take no thought for the morrow

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Shanda

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…….

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26

Thank you for the egg.

Thank you for stopping to say hello.

*****

Samantha was covered in glittering dusty dirt! Have you ever seen a cat roll around in dry dirt puddles? It’s very cute. I watched her walk in the sunshine after a nice roll-around, she was twinkling and sparkling proudly….nothing like a good dust bath.

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Today is a very important day. Today I figured out how to shoot sun stars!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like listening to podcasts while I’m walking. (I walk daily) And one of the ones I listen to is about hobby landscape photography. The hosts were chatting about sunstars the other day and I was like, “wow, that’s a thing!” and looked up more information online. It seemed rather straight forward and although the effect is much better during *the golden hours*, I was way too impatient to wait until then.

I put the f-stop to 18 and partially blocked the sun behind a tree and held my breathe.

CLICK.

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It worked!

I know all you professional photographers out there are laughing but this was such fun.

Eventually, I was seeing stars myself! Rather blinded by the sun, you see.

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This one was ridiculous. I decided to look for other things to “shoot”. Like this old rose:

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And this squirrel:

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running away from me like I was something out of his nightmares. SO insulting.

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It has an acorn in his mouth. I do so like to crunch acorns under my feet as I walk, so satisfying.

I carried two home in my pocket, along with a pinecone. I’m giving them to Joanna when I see her on SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is just way too exciting.

Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? Matthew Henry

seventeen now

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Shanda

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People who know Grace know what makes her special.

(Everyone is special in their own unique way. Everyone.)

And Grace is special because of what is in her heart, her mind, her soul.

Her heart is full of love. Ever since she was a little girl, she wanted a hand to hold and someone to listen. She wanted to encourage, give attention, give hugs.

Her mind is bright. It wants to lead. It thinks of things that no one else does, because God gave her a gift, just as He gives each one of us a gift to use for this world we live in. There is no one like Grace, there is no mind like her mind. She has desire to busily learn and grow. So many interests, hobbies, jobs. Once she sets her mind on something, look out.

Her soul belongs to God. She loves the holy Scriptures, the hymns, the worship. Her spirit always rejoices, and produces the good fruit of love, joy, goodness and peace.

As her mom, that is what I see.

At first I thought, I’m not going to wax eloquent with this post, I’m just going to let the pictures speak their thousand words.

But who am I kidding? I have words! Must.get.them.out.

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It just so happened that when she was born, and after the nurses made sure her airway was clear, they gave Grace to her Dad first……and I love that. (She certainly is a Daddy’s girl.) My husband placed our first little daughter into my arms. And she was an absolute DOLL. A teeny tiny doll baby………..

That was 17 years ago, today.

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Happy Birthday, Grace!

I rarely see this girl of mine these days because she’s a busy busy senior in High School, and very very involved in Drama and Music. When I got home yesterday afternoon, the bus from school had already gone by, and so I chatted with Dave in the kitchen and then made my way through the living room to get to my bedroom…..and there was Grace on the couch, reading a book. Oh I was so excited, I admit I shrieked with glee, I grabbed her and we went outside to do her birthday photo shoot (I like to take good photos of my children on or around their birthdays). Photos that I didn’t think I would have time to take because I rarely see her in the daylight hours. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

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“One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar.”
HELEN KELLER

Grace and I have a great relationship….although at times it is better for her to go to her Dad with things, as well. (He and I make an excellent parenting team and often give each other high fives).

She adores her two big brothers, and her younger siblings, as well. In my mind, I can see the relationships she has with each one.

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

That’s what mothers do.

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Grace is applying to colleges and in a few weeks I’m taking her to visit one. There is part of me that is already preparing for when she leaves and I’m not going to lie…..it’s going to be hard for our family to see her go. But go she must, because she’s meant to soar.

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(Grace’s cat kept photobombing)

Yesterday while the kids were at school, my mom and I were texting and trying to decide what kind of cake Grace would want me to make for her…..Mom said “vanilla with strawberries” and I guessed “chocolate with vanilla frosting.” Hours later I was able to ask Grace.

She said she wanted a cheesecake, and even specified the temperature of it: partially frozen.

partially frozen cheesecake!!!! Never would have guessed that one.

I haven’t MADE a cheesecake in probably 20 years so this is going to be a fun day.

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(one of my favorite photos, which came about because I said, “KITTYYYYYY!” a bit too frantically, trying to get the cat to look at the camera). ha ha ha ha! They have the same expression on their faces!

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While writing, this song popped into my head:

Forever and ever, you’ll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I love you
Together, forever, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me.

~Aretha Franklin, “I say a Little Prayer”

I think I’ll play later and make Grace dance in the kitchen with me. ❤

Happy Birthday, sweet 17.

homemade rolls made with love

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Shanda

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Rich’s Aunt Phyllis visited this weekend with her cousin Marie. Rich’s Dad came, too. They wanted to watch Grace in a play at her school. It was such fun to attend together but my favorite part of all was when we were home again and the ladies were snuggling up on the couch reading an old old copy of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Aunt Phyllis gave the book to Grace and it is special because her mom (Grace’s Great Great Grandma) used to read it to her children at bedtime. And from this very copy Aunt Phyllis and Marie each read a chapter aloud to the girls. On Sarah Joy’s lap is a quilt that was given to her Great Grandma which she kept on her lap during her last years. It was made by another relative. Aren’t relatives the best, the most inspiring of all? I love all the women in my family, both in my own family and the family I married in to. I feel very blessed by all the stories, sewing, quilting, crafting, working, mothering, beauty, books, baking, and so on……that I learned from my sisters, cousins, aunts, Mom, and grandmas. All so uniquely special and dear.

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I look into their faces and see my self, and own children, in them.

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Rich is hosting an off site meeting today for work and as always, I am making homemade rolls for our sandwiches. (they are rising as I type) I don’t divide my Grandma’s recipe anymore because I can use all the dough I can get! Last night I mixed up the dough and put half in the refrigerator for today’s rolls, and formed the rest into a big pan of cinnamon rolls. After all, it was a holiday, it was Halloween! I baked in the kitchen while Davy made clam chowder and Rich took the three youngest children out trick or treating. We had Harry Potter going on TV and there were a roomful of teen-sized kids in the basement having their own party.

I posted the photo of the completed rolls on FB and Instagram and several of my dear friends requested the recipe.

My Grandma (her name was Mary) used to bake these rolls by the hundreds…she was well known for them in our church and in her home for the holidays. She in turn passed the bread baking art down to her daughters–my mom Cindy makes amazing bread on a weekly basis and I’ve shared several of her recipes here on my blog already. She is a most amazing baker and I’m thankful she is just a phone call or text away to answer my questions and eventually answer questions for my girls, as well. The Mama/Grandma hotline! So blessed.

Isn’t family wonderful? I know yours is, too!

ROLLS

3-4 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 T. salt
1/2 cup butter
3 cups water-divided
2 T yeast or 2 packages
2 eggs
close to 5 lb bag of flour

Mix 1 cup of warm water with the yeast and set aside. Heat milk, sugar, salt, and butter until dissolved–let cool. Add 2 cups cold water to mixture. Add the 2 cold eggs to the milk mixture. Combine the yeast mixture with the milk mixture. Add enough flour till the right consistency. (Approximately 5 lbs).
Knead dough till smooth on a flour surface. Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise for about 2 hours (until doubled in size). Punch down dough-knead-then shape rolls or roll out for sweet rolls.
Place rolls in a greased pan and cover and let rise till doubled– about half an hour.
Bake at 350 for 24-25 minutes, till golden brown and rolls sound hollow when tapped.
Makes about 3-4 dozen dinner rolls and a 9 by 13 plan of sweet rolls.

(note: children LOVE to watch the process!! Sarah Joy eats a bit of the dough raw–she loves it!)

SWEET ROLL ADDITIONS

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture: 2 cups sugar 3 T cinnamon 1 stick melted butter

Roll dough to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Pour on melted butter and spread to edges. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll up and slice about inch thick with a sharp knife. Place in well greased pan or into pan with caramel nut topping mixture spread in the bottom. Let rise for 1/2 to 1 hour and bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes

(note: raw cinnamon roll dough is even better! you can rub it around in the butter left behind on the counter! My dad loves to do this.)

CARAMEL Nut TOPPING 1/2 cup melted butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Thank you to my Aunt Colleen for sharing this recipe and making sure it is in the recipe files of all our families! You are wonderful.

NOTE-I use my kitchen aid mixture to knead the dough and then finish it off on the counter because I do like to get my hands on it during part of the process. It’s so soft and warm….good to work with.

*****

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THIS IS MY HUSBAND’S GRANDMOTHER! Her name was Sarah Lillian but everyone called her Lillian. Aunt Phyllis shared this 1980’s newspaper clipping with us. It is from when Grandma was working in a school cafeteria (the very same school Rich and I and all our relatives attended) These were the days when children actually ate some HOMEMADE foods, like these big homemade peanut butter cookies (800 of them baked at once). I love the details in this picture and I know these ladies loved working together. They made biscuits, apple crisp, and so many other delicious foods for the children.

*****

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My kitchen, where I think of all the women in my family as I work.

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Dedicated to mamas, grandmas, and aunts everywhere.

You make a difference wherever you are, even long after you’re gone.

You are loved.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

a preview of the winter to come

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Shanda

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There was a chill in the air that could only mean one thing……snow. Here, the green grass of yesterday has been drifted over with a covering of wet snow.

After reading by the fire for an hour, with a cat on my lap, even though I was determined not to get cold again, I found myself bending down to get my boots out of the closet. Warm vest, warm down coat, and a camera. Alone because the boys wanted to go outside later when there is enough snow on the hill to go sledding.

Wood is stacked on the side porch, ready to be used in the fireplace. I pick up sticks from the woods when I go for walks, to use as kindling. The fire is such a mesmerizing thing, with wisps of smoke, cracking, popping, in high notes and low notes.

On a snowy day it is rather cozy-like.

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Turtles and frogs are hiding under the mud in the ponds, not to be seen again until spring.

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Wild berries as red as anything will soon be gone……as the birds slowly pick them to eat.

The bees, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, and bugs are all gone. The earth is quiet as it snows. Although if you stand still and listen you can hear the falling of it.

Sarah planted marigold seeds in a paper cup during Kindergarten and we transplanted them into the spring garden. All summer long it was a gift to watch them grow.

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I celebrate the last of the blossoms from the garden, what resilient ones these are to survive frosts and snow.

fall turning into winter

green turning into brown

warm turning into cold

“To everything — a season,
and a time to every delight
under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1

To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God’s whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle. Matthew Henry

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yee haa

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Shanda

A delightful story came home in Sarah’s backpack on Monday. Picture me reading this in the kitchen after baking two batches of two different kinds of homemade cookies, for my children.

It was a fascinating eye opener for me, as I tend to live in dreamland where children don’t care about video games as much as smiling parents with big hugs, warm cookies, friendly kitty cats, a big front yard outside in the country, lot of siblings, and clean bedrooms full of a magical assortment of good wholesome toys, puzzles, and books.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

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It’s the “evre day” that gets me. If it said “sometimes” or “occasionally”…..sure. But “evre day”? really?

So, without Further Delay….

Evre Day Aftr Scwol, by Sarah, six years old, & perhaps a genius

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I went don stars. too play viteo gams. I like to play viteo game. I like playing mincraft. Sarah said, “I like playing mincraft.”

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I saw a Zombe it was abowt to esplod my howse. Me and my dogs ar going to cil the Zombe. Sarah said, “cil it dogs.”

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I dfetid the Zombe. And I was hape. And my dogs wr hape to. I went bac to my howse to feed my dogs. Sarah said “I love my dogs.”

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Aftr I dufetid the Zombe I went to my hose. In my hose I gave my dog’s mett. Sarah said, “I love my dog’s”.

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Aftre I gave my dog’s mett I went to go hunting with my dog’s. Sarah said, “yee haa”.

The End.

sister day

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Shanda

get kids on bus rush over to sister’s house

talk at the island in the kitchen while sitting on stools as she eats her oatmeal

get warm coats on and go outside

feed chickens and bunnies

talk lots laugh lots

hike through the woods

go inside, watch a movie with crocheted blankets and animals on our laps

start a fire and eat chili

sing hymns

say goodbye, I had the best day today

with you.

❤

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day with the college boy

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Shanda

Good afternoon! I took David to the orthodontist this morning which was nice because (does this happen in your family?) as is typical, the car is the best place for my children to open up and talk. We have nice conversations about anything and everything. So I got to hear everything that David wanted to talk about. After his appointment (“What did they do to you Dave?” “They put in a new, thicker wire.”) we scooted into the Goodwill store quickly to look at 1) dishes 2) DVDs and 3) books. Then….Dunkin’ donuts for a snack. He got a mint hot chocolate and a breakfast sandwich on waffles. I got a snack sized breakfast wrap thing and a hot tea.

I dropped Dave off at the middle school (right before he got out he said, “Wouldn’t you rather just take me back home?” and I said, “No, get out.”) and then parked so I could walk and as I walked I talked to my friend Kathy on the phone, and sipped hot tea.

*****

This weekend’s great event was getting up super early in the morning (4), and leaving to drive three hours for a visit to our college boy. Rich and I took the younger children with us, but Jacob had work so he wasn’t able to come along.

We were in terrible moods for half the trip. It was dark and raining and we had to stop at every red light on our way to the highway, which was driving Rich crazy because we were literally the only ones on the road. We also couldn’t figure out how to get the new DVD player in our vehicle to work but eventually David figured it out and the sound of Looney Tunes filled the air. About an hour down the road we all started perking up. We left so early because we wanted to surprise Ethan by getting to him in time to take him to breakfast. He wasn’t even awake yet when we pulled up to his dorm. The dorms are kept locked so I called him on his cell phone to tell him we had arrived. We saw his light turn on behind the blinds in his window as he quickly pulled on his clothes and came out in the chilly rainy weather and into the family car, where we all smiled at him.

We ate breakfast at a very nice, casual place, filled up with nice ordinary people. We felt comfortable and happy and our waitress was capable and pleasant as well. I ordered steak and eggs. We all ate so much food that we were able to completely bypass lunch.

After breakfast we went for a little drive and then stopped at a Norman Rockwell museum. Next up was bowling. We also visited a bookstore in town which was great (used bookstores are my favorite).

We headed back to the college. Grace and I sat and read our books for well over an hour. The college kids had an event going on where you could get an empty Pokemon character and stuff it yourself to make a stuffed animal, it closed with a zipper in the back. It was so cute to see all these big college kids sitting around boxes of stuffing, not unlike sitting around a campfire, talking away as they made toys, of all things. Seth, Sarah, and Caleb managed to each get in on the action, too. The college kids were so nice to them. Grace and I would look over at them and then look at each other and smile little smiles of joy. Rich and Ethan played pool downstairs together, and David joined Grace and I and put his head down on the table to take a nap.

We began to get hungry so we left for an early dinner. (It was so rainy and chilly–39 degrees!) Ethan was craving pizza so we found a well-reviewed pizza place 20 minutes away which ended up being amazing. The place was a very low key, “hole in the wall” sort of place with an awesome view of the town and the train tracks. Very busy. You had to order at the counter and then sit down to wait for your pizza to be done. When it is done they call your name and you go up to get it (no waitresses). There was a lady at the table next to us who talked to me about our large family. We rarely get the comment “are they all yours” any longer. We used to get it all the time when the kids were small, but now that three of them are taller than me we don’t get that question as often. But she loved the kids and it was a friendly little conversation.

The pizza was incredible. Their most popular pizza was made with their garlic knot dough and was simply covered in garlic, I think it took a full 24 hours for my breath to get back to normal. I had two pieces of it, it was topped with tomatoes and cheese. We bought three large pizzas and simply stuffed ourselves until there was only one and a half pieces left and Rich said, “No more, the rest is for E to take to his room with him.”

Then it was time to drop Ethan back off at his dorm. There were tears shed but all in all it was a most pleasant day! Beautiful. You know, there is just nothing like the feeling of being safe and loved in your family.

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Rich had to take it twice. 🙂 family photo at the breakfast place! Isn’t the decor great? I love rooms that are filled with stuff everywhere you cast your eye. Inside the well-decorated bathroom there was a sign which said, “Girls, PLEASE do not steal the decor!” The word please was underlined three times.

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I admit I am a little sad that our oldest son is not in this photo, but aren’t they handsome? Seth is 7, David is 14, Caleb is 11, and Ethan is 18.

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*same breakfast, same facial expressions*

I’m laughing as I look at it. Their breakfast was called the “gut buster”

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beautiful mountain stream

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We went to a Norman Rockwell museum, which was a building full of every cover and/or illustration that he ever did, plus little signs giving more information about his life and pictures. There were NO original works, but we have been to the real museum in Stockbridge so we were okay with seeing the many many prints.

my favorite:

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Rich’s favorite:

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The pizza was so good. Rich even said it was better than Grandes. (the place we go to “back home” all the time, which we’ve been going to for our whole married life).

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

So I wanted to tell you guys that I’m finally on instagram if you want to follow me here is my link: SHANDA’S INSTAGRAM .

Happy Monday!

restorative

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Shanda

This is going to be essentially a silent blog post other than what I’m typing right now because the photos are so beautiful….I want them to pull you in….I was outside for two hours this morning. I walked over roads and woods and fields. I took photos of every interesting sight I saw, the loveliness pulled me in and as I wandered along on my feet, and in my thoughts, I felt myself getting quieter and somehow, melancholy.

I came home, ate lunch, and this busy mama of seven took a three hour nap.

Restorative is the word that comes to mind.

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*****
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want….He restoreth my soul….He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

You have put gladness in my heart, more than their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lay down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

You are loved, my friends.

we are surrounded by towns and surrounded by dentists….and yet….

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Shanda

“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

“….your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Almost five years ago to the day, one year old baby girl Sarah tripped and fell on her mouth, pushing one of her front teeth back up into her gums. I was going through a time of serious depression, trying so hard to take care of my family while fighting exhaustion and anxiety, both spiritual and mental. I was running on empty and this just added to my sadness and stress.

We immediately called the doctor about her tooth but the doctor said it was the dentist’s job and the dentist didn’t return our call (it happened in the evening after hours). The next morning Sarah was acting like nothing had ever happened and was happy, so, with my eyes puffy with crying, I proceeded with my own doctor’s appointment that had been scheduled for weeks and Rich didn’t want me to miss.

While I was there at the clinic, I had a friendly nurse asking all about the children, so I opened my phone (flip phone!) to show her a photo of my seven young offspring. The first picture to appear was of poor Sarah’s mouth and the injured tooth, so I ended up explaining what had happened to the nurse.

She right away wanted to give me a referral to a wonderful pediatric dentist. She knew of him because he came to the clinic often to do dental services (his office was in another town half an hour away). She walked me out to the desk after my appointment to get me his number and just at that moment, the man himself walked out into the hallway! She stopped him and explained Sarah’s story right then and there, and I showed him the photo. He told me to bring Sarah to his office that afternoon at four!! It blew me away how God worked this out for Sarah. We went to the appointment and the whole experience felt like grace, he was so kind and professional and put our anxieties to rest in regards to Sarah’s little mouth injury. As we already had our own dentist, we thanked him and went on our merry way…….thankful for this unexpected help from a stranger.

Fast forward five years………

Sarah had her six month cleaning last Monday and we found out that the very same front tooth is abscessed. The hygienist guessed right away that it had been injured at some point. The doctor came in and said that as Sarah also needed a frenectomy he could refer us to someone to have the tooth extracted and the frenectomy done at the same time to save Sarah from extra anxiety (after her year of kidney woes she isn’t a big fan of dentists or doctors).

I called the number he gave us as a referral and was told they could do the extraction but not the frenectomy. I called a few more pediatric dentists and was told the same thing. I called back our dentist and explained what was happening and asked the receptionist to figure it out and make the calls for me, as it was more of an urgent case and I didn’t have the clout of being a physician in expediting the appointment or figuring out what to do. She agreed to make the calls and I congratulated myself for letting go of control.

It took a full 24 hours to hear back from anyone. Last night, as I waited in the dark car for Grace to get done with drama rehearsal, my cell phone rang. The lady on the phone explained that she was calling me because she was contacted by my dentist in regards to Sarah , and she began telling me about the office and where they were located. To make a long story short:

IT IS THE VERY SAME DENTIST THAT HELPED US OUT FIVE YEARS AGO WITH THIS TROUBLESOME TOOTH. This guy must be a super hero?

She has a consultation appointment today at 10:50!

***
We got back home a little while ago and the appointment was great. He said that her tooth was wriggly enough that she can get it out herself. He put her on antibiotics. He said that she could wait on the frenectomy for several years and it would be better for her psyche if we waited. Rich and I totally agreed. 🙂 Oh and they remembered her!

baked beans recipe (yum)

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Shanda

The sun was almost down behind the house, and in front of us like a living piece of art was a dusky early evening. How many times have I stopped what I was doing in the house to run out on the porch just for a moment; to soak in the beauty, breath the fresh air, cool my busy mind? Called the children to come and see the pretty sky? So many times that now sometimes they do it, too.

“Mom, come look!”

s h a r e d J O Y i s a d o u b l e J O Y

The darkest of blues and a world washed clean.

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A year ago I put together a recipe file of all the baked bean recipes I could find in my cookbook collection. I tried out a few of the recipes and then lost interest in beans for another year. It is interesting to me how we become seasonally predictable. All of a sudden I’m getting the urge to bake beans again–exactly a year later.

I selected the next recipe to try and for this recipe, I needed dark rum. Rich and I drove downtown on Saturday to get some while the beans were soaking on the stovetop and the children played. I sat in the truck while he ran into the liquor store for a nice bottle of rum. Then we went downtown for coffee and a walk.

*****

We ate dinner together around the table at the end of the day. A big pot of homemade baked beans and fresh bread from Price Chopper. The children all ate a plate of beans, so piping hot that they had to spread them all around their plates to cool faster. They all liked them and several of us had seconds. It is a contented feeling to make such simple foods and have them enjoyed.

Rich and Jacob go to the gym three times a week and Rich told me that Jacob should probably not eat beans the night before, ever again. Jacob replied, “It doesn’t matter what I eat, it’s going to happen.”

I thank my Aunt Mary for this recipe, because it came from a wonderful cookbook that she gave to me years ago as a bridal shower gift. I’ve studied and used it so much that it’s falling apart now. Every recipe I’ve made out of this cookbook has been extra delicious.

Molasses and Rum Baked Beans

1 pound dry navy beans or dry great northern beans
1/4 pound bacon (six slices) or salt pork, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup molasses or maple syrup (we used maple syrup)
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. pepper

Rince beans. In a 4 1/2 quart dutch oven combine beans and 8 cups cold water. (I also added a bay leaf). Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans.

In the same pan mix beans and 8 cups fresh cold water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 1 hour and 15 minutes or till tender. Drain beans, reserving hot liquid. Transfer beans to a 2 1/2 quart casserole or bean pot.

In a medium saucepan or large skillet, cook bacon or salt pork till fat begins to accumulate. Add onion and garlic. cook and stir over medium heat till onion is tender but not brown. Stir onion mixture into beans along with 1/2 cup of the reserved bean liquid, molasses or maple syrup, catsup, dark rum, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, ground ginger, and pepper.

Bake, covered, in a 300 degree oven about 2 and a half hours or to desired consistency, stirring occasionally. If necessary, add additional reserved bean liquid. Makes 10-12 servings.

NOTES: I doubled this recipe. I used a teaspoon of sandwich mustard rather than dry. It took my beans much longer to bake. Plan on this recipe taking an entire day from morning to night. There is nothing worse than under cooked baked beans. When done, the beans should be super soft and everything else in the pot should be melted together. Add liquid as they bake so there is sauce. Very delicious with bread and butter and cold glasses of cider.

recipe source: Stay for Supper (Country Home) Cookbook

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photos from walk yesterday, which was a warm fall day

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the leaves I brought home with me

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“….we must never pretend that things are better than they are-but I do want us to look beneath all that is difficult and see the miracle God has wrought in our hearts. I want us to see that he has placed powerful urges to do good in the deepest recesses of our regenerated hearts. That’s what the New Covenant is all about. Something wonderful and beautiful and resilient is within us that no abuse, rejection, or failure can ever destroy. I want us to relate to one another, not as moralist to sinner or therapist to patient, but as saint to saint, father to child, friend to friend, as true lovers, with the confidence that we can help each other believe that, by the grace of God, there is something good beneath the mess.”
Larry Crabb