundly this area has been affected by the Lakes. One wreck left more than 90 children without fathers and over 30 women were widowed. This is a community of people who count on one another and carry each others' burdens with love and concern.

After lunch the sun came out and a beautiful blue sky spread above us. Perfect for seeing another lighthouse and beach. We went to 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, which features the remains of a shipwreck on the beach. The day was lovely and warm and we enjoyed every moment out there. From there we went to Ocqueoc Falls, (pronounced ok-ee-ok). We weren't the only ones thinking of the Falls on that warm afternoon, and there were lots of folks cooling off in the refreshingly lovely water. We regretted leaving our bathing suits at the lodge!

Each evening we went to a beach overlooking a Westward view of Lake Huron, in hopes of seeing (and photographing) a sunset. The first three nights had been duds, really, and we now had one last chance. After dinner we wound down at the lodge for a little bit before gathering ourselves for the beach one more time. And what a marvelous light show we found. Slowly, but surely, as the sun sank toward the horizon, the colors spread across the sky in a magnificent display. Isaac skipped stones, Kate and Jim found some interesting angles for some shots, and we all enjoyed the view. For more photos, you may view the album here.

A perfect ending for a perfect week.

Fourth of July, Family Style.

2010-07-14T07:35:00.003-05:00

The annual Carlton and Family July 4th bash was moved to Michigan this year. Guy and Angie arranged for their wedding to coincide with the annual party in order to allow the "two birds with one stone" effect. As long as everyone is traveling long distances for a wedding, it might as well overlap with the 4th too.

We spent our first 4th of July with the family last year when Guy proposed to Angie. This year we all, including Jim, were looking forward to the gathering in Michigan. And what a perfect day it was for an outdoor party! Sunny and warm, not a cloud in the sky. We arrived while the food was still being prepared in the kitchen and on the grill.

Erin and I had not had a chance for a run on Saturday, so we brought our running clothes and asked Angie what the route was in her neighborhood. I had mentioned this to her in the morning at breakfast, so she was ready, but surprised that we were still planning to run in the mid-day heat. She gave us the turns to take and we were off for two laps around the loop. Nice and flat, we enjoyed the different route from home, and I even saw a pair of red-tailed hawks.

Erin, naturally, paced ahead, and after a few turns I lost sight of her. When I was finished I knew right where to find her- in Angie's pool! I went straight there, saw my daughter enjoying the lovely water, removed my shoes and socks and jumped right in! Hands down, the very best run ending thus far for me! So refreshing! We floated around until it was time to gather for the blessing of the meal, wrapped up in towels, and met everyone in the garage.

And what a meal- feast, really! Angie's Cuban family contributed roast pork, black beans and rice, arroz con pollo, and other wonderful treats. The Carlton gang contributed approximately 700 deviled eggs, potato salad, bean salad, and hot dogs and burgers. So many wonderful smells and tastes! Angie's brother-in-law gave the blessing and we began the feast.

The rest of the day was filled with fun. Volleyball, corn hole, pool, croquet, visiting, and more eating were available. We tried a bit of each. Our kids blended right in with the rest of the gang- no more awkwardness in sight. Isaac was running around with the Nelson boys, Rebekah and Erin were hanging out and playing with the Appel girls, and Kate visited with Stephanie and Jessica. But there was such an ebb and flow that really, they were all everywhere! Kate and I traded off the camera to capture a lot of memories, which you can see here. By the end of the day when the crowd had thinned and the fireworks were lit off in the back yard, we were all pleasantly filled with the warmth of a day well enjoyed.

Next year we hope to return for July 4th again. But first there will be New Year's at Gingers!

A Wedding In Michigan

2010-07-13T10:07:00.004-05:00

Last year for July 4^th the kids and I went to spend the day with the cousins at Ginger's in Felton, PA. This was an annual tradition and we were blessed to be enfolded into the family upon our re-connection with them. Jim couldn't join us, unfortunately, since he was still in Dubai. At the end of the day, once the fireworks had been set off in the driveway and nobody had been maimed or killed, we prepared to hit the road. Cousin Guy asked us to wait a minute, as he had some fireworks of his own. He then asked his Sweetheart, Angie, to marry him, right there in front of his whole family! She said yes- which brings us a year later to our vacation in Michigan.

Angie's home is in the Grand Rapids area, and she and Guy set their wedding date for July 3^rd, with the annual 4^th of July party at her, (now their) home. As the proposal suggested, they have been very family oriented with the entire course of the wedding plans- so to Michigan we have come for the party of the year.

Shortly after last July 4^th Angie and I became friends on facebook and have chit-chatted back and forth as the year progressed. At some point she asked me to bring my camera to the wedding reception, which not only thrilled me no end, but was such a tremendous compliment. Jim and I talked it over and decided that a few more days in Michigan for a family vacation would not only make sense, since we were already going to be there, but it would be a lovely area of the country, new to us both, and therefore an adventure. And don't you know, Michigan began running these lovely "Pure Michigan" ads on TV, luring visitors to their beautiful state. We were hooked.

So plans were made, time marched on, and the day came for us to pack up the van and hit the road for Grand Rapids, Michigan! As we prepared to pack our van the day before departure, we discovered a huge fluid leak- our van would not be making the trip. After a brief pow-wow session and prayerful panic, (oxymoron, I know) we called our friends Mike and Amanda, who have one child and a 7 seat van, to ask them if we could swap our 5-seat Pacifica for their Sienna for the week. They agreed! Oh, praise God!

So again, it was time to hit the road! We left insanely early on the morning of Friday, July 2; the kids falling back to sleep as Jim and I took turns driving. Though it was a VERY long drive, we managed to get to our hotel in Grand Rapids just before 3 in the afternoon, giving us time to nap a bit before going out to look for dinner. Before going to eat, however, Erin and I were feeling the need to really stretch our legs after that drive, so we found a local park on a lake for a run. Everyone came along. Bekah brought a book, Jim and Isaac fished, and Kate joined us to run. As virtuous as it sounds, I do not recommend running any distance after an 11 hour car ride. Erin even pooped out, a cramp in her side like none she'd ever experienced. We got back to the room, ordered pizza, spent some time in their indoor pool, and called it a night.

The next morning at breakfast we found cousins! Ginger, Gladys, Brent and his family, as well as the Nelsons- practically family- were there. What a treat to begin catching up with them then. The wedding wouldn't be until mid-afternoon, so there was no rush. Before long the bride arrived, with bags in tow. Angie would be getting ready at the hotel since it was much closer to the church than her home. She said her hellos and went on upstairs. Soon Ginger got a call from her- she was in need of a hair dryer- the hotel dryers didn't work with the diffuser attachment! I had brought my own dryer, so Ginger and I went upstairs to deliver it to Angie and her hairdresser.

Now that breakfast was over we had several hours before going to the church, and Angie had sent us a suggestion via facebook which had interested us all. The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park was right down the road from the hotel and looked rather fascinating on the website, so we gathered ourselves together and went to see what we could see. The special exhibit featured at the Gardens and Sculpture Park this season is Chihuly Glass. Glass sculptures in colors and on a scale which were simply amazing. Indoors and out, tucked into existing gardens or set apart in exhibits of their own, everywhere we turned in the Sculpture Park and gardens there were more Chihuly sculptures. Not to mention the permanent exhibits owned by the Meijer Gardens. The American Horse, for instance, is a must see; standing three stories tall and dominating his own area of the park, we were entranced. This was no boring museum tour that the parents were dragging the kids along into. Each of the kids was excited about what they were seeing and what was coming up next. Isaac especially was enjoying the gardens and sculptures; most especially the carnivorous plants room! We didn't dream that we would use up all of our free time there, but soon enough we had to start dragging ourselves away and back to the van to get to the hotel for wedding dressing. The photos we took can be seen here.

Back to the hotel, change of clothes, beautifying of the girls, and we were ready for the main event. Dressed in our best, we headed for the quaint little Hispanic church which Angie had chosen, in honor of her Cuban family and roots. The groom, Jim's cousin Guy, has made a lifelong career of the Navy, so he was resplendent in his uniform. A nephew, Ben, and a friend, Steve, also in uniform, would provide the arch of swords for the couple to walk through at the end of the ceremony. Guy and Angie's desire to honor Christ and embrace their family led to a dear, intimate ceremony which reflected the love which they have for one another and our Lord. I had my camera and fired off a few shots, but was touched to see Isaac also shooting away during the wedding. Our children were all actively engaged with the proceedings, which was such a blessing to see. They have not grown up with this branch of the family, and have rarely,… no, never, had family gatherings the way the Carlton branch does. Only newly introduced to, and immediately embraced by, the Carlton gang, there has been an intangible resistance on my children's part to fully commit, (or admit) to the family. This weekend would change that once and for all.

After the ceremony was done we were ushered outside for the traditional passing under the arch of the newlyweds. Grabbing a strategic spot from which to photograph the moment, with Kate and the other camera nearby at a different angle, we watched for them to emerge from the church. Standing tall and erect in their Navy dress whites, Ben and Steve looked the very definition of valor and discipline. At the precisely right moment they raised their swords, and Angie and Guy walked through, beaming from ear to ear. What happened next must not have been anticipated by our dear Bride. With a twinkle in his valiant eyes, Ben raised his sword higher, took aim, acquired the target, and with the flat of the blade- and a shout of "Go Navy!" gave Angie a swat on her behind that almost lifted her off her feet! Evidently this particular aspect of the tradition had not been explained in full to the now shocked bride of Master Chief Petty Officer Guy Carlton. (and I caught it all!)

The drive to the wedding reception wasn't long at all, and we soon gathered at a lovely Country Club to spend the rest of the evening. Appetizers and beverages were being served when we arrived, and the atmosphere was calm and refined. Being wine lovers, (connoisseurs?) Angie and Guy had chosen a marvelous selection of wines for the reception. With a camera in my hand, juggling a glass of wine and a plate of appetizers was nearly impossible, but I managed a few tastes. We were soon able to enter the dining room and found our seats. The newlyweds arrived before long and the celebration began. In lieu of gifts, the Carltons requested that donations be made to two hospice care centers which had cared for loved ones in the recent past. The DJ announced that for every $10 donation the groom would kiss his lovely bride. The donations began rolling in, and soon Isaac declared that Guy's lips were likely to fall off! Before dinner was served I went to a couple of tables to take photos of some of the couples. Dinner was marvelous, interrupted by donations and kisses, and we were warming to the party mood.

Looking around we realized that the photographer from the ceremony who had shot Guy and Angie entering the reception had disappeared. Angie then came over to let me know that not only was the cake cutting taking place soon, but there would be a second cake- a surprise to Guy- that she wanted me to be sure to catch. I had my orders! Given free reign with the camera I enjoyed going to everyone for photos candid and posed. Isaac was even running around with the second camera taking photos. We both shot the cutting of the cake, and Guy's Master Chief cake. Soon after dessert the dancing began. Not as easy to photograph, it sure was fun to watch! You can check out the album of photos here.

This is one family that enjoys one another and knows how to have a good time. It didn't take long for the dance floor to be full. Not many slow dances for this crowd; the beat was fast and the atmosphere electric. At one point I looked up and Bekah was out there dancing with Alexis, her second cousin twice removed. Jim, Isaac, Kate and Erin were outside on the deck having conversations with other cousins and I pulled them inside to join in the fun. I thought Isaac would be too cautious to hit the floor, but our little Boy Scout showed us he can bust a move! (Is there a badge for that?) Dancing and singing along to just about every song, Isaac had a blast. Kate and Erin soon joined the fun, and before long Jim and I were also dancing. Then it happened. The DJ announced a special request, and the first notes of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody floated through the air.

Oh, my, word.

Every guy in the reception, and a couple of girls too, struck a Freddie Mercury pose and sang- acted out- every word of the song! What a jaw-dropping, hilarious event to watch! And how sweet too; here's cousin Brent teaching his darling daughter just when to bang her head for the guitar solo… All of the boys with Mommas present serenaded them at the right parts in the song, urging them to, "Carry on, carry on…" Never have we imagined such a unifying activity to draw our kids into the crowd of cousins. Their familiarity with the gang was sealed with the playing of Journey's Don't Stop Believing. The reception ended with Angie and Guy's selection of We are Family, with all of the men and women lined up opposite one another to dance down the middle, a pair at a time. Isaac was my partner for this closing act and we boogied on down the line.

A perfect ending for a perfect day.

Kate is 21...

2010-07-13T07:03:00.013-05:00

Kate has turned 21 years old,... how the years have flown. Since she has already lived in Europe on two occasions for several months at a time, she has been looking forward to the day when she can once again enjoy a glass of wine legally. That day having arrived, she chose to have a gourmet meal, straight out of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with wines appropriate to each course, naturally.

We first had a quiet little gathering of the family to open presents, and then the boys where shooed away so the girlie time could begin!

Kate had been planning and preparing for this meal all week, and she began slicing and dicing, simmering and sauteing early in the afternoon.

Rachel arrived early to lend a hand, and was wearing the very same boots that Kate has! She had borrowed Kate's favorite footwear for a wedding a few months ago, and loved them so much that she ordered her own pair online! So comfy!

Aren't they cute?

The marvelously buttered chicken is roasting deliciously in the oven... oh, butter.

Rachel brought her own cookbook along as well. Every kitchen should have one of these!

Far be it for our chef to miss this feast preparation. Today Bekah assisted Kate, not the other way around. A gift, from her to her sister.

Christine arrives dressed to the nines! Isn't she beautiful?

Mmmmm....

Appetizers.

Rachel makes Hollandaise sauce. Yum.

Sweet Sarah.

Good things are happening in the kitchen!

Served in courses, the meal progresses beautifully.

The delicious and- literally- flamboyant main dish, Poulet au Porto,
(page 245 in Mastering the Art of French Cooking).

Rachel made the chocolate mousse at home... scrumptious!

Make a wish!

Kara, recently home from a visit to see her sister in Ukraine.
We're so glad she could join us tonight.

Erin has also lent a lot of support behind the scenes today.

Well done girls! Happy Birthday Dear Kate!

Valley Forge Hike

2010-07-13T06:41:00.002-05:00

The last Saturday in June, the Scouts were going to take a hike through Valley Forge, and Jim volunteered me to go along since he couldn't. This was a real treat for me, because I haven't been along on one of their outings before, and I know that this is a terrific group of kids and adults who are a major influence in the character development of my son. Experiencing this first-hand was going to be fun.

We met up early to carpool over to Valley forge, and I ended up riding along with Butch and his two boys, while Isaac rode in Gary's vehicle with Fred and the rest of the boys. Getting there didn't take long and we began with the Welcome Center just as it opened. There was a guide they were going to follow in order to earn a medallion, and the guys would be going from one point to another, using their compasses and other skills to find each next stop, kind of like a scavenger hunt.

The day was warm, and then it was hot, as we hiked 9 miles, give or take, through the park. We saw many deer, lots of tourists, and various groups of runners and bicyclists. The historical points were fascinating, and we learned more than I did when just going with the family. When we got to Washington's headquarters, in fact, we watched some folks working an archeological dig int he yard, finding bits and pieces left behind by the Colonial Army so long ago.

We never actually got lost, but I think we all agreed that we added to our hike with a wrong turn or two. All in all, it was a great day, and we were all glad to see the cars and the road home once we were finished. I, of course, took photos, and you can follow us through the park here.

While We're in The Yard...

2010-07-12T21:13:00.008-05:00

Here are some shots of the blooming loveliness in our yard, taken over the past couple of months. Not all of these are still blooming, in fact, while we were away for a week there were record high temperatures and no rain which scorched our yard and quickly ended the life of several of my plants. The Daylilies are simply finished with their bloom time now, and it's time for other flowers to take up the banner of beauty. Fortunately, we're having a third day of rain now, so my blooming babies are soaking up some needed moisture!

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
- Matthew 6:28-33

(Daylilies)

(Hydrangeas)

(The various Daisy type flowers in the front flower bed.)

(Geranium in a pot on the front porch which I kept over
Winter and re-planted this Spring!)

(Astilbe)

(Foxglove which volunteers in a wild area of the yard.
I hope to bring them into a tamer flower bed soon.)

Yard In The Works

2010-07-12T16:03:00.007-05:00

Ever since we first looked at our home, the backyard has been a focal point for us. With the space and privacy, we have wanted our yard to be welcoming for guests and outdoor fun. Last year we took care of a large marshy area in the flat space out back, which is now perfect for a volleyball net. This year we turned our attention to the hills which were covered with difficult-to-care-for landscaping and had grown into a jungle.

Before: (look for this tree in the first "after" shot!)

So Jim rented a big machine and went to work ripping the hillsides apart. With help from the kids and some strong young men from church, over the course of a few weeks we got the nasty jungle torn out and the hillsides de-rooted, de-rocked, raked smooth, seeded and blanketed with straw. We now have grass growing in the space that had forbidden entry, and it is now open and welcoming. Room for the hammock under the previously inaccessible tree is a blessing, as well as having a lot more flat space up top to eventually add a picnic table and maybe a raised bed or two for veggies.

Continued progress

After!

Sooo glad to have this phase finished. Now, what's next?!

Third Thirsty Thursday!

2010-07-12T13:09:00.004-05:00

A few months ago, January, to be exact, I was fitted for the right running shoes for my feet at a local running shoe store, A Running Start. I signed up for email updates and news from them at that time, and sometime in March received news of a running class that they would be offering. I was just finishing up my C25K program and had not yet run my first race, but I signed myself and Erin up for their 5K class, anticipating that I would need the extra encouragement to continue after I achieved my first goal.

The six week class, meeting once a week on Tuesday evenings, began mid-May- perfect timing to keep me going. Having learned a lot of the basics while pursuing the C25K program with the online group, what I really wanted was for someone to run alongside me and help me with any mistakes I might be making from one step to the next. As it happens, for once in my life, I was already doing the athletic thing right- and was beyond most of the people in the class!

Well, except for Erin, of course. Our first meeting with the group we discussed our goals for the class. Erin was the only one to declare that she wanted to run a faster 5K than she had already run. We broke out into groups after a few classes, figuring out who ran a similar pace and sticking with those folks each week. The only one in the class, besides the teachers Sorita and Lauren, who could keep up with Erin was a guy in his 20's named Todd, who was taking the class with his fiance' leading up to their wedding. Each week when we began our run, Erin and Todd would lead off, the rest of us following in bunches.

One of the neat things about the class was learning some of the local running trails. There are a number of lovely places to run around here, and breaking out of my routine of running the same three miles of pavement was an unexpected and genuine treat.

Our graduation was a local 5K race that occurs each third Thursday of the months of May through September, sponsored by a local Pub that is right on a local trail. The Pub offers a free beer to each runner after the race, making the Third Thirsty Thursday race a very popular event! The week before our "graduation" we met at the trail where the race would be run to have a test run and familiarize ourselves with the terrain. Mostly flat and shady, the Thun trail is a rails to trails reclamation which is so pleasant to run. Lauren told Erin that she would be running with her for the actual race to keep her on track for beating her former time of 26:57. Lauren runs in the crazy "ultra-marathon" races, 50 miles at a stretch, so she was up to this. I was personally hoping to beat my own time of 32:40.

Race day arrived and we were wearing our A Running Start shirts- neon yellow and not-to-be-missed in the crowd. Over 400 people turned out for the race, breaking a record, evidently, for this particular course. Kate brought the camera along, and we met up with our fellow classmates for a group shot and pep talk from Sorita. Lauren put us through a little warm-up run across the field, which made me sort of nervous- i wanted to save my energy for the race. Erin and Lauren had a chat about her goals, and when Erin said that she was hoping for something in the 24 minute range Lauren just chuckled and said, "we'll see".

Time came to line up, or rather, gather in the field, for the start. The trail is only 6 feet wide, so the 400 runners gang up in the field, start running in the right direction, and gradually merge onto the trail. At about 1/4 mile the crowd is thinning out a bit, so it's not packed the whole time. We started, we merged, we proceeded down the trail, and for a bit I felt like I was running backwards as the faster runners passed me by in DROVES. Before I got to the 1 mile point, the first racers were already coming back from the turnaround at 1 1/2 miles. I soon saw some of the neon yellow shirts- Erin being the first, followed closely by Lauren- and we shouted encouragement to one another.

Turning around at the far point was encouraging, and the rest of the race went well. I found a burst of speed to finish and passed a couple of ladies as we neared the end. I finished in 30:33, shaving two minutes off my first time! I found Erin and learned that she had done even better than that. Lauren told me that as they neared the end of the race Erin needed a breather, so they slowed a bit to allow her to gather her resources for the final push. They sped back up and, since she wasn't running a full timer on her watch, Lauren started looking for the time clock to see how they were doing. As the crowd cleared Lauren saw the clock register 23:09 and shouted, "GO Erin, GO!" Erin crossed in 23:20, slicing more than 3 1/2 minutes off her former time!

Erin Bleacher had also run with us, coming right before me, and Michelle drove the exhausted girls home since the free beer didn't appeal to them. Kate and I joined the festivities on the back deck of Trooper Thorns, where the sweaty, victorious runners were packed shoulder to shoulder, reveling in the completion of the event. As I enjoyed my beer and soft pretzel the announcements of the winners began. As it happens, Erin came in third in her age group! There were many more young people running here than in Pottsville in April, so getting third was still a great achievement!

We are now preparing for our second Thirsty Thursday run, but Erin may opt out. She is running every morning with the Cross Country coaches and team from the High School, and her training for that comes first. I'll be running though, and can hardly wait!

Yet Another Graduation!

2010-07-12T12:39:00.003-05:00

Now that we have Bekah's graduation under our belt, we had another one to enjoy. Isaac was finishing 6th grade, and at the Intermediate School they always have a graduation ceremony to commemorate the occasion. We had gotten an email from his teacher to notify us that- unknown to Isaac- he would be getting a special award. Jim and I went on over to the school with Kate and Bekah; Erin walked from the High School, as did other siblings still in classes.

The sixth graders had all dressed up, and the parents of girls had bouquets of flowers ready. Isaac and a number of other kids received an academic Honor Award for achieving a grade point average of 3.7 or higher. He was pleasantly surprised as he was called to come forward and shake the Principle's hand and get his award. At that point Isaac had not yet found us in the crowd as he usually does, but by the end of the whole ceremony he had.

When the time came for the general graduation roll to be read, they had each child stand where they were with their class to be recognized. Sweet, silly boy- he looked right at us and waved.

Isaac with his teacher, Mr. Stauffer.

Summer had now begun.

But Wait, There's More

2010-07-09T05:51:00.004-05:00

So we have gotten as far as the graduation. Let's see, we then had a graduation party which was a lot of fun. Shopping at Sam's for the needed items the day before was a huge help, since Bekah and I were preparing all of the food besides the cake. (The cake I ordered from the same lady who made Kate's cake three years ago.) Dad spent the day with us again, his final day before heading home.

Saturday morning we were up early and cooking away in the kitchen, preparing the house, re-arranging the furniture and getting the backyard ready for an uncertain number of friends and family. I seem to remember that the weather forecast was giving us a bit of anxiety, since we really wanted to focus outdoors. But no anxiety for our graduate- she focused on the food. Slicing and dicing, boiling and draining. She made mountains of macaroni and potato salads, deviled eggs, guacamole, onion dip, and cole slaw galore. I had chicken marinating and burger meat ready to go, as well as a whole lot of hot dogs. We set the dining room table up for buffet serving and were simply overflowing with bountiful goodness.

There were things in the yard to prepare as well, so Jim and Isaac focused out there. Our friend John Schuchman came early to lend a hand and before long a volleyball net was up and ready for action. At three o'clock friends began to arrive, and before long the house and yard were a-swirl with activity. I got the grill fired up and filled it with the meats. Yum!

In the weeks prior to Bekah's graduation I had been working on a slide show of photos from the day she was born to present. I had time to put a few shots from the graduation in the day before the party, and we had that running in a continuous loop on the TV. This is probably my favorite part. Our dear friends here have not known us for more than four years now, so none of them watched my kids grow up. Showing them her baby pictures was a lot of fun.

Speaking of pictures, here;s a link to the album on Facebook!

The party was a success, with the food, fun, and visiting. At the very end, after most folks had already gone, the promised rain began to fall. A gentle ending to a perfect day.

And we had enough potato and macaroni salads left over to feed a family of 14 for two months...

Rebekah’s Graduation!

2010-07-05T21:01:00.001-05:00

Even though almost a month has passed, it's still hard to fathom that our Rebekah has graduated from High School. There's something about graduation time that is so hectic and hurried, that the reality of what is occurring doesn't sink in until it's over and done with.

Let's see, we dropped Nathaniel at the Airport early in the morning on a Tuesday, and five hours later my Dad arrived from Texas, having driven up for the graduation and missing Nathaniel by a whisker. With Dad's arrival the countdown began. By this time Rebekah has finished her finals and is in the thick of rehearsals and graduation preparations. We have been so blessed to have Dad join us for each graduation, and he arrived exactly when he said he would, right about 11 o'clock in the morning. I now realize that his Navigation System was giving him an expected arrival time all along,… but my Dad has always been that accurate himself, so it's hardly cheating.

With Dad's arrival the countdown has begun. There will be shopping to do, dinners to make, formal dress on two occasions, and ceremonies to attend. Dad will be leaving before the party on Saturday, but the crowning event, the Graduation ceremony is on Thursday… tick tock.

In the rush of things that week, the whole point of the activity almost got lost among the plans and preparations. Rebekah was graduating from High School. Our third baby was celebrating a major milestone in her life, the achievement of her high school education and the beginning of the next phase of her life. There really is too much hustle and bustle around such an occasion to keep focus on the importance and gravity. Then again, maybe all of the rush keeps us moving when we might be tempted to stop everything just to marvel that twelve years have flown by in the blink- or two- of an eye!

Our first evening with Dad we went out to dinner at Fridays, since Bekah was working, and she being the focus of our week and the reason Dad was even here, it seemed appropriate to be in the same establishment with her. Erin and I left early for our running class- but that's another post.

Wednesday Dad arrived at the house bright and early and we spent the day together. Between shopping, looking at Aunt LaRue's photos on Facebook, and planning meals and activities it was fairly exhausting. We were planning to make our favorite dinner, Chicken Scarpariello, for Dad's visit, and the Rebekah made Zabaglione to go with fresh berries, yet it was all too hurried and rushed by the time we dashed off for the Baccalaureate ceremony at the school. Dad had both of his cameras with him, so Kate used one of those, Dad shot with the other, and I was shooting with mine as well. Never has a single graduate been more thoroughly covered by her own personal paparazzi…

All too soon the big day arrived. Graduation day was Thursday. Already.

Bekah had a final rehearsal in the morning, the rest of us had much to do, and finally, the time had come to get dressed and go. The graduation was taking place in the Sovereign Center in downtown Reading, so we had plenty of room and hadn't had to scrounge for tickets as we had with Kate's graduation. Bekah left early, picking up a friend to take along for the early gathering of the graduates. We all left a bit later, riding in Dad's SUV, since it had enough comfy seats for us. Armed with cameras and enthusiasm, we arrived before the doors were opened and joined the growing crowd outside the Center.

I could go on and on with details of finding our seats, waiting for the ceremony to begin, the ceremony itself, and so on and so forth, but I won't. That is all meaningless jabber to obscure the precious moments. Spotting Bekah walking into the arena in the processional; tall and beautiful, walking with a confident stride. Being spotted by her almost as soon as she got to her seat among the hundreds of graduates. Her sly smiles at us periodically throughout the evening. Watching her walk across the stage and receive her hard earned diploma. Her ear-to-ear grin of triumph as she returned to her seat. Throwing the hats into the air as the class of 2010 were declared to be graduates. Finding her among the throng outside the Center after the ceremony for hugs, tears, flowers, and photos.

After it was all said and done we made our way home to have a late- late- dinner of homemade Sauce Bolognese over penne pasta with salad and fabulous bread. Dessert was Rachel Brackbill's magnificent strawberry rhubarb pie- oh yum! Bekah was so glad to get out of the heels she had chosen to wear for graduation and into comfortable clothes, as were we all. Laughter and relief accompanied our meal. Oh, what a feeling. Really, really finished with High School. How very amazing.

We are looking forward to having Dad come up sometime for a non-occasion, relaxing visit. But what a treat to have him be here to see his Grandchildren graduate. Family is important, truly.

I am so proud of my Rebekah. My heart overflows.

So Very Much…

2010-07-03T08:24:00.002-05:00

There has been so very much going on that I have so very little time to post anything. So much about which to post; yet no time to give anything the focus that it deserves. When I last left off, we were eagerly anticipating Nathaniel's arrival from Iraq. He arrived at the Harrisburg Airport on a Sunday afternoon and we enjoyed a fabulous two weeks with him. Two weeks was hardly enough time at all, but we managed to fit some neat activities into that small space, with plenty of well-recorded memories to boot.

Recorded memories

Since he had been aiming for Memorial Day weekend, Nathaniel was able to join the rest of us for our annual camping trip with the group from church. This year we went to Hickory Run State Park, notorious for bears, where we saw not a single ursine invader in camp. We were prepared though- nothing with scent, nor food of any description, was left outside of our car. The extra effort paid off in no midnight scares or stolen meals,… but also no photos of a bear sitting at our table chowing down on our dinner. (Yeah, I was almost hoping…)

Camping photos, album 1

Camping photos, album 2

Camping photos, album 3

Camping photos, album 4

Nathaniel loved being out in the coolish, green, lush woods of our beautiful state. We even found a swimmin' hole for the kids to splash in, complete with waterfall. Our first meal, as always, was salmon cooked over the campfire and served on salad, which is one of Nathaniel's favorites. (Our menu for the two weeks was driven by what he'd been missing while in the desert.) We shared fajitas another night with our camping friends, the Sharps. Relaxing with the family far away from the phone, the calendar, and the rush and bustle of home was such a blessing. With the group from church it's also so neat to have our friends wander into our site with some coffee and time to visit, chatting over shared donuts or hot dogs. Always having plenty to share, and never running out of things to talk about, the weekend away is the perfect opportunity to bond with our church family.

Once we got home again the kids had to go back to school, Bekah had finals, and we ran Nathaniel around a bit for some things that he needed. On Wednesday evening we went together to a Reading Phils game. We had gone to several Florida Marlins games while we lived down there, but they are not nearly as fun as a local ballgame. Though the Phils lost rather miserably, we still had a lot of fun. The between-inning activities were a treat, the ballpark hotdogs and fries were as delicious as they should be, and the atmosphere was certainly terrific in our little section since we had our whole family there.

Phils game

On Saturday we took Nathaniel to see the Statue of Liberty. Having discovered in December with the Scouts that going to see Lady Liberty is not a difficult task at all, we were thrilled to have our Soldier join us to see the representation of just what he is defending. Beginning with Ellis Island, there is a lot to see, but we have no ancestors who came through there, so we didn't linger before getting onto the ferry to Liberty Island. The weather reports had unanimously predicted thunderstorms all day in NYC, but we didn't get a single drop of rain. There were some clouds high in the sky, being driven by the near-constant winds, but we had sunny and warm weather all day. Though we had only reserved tickets for the pedestal level- going all the way to the crown requires a reservations far earlier than we were able to manage- we still had a great time and were able to see and photograph as much as we wanted.

Ellis Island and Lady Liberty

Our two weeks flew by and before we knew it the time to return Nathaniel to the Army had come. Jim drove him to the airport early on a Tuesday morning and he made his way back to Iraq. Since his leave was so very close to the end of his deployment it won't be long before we see him again. The time we had was precious, and we are ever so grateful for it. Being able to have all the kids under one roof, able to hug that boy whenever we want… priceless.

I now have some time ahead of me in which I'll be able to catch up here with what's been going on. There's more- much more to share. Our lives have been blessedly full.

Events of Late

2010-05-18T08:42:00.004-05:00

Lately things have been busy around here- how did I ever have time to go to work?!

First of all, Erin got her braces off! I waited to announce anything here because she wanted to see if her friends noticed without being told. Sure enough, some of them asked her if her hair or glasses had changed, realizing that something was different, but not certain what it was.

Also in the works- we are expecting a visit from Nathaniel! He will leave Iraq on Thursday and get to Kuwait. From there it could be 2 to 5 days before he gets here, depending on the availability of flights. As strange as it sounds, we are hoping it takes longer for him to arrive. Once he gets to the Atlanta airport his time for leave begins to tick down. He'll have 15 days and we want it to hopefully encompass Rebekah's graduation on June 10th, or at least catch a bit of my parents' visit up here for the graduation. It's a stretch, but at least having some overlap of visits would be a blessing. Nathaniel hasn't seen his Grandparents in, well, I don't know how long.

Along with planning for Nathaniel's visit, we have a camping trip coming up for which we need to be ready. The annual Memorial Day Weekend camping trip with the group from church will be at Hickory Run State Park this year and Nathaniel is joining us. Erin and I are bringing our running shoes and recruiting other runners in the group to join us, which leads to my next point...

Erin and I have joined a Tuesday evening 5K class given by a local running supply store, A Running Start, to improve our runs. We both were fitted for running shoes at this store and were impressed with their knowledge and attention to detail. The personal attention given to each of us and our unique needs in shoes was such a departure from the non-existent "customer service" in most stores these days. I was able to begin and carry through to running a 5K race with the online encouragement of the Couch 2 5K program, but I am glad to have someone to run alongside me and help with details that might have been missed with my "virtual" training. We've had two classes already and will finish in mid-June with a "Thirsty Thursday" race nearby. It's funny, one thing they are emphasizing in the class is talking while we run. I love, absolutely love, the solitude of my runs. Yet here they are, encouraging the social aspect of running. I can handle that once a week...

There is also a Wedding this summer which we are excited to attend- in Michigan! Jim's cousin Guy proposed to his Sweetheart Angie last July 4th and they are hosting the annual family 4th of July party at their home in Michigan the day after their wedding. Plans for a vacation in Michigan have been made, and we are all excited to see this area of the country. The fact that Michigan is running some gorgeous tourism commercials right now helps too- we've already spotted one of our destinations in one of them!

Did I mention earlier that Rebekah is graduating?! There's something else for which we've been planning! There's not only a party for which to plan, but the visit from my parents as well.

And the washing machine broke down, awaited repair for a week, and was fixed- under warranty.

And we attended the Souper Bowl for our third year in a row.

And Bekah went to three proms on three consecutive weekends.

And my family treated me to a lovely Mother's Day weekend with a walk at Gring's Mill on Saturday, a yummy beverage at Haute Chocolate in West Reading, and a Sunday with no cooking or dishes to do!

And Bible Study is wrapping up for the year with a final meeting and brunch here on Thursday.

And there have been flowers planted, beds weeded, tomatoes and peppers planted and mulched, with much more yet to do...

Whew! I'd better get off the computer and get busy! I need to get some housework done then meet Jim at our polling station to help encourage people to vote for Sam Rohrer for Republican candidate for Governor today!

I'm blessed to be the Mother of five wonderful children, and soon we'll get them all together in front of the camera!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy-jig!

2010-04-26T09:56:00.003-05:00

Ah, Monday morning. Today the weather is overcast and drizzly. The house is quiet. Exactly the sort of day that I would rather spend at home than go to work. And I DO get to stay home!

Before all of the hullabaloo of last week, with the trip to Texas and the mystery illness, I gave my employer at Curves my two-week notice. It turned into a one-week notice since I had to travel all of a sudden, but the result is the same. No more going to work!

My home and routine had become rather frazzled between working three days a week and chauffeuring the kids to their various places after school. I rarely had time to do laundry, clean, plan meals, or cook. Those being my first responsibilities, I finally came to a point of decision that I must simply stay home. The hardest part of that choice is knowing that there are some delightful ladies with whom I've become friends who I will no longer see on a regular basis. Those who are truly my friends, will continue to be, of that I am certain.

But my family must come first. Being able to care for the home while everyone is away at school or work, and have a meal planned and prepared for them when they come home in the evening is simply golden for me right now. There are so many responsibilities that I have, and they were falling to pieces. Now I am blessed to be able to take the time to pick those pieces back up and devote myself to first things first.

I am truly blessed.

CIA Campus Tour

2010-04-24T06:24:00.005-05:00

Three and a half hours from our home, situated on the banks of the Hudson River, sits the beautiful campus of the Culinary Institute of America. We have had Friday, April 23^rd circled on the calendar for months as the day for our campus visit. Blessed with a gorgeous day, we drove into New York with Bekah to go see her school.

I felt like I was on a pilgrimage.

Once we arrived on campus, (formerly a Jesuit seminary) we made our way to the Admissions building, where a light lunch prepared by students was waiting to refresh the weary travelers. There were many families present, yet, in contrast to big University tours, this group numbered around 60, as opposed to hundreds. We were ushered into the theater, (allowed to take our food and beverages of course) to hear presentations on the food service and hospitality industry, the school, and then financial aid. Following these we were divided into four groups for our tour of the campus.

Roth Hall, home to three campus run restaurants, the bookstore, much hands-on training in many classroom kitchens as well as wine studies.

Walking past the Italian restaurant we learned that there are 5 restaurants at the CIA which are open to the public and staffed by the students. We then went to the campus library which is home to the World's second largest collection of culinary books, surpassed in number only by the Library of Congress. Their collection of cooking demonstrations on video is available to the students not only inside the library building, but also through the campus wide wi fi system. So, explained our guide, if one wakes in a cold sweat in the middle of the night before an exam and has forgotten how to filet a salmon, one need only go online and watch the demo. How cool is that?! (And how can I get in on that action from home?!)

As we were shown the French Restaurant in the main building our guide explained that it was named for a French chef, Georges A. Escoffier, who, after serving his country in the Franco-Prussian War in the 19^th century, organized the preparation of food for a restaurant kitchen. Before this gentleman changed things, two people could order the exact same chicken dish, and have them delivered to the table looking like entirely different meals. Escoffier instituted the brigade de cuisine system, and with military efficiency and predictable uniformity, meals were prepared and served in French restaurants, and then all over the world.

Student staff enjoying an early dinner together before opening the American Bounty restaurant for the evening.

Walking past classrooms and looking through the windows we saw so many tools and machines, yet always students working busily with their hands. Students in white chef coats with tall white hats were chopping, slicing, rolling, cutting, measuring, sifting, pouring, stirring and more. This is a hands-on education. In the earlier presentation the one statistics that returned to mind was the 1300 hours of hands-on training provided by an education at the CIA. Simply amazing.

In the Baking building our guide pointed out one particular instructor, Chef Schorner, and explained that he was the man credited with introducing Crème Brulee to the United States. God bless that man. The students he was instructing as we watched numbered eight. How's that for student teacher ratio? In another classroom we watched as magic was happening- chocolate. Our guide explained that that particular chef not only taught, but had written the book on chocolate. No, really, the textbook used in the instruction of pastry chefs was written by that man. Awesome! As we gazed through the windows at the chocolate kitchen, a student bearing a tray of chocolate covered delights offered us samples.

Here is where my discipline had to kick in.

I am now taking an antibiotic which requires an empty stomach; 2-3 hours after eating or 1 hour before. The clock had started with the light lunch which I finished at 1 o'clock. I was taking my next dose at 3, thus freeing me to eat again at 4 o'clock. This would normally be no issue for me at all, but I'm touring Food Mecca and can't taste samples at will! The agony!

Right at 3 o'clock we ended our tour, and returned to the theater in the Admissions building. I grabbed a glass of water and took my next dose of Doxycycline and sat down as we watched a chef prepare a dish that she was going to demonstrate for us,… after giving us samples to taste! She was stirring together diced pancetta with slivered almonds and garlic in a pan with a little olive oil. Tossing in some chili flakes, butter and then chicken stock, she simmered this wonderful concoction before adding roasted dates, a bit of chopped parsley, and topped the finished dish with goat cheese. The smell was heavenly as assistants brought our samples to us in small cups.

I neglected to mention that when we returned to this room there were desserts waiting for us. Beautiful desserts. Wonderful desserts. Heavenly desserts. And yet, for me, off limits desserts. Until 4:00.

So my sample of this roasted date and pancetta dish sat on my tray next to the slice of cake as the minutes crawled by. Time slowed to nearly standing still.

Chef Amanda Hammonds, however, gave us quite an entertaining demonstration as she slowly prepared a single portion, complete with overhead cameras projected to screens so we could watch her every move. A graduate of the CIA, she clearly loves this school, and regaled us with tales of other graduates in their post-CIA careers as well as stories from the classrooms. Her excitement for the school was infectious, and if anyone there hadn't already finalized a decision to apply to the CIA, they sure must have once she was finished. Her motto is, "fat is good, pork fat is king"! (This from an obviously fit and attractive lady; very good PR for the school.)

I kept a close eye on the time and at precisely 3:59 I gave up the fight and tasted my delectable sample before enjoying my dessert. Oh. Yum.

How many campus bookstores look like this?

When the program ended we were free to wander about the campus, check out the gift shop, and simply enjoy the last of the afternoon. We did just that, snapping a few photos as well, before going to the Apple Pie bakery cafe run by Baking and Pastry students for a simple dinner. Oh, what a day, what an absolutely splendid day. We are more convinced than ever that Rebekah will receive an unmatched education at the CIA, and are thrilled for her future.

The Apple Pie bakery cafe'

Perfect day

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…

2010-04-23T21:56:00.003-05:00

While I was in Texas, the rest of my family had to make do without me back home. Now that Kate is not working, she had the flexibility to step in and take over the day to day operations to keep everything running smoothly, which, I am proud to say, she did marvelously well. A normal day for me would require not only keeping the chores done and planning for and preparing meals, but also much chauffeuring of kids including getting Bekah from school to work, and getting Erin after track practice. It doesn't sound like much, but that is all happening at the end of the school day and running sometimes past five o'clock, which means any dinner must be well planned in order to be served before, say, bedtime.

Every time I called Kate to see how things were going she answered with a sweet, "Hi Mommy". Not once did she complain or grouse about all that she had to do. On the contrary, she would give me a brief rundown of her day, maybe ask where something was, and be just a calm and dear as she could be. It almost seemed, (dare I say) as if she were enjoying her domestic role. On occasion I also spoke with Erin or Isaac and they uttered not a single complaint about how things were going at home. Jim assured me more than once that Kate was serving above and beyond the call of duty.

Tuesday morning I called early to say good morning to the kids and tell Jim about my suspicion that I had Lyme, and was told that he couldn't come to the phone because he was outside hosing off a carpet that the dog had barfed on. In fact, all of the animals had been sick, meaning that approximately every floor in the house had an urgent need for cleaning.

Oh dear.

Having woken to that scenario on a couple of occasions myself, I knew exactly what they were going through, and it wasn't pretty. Am I a bad mommy for feeling a glimmer of relief that I was out of state? When I talked to Jim and Kate later in the day it sounded as if things were under control. No panic, no complaints, just a casual wondering if we still needed the dog… which I also wonder every time I clean up after her. That feeling soon passes, as it did this time as well.

Wednesday as I was waiting for my connection at O'Hare I got a breathless call from Erin at her track meet. She had just completed her 1 mile race and placed 2^nd, with a personal best time of 6:45! She was so thrilled with her accomplishment and dropped everything to call me right away- still fresh from her run. I'm so honored that she called me in the midst of her excitement. I had known that she could improve her timing and start placing in the races. She certainly had the drive and the discipline for it. Her relentless training is showing. What a blessing.

Walking into our home, finally, at ten pm, was like stepping into an oasis of peace and calm. Kate and the kids had the house immaculate, with fresh flowers in little cups and vases lining the kitchen windowsill and in the table. Clean floors, countertops, and carpet, with everything in its place, neat and tidy. A green smoothie waiting for me- as per an earlier request, and sweet hugs from my dear ones, were the perfect welcome home.

I am truly blessed.

Trip to San Antonio

2010-04-22T15:42:00.003-05:00

Central Texas in the Springtime is bluebonnets blanketing every open field, wide open sunny skies, and the relentlessly mouth-watering smell of smoky barbecue on the breeze. If you happen to get the opportunity; go. (Frightful Admission: I did not take my camera. Horrors.)

I flew down to San Antonio to give my Mother some help last week since her husband of 17 years, Frederic Reed, passed away. Fred was older than my Mom, and his last few months were a steady decline. Mom did her best and went above and beyond her natural capacities to spend every day with him whether in the hospital or the rehabilitation center, and to be as encouraging to him as she possibly could. After several months Fred was finally allowed to come home, but his body was just too tired to continue. With Mom and loved ones present, he died on April 5th, 2010.

In the days immediately following, Mom didn't yet need me there, and my brother Charles was able to drive down and stay with her. When she called last week to tell me that she was ready for me to come, I made the flight reservations. Due to a misunderstanding, I wound up planning my trip for the weekend before the Memorial Service, but this gave me a chance to help her prepare. There would be arrangements to finalize, details to figure out, an obituary- written by her sweet neighbor- to email, and house cleaning to do. Between Mom's health also in a decline of sorts, with two knee replacements on top of other issues, and the last few months of spending virtually every waking moment at Fred's side, she has not been able to care for her home as she used to.

Mom lives about an hour north of the airport; probably 30 minutes if there are no cars on HWY 281 and all the lights are green, actually. So I contacted my Aunt LaRue to see if she and Uncle Graham would be able to give me a ride from the airport to Mom's, thus saving her the trip, and giving me a chance to see the relatives who have so graciously hosted our daughters in the recent past. They were able, and so Kate drove me to Harrisburg to meet my early flight Saturday morning, and several hours and one change of planes later, I was hugging my Aunt on the sidewalk outside of the San Antonio airport.

We had a longer chat than anticipated, since the traffic going North on 281 was abysmally slow due to a breakdown of several traffic lights. We finally arrived at Mom's, and I realized that they haven't seen one another in many years. After a brief visit, we say our goodbyes, and Mom suggests we begin with some real Texas BBQ,... probably because I had mentioned it during a phone call on my layover in Chicago.

Mom took me to a fine culinary establishment known as Rudy's, which was near the rehabilitation center where Fred had spent so much time. I had forgotten the distances which Texans take for granted, and it took us almost half an hour, (perhaps longer) to get there, though I'm not entirely sure, because we talked the whole way. Rather, Mom talked, and I listened. She had so much that she just needed to say, still working out what the last weeks have been and rehearsing over her final memories of her husband's life. When she once expressed the thought that she was being awfully self-centered going on the way she was, I assured her that as recently as her loss, and as fresh as her grief, she needed to mourn and everyone would certainly understand.

Rudy's was fabulous and we left satisfied that we had enjoyed the genuine barbecue of Texas. The grocery store and another couple of errands later, and we were on the way to her home. This is where it gets interesting.

After purchasing my non-refundable tickets, I came down with a fever. No problem. I have often had little fevers come and go with only bed rest and a bit of OTC medicine. I needed to get to Mom, so after a couple of days nursing myself at home, I loaded up on the meds and hopped those planes. I figured the issue would soon be resolved and by the time Sunday morning rolled around I'd be up to taking Mom to church and then digging into some major helping. Yet Saturday evening my fever was catching up to me, with the addition of aching muscles all down my back. Sunday morning, instead of hopping up fresh and ready to go, I could barely turn my head without pain.

Mom knew exactly what to do. The urgent care clinic in Bulverde was open seven days a week, and walk-ins weren't only welcome, they were the reason for their existence. Fortunately we arrived only minutes after they opened, and only one patient was in before us. Once I was in to see the Doctor and he had asked all of his questions and examined me he sat down and said, "I don't like this at all". Hooray. Not what one wants to hear. He believed that I had Meningitis and wanted us to go straight to an Emergency Room where I could get the only test that would tell for sure. A Lumbar Puncture.

Oh joy.

With this I handed the keys to Mom, (different story) and we were off while the clinic called ahead to make sure we were seen immediately. Let me just tell you, having someone call ahead to the ER to say that you are coming in with a suspected case of Meningitis is the way to get red-carpet service when you arrive. I don't think that I had finished writing my name on the first form on the clipboard when I was whisked away to have my vitals recorded and then I was ushered into an examination room to clothe myself in the thin bit of cloth and snaps which has been misnamed a "gown".

This Doctor was a bit more calm as he examined me and asked me the same questions, for which none of the answers had changed. He then explained to me the two different types of Meningitis. Bacterial Meningitis, according to him, involves more nasty symptoms which I did not possess, and, as he put it, "one often goes from onset of symptoms to not here anymore in 24 hours". His initial impression of me was that I was not afflicted with this type of Meningitis, confirmed by my recitation of the timeline of my own symptoms. He still suspected that I might have Viral Meningitis, which could be diagnosed with that delightful little procedure called a lumbar puncture. Yet once confirmed, the only treatment would be merely to treat the symptoms.

My brilliant idea; skip the scary test, and go straight to the "treat the symptoms" part!

With assurances that I'm okay to drive- thank you- and confident that I'm not going to die, taking with me everyone with whom I've crossed paths, I tell Mom that driving is to be part of my recuperative therapy, and we leave the hospital. We have to re-call the many people Mom had alerted while waiting for me. No small task.

Stopping only to get soup, Aleve, and juices, as well as other groceries, we head home for Mom to care for me. Please understand what I mean when I say that she was thrilled. She hasn't had an occasion to take care of her adult daughter in more than two decades, and she can bring all of her motherly love to bear in watching over me. Attempting to do so while separated by several states and having only phone contact has been manifestly frustrating to her all these years.

Moreover, my Mom has spent the last several years caring for Fred and seeing to his every comfort. Monday, April 5th, that was over in the moment of his last breath. As clearly as all evidence pointed to his imminent demise, she was still brought to her knees with the finality of it. I am no replacement for her husband, most certainly, but having a reason to pull her focus away from herself, even for a day or so, seemed to be just the thing she needed.

My idea of help blown to the wind, we did manage to get some lists made, appointments made, and the obituary finalized and emailed. Along the way we also had some good time together just talking and remembering. I think that we were able to share some special moments, which would have been missed if I had been energetically tackling another pile of tasks.

Monday night I realized what must be ailing me. A Texas Doctor wouldn't as readily think of Lyme as a Pennsylvania Doctor would, but as I surveyed my symptoms it occurred to me that I had been looking at a rash almost the whole time without understanding what it was. Skipping the actual location of said rash, I'll just say that I had earlier chalked it up to skin flushing due to the fever. Taking another look, I saw that it was indeed round, and could very well be a bullseye. My stiff neck prevented me from seeing any more, but it made perfect sense. We live in Lyme Heaven, Isaac and most of our friends and neighbors have had Lyme, and we see the rotten little ticks on a regular basis. A series of phone calls made the next morning secured me an appointment with my General Practitioner, thanks to our friend, Dr. Noble. Relief.

Charles returned the night before I left, and Wednesday morning he and Mom accompanied me to the airport. I drove there, neither of them liking the others' driving habits. Once we pulled up to the curb at my terminal I was about ready to toss the keys into the air and run as they discussed who should pilot the chariot home... Hugs and warm assurances of our mutual love exchanged, I gathered my things and entered the airport, confident that they would make it home somehow, praying that it would be safely!

My flight to O'Hare to change planes was uneventful and I enjoyed the long underground walk from terminal C to D. I hadn't done much walking at all the entire time, and it felt good to stretch my legs. When it was almost time to board my plane, they called over the intercom for a volunteer to take a later flight to Harrisburg in order to free up space on the aircraft, with a free round-trip ticket to anywhere in the contiguous 48 states being the reward for such generosity. The tiny aircraft that we were about to board being similar to what I had flown in on the way to O'Hare Saturday, I understood the need. I joined two others in volunteering to change flights and was given a voucher for a free round-trip. There's my "actually be visible help to Mom" trip.

My changed flight was leaving from Terminal C, so I repeated my walk, which was actually a delight, because the tunnel has been decorated with an artful display of changing colored light rods. I also had the chance to thank a group of young Soldiers for their service to our country, which I try to do every time I travel.

The aircraft for my new flight was a larger size, and far more comfortable- what a blessing!

The details are getting too numerous to share, and you may have already nodded off to sleep, so I'll just say that I am happily home, have had my appointment, bloodwork, and am glad to have Doxycycline flowing through my veins. Doxy, do your work!

God moves in mysterious ways. I am certain this time was not wasted, though I may not ever fully know how.

Couch 2 5K Graduation!

2010-04-15T07:34:00.004-05:00

Saturday was gloriously sunny, with a chilly wind blowing. Perfect day for a run! Jim and the Erins, (our Erin, and our neighbor Erin) and I drove to Pottstown, about half an hour away, early enough to get through the registration process. Not sure what that would entail, it ended up being simple enough. Go to one table to check in and receive a number, another to pick up t-shirt and coupons, and don't miss the table with information on upcoming area races! The Chick-fil-a cow was walking around handing out sandwich coupons and the room slowly filled with racers and supporters. Kate and Erin B's mom Michele arrived soon, our photographer and cheerleaders- vital to our success!

It wasn't too difficult to separate the new runners from the experienced. There is a look of confidence in the face of one who has "been there- done that" that is unmistakable. Others follow the lead of these seasoned folks, watching for cues. Grab some of the snack now or avoid that table? Start stretching? Even jog around the outside of the building? One thing for sure; when we lined up at last at the starting line, those in front were not wearing sweatshirts or their race-day shirt freshly plucked from the table. They were outfitted to RACE, faces like flint, eyes on the prize.

We, on the other hand, situated ourselves somewhere in the middle of the pack. Sharon Lucas and I decided to start out together, but since I am taller than she, understood that we'd meet at the finish. The Erins were nearby somewhere, but I sure didn't expect to see them until it was all over. There was a bit of an announcement from a bullhorn that only those in front could hear, then the start- we were off!

Jim soon passed me by, running his own race as I'd hoped he would. Sharon and I ran and talked until the first turn. At that point she told me to go on ahead and I lengthened my stride just a bit. I've enjoyed the solitariness of running up to now, and even in a pack of people was able to find that quiet alone place as I ran.

At the one-mile mark there was a volunteer calling out the time. I made it in 10:30. The next mile was 20:34- not bad. Since the roads were relatively level, no hills, it was an easy run. Beginning next to a golf course and then continuing through a neighborhood it was also a lovely run, with blossoming things surrounded by the green of Spring. Having volunteers stop the traffic was a blessing, and I tried to thank them at each intersection. When I came upon the water table I had a quick conversation with myself, asking whether I needed that cup of cool water, and decided against it- I was not feeling the least parched.

I'm not sure if it was before or after the water table that I spotted them, but Kate and Michele had made their way by a shortcut to the middle of the course for photographs and cheers! When asked why I am smiling in the shots of the race, it is because they were yelling their heads off with encouragement. Michele has been a soccer mom for years- she knows how to yell!

As we wound our way to the finish we passed the local high school which was hosting sporting events and buses were arriving- yay for running past school buses... (I always try to time my runs at home to miss the school buses, not always successfully)

About the time I could see the finish line I heard a familiar voice- my Erin was cheering me on! Having finished, she was walking the course back a bit to encourage the rest of our group in their final bid for the end of the race. (At least she wasn't doing what many of the gung-ho athletes were doing and running the race backwards. I passed a few of them looking just as fit and strong as at the start.)

Erin's encouragement was just what I needed to kick it in and find a bit more git-up-and-go. One more turn and there were Kate and Michele, cheering and shooting photos! And there was the finish line! One last bit of sprint from I'm not sure where, and I was across the line at 32:40! Right behind me was Sharon, who had followed me by a few paces the entire way. I'd had no idea.

We cheered on the rest of our group as they came in, invigorated by the run and the excitement generated by the whole event. The results were posted online a few days later and we were thrilled to learn that our Erin came in first in her age group! Erin B. was third for the same group, and Sharon was 2nd in hers! We older folks just wanted to complete our run; Erin Kelly wanted to place. Jim finished without walking at 28:28, a time in which he used to run 10Ks. (It's okay honey- gotta start somewhere.) Everyone accomplished their goal.

We all came to our home for a Belgian waffle feast and fellowship before moving into the rest of the day. Life goes on.

But I have actually run- without walking- a 5K race. wow.

When's the next one?!

Texas Bekah!

2010-04-13T16:23:00.002-05:00

It's already the 13th and I'm only now sitting down to collect my thoughts on the recent activities? Time is zooming by awfully fast these days.

Actually, a lot of the time that I spent at the computer around the week of Easter was watching for facebook updates from and about Bekah, who was enjoying a fabulous Spring Break in San Antonio with my Dear Auntie LaRue and Uncle Graham. Several months ago Bekah approached me with the opening line of, "Since it's my Senior year of High School, I've been thinking about Spring break and wondering if I can..."

"Whatever it is, the answer is NO!"

Actually, she was asking if she could spend some time with the Aunt and Uncle who she's only recently begun to know. How could I not give this plan my enthusiastic endorsement? Aunt LaRue is my Dad's "baby sister" and my own relationship with her was spotty since they lived a whole 7 hours away while I was a child in Wichita Falls, Tx. The Summer of 1980 however, I spent a month with them as my Mom contemplated a move from our home in "tornado alley" to anywhere else. San Antonio beckoned, in no small part because of our relations there, and we moved in time for me to begin 8th grade.

The most important aspect of that Summer visit was my introduction to my Savior, Jesus Christ, by my Dear, (and I've recently learned) newly Saved, Aunt and Uncle. They had me at their church every time the doors opened, in a VBS and youth group activities to include a lock-in, and Christian books and comic books to fill my quiet times at their home. Jesus was the topic of many of our conversations and I remember being slightly embarrassed by my Aunt sprinkling her talk with "Praise the Lord"s all the time.

Funny, I think I talk like that now.

But the Lord had a purpose for the time spent there, and I sat on the floor by the bed in my cousin Meredith's room one warm Summer afternoon and prayed for, "Jesus to forgive my sins and come live in my heart,... and please don't leave me behind when the Rapture comes."

Now my children are getting to know my Aunt LaRue and Uncle Graham, not least because of Facebook. Silly, but this "time wasting" networking site has actually introduced my kids to their relatives. Now Bekah, fired by Kate's stories from her September visit, wanted to go for the immersion experience and we were thrilled to put her on that airplane. (Wait, that could have been worded differently...)

Rebekah had a wonderful visit filled with cousins, Mexican food, Texan culture, and touring the beautiful city and surrounding towns. What a treat and a blessing for her to be received with such love and excitement. Grateful for closer ties being forged between our families, I look forward to the next adventure, whether it be in PA, TX, or somewhere in between... hmmm...

Now there's a thought...

Glimpses of Life

2010-03-23T08:25:00.013-05:00

Lately I have been blessed to share my love for photography with others by photographing events for friends and our church. From Baby Showers and Baptisms, to the recent Ordination and Installation of our associate Pastor, and then the local G.R.A.C.E. Conference held at our church, I've been given license to shoot away with my camera. Here are some of my favorite images from recent events.

Ross listening to Lane Tipton preaching during the ordination service.

"...and they prayed and laid their hands on him..."

After the baptism, Grandmommy and Auntie enjoy their sweet baby.

Granddad can't get enough of his little darling.

Beautiful Emma and her cello.

Our church at dusk, as people file in for the G.R.A.C.E. Conference.

Annie directing the choir.

The Pastors preparing for the evening's introduction and sermon.

Preparing for the hymn sing.

Father and daughter.

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!"

Catching up with friends at the Baby Shower.

Mother and daughter...

Friends as close as sisters.

Joyful expectation.

These are merely a few of hundreds, but they are some of my favorites. Behind my camera I'm as happy as a clam,... (if clams are happy, that is). If these photos blessed their recipients, then that's a blessing to me in return.

St. Patrick's Day Surprise!

2010-03-20T13:35:00.003-05:00

Blogging is turning into a family affair. I've had this blog going since we moved to PA in the Fall of 2006. My Aunt and my cousin, both in San Antonio, not only follow my blog, but each has their own. (each has/ each have...?!) Before Facebook it was how we kept up with one another. Now it continues to add a depth and richness that Facebook will always lack.

One treat to following my Dear Auntie on her blog is watching the progress she makes on various projects. Her latest endeavor has been quilting, which she thoroughly enjoys. When she and Dear Uncle visited up here a couple of years ago, one stop on the tour which thrilled her to her toes was the Amish Quilt museum in Lancaster County. She'll post photos of the mysterious process, and I can watch as swatches of fabric become one unified and beautiful quilt.

Lately she has been working on a quilt with such beautiful rich colors and a floral background. Her commentary on the process was illuminating; her commentary on the "Secret Recipient" was mysterious. Slowly but surely- actually, far faster than I would ever expect to accomplish such a feat myself- the quilt came together. The photo of her sweet little dog "Treasure" having a nap on it to test it was especially cute.

Wednesday evening a box arrived in the mail. My Dear Auntie had designed and made that gorgeous quilt for me! The colors being the deep red of a fine red wine, and the golden color of my sweet kitty Milo, are absolutely perfect! What a wonderful gift, the love and care that went into this quilt are staggering to me. When I curl up in it I will feel my Dear Auntie's loving arms around me and know that I am truly blessed.

Enjoying the first of many cuddle-times with my Milo and my quilt!

The quality control on this particular product was very, very high. Treasure tested and Milo approved!

Thank you more than I can say Auntie Dear!

Running Like a Calvinist

2010-03-16T15:33:00.002-05:00

This is just a silly thought that reverberates through my head sometimes when I run...

My Grandmommy, God rest her soul, was a true Southern Gentlewoman. There was not a single point of etiquette with which she was unfamiliar. I was always instinctively on my "best behavior" with her, and it was not uncomfortable, but rather a sort of security. Knowing how to act in situations, not due to mere personal experience, but because Grandmommy said that it was correct, was actually comforting.

Lessons learned ranged from where to place the silverware when setting the table to how to place the fork and knife on the plate when one was finished with one's meal. Cover your mouth when sneezing, yawning, or certain points in chewing. Sit up straight. Don't point. Never, never, never put catsup on your steak- even though Grandfather always did. (horrors!) Please, thank you, yes Ma'am, no Ma'am. Always write Thank You notes- always; a rule which, were she to have lived into our age of email, would still stand inviolable.

Don't spit in public.

Oh Grandmommy, I'm so, so sorry.

Since I began the Couch 2 5K running program 8 weeks ago, spitting has become a subject of question for me for the first time in my life. Now, the beginning runs were not a problem here. But once I began running for 8 minutes or more at a stretch, I began to feel the uncomfortable need to spit. Having been raised to be a Lady, I refused to do so, even on the lonely back roads when nobody but the chipmunks might witness such a breach of feminine bearing.

And then I came across this briefest of passages in The Institutes of the Christian Religion, (Which, yes, I am still reading- finally into November on the schedule!).

In discussing "The discipline of the (Roman Catholic) clergy and its degeneration", John Calvin tells us, among other things, that, "In the time of Cyrus... it remained a religious custom that no one should blow mucus out of his nostrils, but was permitted to suck it up and feed within (to the point of putrefaction) the noisome humors..."

In short, Calvin says, "Spit it out!"

I am a Calvinist. When needed, while running, I spit. (But only when nobody's looking)

Sorry Grandmommy!

At Last

2010-03-13T18:43:00.003-05:00

We are clearly past any danger of Winter snow. (hope that declaration doesn't prove false)

It just seems so very, well, Spring-like, out there this past week. The milder temperatures combined with something special about the sunlight, the return of birdsong to the mornings, and now a whole lot of rain, are all together announcing that Winter is past, Spring is HERE!

The lift in my spirits may be all of these, but I also attribute this new lightness that I feel to a phone call received in the middle of Monday night.

"Hi Mom!"

My very-most-best-favorite words.

Nathaniel called after two months of non-stop work in Iraq. Two months which, for his family at home, had begun to seem like an eternity. Evidently, the Iraqi elections had required a whole lot of support from our helicopters, which then required a whole lot of maintenance from Nathaniel and his crew. They worked around the clock; each shift extended and working until the guys could only stumble to their beds and crash until it was time to get up and do it all over again.

Only Monday did Nathaniel begin to receive a few of the multitude of letters that we had written to him beginning in early February, and was surprised to hear that we had sent cookies. I have since learned that he got the cookies we sent and they are evidently not too bed after a month en route. (But he's 23, a guy, and a soldier.)

He sounded great. He sounded like my son. My Nathaniel.

Since Monday we have had a brief instant message chat online, and I have seen signs of life on his Facebook.

And I have not ceased in my grateful praise and thanksgiving to my Lord, who knew all along where Nathaniel was, what he was doing, and was indeed holding him close and working on his heart.

As a mother my heart was concerned over his long silence. Yet my prayers, (and I take no credit for this) had turned to reliance on God's perfect wisdom and knowledge of the situation. Our Lord has a plan for Nathaniel, who is now an adult, which is for my son's good, and for my Lord's glory. I asked the Lord to help me to trust Him as He worked this plan out for Nathaniel; that He would be glorified not only in Nathaniel's life, but in my response to whatever that plan might involve. Loosing my grip of control over my son- which was a fiction anyway- took the balm of the Word and the ministry of the Spirit as I prayed over these past many weeks.

God graciously allowed us relief from the silence with that phone call. His plan might have been different, yet no more or less glorifying of Himself in the ultimate outcome. But this time the plan included a drop of mercy for us as well.

So, sing away birds of Spring, my heart sings along with you.

Progress

2010-03-01T07:44:00.005-05:00

For the past couple of weeks the weather has varied from snow falling, to lovely sunshine and 40s, yet with the snow barely melting away, back to snow falling again. Through it all, I have managed to be able to get out on the road to run at least three to four days a week. Through a link made available on the Couch 2 5K site, I found a calorie calculator that gave me general guidance for what I should be eating in order to lose weight while I'm putting this much work in to running.

I'm not a fanatic, and certain disciplines elude me, others seem downright obsessive. So, easy to follow general guidelines are more my style. My mind tends towards justifying many things, and so I could easily tell myself that, "Since I ran today, I can have extra!" I do, however, hope to be able to fit back into some of my favorite clothes that have been waiting patiently in the closet for a couple of years, so those justifications won't be tolerated any more.

I have lost 4 pounds and am wearing two pair of jeans that were uncomfortably tight a few months ago... That is the best encouragement of all to keep up with the discipline!

Yesterday was my first day of Week 7 in the C25K program. W6D3 was a 25 minute run with no breaks. Every day of Week 7 is a 25 minute run with no breaks! I increased my distance slightly for W6D3, which, where I am running, meant further uphill before turning around. So I am running down a slope, up another slope, back down that one, and up again at the far end of my run. Including the warm-up walk at the beginning of the run, I am now going beyond two miles. The next increase in distance will get me back to a level area before returning to the hills. Since we live on the top of a hill and the road I run traces the top of the ridge I am limited in where to go without encountering serious inclines. I encourage myself with the thought that it must be strengthening me ultimately to hit the hills. (I could segue here into the church conference on God's Providence, but Isaac just providentially missed his bus- so I have to get going...)

Last night I inventoried my closet just for a reminder of what I'm hoping to wear once the weather warms up. It'll seem as if I've gotten a whole new wardrobe if I stay on track!

April 10, 2010

2010-02-18T08:01:00.004-05:00

Our entry forms for the 5K race in Pottstown, April 10th, are in the mail. Jim, Erin, our neighbor Erin B., and I are entering as a team. I am in my 5th week of the Couch 2 5K training program and am still very excited. Considering that there is still a whole lot of snow on the ground, running has been rather chilly lately. I am learning that it doesn't take long to warm up, and before I'm done I'm even removing my gloves and resenting my hat! (The hat needs to stay on- it keeps my cheap headphones in place.)

Yesterday as I was running the W5D2, which is two 8 minute runs with a three minute recovery walk in between, I was 2 1/2 minutes from the end of the second run when I met two walkers coming toward me. My thoughts of falling down on the road dead were replaced by the desire to keep it up at least until I'd passed them. Then, right at the same moment, my dear friend Heidi and I recognized each other and she immediately went into cheerleader mode! "Go, go, go! You are awesome!" yelled the master of encouragement as I raised my hands with V for victory and grinned from ear to ear.

I need no more evidence that this running thing is mostly psychological. I went from "ready to die" to "totally energized" in a matter of moments with no physical aid at all. I was able to finish well, thanks to my friend's energetic support.

Now if she'll only show up tomorrow when I'm supposed to have a 20 minute run without any breaks...

Bon Appetit!

2010-02-17T19:40:00.006-05:00

I have finally made a dish from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. We have watched the movie several times, bought the cookbook, and read her biography. It is well past time to hit the kitchen!

We chose Roast Chicken in Port Wine, Cream, and Mushrooms, not only because it looked so good in the movie, but also because,... well, it just sounds so scrumptious! As it happens, the movie doesn't quite follow the cookbook. The recipe begins with roasting a whole chicken- they showed chicken breasts; in the movie this was the scene where Julie learns to saute mushrooms perfectly, the mushrooms in the recipe are not sauteed. I ran somewhere down the middle, using chicken breasts and sauteing a few mushrooms while following the rest exactly.

This is also the very first time that I have dealt with a flaming pan of food- something they left out of the movie entirely, but would have been awfully entertaining.

We learned that all of the many steps to making this dish could be sorted out and done in easy portions, instead of taking it all at once. Once the recipe was broken down this way, it wasn't so very difficult. We also learned that when Julia writes, "avert your face" right before, "ignite the cognac", it's a real good idea to take her seriously. Nobody is singed, but we are going to give God all of the credit for that...

Not satisfied with merely cooking the food, we did, of course, photograph the food as well. Enjoy. If you hear of a widget that will allow for a scratch and sniff feature for computers, let me know.

Quickly cook the shallots in butter- real butter.

The Port wine

Mushrooms briefly boiled in water, butter, and lemon juice, then the juice is poured off and reserved and the cream is added to the mushrooms.

Chicken breasts roasted in butter... oh, yum.

A sauce is made from the reserved mushroom juice, port wine, and
mushrooms in cream. Yes, it's actually pink.

The chicken goes into a buttered pan in preparation for cognac and the match...

Woosh!

I'm still not sure how this influenced the flavor- but it sure was cool to do!

Finished product. Poulet au Porto. Be still my heart.

Mobilizing For Sam Rohrer

2010-02-14T14:55:00.006-05:00

My Sweetie sure knows how to show a girl a good time on Valentine's Day weekend.

Yesterday morning we got all dressed up and drove to Harrisburg for... a political conference. Now, normally, I would have wanted to attend a political conference about as much as I wanted a root canal. But this past year has changed things for me. Watching our government seemingly spinning out of control even as people all across our Nation are gathering to loudly protest- and yet not be heard- has raised my awareness. For me, voting has always involved knowing pretty much about the Presidential candidates, but not much about anyone else, and therefore voting the straight Republican Party ticket. No more.

Especially after what was happening in the same hotel where we met yesterday. While we were in one meeting hall with Sam Rohrer, our local State Representative who is now running for Governor, the Pennsylvania Republican Committee was in another meeting hall deciding that the Republicans of PA don't know enough to choose our own candidate in a Primary. The PRC voted yesterday to endorse our state Attorney General and moderate Republican, Tom Corbett, instead of holding an open primary in which the people's choice could be heard.

Really?! Wow.

We have decided to endorse Sam Rohrer, not only because he is a conservative Republican who has served nine terms in Harrisburg and can reliably be trusted to stand up for constitutional government and family affirming public policies*, but because Jim has actually met with him on several occasions to discuss his understanding of the role of government in Pennsylvania and how he wants to lead our state. (*full disclosure- I quoted some of Sam's literature in order to keep this succinct.) We've done our homework. Sam is also a brother in the Lord- but that is not why we are voting for him. It does give us direction in praying for him and his campaign.

Early in Sam's time as a Representative in Harrisburg, he developed a list- a filter, actually- through which every policy needed to pass before he would vote on it.

1.) Is it moral?
2.) Is it constitutional?
3.) Is it needed?
4.) Can we pay for it?
5.) Is this a State issue, or should it be dealt with on a more local level?

A "no" answer on any of these meant a no from Sam. The simplicity is beautiful. His integrity is obvious. Only a man of great personal character, absent of the vanity which political life normally breeds, would hold himself to such honest boundaries.

So, yesterday was indeed interesting and informative. We now have not only bumper stickers and buttons to share with friends and information on Sam's record and agenda, but a petition for which we are gathering signatures to get his name onto the ballot for the Primary election in May. And I didn't go empty-handed, I took my camera. Enjoy.

Some 400 people came to this event.

Plenty of information to be had.

I love camera folks.

Listening intently.

Our choice for Governor, Sam Rohrer

"Go Sam Go!"

Man of integrity.

And the crowd goes wild...

Our beautiful Capitol building, covered in snow.

Running Around Blizzards

2010-02-09T15:37:00.006-05:00

Last Friday night we had a snowstorm that lasted well into Saturday. Tonight, Tuesday, we are expecting a blizzard that will last overnight and most of tomorrow. The training schedule which I have been following has me running three days a week with a day between runs for recovery, and I've also been running an extra day to accommodate our friends who want to train together on Saturdays, (M,W,F & Sat).

With the impending weather last week I ran on Monday, Wednesday, and then Thursday, anticipating no training on Friday or Saturday. Friday was clear enough once I got off work after all, so I did get my fourth run in. Saturday there was no finding the road under the two feet of snow, so I was glad to have gotten my days in already.

Now that we have a second snow event within one week, I ran yesterday- Monday- and again today, since the weather hasn't yet arrived. The snowplows have done a masterful job of clearing the roads from Saturday's storm, and they are clean and mostly dry, with occasional areas of slush. The snow is at least two feet deep on either side of the road up here on our hill, and the sun was shining gloriously bright yesterday. It was still shining this morning but in the past couple of hours the sky has begun to darken... the blizzard is most definitely on it's way.

The Road. Beautiful, isn't it?

I feel so much better knowing that my first two days of Week 4 are accomplished. This week the routine is a 5 minute warm-up walk followed by a 3 minute run, 90 second walk, 5 minute run, 2 1/2 minute walk, 3 minute run, 90 second walk and finishing with a 5 minute run and 5 minute cool-down walk. I'm not going to say that it was easy, that second 5 minute run sure got long, but I wasn't as aware of difficulty with my breathing this time. Once I'm finished with each run I come inside to stretch, and I suddenly realized that I was getting a lot more out of the stretching than I usually do. My forehead was pressed right down on my knee and I wasn't dying! I went to a real running store a couple of weeks ago to get the right pair of shoes for me- with some evaluation by the experts there, and I give them credit for reducing the aches and pains that were accompanying my running before.

The Shoes

Seeing improvement like that is certainly encouraging. Realizing that I am making a point to get outdoors even with snow on the ground is giving me hope that I can do this after all. The discipline required to actually train for an event may not be beyond my grasp, and if I can do this, I can accomplish other goals as well.

There are way too many "I"s in this post... Only one more.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
(-Philippians 4:10-13)