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

The end is in sight... sort of

It's been a long year. For those who have followed you know that last year at this time I was very sick... mono, CFS and FM. This year, although I wouldn't say I'm 100%, I feel so much better. That's not to say there haven't been hard days, but over all a big improvement. And, there's been an incredible improvement in attitudes as well.

MMH was just baptized, and joined the church. That was a huge thing, and the fact that it happened on Mothers' Day made it all the sweeter. WeeOne has been learning about stepping out and stretching her world. When Big Sis had to quit track WeeOne was NOT happy, but she stuck with it, and made new friends. And academically I've also seen such huge strides.

I did take a very low profile in teaching for our Friday co-op. I only taught art this year, which I believe makes for 7 years in a row of teaching art. But, praise God, I'm done with art, at least for now, and next year have the joy of teaching 2 or 3 high school classes: 2 semesters of communications, 1 semester of missions based reading and perhaps a year of "The Fallacy Detective." Exciting stuff. At least to me.

Back to this year... one of the focuses in art this year was photography. We began with a full 10 weeks or so of photography under my tutelage, and then just finished 5 weeks this past Friday under Kristin Peters, who does photography on the side. Such a nice end to the year!

Anyway, thought you all might enjoy a few of the kids photos, so enjoy! Part of these last five weeks was learning to alter the photos, and currently we're using a free trial of Adobe Photoshop Elements. What a toy! (The first three are by WeeOne, shot at the local university. The last shots are by MMH, and are explained below.)

Just a quick note on MMH's rose photos... we had a special time for just the high school students. I supplied them each with a rose and told them to try as many shots as they could think of taking... these were just a few of MMH's shots. Quite gorgeous I think!

Anyway, we have just completed our Friday co-op, have two days of standardized testing and 2 weeks left in Western Civ. After that it's just math for the summer, as usual. So, by the end of May we'll basically be done. I'm so grateful, as last year at this time I wasn't even sure I could do another year. The Lord has been gracious, and not only restored much of my energy, but is renewing in me the desire to teach. (As long as it's not art!)

Shalom,
Kim

1% + 98%

What does that equal? Well, it equals a successful track season for WeeOne.

I am not now, nor have I ever been, an athlete. I have enjoyed simple sports: biking, swimming, playing "Kick the Can" with neighborhood kids, but I was never part of organized athletics. Well, there was one season where I was a "student manager" for the girls Varsity volleyball team, but...

Somehow, when the boys left home for college I figured my days of being a "sports mom" were done. After all, I had girls. I was a girl. I didn't do sports. My girls wouldn't do sports. Guess again. MMH decided her 8th grade year that she wanted to play volleyball. Mind you, she had never played before, nor did she even know the rules to the game, she just knew she wanted to play. Then around comes her freshman year and volleyball was at the forefront again. At least until that season was over and basketball began. Two sports? Not even the boys did that.

Then around Christmas we started hearing the word "TRACK"... but it wasn't coming from MMH, rather it came from WeeOne. She of the never-ending energy had decided that Track and Field would be HER sport. After all, she knew how to run. Right? HA! And then, horror of horrors, big sister decided she ALSO wanted to participate. At which point I thought I might lose my mind. Three sports in one year? I was tired, tired, tired of the driving, but Dear gave the go-ahead, so we went ahead.

Week 2 hit in the Varsity track team and MMH had to drop out... Osgood Slaughters (let's simply say debilitating knee pain) was the causal agent. Meanwhile WeeOne had begun her season and she was NOT happy. Actually the word "QUIT" was heard being murmured and mumbled from her region of the back seat after practice each day. We talked about learning how to "stay the course" how to "run the race that is set before you" and many other such things. In the end, we simply said, MMH HAD to quit, but you may NOT quit. Just tough it out.

Goals were set, and eventually met, and finally one day she exited practice with a smile on her face. Within one week she was saying that she might think about running next year, and a week later she told us she was 91% sure she would run. Meanwhile the rains kept coming down, meets kept getting cancelled and we all began to wonder if this would be a season with no competition.

Always a good idea to let your coach know if you're leaving the field. Ahem!

Note WeeOne in the upper left corner.

FINALLY made it to the start line. ALWAYS wait till they say if your heat is or is not running before you walk off.

Finally her first meet came around and she was able to compete. She didn't win, but she did win one of her heats, and she did well. And, when it all ended this past week she said, with a big smile on her face, "I'm 1% + 98% sure I'll be running next year." Now THAT made for a successful season!

This is the face that sums it up. She decided she wanted to run, and run fast. She won this heat.

So, all in all a good year. Tonight at the dinner her coaches recognized her as the team member that never complained, and also the team member who really improved her time. I'm proud, she did indeed run the race set before her.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... Hebrews 12:1

I pray she may run all her races in such a manner. 

Shalom,
Kim

It's a blustery day out Piglet!

I received a call an hour or so ago from my brother. In St. Louis. Where the tornadoes ripped through. He's fine, and so is the family. RELIEF!

The weather has been interesting here, balmy and gorgeous one day and blustery and blowing another day. It seems that I've been the same. Some days calm and peaceful and other days storms rage inside. (And I must admit this whole post was inspired by my friend on her blog.. her last post). Nevertheless, this has been a long time coming.

Aunt Sue (the baby)
Aunt Carol (the big sister)
Mom (my mom!)

I've been blogging for a number of years now. Different names, different hosting sites. Different writing styles. All the while I've been writing these posts to family far and near so they could "keep up" with us even though we don't get to see each other often. Because, in truth, they are always as near as my heart and my prayers. I miss them VERY Much. This weekend I get to see my mom. FINALLY. It's been a long two years... give or take. Long story behind all this, but God is always at work and I'm so very grateful. Then in a few months I head north and see my aunt and uncle. Our mutual trip to a state park was just too much for them, and so we're trying this new approach. And just a week or so later my other aunt will be down here for a family reunion and I'll even see my cousin. I can't even remember the last time I saw her!

Meanwhile, life changed so much last year as Chronic Fatigue took such a huge toll, along with a previously unknown case of mono. YIKES! I'm learning to live a different way, trust God in different areas, and enjoy each moment more. Usually. Not always. But I'm trying.



"For to such belongs the kingdom of God."
an assemblage completed in November 2010
(still for sale)



Previously this blog consumed me. Hours a day of writing. I wanted so badly to be heard. To be noticed. To be listened to. Now I'm happy to live and learn from God. I still enjoy creating, but am creating more at home and not as much for sale. Although the sale will still happen in November, Lord willing.



Josh... learning so much from God.
I'm just excited to watch him grow.



Aaron...enjoying a bit of free time.



I think what I'm learning is to learn to live life HERE. At Home. Not online. As the time approaches that my boys both  graduate college, same school year!, I'm realizing that time with family is more fleeting than I realized. And, while our oldest is nearby, and will probably stay nearby, our second hopes to end up in Africa. As in across the ocean, south of the equator, far away. And, that's as it should be. As I seem to have always known it would be. The Lord had called him, from the womb. And, truth be told the Lord has called each of us to something... some to be saved, some not, some to serve over seas, some to be served, He has a purpose for each of us. I want to fulfill the purpose He has for me.



At the birth of Canaan. Such a blessing!



So, I'm living life. Searching for his will. Learning to love my husband more. Enjoy my kids more. And not to worry so much about what everyone thinks. It's all learning and sanctification and I thank God for the process.

Shalom!

Wow!

I am quite ready to say good bye to the white stuff!!!!

Time flies!

My son is a nut job!

Sometimes that's all you can say. It has been so crazy here with schedules, school, the end of volleyball and all of basketball, babies being born, family visits, trips away and all the rest. In the midst of all this I started to revamp the look of the blog and then just gave up as life took over.

Life with CFS continues to determine what each day and week will be like. Currently I've just finished the second week of living gluten free (GF from now on) and hope to see that make a difference in my energy level. According to quite a bit of research I should see a change in the first 2-4 weeks. While I haven't noticed a huge change in my energy per se I have noted that my digestion has improved and my daily prilosec meds are not needed quite so frequently. That may not sound huge, but if, in the end, my digestion changes enough it may mean that I can once again eat berries, seeds, nuts and legumes. That would be a happy day indeed. In the meantime I'm learning to eat differently and even seeing a bit of a weight loss. Just a bit, mind you, but even a bit is a happy thing.

That's what I like to do in the afternoon!

I recently attended a birth and learned much about the mercies of God. Also about the forgiveness of brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm always sad when afterward I know I should have done something different. God was quite merciful and as I confessed this to the couple we had a sweet time of forgiveness and fellowship. It's all a learning curve and I am so grateful to be able to work with believers as they give birth to their children.

At some point I'll update the photos, or not. We'll see, but at least you've now heard from me. I'd like to do a giveaway also... jump on over to Whimsy and The Word and you'll see some possibilities for the prizes. Keep watching!

It seems I've reached that milestone,

you know, the one where you're in the kitchen and just smiling and humming to yourself because you can hear your family members all over the house... yes, that's the milestone I've reached. I was standing at the kitchen counter yesterday just smiling and humming when I realized I was humming. (Evidently I hum a lot, but I don't always hear myself doing so.) Now Gram was a great one for humming. You knew she was happy by the volume of her humming, the louder and more tuneless it was then the more content you knew she was. I find for me that I hum hymns and praise songs when I'm truly content. So, after going through all the verses of various hymns and Christmas carols I giggled and realized I had become Gram.

all the "grands" last summer (plus Insop)

Of course there's another side to this story. Dear's mother has always been busy in the kitchen "fixing for us" while we're there. In their old house this really bothered several of us because it meant she was away from us. We actually worked hard to get her out of the kitchen so she could enjoy her kids. Now, in their newer house the kitchen has that "open" concept right on the great room which means whoever is working is still in the middle of everything. Nevertheless we have continued to encourage her to sit, relax and enjoy. But today it dawned on me... she is enjoying. She is doing what a mother loves to do, she is fixing for her kids. So, I'm guessing I won't be so quick to push her out of the kitchen, but I'll be sure we're there to help her all we can.

Senior Son fixing Christmas dinner last year

I just wonder what milestone I'll reach next as my children grow older and more capable. I'm already being asked to leave the kitchen on certain nights when I'm tired. The girls take over and truth be told they're pretty handy in the kitchen. Wee one makes good pancakes, mac and cheese, grilled cheese and quesadillas. MMH makes everything from fried chicken salad (she does her own chicken tenders!), to chicken fried rice, spaghetti and anything with garlic and mushrooms! For that matter, both boys have learned to cook as well, Senior Son as a "Bobbite" and Young Man learned this past summer while he lived in VA working on an internship. Just tonight he mentioned that he didn't have to use a recipe for hamburger stroganoff anymore, and no, I don't mean the boxed stuff!

It seems that I've reached a point where my kids are more able to do for themselves. I wonder if I'll be able to let go? Well, just listen for the humming and you'll know how I'm doing with it all.

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!