Saturday, April 11, 2009

My girl ... my girl ... my girl...


These days Anna is making Amish Friendship Bread. You know - the kind you give away to friends? Until you've given away so much starter that your friends hide from you??

It's a lovely day here. Adam is outside doing car work and burning wood in his oven.

Friday, April 10, 2009

What to do today?

It's lovely outside. Here are our azaleas out front. All that hacking back for 2 years has paid off!

What's out my window?
Singing birds, in so many voices. When humans do this, it is cacophony, but somehow the birds make it beautiful.
What am I wearing?
Still in my jammies
What's for breakfast?
Farm-fresh fried eggs and toast, orange juice and hot tea
What's on my to-do list?
Laundry, window-cleaning, resale store shopping, a visit to the library, home-made spaghetti for supper, Good Friday service
What am I thankful for?
Good friends with good advice, a wise husband, the joy of being with my family

Have a blessed day! I hope you are hearing and seeing the same beauty outside that I am!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Time to relax...

Spring Break has begun.

My parents, dear folks that they are, drove over here again for Julia's "Grandparents' Day" at school. There is a special program, and we go out to eat afterward -- to Cracker Barrel. This is our 3rd year to do this, and it has become rather a tradition. It is pretty special to the little girl.

The kids are unwinding, watching a DVD of "All Creatures Great and Small." Tonight we'll all jumble up together in the den with popcorn, malts and blankets, and watch a couple of episodes of Nero Wolf.

All this spring, we've been hashing through various thoughts about school, work, church, what to do, where to go, what our plans are. It's been tumultuous, confusing, difficult, discouraging. But things are clarifying for us. It's taken more discussion that Adam and I usually need to have on any topic; normally we are so in agreement that very little talking is needed. It's not really that we've disagreed. It's just that this issue is so large and has so many nuances and angles to it. It's taken quite a while for both of us to filter out the non-essentials and grasp the important issues.

I've received some invaluable advice and help from others, and I want to thank them - you know who you are!

All that to say, I believe we are about to sail into a new part of our lives - to round a corner. Of course, it is all up to the Lord, if He wants to provide the ministry Adam desires, if He directs us in the paths we hope. We are simply willing.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Quite a doorknocker!

Interesting, isn't it? Would you put this on YOUR church door?
William Shakespeare's church did! "Knock knock! May I enter and see the bard's grave?"

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Old Man Winter Won't Let Go!

I have the heat on again - and I thought I was done with that! It's windy and cold outside, but at least we haven't had snow, as they did in the mountains just west of here (and I hear they had snow in Atlanta too!) Despite this, Anna has been sunbathing with determination (and gooseflesh) for the past weeks - at least when it wasn't raining.

I'll have to cover that bleeding heart tonight. I had 2 bleeding heart plants last year. We went out of town for 24 hours, and when we returned, the other plant was dead from heat. So strange. It did return this year, just a little sprout. Perhaps it will eventually recover.

1 1/2 days until my lovely, long, luxurious Spring Break. I'll get 11 1/2 consecutive days, including the weekends. I'm thrilled!

More later. Not much news right now. Adam's job hunt progresses, but no solid leads yet.

Sunday, April 5, 2009