Another child's birthday! Today it's Taylie turning fifteen. FIFTEEN!! How did that happen?! I can't believe the cold and windy day in April, when our beautiful baby girl came into our lives, was fifteen years ago. And what an entry it was! She took her sweet time -- eighteen hours of labor with very little progress -- and then, at 8:14 pm, Mama told the midwife, "I have the urge to push!" At 8:15, Taylor Grace was born. A little intense, to say the least. She continues to be intense in all she does...whether silly, serious, interested, or bored. Her likes and dislikes. Her work and play. She still takes us by surprise.
As I observe this tall (for our family), slender, blonde beauty, I can't help but marvel at God's creation; His gift to us. And at how He has gifted this young woman. It is with great anticipation and thankfulness, we await the unfolding of His good and perfect plan for our lovely daughter. Happy birthday, Taylie-girl; may you always be a woman after God's own heart.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAMSEY!
Nineteen years ago today my first child was born and I began this journey known as motherhood. I've come to realize motherhood is one of God's most powerful tools for shaping and refining...not the child, but the mother.
Last year, when he turned 18, Ramsey was gone from us to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for basic and advanced training. This year, as he turns 19, he is gone again for advanced training at Fort McCoy in southwestern Wisconsin. It's very strange to have a child absent for their birthday...but I guess I better get used to it!
Ramsey was a beautiful baby and a sweet little boy. He has grown to be a fine young man. I have much to be proud of him for and thankful to God for. I am very proud of Ramsey's willingness and commitment to serve our country in the armed forces. I am thankful that God has kept His Hand upon Ramsey, guiding him and protecting him. As I, once again, place my son in God's Hands, my prayer is that He would continue the good work that He began in Ramsey and that his life would bear fruit for God's glory and the furthering of His Kingdom.
Happy Birthday, Rams, and may God keep you, bless you, and guide you always. We love you.
Last year, when he turned 18, Ramsey was gone from us to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for basic and advanced training. This year, as he turns 19, he is gone again for advanced training at Fort McCoy in southwestern Wisconsin. It's very strange to have a child absent for their birthday...but I guess I better get used to it!
Ramsey was a beautiful baby and a sweet little boy. He has grown to be a fine young man. I have much to be proud of him for and thankful to God for. I am very proud of Ramsey's willingness and commitment to serve our country in the armed forces. I am thankful that God has kept His Hand upon Ramsey, guiding him and protecting him. As I, once again, place my son in God's Hands, my prayer is that He would continue the good work that He began in Ramsey and that his life would bear fruit for God's glory and the furthering of His Kingdom.
Happy Birthday, Rams, and may God keep you, bless you, and guide you always. We love you.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
WINDY CITY ADVENTURES
I'm back to full-force reality since arriving home from a week in Chicago. Had a great time of fun, relaxation, culture, fine dining, shopping, sight-seeing, and silliness. No responsibilities, except for myself, took a little getting used to but I soon adjusted! Some of the highlights of my trip include: Second City comedy club, a William Morris art exhibit at Northwestern University, tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio in Oak Park, and a day spent at the Art Institute of Chicago. All wonderful experiences for me.
Meaningful on a different level was our visit to the neonatal intensive care unit at Rush Medical Center where Mindy works. It's kind of difficult to describe, as it leaves you at a loss for words. I was hit with so many things as I walked through the unit, stopping by each baby's isolette. The first thing is how beautiful or cute the babies are and then it hits you what their circumstances are: the challenges of being born too early or born with physical anomalies, the sorrow of not being cherished, the horror of a mother's attempt to abort herself. At the same time, you are absorbing the surroundings of monitors, alarms going off warning of imminent death; lights, wires, and tubes; staff busy working on babies so tiny and frail; young parents looking unsure and uncomfortable. It is all pretty overwhelming. But even in the midst of all that, there were glimpses of God's Presence: scripture passages taped to the walls of isolettes (including the card we attach to the knitted hats we send with Ps. 139:13-14), a mother's Bible on top of her child's isolette, and the evidence of His creation in these precious children. I have always had an appreciation of life but this experience certainly deepened it.
I hit the ground running, back in the Northwoods, with a to-do list a mile long and a lot of catching up to do...but it was worth it!
Meaningful on a different level was our visit to the neonatal intensive care unit at Rush Medical Center where Mindy works. It's kind of difficult to describe, as it leaves you at a loss for words. I was hit with so many things as I walked through the unit, stopping by each baby's isolette. The first thing is how beautiful or cute the babies are and then it hits you what their circumstances are: the challenges of being born too early or born with physical anomalies, the sorrow of not being cherished, the horror of a mother's attempt to abort herself. At the same time, you are absorbing the surroundings of monitors, alarms going off warning of imminent death; lights, wires, and tubes; staff busy working on babies so tiny and frail; young parents looking unsure and uncomfortable. It is all pretty overwhelming. But even in the midst of all that, there were glimpses of God's Presence: scripture passages taped to the walls of isolettes (including the card we attach to the knitted hats we send with Ps. 139:13-14), a mother's Bible on top of her child's isolette, and the evidence of His creation in these precious children. I have always had an appreciation of life but this experience certainly deepened it.
I hit the ground running, back in the Northwoods, with a to-do list a mile long and a lot of catching up to do...but it was worth it!
Friday, February 18, 2005
COUNTRY MOUSE, CITY BOUND
On Monday, this backwoods girl is heading to the Windy City for five days. Going down with Cindy to stay with daughter, Mindy. She will take us on a tour of the neonatal intensive care unit at Rush where she works. I will see, firsthand, the precious babies we're knitting hats for. I know it will be an overwhelming experience. Also, I will be spending a day and night with my friend, Karen, who is taking me to Second City, the comedy club downtown Chicago, and on a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio in Oak Park. We'll find time to go to the Art Institute, do some big city shopping, and eat at a couple authentic Italian restaurants, as well.
I have much to do in preparation to go. I have never left my family for more than a weekend. It should be interesting how things go around here that week! Along with my travel preparations I also have the usual, and unusual, demands on my time in the next few days: school, kids' art class, grocery shopping, pay bills, laundry, work at Klondike Days, work at a house I clean (besides mine). To quote Calvin & Hobbes, "The days are just packed!"
Blogging probably won't be on my to-do list until after I return from Chicago, and I'll have much to write about then. So, to quote another beloved character, "T.T.F.N.!"
I have much to do in preparation to go. I have never left my family for more than a weekend. It should be interesting how things go around here that week! Along with my travel preparations I also have the usual, and unusual, demands on my time in the next few days: school, kids' art class, grocery shopping, pay bills, laundry, work at Klondike Days, work at a house I clean (besides mine). To quote Calvin & Hobbes, "The days are just packed!"
Blogging probably won't be on my to-do list until after I return from Chicago, and I'll have much to write about then. So, to quote another beloved character, "T.T.F.N.!"
Thursday, February 17, 2005
WYLER AUSTIN, THOUGHT WE'D LOST 'IM
Today is our youngest child's 11th birthday. Wyler Austin, aka Wylie. The unplanned, unexpected surprise fourth child, arriving 13 months after his sister. Discovering I was pregnant with him blew me away. I had a tiny infant, was exhausted, and had not yet recovered psychologically from her birth. I didn't tell Mark the news for two weeks. He flipped.
Looking back on that time, I don't know what our life would be without this little goof-ball God bestowed on us. From the moment he arrived in our world, with his huge eyes wide open, he has cracked us up. The Lord must have known we would be needing some comic relief through the years.
Wylie has also given us more heart-stopping moments than the other three put together: eating a glass Christmas ornament (helpfully thrown into his playpen by his sister), tumbling all the way down the basement stairs (after the baby gate was helpfully opened by the same sister), choking on a little square of film from a View Finder reel (sis wasn't involved in that one), swallowing his brother's off-limits Legos, nearly drowning in Lake Superior, and (worst of all by far) wandering off at the age of three at a crowded State Park. The first few years were a real rollercoaster! And now you get the title of this blog.
I offer a prayer of heartfelt gratitude for this son of laughter, our "Isaac", for God's protection of him, and ask for wisdom as we guide him on the path to becoming a godly young man. Happy Birthday "Wyler, Wyler, manure piler"...that's another story.
Looking back on that time, I don't know what our life would be without this little goof-ball God bestowed on us. From the moment he arrived in our world, with his huge eyes wide open, he has cracked us up. The Lord must have known we would be needing some comic relief through the years.
Wylie has also given us more heart-stopping moments than the other three put together: eating a glass Christmas ornament (helpfully thrown into his playpen by his sister), tumbling all the way down the basement stairs (after the baby gate was helpfully opened by the same sister), choking on a little square of film from a View Finder reel (sis wasn't involved in that one), swallowing his brother's off-limits Legos, nearly drowning in Lake Superior, and (worst of all by far) wandering off at the age of three at a crowded State Park. The first few years were a real rollercoaster! And now you get the title of this blog.
I offer a prayer of heartfelt gratitude for this son of laughter, our "Isaac", for God's protection of him, and ask for wisdom as we guide him on the path to becoming a godly young man. Happy Birthday "Wyler, Wyler, manure piler"...that's another story.
Monday, February 14, 2005
I'M A KNIT-WIT
I have just spent over an hour on-line looking at patterns for knitting and felting tote bags. It's astounding what's out there! There are tons of knitting websites, blogs completely devoted to knitting, yarn shops, and chat rooms filled with knitters chatting about their knitting.
I, myself, have five knitting projects in process (besides continuously cranking out newborn hats for the NICU at Rush Medical): felted clogs, two dish cloths, a sweater, and a pair of socks. And here I am looking for another project! I admit it; I'm a knit-wit. But at least I'm not a misfit --
there are too many of us out there! We are a force to be reckoned with!
I, myself, have five knitting projects in process (besides continuously cranking out newborn hats for the NICU at Rush Medical): felted clogs, two dish cloths, a sweater, and a pair of socks. And here I am looking for another project! I admit it; I'm a knit-wit. But at least I'm not a misfit --
there are too many of us out there! We are a force to be reckoned with!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Today was one of those days that kind of rubbed my face in the fact that I am getting older...
Started off top of the morning with my yearly mamogram, picked up my new bifocals at the eyewear center, ran into a high school chum and her granddaughter at the grocery store, and found out my younger sister's former husband suffered a massive heart attack (thankfully, he survived). Finished out the day with our usual Thursday night card game with two other couples, where every hand someone's asking, "What was trump?" or "What was led?" or "Whose deal is it?" You know it's getting pretty bad when your husband is cupping his hand behind his ear to help him hear what someone is saying.
Started off top of the morning with my yearly mamogram, picked up my new bifocals at the eyewear center, ran into a high school chum and her granddaughter at the grocery store, and found out my younger sister's former husband suffered a massive heart attack (thankfully, he survived). Finished out the day with our usual Thursday night card game with two other couples, where every hand someone's asking, "What was trump?" or "What was led?" or "Whose deal is it?" You know it's getting pretty bad when your husband is cupping his hand behind his ear to help him hear what someone is saying.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
RESTING ON MY LAURELS
Here I have been contentedly resting on my laurels in the blogging department, but that has caused certain parties a minor amount of discontent. If I am to be completely honest, I'd have to admit I've just been too lazy to write. Sorry 'bout that!
I got to thinking about the idiom "resting on my laurels". This means we're satisfied with what we've done and we don't try to improve or make things better. Well, that notion clashed with my desire for contentment. There is always room for improvement in my character and output. But I can be very content resting on Jesus' laurels. He has done it all and there is no room for improvement!
I got to thinking about the idiom "resting on my laurels". This means we're satisfied with what we've done and we don't try to improve or make things better. Well, that notion clashed with my desire for contentment. There is always room for improvement in my character and output. But I can be very content resting on Jesus' laurels. He has done it all and there is no room for improvement!
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
WORD OF THE DAY: CONTENTMENT
"If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot." ~ John Bunyan
(No pun intended there, but I sure found it amusing -- "gouty foot"...John Bunyan...get it?...bunion...OK, never mind!)
With that aside, after I got my chuckle, I was made aware of how God has been working on me in the area of contentment. He keeps bringing it to the forefront of my mind in different ways: the above quote by John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress; daughter Taylie's literature selection yesterday was a short story by Leo Tolstoy titled, "How Much Land Does A Man Need". In this tale, Tolstoy teaches an important lesson about the Biblical principle of contentment and the consequences of greed. The man in the story was told he could buy, for 1000 rubles, as much land as he could walk around in one day. If he was not back to the starting point when the sun went down he would lose his money and the land. In his greed, he ventured further out than he could make it back from by sundown. When he realized his folly he began to run to try to make it to the starting point before the sun set. He ran himself to death. In the end, six feet of land, from his head to his heels, was all he needed.
God's Word has a lot to say about contentment. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'." Hebrews 13:5 Our discontent can be with our circumstances, our physical appearance, our talents and abilities, and our material possessions. I have struggled with discontent in all these areas at one time or another. Certain ones are chronic. Even if I do gain these things I covet, they won't last. I brought nothing into this world and it is certain I can carry nothing out. But God promises He will never leave me. God alone should be enough. 1Timothy 6:6 says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain." This is what I want to covet.
(No pun intended there, but I sure found it amusing -- "gouty foot"...John Bunyan...get it?...bunion...OK, never mind!)
With that aside, after I got my chuckle, I was made aware of how God has been working on me in the area of contentment. He keeps bringing it to the forefront of my mind in different ways: the above quote by John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress; daughter Taylie's literature selection yesterday was a short story by Leo Tolstoy titled, "How Much Land Does A Man Need". In this tale, Tolstoy teaches an important lesson about the Biblical principle of contentment and the consequences of greed. The man in the story was told he could buy, for 1000 rubles, as much land as he could walk around in one day. If he was not back to the starting point when the sun went down he would lose his money and the land. In his greed, he ventured further out than he could make it back from by sundown. When he realized his folly he began to run to try to make it to the starting point before the sun set. He ran himself to death. In the end, six feet of land, from his head to his heels, was all he needed.
God's Word has a lot to say about contentment. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'." Hebrews 13:5 Our discontent can be with our circumstances, our physical appearance, our talents and abilities, and our material possessions. I have struggled with discontent in all these areas at one time or another. Certain ones are chronic. Even if I do gain these things I covet, they won't last. I brought nothing into this world and it is certain I can carry nothing out. But God promises He will never leave me. God alone should be enough. 1Timothy 6:6 says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain." This is what I want to covet.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
SO YOU SAY YOU WANT A RESOLUTION
Well, this New Year's resolution, to better manage my time, is proving quite challenging (ya think?). But I am resolutely resolved to resolve this resolution. First plan of attack: consistently early to bed, early to rise. I blew the first part of this last night by staying up until 1:am to finish knitting a baby hat. But I stuck with the latter part and forced myself out of bed at 6:30, despite the siren's call of my warm, flannel sheets. Two cups of coffee later (I normally only have one) I am off and running...well, that might be an exaggeration. I've had my devotion time, gotten a load of laundry washed and dried, mixed up pancakes for breakfast, and am eyeballing the rest of my day. Actually, I am eyeballing the end of my day -- the early to bed part won't be a problem tonight.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TESSA ROSE!
Twelve years ago today a beautiful baby girl came into the world and into our lives. She took her time getting here, as she had passed her due date of December 26th and required two and a half days of pitocin-induced labor to make an appearance. The intensity of her birth was duplicated in the intensity of her gaze as her dark eyes locked onto mine as she nursed. In fact, intensity has continued to be the hallmark of her nature and character; she wears her heart on her sleeve and it's all or nothing with her. She is my biggest mess-maker, but she is also my best cleaner-upper. Her creativity is astounding; when she was four she dressed herself in an ensemble (complete with gloves, hat, and handbag) constructed entirely with computer printer paper and staples!
It is a bit of a shock to me that my youngest daughter is now twelve -- on the threshhold of young womanhood. I pray for wisdom as I guide her through these crucial, formative years and help her channel her God-given gifts. My prayer for her comes from Philippians 1:9-11, "May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God." Amen and Happy Birthday, Tessa Rosebud!
It is a bit of a shock to me that my youngest daughter is now twelve -- on the threshhold of young womanhood. I pray for wisdom as I guide her through these crucial, formative years and help her channel her God-given gifts. My prayer for her comes from Philippians 1:9-11, "May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God." Amen and Happy Birthday, Tessa Rosebud!
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
TIME TO SHINE
My resolution for this new year is to better manage my time. It hits me that time is the only thing that stands between me and eternity. God has given me 1,440 minutes in each day. How I use those minutes is up to me. Some day I will answer to God and give an account of how I managed the gifts He gave me, time being one of them. I was meditating on God's Word to us in Ephesians 5:15-17, as follows: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." The word "redeem" means to "buy back" or "buy out of". Back from or out of what? I believe in this context it means to buy it out of the world; all the distractions and darkness of the world. We must "walk circumspectly", which literally means to see all around one's self. This tells me I must proceed through each moment of my day carefully choosing how I will act and react, seeking God's will and making choices accordingly. I must understand our times and carve time out of the bondage of evil. To redeem the time means to make the most of every opportunity, not just let it sift away unused or wasted. Verse 11 of this same chapter tells us: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Expose them with what? With the light Christ gives us. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." (Eph. 5:8-10) Wow...I was once darkness, but now I am light in the Lord. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!"
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
A NEW YEAR
After a very nice Christmas with family and friends, we brought in the new year with Mark injuring his back at work on December 29th. After the emergency room, X-rays, doctor's office visits, and an MRI; it was determined to be a ruptured disc. The first few days were the roughest with a lot of pain and discomfort, difficulty moving, getting in and out of bed/recliner, sleepless nights, and a bad reaction to the prescribed pain-killer, Vicadin. But gradually, the pain has lessened and mobility has increased. He will begin physical therapy tomorrow and visit the doctor again on Friday.
As the doctor's order were to not go back to work, it has been interesting having Mark around the house this much. (As Cheri says: "Men are not meant to be home." And I am empathizing with Cindy, whose husband isn't working this winter.) It is difficult to get anything done and he asks, "Who are you calling?" every time I pick up the phone. When I'm in the basement doing laundry, he's calling for me from upstairs. When I'm in the bedroom, he's calling from the kitchen. When I'm doing school with the kids, he's interrupting, "Babe...". I love my husband and I'm always wishing he could be home with us more, but at this point he is getting shack-happy and is alternating between being silly and cranky. Fortunately, it's more often silly.
Some might say all this does not bode well for the new year but I am so thankful that I have my husband, unlike our friend, Sarah, who lost her beloved on December 4th. I am thankful that I can trust God is in control, even when finances are strained and the future is uncertain. I am confident He will provide for us and care for us in His loving mercy. Already, this has been a blessed New Year for us.
As the doctor's order were to not go back to work, it has been interesting having Mark around the house this much. (As Cheri says: "Men are not meant to be home." And I am empathizing with Cindy, whose husband isn't working this winter.) It is difficult to get anything done and he asks, "Who are you calling?" every time I pick up the phone. When I'm in the basement doing laundry, he's calling for me from upstairs. When I'm in the bedroom, he's calling from the kitchen. When I'm doing school with the kids, he's interrupting, "Babe...". I love my husband and I'm always wishing he could be home with us more, but at this point he is getting shack-happy and is alternating between being silly and cranky. Fortunately, it's more often silly.
Some might say all this does not bode well for the new year but I am so thankful that I have my husband, unlike our friend, Sarah, who lost her beloved on December 4th. I am thankful that I can trust God is in control, even when finances are strained and the future is uncertain. I am confident He will provide for us and care for us in His loving mercy. Already, this has been a blessed New Year for us.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
He was born of a woman so we could be born of God...
He humbled Himself so we could be lifted up...
He became a servant so we could be made heirs...
He suffered rejection so we could be His friends...
He denied Himself so we could freely receive all things...
He gave Himself so He could bless us in every way!
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32
May you know His love this Christmas.
He humbled Himself so we could be lifted up...
He became a servant so we could be made heirs...
He suffered rejection so we could be His friends...
He denied Himself so we could freely receive all things...
He gave Himself so He could bless us in every way!
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32
May you know His love this Christmas.
Friday, December 24, 2004
CHRISTMAS FUTURE
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 4:11
The Lamb who was slain alone deserves glory, praise, and honor. Everything we have and everything we are comes from Him. Our talent, our intelligence, our moral knowledge all come from Him. As Jill Briscoe puts it, "We owe our next breath to His will, our finest hour to His enabling, our little triumphs to His grace. What have we that we have not received? One day we will cast these earthly crowns at His feet where they belong!"
Revelation 4:11
The Lamb who was slain alone deserves glory, praise, and honor. Everything we have and everything we are comes from Him. Our talent, our intelligence, our moral knowledge all come from Him. As Jill Briscoe puts it, "We owe our next breath to His will, our finest hour to His enabling, our little triumphs to His grace. What have we that we have not received? One day we will cast these earthly crowns at His feet where they belong!"
Thursday, December 23, 2004
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
At this moment (I'm not committing to anything beyond that!), I believe I have all my Christmas preparations done...I think. The gifts are wrapped, the stockings stuffed, the cards are sent. I may have forgotten something or something may come up at the last minute, but I'm not going to worry about it. I have so much to be thankful for this Christmas season and every day. The holiday spirit was dimmed somewhat this year with the tragic death of a friend earlier this month in a horrible mill accident. He was 41 and left behind a wife and three young children. Their loss is ever present in my mind as I go about the holiday preparations, parties, concerts, and worship services with my family intact. I can't imagine the pain this young wife and mother must be feeling as she tries to guide her grieving children through this time. I want to do something to ease their difficulty -- I've written our condolences, made offers of help in any way needed, and sent money to help with the financial burden. These may be appreciated but, to me, they seem so inadequate. I can't heal their wounds, I can't give them hope for tomorrow, or peace for today. But God can and so I intercede for them in prayer; asking that He would comfort them, hold them, bring His people alongside to walk with them through this valley. I pray that He would give them His peace, which is beyond our understanding. I believe that is what the heavenly host were speaking of when they praised God above the fields of Bethlehem, saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
CHRISTMAS PAST
In the midst of the present last-minute Christmas preparations, I find myself reflecting back on the Christmas of my childhood. I recall the most special gifts being the ones crafted by my parents' own hands: knitted socks, sweaters, Barbie clothes, and, yes, the striped skirt with matching vest. Warm slippers my father made for my sisters and me by cutting up the lining of a shearling coat and sewing them with his awl. A wonderful red barn with a lift-off loft he made for our youngest sister, Nancy, was envied by both Tara and me. But Nancy coveted shelf space on the bookshelf he made for us.
Without a doubt the most memorable Christmas for me is the year Dad decided for us that we would not receive gifts, but instead, give gifts to the Baby Jesus. That idea didn't immediately appeal to us kids (and it horrified our grandparents!) but as Dad talked about the real meaning of Christmas and focused our thoughts on the blessing received through giving, we girls became enthusiastically supportive of the whole idea. We made some of our nicest Christmas gifts for our grandparents that year; coasters made of maple slices with the bark on, woodburned, and polyurethaned. We gave some of our favorite toys to children in town who didn't have as much. Dad gave us each a little spiral notebook in which we were to record our gifts to Jesus, such as: "Today I did not fight with my sister." "Today I did my chores without being told." "Tara made me really mad today but I did not say anything mean to her." Dad and I sewed life-size figures of Joseph and Mary out of burlap feed sacks and dressed them in bathrobes and towel headdresses. We made candle sconces out of coffee cans and Dad nailed them to the walls inside our log goathouse. We put hay in the feed trough and laid a swaddled baby doll there. On Christmas Eve, after we went caroling at the homes of shut-ins and old folks, we gathered in the goathouse, lit by our candle sconces, surrounded by goats, chickens, a dog, and probably a cat or two. There we knelt, one by one, and presented our gifts to the Baby Jesus, reading from our little notebooks. And, you know, in my young heart, I was sure I saw that Baby smile. The warm glow in that little stable on that cold, starry night has stayed with me for more than thirty years.
Without a doubt the most memorable Christmas for me is the year Dad decided for us that we would not receive gifts, but instead, give gifts to the Baby Jesus. That idea didn't immediately appeal to us kids (and it horrified our grandparents!) but as Dad talked about the real meaning of Christmas and focused our thoughts on the blessing received through giving, we girls became enthusiastically supportive of the whole idea. We made some of our nicest Christmas gifts for our grandparents that year; coasters made of maple slices with the bark on, woodburned, and polyurethaned. We gave some of our favorite toys to children in town who didn't have as much. Dad gave us each a little spiral notebook in which we were to record our gifts to Jesus, such as: "Today I did not fight with my sister." "Today I did my chores without being told." "Tara made me really mad today but I did not say anything mean to her." Dad and I sewed life-size figures of Joseph and Mary out of burlap feed sacks and dressed them in bathrobes and towel headdresses. We made candle sconces out of coffee cans and Dad nailed them to the walls inside our log goathouse. We put hay in the feed trough and laid a swaddled baby doll there. On Christmas Eve, after we went caroling at the homes of shut-ins and old folks, we gathered in the goathouse, lit by our candle sconces, surrounded by goats, chickens, a dog, and probably a cat or two. There we knelt, one by one, and presented our gifts to the Baby Jesus, reading from our little notebooks. And, you know, in my young heart, I was sure I saw that Baby smile. The warm glow in that little stable on that cold, starry night has stayed with me for more than thirty years.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
BLOG? WHAT BLOG?
Alright already. I have been getting enough feedback from people to bring me to the conclusion that I am supposed to be blogging. I have all the usual excuses for being absent from the wonderful world of blog -- too busy, writer's block, not enough time, nothing to say, too many other things to do, at a loss for words, and, last but not least, fear of redundancy.
It's not much but it's a start!
It's not much but it's a start!
Thursday, November 25, 2004
WITH THANKSGIVING
I love pie. Not pi(r)squared so much, but definitely pie(r)round; as in pecan, apple, raspberry...not pumpkin so much. I enjoy making pies as well as eating them. This frosty Thanksgiving morning, I am snug in my warm kitchen with a golden pecan pie cooling on my counter and two cinnamony-sweet apple pies bubbling in the oven for this afternoon's feast. (Mmmm...mashed potatoes and gravy)
I've been making quite a few pies lately. Baked an apple pie to take to a friend, and co-worker of Mark's, who fell off his roof last month, shattering his hip. Made an apple pie for my 86 year old granny, who can't make her own pies anymore because her arthritic hands "don't work so good anymore". Made an apple pie for my family because they looked longingly at the previous two as they exited the house. Baked a pecan pie and an apple pie for our church's Thanksgiving Praise and Pie Social. Now the three pies for Thanksgiving dinner.
I see how God has blessed me to be able to bless others with my pies. Just one of so many blessings to be able to offer Him thanks for today. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I've been making quite a few pies lately. Baked an apple pie to take to a friend, and co-worker of Mark's, who fell off his roof last month, shattering his hip. Made an apple pie for my 86 year old granny, who can't make her own pies anymore because her arthritic hands "don't work so good anymore". Made an apple pie for my family because they looked longingly at the previous two as they exited the house. Baked a pecan pie and an apple pie for our church's Thanksgiving Praise and Pie Social. Now the three pies for Thanksgiving dinner.
I see how God has blessed me to be able to bless others with my pies. Just one of so many blessings to be able to offer Him thanks for today. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Friday, November 19, 2004
GRILLIN' AND CHILLIN'
Last night's supper was delightful. In the afternoon I built a fire in our firepit, which gave me an opportunity to burn up a lot of the chewed up sticks Cass (our 9 month old purebred pain-in-the-butt) drags into the yard. I enjoyed the balmy fall afternoon, tending the fire, and doing a little raking. When the fire had burned down to a good base of coals I put chicken breasts with a bottle of barbeque sauce and a can of Coke together in my big cast iron dutch oven, which I then put on the fire. I sliced red potatoes and onions, wrapped them with some butter in tinfoil and put them on a rack over the fire. While supper cooked I watched the sun go down and the moon come up. It was a beautiful night. With the sun's departure, it turned chilly so the fire provided warmth and comfort.
Taylie and Tessa had surprised me with a raspberry Jello salad they'd made earlier while I was gone and it complemented the meal wonderfully. We dished up our plates by the fire and, though the menfolk fled indoors claiming it was too cold out, the girls and I ate by firelight and savored the fine cuisine and superb ambience of the setting. It doesn't get any better.
Taylie and Tessa had surprised me with a raspberry Jello salad they'd made earlier while I was gone and it complemented the meal wonderfully. We dished up our plates by the fire and, though the menfolk fled indoors claiming it was too cold out, the girls and I ate by firelight and savored the fine cuisine and superb ambience of the setting. It doesn't get any better.
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