Here is a picture of Jude from this past fall. He got beaned one day playing baseball with his Dad and brothers. This was his solution to prevent another injury: goggles and a helmet.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Life at the Speed of Jude
Jude did have a birthday back in August, I just failed to write about it here. He turned six. Jude is one crazy man. He has a temper and he's loud (Grandpa Bob says that's his only volume). He's sheer brute strength. Matt and I think he must be related to Animal. He sounds just like him, that's for sure. Jude is also a true cuddle bear, albeit a bit of a rough one. He's a lover and a fighter.
Here is a picture of Jude from this past fall. He got beaned one day playing baseball with his Dad and brothers. This was his solution to prevent another injury: goggles and a helmet.
Here is a picture of Jude from this past fall. He got beaned one day playing baseball with his Dad and brothers. This was his solution to prevent another injury: goggles and a helmet.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Cosmetologist in the Family
Grace has continued to plug along with cosmetology school. She'd like to add extra hours and finish sooner, but with the way the school is structured that isn't a possibility. As it is, Grace is struggling to juggle the few non-school hours she has each week. Church, photography, running, piano practice, sourdough and large family laundry folding all vie for her "free" time. She has complained to me a few times about not having time to do all of the things she wants to do. Welcome to adulthood, sweetie.
Grace often comes home from school with pictures on her phone showing her work for the day. She is enjoying getting to meet all kinds of different people and all kinds of different hair :)
She cut her Daddy's hair last month for the first time. Matt's hair is hard to cut, but Grace did an awesome job, says me, the Ultimate Judge of my Husband's Haircuts. Yes, I'm picky.
Grace talked me into a manicure right before Christmas. It was really pretty, but unfortunately it was looking pretty shabby by Christmas Day. Loads of Christmas dishes were the manicure's demise.
For anyone local, Grace would love to cut your hair ($6), give you a manicure or facial ($10), or a pedicure ($15). She also does perms and colors. Prices vary on those, but are super cheap as well. Instructors guide and inspect students' work. The money goes to the school, but Grace is allowed to accept tips :) She recently cut the hair of the manager of a pizza restaurant. He gave her a coupon for a free pizza. Beauty school has its perks
Grace often comes home from school with pictures on her phone showing her work for the day. She is enjoying getting to meet all kinds of different people and all kinds of different hair :)
For anyone local, Grace would love to cut your hair ($6), give you a manicure or facial ($10), or a pedicure ($15). She also does perms and colors. Prices vary on those, but are super cheap as well. Instructors guide and inspect students' work. The money goes to the school, but Grace is allowed to accept tips :) She recently cut the hair of the manager of a pizza restaurant. He gave her a coupon for a free pizza. Beauty school has its perks
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Playing Catch Up
For the month of January, my plan is to try to catch up on the blog posts I failed to write in 2014. That's my plan. We all know about the best laid plans.
Here's number one:
This is the stack of books I had hoped to read this past summer. I didn't do so well with that.
I did finally read the book my sister in law had gotten me for Christmas 2013 (per my request). The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert was a pretty astounding book. I'd say the woman who wrote this book would not disagree if I called her a a one-time enemy of Christ. She actively pursued trying to disprove the Christian faith and the Bible. Slowly, the Word changed her. She could no longer deny its Truth. This was a short read and though I don't agree with some of the author's finer theological points (no hymns--only psalms--sung in worship, for instance), I did very much appreciate her very well thought out doctrine. She knows what she believes and why she believes it. I also really appreciated her truthfulness in the telling of her conversion experience. It wasn't all flowers and sunshine when she became a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it was just the opposite. However, she held onto Jesus, or rather, He held onto her and brought her to a deeper understanding of Himself.
I read about half way through Salt, Sugar, Fat before my multiple library renewals were up. That was enough reading to get the idea. Sugar is in so, so many of the products the American food industry produces. They've even got a name for the the reaction your brain has to sugar. It's called the "bliss point." That's the literal sweet spot (brain chemical reaction) manufacturers try to hit so that you'll desire more of that food. Manufacturers even know how little sugar they can add to a product (thus reducing production costs) and still hit the "bliss point."
I read Si-Cology 1. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Uncle Si is the real deal, a true man of God and he's not ashamed of it.
I started the John Adams book. I watched the HBO series through Amazon Prime this past spring while walking on the treadmill. I really wanted the kids to see it, but there were a few scenes of violence and marital relations that were just too much. The portrayal of Abigail Adams was especially timely for me, as I was leading a woman's Bible study at the time. Abigail embodied all 5 Aspects of Woman. I used her as an example in class on several occasions. I was so taken with the t.v. series, that I knew I had to read the book on which it was based. On my insistence, Matt listened to the book on audio and finished it long before I even started reading it. I need to get with it. Let me just say that I haven't been so smitten with an author's writing since I read F. Scott Fitzgerald way back in high school.
I didn't get to the Gatto, Pollen or Le Billon books. I'll try again another time. I have started Bread and Wine, Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen, and Teaching From Rest. When I was a girl, it used to bug me so much when my mom would have several books going at once. I'd ask, "Why don't you finish a book before you start another one?" Now I do the same thing. In fact, that's not the only way I'm like my mom. I saw this sign in Hobby Lobby the other day and sent the picture to my sister--'cause sometimes she has the same problem. I guess it's an unavoidable fact of life. I'm sure my mother would agree.
Here's number one:
This is the stack of books I had hoped to read this past summer. I didn't do so well with that.
I read about half way through Salt, Sugar, Fat before my multiple library renewals were up. That was enough reading to get the idea. Sugar is in so, so many of the products the American food industry produces. They've even got a name for the the reaction your brain has to sugar. It's called the "bliss point." That's the literal sweet spot (brain chemical reaction) manufacturers try to hit so that you'll desire more of that food. Manufacturers even know how little sugar they can add to a product (thus reducing production costs) and still hit the "bliss point."
I read Si-Cology 1. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Uncle Si is the real deal, a true man of God and he's not ashamed of it.
I started the John Adams book. I watched the HBO series through Amazon Prime this past spring while walking on the treadmill. I really wanted the kids to see it, but there were a few scenes of violence and marital relations that were just too much. The portrayal of Abigail Adams was especially timely for me, as I was leading a woman's Bible study at the time. Abigail embodied all 5 Aspects of Woman. I used her as an example in class on several occasions. I was so taken with the t.v. series, that I knew I had to read the book on which it was based. On my insistence, Matt listened to the book on audio and finished it long before I even started reading it. I need to get with it. Let me just say that I haven't been so smitten with an author's writing since I read F. Scott Fitzgerald way back in high school.
I didn't get to the Gatto, Pollen or Le Billon books. I'll try again another time. I have started Bread and Wine, Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen, and Teaching From Rest. When I was a girl, it used to bug me so much when my mom would have several books going at once. I'd ask, "Why don't you finish a book before you start another one?" Now I do the same thing. In fact, that's not the only way I'm like my mom. I saw this sign in Hobby Lobby the other day and sent the picture to my sister--'cause sometimes she has the same problem. I guess it's an unavoidable fact of life. I'm sure my mother would agree.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
I'm Here
"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. . . The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:13-14
One of my biggest regrets of 2014 is the lack of writing I've done in this space. I regret that I didn't do a better job of documenting our family's life. Not having the time to write was certainly a factor this past year. So many things demanded my attention. I never felt caught up. In fact, I constantly felt miles behind. Writing feels like a luxury in many ways and I didn't allow myself to indulge in it. In truth, though, writing, for me at least, is a necessity. I've always processed life through writing. So it also felt very wrong to me--like something was missing--when I didn't write.
To be honest, time wasn't the only reason I didn't write. As Oswald Chambers said, "Sometimes we are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him." This past year our family has been in the shadow of God's hand. I told Matt, "The words just won't come." It has been a year of loss for us.
The beginning of the year through spring, we walked with our pastor through the sickness and subsequent death of his wife. It was a very difficult time. Our hearts ached ( and still do) for pastor and his family. If ever there was a time I doubted the importance of my role as help meet to Matt, I certainly do not doubt it now.
By June, we were graduating our first born. Grace's summer was packed to the brim. Then in September, she started cosmetology school. I've taken to calling her school "work" because that's exactly what it is. She's gone from the house eight hours every day. On the weekends, she's busy keeping up her little photography business and other projects.
Obviously, the loss of older kids is a part of life. It's normal. It's good. But it still hurts. Grace's cheerful countenance is missed around our house. She always has a way of lifting everyone's mood. We are grateful that we still get to see her in the evenings and that we all still eat dinner together as a family around the table every night.
Fall also brought news that Matt would no longer be needed on the project on which he's been working for the past 21 years. So many factors came together in this situation that we can't help but know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is moving Matt out of his current job. Still, the loss has been great. It's been a discouraging time.
Then the beginning of December brought another loss, the loss of another wee one to miscarriage. It's been a rough year. We've been humbled. We've been in the shadow of the Lord's hand. Our pastor recently said something in a sermon that really struck me. He said that the Lord kills us and gives us life again each Sunday. In confession, we recognize our utter depravity, our utter lack. By the time the sermon is spoken and communion is received, the Truth of the Gospel and its deliverance has been given to us once again. That's what this year has been like for our family.
The season of Advent meant more to me this year than it ever has. God Himself came into this broken, messy world in order to save sinners, including me. Jesus came. He actually came! And most gloriously, He will come again in His second advent. Praise be to God for His marvelous workings among men!
Right now, our family will continue to wait. As our good friend said, "We shall wait on tip toes to see what God will do." For He will do. He is always working on behalf of His people.
“At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him...Watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet...When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.”
― Oswald Chambers
One of my biggest regrets of 2014 is the lack of writing I've done in this space. I regret that I didn't do a better job of documenting our family's life. Not having the time to write was certainly a factor this past year. So many things demanded my attention. I never felt caught up. In fact, I constantly felt miles behind. Writing feels like a luxury in many ways and I didn't allow myself to indulge in it. In truth, though, writing, for me at least, is a necessity. I've always processed life through writing. So it also felt very wrong to me--like something was missing--when I didn't write.
To be honest, time wasn't the only reason I didn't write. As Oswald Chambers said, "Sometimes we are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him." This past year our family has been in the shadow of God's hand. I told Matt, "The words just won't come." It has been a year of loss for us.
The beginning of the year through spring, we walked with our pastor through the sickness and subsequent death of his wife. It was a very difficult time. Our hearts ached ( and still do) for pastor and his family. If ever there was a time I doubted the importance of my role as help meet to Matt, I certainly do not doubt it now.
By June, we were graduating our first born. Grace's summer was packed to the brim. Then in September, she started cosmetology school. I've taken to calling her school "work" because that's exactly what it is. She's gone from the house eight hours every day. On the weekends, she's busy keeping up her little photography business and other projects.
Obviously, the loss of older kids is a part of life. It's normal. It's good. But it still hurts. Grace's cheerful countenance is missed around our house. She always has a way of lifting everyone's mood. We are grateful that we still get to see her in the evenings and that we all still eat dinner together as a family around the table every night.
Fall also brought news that Matt would no longer be needed on the project on which he's been working for the past 21 years. So many factors came together in this situation that we can't help but know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is moving Matt out of his current job. Still, the loss has been great. It's been a discouraging time.
Then the beginning of December brought another loss, the loss of another wee one to miscarriage. It's been a rough year. We've been humbled. We've been in the shadow of the Lord's hand. Our pastor recently said something in a sermon that really struck me. He said that the Lord kills us and gives us life again each Sunday. In confession, we recognize our utter depravity, our utter lack. By the time the sermon is spoken and communion is received, the Truth of the Gospel and its deliverance has been given to us once again. That's what this year has been like for our family.
Right now, our family will continue to wait. As our good friend said, "We shall wait on tip toes to see what God will do." For He will do. He is always working on behalf of His people.
“At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him...Watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet...When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.”
― Oswald Chambers
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