Due to a number of changes in my life I am starting a new blog. If you wish to follow the new blog please contact me via comment or email.  Thanks for reading here for the short time this was up.
Blessings, Kim

Spring Staycation

It all started when I said, "Let's drive to a mall and go shopping." Not my typical words. But, I had a goal... shoes, shower curtain and "gettin' out of Dodge."

As we entered the mall DJ discovered "DJ's Hot Dogs." No, I'm not kidding, that was the name of the place. It was fate. Plus they had Chicago style hot dogs, which Dear enjoys once a year or so. 

Later  that week we enjoyed a visit to friends in Sullivan. We also drove to Grill on the Hill where we enjoyed good food,  fellowship with friends and great bluegrass music compliments of "US 231." They are very good. They are also friends of Dear.

So, everyone meet Lori. You'd recognize here anywhere wouldn't you?  Yeah, she's like that with pictures. Too bad, she's a wonderful friend and also quite pretty. Maybe you'll get to meet her again another time. 

MMH created these cupcakes based on a Pinterest recipe. She even made them GF so that I would be able to enjoy them as well. 

WeeOne got her ears pierced. Pretty cute, eh?

What is it with my friends holding things in front of their faces?  Actually, this silly looking piece  of cardboard earned Laura free appetizers at a local restaurant, which she graciously gave to us. Thanks Laura! I love that you and I can be goofy together. You rock!

Here she is with her daughter. Gorgeous eh? Seriously, they are both so pretty.

Meanwhile MMH and her friend were visiting puppies. No, he's not coming home with us. But, he was cute.

He certainly loved Miss Lydia, and her toes, and her shoes, and  the hem of her capris, and her legs. Shortly after this she was tucked up on the bench away from sharp puppy teeth. 

Later that night we enjoyed eating out with April and family. This is the fabulous Miss Clem hiding behind a chair. 

The end of the staycation found WeeOne and I at "Baked!"... a local business owned by a friend/family member. 

There are soooooo many choices for add ins. We did plain sugar cookies AND  chocolate cookie dough with white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. 

You should stop by and check them out. It's a lot of fun. Tell Jason hi for me if you see him.

Miss Clem and the family dropped by to deliver a "Bag o' Potatoes"... actually, candy they had made that's shaped like mini potatoes. Why? Well, in honor of St. Paddy's day of course. 

Some piano playing. WE had the pleasure of watching our friends' three sons that same day. 

Well, how would you look at aged not quite 2 and eating gooey s'mores? 

It was a St. Patrick's Day bonfire. WE brought Irish soda bread, thanks MMH, (and chocolate pie... thanks Dear). April supplied the potato soup and the salad and drinks. Well, what else would you have on St. Patrick's Day but potato soup and Irish soda bread. Oh, and a bonfire. Of course. 

She was carrying things for people and generally being a big help. Who is that you ask? Well, Princess Ariel of course.

See, those sticky s'mores clean up. Just in time for some more. 

Two of the lovely lassies in attendance.

Dear. 

Miss Ava had requested we wear flowers, which she supplied, in our hair. Mine tickled, so I shared it with MMH.

Some of the men gabbing away. Periodically they came and stuck wood on the fire. Quite handy. They also took care of the babies.

It was a great staycation. We managed to take a trip to Greenwood, travel to Sullivan and hang out with friends, eat dinner at a gun club, listen to bluegrass music, hang out at the mall with friends, watch a bunch of kiddoes, visit a new bakery, hit the library, clean the house, attend a St. Paddy's bonfire and generally relax and enjoy time as a family. How was your break? 

Blessings, Kim

Splendor and Beauty

Some know the significance of these words in my daughter's life. MMH is both splendid and beautiful. Her beauty is not just that which we see on the outside, but is the beauty of a young woman learning to follow God more closely and to see what He has planned for her life. It is the beauty of trust as she watches her friends' lives change in ways different from hers, but trusts that God is still at work.

And, lest you think I'm too sappy, beauty is also present when God gives us strength to tell her "no," or "try again," or any of the other words and phrases we might use when she chooses a poor path or makes a doubtful decision.

But, tonight splendor and beauty did describe her appearance. I love my daughter!

 Sometimes, despite seeing how much she's grown I still catch a glimpse of the precious baby I once held.

 We had a lot of fun shopping for her outfit. 

I never shopped for a wedding dress, as I wore my mother's. Nor did I attend a formal dance where I was able to shop for my own dress. So being able to accompany MMH on her dress excursion was a treat!

 The occasion was a "Formal Masquerade Ball" in honor of her friend's Sweet Sixteen. MMH designed and created her own mask. 

And that's my girl... sorry for the blur, someone else took the photo at the party. But, that's the sweet smile I love so much. 

Soon it will be your turn our splendid and beautiful daughter. Sweet Sixteen is just around the corner for you. 

Love, 

Kim

Why every train needs a cow catcher...

Earlier, on facebook, you may have read  of my kids' crazy conversation as they created their gingerbread train. The phrases "time of death" and "blood and gore" are not the usual words you hear as kids are busy with their gingerbread creations. My kids, however, are "just a bit different odd strange.

Anyway, for those who read those words on my facebook status update, below are the pictures which help to explain. And, in case you wonder where they get it from? I thought of the cow. (Thanks April for that part of my birthday gift last year... as you can see, it came in handy!)

Hope you enjoy!
Love, Kim

Blessed is the man...

James 1:11-13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹¹ For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

 ¹² Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life whichthe Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

As I was working today I realized again that I should be continually thanking the Lord. Yes, it was while I was working hard that I realized this because I COULD work hard. In 2010 I had suffered some sudden symptoms suggesting I might have suffered a heart attack. After MANY MANY doctor visits, blood tests, scans and the like it was determined that was not the case. For those who have been reading this blog for a while you might remember this post. It took several months and then my original doctor had mentioned the words "gluten intolerant." Without going into details he also described the testing methods and at that time I was just not interested. But, he told me I could also try eating gluten free. After four months of battling the idea of changing life so drastically I embarked on this new diet, with my husband's blessings. 

It's now been a year or more, and Senior Son has had to walk the same path I have. But, we're making progress. Tonight I'm cooking two dinners... one for the gluten eaters and one for Josh and I. Yes, it's a bit more work, but in the end we are healthier, happier and able to be more awake, more active, less depressed. I've continued to study about gluten intolerance and learned that there are many diseases associated with this... chronic fatigue, depression, and fibromyalgia, to name a few. But, with God's great mercies Josh and I are moving beyond these side effects and learning a new way to live. And, on top of that, we are learning to be thankful for each bite we can eat safely and happily. 

So, while to some this may seem a trial, and in the beginning it was quite difficult to balance the gluten intolerance (and then my added wheat allergy... not even touching wheat products) with caring for my family and myself, God has given me new joy in accomplishing even a seemingly easy task like dinner... which isn't as easy as it once was. I'm very blessed to take from the hand of the Lord what He offers and to grow because of that, not despite that. That's the new focus. 

 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.---2 Corinthians 4:17-18

May God grant you His many mercies because of the trials you face, big or small, and may you all grant Him all glory. 

Shalom, 

Kim

If one tree falls on the lawn...

and there are 7 people standing around. Does anyone hear the scream? Not the tree's scream, mind you. My scream. "Watch the stand! Watch the wall! It's hooked on the rug! On your jeans! Watch out for the wall! You're going to do what?!" Aaggghhhhh....

And so ends the life of our beautiful tree. It now lies in a huddled heap awaiting pick up. Where it will be turned into mulch. Josh suggested sawing it and using it for firewood. But, I ask you, with our rusty handsaw? I think not...

It was a lovely month with our mini MONSTER tree. The tree of epic proportions. The tree of which many stories will be told. From the first time WeeOne and I spotted it on the tree farm, to the amusing task of MMH and I hauling it up the basement steps, to my several attempts to get the lights just right, and finally to tonight's epic performance... If it were a joke it would read...

 "How many men does it take to get a tree out of the house?

Answer?  4

one to get the tarp, 

one to point out that we needed a way to dispose of the water

one to laugh at me 

 and one to lift it and bodily throw it over the front stone wall and down one story to the lawn below. 

Oh... 

and one woman yelling helpfully, "Watch out. Be careful. Don't break anything." 

It was a humorous site. Although I have yet to look out at my tree, now sitting forlorn and abandoned in the front yard. You know, that dead tree is a special decoration out there now!

Anyway... that's the story of the end of our Christmas tree. Tomorrow we might just be able to remove the stand from the tree. Here's hoping!

Oh... and one of the boxes has gone missing in which we stored Christmas decorations... so, the putting away of all things Christmas has ground to a halt. Meanwhile, it's delightful to listen to Dear, Aaron, Josh, MMH, WeeOne and our "adopted son" Graham sitting upstairs and laughing at Dr. Who.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Love, Kim

Aged Women...

Welcome 2012. This is my last year in my forties. Yep, I'm admitting it here in public. Or at least to those few who still chance to read this blog. According to some I'll soon be joining the ranks of "aged women" although many days I don't feel aged at all. But, if years count I guess approaching 50 counts for something!


I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying this year. I've been studying and learning. I've gone through many changes, both good and bad. And as I sit here in the first hour of 2012 I want to be careful of what I hope for in the new year. I could resolve to strive  for health, diet, exercise, and many more things. But, as I sat down to jot a quick post what came to mind was the Titus 2 woman. 

³ that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;

 ⁴ that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

 ⁵ to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:

Titus 2: 3-5

And, so I'll be praying that the Lord will grant me His wisdom so I may become more of who He wants me to be, and less of who the world expects me to be. No lengthy posts here, just a hope for biblical womanhood this year, and that I may impart that as well to my daughters. 

Galatians 1:3
Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,

Blessings!
Kim