{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

inspired by soulemama

The trusting heart to Jesus clings, nor any ill forebodes,
But at the cross of Calv’ry, sings, praise God for lifted loads!

Singing I go along life’s road, Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,
Singing I go along life’s road, For Jesus has lifted my load.

The passing days bring many cares, “Fear not,” I hear Him say,
And when my fears are turned to prayers, the burdens slip away.

Singing I go along life’s road, Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,
Singing I go along life’s road, For Jesus has lifted my load.

He tells me of my Father’s love, and never slumb’ring eye,
My everlasting King above will all my needs supply.

Singing I go along life’s road, Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,
Singing I go along life’s road, For Jesus has lifted my load.

When to the throne of grace I flee, I find the promise true,
The mighty arms upholding me will bear my burdens too.

This hymn was written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920) who studied to be a teacher but then suffered from a spinal problem and as a result, was an invalid almost her whole life.  She began to write hymns and I think if she can write this song and sing it, I can too!  It has a catchy little tune and is perfect for singing around the house as we do the dishes, make the beds, give baths, and make dinner!

Hello my friends, how are you today?  So many dreary moments, tiresome days, that it’s so very lovely and encouraging when a bright day comes along.  It’s been one of those nice mornings for me.  It began typically enough, with getting school children on the bus and then frantic searchings for shoes to get out the door for our very last day at Community Bible study.  Finally, I found Seth a pair of flip flops down by the pond.  We got into the vehicle to leave.  No.  Sarah needed her blankie, so I made one last mad dash in my high heels to find the beloved blankie and THEN we left.  I was able to listen to my favorite radio speaker on Christian radio, Dr. Robert A. Cook.  He speaks so gently and lovingly and has such wisdom.  I was blessed and settled before I even got to study.

Today was sharing day, over brunch.  We sat in our core groups, ate good foods which we had prepared for each other, and chatted.  Then, the leader opened the microphone for sharing time, for anyone who desired, to speak and share.  It is not something I do, ever, but today I gathered up courage (courage=fears given up in prayer) and spoke briefly to the room full of ladies.  It was great and I was so happy that God gave me the strength to do it.  I spoke,  and made everyone laugh as I told them about my struggle to find shoes for my little ones that morning.  So I’m not the only one!

I think that’s the main reason why I now am a firm advocate for women’s Bible study.  The more we meet and fellowship with other believers, the more we realize that we are NOT the only ones who struggle with depression, or illness, or broken families, lost shoes, or mommy-brain.  We all can relate to one another, and not only that, we are kindred spirits because we share the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.  I love it!  I am so thankful to have found a group of women who are so obviously united as one in Christ.  I was constantly surprised by the lack of judgementalism and it did so much to heal me, in a deep down place within my heart, from years of spending time with habitually judgmental Christians (and being one, myself, I admit).  It has been wonderful.  In fact, I was asked to consider being a core group leader, and I said yes!  It’s really not that big of a deal, a lot of ladies were asked to pray about taking on the responsibility, it just means extra hours with leadership and being in charge of my own core group, facilitating discussion over the work book.  So I look forward to next year.

My ten year old made this for me.  He was standing in our new kitchen with such a pleased look on his face, like a purring cat.  “I love our new kitchen.  I’m going to make a sign for you, okay Mom?”  The very next day it was given to me.  He even glued a soda can tab on the back so I could hang it on a nail.

Look who I found in the cupboard!

Some of my favorites:  Old blue mason jars and wire baskets full of fresh eggs from our very own flock.

I used up a dozen this morning, making 2 quiches.

We have been without the dishwasher for several weeks now and dare I say that I have enjoyed doing my dishes by hand?  I think it’s because it gives me the chance to stand still with my hands in hot soapy water, sort of like a spa treatment.  The fiestaware looks so pretty stacked on the towel to drain.

Seth was catching toads last week.  He named all of them Bob.  This one is Bob, too. 

David, the same boy who made the other sign, made himself one, too, and put it at the end of his bed.  I took this picture on Saturday morning and I was very careful not to disturb.

Caleb was hopping around, in, and over the stream yesterday in rubber boots.

I have a pleasing but petite pea patch planted.  This is one package of peas.  I need to stake them up soon.

I guess David has been especially interesting to me lately, because here is one more picture of him and his creative antics.

There are lots of ladies (well over a hundred) who attend CBS, but we divide up into individual core groups and the groups stay together all year so we get to know one another intimately.  This is a picture of the dear ladies who were in the same group I was in this year.  Our leader is the lady with gray hair (70 years old).  She is such a preicous soul, confident and no-nonsense but wise and friendly.  I love all these women dearly.  They are each so special. 

Just like you.  I love all my brother and sister bloggy-friends, too.  And I hope you have a wonderful afternoon.  Thank you for being YOU.

…… with all humility and gentleness,  with patience, bearing with one another in love…….  Ephesians 4:2

I am one proud mama.  With a grateful heart, I thank God for motherhood and all it’s ups and downs. 

I LOVE BEING A MOM!  It is a lot of hard work, yes, but if I had to pick one word to describe it I would say FUN.

******************************************************************************************

Happy Mother’s day, Mama!  I love you and thank you for who you are.

“There is one vision that never fades from the soul, and that is the vision of mother and of home.”  ~HH Berkins

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

inspired by soulemama

“If we ever get into the money I am going to have a kitchen where everything is my height, and none of this pigmy stuff, and maybe 4 ovens, and 12 burners all in a line, and 3 broilers, and a charcoal grill, and a spit that turns.”  ~Julia Child’s dream kitchen, from a letter she wrote to Avis DeVoto in the early years, before cookbook, before fame.  She was over six feet tall so I imagine stooping over regular height counters and stoves got to be tiresome at times.

My own dream kitchen is coming along nicely.  The double oven has been installed and I have used it several times.  There is now crown molding above the cabinets, which I think is so pretty.

A cabinet detail of “where the garbage will be” (to answer Joanna’s question).  There is a bin for the trash and one for the recycling.

A picture of the island before the countertop was installed.  There are 2 big drawers, and four smaller ones, and 2 big cabinets with pull out shelves.

The master bedroom is a shambles, full of kitchen items and livingroom stuff (while it is being painted).  I have so much to do to get the house in order.

This was the day the granite was installed (I think it was Monday).  The couches were in the middle of the room for painting.

The granite was installed and the sink was put in place.

Scaffolding was put up and left in the livingroom for several days.  The children loved it.  Meanwhile, Rich and I had to take everything off the walls to add to the piles in our bedroom. 

We had rain yesterday but during the other days the weather was beautiful.  It was so dry and warm that we could keep the doors and windows open, which was very nice when dealing with dust and paint fumes.  It was also nice to take Seth and Sarah outside in the mornings to stay out of the way.

Caleb, Seth, and Sarah ate popsicles on the scaffolding.  It was taken down yesterday and they were all sad.  So cute.

Yesterday the wooden top was put on the island and the faucet was put in place.  I spent some time putting some things back.  It’s starting to look lovely.

I gave Sarah a bath this morning and then she played at the sink.   The new sink is a stainless steel single basin and deep.  When we picked it out Rich said it would be nice for me to give babies a bath in.  When I started to swoon, he quickly said, “Not that you’ll have anymore of your own, but you will have grandchildren.” 

((2009, baby Seth in the kitchen sink))

We still need the dishwashers and range top installed, stools to buy for the island, and the granite back splash put in place.  We also have under cabinet lighting, hardware, a new light fixture above the sink, and the trim work to do before it is completely finished.

I started putting my fiestaware in the open shelving.  Doesn’t it look pretty?

We are so thankful for our fresh new kitchen!

Once the new addition is done, the table will be out of the room which will give us plenty of space to use the kitchen and island. 

Despite the chaos, I still try to keep flowers or a candle sitting pretty on the table, because beautiful things are so uplifting.  Today I have an old blue mason jar on it, with a simple twig of pinky-white wild apple blossoms, which I picked the other day from the edge of the woods.

1 abundant blue sky 

2 (or more!) busy little kids

1 cheap plastic golf toy

1 box of chalk

2 balls (one Princess, one Thomas)

lunch

drinks

kindle (for mama)

Stir all together on a big grassy lawn and let bubble for two hours under a 70 degree sun, or until someone starts to get burned. 

Seriously.  The sky was this blue. 

We were downtown.  There is just nothing like that hometown joyful feeling of “this is MINE” “THIS is where I live!”

It’s supposed to get into the high 70s today.  I’m glad I took the kids out this morning before it got too hot.

We have Kevin here working on the house everyday from 8-3 and it’s best to get away for a few hours (out of his hair).

The children have been climbing on his scaffolding, which is set up in the livingroom, so yeah, we needed to leave until naptime.

I could hear toads calling in the canal nearby which means they are on their way, hopping, to our ponds.  It’s a springtime ritual.

We  had such fun at the park, Sarah peed her pants but thankfully with a dress on it didn’t matter much.  She was THRILLED with her new pink princess ball, “I’ve ALWAYS WANTED a princess ball!” she breathed (we made a stop at the drug store for supplies on the way). 

(At the drug store Seth dumped an entire bottle of bubbles out in the aisle right next to me, behind my back.  Oh that Seth.)

Subway lunch with a cherry coke for mama.

On the kindle:  As Always, Julia:  The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, by Joan Reardon

I started it last night and I love it because of the friendship the two of them formed, simply by writing back and forth.  They became friends through their letters before they even met face to face (reminds me of blogging/penpal relationships, too)  The letters are fascinating, and as I have read My Life in France, and also Dearie, it was only a matter of time before I found and read this one.  Avis was influential in getting Mastering the Art of French Cooking published and a great encouragement to Julia. 

Some quotes from the first few chapters when Julia was still in France and Avis was in the States: 

“Paul reads to me in the kitchen while I’m getting dinner.”  ~ Julia, about her husband, I thought this was so sweet.

“Will send biographies of Simone and Louisette, and a nice photo of a cold decorated fish.”  ~Julia (LOL) made me laugh

“This is to say thank you thank you thank you for the wire whip……”  ~Avis

“I have just sent you three shallots air mail, and hope the girl at the post office didn’t mash them as she hit them awfully hard all over with her rubber stamp.” ~Julia

Life is too short to say no to princess dresses.  Although I had my doubts about it, she managed the slide and the playset just fine in her long fancy dress, thank you very much. 

How do you spell mischief?  “S” “E” “T” “H”, that’s how!

We began our Saturday morning with our dear Seth making a mess.  It was his 2, 214th.  He found my ULTRA SUPER CONCENTRATED window wash stuff and dumped it all up and down the entire porch.  Rich and I were inside enjoying our coffee when he came back inside looking guilty.  “WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOOO?” I asked, and he took me outside to show me.  He got into T.R.O.U.B.L.E.  But, those eyes!  So guilty, so beautiful! 

He was willing to help clean up, though.

The porch floor is clean, completely clean as a whistle, now.

Caleb had found a cocoon about a month ago.  I don’t remember where he found it, but we decided to put it on a dried grass arrangement I had in a mason jar, to see what would happen.  On Saturday, a butterfly emerged!  I found it just after it ‘hatched’, and it’s wings were moist and limp.  It fell to the floor like a damp little rag and we moved it to a bush in the garden sunshine, to dry.

It was a delight to sit and watch it.  The only thing left to do is identify it.

I took a little walk with David and Caleb because David wanted me to see the neighbor’s beautiful flowers (creeping phlox).

David’s funny quote of the weekend, “I don’t get fat because whenever I eat food I burn it out.” 

I made a cake and it was my first experience of baking something in a brand spanking new oven!  It was just a box lemon cake, with lemon icing.  Sarah of the blue eyes, with crumbs around her little mouth, loved it.

I love my oven (pictures to come in a few days!)

My beautiful daughters:::

Rich spent a lot of time this weekend, working on a water pump.  He has enjoyed the challenge of trying to get it started again (no luck yet).

On Sunday morning, I put Sarah’s dress on her and she immediately became a dancer.

Caleb combed his own hair for church and then sprayed a thick, very very thick, coating of hair spray on it.  This face is SOOOOO cute!  I love this big boy of mine.

Caleb’s quote of the week, “Cassie took some of my sliver out and then I bit the rest out myself.”  (it was in HIS BIG TOE!)  (Cassie is the little neighbor girl who comes over to play!)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rich’s secretary is getting married next month and I was able to attend her bridal shower yesterday.  I didn’t know her very well, and only slightly knew one other person going, so it was a great growing experience for me (shy one that I am) to be brave and go.  It was a gathering of family and friends and just a couple of people from work, I felt a little odd going as “THE BOSS’S WIFE”, but the ladies were all so lovely and nice.  It was held at a place by the river, with such a pretty view from the windows.  All the ladies were dressed up and I was happy that I had decided to wear a new dress, high heel wedge sandals, and a pretty necklace.  I put on full make up and then realized later that I forgot to apply the mascara.  I had a mimosa for the first time (yum!) and sat at a round table for lunch with the bride’s grandmother, aunt, and friends.  Totally strange not to be chasing children around.  I just sat still (tried to) and enjoyed the company.  It was almost an hour drive to get there, and then with the ride back, I was gone for most of the day.  It was a sweet, and beautiful afternoon, watching the bride-to-be open all her gifts and enjoying the pretty decorations, the lunch, and strawberry cream cake.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!  –Rich and I had one of “THOSE PARENTING MOMENTS” on Saturday afternoon when we realized we wouldn’t see Jacob and Ethan for most of the day.  They were busy with sports and then a job up the street with the neighbor.  They are getting older and more independent all the time and we felt slightly sad, missing them.  Happily, Rich did take them out the movies that night, with Grace.  They saw Iron Man 3.  But they are gone so much that when Jacob is home I sometimes jump to hear him come into the room and talk…..not used to having a deep talking young man around! 

PS, I’ve been watching Julia Child “The French Chef” shows every night on youtube.  It’s so entertaining!  She truly was one of a kind.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

This hymn has been running through my head all day so I thought I would sit down at the piano and play it for xanga.

(All the lyrics to this one are good but I’m only singing the first verse here.)

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
of Thy loving heart.

Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

~Jean S. Pigott, 1845-1882

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28