My boy

I thought it was only fair that I post a picture of my boy since I posted a picture of my girls. My boy is 11 years old. He's a real good boy. He's smart and he even helps me with my computer problems. He's a pretty good photographer, has a good sense of humor and plays soccer. We went to his soccer game tonight. His team won! Way to go guys!

Anyway...I'm very proud of my boy!

Who are you?

I've noticed on my cluster map that there are those of you who stop by...people in England, Spain, Germany, Japan, Minnesota, California, Texas....

Stop by and introduce yourself.

Sleeping girls and dolls

A few months ago I went into my daughters' room to look at them before retiring to bed and this is what I found. They were wearing the night gowns I had sewed for them...with the matching pj's for their dolls.

This picture makes me smile.

English words?

Australia and the United States are "two countries separated by a common language." That is what my friend Colin used to say while he was living here in the U.S. He is from Queensland. He and his wife, Ruth lived here for a year while they interned at our church. I remember toward the end of the year I was sitting with him at a picnic table listening to our children play together. I marvelled that his older son...who had been enrolled in American Kindergarten for the duration of their stay had no trace of an Australian accent. I mentioned this to Colin and he said, "He's actually bilingual." Apparently when the kid was home with them or speaking with relatives on the phone, he could speak in a perfect Australian accent.

Anyway...because of blogging I have learned several Australian words.
capsicum=chile pepper or pepper
boiled lollies=hard candy
petrol=gasoline
tram=stroller
trolley=grocery cart
footy=some sport played there. I guess it's a combination of soccer and American football?
jelly=jello or gelatin
college=some place people go to study before they go to university?
university=college or university

I'm sure I'll learn more.

Burnt Coffee and Soiled Diapers

Today I babysat a 4 year old (Sophie) and a 21 month old (Hallie) for a friend while she had an appointment for a couple of hours. I forgot how much work it all involves! I went to go heat up a small pan of coffee on my stove when I was distracted by Sophie who wanted to try out the tricycle. I forgot about the coffee and ended up pushing her on the swing and keeping her little sister from running in front of it. I had to dig out my baby gate to keep Hallie from climbing the stairs...and I had to move all my paintbrushes to higher ground. Meanwhile back out at the swings...we tried out the slide and the monkey bars. I was getting tired and Sophie said she was hungry so back to the house we went...where I discovered that my coffee was burnt! The entire house smells like burnt coffee and kind of a "melted plasticky smell"-I believe from the handle of the coffee maker. Peeeuh!! I grabbed the coffee maker off the burner...making the discovery that the handle was waaaaayyy hot. I dropped the coffee pot on the floor and so burnt coffee was all over. Grabbed Hallie so she wouldn't step in it...while telling Sophie to get back. Cleaned up the mess and started to get them lunch. I had very little food that actually appealed to the girls. I gave them little pieces of cheese and bread and juice and started hunting for some fruit while Sophie attempted to butter her own bread while I wasn't paying attention. I was scraping most of the butter off her bread (she had put quite a bit on) when their mother came.

They are just beautiful little girls! They look like they should be clothing models because they look so perfect. Anyway...I am exhausted!

Talking Shop

I've been painting for 5 hours today and it's time to stop. I am very intimidated by this project. I am just worried that my client won't be happy with it. Particularly with the flowers. She never told me what kind of flowers she wanted on it...just "muted pinks and yellows" and "no geraniums." Whatever!

I think I've completely killed my liner brush. It is now so worn out that it is forked...which ironically is perfect for cat fur! Anyway...I just want this project to be done and check in hand!!! My new motivation to get it done is getting to start a mural in the bedroom of an 8 year old girl. It sounds like a fun and light project! I need something to boost my confidence right now!!

The above is a picture of the wall of a bedroom I did last summer for a teen. Electric guitars floating in clouds.

I look so forward to this upcoming project! Would it be selfish to ask you to pray that my client loves my painting?

Getting Creative!

Hey everybody! Get your creative juices flowing and have some fun! Click here
Just click and drag your mouse around the screen to create your own colorful masterpiece!

My Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Here is a picture of my core group for Community Bible Study. It was taken at our Sharing Day Brunch...the last meeting of the year. That's me in the back. Third from the left with my arm around Alona's shoulder.

How I love this group of women! Every Wednesday morning from September through mid-May we got together to study the word of God. This year we went through a study called "Return to Jeruselem." We went throught the books of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, Nehemiah and Malachi. If you think it sounds like a lot...you are right, it was. It was also so amazing! It was challenging, but learned a lot! Community Bible Study is an International Organization that encourages people to read and study God's word. If there is a Community Bible Study near you, I encourage you to get involved!

We have broken off study for the summer and will resume in September. I believe we will be studying Galatians and Hebrews next. For the summer I am going through a Max Lucado study called Next Door Savior. So far it is going pretty good...but I miss my fellowship of women.

What are you studying in God's word? Any suggestions for me?

The Lure of the Computer

I have not been very useful today I must admit. Been wasting a ton of time on the computer. I have decided that blogspot is evil and am challenging myself not to open it for an entire day. Actually...I'm kidding. It is not really evil but I have a hard time getting motivated to do much of anything at all when I've glued myself to the machine. I have become convicted that I'm not really doing what I should be doing as a wife, mother, homemaker, friend, etc. So...I will not be back until atleast Friday...which will probably be Saturday Aussie time.

So tomorrow I will spend time in the word of God and in prayer. I will inquire of the Lord as to how He would like me to spend my time. Afterall...everything I have....including time is given to me by Him. I dare not waste it.

Wedding Cake

Check out this nifty wedding cake I found!

Congratulations, Jamie!

Today we drove to Buffalo to watch my darling husband graduate from college. I am very proud of him. He worked so hard. It wasn't easy...working full time, father of three children, and hubby to me, but he did it! He now has a Bachelor of Science degree! I took pictures...but can't add one to the blog yet until I get it transferred to a disc or something.

After a small reception of sandwhiches, cookies and iced tea....we drove to Niagara Falls, Canada to show the kids the falls. Even though we only live 2 hours away from the falls, the kids had never seen it before. It was absolutely beautiful weather and of course the falls were breathtaking! We have an amazing God to think up and create such an amazing piece of wonder of nature. I couldn't help but wonder while looking around at all the touristy stuff what it must have been like there a couple hundred of years ago...or before that when just the indians of North America were around. Even more beautiful I suspect!


Anyway...we walked around for a couple of hours, ate icecream and visited a beautiful botanical garden...and then we were soon back in the United States and on our way home. So here we are at home, Jamie is just finishing up mowing the lawn...and soon the kids will be tucked into bed. I think it's great to live where we live. How many other kids in the U.S. will be able to say to their friends tomorrow, "Oh I went to Canada yesterday...saw Niagara Falls."

We Like to Read!

I've always loved to read. I'm sure this was fostered by my own parents reading to me. Here are a few pictures of us kids enjoying stories being read by either Mom or Dad. I was discussing with a woman named Ruth the titles of good children's books. So I thought I would create my own post regarding this subject. What are the best children's books out there? I want to hear some of your favorites.
I really enjoy Kevin Henkes. He is the author of Chrysanthemum, Sheila the Brave, and Wemberly Worried. He's written quite a number of others that I like as well. Ruth and I both like Shirley Hughes too. She's the author of all the Alfie and Annie Rose books as well as David and Dog (or Dogger depending on which edition you are reading)
Feel free to add chapter books to the list as I have older children. I always seem to enjoy the Roald Dahl books and my children do too.

So...how about it? What are your favorites?

Night Owl or Morning Dove?

Ok...are you a night owl or a morning dove? I'm a night owl...which I've been ever since I can remember. Even as a kid...I was wide awake at night.

The other night my husband muttered something about being a blog widower as he shuffled off to bed. Uh oh!

The computer never sleeps. I was just conversing with some people in Australia where it is approximately 2:30 in the afternoon as I type this. It is about 12:30 AM here. Yikes...must go to bed so I can be awake enough to get my kids off to school in a few hours!

Cheerio!

Keeping Cool

It was a hot day yesterday. We went to a picnic at Martha's house. It was at least 10 degrees cooler at her house because she lives very close to Lake Ontario...but it was still hot. We spent the day eating and talking and staying in the shade. There were also water balloon wars and your general picnic rambunctiousness. It was so hot that even Sherman (our wonderful yellow lab) stopped to enjoy a slice of refreshing watermelon. Martha took the picture and sent it to me today. Thanks, Mart! I love it!

We Remember

Here is my grandfather. World War 1 vet.

I took the kids to the Memorial Day parade today. There were several vets in the parade of course. I really got a little teary eyed when I saw very old men from the local nursing homes being pushed down the street in their wheelchairs. They wore their American Legion caps indicating what war they had served in. Very touching.

Thank you, vets!

Fly, Little Fledgeling! Fly!

This is me and Freddy. Don't know how old I was. 3? In that case, this picture was taken in about 1970.

I finally got around to doing some painting today. Still working on the milk can with the cats. I'm procrastinating because the lady I'm painting for isn't going to be around until July. Also I am a little intimidated by the project. Actually...it's turning out ok so far. I've been asked to do another mural...for a kid's room. The daughter of a friend of mine. It sounds like a fun and low stress project! I probably won't get around to it until some time this summer. We still have to figure out what I am painting. I was going to do a lovely crown adorned by tromp l'oeil curtains above her bed...but she has changed her mind. I'm a little disappointed because I was so looking forward to painting that. I would paint it in my own daughters' bedroom...but they have a bunk bed!

I've been researching schools to go to. I want to go to faux finishing school. I like one I have found in Louisville, KY best. Jamie is very supportive of me going if we can come up with how to pay for it!

Yesterday I subbed as a teacher aid at the elementary school. I worked in a special ed class. It was a pretty good day. I'd much rather be painting a mural...but it's a little money anyway. Money that I would not have otherwise earned. Business has been slow...but it is because I am a fledgling artist...just starting to figure out how to fly. I'll get there eventually!

Melissa Gilbert?

Here's a picture of me at around 9 years of age...and I look quite a bit like Melissa Gilbert. If I remember clearly, I was quite a fan of "Little House On the Prarie" during this time. Every Wednesday night I believe it was...we'd gather at 8:00 to watch the show on our black and white portable TV. I always wanted to live back in those old fashioned days. In fact I would have been flattered had I believed I really looked like Melissa-Sue. Anyway, at around 8:30, during the commercial break, my parents would tell us three girls to run and get our pajamas on. We'd dash to our bedrooms to pull cotton flannel over our heads and then dash back so as not to miss anything. That was a good TV show. I've been thinking that it would be fun to get some copies of those old TV shows and watch them with my kids. I think they'd enjoy them. Other good shows were "The Waltons" and "Emergency!"

What were your favorite TV shows?

Busy busy busy and yet nothing to blog about!

Well....it is time for me to blog something new. That last picture made me feel like I should lose perhaps 10 pounds...maybe a little more. It's hard to find a picture I like of myself. That's why I should stick to pictures of my kids or my dog. They always look good.

It's been busy here. Tonight, Jamie and I had to play shuffle kids and activities. I took Audra to swimming, dropped her off, took Alicia to the elementary school art show and in the mean time, Jamie took Allen to his soccer practice. Now everyone is home, homework is completed, showers are being taken and kids are going to bed. I was thinking maybe Jamie and I would sit together and talk. The night is young...it could still happen.

Oh I hate blogging tojust blog something...but I can't think of anything interesting! But my dog is cute isn't he?

From the Mouth of Babes

So last night I'm putting my 2 daughters to bed. Audra says to me, "Mom...you kind of...well" she looks around nervously and giggles. "You kind of dress old fashioned." She told me in particular, my glasses were out of style (I was wearing the pair you see in my profile picture) She looked at Alicia for back up...and her little sister agreed. So...now I am hopelessly out of step and old fashioned. "Geeky" might have been the word I would have used as a teenager, but I suppose that word is out too.

The funny thing is, I remember thinking my mother was way out of step in a fashion sense on a few different occassions...particularly during my teen years. I remember thinking that I would never let myself be that way when I was a mother some day. *Sigh*

The above picture was just taken the other day on Mother's Day...in front of the house I grew up in. (that's one of my nephews in the window) I don't really care how out of style she is now. I'm just thankful that I have her as my mother...and I hope that I do as many things right while raising my children as she did while raising us.

Growing Up

Another of my son's photographs.

He's growing up! Next year will be middle school. Tonight he got to visit the middle school youth group and tomorrow his class goes to the Middle School here in town for a visit and tour of the building. I've been letting him ride his bike to and from school now because he hates taking the bus. I think he's quite pleased that he is gaining independence.

So what does this have to do with the picture? Nothing. I just liked it.

Doggy in the Window

Someone mentioned that this blog is going to the dogs...so I thought I'd post this picture. Our yellow lab always watches us when we leave the house. I think he's trying to make us feel bad for not taking him with us.

Pretzel Kids

My sister mentioned in her blog that she went to the pretzel factory in Lititz, Pa. Just thought I'd post the picture of my three posing with the pretzel just 3 weeks ago.

More Snippets From the Past

More snippets from the past...only a bit farther back than the snippets from Martha's post. Here we are from left to right. Martha, me, Tim, and Dan...sitting on the porch swing at the home of our childhood. I'm guessing that Rachel was "in the oven" at the time this picture was taken. Aren't we cute?

I have to smile a little because now that I am a mother, I look at the old photo a little bit differently than I did in the past. Actually, I look a bit like my daughter Alicia...who is also a thumb sucker. What goes around comes around...or the apple doesn't fall far from the tree so they say.

Once in a while I wish I could go back in time and just be a kid again. Just for a day. How would I spend it? Riding my bike, sitting on Dad's lap as he read stories to us, playing "FisherPrice" people with my sisters, camping? Probably sitting on Dad's lap would win. Being so much a child that I am free to suck my thumb all I want to!

That was close!

Phew! I made it! I sanded, painted, painted, blew it dry, painted some more, sprayed it with gloss (3 times), put the hinges back on, filled it with stuff and wrapped it! I finished wrapping it at 3:23 and put it on the table. The bus came at approximately 3:30!

Wow! What a job...but I made it just in the nick of time!

Artist at Work

Here I am hard at work with my colored pencils while camping up in the Adirondack Mts last summer. Actually...I wasn't really doing serious artwork. I was working with Crayolas that one of the kids brought along just for fun. I had fun drawing with the kids. I was working on a quick sketch of the Lakefront at Star Lake.
Tomorrow is Alicia's 7th birthday. I am painting a box for her treasures. I am having to do some super fast work here because it needs to be done by tomorrow night. That's where a hairdryer comes in handy. Money has been a little tight lately and I'm at a loss on what to get her anyway. She already has plenty of dolls of all sorts. There are enough games in this house. Basically you can call me a scrooge because the kids all have plenty of stuff. Wait. Let me correct that. We all have plenty of stuff in this house. This house is only 1500 sq. ft. And with 5 people along with our stuff...it makes for a tight squeeze. I'm thinking that I need to simplify big time.
Anyway...I think she will like a box painted just for her with her name on it. I have purchased a few small things to put inside. Some pretty hair bows, some sidewalk chalk,...and I can't even remember what else I bought. Not too much. Don't want to take up all the room in that box. I'll try to post a picture of it sometime.
Anyway...I need to go check to see if that first layer of basecoat is dry and get back to work!

My Son's Photography

More pictures of a much loved dog.

Cowboy-dog

This is what happens when you leave an 11 year old boy alone with a camera and a dog.

Anyway...I thought it was time to write another blog although I haven't any ideas of what to write. Maybe I'll leave it at this and be done with it.

Springtime in PA

I'm back after a vacation to Pennsylvania. I went with my sister-in-law and children. The kids had off of school. Jamie did not come with us because he had to work. We stayed in Allentown and went over to Nazareth to tour the Martin Guitar factory. It was quite fascinating to see how they make such precision instruments.

The next day we took a tour of a handbell factory and then drove to Easton, PA where we took a tour of the Crayola Crayon Factory. The kids had a blast there. A lot of hands on things to do for kids. I would highly recommend it for very young and elementary aged children. We spent over 3 hours there.

The following day my brother-in-law Kevin met up with us and we went to the Mack Truck factory. I thougth it was fairly interesting and so did Kevin, Laurie and Allen...however, my 2 girls were not all that impressed. I was particularly amazed at how the Lord has allowed man to have such knowledge in order to know how to put together such big, powerful and technical machines. After we left there, we drove to Reading, PA to take a Pretzel Factory tour. When we got there, we were told that they no longer give tours. They suggested we drive to Lititz, PA and visit The Pretzel House. So that's what we did. The entire time I was there I was thinking and wondering about some friends of mine who happen to live in that town. It would have been fun to pay them a visit...but since it was unscheduled and a week day...I'm sure that they were busy...having work and school. (The PA schools were all in session) Not only that but my bro and sis-in-law don't know them. It would have been awkward I guess. I really liked the town. It was very quaint. I wanted to browse in the shops there...and I did a little but I got the feeling that no one else really wanted to.

The weather in PA was just beautiful! They are ahead of us in the Spring season by atleast a couple of weeks. All their tulips are in full bloom and the trees have bigger leaves. The next day we drove north to Bloomington, PA and spent the night at friends of Laurie and Kevins. They were really nice. By then the weather was just rainy and dreary. We ended up going to a mall and shopping a little and then just hanging at the house.

I will try to get some pictures up. I have pictures in my camera, but I don't have a way to download them to my computer unless I send them to work with my hubby...which I didn't think to do this morning. It was all so nice to get away...but what I really would like to do is get away with my husband. We just haven't done that in so long!

He Has Risen!

He has risen indeed!

Nice Kitty

Here are 20 arbitrary statements about me.

1. As a child, I loved my cat Jodo. (or is that orange kitty? Martha, help me out here.)
2. I have a red mark on the palm of my right hand and it's been there as long as I can remember.
3. I shouldn't read romance novels.
4. I started wearing glasses in third grade.
5. I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 14.
6. God rocked my world when I was 19...almost 20.
7. I recommitted my life to Christ when I was 21. This time Christ was Lord of my life...not just my savior(there really is a difference)
8. While I was pregnant...I often suffered from insomnia.
9. I love mexican food!
10. I don't drink alcohol...at all.
11. My shoe size is 8 1/2.
12. I'm 5'6" tall.
13. I've hardly done any traveling at all.
14. I can draw quite well.
15. During my pregnancies, I never suffered from morning sickness.
16. Sometimes one of my toes on my right foot comes out of joint and it is very painful!
17. When I was in elementary school, my best friend's name was Birgit.
18. I'm a core leader for Community Bible Study.
19. I hate using lead pencils.
20. Sometimes I write incredibly boring blogs.
    

Scones Anyone?

My son has been working on an immigration project for school. He's in 5th grade. Each child was assigned a person to be. The kids had to come up with a story as to why they were immigrating to America, come up with a costume, pack a bag of 6 items with explanations as to why they were bringing each one and they had to bring an ethnic dish from the country they were immigrating from. Today they set up their classroom to be Ellis Island. My son was a poor textile worker from England, seeking a better life in America in 1880. I'm happy to say that he was allowed into the country!

The other day we went to Salvation Army Thrift shop and bought a vest and suit jacket. We went to a junk shop and bought a $2 American History book that was printed around the turn of the century. He also packed old English currency that he printed off the internet, an old family photo, a Bible, an English flag, and a snack of crackers to eat on the boat. Last night, I supervised while he made English Scones. They smelled wonderful...so I decided that I'd better make some for the family as well. He returned from school with almost all the scones. The kids liked them...but apparently there were "80 million things to eat." That's what he said anyway.

I guess we will be eating scones for a while. It's funny that I found this picture of blueberry scones on the internet...because that is the kind he made and they looked pretty much exactly like this! Yum!

Doesn't Anyone Sit on the Front Porch Anymore?

Lately I just haven't had much inspiration for writing. Some people are very gifted blog writers...just check out Christine's blog link to the right for example. I've had a lot of fun reading other people's blogs...which puzzles my husband. He walks by the computer and says something like, "Now what are you reading? Who's she?" I'll say something like, "A Christian stay-at-home-mom who lives out in California. Aren't her children just darling?" He'll shrug his shoulders and walk away...bewildered as to why I spend time reading and sometimes communicating with strangers. But I am equally puzzled by him spending time working on web sudukos. I just don't get it.

Anyway...here I am again. I guess I just feel this strong need to connect with people. Yesterday was wonderful connecting over lunch with Cathy. I get lonely here. And so I sit....alone...in a room...by myself...in front of a computer screen. Sometimes I long for the "old days." When most people's relatives all lived on the same street...and most mothers stayed home with their children. And not only that but most families just had one car...so you were basically home. There were no computers. No one called ahead before they visited. No one carried cell phones or pagers. People actually sat on their front porches.

I live in an older section of my town. Many beautiful, century old homes with big front porches...but rarely do people actually sit on them. I sat on mine yesterday...but the other porches on the street were empty. What's wrong with this picture? Where is everybody?

Life is Good!

I am getting bored with my own blog...so I thought I'd better get busy and put up a new post. Today is an absolutely beautiful day. I also was thrilled to be treated for lunch by my friend Cathy. She was the friend I built the castle for. I had told her that I was not interested in earning any money on it. Last night she called and said, "How about I take you out to lunch?" So we had a nice lunch at a littel deli called Pepper's. I had a wonderful wrap with guacamole, tomato, turkey, lettuce...and I don't know what all else. It was very tasty. We had nice and meaningful conversation. It's wonderful to have good friends.

I got home and worked on filling in the pits and cracks on the blanket chest I am going to paint and hopefully sell. In 2 hours it should be ready for me to paint and put primer on.

"Lord, I just don't get it."

I was unable to go to my ladies' Bible study this morning because my son isn't feeling well. I sat down to have a devotional and thought, "Now what?" You see... my routine had been interupted. I usually do my homework for my devotionals. But I had completed all the homework and I don't have the next lesson. So I opened the Bible and found John 13. Sometimes I admit that when I read the same passages over and over again I think, "What new can I possibly get from this?" And then a verse caught my eye.

John 13:7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

I was intrigued. I must admit that a lot of times God leaves me scratching my head and thinking, "Why?" I pondered that and thought there must be a devotional somewhere written about this specific verse. So I searched on the net and found

This

The author of the devotional cross references to Rev 4:1-3, where God takes John to see "what must take place after this." It is there that John sees a complete rainbow encircling a throne. Here on earth we don't see complete rainbows. Did you know that rainbows are not arch shaped? They are circular! While on earth we are not able to see a complete rainbow...just part of it.
Someday, we will understand. We will see the complete picture. On that day I will say, "I get it, Lord!" And then I will fall down and worship him and shout his praises!
I'm looking forward to this...because here on Earth, I just don't get it. But I will trust Him when He says that someday I will.

Castles in the Wind

It's late and I shouldn't be blogging. I should be sleeping...or at the very least laying in bed, trying to go to sleep. But this time change is still not natural to me. I don't feel tired, therefore I must not be. Isn't that a famous saying?

I finished the castle I was constructing and my friend just loved it. I have no pictures of it at all. It was quite an adventure trying to get the castle to her. This morning I opened the back of my minivan...only to discover the castle would not fit! As I was struggling with it, in the wind, I might add (keep in mind this structure was made out of foam board), my friend, Blake pulled up in her SUV. "She will save the day!", I thought to myself. Sure enough, Blake offered to transport it for me...but not until later in the day, as she was late for a meeting and still needed to stop at the store and pick up a desert for brunch.

At 1:00 she faithfully returned. Much to our horror, we discovered that the castle would not fit in her SUV! Luckily, "All things Art" is not located far from my home( the drop off point). I decided I had no choice but to carry the thing all the way there. Luckily it is not heavy. So there I was, carting a large styrfoam castle down the side walk. I could imagine what my neighbors must be thinking. I saw my mailman, Dennis...who gave me the raised eyebrow. "Don't ask!" I called across the street to him. "I won't," he assured me. Just then a gust of wind came up and whipped the castle around, practically wrenching it from my hands. And then, the cloud came off! I had already rounded the corner onto Niagara Street. Could I make it another 2 blocks? I became very doubtful. Had I constructed this thing in vain?!

Oh, my dear friend Blake! What would I do without her? She had circled around to see how I was faring. Seeing that the structure was somewhat smaller now that it was missing the cloud, she pulled over to see if she could now be of some assistance. We tried again. It barely fit! I can still hear the squeaking of foamboard against glass as we put it in the back...with one of the castle towers hanging out the back of the doors, that were not quite shut. I got in with it to keep it from blowing out the doors. We drove sloooooowly and painfully to "All Things Art." Made it!

Several pieces of duck tape later, we were in good shape! It looked almost as good as new, and praise be to God that all the ladies there gushed over it! kathy said she would make sure I got a photo...which I will try to add to this post a.s.a.p. I just wish I had a picture me struggling with it in the wind!

Clean up

Well I cleaned up my blog a bit...getting rid of some useless posts that were just taking up space...but in doing so, I accidently deleted"church planting"...the post encouraging you all to check out Chris and Liz's adventures as missionaries to Melbourne, Australia. Their link is to the right.

Stepping Heavenward

Today as I was studying the word of God....I came upon a passage in Nehemiah 9 where the Jews spend a significant amount of time confessing their sins to God. In fact they spent a quarter of the day just confessing and worshipping the Lord. By my calculations that is 6 hours! Wow! That is quite impressive. This was after another 6 hours of listening to the word of God being read.

I started considerring that I haven't come near to that...especially the confessing part. Sometimes I gloss over that or I'm very general. I decided to spend time in confession. Hey. I'm human, I have sin in my life. I didn't spend 6 hours...in fact I really didn't keep track of the time so I have no idea how long...but I spent time writing out specific areas of sin and confessing them to the Lord. I asked Him to bring things to mind. He did. I just want to grow in him and I want all the garbage gone. I have garbage in my mind and heart and I listen to the lies of the enemy all to often.

Praise God that there is no more condemnation for the sins I have committed. (Romans 8:1-2) I just want to be more and more the woman God intends me to be. It's a long journey that I seem to never make progress on. It seems like I will always be the little child...trying on her Father's hat and toddling along.

"Father, Grow me up in you."

Decluttering

I spent the day decluttering one room of my house. It was really looking bad and I finally resolved to do something about it. I hauled out a box full of stuff that was laying around that no one cares about anymore (or maybe never did). It's on its way to good will. I also threw out quite a bit of stuff too. Wow! Does the room look great! You know...I've done this decluttering thing before...but it always comes back. Especially when I let my guard down. I stop paying attention or I get so I'm apathetic about it or unmotivated or too busy to bother.

This sounds very similar to my spiritual walk sometimes! I get really into the Christian walk...reading and praying and memorizing scripture. The clutter moves out of my brain and heart. I'm doing great! Practically walking on water! Ha ha! That's when I get too sure of myself. I stop paying attention. I get lazy and pretty soon it seems like such work to read my Bible and pray. Then the clutter starts moving back in. The doubts. The depression. The "what ifs." Old hurts are resurrected and...my spiritual house is a mess! Why do I follow this cycle over and over again? You'd think I'd learn after a while!

Joshua 24:15 As for me and my house,we will serve the Lord."

Yes, this needs to be my daily motto and committment!

Lord, paint me beautiful!

Well I have not blogged in forever. I'm still not sure what I'm going to say. I have just been busy that's all. Just doin' the mom thing and it seems like it's always something. I've also started a couple more projects. Business has been a bit slow...but I have a couple of pieces that maybe I can paint and sell. I've tried to stay off the computer because it can really be a time waster for me. I just get on and it just sucks me in and pretty soom I've blown a couple of hours doing nothing.
Lately I have been stripping layers and layers off of an antique chair. It is a painful process that doesn't seem to end. When I started, it was bright yellow..with the back rungs being white...and was covered with dirt and mildew. The mildew is gone, and I have discovered a variety of colors built up over the years. Yellow-white-tan-black-red-green-white again. It reminds me of the Lord...stripping down through my painful layers in order to renew me. Yes, it was painful...but well worth it.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139:23-24

That is all. Hopefully I will regain my creativity soon with blogging. Sorry to disappoint you readers.

President's Motorcade

Hey! Here is the actual picture of the president's motorcade taken by one of the women who is in my leadership group. I'm glad she was wise enough to bring along a camera...and nice enough to share it with me...who didn't even think about my camera as I left the house that morning.

Presidential Visit

I knew I had to blog today because President Bush came and visited our town today. He visited an upscale nursing home and made a speech at our local high school. Who'da thought our town would be picked out of all the towns on the map of the USA? Anyway...our town has been quite a buzz for the last several days. Everyone was busy cleaning up the main drags around town and putting signs of welcome out. One business even went through the trouble of "planting" red, white and blue plastic flowers.

I went to my CBS leadership team meeting at the free methodist church...which is located on one of the main roads into town. When I walked in, our fearless leader Blake said, "We're switching rooms to meet in today." Why? Well to meet on the side of the church that faces the road, of course! We had our meetings, with occassional interuptions from someone who would say..."Oh! There goes a state police car!" We'd all anxiously look out the window to see if the motorcade was on it's way. We finished up our meeting and gathered around the windows and waited. Finally after about 15-20 minutes, the motorcade arrived. Several dark official looking vehicles with darkened windows. Several vans and of course security vehicles. We were all so excited!

The kids got home from school. None of them go to the high school, but got to watch the president's speech via close circuit TV in their classrooms. I said, "So, did you see the president? How was it?" Their reactions were typical for their age. "It was boring. He talked about medicare." My littlest one said, "I didn't listen." They were less than impressed I guess.

I got to thinking about all the fuss and preparations made for this great man to come to our town. A day that will be remembered by many for years to come (even if it was of being in a sunday school room at a Free Methodist Church). Every day I have opportunity to have a personal visit with someone greater than George W. And most of the time, I take it for granted and don't spend a lot of time on preparation or even in excitement. My God is an awesome God! I want to have a greater love for Him than I do. One that anticipates my encounters with Him and hangs on his every word. Like Mary, sitting at His feet and listening. Everything else stopped because He was most important to her.

I'm ready for spring now!

After reading my niece's and Martha's blogs...I had to copy them. I want spring. It was warm and sunny this morning...but just when I was ready to go out for a walk, the clouds rolled in, a wind came up and it actually started sprinkling. Audra and I took Sherman for a walk anyway. A short one. I put my hood on and pulled the strings tight. I must of looked like a goof ball. I kept laughing because A's long hair was blowing every which way. Sherman thought the whole thing was wonderful. He probably wondered why we were taking such a short walk when we returned to the house. I guess the weather didn't bother him a bit.

I have not been in much of a blogging mood lately. I guess I have the winter blahs.

My Beautiful Niece

Here is a picture of my beautiful niece, Bethany and her new husband Adam. They were married on December 3rd. In this picture Adam looks like he has grey hair...but he doesn't. It must be the lighting somehow.

Chocolate is My Friend

Well...I'm having a pitty party today because I am lonely. I have called several friends to see if anyone wanted to have coffee or lunch. No one is home. Martha is home, but she lives too far away. I went to Jamie's work place to see if he might like to go out for lunch. He wasn't opposed to the idea...but felt like he shouldn't leave the office because he was the only one available to answer the phone.

I came home and noticed my neighbor's car in her driveway. Went inside and called her, but there was no answer.

So...I came inside, made myself lunch and ate by myself in front of my virtual friends on the computer. The funny thing is, none of them seemed to be home either. And so I did the next best thing....I went into the kitchen and cut myself a very large fudgy brownie. I ate it and felt a strange fullfillment. I knew then that I must find a picture of chocolate and put it on my blogspot.

To anyone out there who can sympathize with my plight...eat a piece of chocolate.

My Personality

Oh I just get a kick out of old photographs. This one is of my great grandparents-Joseph and Matilda Shafer. He was 20 years older than her and they had 11 children. I know that sounds a little sick....but that is the way it was. He was born in 1862 and she was born in 1882. He looks so much like my father that it makes me smile.

This brings me around to today's topic. My personality. I spent a fair amount of time tonight taking a personality inventory...which I have taken before. I always find them fascinating. It turns out that I am a ISFJ through and through! Just can't get around it. I have some things in common with ISFP...but overall...ISFJ wins!

I wonder what personality types Joe and Tilly had? Was anything passed down to me? I suppose so! I wish I had pictures of the other great grandparents!

Anyway...which personality type are you? You can read up on it at
http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html
Have fun! Let me know your results!

Camping

This picture is in honor of all of Rachel's memories of camping. I'm the kid on the far left. Rachel is in blue...Martha red. That is our Mother and dog, Kate with us. Here are 4 of Rachel's memories from Martha's blog:

Rachel said...

1. Dad heating water over a campfire and coming in the camper to wash our dirty legs and feet before we climbed into our sleeping bags.
2. Dad playing his harmonica or guitar as we all sat by a campfire and sang.
3. Mom saying lets go hiking to "Hodge Podge Lodge" and then having fun hiking through the woods.
4. Mom and us digging for spoons in the bushes when camping. People would accidentally throw them out with their dishwater, go home, and what they lost was our treasure.

-Yes. I believe that this picture was taken just before taking a hike over to "Hodge Podge Lodge."

A Sweet Treat

Here I am with my big sister enjoying a fudgecicle. Yum!
In the background are the Webster water towers...which are now painted pale blue. Perhaps whoever decided they should be painted blue were hoping they would blend in with the sky. In that case...they should have been left grey.
Thank you for the pics, Mart!

Three sisters

Here we are. The three of us. I am on the far left, Martha on the right and Rachel is in the middle. Probably taken in Jan or Feb of 1969.

Memories From My Childhood

I had fun reading the 13 memories that my 2 sisters came up with...some of them made me laugh. You can check them out on Martha's blog. (Rachel's is in the comments) This will be hard because they took a lot of the good ones.

1. Martha and I sharing a room in the former attic and inventing a ghost friend named George. If we heard a strange creeky noise...we would say, "Oh...it's just George." (Later I shared the room with Rachel. He was still around)
2. Rachel rescuing me from Walter every morning on the bus (ok...it was high school...but anyway).
3. Throwing water balloons at Dan from the roof (and paying for it dearly).
4. Eavesdropping and tape recording Dan Muson on the phone.
5. George pouring the split pea soup into his loafers under the table (this was a hippo...not a ghost).
6. Making very long gum wrapper chains.
7. Playing in the mud...and mom letting us!
8. Playing 4-square every day.
9. Being tape recorded having a temper tantrum as a child (while singing "Jesus Loves Me" no less!) and having my family play that stupid tape for every soul that walked through the doors for the next 18 years! Thankfully that tape eventually wore out! (I'm not bitter about this, honest!)
10. Painting rocks. I believe this was the beginning of my "career" as a decorative artist.
11. Playing one of our favorite games with Dad. "The guessing Game"
12. Playing "The Queen is Coming"-a game my mother invented to get us to clean the house. It actually was fun and we sometimes asked to play it.
13. Back Yard Bible Clubs where our driveway would be packed with bikes from kids all over the neighborhood...and those ladies would come with their flannel boards and Bible songs! I loved holding the signs for the songs and I still have my prize for memorizing the books of the Bible in order (a metal ruler with the names of the books printed on it).
14. Gerbil population explosion!

Ok..It was 14, but I couldn't stop. Martha-please scan and send a picture of our childhood to me. I really want to put a picture with this.

Just Amusing Myself

I worked all day and got home around 3:30. Managed to take a quick shower. Dinner was put into the crock pot this morning before I left. I have decided that I worked enough today so I turned on the computer at 4:00 to entertain myself. I want to publickly thank all those out there who write very entertaining blogs. Some of you of whom I have left comments are probably wondering why I don't get a life of my own. This is my life? Peering into the lives or blogs of others? I put the comic because some of you probably think I'm a desperate housewife looking for friends!

Anyway...thank you for making me laugh out loud to the following people who come to mind:
Martha, Rachel, Beth, Ben, Hannah, Marla, Greg, Laura, Luke, Andrew, Kurt, Taryn, Natalie, David, Christine, my nephew Jim, "messy Christian",...oh I can't think of all your names! But anyway...even though I don't know most of you personally, you really are appreciated! And come to think of it, all the people I mentioned here are sisters and brothers in Christ! It's amazing! I have this huge family around the world! Isn't heaven going to be fun?! We are all just going to be laughing and having such a wonderful time! Real Joy! The people I mentioned here are from all over the place-New York, Illinois, Vancouver Island in Canada, Massachusettes, Asia...and I don't even know where else!

I've got the coolest family! Any of you who read this...even if you don't find your name...feel free to check in anytime! I'll leave the light on for ya!

Memories of YL

Today has been a fairly good day so far. I've been working on the cupboard I am painting roses on for a client. In between painting and allowing for drying time, I have been lurking around on the computer. I had a fun "conversation" with a stranger in New England who is a Young Life leader. Some of his blogs brought back great memories for me when I was a YL leader years ago. I really miss those days! I haven't set foot on a YL property in about 14 years. Great and happy memories and lots of laughing!

I think YL actually was a huge blessing from the Lord to me after I returned home from college in 1989. I was just getting over a major depression. I got involved with the ministry of YL which helped get my eyes off of myself and my broken heart and onto others and helping them. Not to mention all the laughing I did! Who could be depressed watching those silly program guys? I never laughed so hard in my life I think. Those Tuesday night dinners at the O'Leary's house and praying for club and kids, and then loading up in the van to go to club to hang out with a bunch of high school kids!

Life is good now too of course...but sometimes I miss those crazy, fun, laughing days. I still laugh...mostly at my children's antics. Yep. Life changes...but as I said earlier in the day, Jesus remains constant. Amen!

Memory Lane

Well I've had some fun today looking around on other people's blogs and ran across one that happened to mention Young Life. I had to stop and read it because YL has had a tremendous impact on my life. First as a club kid in Webster, NY...going to Saranac Village in the Adirondack Mountains. What a blast! Parasailing, hanging out with friends...and just laughing at the crazy fun! Who can describe it? I just can't give it justice! I have old photos somewhere that I ought to post...but I don't own a scanner.

My visit to Jamestown

We had a great visit to Jamestown to see Jeff and Amy and their kids. It was great to see them after many months of not seeing them since they moved away. Anyway...We were up by 6:30. Grabbed a quick shower and woke the kids. Got them dressed and scooted out the door...stopping at Tim Horton's drive thru to grab bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.
After 2 hours and 45 minutes on the road, we arrived at their home at approximately 10:20. Jessi was anxiously waiting for our arrival and greeted us even before we were out of the car! Took a tour of the house. It's really nice! We also got to meet their adorable 4 month old puppy, Chloe. The kids all dispersed into various parts of the house to play (7 kids in all...ages 10 and under). Jamie, Jeff, Amy and I sat and had tea or coffee and carrot cake. We spent lots of time catching up on eachother. Then they took us over to take a tour of the church they "live" at. Jeff is the worship pastor there and he showed us all the ins and outs of what he does. It looks like a great church!
On the way back to their house, Jessi asked if we could drive by her school so that she could show Audra...which led us to drive by Caleb's school as well. Back to the house. Lunch was served. More talking, more laughing, more playing. Wow! It was dinner time before we even knew it! All in all. We didn't do much besides talk and eat. But it was good!
We left around 9:30 and got home around midnight.
My only regret was that I forgot to bring my camera so I didn't get pictures. On the flip side...I think I convinced Amy that she needs to start a blog so I can keep track of her better. She took pictures which hopefully she will remember to send me.

What are you married to?

This is a nice picture of my parents on their wedding day. I am happy to say that theirs is a Godly marriage. They have loved and served the Lord together now for over 50 years.

This past week at Bible study...the lesson was truly amazing. We are studying the period of time in which the Israelites return to Jeruselem after years of captivity in Babylonia and Syria. This week's study focused on scripture from Ezra.
Ezra 9:1-4 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the priests and the officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness."
When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifices.
Our discussion turned to how the Israelites had been warned by God not to intermarry with the pagans because their hearts would be turned away from God. I got to thinking about us. Oh...maybe we are not married to Baal worshippers...or maybe it's not a marriage in the traditional sense ...maybe what we are married to is something else that is dragging our hearts away from God. I was convicted myself because I have to confess that lately I have married busyness and chaos. I have not taken the time to be still and quiet before the Lord. It has dragged my heart away.
Reading on in Ezra.
Ezra 10:1-2
While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites-men, women, and children-gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, ..., said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."
I won't go into the rest of the story about what the Israelites decided to do to make themselves right before the Lord (you can read it for yourselves)...but I will say this. They took drastic measures! Praise the Lord that he is full of grace and mercy and does not give us what we deserve...but because of Him we still have hope. I am devorcing myself from the busyness and chaos of life and sending her away. I am going to be still and quiet before the Lord.
What are you married to?

Catch the Bug!

My sister sent me this old photograph of our father and uncle. Dad is at the pump...Uncle Art is in the tub. Looks like a fun way to keep cool. Perhaps I should have saved this one for a hot July day. Anyway...my own water lover went swimming this morning to see if she could make state times for one of her strokes. Didn't make it. She came back smiling though and I'm very greatful that she has a good attitude. She is in her first year of swimming and is just 9. Plenty of time left to worry about making states in my opinion. I'm just so proud of her for being on the swim team at all. At her age I really didn't swim that well and would never have had the confidence to do that!
Went and had coffee with my friend Melissa today while Audra and Allen played with her Sarah and Sam. She is always so cheerful and upbeat. She just loves the Lord and it is contagious. Contagious Christianity! I've got the bug! Do you?

The Blustery Day

If you read my sister's blog today, you already know that it was a very windy day here in upstate NY. It was so windy that I felt the house shaking. I went downstairs and asked my hubby if there was school today. He was already on the computer bright and early. He said, "Yes." The kids all moaned and groaned and got ready for school. I send them out to the bus stop. A few minutes later they were back inside because Mrs. Castle had called out her front door to them that school had been cancelled. There are a lot of walkers and I guess there was concern for their safetly. And for good reason. A HUGE pine tree blew down in the yard behind ours. It just looks like a big mass of pine boughs in a giant heap on the ground. Luckily it did not hit a house. After that I kept eyeing the pine tree next to our house. Praise the Lord that it stayed upright!
I put the picture of the fire up because that's what I felt like being near all day. I do not have a fireplace. Perhaps my next residence will...if I ever move again.
Audra is on the swim team here in town and she's turning out to be quite the little swimmer. She was supposed to go tonight and swim to see if she could make state's. I guess her time on the backstroke is close. Anyway...all swim events have been cancelled. It's too bad because it is now 5:30 PM and the wind is completely gone. It looks very still out there. Now we have to have her at the high school at 8:00 in the morning to do this swim thing. I guess I won't be sleeping in in the morning.

Something to look forward to

I have not blogged in forever. I was not feeling well for a few days and then I just got so busy. These are pictures of my father. Wasn't he cute? I don't know how old he was. Maybe 5 or 6? Anyway...they were taken circa 1937 or 1938.
I am feeling a little lonely today. I took the dog for a long walk. It is beautiful outside. I can't believe it is February. As I was walking, I was noticing some green poking up through the ground in one of the gardens I passed. Crocuses maybe? It's a little early for them to be coming out...but they don't know that. I stopped by my husband's work for a cup of coffee and a visit...but everyone in the office was quite busy. They had potential clients there and were showing them their portfolios. I didn't stay long because it was not a good time to visit.
Next week there is no school because of winter break. On Monday we will drive down to Jamestown to visit our friends. It is just over a 2 hour drive. We miss them terribly. They have kids the same ages as ours and Amy and I are very close friends too. She is like a sister to me. Our families used to share a house. We lived upstairs and they lived downstairs. We used to do everything together. That was back in the days when we had one car and so did they. Our house was out in the country...so it wasn't like we could walk anywhere. Amy and I would spend a lot of time together drinking tea and watching our little boys play together. Then we each had a girl. Neither of our families had much money so we would get very creative with what we had. Sometimes we would decide to pool our resources and cook dinner together...or plant a garden. We had such good times. Eventually we both moved from there but remained close...still hanging out often. This past August however, her husband Jeff got a new position at a church down in Jamestown...so they moved. This will be our first visit there. I can't wait!

Paintings and Tooth Fairies

This is a painting I did in my home. It is a small mural that is painted in an old fireplace mantle. No fireplace...just this mural. It matches the wall paper border in the room. I'm planning on putting this on my business cards when I have them made up. Do you think that is a cool idea? Hopefully next week I am going to go along with a woman who is in the art field I am trying to break into...and learning from her. God is really good to orchestrate this very willing contact! I'm also hoping to go to faux finishing school. There may be hope now that my husband is almost finished with school.
On Friday I hope to finish a cupboard I am painting roses on for a lady here in town. And by the end of next week...I hopefully will have the layout of a cat painting for a woman who has commissioned me to do that on a milk can.
Other than that...I am being the busy mom that I am. Yesterday Alicia lost her second tooth. As usual...in the middle of the night I snuck into her bedroom to replace the tooth with a dollar. This morning she triumphantly announced that she had seen the tooth fairy in the middle of the night. I said, "Oh yeah? What did she look like?" She had this amused look on her face and she pointed at me and said, "You, Mommy! I was awake when you came into my room!" I was amused but decided to play along. I said, "What? The tooth fairy looks just like me? That's amazing!" She put her little hands on her hips and said, "Mom! It was you. And I know it!" Anyway, the jig is up...but we are all enjoying ourselves!