Bedtime for Bear

Putting the baby bear to bed.

Singing and praying.

I have been struck today by two things.
One, how quickly a soul passes from this world into the next.
Two, that it is happening all the time.  Not often to someone I know but that doesn't make it less real.
Last night, it was a man from our church.  No one expected it and yet it is done.  He is resting and rejoicing in ways we can't even imagine.

The time to be ready, friends, is now.  
The time to believe and receive is now.

What I love about a time like this is the church.  The body of believers that rejoices together and mourns together.  That bears one another's burdens.  That comes along side brothers and sisters when the unthinkable happens.  God's design for His church, His family, is precious.
The hymns that have come to mind today bring comfort.  I remember when I was younger thinking hymns were outdated or boring.  Now, old, familiar tunes breath truth and life into our sadness and grief.

"E're since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die:

And shall be till I die And shall be till I die;

Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die."

                              from "There Is A Fountain"

"High King of heaven my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun

Heart of my own heart whatever befall

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all."

                               from "Be Thou My Vision"

The Plants

  

So here is the beginning of our garden.  Right now we have 30 plants growing.  A few need to be separated.  We have 18 more that have just been planted in the last few days so they haven't germinated yet.  These plants are kind of a nice distraction.  The kids help water them and I spend a good bit of time turning them and moving them to be sure they're all getting enough light.  Kind of fun.

It reminds me of a book I loved when I was a kid.  I have a copy of it somewhere (and have had it since second grade) but I haven't seen it in a while, meaning a few years.  Hopefully it's in a box somewhere because when I was looking around for an image of it, I saw that it's a good $20 for a used paperback copy.  And the prices went way up.  If your library has it, get it.  It's a good one.

Looking forward to a slow week- no CC prep anymore!  And to a baby shower this weekend for my newest nephew- due the end of next month!

Enjoy the day!

Girl Time

Our church held its annual Women's Retreat this weekend.  It is always a sweet time.  This one a little sweeter for some reason.  It's the last retreat before the church plant gets under way.  Being all together was a gift.
Getting away, somewhat out in the middle of nowhere, even for a short while, is always good.
Good talks with friends.
Good food.
Good singing.
Even frogs.  Yes, in the building.  I realized I like to listen to peepers but sharing space with them, or whatever kind of frogs they were- not so much.
The topic of the weekend, encouragement.  We all need that, don't we?
Just a few things I walked away with:
*True encouragement is anything that helps one be satisfied in God.
*Every situation is beyond me.  In my hands, there's a good chance I will make a mess of things.  Nothing is beyond God.
*Pray for wisdom and expect an answer.
Thankful for the weekend.

The Growing Up

There are many pictures like these around our house lately.
They always say "momdad" or "dadmom" with a "w" at the end.
Lately, "love" is added.
They usually come to us rolled up like a scroll.
From Sammy.
It seems like all of the sudden, he is so interested in drawing and writing and letters.
I love the people he draws and how he so carefully forms his letters.
I love the hearts he adds or the grass by our feet.
But each one tugs at my heart, just a little.
Maybe because it means one more of them is growing up, doing "big kid" things.  Leaving behind some of the "littleness."
I love the littleness and I love the growing up, too.
Sometimes, though, it's the leaving behind that gets me.

Thursday Evening

This rainbow was in the sky after a stormy afternoon on the first day of spring.  It hung around for quite a while.  Beautiful.
Today was our last day of CC (Classical Conversations) for the year!  Not school, just CC.  I am so glad!  It was a good year.  The kids and I all learned a lot, but the break is welcome!  Tutoring just adds a whole new dimension.  To celebrate we went out for ice cream after dinner.
I finished The House at Tyneford.  There are always some parts that I could do without but I thought it was a pretty good story overall, especially after watching Downton Abbey.  Now onto The Hunger Games.  I've heard enough people talk about it that I decided to find out for myself what all the fuss is about.  We'll see!

Getting Outside

We've been enjoying this lovely spring weather, like everybody else.  Getting outside seems to make us all a little happier.

Being out in the evening is the best!

Pirates like warm days, too.

Kayla and Jack have taken up skating.  I have to say they're pretty good at it.  

Sometimes, it scares me to watch them

and sometimes it just makes me laugh.

A Poem

Swinging

by Kayla

I feel as light as a feather

Soaring through the wind,

Soaring past a howling river.

I'll streak past you

As fast as a flash of lightening

In a thunderstorm.

Good for the Heart

Loved this from Linda Dillow's Calm My Anxious Heart.
It was in an old diary...

"*Never allow yourself to complain about anything- not even the weather.

*Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.

*Never compare your lot with another's.

*Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.

*Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that [tomorrow] is God's, not ours."

Just Because

Lucy pictures- just because she's cute and because it made me laugh when she stood up in the restaurant with a serious look on her face, pointed, and said, "That guy's crazy."

Treasure

Sam brought the mail in and put it on the dryer.  It was a while before I noticed it there.  As I flipped through the pile, I saw handwriting.  A letter!  Addressed to me from a dear friend.  We lived together for several years after I graduated from JMU.
I got myself settled, ready to read.  And it was a good letter.  Those don't come too often.
But what was tucked inside- another letter, one I must have left behind, maybe 15 years old.  A letter from my Grandma.
She is still living and for that I am so thankful but this letter is like a treasure from a time long gone.  One I did not know I was missing.  And I tell you, I feel like a rich woman having it in my hands.

Beginning the Garden

This past weekend we spent some time planting seeds for our summer garden.  Last year, we were either given plants or we bought them.  This year, we're hoping to grow our own plants.  Some have already shown a little life above the dirt!  So, they are by the sunniest window in the house now.  We were just given a florescent light (it's big huge!) which we'll probably use most of the time to maximize light exposure.

Getting the seed packets out.

Jack's one job: to pound some holes in the bottom of our "planters."

Dropping in cucumber seeds.

Covering seeds with dirt.

Kayla wants to have her own garden.

Little helpers.

I think we'll do another set in a few weeks but for now, it's a good start.

And to end the day...

Today's (or tonight's) sunshine in a shady place...
...the spring peepers!!!!!
Finally.  I hear them!  They are loud tonight and I love it!
They might just be my favorite part of spring.
What a nice way to end the day.
I'm a happy girl.

Needy

I needed this dose of sweetness today.  I should say that just moments before Sam and Lucy were at odds and there was crying involved.  I guess they worked it out, huh?

I just feel weary.  Tired.  I want to hide somewhere with my book and some ear plugs.

Doesn't that sound like a nice mama?

Ugh.

This keeps running through my head, though:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

                 2 Corinthians 12:9

The kids and I read this together this morning.  It is so good to talk with them, even young ones, about what is true and good.  I asked what they thought about that.  Kayla said, "Well, if we know we are weak then we know we need God."  Love that girl.

So, I will carry on today, knowing my need and knowing it will be met.

Providence Open House

"I think the name fits the church."
I can't remember who said this today but we were talking about all the ways God has already provided for this church plant.  There is good reason to be overwhelmed at His goodness.  His provision and His plan are perfect- we need only to follow.

The turn-out for the open house was better than I had expected.  It was a good chance for us all to see the facility (a private school) we will meet in.  When we were really in the thick of things, I didn't have time to take pictures.  But, I did get a few before and after the rush.

Here are some dear, dear people.

Of course we had snacks. 

There's even a gym!  

You might not have one of these in your hand but if you think of us, pray for us.

Still Dark!

It is all mental.
I don't care that I lost an hour of sleep last night because of the time change.
I am just happy that I when I look at the clock and see a 7, it is still completely quiet in my house.
Everyone else is still asleep.
Aaahhh.

Yesterday we had somewhat of a family work day, which means we cleaned the garage and some of the basement.
The garage had gotten so bad that even WE didn't want to look at it.   And now, it is soooo clean.
I'd kind of like to pull out a chair and just sit in it.
Right in the middle.  And enjoy it while it lasts.

We also started our garden plants yesterday.  Pictures to follow.

And, today is a big day.  There will be an open house at the site of the future church plant.  We're excited about that.
This thing is really happening!

Trade?

What a life!  Spending some time in the afternoon in a tent with a pillow and blanket,  listening to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Wouldn't I like to trade places with him!

It has been a while since I found a new book that I don't want to put down but I've got one now- The House at Tyneford.  A little blurb at the top caught my attention and I was sold:  

"Fans of Downton Abbey and Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden will absolutely adore The House at Tyneford."

So far so good!  

In a Wednesday

Today I took a suggestion from Dr. Oz's newspaper column and made "apple chips."  Yum.  They made the house smell good and they tasted good, too.  We thinly sliced several apples then tossed them in lime juice and water.  The recipe said lemon juice but I didn't have any.  We laid them in a single layer on a non-stick cookie sheet, sprinkled on some cinnamon, and baked at 150 degrees for 2 and a half hours.

And for some recent pictures:

Kayla told me tonight that she loves just being near Lucy.  "Even when she's sleeping I like looking at her."  I really hope they always love each other like they do now.  Their relationship is so sweet to watch.

Lucy got herself all set to read to her baby.  

One shot from Jack's birthday.  10 candles!!

He decorated his cake himself...a lego ninja cake.  I think it's kind of like ninja training camp.  I like the tree on the left.

Sunshine and Shade

A day's sunshine in a shady place

"What sunshine in a shady place was Aunt Jane to Rebecca!"

from Kate Douglas Wiggin's Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

We are all thoroughly enjoying this book.  It is delightful.  In it, I think I have found one of my favorite quotes from a novel yet.

How Many More?

"Mama?"
"Yes, Kayla?"
"How many more Sundays do we have left at Grace Covenant?"
For a moment I could not answer.
Partly because I had to do a rough calculation! (20ish)
Partly because my emotions rest at the surface lately where the church plant is concerned.
Mostly, though, because her question took me by surprise, showed me a little of what's going on in her heart, and made me consider something I don't like to think about.
Loss.
I love our church.
It has been a place of grace, love, and growth in the gospel for us, in many ways like no other.  We love the people.  Our kids have been well loved there.  We are blessed that we have something to lose, to miss.  Wouldn't it be sad to not miss our church family when we leave???
And- leaving is not safe.
It is risky.
But that means it must be done out of faith and that is a good place to be.  Faith not in ourselves but in the God whom we believe is calling us to plant a new church.
Will it be hard?
Yep.
Will it be a lot of work?
Sure will.
Will it hurt sometimes?
Oh yes.
(Kayla's next question was "Can Geneva please come with us?"  How we all will miss some dear people.)
Will it be worth it?
Absolutely.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all time, you may abound in every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:8

A Decade

Sometimes I don't even know what to say.  How did you go from this little baby with a head full of black hair to this guy, 10 years old.  A decade has passed.  When did that happen?

I do love watching him grow.  He is who he is.  A reader, always.  Legos, soccer, being outside with his friends.  Making us laugh.  Irritating his sister (I had to throw that in).  These are the things that we think of when it comes to Jack.
Other things make me need to take a deep breath, remind me to take it all in while I can.  In another 10 years, might he be gone from here?  Gone to college somewhere?  The time is short.  So short.  If he can go so quickly from the cuddly baby content in my arms to the boy who quickly hugs and is off to the next thing, I can't even think how fast the rest will go.  I pray for this one, as I do all of them, trusting that the God who made him so fearfully and wonderfully will keep him and guide his steps all of his days.
Happy 10th Birthday, Jack!  You are loved.

Birthdays and A Book List

It's Read Across America Day!
We don't really need an excuse to settle in with a good book but if we did, surely this would be it!  We did go to the library this morning and load up.  And this afternoon is turning out to be perfect for reading.  It's dark, cool, and pouring the rain right now.  So, I  have called a break from "school" in favor of an afternoon of reading some quality literature.  (I know- that's really not a break.  That's probably one of THE best things they could be doing.  But the kids think they're getting away with something and they like it!)  I keep thinking I'd like to make a list of some of our favorites.  It would be hard to do but worth a try.
In other news, today is Jack's last day as a single-digit aged kid.  Double digits tomorrow.  (inward sigh...)
I remember a lot about my tenth birthday- in particular a $10 check from my grandparents and a beautiful silver-blue ten speed bike from my parents.  I loved that bike.  And I loved all the "10s."

If you're looking for something for your kids to read, here are just a few suggestions for chapter books.  I'd love to hear some from you!

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
The Adventures of Ali Baba Bernstein by Johanna Hurwitz
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Latham
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
A Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit
Lumber Camp Library by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh