What's left?

We finished our RightStart Math 2 or 3 weeks ago.

A diagnostic spelling test last week (50 words with progressive difficulty) revealed we can cross spelling off the subjects to complete for 1st grade (and 2nd, 3rd, 4th...but I won't do that!)

We have one more Bible story left in our New Testament lessons for the year.

What's left?

Some science - our favorite!

(Jar 2 is in the fridge)

Quite a window display, huh?

Here she goes again...

God is not sleeping

Consumed by my loss, I didn't notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend-my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense, I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father's death, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life.


When mother's illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor. 'What now, Lord?' I asked sitting in church.


My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife's hand. My sister sat slumped against her husband's shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone.


My place had been with our mother, preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication, reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone.


I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears. He began to sniffle.


'I'm late,' he explained, though no explanation was necessary.


After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, “Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of Margaret?''


“Because, her name was Margaret—never Mary—no one called her Mary,'' I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn't have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway?


“No, that isn't correct,” he insisted, as several people glanced over at us, whispering “Her name is Mary, Mary Peters.”


“That isn't who this is.”


“Isn't this the Lutheran church?”


'No, the Lutheran church is across the street.”


“Oh.”

“I believe you're at the wrong funeral, Sir.”

The solemness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man's mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs.


The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me. He was laughing too as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit. I imagined Mother laughing.


At the final 'Amen,' we darted out a door and into the parking lot. “I do believe we'll be the talk of the town,” he smiled. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt's funeral, he asked me out for a cup of coffee.


That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral, but was in the right place. A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time.

In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June, we celebrated our twenty-second wedding anniversary. Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, “Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it's truly a match made in heaven.”

source unknown

May your life be filled with the love of God, family and friends, knowing that the God who loves you never sleeps and is always looking out for you and feeling your joys as well as your sorrows. He has a plan, and He will provide in His timing.  May God bless your day.

Wordless Wednesday

"Hey Mom, what's the name of this game again?"

Tiny Talk Tuesday

All three of my children love to help at various points of the cooking/baking process. They each enjoy watching and adding an ingredient or two and then they go back to whatever they were doing. Occasionally, they'll stay and see a whole project from start to finish - when it involves dessert! :-)

I always get a chuckle out of the way Colin (2) and Elle (4) ask to help. They come out to the kitchen, look up at me with those big brown eyes and ask, "Can I help you make?" Or, in Colin's case, "Help you make?"

They help me cook and bake, so why shouldn't they ask if they can help me make??

For more Tiny Talkers, click on over to Mary's.

Our Lil' Green Machine!

I video taped parts of Quintin's game yesterday afternoon and put 3 clips together as a short movie - if you're wondering why he's changed places on the field so quickly. ;-)

He's #10 and is wearing blue socks, if that helps to find him!

The kids played so well yesterday considering it was in the 90s :-o!! Normal temps = 70s. I think the kids handled playing in it better than I did watching!!



Sideline commentary provided by T and my parents! :-)

It's Friday!

♪♫ Put on a happy face! ♫♪

This cute little guy was made with help by Elle's Sunday School teacher - she's very eager to give it a haircut!

On my own I'm so clumsy, but on Your shoulders...

I can see, I'm free to be me!

Album: My Paper Heart
Artist: Francesca Battistelli

At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But You've already won the battle
And You've got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see

(Chorus)

‘Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me


When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out
My life would turn out right, and I'd make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt

(Chorus)

And you’re free to be you
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I've got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe
Even though
(Chorus)

Wordless Wednesday: rainbowS

Marionette - Who's pulling your strings?

Ok, so it isn't a mystery that I love to play with graphics and turn what I feel are powerful words into a word picture. Whether they be Bible verses, quotes or from songs, a picture pops into my head and I enjoy the creative process of designing it - often simple, but to me, they are powerful.

This one today, is from a song I posted here. Having written in that post, that I'm not an auditory learner, I think that is why I enjoy creating the graphics, it is something for me to envision the full meaning.

With this one, I thought about my own personal faith walk and how sometimes I am going through the motions. Often, it feels like a puppet on a string. I just do what I know I'm supposed to do, but there is no feeling, no emotion behind it.

As I thought on it this morning, I wondered if we take a look at our lives often enough to see who or what is pulling our strings? Is it finacial worry? Is it striving to be like someone we admire? Is it a set of rules or guidelines we feel we must follow?

On the flipside - do I even want strings? I want to be able to worship and live the way Christ is calling me to - and maybe that means cutting those strings ... I don't know - I just know that "I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything instead of just going through the motions?'"

I hope that this image will stay in your mind and that you'll have some time to reflect on it - pleae let me know your thoughts.

Monday morning blahs...

Hurry!

Want to learn how to quilt?  The youcanmakethis.com site that I LOVE, has now launched a youcanquiltthis site!  And, today is the last day to enter for a chance to win a quilter's companion sewing machine.  Click here for your chance.

Keep Believing

KEEP BELIEVING - this one is for you Angie! 

You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Friday's Five

This is a graphic and category made up by me - but feel free to grab it and use it if you like. :-)

1 - Thankful for the beautiful weather we are having right now!!!  (Especially since we had a lot of rain earlier in the week)

2 - Thankful for good friends to chat with, and more importantly - laugh with, Wednesday night at church!!

3 - Thankful for the love and support of family.

4 - Thankful for the retail outlets nearby so that I could buy new summer clothing for the kids at more than 50% off!!

5 - THANKFUL that it is Friday! 

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

I'll take onions with that.

As a kid, I did not like onions.

But I remember in high school, my parents were going out for supper and I was staying home alone.  They were grabbing take-out for me from the local pizza joint on our town's square.  For some unknown reason, I asked them to order me a small pizza with onions.

I loved it.

Why did I order onions on my pizza?  I haven't a clue, but I wish I did...it would probably make for a better story.

Anyway, I do not shy away from onions as I once did when I was younger....however, I'm sure the effects of this food passion cause some to shy away from me....where was I?

This weekend we celebrated Easter with my hubby's family on Good Friday.  His mother is a wonderful cook and she enjoys trying out new recipes on us every now and then.  I hit gold this past Friday when she served a baked onion and cheese dip.  E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.T.

We celebrated with my family at our home on Sunday.  I was debating between a good friend's spinach artichoke dip and the onion dip.  I went bold...I went for the onions.  It was a hit - I think - I was too busy devouring my food to notice if anyone else cared for it or not!

I served this dip in the evening after having our bigger meal at noon.  Along with the dip, we had some homemade Mac 'n' Cheese, rolls and various lunchmeats, chips...you know the drill.  I decided a fresh tossed salad would round out the meal nicely.

Upon planning the meal, my mind (or my stomach, perhaps) immediately went to the tossed salad dressing recipe in our church's cookbook (the one with the yellow cover, for those locals who may be reading).

What makes this salad dressing spectacular?  First, the sweetness of the sugar...and then, it is all about the onions!

So maybe it wasn't in the best interest to provide my loved ones with three cups of chopped sweet onions or even the five cups of cheese between the dip and Mac 'n' Cheese in one sitting.   But it was all good and they know I love them.  But, if they were complaining, I didn't hear it over the sound of my lips smacking all the gooey-cheesy-oniony-goodness!

Interested in these recipes?  Of course you are!  You can find them on my cooking blog. 

Baked Onion and Cheese Dip

Tossed Salad Dressing

Wordless Wednesday: Got Tape?

Artwork by Colin with display help from Elle

A full weekend

Friday was the closing program for our spring semester of co-op.   The big event of the evening was Charlotte's Web performed by the 5th and 6th graders of co-op.  Our niece was Charlotte and they did an excellent job!

Prior to their play, Quintin's class sang one song.  Doesn't his joy just radiate out?  I said to T, "He's just like you - so serious."  T answers, "Yep, it's all business."  Oh boy!

In 2 weeks, the children of our church, in grades 1-6 will present the children's musical, Esther-Ordinary Faith.  Quintin had pratice for that on Saturday afternoon.

We rounded out the weekend with his first soccer game, Sunday afternoon.  It was a beautiful day to sit outside and watch these U8 teams play.

For our usually low-key weekends, this one was busy, but fun!  And I think we are only scratching the surface as what "busy" with children is!

Patiently, I will wait

I'll be running the race, even while I wait.

Music Mania cont.

To continue with my music-themed-week, I am posting a song by Matt Goss and LCBC Worship. I really enjoy all the songs from their newest cd, Where it Starts.  In fact, I was at the concert when they recorded this song and the rest of the album. 

LCBC Worship - King of Heaven from Matt Goss on Vimeo.

My God is mighty to save

Here's another song I'm singing out this week. Enjoy!!

Just going through the motions?

I've heard this song before, but hadn't fully listened and gotten its message (I am definitely not an auditory learner - I learn best by watching and doing - just in case you wondered.)  My best friend sent this song to me yesterday letting me know how the words in this song have spoken volumes to her - and now, it has been replaying in my head since (I just needed a picture to go with it as well finding the lyrics online to 'sing' along.)

There have been quite a few songs that have really ministered to me this weekend. I might end up sharing more of them on here, in the hopes that they encourage you as well.  May you be strengthened and encouraged with the message.  Here's a link to the lyrics if you're like me, and need to "follow along!"

And here is another version, for those who don't want pictures, only words!!! LOL!!

Our favorite books this Easter

With our focus on Lent this year, and working through the Lenten Activity guide we found, I set out to find some more Easter books for our home.

I found 3 that we are really enjoying and wanted to share them.

The first, and probably my favorite, is The First Easter by Carol Heyer. You can see the book, here. This is a story of why we celebrate Easter and it is told in a very gentle, conversation style. This is the first children's book I've read on Easter, that includes Jesus going into the temple finding men buying and selling. It also tells of the conversations Jesus had with the priests inside the temple, and that they were angry at Jesus' answers which then led them to be afraid of him. It also tells of the Last Supper and the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup. The pictures are stunning too and I find myself very drawn to this book.

The second book, That's My Colt, an Easter tale by Dandi Daley Mackall. You can see the book here. This story is told through the eyes of a boy who may have owned the colt that Jesus rode on as he entered Jerusalem. It does not give as full of an account of the Easter story, but it is a beautiful tale as the boy follows his donkey and sees his Master hanging on the cross. While he is sad, he soon learns that Jesus has indeed risen and he rides his donkey back into Jerusalem. "Now, I galloped through the city, on our colt, shouting the good news: 'Hallelujah! He lives!'"

The final book I picked up last week at Hal.mar*k. It is titled, Easter A to Z. We have this same book for Christmas. You can see the first 4 letters of the alphabet, here. This book is a delightful way to talk about the true meaning of Easter. In the A to Z format, it shares the customs, legends, and symbolism surrounding Easter.

What books are the favorites of your family at Easter time?

The S Files

The S Files, 4th edition

I am posting 2 weeks of activities in this post.

Some of the activities are too in depth for my children (my oldest is 6), so we have been giving something up on several days throughout the weeks. We've chosen one thing to give up for an entire day, some of them have been: computer games and television watching. I think it was Elle who suggested giving up afternoon rest times, but I said we'd better not, or mom might be grouchy until evening! ;-)

Eggs: We talked about how eggs are familiar symbols at Easter time, but they are unrelated to the Easter story. They do, however, represent new life and have been a signal of spring since ancient times. Christians adopted the egg as an Easter symbol because of the relationship between spring and new life in Christ. We followed up with an egg race.

Spring: We brought some spring into the house and are admiring God's creation at the kitchen windows. (Thanks Mom!!)

Another activity was to talk to the kids about how the term Good Friday probably came from God's Friday. We talked about how the day Christ died is ultimately very good because all of us need a Savior - we need to be redeemed.

New Life: Because of Easter, we can have new life in Christ. We found a butterfly template, here, and painted them. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Cleaning: We learned the Jewish families typically cleaned before Passover. We found some glass doors in need of a good cleaning. The kids loved helping to wipe the doors clean.

A final activity in the past 2 weeks was one that involved learning the traditional Easter greeting. I asked the children what they say or have heard us say to people when shopping, etc, at Christmastime. They answered, "Merry Christmas." I told them, there is an Easter greeting as well. The first person says, "Christ is Risen!." To which we answer, "He is risen indeed!" We've been praticing saying this and I look forward to offering this greeter to those we meet in the days before Easter.

The S Files, ed 1

The S Files, ed 2

The S Files, ed 3

They're watching us!