Getting In Out Of The Rain

A true representation of summer... watermelon in the grubby, chubby, dirty hands of children. Just as they dug into those big, red slices, it began to rain and they all ran up to the porch and huddled by the door. Likely, the only thing that would have brought them in out of the rain :)

Renewing Of The Mind

It's funny how mortals always picture us [demons] as putting things into their minds; in reality, our best work is done by keeping things out. ~C.S. Lewis

Lord, I've been asking for a transformation in so many areas but with little effort to renew my mind. Please help me to fill my mind with Your Word so that it is so jam-packed with whatever is true and noble and holy that there is no room for excuse of lack of transformation. Help me turn faithfully to communion with You over the busyness of my schedule so that the enemy can no longer have a foothold to work with in me.

A Quiet Life

We strolled up and down the quiet streets of my sister's small town. She lives in a Mennonite community and it was the town's annual yard sale. The weather was lovely and rubbing shoulders with people who have chosen a quiet life gave me a real sense of peace. The whole day was a reminder that returning to simpler times is the best way to hear God's whisper, to unite with family, and to recognize what truly matters.

What a dude this little guy is on the right.

Mama comes along for the deals.

Molly searches for a diamond in the rough.

Yes, this man is on his cell phone :)

My best finds of the day?

1. a large sewing box with tiered sections, chock full of sewing bits... $8
2. a large crock-pot (since mine from my wedding is tiny)... $5
3. a corning ware casserole dish with lid (since mine broke)... $0.50
4. a whole load of books from a retired teacher who was selling her things... $12.00
5. spending the day with my mom, sister and her family... priceless!

Tip-toeing Through The Woods

We tip-toed through the woods the other day; we tip-toed because Daddy needed to hear the silence... and the birds. It's always at this time of year, when the machines rumble at the nursery and the construction bangs and the traffic whizzes by that he longs for the quiet. Sometimes we'll be driving on a secluded road and he'll pull over onto the shoulder, hush everyone (which is difficult to do in our family) and roll down the windows. "What is it, Daddy?" they chime.

"Shhhh," he replies, "Listen."

They obey but they can hardly stand it. They don't hear anything. But he does. He hears quiet. And he loves it. So, as we tip-toed through the woods and the marsh--like elephants :)--we experienced bird calls, frogs croaking and trees squeaking as they rubbed against each other in the breeze.

When it was all hushed, really hushed, we found special things, like turtles. And because they wanted one, Mommy risked her life (well, dry clothes, at least) scaling the marsh railing to catch a frog.

It was sweet family time until we were about to board the van to go home. It seems that our exit is when the quiet ends and someone ends up bleeding, screaming in a flailing tantrum or both. Perhaps one day, we will drive away, each of us silently reflecting on the close-ups to creation we enjoyed. But for now, we must still encourage the tip-toes and whispers and appreciate the short period in which they last.

"Take only pictures, leave only footprints."

Blessing Day

The staff smile as soon as they see my children coming. They know that they usually have a special blessing to brighten their day. My husband looks down through his office window and catches a glimpse of his kids and is proud that they're caring for the people who work so diligently for him. He jumps up from his desk and finds us meandering through the aisles of perennials or shrubs, seeking hungry workers.

Every week (or a couple of times a week, depending on the heat), we take special treats down to the staff at our nursery. On very hot and busy days like today, we fill little paper cups with lemonade to give them some relief. We bake cookies, bring licorice or timbits. We've done this for a few years now and we tell the staff that it's Blessing Day--a day to bless them and to let them know we appreciate them.

So, as we bless others, I am thankful for my blessings from the One who inspires it all... (360)

361. for the ability to bless others with joy in their day
362. for my new licorice tea I found (yummy)
363. for the energy to plant almost all my annuals today!
364. for the ability walk down to the nursery and bring home whatever plants I need
365. for sweat and hard work
366. for Grandma sleep-overs
367. for yard-sale-ing sisters and mom (and bro-in-law)
368. for an emailing aunt and uncle who keep me in the loop with so many things
369. for a tree-planting, pencil-pushing, people-interactive husband
370. for precious bloggers who inspire my life, encourage my writing and bring tears to my eyes over and over with their beautiful stories

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy." Philippians 1:3

Afternoon At The River

Big cousin Jake making a fishing pole for Oliver

Oliver is thrilled and sits for a long while with his "weight" in the water.

Brooke, fishing under the bridge

Molly relaxes on the river bank.

Auntie Hilary does too.

Oh, and so do I.

Caleb digs for treasures in the water.

While Eden and Emily hunt for clam shells.

Meghan is determined to catch a fish.

Emily catches one!

A proud girl displays her fish before she throws it back in.

Oliver is not too sure he likes the one Uncle Aaron catches, and he also has figured out that there's something different about everyone else's fishing poles.

Ever paused awhile at the river? There's little else close to the peace and enjoyment found there.

Rainbow Pants and Flying

She searches the dirty laundry basket and finds them wrinkled and stinky at the bottom. She pulls them out and slips them on anyway. She doesn't go many days without wearing her rainbow-striped pants. Sometimes her "fluffy skirt" goes on top, sometimes, it's another item but by any measure, it's always those pants. Dressing up helps her to fly, she says. Flying has been a great desire of hers since she was three. Two years of attempting various ways of accomplishing this have left "Rainbow Girl" a little frustrated. Nevertheless, on rainy or sunny days, it's always those pants.