Hilary is 22!

My sunshine turns 22 years old today!
Every bone in my body feels like I have a 22 year old.

Easiest labor and delivery I can imagine.
I actually slept through it all.
One push and out came my 9lb 11oz baby girl!
Papa came into my room and said...Hi Larry~!

She has brought us much trouble,
but all the good buries the bad so deeply,
I do not even remember it was there at all.

She is beautiful without trying,
inside is just a beautiful as outside.
Even more so in my opinion!

I am blessed every day by her empathy towards others.
She overcomes things so quickly, that it gives me hope
in my own struggles.

I depend on her for coloring my world.
She is never afraid to try anything
or dive right into the mess.

She is my scary movie buddy, my gardening partner,
the conversation started and ender,
she makes me laugh uncontrollably with every tale.
I love that she loves to be around me,
and that she has so many good friends to share her life with.

She is so very talented and deserves so much more from so many.
Her time will come and continues every day!
She loves God with all her heart and I am so proud of her.

Happy Birthday Beaner!
I am so very blessed!

Sick of Salads

I was at dinner with my girly girls yesterday!
We have been meeting for Martins salad bar
weekly for at least three years.
Could be longer, but my mind doesn't seem to
track time efficiently any more.

Really, I am just sick of food.
For one person, cooking for one person,
is miserable.
Unless we have lots of babies in the church
or hospital new releases,
I don't cook AT ALL!

This brings me to the craft show in April.
I have been spinning my little heart out for weeks now.
Thousands and thousands of yards of yarn!
I still have more to do....
orange Shetland mixed with soy,
national blue mixed with, maybe some sparkle,
yellow mixed with milk......
and I have one final weaving project almost complete.

Working on business cards yesterday wore me out.
The template wasn't working with the actual cards,
the photo was too dark, and would not be lightened,
and when I finally got the final draft,
the copier sucked up the cards and went into
Paper Jam mode!
My copier, whether it knows it our not,
it getting thrown across the room if it doesn't get with it
and figure out that it is not jammed any more!
That put a kink in my productivity.

So today I paid bills and fought with the insurance company.
It snowed a bit last night.......what a shock!
So I suppose, God gave me a little reprieve,
as I have been longing to get in the garden for days!
Back to the wheel!
Enjoy your day!
I am blessed....anyway!

PUSH!

Three weeks until the all things vintage and handmade sale.
I have been spinning, carding, weaving, felting and knitting
for what now seems a life time!
I am having a great time!
The sun has been shining,
and I have been out on the deck, enjoying my craft.

It seems as if I have had not time for facebook,
blogging, visiting or resting much.
The garden is calling my name with every rustle of wind.
I am anxious to get out and play in the yard.
Three more weeks!~

Hopefully this will be a grand venture.
My fibers are almost depleted....
all but a few icelandic fleeces.
These need to be hand carded however and the time is not cooperating.
Festivals are coming up beginning in May.
I hope to be able to travel so some.
I am also planning on taking a few classes in Allegan again this year.

So off the the wheel/loom I go!
More updates and photos in three weeks!
I am blessed.

WHOP!

What drew people to Jesus was not His message.
It was HIM!

The way He loved, cared, laughed, shared and lived.


Many who were drawn to Him would leave Him after hearing His message.
This is the tough stuff.
This is the character stuff.

Jesus is our advocate....
John 8 describes how Jesus loves on the adulteress about to be stoned.
At her level.
Close to her.
Heart not head.

This has changed my life.


It's not about shouting the Word.
It's about loving the person.
God will start the heart's change
if they are first loved as He would love them
through us!

Wow.

Truly blessed.

from study...Tangible Kingdom

Tragedy

Today was a disturbing day.
I woke to a dream that there was a huge flood coming
and I had to escape somehow with my young Ronni Lynn.
Water was in our escape route.

Then I woke to the sound of the TV in my room.
(I keep it on at night since the kids moved out)
At 7:23am, they were reporting that Japan was hit
by an 8.9 earthquake and a tsunami had caused complete
destruction in its path,
and was heading toward Hawaii and California and Oregon.

Funny how your brain works.
A complete dream sequence can occur in moments.
I learned that sometime in high school.

As when 9-11 occurred, I was glued to the television
waiting for the horror.
But today, I had a coffee date with a friend.
We discussed the catastrophes a bit,
but mostly caught up.
It was nice.
I felt loved and cared for.
I found out that she and two other friends were concerned for me.
They think I am too nice.
Hmmmmmmm.

I can imagine one reason for their concern is my state of marriage.
Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my husband, and I love our situation!
He is a truck driver and loves what he does.
He just doesn't get home often.
I miss him and he, me.
We talk all the time on the phone.
Seriously, at least ten times a day.
I go out on the road with him once a year for two or three weeks.
We are looking forward to retirement in the future.
I enjoy my time alone and I enjoy the freedom this allows me.
So please, do not be concerned for my happiness!
And I love caring for those I love!

I have a good friend who I knew in school.
We sat next to each other for six years in home room.
Her name is Kristen V and I was Kristen V.
We were never good friends in school,
although we liked each other.
A few years ago, our twenty fifth high school reunion was being planned.
Yes, I am that old!
For some reason, we got in touch on facebook
and have developed a wonderful friendship!
We pray for each other, share in joys and sorrows,
comfort each other when ill, encourage each other about our kids, etc.
And....she is letting me read the most wonderful manuscript as she is writing it!

I mention my friend because today, she learned that her husband
is being deployed just after Easter, for a year to Afghanistan.
My heart goes out to her family.
I am so appreciative for Blake and his fellow soldiers.
They will be in my daily prayers, as will Kristen and her family.

Our God is so good.
He answers my prayers and I am amazed at each answer,
even the nos or waits.
I can not comprehend how Kristen will struggle through each day.
I am blessed for the circumstances I am in.
I am thankful for all of the things I take for granted every moment.
The concern my friends have for me, humbles me.
I love you Kristen!
You are lifted up.

Sirens

There have been sirens blaring for half and hour now.
Chuck has howled silently...
he doesn't seem to know how to make anything but air
come out of his throat when howling....
and is not exhausted from the effort.

I woke this morning to the sound of rain.
I love rain!
I love thunder!
I love storms!

Someone, somewhere is in trouble right now though.
Sirens warn to look up and watch out!
We are coming through and there is no stopping us.
We will run you down to get to the emergency.
So pull over and stop!

Tooth pain generally means get to the dentist.
Sinus pain generally means..for me anyway,
get on antibiotics and sniff some eucalyptus.
Loneliness means it's time to call a friend and have some coffee.

I have been reading Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay.
I am getting excited about living life as Jesus lived it,
not like the "churchy people" have always lived.

These times they are a changin...
The thunder is warning of the storm to come.
Sirens are howling all around.
It's time to take notice and look up!

And while my sinus infection heals,
what I want to do is lie on the beach and soak up some sun.
I will instead, spin yarn on the Kromski,
dye in bright colors,
and be on the lookout for the next step!
I am blessed!

flowers and babies

It is time to take down my Valentine flowers.
I have so enjoyed them!
Terry has learned after twenty five plus years
that flowers are my joy.
He sends them to mo on special days and holidays!

When we were dating I told him I did not want jewelry or expensive presents.
I wold love a handful of wild flowers.
One time he came home with hand picked flowers.
They were amazing!

After a while, when we had a bit of discretionary income...HA HA
I would go to the florist once every other week
and buy a bouquet of flowers for the table.
I loved picking out each flower then
making them into a pleasing arrangement.
I would smile every time I passed them.
I did this in Long Beach MS, Reform AL, and now here is South Bend IN.
Although now,for the most part,
my arrangements are mostly from flowers I grow myself.

The one thing I learned was that you must do what makes you happy.
Don't depend on others to do it for you.
IF your partner does not shop,
then shop for yourself and put his name on it!
Yes, wrap it up and have him give it to you.
Eventually, a bit of this will rub off.
He will remember and take an interest.
It just takes time.
But you will be happy.

Speaking of happy!
I took meals to two new babies and their mommas yesterday!
Such tiny, perfect little people.
I even rock one little boy until my back was aching.
What a pleasant ache!

Someday...you listening God?,
I will rock my own little grandbabies!
These mommas are so unaware of the future they have taken on.
There are no instructions for either participant, mom or baby.
Taking the time to learn is what is important.
Get to know the sounds and faces he makes.
You are very tired, and honestly,
you won't ever get good sleep again!
Imprint each new achievement!
The pain is nothing next to the joy.
Seek out the wisdom of other mothers if not your own.
There is so much to learn.
Don't let the confusion and newness and frustrations
rob you of your joy, because there is someone who has been through it
and can help you when you need.

I am blessed!