Friday, September 28, 2012

~this moment~
 
{kaffee klatsch}
 
Once again...playing along with
soulemama and friends.
:)
 
{Guest contributor:
Joe Ondrus}


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

the way...

Have you ever had one of those mornings...when you roll over in bed...fresh from that twilight-y place...and begin to remember the dream you just woke from?
 
 
As hard as you try...bits and pieces of that dream seem elusive...tumbling from your grip with each passing breath. One thing you are sure of...it was quite an adventure...one worth remembering.
 
 
That feeling...whatever it is...seems to be toying and spiraling around me...begging to be noticed...in my waking hours.
 
God is speaking to my heart...but I only have a hint of the story...some pieces are falling into place...but the entire puzzle has not been revealed.
 
A strange place to walk...this uncertain ground.
 


 
As I make my way over this bumpy terrain...some things I can be certain of...God is guiding and so I am calm. There is no reason to rush this...it will happen in its own time.
 
It is drawing me outdoors...desiring to reconnect with nature on a more intimate level...bringing others along...not a solo venture.
 
Finding escape from all the noise indoors to a place of...
 
I will know when I get there. 


This trek will bring many elements together...remembering the Sabbath...unplugged Sundays...family communing together...nourishing bodies and souls...fresh air and sunshine...or rain...or snow. Whatever the day chooses to bring...we will greet it.

Yes, we will greet our day with purposeful intention...it will not slip from our fingers without notice...and we will know deep in our hearts what worship truly is.

Monday, September 24, 2012

retreat

 
This past weekend I was supposed to go...and assist in worship and song...on a Women's Retreat with my church family. Things happen. Usually not as you plan them. Oh...I know that those who did attend...found what they were searching for. Each compelled by the Spirit to be there. The Spirit can be sly...some may think they attended to help someone else who was going...some may have felt obligated to go...still others may have went for the pure fun of getting away. But one thing I am sure of...the Spirit had His hand in their being there...with a clear purposeful intention...and each left feeling renewed in their faith.
 
Delving into the Word with Beth Moore to guide...allowing The Word to speak to each heart...going deep...touching a chord...taking what was learned...feeling armed...ready to do the work.
 
With Camp Michindoh as a backdrop... surrounded and inspired by His beautiful creation...a reflective pond...Autumnal colors...crisp...cool forest air. 
 
A place to really exhale.
 
A place to clean out the cobwebs.

 
 
 
 
My retreat was somewhat different. Although I was with my friends and family in prayer and much thought...my retreat was an inward one. Knowing I was right where I was supposed to be.
 
Thank you Lord  for clarity.
 
When I feel ready I will share my reasons.
 
For now...go with me on this inner quest for peace and contentment.


Beginning with an empty vessel.

Friday saw me nourishing my gang in a most delicious way. Challenged by a slim cupboard...consulting two recipes for Tuscan Bean Soup and creating a new variety. What fun...yeah, I realize I'm a bit strange...but that is fun for me.

And when  an original concoction tastes that good...it sustains me in so many ways.

Yet another reason to give thanks.


So good in fact that I wrote down my recipe and filed it with my favorites from Whole Foods Kitchen Workshop (thanks, Heather...see sidebar Beauty That Moves for upcoming info). Click the pic above to enlarge...if interested...and try out my Tuscan Bean Soup With Cabbage.

My crowd was pleased.

Yours will be too.


My retreat found me at the other end of a broom.
Cleaning and clearing out those cobwebs I was talking about.

Domestic chores can be very rewarding...

filling you with a sense of accomplishment.


Canning...freezing...the bountiful crop I still have available in my very own front yard garden.  The strong fragrance of Basil filling my kitchen as I made the BEST pesto ever! Thank you again, Heather Bruggeman. Did I mention her workshop? This is definitely one of James' lick-the-plate-clean favorites. Declaring it the best vegan recipe I've tried so far.

Real. Slow. Family. Time.


Chasing away the dust. It was quite a race...but I was determined.

Scrubbing vigorously to remove stuff build-up.



Taking time to rest and reconnect in my corner...
my place to breath and think...
to read and know...
to delve deep and search for understanding...


to sing...praise...
empowered by The Word...
armed and ready to conquer all.


To find my way home...
ready to do the work.

Oh yes...
a retreat was still happening.

amen.

Friday, September 21, 2012

{this moment}
 
 
Playing along with soulemama
and friends.
:) 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

water

 
life sustaining
cleansing
refreshing
detoxifying

 
clarifying
nurturing
thirst quenching

 
Simply
the  perfect accompaniment
with every
meal.
 
Today's blend
will be
enhanced with
tropical mango
lemon and pineapple.
 
What will tomorrow bring?
 
Cucumber
lime
basil?
 
Perhaps.
 
Suggestions welcome.
 
 
 
p.s.
Pop (soda for those who prefer)
coffee...alcohol of any kind...
sniff-sniff...
has been eliminated
from our diet...
per doctor's instructions.
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

bettin' men

 
I've shared my love for
Atticus with you...
(To Kill A Mockingbird)
Is there another?
 
His patience
honesty
and
gentleness
are admirable qualities
for a parent or
human for that matter.
 
But when I read how
he threw games...
checkers...
his children's way...well...
I questioned his honesty.
 
 
His children thought he was
old and addled.
 
One could argue that his children
were 8 and 12 at the time
and it is the right thing
to do.
 
This is where we part ways.
 
I made it clear to my guys
early on that I would never
throw a game.
If they win...
they know it was by pure
will...skill...determination...
and a good dose of
luck!
 
Is that mean and cold-hearted?
I prefer honest...
to a fault!
 

 
The other day I played
a game of Scrabble with Joe...
who has been enjoying
a Words With Friends
phone app.
 
His game had markedly
improved...
I had to bring my A-Game
if I had any chance of winning.
 
I didn't pull it off.
Joe beat me by 6 points...
but a win is a win!
I gave him his props.
 
With time to burn
the other night
we decided to play the round
of miniature golf
that was left on our 3-game ticket.
 
It looks like midnight
but it was like 8 o'clock...
ugh...
I am not ready for this.
 
 

 
We were all pretty confident.
Talkin smack and making bets.
 
Loser goes swimming.
 
With evening temps approaching
the 30's...well that
pool has gotten
pretty chilly.
 
No one wanted to lose.
Understand...
 this is a game they both
excel at.
Me...not so much.
 
You can see where this is headed.
 
A cold swim is good incentive.
 
Joe: 41
James: 44
Mom: 40
 
Can you believe James
welshed?
 
Well...I couldn't do much
about that
but I sure
 can blog about it!
 
Tee-hee-hee
;)
 
Sorry, Atticus.
 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

these days

 
the days
go by
so
quickly

 
the list
is
long
 
 
the light
is
short

 
with a
candle
glow
 
I am
reminded
to
be still
and
know

 
to take a
bit of that
speeding
time
 
and to be
kind...
 
to
myself.*
 
 
 
A feat that is best accomplished when two boys
are playing video games (yikes! feels
like a confessional) and husband
is away for a sleep apnea test!
 
 
*always read the fine print.
 
;)
 
 

Saturday, September 15, 2012

desk work

Exciting news...
 
 
My dining room
is once again
a
dining room.

 
The fiesta wear has
been rotated
to reflect the upcoming
season.

 
Normally
I will focus on a few
colors as the seasons change...
incorporating pastels for
Spring...
vibrant blues and greens
for summer...
this Fall
all the shades wanted to
come out and play.

 
My summer rug
will stay put.
Who says you can't
enjoy a variety of colors
all year long?
 
(If you have an answer
to that question...please
let them know
 I am breaking the rules!)
 
Yesterday...
my focus turned to
my corner
desk.

 
Admittedly
a humble abode.
 
However
the desk in the
living room
was being used by
home school
students.
 
That need changed
and so I had
some reclaiming to do.

 
My new/old
spot
was mine
once again.
 
Which called for a complete
clean-out...
cubby holes and
all!

 
Went through every file
and kept only
that which was still
needed.
 
Imagine...
using files for documents...
statements...
and high school
transcripts!
 
Oh...
I had an organizational
system going before...
but I was
the only one who could
figure it out.
 
Now...

 
Space...
to breath.

 
A place...
to remember
and
smile.
 
One quick
addition
 had to happen
before I could
call it
mine.

 
After raiding
my...ahem...
extensive fabric
stash...

 
I settled on my first
quilt project.
 
This table runner
has some years on it...

 
The flip-side
tells that
story...

 
And all those
years...
 make me
 feel right
at
home.
 
Ahhhh...
 
What are you doing this
weekend?

Friday, September 14, 2012

 
{this moment}
 
 
Playing along with soulemama
and friends.
:)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

girl's day out

 
 
 






























 
Waiting
dipping
running
changing
helping
jumping
dreaming
laughing
bouncing
lounging
planning
enjoying
swinging
hanging
biking
playing
smiling
talking
sitting
nibbling
 
Yep...
it was just
like that.