//easter sunday in orlando//

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Shanda

(I heard this song at the dentist with my son Caleb yesterday and liked it so much).

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April 1, 2018

It was Easter Sunday and we decided to take a day of rest. Rich read resurrection Scriptures to us in our hotel room that morning and then we slathered on sunscreen, put on our bathing suits, and headed for the pool.

Oh I forgot to mention that Caleb and Seth tried to play basketball first thing in the morning but came right back to the room because “There is an easter egg hunt going on, there are eggs everywhere even on the basketball court.” I noticed Sarah (who was still in her pajamas and in bed) perk up at these words, so I asked Caleb to “hop like a bunny and go get Sarah an egg”. We all laughed hysterically as he hopped out the door as only Caleb can, and then 10 minutes later, hop back inside the room with an egg and his front teeth sticking out of his lips just like the Easter bunny. We affectionately call Caleb “Moose” for a reason, his bunny “hops” were more like heavy stomping earthquakes and he quickly hopped/launched himself off balance and into the wall as he tossed the egg to his sister. “They were all gone so I told a man I needed one for my sister and asked if he would give me one of his. There were kids with huge bags full of eggs.” Sarah opened her egg to find a grape-flavored hard candy and was thrilled.

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Rich and I settled into pool chairs and very soon David was coming over to show me that he finally caught a lizard. (the round scar on his stomach is from a spider bite, chronicled on this blog about 10 years ago).

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David was very curious about the wild life around the pool. Now and then a duck or two would fly over to see if there were any crumbs to eat. David tossed one a potato chip and we laughed to see it gobble it down only to bob his head up and down forcefully to bring it back up. It landed on the pavement just as dry as it had gone into his beak.

David also saw a bird spear a fish over at the lake and came to report enthusiastlically.

My heart bursts with joy that he comes to share things with me so often. I love to hear his stories and the way he tells them is always unique and interesting. I am an eager listener.

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Sarah (in pink) quickly made a friend of a little girl just a year younger. Eventually I met the little girl’s mother. They had plans to go to a park that day but after seeing the girls swimming and getting along so well they ended up staying at the pool all day too. They had traveled to Orlando all the way from Ireland and it was fun to visit with the mom and ask her questions about her country.

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We eventually made the girls get out of the pool to share a hot dog lunch together. Sarah didn’t want to get out of the water and made sure to let me know that she “wasn’t done swimming yet.” I was so glad to have gotten the children goggles before our trip because they had the greatest time throwing a little plastic card into the pool and diving for it.

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Behind the pool there was a lake and Caleb was so happy to go fishing. He and Seth also played basketball for a while, too, and Seth was nicknamed “Seth Curry” by some other boys were were playing with them.

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After Sarah’s great reluctance to meet Disney characters at the park, I was truly intrigued to see that she got out of her beloved pool to approach the Easter bunny. But on second thought, I decided that it had more to do with the eggs than the bunny. It was the most adorable thing to see her and her friend get out of the water and hold hands as they walked over to the bunny for an egg. All in all, Sarah managed to bring home about 7 or 8 plastic easter eggs.

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I spent the day in my chair with my book, journal (pictured above) and various nice coffee drinks. The tallness of our hotel blocked the sun after a while so Rich moved to the other side but I stayed put. I would rather not roast myself; it was perfect in the shade and Rich always gets annoyed because I still get tan so much better than he does even though he stays in the sun.

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Eventually it was time for dinner so we got all cleaned up and headed to a steakhouse for a good meal.

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“Yeah but mom look, I’m not even in the picture.”

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What is it with boys trying to look cool and thereby not smiling?

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Handsome Caleb after a day in the sunshine.

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Someone take away that soda!

The boys had steak dinners. I had crab legs and Sarah had spaghetti.

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Even though we truly didn’t NEED dessert, the next thing we did was drive to a soft serve place for cones.

It was the kind of heavy cream soft serve that makes you feel full and sick after eating only half of it.

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It was a good ending to a relaxing day.

*********

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven–and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future.

The Day is coming when you’ll have it all–life heal and whole. ~ 1 Peter 1

church, and a walk in snow

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Shanda

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Hello again, I just played bananagrams with Grace and won. Now she’s going to go get dressed for the day and I have a few free moments to post a blog, although it is distracting here what with the roof dripping, dog snoring on my lap, cat sleeping, ladies cleaning, and dinner to start soon…. because it’s a recipe that takes all day. (oven baked corned beef and vegetables). Grace may or may not be going out with a friend for lunch. If she doesn’t than maybe she and I will go out together.

I have to take her back to college on Saturday morning. Has a week ever gone by so quickly?

******

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This is a continuation from yesterday’s blog all about my visit with Joanna this past weekend. While we were downtown, we went to the coffee shop twice; once when we were waiting for our nail appointment and secondly for a late lunch and coffee. I had a german chocolate cupcake for dessert. The frosting was put on top generously with an ice cream scoop (!) which made me very happy. Joanna had a cookie bar with pear and ginger.

As we walked to the car she noticed that the church just up the sidewalk had a flag waving outside the door which said, “open for prayer”, so we went inside. The Pastor walked in just behind us and was very welcoming. I loved the fact that he said “Come right in!” and then vanished downstairs. We could hear people talking and laughing and smell a yummy church meal. We never saw him again which was refreshing because typically a pastor will gravitate toward anyone new and try hard to be friendly, which can be nice, too, but we wanted to freely explore…….

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Right away we noticed and admired the homemade banners hanging from the rafters. We stood and studied each one.

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Our souls just soaked in the spiritual surroundings and I took a lot of pictures of the stained glass windows because my brother David is currently making a (small) one for his house.

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There were teddy bears placed randomly in the pews which we thought was delightful. We looked at everything, sat for a few minutes, read the historical information in the back, and took a church bulletin for our scrapbooks……

Back at home, we pulled on our snow boots and went outside.

The hens do not like to stand in the snow. I bring them water from the pond nearby.

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We walked through the woods where I showed Joanna the tree massacre from one of my boys fighting battles against them with a sharp sword/hatchet. We grieved the fallen and the spots of wood chips. (The boy in question has been stopped by his father). We continued through the woods and into a field of snow…….

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After being chilled outdoors the fire inside was delightful and we sat right in front it and exchanged gifts, talked, laughed, went on Pinterest and Instagram, & looked at books and magazines. Grace took these photos for me, which I love. ❤

The next morning we went to one last antique store. I forgot to take my phone inside (sign of a truly good time) but got this one last photo in the car after we prowled around the many different booths inside the building for well over an hour. She has 5 children and I have 7, and like most people, we are in a busy season of life, but would you look at those refreshed faces? That’s what friendship does, and a life well lived, content with the joy of little things.

“The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things . . . the trivial pleasure like cooking, one’s home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard.” Barbara Pym

carolina wren

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Shanda

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“Mom, close the door I’m freezing!”

“Just a minute, I’m trying to take a picture of this bird!”

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It sang up there in the trees by the kitchen window for 2 hours.

in the morning
i will sing
of your love. . . . . .
Psalm 59:16

we belong to the day (1 Thess. 5:8)

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Shanda

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Glory of the world makes life meaningless
Glory of God fulfills it. ~CH Spurgeon

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Toys, books, videos, art supplies, blankets, music, and hot chocolate are ready and waiting. It’s another snow day in our neck of the woods today. The children and I are sitting inside a giant snow globe; outside the windows of our warm house are millions and millions of tiny white snowflakes shaking down from the clouds of heaven.

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“I see that if I would be happy in God, I must give Him all. And there is wicked reluctance to do that. I want Him–but I want to have my own way, too. I want to walk humbly and softly before Him and I want to go where I shall be admired. To whom shall I yield? To God? Or to myself?” Elizabeth Prentiss

“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain……” Psalm 119:36

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:2

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“The way upward in true life and honor is to go downward in self-humiliation. Renounce all, and you shall be rich; have nothing, and you shall have all things. Try to be something, and you shall be nothing; be nothing, and you shall live; that is the great lesson which Jesus would teach us, but we are slow to learn…… CH Spurgeon

“I believe that selfishness is the front-door key of despair.” Spurgeon

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“As long as we have the itch of self-regard we shall want the pleasure of self-approval; but the happiest moments are those when we forget our precious selves and have neither–but have everything else (God, our fellow humans, animals, the garden and the sky) instead.” CS Lewis, letters, 1954

God
our fellow humans
animals
the garden and the sky

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“…..the burdens of my heart rolled away….”

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Whenever something is bothering me, and I’m in a moral quandary, I dig out the ol’ journal and pen and start searching for quotes, verses, and other writings that have to do with my current topic of interest. I talk things over with Joanna or Rich and that helps, too. I love that I can keep my Bible near and read it for comfort and correction at any time of day or night.

A balm for my soul that always heals.

I come away feeling so much lighter and free.

*****

(Dear Brother Dave, these are the sneakers Seth bought with the birthday gift card you sent him.)

Wednesday, February 6, 2018

“Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

bird notebook

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Shanda

Good morning Monday, my friends, do you feed the birds?

A thoughtful collection of bird feeders will bring an interesting variety of feathered visitors. Sometimes I even say, “Thank you for coming!”

From where I am sitting on the couch I can look right through the living room window and easily see my feeders on the porch. I have one hanging and three make-shift feeders (which are really copper sifters) sitting in different places; on the porch railing, a plant stand, and a little white table. Because their bottoms are screens I don’t have to worry about the seed staying wet after it rains. There is black sunflower seed in three of them, and dry mealworms in the fourth (wishing, hoping, dreaming…….of bluebird visitors).

I have a camera nearby with my zoomiest zoom lens attached.

And in this simple way, our days are peppered with bird behavior. Sometimes the feeders are empty. But sometimes chicadees fly in, take a seed, and immediately fly out to eat it in the bushes by our driveway. They don’t stay long. As soon as one leaves, another one takes its place, it is well-choreographed and there are never any collisions. Sometimes a pair of cardinals come to visit. Or a beautiful house sparrow and nuthatches, and a titmouse or two. I remember that we need more suet to cater to the local woodpeckers. I haven’t seen any bluejays lately but I saw some at a neighbor’s feeder yesterday. My parents get a whole flock of mourning doves on their front porch!

Sometimes one of the children will notice a bird and tell me to “come look, Mom!” I love that. I tiptoe over as quietly as I can. Sometimes I’m too late and “oops, it flew away.”

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“Think of all the animals you know and you will see that there is not another one that is clothed with feathers.” Fields and Fencerows, by Porter and Hansen

“He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:4

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“A wave of song moves across the continent each morning, east to west, with sunrise. Light–a certain intensity of light–starts birds singing.” Backyard and Beyond, Edward Duensing and AB Millmoss

“He redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.” Job 33:24

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” Psalm 96:1-2

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The more things should learnest to know and enjoy, the more complete and full will be for thee the delight of living.” Phalen

“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all……” Ecclesiastes 11:8

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“Use at least one full page in your notebook for each bird sighting. First, record the day and time. Next, record the place you saw the bird. Was it in a field or near the water? Was it on a grassy lawn or in a woodlot? You might want to add a brief sentence describing the feature by which you identified the bird–it’s color, shape, or field mark. Do a small sketch of the bird and make notes about the bird’s behavior. You can squeeze a lot of information on one page.” Field Trips, by Jim Arnosky

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“These birds were probably not drawn, even thus loosely, together by any social instincts, but by a common want; all were hungry, and the activity of one species attracted and drew after it another and another. ‘I will look that way, too,’ the kinglet and creeper probably said, when they saw the other birds busy, and heard their merry voices.” Signs and Seasons by John Burroughs

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1 concert, 2 concert, 3 concert

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Shanda

“Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.” Luke 11

Grace longed for us to be there for her Holiday concerts this last weekend but it was not to be.

Thus, on Friday evening I sat alone on the couch by the light of the tree, and by the light of my reading lamp.

The house was FINALLY quiet after a longer-than-usual evening.

I was nearing the end of my book and I was totally immersed in its pages.

Everyone else was asleep.

I had my phone nearby and I heard it notify me of a facebook message, I turned it over and saw it was from Joanna.

While all was peaceful one moment, in the next moment as I listened to the sound clips she was sending me and saw the photos, hot happy tears were running down my face.

I hadn’t known she was going to be there at Grace’s first concert with her husband, Steve.

You can imagine the moment; a quiet house, a lonely mama missing her firstborn daughter, and like a kiss from heaven the gift of words, music, and photos from a dear friend.

Heart bursts.

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And it didn’t end there. On a whim or a prompting, I texted my brother Grace’s concert schedule for Saturday and as he was free for the 3pm performance he drove almost an hour to go see her. He had a big delicious meal at a local Greek eatery and then went to campus, found our girl, and sat in the audience for her second concert. He recorded every song for us and sent beautiful photos of the two of them after the show.

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For her third concert, her boyfriend Caleb was able to drive from New Jersey to attend. They went out to watch the new Star Wars movie together afterwards.

So you can see, even though her parents couldn’t make it to her first Christmas concerts at college, we were overwhelmed by the blessings of a best friend, a wonderful brother, and her dear boyfriend who all stood in the gap.

(At about the 2 minute 15 second mark in the audio posted above you will hear Grace’s voice singing a descant part in the beautiful and mournful song “Lully Lulla Lullay”. There is a video HERE.)

Our eyes are wide open to see God everywhere.

Yes.

day by day

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Shanda

watch me.
i will go to my own sun.
and if i am burned by its fire,
i will fly on scorched wings. S.Amil

*****

The hard working man sets his alarm for an early hour.

He pushes the covers back and walks into the bathroom to get ready.

It’s as dark as night outside the windows.

He gets dressed silently and leaves his sleeping wife with a kiss.

“I love you,” they say.

He goes into the kitchen to make coffee and then goes out, in all kinds of weather.

This morning it was snow.

The hard working man has a half hour drive to work.

He listens to the radio, or a podcast, or music.

He parks in the city and walks up to his office.

He always has much to do; meetings, meetings, phone calls, interviews, paperwork, emails, questions, answers, problems, people, situations; he does so much that people never see, never acknowledge, his hands and mind are put to the test every day and he does what he needs to do without excuse.

He thinks, “I know I could be doing something more, something better, something greater.” He is like a kite pulling and tugging at the string.

This is a sign of something special. To be forward thinking. To be pressing ON and on.

To be willing.

Sometimes life allows him to gain new heights.

He has a wife and children.

They look up to him, they respect him, they want to please him. They need him.

The hard working man works two jobs in the wintertime.

He is also a coach.

A very small team for a very big man who wants more.

He is willing to lay the groundwork, willing to wait the years it takes to grow a team.

He loves his boys.

This season, he begins each practice with words for a variety of listening ears. What will they remember of his talks that come from places in his heart that he only shares with the most special of people?

He does every work out with them.

Even though he struggles with chronic pain.

He works out, he’s as alive as he can be.

Strength is life.

This sport is a metaphor for life. He doesn’t hesitate to push his athletes into situations where they will often be defeated . . . . .or fly.

Winning is flying.

Losing is learning.

Losing isn’t pretty.

Life isn’t always pretty.

Winning doesn’t come often for this small team.

But glory is in the man himself, who was made in the image of God, not in the sport.

Sport and life are tests of time.

The hard working man passes the test. He has it.

Persistance.

Patience for another chance, another day, another goal.

He also has love, so much gentle love.

After the day is done, it’s time to return home to his wife and children.

He always returns to them.

He eats a good meal. He is often as hungry as a wolf, because he works more than he eats.

He is warm and safe. The day is coming to an end.

In one sense he isn’t working any more, but in another sense he’s doing the most important work; resting, watching tv, catching naps, putting his arm around his son, calling his daughter sweet names, holding his wife’s hand.

Later, he slips between the sheets.

He rarely has a sleepless night.

He works so hard that he sleeps like a stone.

His alarm will go off the next morning at an early hour.

stunning sunrise & sledding

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Shanda

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. I Timothy 4:10

I didn’t want to get out of bed Sunday morning. Seth had been awake in the night all upset with a fever and I was still tired. But I could hear the kids in the living room and got up to make sure Seth was okay. I glanced out the window as I always do, just to take a look at the weather, and was astounded by the most beautiful sky, coupled with dark trees and the whiteness of our first “sticking snow” of the season.

Seth was on the couch and hadn’t slept all night (he said). When Rich got up he too wasn’t feeling well. The family stayed home from church, we snuggled on the couch all day in soft blankets.

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Sarah and Caleb were feeling fine and went outside over and over again, they came inside just get get warmed up enough to go back out.

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I was saving these new saucer sleds for the first sledding day.

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chickadee on the feeder

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Our house sits on a hill so the children do not have far to go for good sledding. They just have to watch out for the pond and pine trees.

They very much enjoyed working on several different tracts, some with ramps and some with twisty turns.

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In the afternoon the snow started falling off the branches, sparkling with the sun.

I spent most of the day with Seth snuggled nearby, so it was good to go on the porch now and then to breath in some fresh air and watch the children sled.

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falling snow

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It was a most cozy day.

I even made homemade pizza.

This morning, Seth was better. He went to school. I went to school, too. Sarah had a chorus program at 9. I sat next to another lady who had come to watch her granddaughter and was disappointed that the program was only 15 minutes long. She had come from a few towns over. All that effort for 15 minutes. It’s worth it, though, right? I then went to the grocery store, came home, put everything away, got laundry going, tidied up the kitchen. I’ll be leaving soon to pick up David for a doctor’s appointment.

He rules the earth with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of His love.

These words are running through my heart this morning, from the hymn “Joy to the World”. I am so thankful for Jesus. How astounding that He rules with truth and grace….especially when you see all through history the ways humanity has ruled. How beautiful and rare are the good, kind, and loving rulers who reflect His ways.

For Jesus Himself rules with perfect love. . .wonderous love and glorious righteousness.

walking in the woods

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Shanda

***

We decided to go on a family walk through the woods. Rich had to caution Seth several times because a broken collar bone doesn’t slow him down anymore. Gentleman Gray made us all happy by coming along with us and being a funny cat. We followed the trail. David brought one of his sharp knives which gave me anxiety about someone getting accidentally cut but all in all it was a nice little walk.

***

This morning I almost forgot to get David and Caleb to their physicals. I had just enough time to shower, go get them from school, and take them. They are old enough that I sit in the waiting room. The nurse took them back first to get their weights and heights, and check their ears and eyes, then she took them back to the doctor. She returned to the waiting room to tell me, “I just love your boys, I had to tell you, they are such good boys.” Of course this made me proud and happy so when David came out, done with his appointment first, I told him what she said. “I’m sure she was referring to ME,” he said with his nose in the air. “I’m sure you’re right,” I said rolling my eyes. “You gave birth to warriors.” he continued………. (I really gave birth to funny people)

***

I found several good recipes in the Family Circle magazine while I waited in the doctor’s office. I took pictures of them; Roasted Kale and Butternut Squash, Pork with Cauliflower and Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Jamaican Coconut Collard Greens. I’m trying to eat lots more fruits and veggies. I had a smoothie for breakfast; canned organic pumpkin, ice, milk, frozen banana, cinnamon and nutmeg. YUM

***

I need to get myself organized for Thanksgiving dinner, which I am preparing this year for my family. One good thing is that I’ve done it enough to know what I’m doing. I just have to get that big grocery shopping trip done. What are your plans for the day?

***

The first photo is of *the first ice of the season*, which is always celebrated, on the stream. The children said it looked “like South America.” Sarah has been going outside every day to skate around on a frozen puddle at the end of the yard.

***

Rich is working late tonight. David has already told me he wants to make dinner; spaghetti with meatballs. And no doubt we will watch some of Monday night football.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

18th for Grace

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Shanda

Beautiful Grace turned 18 on November 4th. Her dear Caleb gave her a lovely piece of jewelry as a gift but she was the most thankful for the gift of time the two of them spent together. They had the whole day together and then met us at Steve & Joanna’s house for dinner and cake.

“I look like I belong,” she said when she saw this photo.

Joanna’s family has welcomed her into the circle.

They were looking forward to meeting Caleb. Now he’s in the circle, too.

Dear Birthday Girl;

Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

I Corinthians 1:7-9