Grains of Sand

This was the kitchen faucet on Sunday and most of the day on Monday.  Yeah, doesn't look so good, does it.  What started out as a simple repair, turned into an unrepairable wait. I was walking the few feet to the laundry room sink for water to wash dishes and complaining (in thought) the whole time.  "I have to walk all the way to the laundry room for water."  "This is sooo inconvenient."  "Wonder how long I'll be doing this?!"  "This bucket of water is heavy!" It was the last thought, that the bucket of water was heavy, that I thought of my sweet Compassion child who lives in Burkina Faso, Africa.  One of her FAVORITE things to do is get water!  My thoughts then turned to how privileged I was to be able to walk all the way to the laundry room for water.  How, when I made it to the laundry room in under 30 seconds, I could turn a handle and fresh, clean, cold water would pour out. I appreciate the change of perspective.  When I

For Today...March 27, 2017 Looking out my window... a pair of mallards are dabbling in the backyard. I am thinking... of all those in the world who don't have access to clean water. I am thankful... for the privilege to stay at home with my children.  They grow so fast.  I was just talking to Logan about a paper he could write for school and he reminded me that he only had two more years until he graduates.  :0 One of my favorite things... dates with my honey. I am creating... piles and piles of clutter. :)  Not by choice either.  I am wearing... jeans, Beatles t-shirt and a cozy cardigan sweater. I just finished reading...  A Year Down Yonder  by Richard Peck.  A delightful tale of the adventures of Grandma Dowdel and her granddaughter Mary Alice.  I am hoping... to have a productive Monday.  The end result would be a clutter free clean house with dinner on the table.  I think I can, I think I can... I am learning... how to eat that frog.  In h

Patrick and I enjoy being in the kitchen together.  Whether it's baking pies or cooking dinner, it's something we look forward to, especially when we have the time.  I've been saving a chicken pot pie recipe for a few months in hopes of trying it out together.  Today was a chilly rainy day, a perfect day to try a new chicken pie. I found the recipe on Allrecipes.com, one of my favorite sites because of the user reviews and ratings.  We made the pie as the recipe stated and served our family of six.  Most of us really liked it and we even had leftovers.  This chicken pot pie recipe is going into the recipe binder with a big Yummy! written in the margin.

The Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman I am convinced that birth order influences our personalities and relationships.  There were a lot of a-ha moments for me in this book.  I learned a lot about why my brother and sister are the way they are. :)  And why my husband (the baby in the family) and I (the oldest) get along so well (most of the time).

Even as the cardinals flit from tree to tree outside and the day begins as usual, my heart is heavy.  I have been surrounded by sorrow and loss lately.  In November my cousin took his own life.  I marked the 5 year anniversary of my dad's passing on March 15th.  I received word on Friday that the sister of a friend died unexpectedly at the age of 36 and on the very next day my aunt passed away. With so many close to me leaving this earth, one of the questions I ask is why?  Why him? Why this way? Why her?  Why now?  I don't really expect an answer to those questions because they are not my answers to know.  I think in my grief, why is the first question that arises out of my sorrow. I took the book, A Grace Disquised by Jerry Sittser off the shelf again and opened it where I left off five years ago.  This paragraph stood out.  Thornton Wilder suggests in "The Eighth Day" that we should understand our lives as a great landscape that extends far beyond what the e

Five years ago today my dad left this earth.  He left behind scarred lungs, a frail heart and oxygen tubes and tanks.  Today he is breathing heaven's air and fully restored. After five years the grief is still with me.  So strong at times that tears roll down my cheeks and my heart literally aches. After five years the grief is still with me.  So light at times that I smile and wonder at when we'll meet again in heaven. I am forever changed because of my dad's life and especially after his death.  Miss you dad! Dad and Mason

There are a lot of parenting books out there.  A lot of good parenting books.  If you are a proactive person who is considering having children, you have probably read many of them already. I haven't been very proactive in my approach to parenting.  Patrick and I are not planners and didn't exactly plan our firstborn, second-born, third-born or our fourth-born. :) The problem with my approach is that when I wanted to read books on parenting, I was already entrenched in the land of sippy cups, Cheerios, diapers and re-directing.  With one baby on my hip I was chasing another and wondering when I'd find the time to shower, let alone read. If you are more like me than you care to be, Parenting with Scripture by Kara Durbin is for you.  I have pulled this off the shelf frequently and also used it "on the fly" for those teachable moments.  I found the ideas for discussions and the activities to be very helpful.  I have used this book for my teens and

For Today March 13, 2017 Looking out my window... fresh snow has blanketed the ground and the wind is sculpting drifts in the driveway. I am thinking... spring seems to be a long way off.  However, the robin in the tree is telling a different story.   I am thankful... for my husband who tirelessly works to provide for our family. One of my favorite things... a backyard busy with birds. I am creating... May day baskets. I am wearing... a purple-ish fleece pullover and black pants. I am reading... Unashamed by Christine Caine I am hoping... I recover from daylight savings time quickly. I am learning... how to parent a 16 year old who has many questions.  Patience would be the fruit I am personally growing through this adventure.  However, love, peace, kindness, gentleness and self-control are also in the running.  Yay for refinement.  :D In my kitchen... one piece left of Butterscotch Pecan dessert In the school room... we are nearing the end

This is one of Patrick's favorite desserts and I'm making it for his birthday treat.  Thought you might want to tempt your taste buds too.  The butterscotch layer in this dessert just makes your mouth say yum!  ♥ Butterscotch Pecan Dessert ½ cup cold butter 1 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup chopped pecans, divided 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 (8oz.) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided 3 ½ cups milk 2 (3.4oz.) packages instant butterscotch or vanilla pudding mix In a bowl, cut the butter into the flour until crumbly; stir in ½ cup pecans.   Press into an ungreased 13x9” baking pan.   Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.   Cool. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.   Fold in 1 cup whipped topping; spread over crust.   Combine milk and pudding mix until smooth; pour over cream cheese layer.   Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes or until set.   Top with remaining whi