Still Life of my Week

A perfect week consists of equal parts people and solitude....

This was one of those weeks . I celebrated a birthday this week, not one that's a huge milestone just another jot in the story of life. My husband has often taken me out with friends on my birthday, bless his heart but I have explained to him just how much it means to involve the children in celebrating it. So this year they prepared supper; cedar plank salmon, rice, broccoli& salad. I WAS NOT allowed to help with it what so ever, so after sitting and watching them plunder about the kitchen, I asked if I could leave and visit my mother in law and they would call when it was ready. All their efforts were repaid as we sat down to enjoy a  very delectable meal.

Also had another delightful lunch and afternoon with my dear mother and sisters.Family is one of those special gifts I have grown to love and appreciate immensely. Each one of us so similar but different. each one of us connected in blood ties that form a strong bond. My sister who planned this event this year is likely the most creative person I know, and maybe even the most creative person .
Everything was lovely and scrumptious and truely a treat to the senses.After the meal we shared a piece of writing that inspired or touched us in some way.I left  filled , in mind and body.

The end of the week was a flurry of  appointments,cleaning,laundry,grocery shopping,driving to pick up daughter at college,making it home in time to go on date with hubby.How nice to be able to have children old enough to stay home alone.It's not all bad when they grow up.

Looking back on my week I realize just how much I am blessed with....
family,friends, health and most of all God's never ending  providence.

       My life shines with God's radiant blessings
         when my heart is the colour of joy.
                                  Thomas Kinkade

A Lesson from a Plant on a Sill...

I have always been partial to the plant called Baby Tears.
There is something about the delicate beauty of it that I find mesmerising.

This one has been at home on my window sill a few weeks now, and one thing I have found is how quickly all the little leaves or "faces" are turned out the window.
Almost daily  I pick it up to turn, and  as I was absentmindedly doing this the other day, I was struck with the metaphor of us  and when we Keep our face to the sun we cannot see the shadows....(Helen Keller)

Now looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross...Hebrews 12:2
        
        Let's keep our eyes on Jesus, the One
       who dissipates our shadows.
                                     


                  
    

Tagged...In Blogger Tag

• Eleven things about me...

1. I am the mother of four daughters and one son.
2. I live on a farm that no longer has cattle or pigs but a few sheep,laying hens,horses (one we own the rest we board) and too many cats.my husband works off the farm to support his habit(farming)
3. I memorized the Sermon On the Mount( Matthew 5,6,7) when I was a girl. Still know most of it.
4. I am the lunch/yard duty person at my children's school.
5. I sometimes eat ice-cream from the carton.
6. I tend to break cookies in half before I eat both.
7. I learned to knit a few years ago .
8. I also learned to water ski a few years ago
9. I love to sing.
10. I've learned to trust my God given  intuition.
11. I have seen both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts but have never flown in a "real" plane.

.Here are the questions I recieved from Janet at Another Porch  and my answers..

1. If you could change something about yourself what would it be? Oh my, only ONE thing??:) I would like to be taller and thinner ofcourse,I would like to be kinder and not take myself and maybe others so seriously.I would like to be lots of things, but that being said I HAVE  LEARNED to accept myself ; not easy but worth it.
2. What do you do to treat yourself? Ha, I read blogs,eat ice cream and go barefoot. oh and there's shopping and garage sales and antiquing!!
3. what is a favourite memory of yours? hmmm,I loved those times as a child when everyone was home and you just felt the love and contentment from Mom & Dad .We were likely all reading,the stove was going and the laundry drying right there in the kitchen. Also skipping down the hill to spend that quarter the best way we knew how on penny candy.
4. What colour are your eyes? Hazel,except green when I'm angry.
5. How many times have you moved? Only to move here when I married.Sometimes I really wonder what that might be like??
6. What is your personal goal right now? Finish the courses I'm doing and learn from life's lessons.
7. What kind of music do you enjoy? Much variety but especially music with words that make me think.
8. What is your favourite meal to cook? Salad, while my husband barbeques.
9. What hobbies do you enjoy? Gardening, boating, biking and reading and baking.
10. What do you dread? I have to say; having my kids all grown and gone.
11. What inspires you? Beauty ; in nature , design, music, and word.

Here are my questions:

1. What characteristic about yourself do you like?
2. What characteristic do you not like about yourself?
3. What gives you comfort?
4. What is your favourite time of year?
5. Which era in time would you have liked to live in?
6. What is the perfect day to you?
7. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
8. What is one thing you would change in this world?
9. What is something on your " bucket list? "
10. What is your favourite colour?
11. Are you an optomist or a pessimist? ( eg-do you see the sunshine or the dirty window? )

          The Rules Are....
1 You must post the rules.
2 Post 11 fun facts about yourself
3 Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and  then create 11 more to ask the ones you tag.
4Tag however many bloggers you wish.
5 Let them know they are tagged.
6 Have Fun.




         I am tagging for fun ; no obligation whatsoever and no time limit.....
               Rayanne at A Lovely Thought
               Amy at Amy at Tea Girl In A Coffee World
              Dee at Beautiful Dees

Growth....a Study In Waiting

GROWTH....a process of growing through progressive development or increase...(.Websters)

YOU MUST WRESTLE WITH IT.

LET NO ONE ASSIST OR RELIEVE YOU.THIS IS FOR YOUR BETTERMENT AND PERHAPS,

IF YOUR DREAMS ALIGN WITH GOD'S

IT IS THE BEGINNING OF

YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY.

TRY TO SEE THE ART IN THE STRUGGLE.

PRAY THAT GOD GIVES YOU

THE STRENGTH AND THE WISDOM

TO LOVE IT.

(TAKEN FROM WITH NEW EYES BY MARGARET BECKER)

USEFUL OR BEAUTIFUL

This shutter had been hanging out in the back of my toolshed for a while.
And after painting my hall last week there was an empty space in need of a fixture...

After I painted it and added the hooks,my incredible and handy husband hung it up .I have to say it turned out fine!!

HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSE THAT IS NOT EITHER USEFUL OR BEAUTIFUL.

WILLIAM MORRIS

A March Break Mosiac ( a peek into our day )

Things to do to help while away those wonderful at home March break days....
card games in the morning
barn chores , house chores
playing school ( oh the irony)
laundry flapping briskly
banana bread
sewing projects
piano just for fun
popsicles
Best part of March break for me is not only time together but NO  LUNCHES to pack!!!

 Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land called life.
                            Albert Einstein

Heartside Musing...

We are getting a blast of winter.It's like the season is making up for it's apathy of the last months.
Wasn't it just yesterday I put tulips on the porch and saw the daffodils poke through the dirt?
It took some convincing to get me out to the mailbox in this storm,but I did.
My daughter just left with the van for a youth event,I wish she would of stayed home.But I so remember that need to go and be with your friends. Praying for God's hands on the wheel while she's driving. Hubby and son are also away so my evening is quiet.I am okay with that. I like to reflect and this is a good night for that.
Sometimes I wonder what traits about their growing up years will resonate the most with my children.
I hope and pray they will forgive my shortcomings and always know they were loved as much as it is humanly possible. May empathy for one another be something they will learn and carry into the future.
May our home always have felt like that shelter from the storm, that soft place to land,that refuge in a crazy world.
This poem states it well.
                                     Prayer For This House
   May nothing evil cross this door,
    And may ill fortune never pry
  About these windows may the roar
          And rain go by.

Strengthened by faith, these rafters will
Withstand the battering of the storm;
This hearth though all the world grow chill,
     Will keep us warm.

Peace shall walk softly through these rooms,
Touching our lips with holy wine,
Till every casual corner blooms
        Into a shrine.

Laughter shall drown the raucous shout;
And, though these sheltering walls are thin,
May they be strong to keep hate out
      And hold love in. 

Louis Untermeyer

MOMENTS COME AND GO...
        SUNSHINE,
      GOLDEN  LAUGHTER,
     POLE GREY DAYS
       AND RAIN.,
      

IT'S A POLE GREY DAY TODAY.

LORD, HELP ME THROUGH IT AND IF IT'S YOUR WILL
       SEND A RAINBOW.
           AMEN.

Little Riches

It's the little things that make life rich.....I was reminded of this today as my one daughter was delighted to open the new tube of toothpaste.

Eagerly she called her sister to share her joy.It made me smile and I thought that really is what's so special about children.They know how to savor the little things.I made a little list of some of my "rich little things.." after supper kisses and" thanks Mom"

a smile that warms me,clean sheets, hot tea,lunch and laughing with my daughter,that phone call from friend asking if I'd like to go to Costco,hearing my favorite song,reading a book that my sister recommended,friends  who pray for me, skiing in fresh fallen snow, a dollar sale at the grocery store,

sunshine in winter, lemon candles, tidy closets, crackling fires, and the list really is endless.

The world is full of a number of things...

I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Stirred Not Shaken

I am blissfully happy, with a touch of sadness.

I am so purely contented,but my heart is restless.

I am looking ahead, as I learn from my past.

I can reach for the stars, with my feet on the ground.

Oh this is the life , the dream I had wanted.

It just was shaken and stirred.

This is the life, I'm living the dream.

It's only my  vision that's blurred.

"For now we see through a glass dimly, but then face to face...."1 Cor13:12THE TRAGEDY OF LIFE IS WHAT DIES WHILE YOU LIVE...(Albert Schweitzer)