I normally don't mind too much when I come down with a cold- after all, when else do I get a break from the hectic routine than when my body enforces it with fever, chills, and aches? But this week I simply don't have the time. This illness is inconveniencing not only me, but the family that we invited to dinner for tomorrow and now need to cancel, for the second time in two weeks; the yard work for which the weather is finally perfect; and the bake sale to which I was supposed to deliver muffins- which would be a biohazard if I made them now. I will miss a second consecutive week of church and Sunday School, to which I was really looking forward this week.
The house is quiet, for now, and I have some time alone with my feverishly swimming thoughts. Catching up on my reading might be a possibility, if I could hold a consistent train of thought long enough to insert new information in the messy filing system of my brain. Fortunately there is already homemade chicken soup in the fridge.
I'd better make a phone call now, before I slip away into a Milo-induced nap. Let's hope next week will work for this dinner... (put roast into freezer....)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
A Spontaneous Turn of Events
Last Tuesday my Mom, who lives near San Antonio, had her second knee replacement surgery. Having waited until she could bear it no longer, she finally has a working pair of knees. When she returned home from the hospital, however, she discovered that her husband, who is quite older than she, could not care for her as she needed. She called on Friday not long after arriving home and asked if I could possibly come down to help. I had a discussion with Jim and Kate, and called Mom back to let her know that both Kate and I were coming, and while I could only stay for the weekend, Kate would continue on with them for another couple of weeks. We booked a flight and arrived within 24 hours of her first call. Indeed, a miracle of modern times.
Mom's utter delight as we walked through the door was enough to justify the trip. Her little home is full to overflowing and she could hardly get around, especially with a walker. Kate got right to work in the kitchen while I worked on clearing mom's room and hallway. I am amazed with Kate. I didn't have to say a word, she pitched right in and worked until almost midnight that first night. Waking up at 6 am is normally out of the question for my sweet Kate, but she hopped right up in the morning to continue on her project while I visited with Mom and continued the cleaning in her room. I was so proud of my daughter as she embodied what I had read only that day on the flight down to Texas:
"…of Christians something even more is required than to show a cheerful countenance and to render their duties pleasing with friendly words. First, they must put themselves in the place of him whom they see in need of their assistance, and pity his ill fortune as if they themselves experienced and bore it, so that they may be impelled by a feeling of mercy and humaneness to go to his aid just as to their own." (Calvin, in Book II, chapter 7:7 of his Institutes of Christian the Religion)
I am now flying home to be Mommy and Wife, and the several other titles I sometimes wear. Kate had a moment of "overwhelm" as I was leaving, but had recovered by the time I called her from the airport. She will have the use of Mom and Fred's car in order to make trips to the store, which will also allow her to stop in at Starbucks and hop online occasionally. Aunt LaRue has graciously agreed to give Kate an afternoon of respite- no small task, since the drive is almost an hour for her. I will return at the end of the two weeks to spend a few days again as Kate finishes up. Meanwhile I am praying that she will be given wisdom, grace and peace from God as she labors in His name to serve her Grandmommy, that she would not grow weary in her task, (Gal. 6:9). We have never really lived close enough to my Mom for my children to get to know her personally, beyond phone calls and occasional visits. I pray that this is a blessed time for them learn more about one another and seal their family bond. (I'm sure Kate will hear lots of stories about my childhood which she has not had occasion to hear as well… oh boy.)
Observations From Air Travel
I love to fly. Getting onto an airplane means that adventures are ahead. Whether those adventures are in new places, familiar places, with family or alone, if I must fly to get there, I am already enjoying myself. This adventure was with family in that Kate was traveling with me and we were going to see Mom. Now I am flying home and my husband and three of my children await my return.
The flight from San Antonio to Chicago was relatively comfortable, there being enough room on the plane that not every seat was filled- I had two seats all to myself and didn't need to disturb anyone when I had to make those trips to the lavatory. Starbucks coffee was one of the beverage selections, and I was a happy camper, (Fred's Folgers coffee leaves me wishing I had chosen against a morning java). At the gate waiting to board my flight I stopped to shake the hand of a young soldier with the 101st and thank him for his service, as my own son is now in Kuwait. Three rows ahead of me there was a Mom travelling with her three young children, the oldest maybe 5 years old. I overheard her telling another passenger that her husband is serving in the Military. Her youngest had a difficult time getting to sleep- yelling a bit as he worked his way down- but who am I to get picky over that? I've travelled with small children myself. He was soon asleep and his sisters by turns sang "Shine, Jesus, shine…" and squealed with delight as the plane banked in a sharp turn to line up for landing.
The weather was clear and lovely as we approached Chicago and once we began our descent I enjoyed the view. I suppose Chicago is considered the upper Midwest, and the landscape was beautiful. Like a quilt with blocks of varying shades of green and brown, stitched together with clear, bold seams of roads, the farmland soon gave way to Suburbia with the blocks becoming studded with neighborhoods of homes, the streets ending many times in neat little cul-de-sacs. From the air it all looked so clean, peaceful, and orderly. At ground level I am sure that is not the case.
As we taxied to the gate and were given the all-clear to unlatch our seatbelts, everyone stood to begin the process of gathering luggage from overhead bins and go on with our lives. The pilot, however, interrupted us with a request from the airport authority to re-take our seats. Puzzled, we sat. Then the announcement that "Chicago O'Hare International Airport and the FBI are proud to welcome Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Patrick Brady, Mr. Brady, please stand and be recognized." As this hero, seated quietly in the middle of the aircraft, rose to his feet, the applause began, and continued as he left the plane first, turning to wave in appreciation. What a moment!
By my count, there were several heroes on board today. A gentleman who has proudly served his country and has been awarded the Medal of Honor; a young man who is serving his country in uncertain times; and the wife of a soldier, serving at home by raising her three precious children while her husband fights for us overseas.
God bless them, each and every one.
Monday, September 14, 2009
New Beginning for a New Bible Study!
September has arrived, the kids have started school, and a new Bible study for the women of Covenant church has begun. This year we are studying the Book of Hebrews. Rather, we are beginning in the Old Testament to build a foundation upon which we will study the Book of Hebrews. Along with the women who accompanied me last year in an exploration of the Attributes of God we have some new faces around the table. The study guide we are using was written by my teacher and mentor from Florida, Toni Barnhill, and this will be my first time through it myself. Hebrews offers a look at Christ through the lens of the Old Testament prophecies about Him. After the crucifixion, on the road to Emmaus, the risen Lord explained to two downcast disciples how it was shown in the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and die in order to accomplish salvation. I imagine His exposition of the Scriptures may have looked something like the book of Hebrews, written later by an anonymous apostle.
The supremacy of the atonement accomplished by Christ on the cross was pointed to in so many ways throughout the Old Testament, and so far outshines them all, and yet, they almost missed it. Hindsight being 20/20, we marvel from our point in time at the confusion of the disciples and Pharisees who were standing right in the middle of the events of our salvation. They not only couldn't see the forest for the trees, they couldn't see the tree for the bark! Of course, it takes the same power now as it did then to open blind eyes to the truth- the power of God, (Matt. 16:16). Now the Book of Hebrews lays it out clearly for us all to see, from the Pentateuch through the Prophets, how Jesus shines out in the pages of the Old Testament. The first question in chapter one of our study will be answered over and over again as we go through the Word this year: "what was God's original plan for His creation"? The answer: "With God there is no plan B". Christ stands at the fulcrum of history, accomplishing the salvation that we so desperately need, after having proved our utter inability to gain it for ourselves. We have the blessing to look back across 2000 years and see the cross and the plan of salvation with clarity.
All praise and honor and glory to Christ, our risen Lord.
Yard Work
We
We have finally done it! Since we have lived in our home here in PA there has been an area in our backyard that has been at best, sorta moist, at worst, a swamp. This has interfered with using our yard to its full potential since it is right in the middle of the flat, clear area where we had envisioned a volleyball net and other backyard games. (Not to mention the nuisance of having to pull the lawn tractor out of axle-deep mud when we get too confident and try to mow it…) Since he has the time now, Jim rented the equipment that he needed to excavate a couple of drainage ditches to redirect the watershed from the hill. Gravel was ordered—44 tons of gravel—which was deposited in the driveway. Pipes and connectors were also delivered. Then came the machines; a backhoe for the first day, then, when that proved insufficient for the job, a larger "excavator" and a Dingo to haul the gravel and dirt. The anticipated two days turned into a week, and the kids and I joined Jim in turning the yard inside out.
The work was exhausting, overwhelming, and dirty. Just about every plan for the week was pushed aside in order to finish the yard. Our house developed a dirt floor. And every bit of the effort, exhaustion and dirt was worth it. Before we finished pushing the dirt back into the first ditch the wet spot was drying up. Now the entire lower yard has a new layer of dirt raked across it, (it had to go somewhere!) and is seeded for new grass and covered in straw. The rain and the sprinkler have been moistening the seed and in three weeks we hope to see an even blanket of new baby grass sprouting across the 4000 square feet of the future site of our lawn games!
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Getting Away
As a last blast for Summer, and a break from the hectic craziness of Jim's return, we took a quick vacation right before school began. For months we had anticipated that the kids and I would be joining Jim in Dubai for a month and had gotten passports and cleared our calendar to that end. Since things changed so drastically and Jim came home instead, we certainly weren't going overseas, but still needed some time away to re-connect and just be together.
A little internet research and several phone calls later and we had reservations to go to two places nearby that Jim and I have wanted to visit our whole lives. Colonial Williamsburg is a history buff's dream come true. Jim has wanted to spend time there for as long as he can remember and it is only a few hours from where we now live. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague in Virginia have been a lifelong dream for me, since my Mom bought me the "Misty" books when I was a child, and they are only a couple of hours from Williamsburg! Perfect!
Our time in Williamsburg turned out to be a delight for each and every one of us. There was more to do and see than we anticipated and we had to carefully guard against going too fast from one thing to another. The weather was certainly hot but many of the indoor spaces were air conditioned to the point of freezing- so there was a respite from the heat. From garden tours to candlelight concerts, to house tours, to interacting with the period characters, everything was fascinating. We had the opportunity to see, do, photograph and taste what life was like in the 18th century.
Isaac did an apprenticeship program where he learned what it took to become a gunsmith, cabinet maker or wig maker. (The wigs were creepy) The girls and I toured the gardens of Williamsburg and learned the necessity of having a kitchen garden as well as the delights of formal "pleasure gardens" that reminded the colonists of home in England while living in the wilderness of Virginia. Jim participated in a debate with the likes of Patrick Henry on the choices between loyalty to the Crown or joining the Revolution- you know he loved that. We saw George Washington address the troops with words of encouragement and on another occasion watched as Benedict Arnold criticized the townspeople for their part in the Revolution and warned them of the potential consequences of having an elected body making and enforcing laws,... (many of which sounded frighteningly familiar and had us ready to yell, "God save the King")!
Chincoteague was a welcome rest from the doing and seeing of Williamsburg. We arrived on the island expecting ponies, but were delighted to find that there is much more to the community than that. Assateague is the barrier island that protects Chincoteague from the Atlantic ocean and is home to wild ponies that have lived there for hundreds of years. Until Marguerite Henry wrote her book, Misty, in 1947, The islands were a quiet fishing community with an annual pony swim to raise money for the Volunteer Fire Department by auctioning off the colts. Now Chincoteague is a fishing community that is overrun by pony-seeking tourists, and yet still manages to be a relaxing place. The pony swim took place two weeks before we were there and drew 40,000 people from all over. Am I glad we didn't go then!
As it was, there were still quite a few tourists there, but we weren't crowded or hurried at all. We took an early morning boat tour to see the wildlife on Assateague, and were thrilled to see two groups of ponies besides the many beautiful birds that call the island their home. In one group of ponies we identified one mare that was injured, and our boat Captain called the Fire Department to alert them to send someone to check her out.
The Atlantic Ocean means one thing to my kids- beach! We planned to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but learned that Hurricane Bill was also coming to town. As it happened, the storm only blew past, stirring up some big waves and keeping people out of the water for a day, but not seriously ruining the beach time. when we did get out for some sand and surf, the kids discovered something else had been stirred up. From the ocean depths the waves carried hundreds of whole conch shells to within reach! We and the people around us were bringing them up by the armload. By the time we finished we had gathered 46 shells from which to choose our souvenirs. We narrowed them down to about, oh, say- 40, and hauled them home the next day with the rest of our treasures, sunburns and memories.
What a wonderful week we had together. Dampened only by the absence of our Nathaniel, we felt as if we were scouting out the trip for when he can come along with us.
For more photos from the trip, see the albums that I uploaded to Facebook. There was so much to see and photograph, between the beauty, the experiences, and my family, I was one happy photographer!
Colonial Williamsburg
Chincoteague and Assateague
A little internet research and several phone calls later and we had reservations to go to two places nearby that Jim and I have wanted to visit our whole lives. Colonial Williamsburg is a history buff's dream come true. Jim has wanted to spend time there for as long as he can remember and it is only a few hours from where we now live. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague in Virginia have been a lifelong dream for me, since my Mom bought me the "Misty" books when I was a child, and they are only a couple of hours from Williamsburg! Perfect!
Our time in Williamsburg turned out to be a delight for each and every one of us. There was more to do and see than we anticipated and we had to carefully guard against going too fast from one thing to another. The weather was certainly hot but many of the indoor spaces were air conditioned to the point of freezing- so there was a respite from the heat. From garden tours to candlelight concerts, to house tours, to interacting with the period characters, everything was fascinating. We had the opportunity to see, do, photograph and taste what life was like in the 18th century.
Isaac did an apprenticeship program where he learned what it took to become a gunsmith, cabinet maker or wig maker. (The wigs were creepy) The girls and I toured the gardens of Williamsburg and learned the necessity of having a kitchen garden as well as the delights of formal "pleasure gardens" that reminded the colonists of home in England while living in the wilderness of Virginia. Jim participated in a debate with the likes of Patrick Henry on the choices between loyalty to the Crown or joining the Revolution- you know he loved that. We saw George Washington address the troops with words of encouragement and on another occasion watched as Benedict Arnold criticized the townspeople for their part in the Revolution and warned them of the potential consequences of having an elected body making and enforcing laws,... (many of which sounded frighteningly familiar and had us ready to yell, "God save the King")!
Chincoteague was a welcome rest from the doing and seeing of Williamsburg. We arrived on the island expecting ponies, but were delighted to find that there is much more to the community than that. Assateague is the barrier island that protects Chincoteague from the Atlantic ocean and is home to wild ponies that have lived there for hundreds of years. Until Marguerite Henry wrote her book, Misty, in 1947, The islands were a quiet fishing community with an annual pony swim to raise money for the Volunteer Fire Department by auctioning off the colts. Now Chincoteague is a fishing community that is overrun by pony-seeking tourists, and yet still manages to be a relaxing place. The pony swim took place two weeks before we were there and drew 40,000 people from all over. Am I glad we didn't go then!
As it was, there were still quite a few tourists there, but we weren't crowded or hurried at all. We took an early morning boat tour to see the wildlife on Assateague, and were thrilled to see two groups of ponies besides the many beautiful birds that call the island their home. In one group of ponies we identified one mare that was injured, and our boat Captain called the Fire Department to alert them to send someone to check her out.
The Atlantic Ocean means one thing to my kids- beach! We planned to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but learned that Hurricane Bill was also coming to town. As it happened, the storm only blew past, stirring up some big waves and keeping people out of the water for a day, but not seriously ruining the beach time. when we did get out for some sand and surf, the kids discovered something else had been stirred up. From the ocean depths the waves carried hundreds of whole conch shells to within reach! We and the people around us were bringing them up by the armload. By the time we finished we had gathered 46 shells from which to choose our souvenirs. We narrowed them down to about, oh, say- 40, and hauled them home the next day with the rest of our treasures, sunburns and memories.
What a wonderful week we had together. Dampened only by the absence of our Nathaniel, we felt as if we were scouting out the trip for when he can come along with us.
For more photos from the trip, see the albums that I uploaded to Facebook. There was so much to see and photograph, between the beauty, the experiences, and my family, I was one happy photographer!
Colonial Williamsburg
Chincoteague and Assateague
First Day of School!
It's that time again! School began Monday and in an uncanny turn of the weather, it suddenly feels like Fall! The temperatures are down, the light has changed, and there is just a feeling in the air that makes me want to cozy up with some apple cider...
But I digress. Rebekah, Erin and Isaac are back to school. Rebekah is a Senior this year and more excited about school than we've ever seen her. This will be her third year in the Culinary program at the Tech and she is thrilled to be at the top of that heap. The lessons in the kitchen get more interesting and involved and she will be given more responsibility as well. Maybe she'll even teach me to properly fillet a fish! Bekah is also driving, so she is quite happy not to be riding the bus, on days that a vehicle is free, that is.
The first day of school for Seniors was rather special. They were to meet in the school parking lot early to decorate their cars for a parade around town! then they had a Senior Breakfast in the cafeteria. Bekah drove my car instead of the van so that she'd have a nicer vehicle for the parade and came home sporting "Seniors 2010" all over the windows. We are glad to encourage her enthusiasm and pray that this year gives her a good launching pad for her future.
Erin is now a Freshman and is still finding her way around the High School. She is still involved in Student Government, so that takes the edge off of being at the bottom of the food chain. Her personality won't allow herself to feel at a disadvantage once she gets a feel of how things work at the school. We are confident that she'll be running the place soon.
Isaac is in 6th grade at the Intermediate School, which is completely renovated and looking like an entirely new building. This year he has his first male teacher, with whom he seems pleased so far. We have learned that Rebekah is technically too young to be picking him up after school, so until we iron that wrinkle out he will be getting home around 4:30 on the bus. Yuck. I sat down with Isaac last night to go over his math homework and already he is breezing through terms and operations that are entirely foreign to me- and it's only review!
Friday night is the first football game of the High School season, so we'll be in the stands cheering the Mustangs on to victory and enjoying the community involvement and excitement.
And so it begins...
But I digress. Rebekah, Erin and Isaac are back to school. Rebekah is a Senior this year and more excited about school than we've ever seen her. This will be her third year in the Culinary program at the Tech and she is thrilled to be at the top of that heap. The lessons in the kitchen get more interesting and involved and she will be given more responsibility as well. Maybe she'll even teach me to properly fillet a fish! Bekah is also driving, so she is quite happy not to be riding the bus, on days that a vehicle is free, that is.
Look who's got the keys!
Leaving early enough for the parade.
The first day of school for Seniors was rather special. They were to meet in the school parking lot early to decorate their cars for a parade around town! then they had a Senior Breakfast in the cafeteria. Bekah drove my car instead of the van so that she'd have a nicer vehicle for the parade and came home sporting "Seniors 2010" all over the windows. We are glad to encourage her enthusiasm and pray that this year gives her a good launching pad for her future.
Senior 2010!
Erin is now a Freshman and is still finding her way around the High School. She is still involved in Student Government, so that takes the edge off of being at the bottom of the food chain. Her personality won't allow herself to feel at a disadvantage once she gets a feel of how things work at the school. We are confident that she'll be running the place soon.
Isaac is in 6th grade at the Intermediate School, which is completely renovated and looking like an entirely new building. This year he has his first male teacher, with whom he seems pleased so far. We have learned that Rebekah is technically too young to be picking him up after school, so until we iron that wrinkle out he will be getting home around 4:30 on the bus. Yuck. I sat down with Isaac last night to go over his math homework and already he is breezing through terms and operations that are entirely foreign to me- and it's only review!
Waiting for the bus.
Off to school!
Friday night is the first football game of the High School season, so we'll be in the stands cheering the Mustangs on to victory and enjoying the community involvement and excitement.
And so it begins...
Saturday, August 15, 2009
August Keeps us Hopping
There has been much activity in our household this month as we finally have Jim home and are realizing that Summer will be ending soon. School begins August 31st, so we have much to do in the meantime!
Rebekah's birthday was last Wednesday and we began the morning with a pancake breakfast- which she neither prepared, nor cleaned up- and gave her her gift from the family. Since she will be a Senior this year we chose something practical and hopefully lasting. We gave her a laptop. Bekah has been using a handed down dinosaur of a laptop for the past couple of years and has been expressing her desire for and need of a newer, workable system for some time. Jim and I shopped around and found as good a deal at Best Buy as on the Dell website, with the added bonus of Geek support, so we brought it home and wrapped it up.
The first gift we had her open was the mouse and some software, so she thought that we were merely updating her current laptop. And yet, she was grateful.
Then Isaac brought out the real gift and she positively beamed! Now to set it up and figure it all out! It's beautiful,... sniff.
That evening, we had a houseful of Bekah's friends over for snacks, cake, and a movie. Yum.
For the past couple of Summers Erin has been invited to a sleepover hosted by a young lady from church whose younger sister, Natalie, is Erin's friend. Kristen is now in Ukraine as a Missionary, and Erin realized last week with a panic, that there might actually pass a Summer without one of these great sleepovers! Oh no! Naturally, our house could host such an event, so invitations were written up and passed out at church. Being a last-minute event, not many could come at all, and fewer could sleep over, but we still had three young ladies spend the night Thursday.
We decided to have their creative energies set to work on gourds, which Natalie's Mom graciously supplied, Kate put together a short devotional to share with the girls, and we realized that the Perseid meteor shower might still be active and viewable from our back porch! With so much to do, dinner was almost forgotten, but none of them seemed to mind standing in the kitchen at 9 pm eating a quick hot dog to balance the cookies and ice cream which they had wisely consumed earlier in the evening.
Star Gazers
Gourds drying on the line.
How cute!
Earlier in the week a friend had given us tickets to see a Reading Phil's game, which we gratefully accepted. Jim, Erin, and Bekah have only heard us talking about how fun the games were and we were thrilled to be able to take them out to the ball game! Natalie joined us, having spent the day with Erin at our home after the sleepover. She has also been to these games before, and was just as excited to join us as we were to have her.
And what a gorgeous day for a game!
Almost exactly the same seats as last time we came- fantastic!
Isaac got to play catch on the field again, this time with Dad!
This little guy was playing with his Grandpa- couldn't have been more than 3, yet he could sure throw- check out that form!
An added bonus- it was Elvis Tribute night!!! Words just cannot describe...
Me and the girls- they don't know how much fun they are about to have!
Musical seats.
Jim really enjoyed himself- I think Elvis helped...
That's all for now. we are doing lawn work and housework today. It's simply amazing how much constant effort it takes to keep up with everything, but it is so worth it. Responsibility goes with much blessing, and we have received much blessing indeed. Jim is still looking for the next job, but we are glad to be able to take some time to enjoy having Daddy home even so.
The Book of Hebrews
"... the Book of Hebrews offers a singular and matchless presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Showing forth Jesus' supremacy to the angels, to Moses, to Joshua, and to Aaron, the author of Hebrews brings out features of Jesus' portrait that are found nowhere else in the New Testament. Especially in his detailed description of Jesus as our perfect high priest-- the most pointed presentation of this office found in all of sacred Scripture-- we learn how and why Jesus "is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him" (Heb. 7:25). - (Richard D. Phillips, in the Preface to the Reformed Expository Commentary on Hebrews.)
This year I will be, with fear and trembling, leading a Bible study on the book of Hebrews for the women of our church. The study that I will be using was written by my mentor and dearly loved "mother in the faith", Toni Barnhill. I was not able to participate in the study with her in Florida, so this will be a first for me- explaining, in part, the fear and trembling. Our pastor in Florida, Rick Phillips, preached through Hebrews while we were there and I have many notes from his sermons jotted in the margins of my Bible. I also have many wonderful and thorough commentaries to which I may turn.
My chief help, though, must be the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching me through the Word. As I tackle this year's study it is my prayer that the women joining me will be blessed by the way that Toni has written her study, but mostly that the Lord will use the Scriptures to grow us all in the knowledge of Himself, transforming our hearts and minds as we learn to follow Him more closely.
So, from September to May I will be blessedly neck-deep in the study of the Book of Hebrews. I mean it most sincerely when I say, "Lord, help me."
This year I will be, with fear and trembling, leading a Bible study on the book of Hebrews for the women of our church. The study that I will be using was written by my mentor and dearly loved "mother in the faith", Toni Barnhill. I was not able to participate in the study with her in Florida, so this will be a first for me- explaining, in part, the fear and trembling. Our pastor in Florida, Rick Phillips, preached through Hebrews while we were there and I have many notes from his sermons jotted in the margins of my Bible. I also have many wonderful and thorough commentaries to which I may turn.
My chief help, though, must be the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching me through the Word. As I tackle this year's study it is my prayer that the women joining me will be blessed by the way that Toni has written her study, but mostly that the Lord will use the Scriptures to grow us all in the knowledge of Himself, transforming our hearts and minds as we learn to follow Him more closely.
So, from September to May I will be blessedly neck-deep in the study of the Book of Hebrews. I mean it most sincerely when I say, "Lord, help me."
Monday, August 10, 2009
Final VBS Slide Show
Here's the last of the images that I shot at VBS. It was so difficult to decide which to include, so I just kept all of my favorites and broke them into 4 slide shows. Hope you enjoy! I sure did!
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Saturday, August 08, 2009
So Busy!
Since Jim arrived home we have had a whirlwind of activity- whew! Of course, my addled brain is trying to remember clearly the past two weeks, and I simply can't reconstruct the timeline now. I know that we did a whole lot of extra work in the yard now that he is here to run the weed-whacker and the other tools that I can't seem to master. Our yard is looking so much better now! (There's still that patch of weeds and ivy under the trees, and the entire hillside out back needs major demolition, but we're getting there...)
The week following Jim's arrival our church had it's first VBS in 9 years- no connection, it just happened that way. The girls had all been involved in planning and preparing, and once we knew that we weren't going to Dubai Bekah and Erin signed on to help teach as well. At the last minute I volunteered to take photos during the week for a slideshow at the end. What fun we all had! Seeing so many folks from church turn out to help and support this effort was wonderful. The enthusiasm was evident in the many smiling faces.
Of course, the faces are my favorite part.
The children from our church were of course present, but volunteers had gone out into the surrounding community to invite the local children to come out for the activities. Our church is situated next to "the projects", and if their families go to church it's not ours. Many children from the neighborhood showed up and it was such a blessing to see them getting into the theme of the week with singing, playing games, and answering questions in class. I was fascinated to see how "our" children, so familiar with one another, reached out and welcomed the newcomers who, in turn, joined right in.
I really think that I had the very best job of the week. As photographer I was able to see all of the children enjoying each activity. After the first night they got the hang of seeing me there with the camera and even began mugging for the lens. What fun to capture their laughing faces, precious smiles, and their fun moments. (I'll publish a slide show later.)
Jim and Isaac left yesterday with the Scouts to go beach camping,... somewhere on the coast. I'm so glad that Jim is here in time to participate in one of the activities with Scouts. even before he left for Dubai he was often too tied up with work to go off and do the fun things with Isaac. I know they'll have a blast.
The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the new movie, Julie & Julia, last night. We went with a couple of my foodie friends from church and it was even better than we expected- fun, fun, fun! Crepes afterward at the new little crepe place in West Reading was the perfect way to cap the evening. Inspired by a scene early in the film, we will make Bruschetta today, for which I need to run out and pick up some perfect tomatoes at the little Amish stand that we love so much. Also inspired by the film, I shall endeavor to keep more current with my blogging, if only to help me keep track of what is happening in our whirlwind life!
Bon Appetit!
The week following Jim's arrival our church had it's first VBS in 9 years- no connection, it just happened that way. The girls had all been involved in planning and preparing, and once we knew that we weren't going to Dubai Bekah and Erin signed on to help teach as well. At the last minute I volunteered to take photos during the week for a slideshow at the end. What fun we all had! Seeing so many folks from church turn out to help and support this effort was wonderful. The enthusiasm was evident in the many smiling faces.
Of course, the faces are my favorite part.
The children from our church were of course present, but volunteers had gone out into the surrounding community to invite the local children to come out for the activities. Our church is situated next to "the projects", and if their families go to church it's not ours. Many children from the neighborhood showed up and it was such a blessing to see them getting into the theme of the week with singing, playing games, and answering questions in class. I was fascinated to see how "our" children, so familiar with one another, reached out and welcomed the newcomers who, in turn, joined right in.
I really think that I had the very best job of the week. As photographer I was able to see all of the children enjoying each activity. After the first night they got the hang of seeing me there with the camera and even began mugging for the lens. What fun to capture their laughing faces, precious smiles, and their fun moments. (I'll publish a slide show later.)
Jim and Isaac left yesterday with the Scouts to go beach camping,... somewhere on the coast. I'm so glad that Jim is here in time to participate in one of the activities with Scouts. even before he left for Dubai he was often too tied up with work to go off and do the fun things with Isaac. I know they'll have a blast.
The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the new movie, Julie & Julia, last night. We went with a couple of my foodie friends from church and it was even better than we expected- fun, fun, fun! Crepes afterward at the new little crepe place in West Reading was the perfect way to cap the evening. Inspired by a scene early in the film, we will make Bruschetta today, for which I need to run out and pick up some perfect tomatoes at the little Amish stand that we love so much. Also inspired by the film, I shall endeavor to keep more current with my blogging, if only to help me keep track of what is happening in our whirlwind life!
Bon Appetit!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Home Again!
Jim is home! Home for good now- what a relief. After a long month of waiting for everything to be finished up in Dubai we finally picked him up at the airport Friday night. Our weekend has been sometimes busy, sometimes relaxing, but altogether wonderful. Though he is again searching for a job, that is fine by us, we have him home again.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Isaac at Camp
Our baby is off to Summer Scout Camp. For a full week he will be sleeping in a tent and enjoying the great outdoors with his buddies as they all learn from their Leaders and advance in the acquisition of Merit Badges. For the past two Summers he has gone to the day camp, sleeping over maybe one or two nights at a time- and with Jim there too. This is his first full week away for any reason. He was so excited, and so very meticulous about packing for the trip in his new foot locker, for the week before he left, Camp was the only thing on his mind.
The badges he hopes to earn include fishing, for which he needs to catch two fish, one to release and one to eat. Upon learning that he was expected to actually eat a fish he was immediately grossed out. Eat something that he had caught alive?! He declared that he would be fine with that if it was a Salmon- which I highly doubt he will pull out of the lake at the camp...
Friday I'll carpool up with some of the Moms and we will have a chicken dinner with the campers and get a peek at all they are doing up there. Then we will come home without the guys, picking them up on Saturday from the meeting point. We have been sternly warned to not bring our Scout home on Friday night. Leaving early spoils the bond built all week at camp and few who do so continue in Scouting. We certainly want him to continue. Scouting itself is character building for a growing boy who is otherwise surrounded by influences that would tear him down, and this group in particular is just a great bunch, from the kids to the Leaders.
When I took him on Sunday to send him off with the group there was some bit of flurry as last minute forms were filled out and his trunk was loaded. But I was given a spontaneous hug and "I love you Mom" from him before I left. Dear words indeed.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
How Common
I'm not one to be star-struck over celebrities in the entertainment world. (theologians and authors are a different matter...) And yet I , as with many my age, have memories that run to a soundtrack of Michael Jackson songs. I was in High School when Thriller came out and most Saturday nights found me at the Roller Skating Rink where I awkwardly attempted to look cool skating/dancing to the music without falling down. Jackson's music and moves inspired those of my friends who actually could skate and dance. Watching MTV in the early to mid-80's guaranteed seeing Michael the superstar almost daily.
As the years passed Michael seemed to go from the "King of Pop" to the king of weird. His changing visage and pigment and the scandals that surrounded him made it easy to stand from a distance and despise him. Who needs this anyway? I'm a serious adult, mother and wife, and I have a life that keeps me too busy to concern myself with such things. Yet Michael was always an easy target for recreational derision. Then, last week the startling news breaks that he has died suddenly and a circus erupts as the world seems to go stark-raving nuts over the loss of a Pop Star. Can we just see some Real News please? Must we have wall to wall coverage of this one man's life and speculations over his death?
And yet.
I caught a clip on the News this morning of yesterday's Memorial Service. They showed his daughter crying as she told the world that she loved her Daddy and misses him with all her heart.
Suddenly I'm not so superior with my judgments from afar. Suddenly it all comes down to children who have lost a Daddy. Sure, he may have led a bizarre life and made some, well, a lot, of bad choices. But here is the cost, again, of living in a fallen world. Our sin-soaked existence leads us in all the wrong directions, though all of creation points us to our Creator. We are given gifts and talents and we clumsily misuse them. We have the blessings of families who love us, yet their very closeness makes them easy targets when our sinful choices splash over the rims of our own cups.
Michael was given talent and a loving family. Now he has died and his children are grieving the loss of their Daddy. Such pain is common to us all.
May I learn humility and clear wisdom from the Lord that I may not squander the gifts and talents that he has given me. May I learn to cherish those in my life who love me. And may I never take for granted the love that God Himself has lavished upon me in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, by whose life, death, and resurrection I am saved and given hope. And may I stay gently sensitive to the pain of those around me who suffer from the fallenness of this world in which we yet live.
As the years passed Michael seemed to go from the "King of Pop" to the king of weird. His changing visage and pigment and the scandals that surrounded him made it easy to stand from a distance and despise him. Who needs this anyway? I'm a serious adult, mother and wife, and I have a life that keeps me too busy to concern myself with such things. Yet Michael was always an easy target for recreational derision. Then, last week the startling news breaks that he has died suddenly and a circus erupts as the world seems to go stark-raving nuts over the loss of a Pop Star. Can we just see some Real News please? Must we have wall to wall coverage of this one man's life and speculations over his death?
And yet.
I caught a clip on the News this morning of yesterday's Memorial Service. They showed his daughter crying as she told the world that she loved her Daddy and misses him with all her heart.
Suddenly I'm not so superior with my judgments from afar. Suddenly it all comes down to children who have lost a Daddy. Sure, he may have led a bizarre life and made some, well, a lot, of bad choices. But here is the cost, again, of living in a fallen world. Our sin-soaked existence leads us in all the wrong directions, though all of creation points us to our Creator. We are given gifts and talents and we clumsily misuse them. We have the blessings of families who love us, yet their very closeness makes them easy targets when our sinful choices splash over the rims of our own cups.
Michael was given talent and a loving family. Now he has died and his children are grieving the loss of their Daddy. Such pain is common to us all.
May I learn humility and clear wisdom from the Lord that I may not squander the gifts and talents that he has given me. May I learn to cherish those in my life who love me. And may I never take for granted the love that God Himself has lavished upon me in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, by whose life, death, and resurrection I am saved and given hope. And may I stay gently sensitive to the pain of those around me who suffer from the fallenness of this world in which we yet live.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:3-4
Monday, July 06, 2009
Happy 4th of July!
Hearken back, if you will, to New Year's Eve, which we spent with Jim's cousins. These same family members also have a Fourth of July party to which we were invited. Glad to have the opportunity to see them again, we packed up our bunch and headed out Saturday for another family gathering. Our poor children have been deprived of such gatherings for most of their lives since we have moved around so much and have not been very communicative beyond Christmas cards. What a treat to re-connect with Jim's family now; better late than never! To explain the relationship connections I should probably create a chart of some kind…
(So it's not exactly clear... sorry)
{I know that I am forgetting names, do forgive me please. I am actually rather impressed with how many names that I have remembered here, given that there is another family altogether unrelated in the mix as well. Mark Nelson with his wife and children live with Ginger and their extended family has been at each of the parties as well. Being a train wreck of confusion for my memory, the faces are becoming familiar, but the names will take some more practice!}All this said, we spent Saturday at Ginger's with the family and friends. The girls and I were able to jump right into the food preparations happening in the kitchen as there were pasta salad, potato salad, and hundreds of deviled eggs to be made. Guy introduced us to his Sweetheart, Angela, and her son, Austin, about whom we'd heard when we saw him last at the New Year's party. The pool was open for swimmers; bocce, airsoft gun battles, and fireworks kept the kids (large and small) busy. Visiting and eating were almost constant as we continued to get to know these people who we would gladly have as friends if we weren't related. The weather was lovely so we enjoyed the outdoors the entire day.
Gladys and one of her sweet granddaughters.
Ending with fireworks was a treat for the kids, and Isaac was able to help with the setting up and lighting. The best of the fireworks though, was when Guy got down on one knee and proposed to Angela. She said yes through her tears, to the delight and applause of her new family. I was impressed with how close and loving this family is, that such a moment would so naturally be shared with them. I am so glad that we live close enough to see them on a regular basis now.
Angela and Guy
Sunday was again warm and bright. After church we took a brief break at home before heading to the Noble's for a relaxing afternoon of food and fellowship. Their farm sits down in a fishbowl of a valley and is simply beautiful with the green pastures and red buildings, horses and alpacas. Russell and Darlene Roeder were there as well as the Tuschers and Ross's parents, brother, and sister-in-law. Darlene brought her wonderful potato salad and Russell was helping out at the grill, turning out chicken and lovely roasted veggies. Going to the Nobles always includes a tour of the barn and seeing the newest born baby alpacas. With the Noble girls, Roeder boys and our kids, the energy was hopping and there was no lack of activity, even when they were sitting still, which was rare!
The Gang
There isn't room in the blog to show all of the photos we took, but follow these links to see the photo albums posted and captioned on Facebook. Enjoy!
Birthday, New Friends, Driver’s License, Oh My!
What a busy week and weekend we have had! Kate celebrated her 20th birthday on Tuesday… Twenty years old! We took her out to dinner and the hilarity and laughter, fortunately, did not get us kicked out of the restaurant! After dinner we returned home for cake- chocolate- and gifts. The kids delighted in finding special things for their sister and we all enjoyed watching Kate open her presents.
On Wednesday morning, Rebekah passed her Driving test on the first try! She was somewhat nervous since many of her friends had taken the test twice before passing. Once she successfully parallel parked, the rest was easy. But then, that's Bekah; determined, methodical, cool as a cucumber. Give her a task and she sets her mind to get it done. Once licensed, Bekah dropped me off at home then drove out to the Noble's farm to show off her precious piece of plastic.
Wednesday afternoon Erin, Isaac and I went to our new friends' house for a visit and a dip in the pool. I met Doreen through a convoluted method only possible through the working of the Lord. A friend of mine in another state knows her sister, and the rest is confusing, so I'll just say that we eventually became friends on Facebook, a couple of weeks later we had lunch, and an instant connection was made between our hearts. Doreen is a gardener with "mad skills"- her yard is amazing to see and clearly a work of love. While the kids swam Doreen and I talked about everything under the sun, circling around throughout our conversation to the working of the Lord in our lives and His mercy and grace. God's steadfast faithfulness to His Word and His loving care of His children is a theme that never grows old and I pray that I may always be ready to declare His praises in every situation I find myself.
I feel sure that I'm forgetting something, but these are the high points- and high points they are indeed! Add in yard work here and there, transplanting flowers and assessing our landscaping chores ahead and that's about it. The weekend will take a different post, being so full, but this covers most of the activity of the week.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Vessel of Clay
I've been pondering lately how the Lord brings people into our lives. Some folks come in one door and soon leave through another. Some quietly move in to stay. And then there are those who come crashing in through a window, leave a mess, and relief that they've gone. And yet, they have all entered our life for a reason, and as long as memory endures, a part of them will remain.
Years ago there was a girl who came crashing into our lives, and I have lately found myself remembering and wondering how she is doing. April showed up on the doorstep of our church one Sunday evening just as the service had ended and folks were wrapping up their visiting in the lobby. She lived in the neighborhood next to the church and had seen the cross on the steeple for weeks. This night she had made up her mind to come and had walked the streets in the dark, hopping a fence or two, in hopes of catching a service.
Living a long way from home, South Florida had gone from being an escape to becoming a prison for her. Raised in a church-going family, April had been the wild child of the family. A teenage pregnancy had established her as a bad girl in her own mind and she assumed there was no going back. Her Mother cared for her daughter as April moved to Florida to live with some friends who promised her sanctuary and a chance for a fresh start. But the sanctuary that this cute, young, vibrant girl found living with this particular pair of angry Lesbian women was a fragile illusion.
The home in which she found herself was comfortable at first and she got along with her friends just fine so long as she pursued their interests. They were open minded as long as she went along to the clubs and parties of their choosing. But when she began to look for straight friends and perhaps even a boyfriend, that was crossing a line. She had gotten a job at the local Lowes but depended on her housemates for transportation. Driving her to work was alright, but not always convenient. Driving her to a Christian church was out of the question.
The night she showed up at church I was standing right outside the door. God put me right in the path of this lost and wandering lamb as she was beginning to long for the comfort that she remembered from her childhood. April couldn't express what she was feeling in concise doctrinal statements, all she knew was that she needed to be in a church, and was desperate for someone to talk to about topics that were taboo in the house in which she now lived. God was calling this lost child home.
And there I stood.
The next few weeks went by in a blur, and my memory is not sufficient to sort it all out. What I remember clearly is her achingly raw need for Christ as her new friends abandoned her- actually turned on her with a vicious attack that took Jim and another couple of men from the church to sort out. There were sleepless nights, early morning phone calls and driving to pick her up after a night out partying with the wrong people. April slept on our couch, wore my clothes for a couple of days, and gave me cause for anxieties that I'd never dreamed of. We helped talk to her supervisor at work who arranged a transfer to a store near her home- her real home up North. Phone calls with her Mom and a bus ticket bought and she was on her way back from her wandering to rejoin the family who awaited her with open arms and tears of joy.
There was not one single aspect of our interlude with April that was at all convenient. She blew through our tidy routine like a hurricane. But then, Florida is where hurricanes happen, and a life submitted to Christ is not tidy or routine in the least. I spent most of that time feeling as if I were one gulp away from drowning in the tide. There were no neat, carefully thought-out explanations of, well, anything. April was afraid, well aware of her sin, and she needed Jesus. And Jesus used the common clay vessel that was closest to the door the night April came looking for Him.
We later heard from April's Mom that she was doing rather well. Going back to school, taking care of her daughter, looking to the future; most importantly, she was actively participating in a church, growing in her knowledge of and service to the Lord. Now that we have moved away from Florida I doubt that we will ever hear from them again, and I don't feel that we need to.
But there are times that I do wonder about that night. If I hadn't been standing outside the church door I might have missed the turbulent, sleepless, inconvenient, even scary, next few weeks. And I would have missed the unbelievable blessing of watching the Lord reclaim one of his lost sheep.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thank you Lord.
Years ago there was a girl who came crashing into our lives, and I have lately found myself remembering and wondering how she is doing. April showed up on the doorstep of our church one Sunday evening just as the service had ended and folks were wrapping up their visiting in the lobby. She lived in the neighborhood next to the church and had seen the cross on the steeple for weeks. This night she had made up her mind to come and had walked the streets in the dark, hopping a fence or two, in hopes of catching a service.
Living a long way from home, South Florida had gone from being an escape to becoming a prison for her. Raised in a church-going family, April had been the wild child of the family. A teenage pregnancy had established her as a bad girl in her own mind and she assumed there was no going back. Her Mother cared for her daughter as April moved to Florida to live with some friends who promised her sanctuary and a chance for a fresh start. But the sanctuary that this cute, young, vibrant girl found living with this particular pair of angry Lesbian women was a fragile illusion.
The home in which she found herself was comfortable at first and she got along with her friends just fine so long as she pursued their interests. They were open minded as long as she went along to the clubs and parties of their choosing. But when she began to look for straight friends and perhaps even a boyfriend, that was crossing a line. She had gotten a job at the local Lowes but depended on her housemates for transportation. Driving her to work was alright, but not always convenient. Driving her to a Christian church was out of the question.
The night she showed up at church I was standing right outside the door. God put me right in the path of this lost and wandering lamb as she was beginning to long for the comfort that she remembered from her childhood. April couldn't express what she was feeling in concise doctrinal statements, all she knew was that she needed to be in a church, and was desperate for someone to talk to about topics that were taboo in the house in which she now lived. God was calling this lost child home.
And there I stood.
The next few weeks went by in a blur, and my memory is not sufficient to sort it all out. What I remember clearly is her achingly raw need for Christ as her new friends abandoned her- actually turned on her with a vicious attack that took Jim and another couple of men from the church to sort out. There were sleepless nights, early morning phone calls and driving to pick her up after a night out partying with the wrong people. April slept on our couch, wore my clothes for a couple of days, and gave me cause for anxieties that I'd never dreamed of. We helped talk to her supervisor at work who arranged a transfer to a store near her home- her real home up North. Phone calls with her Mom and a bus ticket bought and she was on her way back from her wandering to rejoin the family who awaited her with open arms and tears of joy.
There was not one single aspect of our interlude with April that was at all convenient. She blew through our tidy routine like a hurricane. But then, Florida is where hurricanes happen, and a life submitted to Christ is not tidy or routine in the least. I spent most of that time feeling as if I were one gulp away from drowning in the tide. There were no neat, carefully thought-out explanations of, well, anything. April was afraid, well aware of her sin, and she needed Jesus. And Jesus used the common clay vessel that was closest to the door the night April came looking for Him.
We later heard from April's Mom that she was doing rather well. Going back to school, taking care of her daughter, looking to the future; most importantly, she was actively participating in a church, growing in her knowledge of and service to the Lord. Now that we have moved away from Florida I doubt that we will ever hear from them again, and I don't feel that we need to.
But there are times that I do wonder about that night. If I hadn't been standing outside the church door I might have missed the turbulent, sleepless, inconvenient, even scary, next few weeks. And I would have missed the unbelievable blessing of watching the Lord reclaim one of his lost sheep.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thank you Lord.
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