I will share my Thankful Thursday with a photo...
Thank you, Lord, for my Mother's daily presence in the lives of my children. Each day she teaches them something new. Her love for learning overflows into the lives of my children and I'm so very grateful for such a rich, meaningful, relationship she has with them.
Yesterday, I received a special gift - an afternoon with one of my most favorite friends. My heart leaped for joy as she headed out here knowing what blessing awaited. This morning, as I reflect on the gift of genuine friendship, my heart is overflowing. You know, in life there are very few genuine friends. My mother has used the term "fair weather friends" all my life, and now that I'm an adult I, most assuredly, know the fullness of that term. O how I pray I am a real friend to those who cross my path.
It's a gorgeous day in East Texas and we've been out basking in it. We went for a nature walk to check on a bird's nest we discovered the other day. Sarah determined it was an old one so we decided to snatch it for a collection we're starting. As we walked, we decided to make pinecone bird feeders when we got back. I took a few pictures for fun and thought I'd share the process. So many of us with older ones can tend to focus so much of our time on academics, schedules, and for some even college fills our spare time, but don't forget the little ones if you still have some. We made these all the time when Sarah and Douglas were younger - not so much with Laura. She kept saying over and over...
"THIS is F-U-N!".
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Here's what you need:
Peanut Butter (creamy or crunchy), birdseed, pinecones, string or yarn, a pan, and a rubber spatula.
First, tie the string to the top of the pinecone.
Pour some birdseed into a pan (or bowl).
Using a rubber spatula, spread the peanut butter all over a pinecone. Don't worry about getting it into every crevice, just give it a good coating.
Next, roll the pinecone into the birdseed. I usually take some in my hand and press the seed into the pinecone making sure it's completely covered.
And there you have it! Pinecone Bird Feeders.
I just discovered that we have two sets of friends spreading the Gospel in Africa. Our dear friends from church will actually be returning today from Liberia after a month-long medical/teaching mission, and I've recently learned of another family with whom we used to worship and attended an indescribable Sunday School class together several years ago. Time passes so quickly and our paths haven't crossed in recent years but nevertheless the Barret Family is our family in Christ and it's been such a blessing to learn of how God is using their family in a mighty way. Because I know their hearts, reading the blog entries have brought me to tears several times. If you're looking for a blessing that transcends the everydayness of life, visit the Barret's blog. You'll live on a higher plane today, for sure.
"Go ye therefore, making disciples of all nations..."
Matthew 28: 19-20
Well it's raining again. I won't mull over it, you can see from my last post what I think about it. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm thankful. It's so good for our garden, the flowers, "God's Creation" as I've always explained to the kids. It's just the m-u-d. Ug....Last Friday, I got ready to attend the second study of The Truth Project, went to town to get the kids a pizza and got stuck in my own driveway. Once I got to the pizza place, I discovered this plastic-shield-bumper type thing had cracked in half and I'd lost part of it somewhere along the way. Anyway it wasn't all that bad, I was able to get out myself, but the entire 17-1800 ft. of driveway (which BTW is mostly a pig trail) was a complete mud bog. Since I'd already seen the first 4-5 lessons of The Truth Project, I decided I'd just stay home. Yes, it was THAT bad. Phillip wouldn't come home until the wee hours of Saturday morning and I'd be stuck - literally and figuratively - walking home in the dark - and mud.
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Saturday, while Phillip was sleeping, I decided to do something fun with the kids - get baby chicks. Though it may be a bit premature, as Phillip's promotion isn't official (thus having us home more on a consistent basis), we thought just a few would be easy to give away if the future held more traveling. Over the years we've truly enjoyed chicks and this time is absolutely no exception. I've realized that Laura probably doesn't remember much about having farm animals in the past so this is a real treat for her.
"No, we don't eat chocolate cake around here, why do you ask?"
Everyone's talking about it. First it was going to be a major winter blast, then not so big, then we woke to blowing snow. The ground was already slushy so we're in the thick of mud, mud, and more mud around here. The last two years, I've lived in a mostly concrete environment so all this red goop is getting a bit old. Nevertheless, we were out in the muck this morning. These Texans never pass up the chance to trape around in snow - even if it's more muddy slush than the pristine dry stuff we experienced in Montana. There's such beauty in the white stuff - some sort of hush - some sense of peace. ~ The big kids are playing Monopoly and Laura is waiting (not so patiently) for me to play Sorry with her.
The pics below are of our plum trees with frozen blossoms. I still have hope that some will make it, but we won't have the bumper crop I'd hoped for. Plum jelly is a favorite around here.
I'll close with a quote from Laura. As she excitedly frolicked in the muddy snow - trying to catch snowflakes with her tongue, with bated breath she sadly exclaimed....
"Oh Mom, all our Daffofils don't deserve this!!"
Seems kinda sad to post an update for the month, but I'm just not finding the time to blog these days. I knew being home would present a different lifestyle than the characteristics of traveling. Both are very good in many ways, but very different. ~ We've been home since December 24th. For those of you who follow us closely, you and I both know what a blessing it has been to be home for this long. Usually by the second week in January, we're getting settled into new surroundings with yet another Wal-Mart to remodel. ~ It seems that times are changing, as they always do. This Thursday, Phillip will have an interview-type meeting with the powers that be to discuss the possibility of him promoting to a project manager position over Wal-Mart. (not to be confused with his current position which is superintendent overseeing WM remodels on a daily basis) If promoted, Phillip will be able to work from home many days and only travel for 2-3 days at a time. Our family will be home on a regular basis except for the fact that the "traveling bug" has already bit and we're ready to go somewhere even as I type. I imagine if Phillip has to be somewhere exciting, the whole family will tag along. ~ And then there will be times when, after accumulating frequent flyer miles, I'll go with him by myself, though I hate to fly. If you think about it, remember to lift him up in prayer this week as he prepares his heart and mind for the meeting Thursday.
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Okay...what else? - We're in the midst of planting a gigantic garden. I shouldn't say "we" because it's actually our friend from church who sharecrops with us. It's mostly his garden as we haven't been here in two years. This year he bought a small garden tractor and has already put in 700 onion sets. Yesterday, Douglas and I planted potatoes and prepared a bed for asparagus. If any of you in the south grow asparagus, leave a comment on your experience with it. I'm excited about it, but have heard/read that it doesn't grow well in the south. I know we've got to wait two years before we really harvest any of it so I thought I might as well get started. ~ Our wild plums are blooming and they're just SO beautiful! I'm reading up on how to prune my one lonely peach tree, though it may be too late now. I'm hoping to add a few more eventually. ~ A few years ago, we planted a pecan tree and last year got our first pecan! I took of picture of it (of course - you know me...).
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It's time to close for now. My indians are getting restless. I know I should really wait 'til midnight to do this sorta thing, but you know (?) I'm tired then! And getting up early to blog distracts from my prayer/bible time. So...now you know. I'm closing with a sweet picture of my Gifts. We took a walk one afternoon a few weeks ago and they actually obliged their ole Mom. Aren't they cute?
Grace & Peace to you ~ Angela
"God has to destoy our determined confidence in our own convictions. "
(My Utmost for His Highest; January 29th, pg. 29)
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Ouch. God has to destroy my determined confidence. Me? Determined? God has to destroy the confidence I have in my own convictions. ~groan~... Oh, there's so many things I want my way. How 'bout you? I think "if I could just change this or that" I'd be happier, more content. Things would be just right. Hmm...Sometimes it's sorta comical the games we play with the Almighty. I picture this little girl pressing the heel of a giant, wholeheartedly confident He can be moved. How easily I forget that the joy is in the journey. Many times, I'd rather fast-forward through the tough stuff and get to the Prize. ~groan~ But I know the Prize isn't as sweet unless we endure the journey with all its seemingly tumultuous terrain. I trust, someday we'll look back in awe at how the Lord's hand carried us all the way.
O Father, just for today, may we accept our portion with joy.
Eleven years ago today, the Lord blessed us with a baby b-o-y just 13 months after our precious firstborn. I fretted over having enough love for both as we were so enamored with Sarah that we felt sure the second would be neglected. (I truly mourned over it during my pregnancy) But then, he was born and our house was filled with tears of joy and love overflowing.
We're celebrating this morning with our traditional Birthday Breakfast. He has requested pancakes. His choice for lunch is tortilla pizzas (super simple!), and for dinner we'll have his all-time fave - grilled hamburgers with homemade french fries. Y-u-m! Friday afternoon, several of his best buddies will be over for the first-time-ever-on-HIS-turf Airsoft war. Needless to say, he's beside himself with excitement. He got a n-i-c-e Airsoft gun from his Aunt & Uncle for Christmas and another with some Christmas money, so he's armed and dangerous. LOL...
He lightens the world with his infectious smile.
Thanks for making me laugh, sweet boy.
I love you ~ Mom
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord...
Psalm 114:7
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O Lord, I want to know you so deeply that I ...tremble.
O Father, I tremble at the thought of what my eyes cannot see. For if I understood this spectacular puzzle of my life I would most definitely fall prostrate ~ breathless ~ at your feet.
Give me faith to persevere knowing
- trusting wholeheartedly - with complete abandon -
that you have the details of my life held tightly in the palm of your hand.
O God, thank you for such a safe place to rest.
Actually, we all will be. The project here in Billings is coming to a close and we'll be heading out early tomorrow morning. It'll take three days to get there, but the drive south will be a delightful winter wonderland with all the snow Wyoming and Colorado has gotten as of late.
I will be keeping blogging in perspective in the coming weeks. Our internet connection at home is dial-up (here we go again) and though some can function with dial-up fairly well, we cannot. When we were home around Thanksgiving, it was taking me nearly an entire day to make a post with a graphic/photo included. Many times, pages would not even load leaving me with no other choice than to start over.
May the Lord bless you richly and give you peace unimaginable.
~ Angela
We made these last week for my cherry-lovin' daughter, Sarah. She also loves coconut, so these were a real hit with her. They are like a butter cookie with a cherry surprise inside. Once baked and cooled, they are then dunked in a glaze and rolled in chopped coconut. Though these would not be my first pick - (after all they don't include chocolate OR pecans 
) I still give this recipe two thumbs up. They are VERY festive! The presentation is beautiful. The cookie part is delicious and overall a really good cookie. If you really like cherries and coconut, this is a wonderful addition to your Christmas cookie list. Try them! If you do, leave me a comment and tell me how you liked them.
~ Merry Christmas ~
We've made these simple little ornaments several times over the years. They make great gifts for SS teachers, co-op teachers and little friends. They're super-easy and so much fun!
Merry Christmas!
I realized that I didn't fully explain the slide-show below (previous post). I intended to say that the little house is where we are staying. Isn't God so good to provide just what we need? He is just soo perfectly wonderful. We're really enjoying our little abode. It's a little two bedroom/one bath house, but part of a privately owned extended stay hotel. The actual hotel is behind us on a main thoroughfare and we're one block over on this quiet, little street. We've got a front and back yard, furniture, a fully stocked kitchen, and CABLE! Do you know just how valuable cable can be on a snowy, freezing Saturday? The show "How It's Made" passes for school in my book! The way I see it we're on a field trip every time we watch it. Hee-hee...
As most of you know, it snowed last week. We got here just in time. It was so beautiful....operative word - was - the high temp yesterday was 51 and today was about the same, maybe a bit cooler. So, the snow is gone for now. We've got more coming tomorrow and we're in for a snowy weekend. We had high hopes of making it to Yellowstone, but I'm not so sure we'll make it. After a bit of digging, I discovered that all of the roads in the park, with the exception of one which doesn't lead to Old Faithful, are closed for the winter. We'd still be able to go but here's the obstacle: Apparently, they aren't officially open for the "winter" yet. During these first snowfalls, they allow the snow to accumulate and pack. When they determine there's enough, they pack it some more and groom the roads for passage. Visitors may then drive to the various entrances, depending on where you're coming from (providing those roads are passable; check for local road conditions BEFORE you head out!!) and take a snow coach (basically a van on tracks) to the various sites in the interior of the park. So, here's the catch..."winter season" doesn't usually begin in the park until around December 15th and we may be well on our home by then. All is certainly not lost though, we've seen some incredible views thus far and our way home through Denver will be sufficient if we happen to miss Yellowstone.
...Or NOT so wordless, whatever the case may be...I'm trying to catch up to where we are today but there's SO many pictures it's hard to pick just a few! They're ALL so incredible and I find myself wanting to describe/explain each and every one. Either I talk/chat TOO much and bore folks with minor details only I think are interesting OR I opt to dish it out with very little commentary. I'm just an all-or-nothing kinda gal, I guess. My current reading material, The Birth Order Book, by Kevin Leman, sure isn't helping matters. I'm a firstborn through and through....~sigh~...well on to better things.....
The slideshow begins with the Montana state sign. The few pics following are various views along I90 from the state line to Billings. The further we traveled, the snow became more visible and the terrain was very much like the "West"...caprocks and rolling hills mixed with mostly plains. I had high hopes that the Rockies would be visible from Billings (like they are in Denver), but they aren't. It doesn't take long to get into some mountaneous areas though which is just what we did this past Sunday. Those pictures are coming!
Blessings to you from blustery Montana ~
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For more WW posts, visit Tiany's blog.
Our firstborn turned 12 yesterday. How can it be?? Wasn't it just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital? Oh, how I remember and cherish those days. The first few days were filled with such questions. Her APGAR score was low, she was not responding to a preliminary hearing test performed at the hospital, she was not latching on - and being the determined breastfeeding mother that I was, I didn't allow any other forms of feeding - so she lost weight rapidly. Additionally, she had a gaping hole in her heart and the doctors determined she had some sort of facial paralysis. Given an overall assessment the pediatrician thought it best to have her tested for Down's Syndrome. Eventually, we also discovered she has Duane's Syndrome (an eye condition where her eyes do not work together)
~ Whew ~ ...All that the first few days.....
And yet.....The Lord sustained us. It was one of the strongest times in the Lord for me.
...And just look at HIS beautiful creation!
His grace has been sufficient.
~ Happy Birthday Sarah ~
