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

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

Blessings Unfold

It has been an eventful summer since last I wrote. For that matter it's been an eventful beginning to the fall season and a new school year. Over the summer we dealt with unexpected hitches in the boys' education, health concerns for Young Man, along with his missions/class time in Alaska rather than job time in VA, four births which stretched me to the utmost, a change in Dear's employment thanks to the "BRAC" act (Base Reduction And Closure) which shipped his job to CA; the loss of one of his dear friends due to suicide, and then just to make life interesting we learned that I have a "life altering" allergy to poison ivy, and wheat.

But, we persevered. One of the things that I hoped to focus on this summer was service to others. I realized that in our sports centered year last year we had missed many opportunities to serve. So, rather than a summer job, summer schooling, or the like the girls and I would find ways to serve others this past summer. Mostly what we did was to make ourselves available to young mothers who needed help with childcare, at no cost. The girls served a young mother of two children who was on her own while her husband served overseas, they helped watch two young children of another mother who had recently given birth, and were available and used by a number of others. This past fall they have helped to make food for a dear friend as her husband fights cancer. They also come willingly to visit, even thought it's hard, and we usually cry on the way home, we are glad to be of some use.

But, something hit home the other day. Remember that wheat allergy I mentioned? Well, after my poison ivy incident occurred, we learned that not only was I gluten intolerant, but I actually had contact dermatitis when exposed to wheat. So, when I found myself chair/bed bound due to exposure to both wheat and poison ivy my girls took over... cooking, cleaning, changing my ice packs, bringing me food. At the time I was very grateful. Then a friend commented that I was seeing the fruits of the lessons learned over the summer. How funny. When I thought of serving others it never really occurred to me that they would be serving me here at home due to that lesson. Another night found MMH painting the bathroom vanity..."because it needed it, and I wanted to do it," she said; and when I awoke from an antihistamine induced nap I found that WeeOne had cleaned the entire kitchen, even down to the hand washing of pots and pans AND cleaning the trap in the sink. Today it hit home again as WeeOne happily fixed the dryer vent where my larger fingers wouldn't fit. She was 100% pleased with herself for being such a help.

I pray that as they grow older the blessings of serving others continues to unfold in their lives and that they never lose this joy.

²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

 ²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Jame 1: 24-27

Shalom, 

Kim

In the dark night

I sit here in the silence and just savor these quiet moments.

For some reason this year the weeks leading to this Christmas week were way too rushed, way too full, and not nearly as focused on Advent as I'd wish. The Advent tree in the dining room has had its ornaments added as afterthoughts every few days, rather than diligently each evening with Bible reading. I'm feeling a bit sad that this year I am not truly as focused on Christ and the advent of his birth as I have been in the past.

So, although being awake at 2 in the morning is not my most favorite thing it is giving me time to reflect on this amazing event that took place over 2000 years ago, and was foretold for thousands of years before that.

14"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

A virgin shall be with child. Where else is this possible but with God himself? And a son named Immanuel...

from Hebrew `immānū'el, literally: God with us

Imagine, so many centuries before his birth, God told us through His word, that He, through His son would come to live with us. At a time of year when so many are acutely aware of the failings in their family, of the ache they'll hold next to their heart for some reason, of the sadness they'll experience as they mourn someone not with them God himself tells us that He will come to live with us, and his very name as God the Son, will mean "God with us." What an amazing promise. What joy and hope that should give to us. Rather than sitting and pondering the perfect menu, fretting over missing lights (my bad!), or going deep into debt for that perfect gift, God instead wants us to prepare for the coming of His son, our savior.

Although it's been late in coming to my heart this year I am so thankful that God has given me this quiet moment to savor the beauty of this season.

If you'd like to enjoy some music that will help you to focus, please click on the link below and enjoy our Christmas sing along... you'll have to click each link (there are 21), but it's worth it. For "Redemptive History" go right to link 6... I pray this will bless you and will speak to your heart!


Prelude-Good Shepherd Band Christmas Sing-A-Long 2010 from Church of the Good Shepherd on Vimeo.

Please note... this link just takes you to the first of the videos... click on the words below and you'll go to the page where you can find the entire menu, scroll fashion on the right of the page... yes, there are 21 links, but just watch over a period of hours if you don't want to do it all in one sitting. This is an amazing time of worship and giving thanks to God!

Welcome to my home... the place in which God has worked.

April asked us to write about what we think of when we think of home. I've been mulling this over the whole week, and although this post is too late for her contest I wanted her to know it has been thought of.

Home... we all want that home that's just right, furniture arranged just so, no dust, no dirt, good music, friends, etc.

But, in reality what does go into making a home? I've now been married for almost 26 years and we've lived in three different homes... a super tiny apartment, a 900 sq. foot home and our present home of 2,000+ square feet. That's one description of a home... 2300 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, stone raised ranch. That covers the physical aspect of our home.

I could go on to say that the home was built in the 70's, and so as much as I try to add touches of vintage flair here and there the home needs to speak for itself and only looks "right" when I put in "mid century" type items. I have to limit the vintage to bits of bling, rather than rooms of random stuff.

I could mention that our home houses our family. When we first moved here it was two parents, two kids and some birds, then a rabbit, then more birds, then no rabbit, then a dog, then a sister, then another sister, then one brother moved out, and now the other's away at college, and we have a new dog and fewer birds. That covers the bodies that fill our home.

But, what truly makes this a home? It's not just the size or number of rooms, it's not the age or decor, and it's not the number of family members or furry or feathered friends. What makes this a home is the memories created here, both good and bad. The recollection of the many ways in which God has used this home to sanctify me as I didn't trust God to provide, to bless others as they needed a place to sit and cry, to hear Bob's hearty laugh as they carted him, chair and all, up the basement steps. It's the milestones in life... 2 newly adopted daughters joining us, our first meeting with special friends like Dave and Vanessa, childbirth classes in the basement where I learned to laugh at my own mistakes and be overcome in awe at what God had called me to do, it was the anniversaries, birthdays, celebrations and quiet moments by the fire. It was time to learn how to create things of beauty with April, it was moments when she allowed me to hold her beautiful daughters. It was even moments when I conceded my Scrabble title... first to Josh and then to Rett. It was David caring for me as I was sick, me fixing him his favorite meals. It was memories of our Christmas tree, our Easter meals, our visits with the Jeffries, and so many others. It was memories of Rita Cuffy getting the last word on Pastor Tim, of sweet counsel offered to me by many friends, tears shed with my husband and then wonder as he led us through a study of Job that taught me much about the truth of suffering and God's providence. It's the recollection of HEARTH coming into being in my living room with Janet and Anne, of dear Barbara coming over numerous times as our friendship grew and life paths changed, it's the wonder of teaching David, Isaac, Natalee, and others and watching them grow into amazing young people along with my own children.

What makes this a home is the journey God's taken our family on while we've lived here. Yes, it's a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, covered with stone, but filled with the memories of many days which God gave us to learn, enjoy, grow, sorrow, grieve, mourn, laugh, and always days in which we honored Him and thanked Him for his loving care.

I'd love to have each of you become a part of our home. You're welcome any time.

 

Time for Anticipation

( A quick apology:  it was time for a change, and so I tried. As my kids would say..."epic fail Mom!" Well, I'll try again later. At least I feel like red and white dots work more with the season than apricot colored hummingbirds!)

My lights and beads and icicles are still lost, but the holiday spirit is alive and well. We are walking around singing snippets from Handel's "Messiah," humming Christmas carols, and occasionally bursting out in memorized portions of scripture. Today is present wrapping day, at least as many as are here already. The stockings are beginning to be filled and we are SOOOO looking forward to our church's 4th Annual Christmas Song Along.

Sadly it seems we won't see Young Man till next week. Sigh... He is studying Missions Aviation and at the end of the term they are full with many projects, papers, tests, stage checks (university flight test) and check flights (FAA flight test). This means that ALL the flight students need planes and flight times on the same week. And, not everyone gets the slot, day or even week they desire. So, although dorms close on Friday, they retain an open dorm for flight students for another full week, at no extra charge, knowing that many (if not most) of them will still be there. So, although we had hoped to see him on Friday, then resigned ourselves to Saturday or Sunday, it now appears it will be sometime next week. This is part of the "learning to let go" stage... I am no longer his teacher, I no longer do his laundry or cook his meals, I have no real say in his school calendar and have just begun to realize that in 18 months this will no longer be his home. He'll be looking for a job and moving out; and then, Lord willing, when he has enough flight hours, he'll be applying to be sent to the missions field, and his hopes are for Africa. So, just learning to let go of this little bit... a few days during break... is all part of that process.

Senior Son graduates this spring or summer, and so although he'll also be looking for work, I think he hopes to stay in town, so he'll be "blessed" with my continued nearness. (ha ha ha ha!) At least he'll know he can come over for the occasional meal, for New Year's donuts and for his "hot milk" birthday cake.

So, there is much to anticipate: a break from our usual daily chores, a return of Young Man, more time with Senior Son, visits with family, but most of all, this is the time to anticipate the wonder of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us, willing to be the propitiation for our sins. Truly, not only a time of anticipation, but also of thanks!

Sweet Success

Dear Friends and Readers, Today's sale was a huge success. I so appreciate all who came by, even just to say "hi". I felt loved and supported. Dear and WeeOne were in to visit, helped to haul out to the car, and generally happy encouragers. Yesterday, set-up day, MMH and WeeOne helped as Dear had to work. They didn't even complain when I left ALL my tablecloths at home and we had to go back before we could even begin to start unloading. Then, after all their help the girls went grocery shopping and I even received a 45 minute foot massage from WeeOne. I'm telling you, I just feel loved and spoiled.

The new location was AMAZING, with much room, ample parking and a happy atmosphere. We had 35 artists, and boy were they talented! Without sharing numbers I'll just happily say that my sales this year almost quadrupled from last year. Thank you to all my customers. It was encouraging to speak with some of the people who stopped by and commented on the "Christian slant" of my art, along with a number of other artists. I'm glad that people saw testimony of God's truth in some of my pieces.

The big hits of the day are pictured below.

A Bit of Charm necklaces

Amazingly, this year people preferred the more expensive versions.
Go figure.

Domino necklaces

I happily sold half of all I had made of these to one customer.

I hope the recipients of these enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

This was a good batch of domino necklaces!

I was able to sell this set as a gift.

I hope the recipient knows how much love and thought went into this purchase.

A sweet sweet story.

All in all it was a fun and fulfilling day. Comments on the display were gracious and generous. Comments on the wall art warmed my heart. While the wall art didn't sell this year, my bottles began to sell and those didnt' move last year. We'll see what comes next.

Be watching...

Blessings,

Kim

And bravely taking the mouse in hand...

I left-click to find myself back in blogger land. Yes, it's been months, dry, draining and dreary sometimes. Joyful, joyous and joyfully odd other times. But, it's been a time to regain strength, redraw the lines, regroup and rediscover who I am.

Last spring I found myself feeling more and more tired. I was tired all the time. I was tired of being tired. And I was tired of being tired of being tired. It was an endless and draining circle and finally I went to the doctor. And I went some more, and some more, and still have a ways to go. Good news is that it is nothing life threatening, but it is life changing. The final "sort of" diagnosis was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and perhaps Fibromyalgia (FM), and definitely anemia. Add on to that I am now in the process of working on a sleep apnoea diagnosis and you can begin to understand the fatigue that was taking over my life. But, despite these things I was so grateful it was nothing worse.

Somehow, I thought I would just sleep and feel better.Well, sort of. But not really. I have to redefine things a bit. I have to prioritize and I have to learn to "bank energy" to be able to keep running. You know how a low battery can keep on working, but it's almost worse than no power at all? That's me. It's better to just recharge, and that takes time, and then go on.

So, here I am. For the moment. I have no idea if I'll have enough energy to continue the blog, and the babies, and the crafts on top of being a wife, mother and homeschooler, but I'm prioritizing and blogging is low on the ladder.

God is always faithful. I haven't forgotten that. I think that's why I'm not curled up in a fetal position in some corner having a poor me pity party. God always gives us the strength we need. When I'm at a birth I always wait for that perfect moment, the moment when the mother looks up with a confused look and says, "I can't do this." That's when I tell her, "That's right. You can't. But Christ can, and you can do it through him, because of him, with him." So, that's where I'm at.

I can't do this. But He can. And so I really have to follow His plan. Not my own. And, oh beauteous thought... in the process I'm learning to be a better mom. And maybe a better teacher. I'm learning to really enjoy those moments with the kids, or even with my dear husband. And I'm appreciating the fact that I'm getting more help and more understanding and that they really know I'm not just being lazy. Such a gift.

You all, it's been a hard summer, but also a wonderful summer. I really feel blessed that God has seen fit to continue to sanctify me. There are times I whine and say, "I can't do this anymore."  And then I remember... I can't do it alone, but rather, with His hand holding me up and guiding me then I can lean on His strength and make the grade.

Shalom,
Kim