Year in Pictures - #2

More random pics. . .

For your winter pie enjoyment!

. . .and the leaves kept coming, and coming, and coming . . 

Haven't had bangs since I was five . . . 

. . . . I'm kinda like'em.

Happy Birthday, Darling!!! 

Year in Review

The previous post will hopefully be the first in a series of picture posts. I love looking at pictures and I don't possess a talent for writing, so this scheme seems a good fit.

Post #1 - Summer 2011
Family trip to the zoo
Garden Bounty

Year in Pictures - #1

So, what's in your trunk?
(They used to be my "little" brothers)

What a cute little guy!

Say cheese!

From just picked to . . .

. . . just baked! Yummy in my tummy!

(These garden huckleberries are delightful!)

A little of what I "do" all day

Where did everybody go?

Or, rather, where did I go? Talk about a crazy last couple of months. . . . I've been mostly living in the sewing room and escape to the garden when I need some fresh air.

such innocent beginnings. . . . yes, I'm on the roof.
(it's best way to clean out the gutters)

I changed my first tire!! (Matthew's a good teacher and sooo patient!)

(the proof)

. . . yeah, and this was the first of three bags. Uh, I think I'll go sew for awhile. . .

a peek into my "tower" where its easy to disappear

They bloomed! :)

how nice!

STARVED ROCK

We had a chance to do some hiking recently. Just two hours away there is an incredible Illinois state park (yes, I said Illinois) with amazing trails and waterfalls. We had great company and weather. Well, maybe a bit soggy, (the weather, I mean) but that didn't slow us down. Let's do it again!!!

This post is a departure from my usual, but when I read this piece, it really stuck with me. It comes at a time for me when trusting is easier said than done. As Elisabeth Elliot would say, "It's simple, but not easy". I found this in a favorite book of mine called "Streams in the Desert". It's lengthy, but well worth the read.

"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are" James 5:17

Thank God for that! He got under a juniper tree, as you and I have often done; he complained and murmured, as we have often done; was unbelieving, as we have often been. But that was not the case when he really got into touch with God. Though "a man subject to like passions as we are," "he prayed praying". It is sublime in the original - not "earnestly", but "he prayed in prayer." He kept on praying. What is the lesson here? You must keep praying.

Come up on the top of Carmel, and see that remarkable parable of faith and sight. It was not the descent of the fire that now was necessary, but the descent of the flood; and the man that can command the fire can command the flood by the same means and methods. We are told that he bowed himself to the ground with his face between his knees; that is , shutting out all sights and sounds. He was putting himself in a position where, beneath his mantle, he could neither see nor hear what was going forward.

He said to his servant, "Go and take an observatoin." He went and came back, and said - how sublimely brief! one word - "Nothing!" What do we do under such circumstances? We say, "It is just as I expected!" and we give up praying. Did Elijah? No, he said, "Go again." His servant again came back and said, "Nothing!" "Go again." "Nothing!"
By and by he came back, and said, "There is a little cloud like a man's hand." A man's hand had been raised in supplication, and presently down came the rain; and Ahab had not time to get back to the gate of Samaria with all his fast steeds.

This is a parable of faith and sight - faith shutting itself up with God; sight taking observations and seeing nothing; faith going right on, and "praying in prayer," with utterly hopeless reports from sight.
Do you know how to pray that way, how to pray prevailingly? Let sight give as discouraging reports as it may, but pay no attention to these. The living God is still in the heavens and even to delay is part of His goodness.

Aurthur T. Pierson

Each of three boys gave a definition of faith which is an illustration of the tenacity of faith. The first boy said, "It is taking hold of Christ"; the second, "Keeping hold", the third, "Not letting go."

When the Red-Red-Robin comes bob-bob-bobbin' along . . .

. . . . watch were the nest is going!

Last week, my husband noticed a bird's nest on our front porch light. Well, that just wasn't going to suit. So, down it went. The next day there was another nest in the same spot. Persistent bird! I felt badly, but down went that nest, too.

This week, however, we found that the little birdie outsmarted us. I discovered a pretty little robins nest, which seemed to have appeared overnight. It's still on the front of the house, but not near its pesky, interfering owners. To Mrs. Robin's relief, this nest is here to say (at least for the spring) and she's been making good use of her well built home. . . Take a look for yourself!

nope, not there!

well, ok. . .

is that blue, I see?

aww . . . so pretty

Curtains, curtains, curtains. . . .

I know it doesn't look impressive, but this marks the end of a slow moving winter project. The whole house has suddenly lost it's fish bowl feel. :) There are a couple of little curtains yet to make, but the light at the end of the tunnel is well in sight. Just in time too, because I hear that it's time to be starting seeds for my (second) first year garden. After all, we spotted three robins yesterday! Luv them lil' birds!

And, yes, there is a shocking lack of pictures and artwork on the walls. I'm working on it. . . . :)

Great weekend!

Matthew and I were privileged to attend a Christian Life Conference this weekend. It was extremely convicting, challenging and also refreshing. I've never attended any sort of conference like that before. It was a great blessing - really. So much to learn . . . so little time. The main speakers were Norm Wakefield and Paul Washer. You can view some of their sermons on YouTube. It's tough listening, as neither one of them holds back on the truth, but, I think it's something we all need.

Also this weekend, my "niece" came to visit us (she brought her parents along, too). Thanks, Brynlee for sharing! We had a great time with them. The visit went by way to quickly.

Brynlee's new big girl blanket.

Just hangin' out . . .

I think she likes it!

Happiness is . . . .

Last week, I found happiness in the form of two working kitchen sinks! Ta-da!

It all started one night, when Matt was taking out the garbage and noticed dripping. . . an ever so slight dripping under the sink. After minimal feeling around the pipe, his finger actually pushed into the pipe making a much bigger dripping. Oops! This means an impromptu date to Farm and Fleet. (Can you smell the tires?) Back home, I'm soon watching my "handy" husband patiently working in what looks to me to be an uncomfortably tight space. (I refrain from making said remark.) Actually, by now, I have a migraine, and am nested with a blanket on the couch after being treated to an amazing head massage. By the way, I'm absolutely spoiled!

Back to the plumbing - Question? What's the fun in immediate results anyway? It's all about anticipation, right?! Matt did what he could, but is was getting late and a third trip to the store that night seemed too much. In the morning I found a piece of paper in the sink that read, "Please don't use :)" Thanks for the reminder, Honey. And I might add, it did the trick . . well . . most of the time. So, to make a short story less long, Matt soon fixed the plumbing and I've been using both kitchen sinks now and appreciating it, which is more than I was doing before.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

RedGreen says, "If the women don't find you hansom, they should at least find you handy." Well, if it wasn't already terribly obvious, my husband is both!!!

Before

After

So, what did you do today?

What pretty snow!

After appropriate admiration, we got to work. . .

Taking the Plunge . . . .

Well folks, I'm finally taking the blogging plunge. I often think of little things that go on around here that I'd like to share or remember. However, it seems to me a good thing to spare you all from tons of 30 second phone calls, "just to let you know". So. . . . this blog may be just the thing. You can thank me later. :)