a beautiful day, part 2

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Shanda

Such is Isaac’s lot in life, to be the “baby” of our family….I am sure that for him it is sometimes the cause of frustration, to more than likely be treated always as “the younger one”. But, for the rest of the family, having a baby such as Isaac to enjoy and be proud of has been a source of joy and gladness. I was almost 12 when he was born, and oh how big sister doted on her baby brother. I had begged mom to “have another baby!” and the Lord had answered the desire of my young heart. I have three other younger siblings, but they arrived during my even-younger years, so that there is a hazy mist covering over much of those memories. But with Isaac, I can remember clearly many parts of his babyhood, and childhood.

All this to say, as his big sister, I delighted in his wedding. I felt proud and cheerful, as I witnessed his joy in his beloved bride, Cassandra. The two of them are a lovely couple. She looks at him, and he looks at her, with love, friendship, and peace. As they are both Christians, their relationship is full of the Holy Spirit, and His fruit. I was talking to a friend at church the day after the wedding and he spoke from his heart when he said he looks forward to seeing great things from Isaac and Cassandra’s marriage. Not that they are any more special than any other Christian couple, but it is what Christ himself does for all relationships in this world that makes life, and living in Him, and because of Him, beautiful. To follow His ways, the Scriptures, and to let those truths grow in us, is the way to LIFE abundant.

My dear friend Joanna was the master of this woodland photo shoot, her pictures will be the perfect ones, I almost feel guilty in sharing my own because they are a poor reflection of the magic she can do with her camera. If and when she posts her final product online, I will be sure to share the link, or to share them here, with her permission, on my blog. I think she was up on a ladder during this portion of the shoot. I was holding it with one hand, and my camera in the other. We opened the shoot with a prayer of God’s blessing on these images, that Isaac and Cassandra would look back on this day and see in the pictures exactly what they were feeling in their hearts.

Even though Joanna and I kept our camera’s eye on them the entire time, and we four all had fun together, the two of them truly had eyes only for each other, which I noticed and found so dear. They talked to each other, but it was mostly Isaac keeping up the banter, helping his Cassandra to feel relaxed, with an honest smile on her face (it can be awkward to keep smiling for pictures!)

Which is why I especially love this next picture, because they are in their own little world…….talking a little bit, leaning in close, and she looks a little puzzled, all in good fun.

Then, to face the camera with their smiles::

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 11-19

Looking at these photos, and meditating on love this morning, has refreshed my heart to do good for my own family. I hope and pray that my friends who visit this blog here today will also feel those same emotions, and make this day a beautiful one for the ones you love. Light the candles, cook the food, share a hug, snuggle up to a child, read good books, enjoy God’s creation…..a phone call, an email, ANYTHING to show that particular loved one that YOU CARE, can be done at anytime, and the amazing part is, it does good for your own soul, as well. “It is more blessed TO GIVE…….”

This world can truly be a lonely land, and one good word, or even a smile, is sometimes all it takes to put an extra bounce in someone’s step. To be an encourager is to spread God’s love in this dark place……….

YOU ARE LOVED.

TOMORROW I WILL SHARE THE REST OF THE PICTURES FROM ISAAC and CASSANDRA’S beautiful day.

a beautiful day, part 1

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Shanda

The bride and groom—
May their joys be as bright as the morning,
and their sorrows but shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.
A Book of Toasts, 1902

It’s almost 7:30 in the morning. I am sitting cross legged on my bed in my pajamas, hoping to get this blog done before the majority of my children are awake. A cartoon is playing on the TV for the first one up (Caleb), and the dog is lying on the floor by my bed, happy that his family is back home from a weekend away in NY. A mug of hot coffee is on the bedside table, sun is streaming through the windows. It will be a beautiful day.

Rich and I packed the children into the vehicle Friday afternoon and headed back home for the happiest of occasions. My youngest brother Isaac was getting married to a lovely woman, someone that he grew up with in the church, and fell in love with over these last few golden years. The two of them are the pride and joy of their parents, family, and friends and are richly blessed with many prayers and good wishes at this beginning of a new life as man and wife.

The wedding was at 1 pm on Saturday. Rich and I slept until about 8:30 and then woke the children up for breakfast at the hotel. Thus began several hours of ironing, fixing hair, getting small children properly dressed, hearing complaints about new shoes hurting, fingers getting pinched, getting ourselves put together, and so on. It was a pretty amazing morning of chaos for my family of nine, in two rooms at the hotel, with a connecting door. At one point I saw Grace in front of the mirror with David holding up her braids so she could put in the bobby pins.

However, after a stop to buy socks for Ethan and a new memory card for the camera, we made it to the church an entire HOUR early. The first person we saw was Pastor Chris, Cassandra’s Dad. He was buzzing about, getting ready to put the tux on……we chatted, and I asked him where Isaac was…..and this is where the day began for me as “sister of the groom photographer”…

Dear Isaac was sitting at a table with his groomsmen and my Dad, already dressed and waiting for the ceremony. I hugged them all, and we visited for a little while, happy to help them get through some of the anxious time of waiting. Rich eventually left with the children and I stayed behind for a few minutes to pin the boutonnieres on my Dad and brothers…….I took a few pictures and then left to go upstairs and watch people arrive.

My sister Amanda arrived with Abbie, Naomi, and Weston. Her husband Jason was in the wedding.

My handsome brother Nathan was also in the wedding. He and his wife Melissa have two children; Gregory and Makayla.

After saying hello, I went inside the sanctuary to sit with my family. Rich and the children were in the row behind me.

Growing up in church means forming close relationships with people; everywhere I turned I saw people we love……

My handsome boys.

Aunt Mary, Elisha, Megan.

It’s funny how little things can make you cry on wedding days….one of these moments for me came when Mom was walked down the aisle by my brother Nathan. As soon as she was seated, she asked Amanda and I where her sisters were. Grandma and Grandpa are gone now, and her sisters are her closest and dearest family from childhood…..she needed to know they were there and I thought it was so sweet.

We noticed Dave peeking through the side door, getting an idea of how full the church was….

My mother, looking on at her beloved husband, sons, and son in law….as we wait for the bride to appear!

Mother of the bride…..and one of the bridesmaids….looking back at Cassandra.

Cassandra’s two sisters are on the right.

Here comes the bride!

As Pastor Chris was giving his daughter to be married, Dad opened up the ceremony with words, Scripture, and prayer.

In the very small town in which this wedding took place, just at this moment, a string of loud motorcycles zoomed by.

And then, Pastor Chris opened the wedding with the words of the Princess Bride “marriage” scene, complete with “the funny voice”.

Every wedding ceremony should contain laughter……..

and a sentimental tear or two.

It was fun to sit behind my parents and imagine their thoughts and feelings as they watched their youngest get married. How they prayed for this happy day!

The ring ceremony.

The kiss, THE KISS of kisses~ to seal the vows as husband and wife~

Prayer with the parents~

JOY

And then, we moved outside for the receiving line.

Isaac and Jacob

MORE JOY

Gracie and her new Aunt Cassandra (notice Isaac touching his ring=so precious)

With the receiving line behind them, (cool) Nate and Jason posed for my camera.

I love how in the background Dawn is taking a picture of the sisters.

And Dave is peeking at me, too. 🙂

My husband Rich, talking to old beloved friends. Rich and I were married in this same church, 19 years ago…and these friends were at our wedding, too.

This is the last picture I took at the church before heading up to the hill with Joanna to take pictures of Isaac and Cassandra in the woods.

Perhaps one day these two little girls will be beautiful brides. Stay tuned!

TOMORROW I will post the Wedding Forest Pictures.

****

“Who, being loved, is poor?” Oscar Wilde

“Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.” Robert Browning

****

Have a delightful day, my friends! Remember that God loves you so very much and has poured out His abundant blessings. If we but open our eyes to them we will be overwhelmed by his goodness. My heart gives thankful praise.

((You are loved.))

this moment ~ waiting for a table at the crackerbarrel

Image

joining soulemama for another {this moment} post.

“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.”

with aunt colleen

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Shanda

We stayed at Aunt Colleen’s in-law’s house all last week. The best part about it was Aunt Colleen and Uncle Roger live right next door and we could visit every single day. Colleen is my Mom’s baby sister, which is how the two of us ended up less than two years apart in age.

These days it is a lot of fun to have our families together for visits. We can sit and talk while the children hang around us or run around playing.

I pulled in the driveway one evening and found them all sitting in front of the garage, talking and relaxing……it looked like a nice family time, “pretty as a picture”. ^^

(Colleen, Roger, and their oldest, Molly.) I just noticed Sarah is in the picture, on the swings in the background. She really liked their playset. It was the first thing she wanted to know about.

Between the two homes, there were five dogs. My children LOVE animals and enjoyed making new friends with the dogs. Seth had a great time throwing the tennis ball for Rusty.

Rusty could play fetch all day long and so could Seth.

When I aimed my big black camera at Maddie’s dog Jayda, she got nervous and shyly looked away. We made jokes about how I wasn’t going to “shoot” her, oh but wait…..I guess I was, in a way. 😉

After we sat and visited for a while we got up to walk the trail. They keep a walking path nicely mowed. It leads down through woods to the creek that changes every year in the spring water-rise (and sometimes, flood). The rocks were plentiful and the children promptly began throwing them. We were glad that no one got hurt, with six children throwing stones. Uncle Roger threw the dog’s bike tire into the water and it sunk before she could get it. Jayda was so funny sitting in the water looking for it, not able to reach. Roger had to get a stick to bring it back up. She happily ran off with it when it appeared again.

(Madelynn, Molly, Seth, Megan with Sarah, Colleen, and Roger.) A walk wouldn’t be proper without bringing something home from nature; Colleen had bark from a Sycamore tree. I brought some back with me, too. Apparently the Sycamore trees shed at this time of year.

Colleen and I prowled around this very old barn for antiques. This place is right down the road from her house. She hadn’t gone antiquing in the local places since the last time we were together (years) so we decided to keep that tradition. I bought the yoke from Sunday’s blog post at this barn. The barn was huge, quiet, and warm. The wood and rafters were beautiful.

I would have never imagined there were so many old dusty books in the back room. Books everywhere. (dreamy)

We both found some book-treasures to take home with us.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Her Life by Susan Hertog
Pilrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Stillmeadow Cookbook by Gladys Taber
Tomorrow Will be Better by Betty Smith (she wrote A Tree Grows in Brooklyn)

We found fiestaware at the next shop. I bought some one dollar vintage bread plates on a different day, but not when I was with Colleen. I only took pictures. It was a little pricey for my mood (on the hunt for amazing deals).

It was a great week to catch up and visit with Colleen’s family. Love you all.

“The family is a haven in a heartless world.” Christopher Lasch

vacation Bible school

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Shanda

The children were taught to notice “God sightings”, specific times during the day when they were aware of God helping them, showing them something important, teaching them, or keeping them safe. Each footprint on the map represented one “God sighting”….and by the end of the week the footprints went all the way to the promise land.

Caleb is standing with his cousin, Makayla, my brother Nathan’s daughter.

This is Gregory (Makayla’s brother) with Seth. They are both starting Kindergarten this fall.

The leaders all dressed like the Biblical Israelites.

My Aunt Mary did the decoration design, and Aunt Colleen was on stage leading the songs, stories, and announcements.

Roger and Dawn are Colleen’s in-laws and I stayed at their place during the week; I have known them throughout my whole life.

“God saves us–so trust God!”

“God gives us strength–so trust God!”

“God guides us–so trust God!”

“God gives us what we need–so trust God!”

Roger and Dawn helped my cousin Katie’s boys with a tambourine craft.

Cousin Erika was in charge of the weaving…my Sarah is in the picture, in the pink shirt.

Pretty yarns and colors. Sarah asked me to help her finish one of her weavings and then proceeded to tell me I was doing it wrong.

Outside games.

Sarah told me (she remembered later on, in the bathroom) that they played a game with toilet paper, they put the toilet paper on their backs, so silly!

The children each had a bandana to wear. Seth wore his on his ears. I watched him concentrate on making a necklace. He strung beads and a bell on a string. Guess where it is now? Dangling from my rearview mirror….because he gave it to me. Thank you, Seth.

Seth is such a busy boy that it amuses me to see him still and quiet. Look at his crossed ankles….. and there’s Grandma Dawn again. I guess she helped out all over the place.

On the last day some men brought exotic animals to show the children. Caleb was thrilled.

He was thrilled because he got to touch a snake. He is passionate about snakes.

He stayed with the snake until he had to leave for another activity.

To say he was thrilled is putting it mildly.

Then, it was his turn to do some more weaving with Erika. Also pictured: my cousin Marissa in yellow, Erika’s son Jack, and my cousin Molly in the striped dress.

You can say that this VBS was a family affair. We got to spend time with Judy P, Mrs. Butler, Pastor and Mrs. P, Cassandra P (my future sister in law), Deb V, Candy L, Pam H, Uncle Rog, Aunt Carol, Carol A, Fran, Stacie and Jamie S, the Smiths, and so many other old friends! Oh it was wonderful.

The songs are always a highlight of Vacation Bible School. Seth (in striped shirt) did all the motions and dancing along with everyone else. The songs were played up on big movie screens so the children could watch them and do the motions along with the people in the video.

This one was my favorite::

Thank you to everyone who made the week a wonderful time for all! I spoke with Franny H and we both agreed it should last two weeks! 😉

leslie’s lilies

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Shanda

We surprised Rich’s Dad and step-Mom with an impromptu visit one day last week after Vacation Bible School. Leslie was busy moving furniture around, polishing her beautiful wooden floors when we knocked. Missy the dog welcomed us, too. The children love Grandma Leslie and running down to the barn to see the animals. We let them go while Leslie showed me her flower beds.

She has big bright lilies growing, all different kinds. We put Sarah in the middle of them for a picture.

Leslie has the most motherly instincts of anyone I know. She has one grown son, and when he was born he brought to fulness the maternal instinct in her heart which has blessed everyone in our family….she’s quiet and kind, lovely and caring. I looked at her as she described the spring in which she had a blue bird raise babies in a nest on the property, and how she herself “helped the mama bird take care of her babies”, and it just struck me again what a gift she is, and such a good example for me as a mother. After I spend time with her I remember to slow down and nurture life and all the living things that cross my path, whether my chickens, my pets, my flowers, or/and most of all– my children.

“See how the lilies grow….” Matthew 6:28

To Love the Flowers

Whilst I was ruminating about Leslie, and maternal instincts, and love and flowers….my darling daughter Grace spoke next to me on the couch. She was reading her summer book, Les Miserables, and wanted to share a part with me, and would you believe, it was about a colonel who loved the flowers;

“Under the Empire, between two wars, he had found time to marry Mademoiselle Gillernormand. The old bourgeois, thoroughly indignant at bottom, had given his concent with a sigh, saying: ‘The greatest families are forced into it.’ In 1815, Madame Pontmercy, an admirable woman in every sense, by the way, lofty in sentiment and rare, and worthy of her husband, died, leaving a child. This child had been the colonel’s joy in his solitude; but the grandfather had imperatively claimed his grandson, declaring that if the child were not given to him he would disinherit him. The father had yielded in the little one’s interest, and had transferred his love to the flowers.” page 385

“The plot of earth which he called his garden was celebrated in the town for the beauty of the flowers which he cultivated there. These flowers were his occupation.” pg. 383

“He was in his alleys from the break of day, in summer, planting, cutting, hoeing, watering, walking amid his flowers with an air of kindness, sadness, and sweetness, sometimes standing motionless and thoughtful for hours, listening to the song of a bird in the trees, the babble of a child in the house, or with his eyes fixed on a drop of dew at the tip of a spear of grass…….” pg. 384

Isn’t that inspiring? People are made to love and care for SOMETHING, ANYTHING. What a beautiful way to live.

When Rich’s Dad got home he took Seth and Sarah down to the barn with him. They each got a tractor ride, too (see the tractor on the far left of the photo?)

Grandma Leslie gave Sarah a juicy peach after carefully washing it off for her……

*****

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. (including your children)
The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
make your requests known to God.
And the peace of God
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and minds (and linger in your homes)
in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7

verse

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Shanda

I took Caleb, Seth, and Sarah back home to NY state this past week while Rich took our other children to Christian camp in New Hampshire.

While I was away, I did some antiquing with Aunt Colleen and found this small yoke for five dollars.

I looked up Bible verses that mention the word “yoke” and settled on the phrase “Christ has set us free.” from Galatians 5:1.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

This is what it looks like from a distance. I will enjoy looking at it and remembering the miraculous freedom Christ has provided for souls.

{this moment} and, a recipe

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Shanda

M O M E N T

A friday ritual. A single photo, capturing a moment of the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

********

M U F F I N S

I made muffins this morning for the children. Seth (in picture up there ^^) requested chocolate chip muffins. I typically don’t care for chocolate chips in breads or pancakes, but I mixed up a batch of muffins, making a few changes to a favorite recipe. They turned out chocolatey from the chips, but not too sweet. The whole family liked them, including Rich, so I thought I would share the recipe with you in case you want to make them for Saturday breakfast.

Summertime Chocolate Chip Breakfast Muffins (makes about 18, depending on how much you fill the cups)

4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Add all dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl, miss together the wet ingredients thoroughly. Dig a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the milk. Stir until just mixed and no more…..then, add one and a half cups chocolate chips (fold into batter gently). Place batter into muffin liners with an muffin scoop. Bake 20-25 minutes or until done. (firm to the touch, lightly browned around edges, or a clean tester inserted into middle of a muffin).

Let rest 10 minutes so the paper can be peeled off without sticking to muffin.

They were so good that I sent Caleb up to the neighbors with four in a brown paper bag, wrapped in paper towel and still warm from the oven.

having a lot of fun

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Shanda

We are having a good week…a perfect summertime week. Busy fun mornings, sleepy hot afternoons, good dinners, and evening walks.

On Tuesday morning I wanted to go thrifting and convinced the children to come along to play at the park while I did so. Jacob asked Emily, Ethan asked Zachary, and Grace asked Allie. Thinking back on it, I have this joyful image of my big vehicle driving down the road shaking with so much energy and noise within it. I stopped at Rite Aid to get drinks and 50% off summer toys, cheap plastic games just for a month or so of fun before they break.

When I got back to the park 45 minutes later they had red faces and were ready to go on to the next adventure: dollar sandwiches and 49 cent ice cream cones for anyone who wanted one (we bought 6 and 10).

The cool, quiet library was our next stop, with three of the boys grabbing their bag of soccer balls out of the back and heading over to the school field to practice.

Back at home, we were spent from our morning of activity and ready to play games and watch a movie.

Somehow, being at Steve and Joanna’s recharged me like I was not expecting. I have been “hostess” so much that I forgot the blessings of being a guest. It was a blessing to be waited upon, thought about, provided for, and to be able to sit and OBSERVE a wonderful family and it’s workings. Joanna in the kitchen, children playing, someone else’s baby in my arms……as I drove away on Sunday afternoon I was ready to do homemaker things again, for my own tribe. And yet I was so tired of it all the week before!

This morning, I woke up earlier than the children. Rich had already gone off to work after making me laugh because he said he liked the feel of my new organic tshirt (right). He looked fresh and handsome after a shower and his work clothes; a short sleeved navy dress shirt and dress pants. A kiss and a coffee. I got up, made our bed, puttered around the room, showered and dressed. By that time, Seth and Sarah were awake so I gave them their cheerios, let them watch Shaun the Sheep, and got busy making the real breakfast of hardboiled eggs, bacon, cut up cantaloupe, and pancakes.

Joanna gave me this long tie-around-the-waist apron which I wore for the first time as I did the kitchen dance. It’s the longest one I’ve owned and it proved to be useful. Not only did it give me an extra dose of “Susie Homemaker-ish” feelings, but it was also the perfect length to serve as a potholder and a way for me to open the dishwasher with a dirty hand.

As I popped cubes of melon in my mouth, I praised God for the morning and remembered again the delightful addictive feeling of satisfaction in serving my family.

They liked the breakfast, no one touched the eggs however.

This picture is from about a month ago, when Emily came over (for the first time, I think) and we went for a walk. It’s so funny to see your son become someone he never was before – namely, a boyfriend. He seems pretty good at it so far. Emily is a sweet, fun girl and even went with us on a trip to NY two weeks ago. She’s easygoing and not shy at all, makes me laugh, and has a ready laugh of her own. She’s so good with all of Jacob’s siblings. She and Grace went shopping the other day, she teases Ethan, Caleb, and David, and helps keep Seth and Sarah in line. She’s going to camp with my children (and Rich) on Saturday.

The grass was taller than Sarah’s head in some places; Grace had to help her.

And then carry her. My flowers amongst the flowers.

The boys were getting soaked in the stream and after a while, caught up with us again. Seth got a ride on Ethan’s strong shoulders.

I LOVE TO SEE LOVE LIKE THIS between the children!

See how wet to the skin they are? I bet that water felt good, I remember what a hot and humid day this was.

Seth and Sarah continue to enjoy their new two-wheelers, which have been the best summer entertainment for them of the year. In fact, Seth’s training wheels are off and he’s doing very well on his own bike. I love Sarah’s face in this picture (and the fact that her hair is actually fixed).

This is Joanna’s little girlie who is the same age as Sarah. I showed Tsega a picture of my children and she looked, considered, and pointed to Sarah. “I like her.” she said, like she was choosing a new dress or something.

Do you grow your own herbs? I have parsley and basil in my garden, and a pot of parsley on my kitchen windowsill. Joanna has a garden and took a little basket out to gather herbs for a recipe. We felt organic. (see, gardening is satisfying and addictive, too). I have such a small one that it’s actually FUN to weed it. The other day David panicked and told me to get outside and plant cucumbers because “you forgot, MOM!!!!” “HOW will we make pickles?” Laughing, I told him it was much too late to plant but we would get some at a stand when they are ready.

This morning’s adventure was the mall for a hair cut for Jacob and Seth. Sarah went along, too. We ate at Sonic for lunch. Seth and Sarah both warned me that they did not want chicken fingers. I ordered them Corn Dogs. They both couldn’t believe it when they still got Chicken Fingers. It turned out that “Chicken Fingers” meant “Tater Tots”. So confusing.

We had a downpour last night and the weather is clearer today, not as oppressive. It feels nice to have the windows open and not be sticky. Jacob is busy cleaning the porch and the boys are finishing up a movie. I’m making “Cincinnati chili” over spaghetti for dinner tonight. Tomorrow continues the busyness of getting ready for camp. The children are all packed, tomorrow we will have guests spending the night and they will all leave bright and early Saturday morning for a week of Christian camping in New Hampshire. As for me, I am going back home with the three younger children for a week of VBS at my old church.

***

“A life of peace gives life to the body……” Proverbs 14:30a

“For you created my utmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 138:13, 14

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

stay

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Shanda

“Stay is a charming word in a friend’s vocabulary.” Louisa May Alcott

I drove alone to her house on a Friday morning and stayed until Sunday.

We’ve been friends for 20 years, through Bible college, snail mail letters (fat was good), emails, phone calls, visits few and far between.

There is something special about long distance friendships….the heart comes through so much easier in letters and emails, a closeness is gained when hiding behind a pen.

Oh but the visits are the icing on the cake.

God is so good to give us our people. The ones to share a life with.

Joanna is a beautiful soul. She is creative and her home oozes with her ideas. She and her husband Steve have a relationship of closeness and understanding; he cleared up time for her, by taking on household chores, caring for the children, making meals, so that the two of us could visit.

a few memories::

We played games as a family with so much laughter.

Eti on his pogo stick.

Coco with the shower cap that I gave her from my hotel bathroom.

browsing beautiful shops (we found an old Gladys Taber book)

Dunkin donuts

bic macs

opening gifts

that strange bug

monkey man

Because of Winn Dixie

the bluebird of happiness

herbs from the garden

pinky ring

smell of skunk

a lived in home

recipes

a lost My Little Pony book

race to the bathroom, with a shoulder injury

she let me take her picture

She has a five month old baby boy. He was good natured and sweet.

we did each other’s nails

She did the coolest thing with me on Saturday. Steve came up with the idea that she do a “Tour of Joanna”, inspired by an old Seinfeld episode where Kramer drives a bus around and does his crazy Peterman reality tours.

Jo has lived in the same area her whole life so I got to hear fabulous stories and see places from her whole life.

***

back home again……..