Beautiful Day

Once in a while a day comes along when the sun shines brightly, but not too brightly, and the little birds sing happily, flowers bloom, butterflies flutter gently by, and all is right with the world.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Sweet Pea was just as cute as could be, her chubby little 10 month legs crawling, stretching, and scooting throughout the house; her smile so big, showing off her new molar she's getting (poor baby!); and her new trick of shaking her head when you say almost anything to her.  As a result, we think up all kinds of questions where the answer is "No."  Could we ever forget about P?  Is there any baby cuter than P?  LOVE her!

I got to go shopping and hang out with H & R (two remaining children at home), and got to talk on the phone with college son, and hear him laugh and joke with his brother.  Happy medicine for any momma's heart.

I spent some time outside with Sweet P after H and I covered our little garden area with netting to prevent birdies from eating all our tender sprouts.  We sat on the lawn, she crawled around a bit until the grass was too much for her little legs, then she came back to me to stand up against.  She gave me kisses - leaned toward me and smacked her lips - told me all kinds of stories, ma-ma-ma-ba-da-da-ba-ma, and held on to my dangly earrings - until she held a little to firmly and I would tell her no, be gentle.  It was wonderful.  Really looking forward to having grandchildren!

R and I went out front with Sweet P and the dogs later in the afternoon so I could weed (yucky goats' head clover) the lawn while we waited for P's Mama to arrive.  P was all over the place.  Grass, cement, it didn't matter.  Certainly not a fussy baby who can be contained within the borders of a blanket laid on the lawn!

Then with some time alone, R and I decided to stamp.  Got out our supplies from the boxes where they are still packed, looked on Pinterest for some inspiration, and then got creative!  Ended up stamping until nearly midnight - with a small break to make dinner for husband - and got almost four sets of cards made/finished.  It was so much fun!

And the verses I read this morning complete the day perfectly:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:;

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; 

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

 in the presence of mine enemies: 

thou anointest my head with oil; 

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23

Blessed

Dear son is home from college.
It was such a treat to see him last night, hear his voice and watch him interact with his brother and sister, touch his arm and kiss the top of his head, see his smile and look in his eyes.

Listened to him play the piano for a bit this morning and my heart was overcome; all those years of lessons and practice and money and recitals and frustration when he didn't want to play or practice -  it all spilled out into the joyous blessing that he now has chosen the piano and music as his life's work.

Moments shared while cutting his hair, words of understanding, love, and encouragement.  Precious.

Mother's Heart Overflowing

Love this sweet picture of my two oldest sons.  Jared, rightful firstborn, born with Angelman syndrome and severely developmentally delayed as a result.  Jackson, firstborn in every other sense of the word.  When Jackson was a baby I would place him on Jared's lap.  Now that they are the same size, Jared loves to lay on his brother's lap.

I am so touched by the tenderness of this 18 year old for his 25 year old brother who will never grow up.  And I'm brought to tears that Jared seeks out Jackson.

I wonder if he remembers that little baby?  :-)

Vintage China

center plate: Homer Laughlin China, Dresden N1679

dinner plate: Edwin Knowles China, KNO242

I think they go beautifully together and was so happy to find the Knowles set to expand my Laughlin collection!

Eighteen

So proud of this young man .   .   .   .  

He's grown so much and has been
blessed with true godly mentors .   .   . 

 

 Can't wait to see how he chooses to 

honor the Lord in these next few years .   .   .  

Sunday Happy Thoughts

Something that brought a smile today ~



Just after lunch, snapped a few pictures of the birds in our birdbath ~









How could you NOT smile after watching such a brisk and happy site? :-)

Magnificent

These were taken Sunday, February the 22nd. The clouds were breathtaking and demanded to be photographed. So I pulled over to the side of the off-ramp on the way to evening service. The height of the ramp provides the perfect view -




Beautiful, beautiful sunset created by an absolutely magnificent LORD!

Sweet Little Friends

Working in the Nursery is always fun! Two of our favorite little people are both characters -

Smile Mr. J!


Hmmm . . . . . okay.

Smile Miss A!


Yeah. Just the look her daddy would make - too funny!

Faces that I Love

My Girl & I

In the kitchen, rolling meatball after meatball then rolling them in bread crumbs, getting to spend some wonderful time just chit-chatting with my sweet girl, I know without a doubt that I am blessed.



We talked of her morning, my shopping trip, the book she's read and the adventures of the people in it. We talked of dogs and brothers, of recipes and cabinet colors. We joked of silly mistakes made and I happily swam in the sound of her giggles.

All too soon our task was done and we each moved on to separate chores.

But I'm going to look at this picture and remember that precious part of an hour, and store it away with all the others.

What a Blessing!

I have been abundantly blessed!

Dear Son #2 stayed up past bedtime last night and scrubbed clean all of my counter tops,


. . . . and the stove top


. . . . . . and the sink, too!


A very happy sight for this momma's heart!

My Favorite Place

Lunch with my Wonderful Boy

J has been working with Mr. Smith for two weeks on the bathroom remodel at church.

He's so intense!

It was such a gorgeous day today!

MMMmmmm . . . . toasted tuna sandwich from Subway

What a funny face :-}

I've really missed him not being home and I have been thinking that if this is a taste of what it will be like when he goes to college, then I am going to be one proud but sad momma.

2011: A NEW Year!

I've always been comforted in scripture by the never-ending mercies of the LORD. Every day, every hour, moment by moment we have the chance to start fresh RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. The beginning of a new year is that same feeling multiplied. What is it about simply turning to a brand new page in a brand new calendar that makes me feel like I have a chance to really change? Like somehow today is different than yesterday was.

Hope - Hope in Christ and his promise to finish what he has started in me. Paul talks of forgetting what is behind and reaching forward - pressing on! - to what is ahead. Remembering that the Lord's mercies are new every morning - Great is his faithfulness.

Not too coincidentally, the chapter that I am currently reading in Born Crucified is on discipline. We are soldiers for the Lord and must bring our bodies into submission in order to successfully face the trials that WILL come our way. This was a good thought: Salvation does not mean that we will be placed in a soft and comfortable baby carriage and be wheeled into heaven. We need to work, to harden our flesh both physically and spiritually, deny its wants and pleasures no matter how innocent they may be if they interfere with our service and usefulness for the Lord.

This is all culminating for me into the resolve to finally get fit this year (off to a good start with almost 20 lbs. lost so far), resolve to train my children, by the Lord's grace, to be more disciplined in their own lives, to love more, to pray more, and to take the time to laugh more; to seek out ways to put more "hands" and "feet" into my walk with Christ, and gain a little more control over my tongue - both to not speak those things that are not edifying and to DO speak the things that are needful.

I sometimes feel very limited in my sphere of home, chores, cooking, and schooling, but I know that this is a season which is coming to an end sooner than I realize. May I serve wholeheartedly now, while I am able, and be tested and tried so that I am able to be of even greater use when the time comes - - -

I welcome your prayers -

Family & Remembering

Today was spent with family. The children and I walked with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and more for the 2010 Alzheimers Memory Walk. There were 600+ people there and it was a really nice way to spend the morning and have some fun with family that we don't get to see that often. Afterward we all went to lunch and then it was home for us.

I couldn't go home, though, without making a stop to remember my grandparents. I went out to the farm on my way to the cemetery and got a few branches from their grapevine to leave at their headstone. It's so much more personal than buying flowers.



Recently, at the funeral for my grandmother's sister, I realized that my grandfather has been gone for half of my life; and yet I miss him probably more, not less, as time goes on.

A Happy Habit Birthday for Husband

How Much Did You Say?

We journeyed over the hill to our County Library’s Annual Book Giveaway today.

We missed last year due to our vacation, so the children wanted to be sure and go this time.

Well, it was worth the trip.  I found quite a few worthwhile books both for school and personal reading, as well as a few books for friends on particular subjects that I know they are studying or interested in.

The biggest prize of the day, for Science Guy, was a set of Science Encyclopedias.  A 20 volume set, brand new — they look like they’ve never been touched.  For Free. 

He wanted to impress Dad so we looked up how much the set was worth if we had purchased it.

Are you ready?

I wasn’t.

Here goes -

The McGraw Hill Science and Technology Encyclopedia

can be purchased through Barnes & Noble.com for $3,000.00!!!

Wow!

Double Wow!

Okay — Triple WOW!

He’s enjoying them even more now, knowing how much they are worth -

And I’m feeling pleasantly frugal.

This post was originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney

Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise The Lord

These past few weeks we have been regularly reading the Bible together, the children and I.  Proverbs in the morning, Old Testament history during school, reading through Galatians & Ephesians one chapter at a time in the afternoons, as well as a character study a few times a week.   

Also, with the setting up of our new bookcases, I was able to get some great little books out of my room and on the new shelves where the children can have easy access to them.   One of those little books is called Little Pillows, or Good Night Thoughts for Little Ones.  Its an old reprint from Keepers of the Faith and DS3 has been reading it, one very small story at a time, before going to sleep at night.

The story tonight started with the verse I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions.  Isaiah 43:25
After he had read, he called me in to pray with him.  As I was sitting at his side, asking him what he would like to pray about, the  LORD spoke to my heart and I knew that he was going to ask about being saved.   We had such a great conversation, my sweet sunshine boy and I, late at night, in the dark, with quiet and stillness surrounding us.  And then we prayed.  His child-like voice spoke words that were coming from his heart as tears flowed from his eyes.  I prayed and cried, and then he prayed more. 

Now I am rejoicing that my dear son desires the LORD Jesus Christ as his Saviour, desires to have his sins blotted out and his life made new, desires to obey and serve.

Join with me in my rejoicing, and also join with me in prayer for this child, who at 12 is starting on a new path.  Pray that his feet would be firmly established in following Christ, that his heart would be well-watered with the Word and this seed would grow deep, strong roots, and that is ears would be quick to listen and his feet quick to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking within him.

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney

My Angel Turned 21 - or - Where Did the Time Go?

I was going to say that I can't believe my Angel is 21 years old - but I can.  I've been here for these past 21 years, watching him grow, and every birthday brought with it the same thought;  "I can't believe he's going to be ___ !"  Whether it was 5, or 7, or 12, or 16, or 18, or now 21 it's always been the same.  Disbelief that my sweet, smiling baby could really be that old.

The whole trouble, I think, is that I can remember so clearly almost everything about his birth and baby days.  You see, our second son wasn't born until my Angel was 7 1/2 years old, so he was my whole focus for those years.


Do you see that bright little face?  Can you almost hear the sweet squeals of delight?  I can, just like yesterday.  And joy fills my heart as tears fill my eyes. 

I received my copy of the NATHHAN News Spring/Summer 2007 this week and was so touched by one of the contributions.   It was nearing Valentine's Day and there was to be a dance at son's Adult Day Program Center.  He wanted to know if Mom would please come to the dance.  Of course!    Mom had asked son if he had a sweetheart and he admitted, while giggling, that he did!  On the day of the dance, Mom arrived at the Center.  She enjoyed watching her son with all of his friends, while trying to guess which of the ladies was his "sweetheart."  On the last song, mother and son took to the dance floor while Anne Murray's  "Could I Have This Dance?" played.   To quote her own words - "He and I stepped on to the dance floor, he slipped his arm around my waist and held my hand.  We swayed to the music, my eyes welling up with tears as I listened to the lyrics . . . . I'll always remember the song they were playing the first time we danced and I knew, as we swayed to the music and held to each other, I fell in love with you . . . .  My thoughts floated back in time to when I first held him in my arms as a little baby boy.  I fell in love and knew that my life would never be the same.  I reflected upon all the growing years between then and now, remembering all the love, the daily care, the assistance that has been required to bring my son into adulthood.  I thought of all the continued care that he will need every day for the rest of his life.  And as the words of the song asked for a lifetime commitment, my heart burst with love for my son, knowing that we would be dancing this dance for a long, long time."   The song ended, the dance ended and Mom and son got into the car to drive home.    Mom asked which of the ladies was his sweetheart?  He laughed and said "You are my sweetie!"


Well, MY Sweetie has grown into a very handsome man now.  But if you look closely, you can still see the bright little face with the light in his eyes.   The squeals of delight that filled my ears have grown a little deeper, and if possible, more enthusiastic!  And even though the rings of baby fat are gone, he fits perfectly in my arms and has filled my heart to overflowing. 

I'm looking forward to the NEXT 21 years!


This post originally published @ HenandChicks.typepad.com

Birthday Adventures

Daughter is officially 9 years old now.  What a great time we had yesterday!  Grandma came up on the train with her buddy Miss L.  (Grandma and Miss L come up for each child's birthday.)  Daughter wanted to go to the Zoo for her birthday - so I had to think of a zoo that was near the train and that we could visit in the time allowed -- and Voila!  Micke Grove fit the bill perfectly.

So we drove for a bit - picked up Grandma and Miss L at a semi-distant station - and off we were on our adventure!



We saw several species of lemurs, some birds and bats, sea lions, baboons, tamarins, a mountain lion, chinese alligator, beautiful scarlet ibis', turtles and tortoises, and several pudus!



















After a cool water break, we walked over to the Japanese Garden and strolled through it before lunch.  The children had a great time seeing the huge Koi, and finding many crawdads in the ponds which they could cross on large, flat stones.  (Although the ones we saw were smaller and beautifully colored red like all the ones found in our fabulous Delta region!)

Off to lunch we went - and then back to the park where we explored the Historical Museum for our remaining time.  It was great - very interesting - and lots of fun!  We came home with some treasures from the "mercantile" -- I found an adorable set of metal measuring spoons (I'll have to take a picture of them and post it later), the children got some little wood kits, a nail puzzle, a kazoo, and two "twig crayons". 

Grandma got the best deal of all -- she bought a set of three Lovely bowls for only $20.00.  They were ivory colored nesting bowls and had a beautifulflower/scrollwork design on the upper rim.  We were all stunned at the price and decided that one of us HAD to buy them.  ;-)

Then it was time to get Grandma and Miss L back to the station -- the train was delayed a bit, but they were finally safely on board and headed for home.  It was a great day!