Monday, August 31, 2009

Embracing the uncomfortable


Thanks to our God for walking through this past week with me. I am reflecting on so many lessons learned. I suppose the whole family had a back-to-school week!
-- On the go

Friday, August 28, 2009

A Cross Country Cookout


We got to meet some neat runners! Kris had his CC team over for a cookout. They were so flexible and didn't mind that we had to have the "cookout" indoors due to lots of rain. At one point Kris was able to make a fire and half of them were able to make some dry smores. The other half of us found some towels and a microwave! :) Smudge and Isabel were both quite spoiled. Thanks for coming, girls! Good luck on your season.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Mom always said...




"When you don't know what to do, do the next thing." On a day when my mind needed some distraction I decided to pick some tomatoes from our garden. Here are the before and after pictures. :)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Back to School











It's hard to believe that our youngest has entered the school world! Isabel joined her sibs on the bus for her first day of kindergarten. She was very excited and seemed to have a great day.
We are now back to homework, practices, games, and an earlier bedtime! Those lazy days of summer are sweet memories now.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Food that tells a story....






Susan's Middle Eastern Dinner she made for us....With sweet treats from David. (Wish I knew what it all said!)
Now off to bed after canning tomatoes at midnight. :)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Some thoughts...

I was thinking today of the difference between a snapshot and actually witnessing an event. As Susan was showing me pictures of her recent journey overseas I was trying to see more then the glossy postcard image and attempting to imagine what the mud of the Dead Sea would feel like and how hot it must have been on that day.
When I first came to a new college as a transferring sophomore I met someone who became a close friend of mine. We had the best afternoon shopping at Aldi's and going to the laundry mat after cross country practice. I relished in doing the ordinary things that a girl growing up as one of nine children would have to do. That day was the start of more adventures and a treasured relationship. The next summer I met this person's mother and another friendship was formed. She was quilting with some sort of hoop I had never seen before. I was intrigued and asked her about it. She showed me how it worked and told me that being a nurse would allow me to do a lot of these projects on my days off. For a moment this wonderful lady allowed me to see beyond 2 more years of schooling and into my career. She also told me how making quilts was a great way to do something for her family in her spare time.
Over the years my conversations with Sharie included news items of her mother's life. One morning in 2003 I was driving to work in FL contemplating the possibilities of the day when on the radio I heard Barbara being interviewed! She was answering questions about a bombing that killed her brother in the Philippines. I can tell you that my work day attitude was completely changed. I recalled a conversation from 10 years before in a tiny apartment where this same women encouraged me to view my profession as only a part of my life.
When me moved to Ohio I was fortunate enough to live in the same town as my friend and her mother. When we were building both the garage and the house we would regularly see a van passing by the building site very slowly. We figured out it was Sharie's parents checking on the progress...sort of a contractor in disguise! When I saw her in person she always encouraged me to see beyond working full-time, building, and the other extra duties that life entailed and to celebrate the job that always mattered most to her...enriching the lives of children.
I had the chance for the past few days to reflect on how much this incredible life has meant to me. I have been reminded anew at how much friends' parents have influenced me over the years and what a treasure these relationships have become.
Now I am left with the snapshot as the first of my friends' mothers have gone on to Heaven. I see so much of this mom in my friend and count myself very blessed to know a bit of why she has become the person she today. I find myself tonight viewing my days off with a different attitude and wondering what pattern I should use on my next quilt.
I will miss you, Barbara. Thank you for investing your life so selflessly into others.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Update




-- Mobile post

Sunday, August 16, 2009

A sky light in the connector







While I was at work last night Kris was busy with another project. It still need some trim work but things are much brighter in this little entrance area this morning. Have a sunny afternoon.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Garden Girls







Kristianna and her friends had a get-together to welcome Kayleigh back to school. She is a university student that works with the Middle School

girls at church. In the morning Kristianna recruited help picking some of the produce. The innocent tomato harvesting turned into a rotten tomato fight! These are the before pictures. Thanks girls for the help and for adding some excitement to a mundane job.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Art from a boy's perspective















About 5 years ago we had to get a new digital camera. Our old one kept showing a "system error" and it would cost too much to repair it. It has since been a play item for my family and my brother's family. Wesley just made it work! He now is SO excited to be able to take some pictures and I am enjoying seeing his view of art. Mom and Dad W. also stopped in today on their way home from the Western states. Off for some cake and coffee! Enjoy./.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Probably good I wasn't there...







Kris is definitely grounded after these pictures! My older brother Stephen is holding the ladder. Both pics taken at the the same time on a 40ft. ladder. Be still my heart!


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Stillness


The other night my sweet daughter prayed that I wouldn't get lonely by myself for a few days. Where have those days gone? I never got the chance to try! :) I have been keeping myself busy with all those little things I want to do but need to wait until after dinner or laundry. Isn't it amazing how fun house work can be when you know it will not be disturbed for a day? Or how the lack of a set schedule lets you work with more detail? The next thing to look forward to is to see them all again. I think I will enjoy the back-to-school chaos just a bit more for this peaceful interlude.