No rain today...yeah!

The snow is begining to melt so the younger two are making the most of the remaining white stuff and a warmer day.


Quick thoughts on the go...

Finished project

Before....



After......



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Getting the job done

When all else failes, recruit help (and say it is a birthday present from your Dad!). The couch is turning red! It has been neat to assist my Dad as he is at work. I feel like a little girl again as we listen to classical music and work on the floor. Thanks, Dad!



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Looking for work

Please, Lord....could you give this man a job before he rebuilds the house?


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Drunken tooth fairy

Have you ever realized that your family's traditions are not the national norm? When I was growing up we had a drunken tooth fairy that sometimes left us money depending on his sobriety level. When we lost a tooth we would place it in a glass of water on a shelf. Sometimes we would wake up and find change in the glass. At other times there may be a soggy dollar or nothing. The best thing was to find that the TF had inadvertantly left your tooth so you could repeat the process again.
Having 9 kids in our home (and a fluctuating income level) allowed this system to work for the TF in my house growing up. I do wish you could have seen the look on Kris's face when I told him about it! You can see my the above note that this tradition has not been passed on in our house. There is not a rewarded tooth in our house, however, that does not fail to remind me of resoursefulness in parenting. Sometimes a tiny bit of hope can go a long way.
Isabel has yet to loose a tooth...

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Home from NC

It will take weeks for me to recover from events leading up to a quick trip down South let alone a gathering with my whole family. Tonight I am thankful for my family and my home to return too.
I am struggling to "find my words" and a new focus for my blog now that construction is about done. There may be some random posts for a while as I sort this all out.


John took me and some of the family to see Phantom!! Amazing!


Love how the cousins get along so well!!


Abby and her new horses....


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A little self-help for the kids?

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One year later...

It has been a year since we moved into our house. There are still projects that need to be done, boxes to unpack, and a few scattered items that have not yet been found. Despite those tiny, temporary inconviences, I am so thankful today for God's safety and provision.





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While I am sleeping....

About two months ago I was having brunch with a former nursing prof now in Africa. While we were catching up on life events that have occurred over the last 15 years and contemplating what the future may hold she reminded me that sometimes God moves in seemingly little ways that have big outcomes. I joked with her that since I work nights a lot of the "insignificant" moments occur while I am asleep!
Tonight I am catching up on my Bible study homework on the book of Esther. In this book some very pivotal things occurred while most of the country was asleep and a king had a case of insomnia. "When you put your head on the pillow at night, you never know what God will do before morning." I am wondering what He is up to now as there seem to be some crossroads that I went through unwittingly and now find myself on a different direction then I originally planned.
It is after midnight and I plan on following the ancient King of Persia's example and reviewing the blog of the "chronicles, the record of his reign". :) I pray that when my head is on my neglected pillow God will be at work while I am sleeping.

Interior design request

I admit that I am often inspired when it comes to decorating my home by clearance sales. I found these lights for 75% off today. They had a look that resembled pine cones to me and I hoped they would work. It needs just a little something more...maybe on the ends and in the middle? Any ideas?


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Catching up

Oh what an Autumn it has been! I feel the need to borrow a line from my cousin-in-law's post, "October, you are such a happy but hyper little month! Your warm days have a summery feel that lulls us into feeling we can relax..but there's much to be done." (from Janna) Are you feeling this way in the mid-west? I know FL never quite had that feel although a slight change could be noted in the air around this time. We have been enjoying this Fall. I think it began with the university's homecoming but this past weekend was pretty fun as well. We spent some time at Micah's farm and then went to Athens for Grandma W. 95th birthday party. In between we have said good-bye to our garden...a very faithful and prosperous friend this year for us! I hope you are enjoying your month as well. Happy Fall!

That's fast!

Just imagine...3,500 stitches per minute!! I imagine the seamstress who owned this at The Whitehall Shirt Shop could never go back to a regular home sewing machine. It would be like a pilot having to drive 30 mph after flying a jet!


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Growing

These little trees are keeping pace with Isabel. I wonder who will be ahead next Fall?

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Harvest

We are going to miss these soybeans...



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Too busy having fun

The after-Homecoming fatigue!

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An unusual task

To me the term "mother board" is an oxymoran and one that rarely is on my general conversation. Today, however, I was finally able to appreciate my brother Stephen's world and win my son's respect by accessing the mother board on my computer! There is an intimidating world lurking under a boring box!

Shelves

It all started with a search for a book in a box somewhere...My quest led to a mess and a renewed effort to make our livivg area more usable. The shelves were on Kris's list for a while and they are so perfect for oranizing towels, sheets, and hiding children!
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Snapshot

When I was growing up in NY a couple began attending our church that I really admired. I was a teen and forming some ideas of my own. I especially enjoyed hearing some parenting decisions that they had made and how they balanced a challenging work life with little children.
Fast forward a few years. Tonight we had the privilege of hosting this couple's son for dinner. As I watched this young gentleman interact with us strangers I remembered myself as a young teen with a head full of dreams listening over a church pew. Who could have known all those years ago that one day our children would be playing the piano together in Ohio!
Thank you, Lord, for a picture of faithfulness I was able to see today.

Life is short...

Stay awake for it! This byline is a real seller when you are running on 3.5 hours of sleep! :)


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