Blog Challenge #1

In my last post, I said that Suzanne was sponsoring a blog challenge. Today was the first challenge: blog about your favorite wall hanging (family portraits excluded).

First, though, you must sit through a story. Since she excluded family portraits, I had exactly TWO things from which to choose, not that I want it that way. In fact, about 10 weeks ago, when I updated the master bedroom, I had plans of buying some wall art . . . but never got around to it. Now I'm motivated to follow through on that. Thanks, Suzanne. But since I only had two to choose from, this would be EASY! Piece.Of.Cake. I snapped the picture and headed to the computer. My new computer has a card reader slot -- no USB card reader needed, right? WRONG! MY card won't fit. Off to find the card reader. Now guess what. No, really, guess. The reader needs to be installed, so I hunted down the CD, but it wouldn't install. Exasperated, I head over to the Fujifilm website. ARGH! The driver won't work with Windows Vista. Now I need the cord to hook my camera directly to my computer, which prompted an intense search since I have used that cord since I got the camera several years ago. But I found it. Whew! Actually, I didn't find "it;" I found "one." Seriously doubt this is "the" one since it's a strange color. Probably goes with a child's video came something. Whatever. It worked. Now, you've been subjected to this story just so Suzanne will know how much effort I invested to complete her challenge. :-p Why can NOTHING be easy?!


Now, the challenge. . . .
This is a crocheted piece, on the wall in our dining room, above our wedding portrait. My husband used to work for a medical services company, delivering liquid oxygen to homebound patients, one of whom made this piece for him. He and I weren't married then--not even dating--but I love it for two reasons. First, I cannot crochet, and though several have tried to teach me, the creative ability necessary to plan stitch patterns like these boggles my brain. Second, it is a tribute to my husband. She spent a chunk of time on this piece, and to give it away is an amazing act of generosity. Our creative endeavors are more than outlets for our creativity; they are a way to touch those around us. This wasn't a casual gift. She chose Joseph. She saw in him what I see in him -- compassion, kindness and an ability to connect with others -- and this piece reminds me of those endearing qualities.

New Year, New Beginning

As you can tell, I've haven't been good about updating my blog. I was concerned about that when I started. But I've learned a few things these last several months. Want me to share? Sure. Listen closely. Write it down if you must. YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU CAN KILL YOURSELF TRYING. So I'm learning to slow down.

It's a new year, and a new beginning. So I've been considering how his year will be different from other years. So here are my commitments.

• I will not take more than one class per semester. Between homeschooling, ministry, family, and seminary, I've been drowning. This means it will take me longer to get my M.Div. but at least I'll be alive (and with a family intact) to enjoy it.
• I will spend one hour a day in spiritual practices: study, meditation and prayer. No more cutting corners at 20 minutes on busy mornings. If I'm too busy for this, I'm too busy.
• I will exercise 3 days a week.
• I will take one day a month for me! Perhaps I will spend this day in my PJs all day long, or go shopping alone, or scrapbook with a friend.
• I will "date" my husband twice a month. At least twice each month, Joseph and I will spend some time together, alone, reconnecting with one another.
• I will update my blog regularly. Yep, made it a commitment. I'm participating in a friend's blog challenge. Suzanne is one of my bestest friends in the whole world. She'll keep me on track, I'm sure! She does a GREAT job with her blog. Check it out! O'Scrappy Day
• Finally, I will say NO to things that contradict these commitments.

So how's that?! New year, new beginning. What are you beginning this year?

Size 10

Yesterday, I bought my older son a new pair of shoes . . . in a SIZE 10. I almost fainted! His father wears size 10! I just cannot be that this baby I held in my arms less than 13 years ago, now has feet as large as his dad's. This was a jolting, heart tugging moment for me. Wow, does time whiz by or what?


But he's also a really great kid! We met friends for lunch at the mall, and while his brother went home with the friends we met, he and I went shopping. We had a really great time! Sorry to sound so surprised, but "shopping with my adolescent SON" probably isn't topping most people's lists of great ways to spend the afternoon. He was reasonable about the purchases he wanted to make, asked my opinion on the fit of a few things, and helped me carry the items I purchased.


The most amusing part is watching him begin to care what he looks like. A few years ago, clothes were clothes. You needed pants, shirt and shoes. Matching?! What's matching? LOL Now, however, his hair has to be "right" and he is beginning to want few items from particular stores. I'm not against this as long as it's not an attempt to boost his self-esteem or popularity, and doesn't become an obsession.

Whew! What a Month!

The month of June has been a whirlwind. I can hardly believe it's July 1st already!

During the month of June, I've been busy remodeling. Our homeschool group uses the Jackson family homeplace as our Resource Center. The original two rooms are more than 100 years old now. This year, I decided that the carpet MUST be changed while we were closed for our annual June sabbatical. That snowballed into new desks in the office, painting in four rooms, stripping and repainting wood trim, putting new vinyl and quarter round in the bathroom, repainting and changing hinges on several doors, installing a new front door, building and hanging a 4x8 bulletin board, installing an almost 4x8 dry erase board, hanging a new projector screen, painting two filing cabinets, re-topping some tables, and recovering some chairs. Whew!

We've were on a tight timeline because July 5th we re-open to enroll new families in our group, and I'd rather their first impression NOT be chaos!

Here are some pictures of the remodel:

BEFORE

AFTER

You can view all the progress pictures in my Image Event album. http://imageevent.com/tams2inal/resourcecenterremodel

The password is 'homeschool.'

Drop by and tell me what you think.

What did I tell ya?! It's been almost a month since I've updated my blog. When I started, I was concerned that I wouldn't update it regularly.

May was a busy month -- my finals in seminary classes, the boys completing their school work, two weeks of standardized testing, graduation celebrations both at church and within our homeschooling community, Mother's Day . . . . whew! I'm exhausted just recalling it all.

Once again, I'm learning how important it is to know your limitations, and to say no when it is appropriate. Thankfully, things have slowed down, and I'm enjoying my summer.

Raising Children

I can hardly believe that these are the babies I held in my arms just 10 and 12 years ago. Seems like just yesterday that they were learning to walk, and talk, and hold their crayons. As they grow, especially as they approach their adolescence, I become ever aware of my inability as a mother to MAKE them become the men I want them to become. I do not possess the ability to create the character I want them to have. I can teach, and guide, and correct, and most of all PRAY, but the results are in the hands of God and the choices that each one makes for himself.

That has led me to begin praying more consistently and fervently for my children. In so doing, I stumbled across a book in our church library titled Praying the Bible for Your Children by David and Heather Kopp.

I want to share the following quote from Prayer 13: "I give thanks in Jesus' name for what I usually complain about , for what I can't seem to control or change, for all the daily indignities of raising kids. . . . . For things unemptied, unreplaced, unclosed, unreturned, unkempt, unfound and unfinished: Today these loose ends of our family life reassure me that our family is called to a destiny where only a few things matter (Luke 10:42). . . . For noises day and night, and loud music, and loud noise that passes for music: Today I will offer this racket to You as the praise of "everything that has breath" in this mouse (Psalm 150:6), and thank you with each decibel of devotion. . . . For interupted meals, unfinished conversations with friends, unfinished reading, neglected hobbies and projects, and for the fading memories of many small, grown-up luxuries: Today I remember that in His ministry, Jesus said that children were the most welcome interruptions of all and the real business of heaven (Matthew 19:14). O Father, accept my list of ordinary parenting annoyances as the holy music of my thankful heart today, for I sing in Jesus' name. Amen."

I highly recommend the book. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Bible-Your-Children-David/dp/0854769633/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1825068-5199358?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178807366&sr=8-1
[I would pretty up the link if I knew how. Sorry]

Easter

Ebenezer had both a Sunrise service at 6am and a regular worship service at 10 with our Easter cantata. All in all, it was a wonderful celebration.
Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed!

We don't have many family portraits. I'm usually behind the camera, and this one isn't our best--we're all squinting in the sun. But I'll take what I can get!

I didn't get it without SEVERAL tries! Here's one. Don't they all look soooo excited?! NOT! And look! Even the dogs wanna "help."


I also managed to get two of just Joseph and I. I was not, however, successful is getting it without the puppy, Shadow. I think both she and Pepper were insulted that we didn't want them in our family picture. So there she is--scratching her fleas and everything.



Tired isn't always a bad thing though -- and this was one of those times. Everyone just headed to bed a little early.