Family Friday

With all the meme's floating around I thought I'd throw out this possibility.

I find family resemblances interesting. Whether it is an uncanny interest in the same hobbies or a nearly identical facial expression. Sometimes family members look very much alike and sometimes one would never know there was a relation at all.

Both Nathan and my cousin's son, Harim, have an interest in playing the guitar. They are less than a year apart in age and look somewhat similar; tall, blond, similar builds and facial features. Funny thing is they are seldom together, meeting up mostly at family gatherings, usually a July 4th picnic in Penn Yan.

Feeling Slightly Lost

I am feeling more and more lost as the week wears on. Being out in the country, mostly alone and without a vehicle, is somewhat perplexing. I'm even more thankful now for the time Josiah spent here with me on Tuesday. Lucas is here with me today but he is not happy camper. I'm not sure if he doesn't feel good, is tired, or just generally unhappy. He doesn't want to be put down. Neither the swing, the stroller, or his play seat make him happy. Right now he is upstairs in bed, but crying. If he doesn't go to sleep soon I will have to retrieve him.

At this point in my life I am really beginning to wonder which direction to go and what to do. I'm really not sure and to top it off James and I are thinking about selling the house. It is so much to keep up with and selling would help get us out of the debt we have accumulated. It would also make us more fluid and able to do some things that the responsibilities of home ownership keep us from. I guess this adds a little bit to my indecision about what to do. Also being without my van is making me restless.

Wherefore Art Thou Summer?

The calendar tells me this is July. The temperatures tell me it might be May or possibly even September. No need for a new bathing suit or window fan this year. As long as my sweatshirt is within reach I'll be all set.

I decided, for fun, to see what was happening on this date in years past and found that last July 8 I met Gudl for the very first time. We shared some dessert at her house and then headed down to the beach at Canandaigua lake for some fun in the water. It was a lovely summer day! On July 8, 2007 I was snapping pictures of Monarch caterpillars and fighting off Japanese beetles. I haven't seen either one yet this year. Finally, on the 7th of July 2006 I was making Hollyhock dolls and enjoying the sunshiney weather. There won't be many hollyhock belles this summer as we just pulled out some rather weedy looking hollyhock plants from in front of James' barn. They just weren't looking pretty this time around.

Josiah fired up the wood splitter yesterday afternoon and while he split wood, I stacked it in a pile. It was good weather for working outside. Warm enough to be out but not so hot that one wanted to collapse. We've also been pulling weeds, trimming bushes, and trying to keep up with our ever-growing lawn. The sun is shining today but I was in for most of it, tending to Lucas. He'll be back again tomorrow and then we're to Friday already. On Friday night I get my van back! I can't wait.

Saturday...

(Imagine music playing...)
Saturday in the park,
I think it was the Fourth of July...

Humility

What does it mean to be truly humble? As I searched my pockets, purse, and van for my car keys the other day; as I wandered in and out of the dining hall and camp store probably looking somewhat bewildered; as I watched others search the ground around my vehicle and answered yet another question about where I had last seen the illusive item; I began to worry that I might actually find them buried in my purse or hidden somewhere inside my van. I was still checking my pants pockets when I arrived home and hoping I wouldn't find them. I already felt foolish enough for losing the keys, I certainly didn't want to look like a complete idiot for having had them the entire time. I know the feelings are normal, no one wants to look stupid, but really that is my own sense of pride showing through again. I have to feel a little bit bad for the woman who found them in the bottom of her purse because I know how I would feel if I had returned home to find a strange set of keys in my possession. I would have felt really low, especially if I knew the other party had to go on home without their car. In spite of that I don't feel at all that she is foolish or stupid. Somehow, unknown to either her or myself, she ended up with my keys. Somewhere in all of this God had a plan. Although we may never know that plan or what circumstances were changed by a set of missing keys, He does. I think that's pretty cool.

"For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways," says the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

Paige

Please continue to keep our friend, Paige, in your prayers as she continues to fight her battle with leukemia. We have seen prayers answered in positive ways, a perfect bone marrow donor match and her being able to attend graduation, but the fight is far from over. The struggle is exhausting for all. Please pray for strength, for healing, and for encouragement. And, thank you.

A Few Key Thoughts

It has been a busy weekend. On Saturday we drove down to Penn Yan for a family picnic on Keuka Lake. It's always great to reconnect with cousins and I look forward to this gathering every year. Of course Uncle Chuck's crazy bicycles came out as well as stilts and a bean bag toss game. It was a nice day and all our children were there which is pretty amazing.

Yesterday morning Jim left to make his way back to Minnesota. He was headed for Chicago yesterday and will arrive in St Paul sometime this afternoon. We had him home for seven weeks and would have been happy to keep him but he has others wondering when he is coming home on the other end.

Ahh... the key thoughts...

After church yesterday I took Ben, Hannah, and a friend to Oswego for a week at Bible camp. It is a little over an hour's drive east of here. After finally getting them registered in the dining hall and going into the camp store to take care of business there, we headed back to the van to drop their things off at the cabins. That is when I discovered my car keys were not in my jeans pockets. I returned to the store to see if I had left them on the counter. Nope. We checked the van; not in my purse, not under the seat, not between the seats... I went back to the dining hall. They were not on the floor, not on the tables, not behind the curtain with the nurse. They were not in the Ladies' room. No one had seen them and they were nowhere to be seen. Back to the van... Ask the kids to check their pockets again... check the ground... ask more people... go back to the camp store... check the van again... dump my purse... check my pockets... I was really beginning to feel altogether foolish. Each person I asked, asked me the same the same questions, "Where have you been?" "Did you leave them (here or there)?" I hadn't been anywhere since I'd last had them and had retraced my steps so many times that I couldn't even remember where I had been anymore. I must have walked back and forth for almost an hour, talked to James on the phone, had a dozen people looking, and still no keys. James had prayed with me on the phone and I didn't feel any sense of panic, but still my keys were not appearing and we had no extra set at home, just a single key on a rather big key chain which was now gone. "What did they look like?" (Another question...) Large black key with the remote lock control, a green Coleman lantern key chain and some small stars. They had vanished. Some friends from from our old church offered to take me home and I decided I should take them up on the offer. The camp leaders promised to call when the keys showed up,... if they showed up.

By the time I reached home we had missed the evening church service. James and I decided to go for a walk in the orchard. We walked a long way and had a nice time together. Back home a little after 9 pm the phone rang. It was Sherri (from camp) on the other end. My keys had been located. As I had begun to suspect while wandering the grounds between my van and the dining hall, they were no longer at camp in Oswego but in the bottom of a woman's purse in Syracuse. She has a similar key chain but had no idea how she ended up with the keys. Not only that but she has no plans to return to camp this week and is leaving for the mission field today. (All this is too funny!)

God is good and He knows all things. My keys will go back to camp with the camp director, Sherri's husband, Clay, (who happens to live in Syracuse and is home packing to move) and sometime this week I will get my van back. In the meantime, although I have no children in my home and Jim is gone back to Minnesota, I will be unable to go anywhere without help from a friend or family member. That's okay. I have plenty to do here at home and trust that God has a plan in this whole experience. I know that He is working in my life, teaching me, stretching me, and growing me. A few years ago I would have been beside myself at losing the keys and angry that I am trapped here at home, but He is teaching me to trust that He has a plan and purpose higher than my own. I went to sleep knowing my keys will be returned and not having to worry about what to do. I have to smile a little bit though because God wasn't finished stretching me when I went to bed last night. I woke up to a terrible thunder storm with pouring rain. Almost all storms travel east and the windows in my van were rolled all the way down... I'm hoping someone really threw a cover over it like they said they would. Oh well, nothing I can do about it from here...

Oh, My Stars!

In honor of this year's In Dependence Day I am making star-shaped cookies. The plan is to frost them and make them look pretty for our picnic at Uncle Chuck's tomorrow. (Sometimes being patriotic is fun...) I love the yearly picnic in Penn Yan and look forward to it each summer. I wonder what crazy games my dear uncle has planned for this year?

At his brother's request, Jim decided to hang around until after the family fourth of July gathering. It is his plan to set off for Chicago early Sunday morning and then move on to Minnesota Monday morning. It has been great to have him around for the past several weeks and we will miss him, but his roommate is waiting and Jim has his sights set on a job in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. His friend Dan will also be relieved to know Jim is headed back home and just maybe these little girls will think it's pretty cool too. (That's Dan behind them.) They came to visit us last week.

I finished reading my Mary/Martha book about a week ago. It was thoroughly enjoyed, challenged me in many ways, and encouraged me in others. I've started a new book now, Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias. It has been a challenge to my intellect as he likes big words and I am just a humble mommy. I am used to using little words that little people understand. In spite of the challenge, I am also enjoying this book and learning. The best part is being challenged in the area of change in my own heart and attitudes and finding those scripture verses I just read in my personal devotions pop up unexpectedly in the book.

My vegetable garden is finally growing and actually looking pretty good. I'm still optimistic about having a harvest. :) I am slowly working on taming my flower beds and shrubs. By the time I finish the leaves should be falling off the trees.

Broken Chains

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free,
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns,
Unending love, Amazing Grace.

Slavery, that is what becoming a Christian is to some people, but to those of us who know Christ, it means freedom. No longer a slave to sin, I am free to live for Him.

Smiles

Bethany's blog made me smile this morning. Actually, several blogs made me smile in recent days. Thanks for the smiles.
:)

Oh, Deer!

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1

Each week I look forward to Tuesday morning ladies' prayer and Bible study. Not only is it a time of fellowship but I have come to enjoy bringing my praise and prayer requests before the Lord in a group setting. At one time I was afraid to pray in front of others, but through time it has become more natural. It is not a competition but something we do together. What a blessing to see God answer our prayers!

In our study time we are slowly working our way through the book of 1 Corinthians, this week in chapter 11. I find it amazing how the Lord speaks to my heart and reaffirms what I have been reading on my own or may have heard in another message in recent days.

This week we talked a little bit about a woman's role of submission. The woman does not take a lesser spot of importance, in Christ we are equals, but as Christ submitted Himself to the will of the Father, so we as women, are called to be in submission to our husbands. Not an easy task, but God has shown me in recent years how vitally important this is in my life. I am ashamed to admit how often my husband was right and I was wrong. I am learning to let go. It is still hard and sometimes I find myself struggling, but it is getting easier.

PS. James and I went for a short walk in the orchard this evening after supper. I took my camera along just in case I should happen to spot a deer. What do you know? I saw one!

Mr. McGregor's Garden

Now that my parents are older their little house and yard are quieter. In the summertime they like to feed the birds and watch the wildlife in their backyard. Sometimes they see squirrels and chipmunks and sometimes there is a bunny or two hopping around out there. Dad likes to leave apple peels for the rabbits to eat.

Last summer Dad planted a small garden. He wasn't too happy with last year's results but decided to try again this year anyway. His garden boxes are looking nice and healthy and now that things are growing, his rabbit friends have decided to cash in on the profits. They like young, tender bean sprouts and fresh beet greens so Dad has put up a scarecrow in an attempt to discourage them from disturbing his garden. It made me smile because it looks just a little bit like Dad with that jacket and hat.

Saturday Evening

Josh came to play for a little while. We decided to go for a little walk in the orchard across the street. Josh likes to collect things like sticks, rocks, and seeds. Tonight he found some pine cones.

Last night Hannah and I went on an "overnight". She was "wired" and I was sleepy. I'm still sleepy; that is what allergies do to me in June. They make my eyes tired and sleepy. Anyway, Hannah was wired up last night at the Sleep Center. We go back in a few weeks to see if they found anything unusual.

Facing the Unexpected

Precious in the sight of the LORD [Is] the death of His saints.
Psalm 116:15

Sometimes it is difficult not to ask, "God, why?" In the here and now, life often takes unexpected twists and turns leaving us with broken hearts and unanswered questions. Death still leaves an empty hole and sorrow. Separation makes us ache deep within. Questions come, especially when the loved one is young or leaves behind small children. We want to understand but are left with having to trust that God knows all things and is in control. We are left with His loving arms wrapped around us, looking forward to a new day and a great reunion. We are left hoping in the promises of God.

Please pray for our friend, Samantha, and her little daughter as they say goodbye to a husband and daddy. Please pray for us that we know how to give comfort and offer hope in this time of sadness.

Dreaming of the Beach

So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Matthew 8:27

A day at the beach sounds absolutely wonderful right now. A good book to read, a pair of sunglasses and a beach umbrella, a tall cool drink...and of course, the waves lapping gently at the shore. Shall I go down to the lake or take a trip to the ocean? Oh, if only I had my choice I think I might do a bit of traveling and visit some friends and family. A little time with my friend, Ann, in Florida along with a hop over to Barb's place on the east coast; a trip up to Nova Scotia to visit Grandmanita and dip my toes into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean; and of course, a trip out to the West Coast to visit all of my friends there and to sit on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Ahh, yes, a very good plan indeed...

San Francisco

I didn't even leave town but still felt the effects of jet lag. It must have been that early morning trip to the airport on Saturday and the late night return trip on Monday. In spite of the crazy mixed up schedule and lack of sleep, I am glad my husband was able to make the trip to California to see his dad and two of his sisters, or was it three?

Lori met James at the San Francisco airport and they shared a hotel and rental car. We didn't want to impose on the family out there, especially since Dad has been so sick and in and out of the hospital. (He's looking pretty good here.)

Kim is in California from New Mexico and is helping Dad and Pon for an extended period of time. James and Lori decided to take Kim and the girls, Kim's daughter, Abby, and Dad's granddaughter, Imani, for a ride to Stinson Beach. It looks beautiful in the pictures.

I hear they had a wonderful "Thanksgiving" dinner on Sunday afternoon with a turkey and all the trimmings. Of course Dad's family was there too. It was a short visit but a good one, I think. Maybe next time I'll go along to meet the family and see California...

A Little Bit of Rain

So, did I mention how soggy it was on Saturday? Yup, we had a little bit of rain. Yesterday morning, on my way to church, I found the west half of my road closed to traffic. On my way home in the afternoon, I stopped on the other side to find this. Of course, being the curious type, I had to get out and investigate. My camera is still on the other side of the country with my husband, but Ben recently purchased one of his own and was kind enough to let me take a few pictures.

There is small creek that runs through the fields and orchards and under the road here. It is not a very big creek, but can get moving pretty fast when a lot of rain falls. Apparently the culvert under the road has been washing away over time as there is now a rather large sinkhole across the westbound side of the road. It doesn't look as though anyone had an accident there, no tire tracks or car parts, just a big hole in the road. I think we'll be driving an alternate route for the next several weeks.

Who Is This Jesus?

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
John 5:39-40

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
John 6:44-45

I have been told that Jesus is not God. I've been told I should not pray to Him. But I believe that He is God. I believe that God loved me so much that He clothed His Word in human flesh and came down to earth to die in my place and offer me salvation. How can I keep from praising Him? How could I not fall on my knees and worship Him? How can I stop myself from praying that my friends and family will come to know forgiveness and salvation?

Father's Day

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1a

...and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3b

What an awesome privilege to be a child of God! I am thankful for my earthly father, I am blessed by the father of my children, but I am in awe of my Heavenly Father! As he draws me into a closer walk with Him, as He changes my heart and mind and tunes my thoughts to His, I am blessed. So, this Father's Day, as my husband is away spending time with his earthly father, I give thanks to my Savior for loving me, for forgiving me, for making me His child, and for walking beside me day by day. I know He loves me and what could be better than that?!

In the Quiet

What an unusual day! I woke before the sunshine this morning. The clock read 3:53 am. The birds were still asleep and all was dark and still. My eyes wanted to stay shut, my body was sleepy and relaxed, the covers were warm, but my husband was getting out of bed. We took our showers and got dressed. His scheduled flight to San Francisco yesterday afternoon was canceled due to poor weather in Chicago. We had run our errands and arrived at the airport on time yesterday only to return home together. Better to be stranded at home than in a far away airport, especially alone. We spent last evening together and the first hours of today, our 28th wedding anniversary. We had walked across the parking lot and into the airport on dry pavement, the eastern sky glowing orange as the sun made it's way into the morning sky. I kissed him goodbye at the security entrance and walked back to my van as the rain began to fall.

It has been a dark and gloomy day. I even went back to bed for an hour after returning home but the ringing of the phone woke me at 8 o'clock. I went for a haircut at ten. The house has been quiet and still, nobody home but me all day. The kids are out at a youth event. I lit a fire in the wood stove to take the dampness out of the air and lit two candles that I bought at Hobby Lobby on my way home from my haircut this morning. I should be cleaning the house, but instead I am enjoying the silence.

James called from California around 2:30 to let me know he had arrived safe and was with his sister. I pray they have a good weekend together, enjoy each others company, and are a blessing to their dad who is struggling to gain back his health and mobility after surgery and a heart attack. Prayers are appreciated. James is scheduled to fly back home on Monday.

Happy Birthday, Nate!

Nineteen years ago, on June 19, 1990, my friend and I delivered our babies on the same day. I had a healthy 8 pound boy. She had a tiny baby girl with Trisomy 18. Naomi Ann lived two days. I wish I had asked to see her while we were still in the same hospital. She died two days later. On my son's first birthday I wrote this poem for my friend.

FOR NATHAN

There's a little girl in heaven
Who is just about your size,
She plays peek-a-boo with Jesus
And watches angles fly.

And when she needs to have a hug,
She climbs on Jesus' knee,
He wraps His arms around her
And loves her perfectly.

Sometimes he tells her stories
About her mom and dad,
And how much her family loves her,
I know that makes her glad.

Jesus cares for children,
So if she ever cries,
He takes her up into His arms
And gently dries her eyes.

I watch you growing bigger,
And as you learn to stand,
She learns to walk in heaven
By holding Jesus' hand.


Nathan, Happy Birthday. I'm sorry we didn't get to celebrate yet this year. Give us a few days and we'll be enjoying that strawberry shortcake again. Marcia, I still love you. Karen, thank you for the timely reminder and for visiting my blog.

Allergies...

I'm not sure what kind of pollens are in the air right now. It's been so long since I was tested that I've long since lost the sheet listing the culprits that give me grief. All I recall is that I was allergic to the spring pollens, the summer pollens, and the fall pollens. Lucky for me there are no winter pollens...

For several years I received allergy injections which did wonders for my symptoms. Now I do my best to treat them myself and tough it out. This is my bad time of year. I sneeze incessantly and go through dozens of Kleenex each day. I feel like a regular "snot machine". I am drinking my way through my second pot of green tea today in hopes of liquefying that which fills my sinus cavities.

The cottonwood trees are in full "bloom", dropping their precious fuzz which then floats effortlessly through the air landing on roadsides, collecting in store entrances, and making it's way through my open car windows. With it's disappearance will come a lessening of my symptoms and welcome relief. Kleenex and Scotties will see a dramatic reduction in sales and I will breathe much easier at night.

In the Hands of the Potter

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Watching a potter at work always brings me back to realizing the work of God in my own life. He has not left me how I once was, but continues to mold and shape me. Over the past five or six years, I have watched Him change my heart and attitudes. He has taken away anger, selfishness, and unforgiveness. He is teaching me how to love unconditionally, to give without expecting anything in return, and to trust that He knows best. I have not arrived. He's still working on me but I am seeing changes. Sometimes the process is frightening, but only when I take my eyes off Him.

This afternoon I went looking for a photograph and found myself out in my husband's shop. At one point in time we planned to share a space and I moved my clay out of the dark, dank basement to a corner of the barn he had prepared for me. Things haven't worked out the way either of us had planned. I ended up taking a babysitting job and James ended up working in that particular barn more often than anticipated. The years have left a fine layer of dirt and sawdust everywhere. Hidden away in the drawer of a plastic organizer I found these pieces awaiting the fire. Maybe one day they will find their way into the kiln and be completed,... maybe.

I had to smile a little as I looked at them and recalled the words of the potter who visited our church on Sunday evening. Sometimes it seems that God has set us aside and forgotten us, but even in those times of waiting He has a purpose greater than we know. He is not finished with us but waiting for the right time to complete the next step in the process. I hope I can remember this when I feel set aside and forgotten. I pray I have the patience to wait for Him to finish what He has begun.

Blogger Fun (part 3)

Check out the photos I was able to upload this afternoon.

My dear husband, James, decided to accompany us on Friday's excursion with Tracy and Denis. Before heading to Rochester we stopped by the church to ask Pastor Stan where to find a good coffee house. He happens to be a coffee connoisseur like Denis, so we knew he would steer us in the right direction. Not only did he give some good locations but he offered to make both Denis and Tracy a cup of coffee right there at church. (We have a fancy cafe'.) Denis chose cappuccino and Tracy a sugar-free almond Latte. We had taken them to the right place and met up with the right man! Thank you, Pastor Stan.

Thursday evening Tracy had looked up some information on Rochester and so we set off to see what could be found. We drove up East Avenue where the rich and famous once lived and stopped by the George Eastman House. The outside gardens were quite pretty. We opted not to pay the $10 fee to get inside the mansion, instead we headed toward downtown and stopped at Brown's Race and the High Falls. Lots of history and some interesting sites. We had accidentally stumbled upon the "official" Rochester Welcome Center. Too bad I hadn't known about it earlier in the week...

Before heading home we made our way down to Charlotte, Ontario Beach Park, and the Port of Rochester. A few years ago we could have seen the Fast Ferry but it no longer makes it's home on Lake Ontario. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Harbor Hots and then walked back across the street for a frozen custard from Abbott's. Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Rachel had a BBQ planned for Friday evening and Tracy and I had a salad and a jello to finish, so after a quick grocery store stop, we went home to assemble our picnic contributions. It was a relaxed evening of good food and plenty of company. Priscilla was there with her girls, Beth and Adam came, as well as Jim and Josiah, and also my mom and Dad.

What a fun time. I am blessed to have Tracy and Denis as friends, blessed to have had them stay at my house, and blessed that we had this time to spend together. I hope they were able to find that coffee shop in Rochester on their way out of town and that they have a safe trip home to Oregon this next week. I'm looking forward to meeting again someday!

Missing: Internet

Uh oh, my internet connection has gone AWOL. We must take the computer in for treatment. Please stay tuned... or check back again later.

Blogger Fun (part 2)

Wednesday's trip to Sonnenberg Gardens was tough to match. The sky was rather overcast on Thursday and I wasn't quite sure what type of adventure to pursue. We had both Josh and Lucas in tow so we couldn't do anything too extravagant. I decided to take it easy on both the body and the pocketbook. After eating breakfast and watching Dave fill a large planter with an assortment of plants for one of his jobs, we packed up a stroller, 2 diaper bags, the little boys, and a very large container of sunflower seeds and headed off to Mendon Ponds Park where the birds normally eat out of our hands.

There were no hungry birds on this trip, although I did see one flashy red cardinal way up in the tree branches. There were no eager chickadees, no nuthatches, and no sparrows looking for a handout this time. There were, however, plenty of "famished" squirrels and chipmunks. If these little guys are not the healthiest critters around, they are certainly the best fed.
Since I wasn't holding the camera, there are not too many photos of Denis and Tracy at Mendon Ponds. And, where we were disappointed in the lack of birds, it was made up for somewhat in the fact that the squirrels came running down the path to meet us as though we were long lost friends. Josh thought it was great and when we would move on, he'd wave and say "Bye, Squirrel."

After a quick stop at Wendy's for a bite to eat, we drove up to the Irondequoit Bay outlet to toss some stale cereal to the waterfowl. Not a particularly exciting trip...

Later on Tracy and I did some laundry and took Denis to the Heluva Good Cheese Store in Sodus (I had never been there so this was new for me) and when we got home James cooked up some white hots for supper.

Blogger Fun (part 1)

It has been a fun week. I have met new people, gone new places and learned new things. Three years ago my sisters and I met Tracy on the blog. Now we have met both her and her husband, Denis, in person too. I'm not sure I can give an adequate recap of the past few days, but I shall make a valiant attempt.

Tracy and Denis arrived in time for supper on Tuesday and we had a wonderful few days together. On Wednesday Jim, and Rachel joined us for a ride down to Canandaigua where we met up with Priscilla and toured Sonnenberg Gardens. What a beautiful place! It was sad to see the gardens in such a state of disrepair but enchanting none the less. (I'm looking forward to a return trip in the near future.)
Around 1 o'clock we left the gardens for a lunch break at Gudrun and Gary's Rheinblick German Restaurant. It was wonderful as usual. Both Rachel and I enjoyed Reuben sandwiches. The best part was that Tracy got to meet another fellow blogger, Gudl. It was so much fun!

Here is the Blog Party at the Rheinblick where Gudrun joined us for a group photo.

After lunch we waited for Alicia to get off the school bus and she joined us for the remainder of our Sonnenberg Gardens tour.

Back at home Tracy, Denis and I decided to check out Lake Ontario and watch the sunset. It was a beautiful day!

A Long Distance Tea

Yesterday I received a package in the mail. This is really very exciting because rarely does a package come with my name unless I have ordered something and that is usually school books. School books are fun (sometimes...), but not typically what I would call exciting.

So anyway, I returned home from doing laundry to find a package waiting my arrival. It was sitting patiently on the top step by my back door. It came all the way from Florida. I smiled as I picked it up and headed in the house.

The sender had wrapped the box in several layers of clear packing tape. I looked for something to cut through it and found a screwdriver handy. Inside, wrapped in newspaper, were two beautiful tea cups and two saucers from my dear friend, Ann.

Years ago, when she lived nearby, we shared many cups of tea both at her home and mine. Our children played while we talked and laughed. Though she is now far away, a cup of tea still brings her face to my mind. I hear her voice, her laugh, and I miss her.

I love you, Ann! Thank you for the lovely tea cups. Does anyone care to join us for a spot of tea? Would you like a cookie with yours? What kind? I think I'll take molasses.

Somebody Turned the Heat Up!

We carefully covered our garden boxes last evening to protect them from the cold and woke up this morning to very pleasant temperatures. I'm not complaining! I love it!!!

Crazy weather...

Where Has Summer Gone?

My poor little garden is looking sad and cold. Our temperatures have not quite been conducive to warm weather vegetables. The leaves are falling off my pepper plants and my tomatoes are not a healthy looking green, rather a reddish brown/green. Even my marigolds are shivering. We decided something must be done and, since my garden is planted in small boxes, the remedy is not too difficult. I just hope it isn't too late.

We went to Loews and bought four ten foot lengths of half inch PVC to form a frame over the boxes and covered this with "clear" plastic. It is held down by sticks and rocks. The hope is that this will create a nice little greenhouse type of atmosphere where my poor little plants can recover from their bout with the not so ideal temperatures of the past few weeks. I'm even thinking it may be prudent to buy a few new pepper plants just in case it is too late for those I already planted. In July, when the Japanese beetles show up, I intend to cover my dear little garden with mosquito netting. (I already encircled it with fencing to keep my dear cats from using it for a litter box. The question is can I thwart all the saboteurs that keep attacking my hard work?)

Sisters

Sisters, I am blessed with two of them and we are close enough in age to have a childhood full of happy memories. When my first daughter was small I wished a little sister for her, but the years passed without another girl, instead we welcomed a baby brother into our home. We named him Josiah. After Josiah, Bethany welcomed another little brother into the world. I don't recall how old she was when she actually told me she wanted a baby sister. I wasn't planning to have any more babies and so replied, "And where do you think you're going to get one?" She smiled and replied, "From out of you!"

I'm certain that my dear daughter prayed sincerely for a little sister and in late March of 1993 I was once again pregnant. While we had been prepared for another baby boy when Nathan arrived in 1990, this time the ultrasound had not revealed the sex of the baby. Bethany was absolutely sure, in spite of our warnings, that a sister was on the way. When the baby was born and her Grandma told her that she had another brother, my sweet daughter disappeared into a dark corner of Grandma's house for a good cry. At the hospital I placed the squirming baby in her arms and asked her if she wanted to send him back. She said no and decided Benjamin was beautiful even if he was a boy.

With each child added, our home became not only noisier, but less space was available to put them. James and I had already moved out of the master bedroom of our home and into a smaller room to make space for our crew of boys. Bethany shared her tiny bedroom with Benjamin. Our house was full but God had heard the prayers of a small girl. Expecting once again, the ultrasound this time revealed the baby would be a girl. We warned Bethany that sometimes they were wrong.

By the time Hannah arrived in July of 1995, our first little girl was closing in on 10 years old. She was ecstatic to have a baby sister and Hannah, eager to catch up with Bethany, did her best to outgrow every pair of clothes she owned within three months time. Ten years is a lot when children are five and 15 but as my daughters grow I have watched the gap close. I am blessed to see the love and affection they have for each other and thankful for the answered prayer of a little girl surrounded by brothers.