Playing in Traffic

A few years ago, I was washing supper dishes and praying/talking with God.  T and the kids were playing in another room, offering me quiet time.  While talking/thinking/praying a picture popped into my head.

I was standing on the median strip of a very busy highway.  Cars were zooming by so quickly that I could only see the red and white blurred lines of their lights.

Since the time of that picture - I had wondered what it meant.  What I didn't realize until recently, was that God was changing me.  During that specific period of growth, I didn't realize what the picture meant.  But now, I can look back with clarity on its purpose.

I have come to discover that I was at a point in my walk where I needed to make a choice.  God was showing me my choice with 2 lanes of opposing traffic.  A choice on how I was going to live out my Christian faith.  Up until that point, I had been doing a lot of modeling - following what others around me were doing.  Modeling isn't necessarily bad, but I felt that God had called me to a closer walk with Him. 

To begin my own walk.

To stop imitating another's walk. 

To step out and pick a lane of traffic, so to speak. 

As a new Christian, I think modeling is a natural tendency.  But there were things I was doing with a terribly wrong attitude.  Things I "thought" needed to be done that way, because I had seen them done that way - but it wasn't bringing me closer to God - it was pushing me away.

I started to search - for *my* purpose.  I wanted to act/serve with a better attitude - not a critical one.  I realized God was calling me - so I RAN!  And oh, the freedom I found! 

The picture isn't initially what prompted me to step out, but as I look back over the changes in my life these past few years, I can see it was the sign He used to prepare my heart.  To me, the picture is a glorious image of not only what I left behind - but the enormity of His richness and mercy that lay ahead of me.  And it is something that continues to keep me in check - Which lane am I in?  Am I following His call for my life - or my neighbor's?  Am I doing something because I feel spiritually convicted - or because someone else thinks it is right?

The culminating changes in my life resulting from that picture, or vision, have given me refreshment and freedom.  And it's never felt so good ... to play in traffic! ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

Cones?  Check

Bikes?  Check

Bike rodeo, here we come!

Wordless Wednesday

The Tongue

How beautiful is your tongue?

Or haven’t you ever really considered your tongue in terms of its attractiveness?

You don’t look at it very often in the mirror.

You don’t go on shopping trips for it.

You don’t have a weekly appointment at the tongue beautician.

A.von and Revl.on don’t sell cosmetics for it.

You don’t have to diet to get it back in shape.

Men don’t ogle it or whistle at it or write poems about it.

It doesn’t appear on the centerfold of P.lay.boy.



Yet it is your tongue, more than the form of your face, or the dimensions of your figure, or the lavishness of your wardrobe, or the size of your income, which determines whether or not you are a beautiful person.



From the book "Beautycare for the Tongue" by LeRoy Koopman

Wordless Wednesday

Latest project

I'm working on a table runner for our kitchen table.  Lots of hand applique, but it has been a good learning experience - I'll stick to purses and totebags!! ;-)

Do you love the strawberry pincushion (with emery too) ring as much as I do?  I was so excited when I found it on etsy.  I even bought my mom (a quilter) one.  Too cute!  You can find them here, if interested.



*I'm not receiving anything for mentioning or linking to the etsy site.  I just love the ring and wanted to share!

March Madness! A ball and a bucket!

One of the people I remember learning about in college was a PE teacher named James Naismith.  He took a couple of ordinary items, and turned them into a game, that 118 years later, has grown to become one of the world's most popular sports.

At Springfield YMCA, Naismith struggled with a rowdy class which was confined to indoor games throughout the harsh New England winter and thus was perpetually short-tempered. Under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education, Naismith was given 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide an "athletic distraction." Dr. Gulick demanded that it would not take up much room, could help its track athletes to keep in shape and explicitly emphasized to "make it fair for all players and not too rough."

This game started with a peach basket, attached to a wall.  (picture and above quote taken from wikipedia)

The story of this teacher has always challenged me to make things new and exciting out of the ordinary.  I didn't spend my 4 years teaching in a wealthy school district.  I was in an inner city school that needed to spend what funds it had on reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic.  Extra funds weren't available for me to purchase the newest equipment that I drooled over in the PE supply catalogs.  I searched for ways to make my own equipment with things I already had.  I wadded grocery bags into grocery bags and wrapped them up with duct tape to create a soft ball for the younger ages to catch and for the older kids to use as a hockey puck. 

I used wire coat hangers, knee-high stockings, and more duct tape, to make paddles for the younger elementary students to use to hit balloons.

Naismith challenged me to think outside of the box in my PE classes.

I was further challenged to think outside of the box (in a more formal classroom setting) by watching the teachers in our school.  I walked into a 3rd grade class one morning, during writing time, and noticed the kids were scattered all over the room.  Observing the children, I saw them laying on the floor, some had their feet up on their desks.  Another student was sitting at the window, writing.  In an instant, I realized these kids were at their most creative, when they were allowed to choose where they would do their work.  They didn't need to be confined to their seats/desks.  They were given a choice - which inspired their creativity.

I never realized, with my training in teaching, that 13 years after graduating from college, I would be homeschooling my children.  It has been and continues to be a privilege to teach them.  And, to the best of my God-given abilities, I try to teach them using methods that keep me thinking outside of the box, as well as them.

Lately, our son has taken to basketball, but we don't have a basketball net.  He's been asking for one for his birthday - which isn't until June. 

Earlier this week, in his eagerness to play, I discovered this.

May he continue to develop that creativity

and to keep thinking outside of the box basket.

Wordless Wednesday

My baby

Squeamish - don't worry, no pictures! ;)

This weekend I roasted a turkey. 

I am very squeamish when it comes to pulling those giblet bags out.  Well, OK, the bag isn't so bad, it is the long, raw turkey neck that gets me in the stomach.

Unfortunately for me, my husband was not home Saturday morning as I prepped the bird for my oven.

I also get squeamish when thinking about putting a worm on a fishing hook.  I have told my husband I plan to conquer that fear this summer.  However, I still do not think I'm ready to remove the fish from the hook.  Baby steps.

It has been raining all weekend and there are worms are all over our driveway.  My youngest likes to walk around, pick up the "snakes" and cuddle them in his hands.

I'll spare you the rest of the squeamish things in my life.  Worms and turkey necks were at the top of the list for my weekend. 

How was your weekend?

Happy Birthday!!

A big hug from us to you!!

Elle: "Can we keep these?"
Me: "Yes."
Elle: "Yeah!"

I see a follow-up post in the future! ;-)

Friday's Five

1 - Went to a Casting Crowns concert Sunday night and it was AWESOME!  Rather than just listening to them sing, or singing "at one another" (as CC's lead singer called it) it was a praise and worship night and was unforgettable.

2 - We didn't return home from the concert until just before midnight.  The kids were staying at Grandma and Grandpa's.  T took a vacation day and we had breakfast together and just a fun morning of uninterrupted time!  We rescued G/G just after lunch - finding out that the kids had all woken up before 7am!!  They *all* slept that afternoon!

3 - Does anyone think it odd that the same day I would post about our new "pet" I would also make a shoo-fly pie?  (Link to shoo-fly pie for those reading who aren't locals!)

4 - T took Quintin snowboarding a second time this winter.  They both had a great time.

5 - We are currently studying insects in school (hence the perfect fit of that new pet!)  Part of yesterday's lesson was for Q to make up a funny story about an ant.  His story was clever and it didn't surprise me when it included snow.  The ant was snowboarding down his ant hill.  There may or may not have been a half pipe involved!

Have a great weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday

Well, it isn't really wordless and it isn't Wednesday either. ;-)

But, it is less than 30 seconds long!!

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

Quintin, age 4

Elle, age 2

Colin, age 3 months

Today

Happy Birthday T!

Snow -vs- Wind

There's an 8-inch drift at my kitchen door, but my driveway has bare spots and the front walk is totally dry.

All the schools are closed.  Roads are in poor condition.

I think the Wind is winning this one! ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

"Passionate" Playtime

Last evening, I made a suggestion to the kids to act out one of the two Bible stories I had read to them at breakfast.  The two stories were Daniel in the lion's den and the story of Jonah and the big fish.  (side note: we read them both from The Jesus Storybook Bible and I can't put enough good plugs in for this book - and no, I'm not getting paid or given anything for plugging this book - Its awesome and if you haven't checked it out, take a look, now!)

Thinking my kids would have fun acting these two stories out (since they act out every other movie/adventure we see/read) I was sure I'd have enough time to finish the dishes after supper and get some other odds and ends finished.

As they left the kitchen, I suggested doing Jonah's story first.

It didn't play out as well as it did in my mind.

But, I can say, they passionately displayed Jonah's persistence!

And that was before even acting out the story.  ;-)