Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 1 Peter 3:3

I am posting an old photograph this morning. Fourteen years ago I had short hair, but my husband loves it long and so I have let it grow. The problem is in knowing what to do with long hair. I tie it back; that is the only thing I know how to do. Yesterday I thought it would be nice to have it trimmed up a bit; cut the layers back, and give it a fresh look. I have decided that even some experienced hairdressers truly do not know how to cut hair. I can't go back and complain to someone I have known since high school, even if we never were best friends. I will have to deal with the bad cut, and it is bad, and wait for my hair to grow. I have never been good at the "grin and bear it" thing, at least not when it comes to my hair. On the positive side, I have been losing some weight. Maybe I can deal with the hair better if I am not also dealing with a double chin...

A Bad Hair Day

Hannah and I got up a little early this morning and headed out to Webster for some shopping. We stopped in Walmart first for cat food, laundry detergent, soap, toothpaste and other various and sundry items. From Walmart we went to Wegman's for a few grocery items and then stopped for gas before going to Dave's house to pick up Lucas. We still had a little over an hour before noon, when I have to get Troy from preschool, so I thought maybe I could squeeze in a haircut. I've been wanting to get it cut for weeks now. (The top photo is from a week or so ago. It's my wild hair.)

The shop wasn't too busy but the hairdressers weren't in much of a hurry either. By the time I got in the chair it was 11:15. Not too bad, but I am a little indecisive when it comes to what I want done with my hair. We decided on trimming up the layers (what little there were...), taking a little off the length, and cutting my "bangs". We chatted away as she cut. I watched the clock and eventually became a bit concerned at the time. It was apparent the cut would not be done soon enough for me to pick Troy up on time. Since I know the hairdresser from high school we decided that I would take my half-cut hair, run back to town, and retrieve Troy (Hannah went in to get him), and then I would return and have my haircut finished. Of course, by the time we returned Lucas had decided he was hungry, so I made him a bottle, and Hannah took Troy into the grocery store to find him a yogurt and some pretzels.

Finally my hair was done, I paid for the cut and we headed home. I don't like my hair. It looks chopped. I wet it down and blew it dry. I sprayed it with a half gallon of "Instant Freeze". I am afraid to go near the wood stove. I think it looks a little better but now I can't relax. If I lay down or lean my head back with hair this crunchy, it might break off.

The Bad Biting Birds

Yesterday afternoon was cold and brisk, but the sun was shining, so we decided to go for a ride along the lake. I stuffed the last few slices from a loaf of bread into my coat pocket, just in case we should happen upon any hungry birds. James had not been down to feed the birds at the bay, so we decided it was a good place to stop. The wind was bitter and the birds were biting. The swans fascinate me, even if they are intimidating. There is something exciting about the threatening way they look me in the eye, as if they are about to attack. They are the least intimidated of all the water foul at the bay and think nothing of walking right up next to us. I wounder how swan tastes?

Rather than heading back toward home we drove further along the lake toward Charlotte (pronounced Shar-lot) and the "Port of Rochester". I am looking forward to returning to these places when the weather warms up in a few weeks. By April we'll have to take the long way around as the bridge at the bay outlet will be removed for the summer. Maybe one day we'll take a tour of the Charlotte Lighthouse. That's it in yesterday's photo.

Sunday Scripture

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

A Special Book

About ten years ago my friend Judy wrote a children's book. Her sister Nancy did the illustrations. Every time I read it I have to smile because this picture looks so much like I remember Judy. My copy of the book is signed by the illustrator but not the author. I bought it from Nancy on Amazon.com. Maybe someday I will have it autographed by my friend too.

A Heavy Heart

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Prayers are not always answered in the way we would hope. Sometimes a situation seems distant and far off until a friend's tragedy jars us back to reality. How is it that God has knit the body of Christ together in such a way that another's tragedy hits so close to one's own heart? Today my heart is heavy for our pastor and his family. He is on his way home to Philadelphia to be with his nieces and nephew who lost a brother in an unexpected turn of events. We had prayed the past few months for this particular nephew who was recently released from prison, and his sudden death jolts us awake from sleep. The legacy he leaves is marred and tarnished; the world is happy to see him gone, but left behind are hurting souls who desperately need to know the love and forgiveness of Christ and a God who wants so much to save them. Left behind is an uncle who shared the gospel and had hopes that his nephew would surrender his life to Jesus. Left behind are tears and sorrow, but through it all there is a Father in heaven who cares deeply and knows each heart. He doesn't make mistakes. He knows the future before the event occurs and nothing takes Him by surprise. I know He answers prayer and in Him there is always hope, even in the saddest of situations, but it still makes my heart cry.

You are a Holy God, An all consuming fire

You're robed in majesty, Bright shining as the sun

Your ways are not our ways, Your thoughts are high above

You are the fountain Lord, Of mercy truth and love (and we cry)

Holy, Holy is the Lord God most high

Holy, Holy is the Lord most high

Dilapidated

Tonight I am feeling tired and achy. Maybe after some ibuprophen, a warm bath, and some comfy jammies I will feel better. Tomorrow is another day. I intend to get a good night's sleep and have a productive Thursday. Maybe we'll bake some more cookies; the double batch of peanut butter ones we baked on Monday has been devoured. I was a good girl and only ate one. Funny but the milk seems to have disappeared along with the cookies.

I don't want to make it sound like I had a bad day, actually my day was very nice. I had some great "Grandma time" with Lucas and Rachel came to visit for a little while. We had to laugh at the baby who found the ceiling fan to be very entertaining. He looked up at it and smiled several times during the day. Who can ever know what a two month old finds so wonderful about a ceiling fan? I had to wonder if God ever watches me, shakes his head, laughs and says, "Now why does she find that so interesting?"

It Was On a Monday

President's Week is over and the kids are back to school. Troy showed up bright and early this morning. I decided to get something accomplished today and had everyone bring their sheets and blankets downstairs where I tossed them, one bed at a time, into my machines. After five loads of washing and drying, we all have clean beds, even the boys! I also set about to mop the kitchen floor. Although I know this is not a waste of time, it is not a job I look forward to. My linoleum is old and full of dents, dings and gouges. I often feel like a good washing won't help but it always looks better when it's all said and done.

Troy and I drew some pictures together this morning; cars, trucks and animals. He found my filling of vehicles with furry friends quite amusing. We even tied a dog to the roof of an automobile. Our other morning activity was baking peanut butter cookies. I don't do much baking anymore but I knew Troy would like it. He helped dump ingredients and turned the handle on my sifter. Once I rolled the dough into balls, he criss crossed every cookie. He was very pleased with himself and took a dozen cookies home to share with his family.

Sunday Scripture

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalm 18:36

Babies and Such

Being a grandparent can be a busy job. Not only are there small children who need tending, but there are adult children who need assistance. Dave and Leta have had some car trouble, so on Thursday morning I picked up Dave and the baby at their house and dropped Dave off at work before returning home with the baby. (Leta was working.) Yesterday I dropped two girls (Hannah and Sara) off at church for the Junior's Winter Retreat and returned home with Lucas. Lucas was returned to Mom and Dad for the evening, aound six o'clock, and I picked up some Chinese food on the way home. This morning Bethany called. It was her turn to watch Lucas during the retreat, but she and Adam were stranded up in town with a broken down vehicle. I went up town to retrieve Beth and Josh, took them to church where we collected the baby, and then went to Wegmans because Josh was out of diapers. Lucas stayed with Aunt Bethany for the afternoon where he produced four stinky diapers while I was home in my quiet house taking a nap on the couch. Soon Bethany will arrive with the little bundle who James and I will return to his adoring parents when we go to get Hannah from church.

The other day James and I were talking and realized that if our children all had children when we did, we would have fifteen grandchildren by now! And I thought the past few days were busy!

A Cousin Convention

I have had a different kind of week and enjoyed it very much. Although there is no school and Troy has not been here, my house has been full of children since Tuesday. I had both my grandsons here today and Sara and Alysa. Little Lucas is cousin to each of the others and though Sara and Alysa aren't actually Josh's cousins, they like to refer to him that way. He's like family to them and they are like family to us.
The girls are very kind to the little ones and love to take a turn holding the baby. Today they shared some time giving him his bottle.

I can't say my house has been spotless, there have been "jewels" scattered across each room most every day, but I have to smile when I recall the years not so long ago when my house was decorated with toys every day. I thought my kids might never grow up; now I know how fast it actually happens. I don't want to miss one day enjoying these little people.

Baby Love

Lucas and Alysa.

Feeding the Birds

No school this week. After Ladies' prayer and Bible study, I took the kids (Ben, Hannah, Sara, and Alysa) down to Irondequoit Bay to feed the birds. Aside from the few pieces that Sara and Alysa ate, the birds consumed a whole loaf of sandwich white bread. They were hungry.

These geese look like regular farm geese. I don't know if they are a domesticated breed or indigenous to the area. I like them. They are prettier to me than the Canada geese.

The seagulls are noisy, grabby birds but not typically frightening, the swans on the other hand are quite intimidating. One was close enough that I thought he might try to take a piece out of me. I was wearing my winter jacket and didn't think it would hurt (although it might...) but I didn't want to lose my cool and make a fool out of myself by screaming or jumping around like an idiot. I backed off and tossed him some crumbs.

The seagulls are still walking around on what little ice is left near the shore. They put up a fuss and make all kinds of noise when there is food around. My favorite thing is to catch a photo of them in flight. With the wind blowing a little bit today, they were able to hover in the air quite nicely.

The Canada geese will hang out here at the shore for the entire year. As long as there is food and plenty of room to build a nest, they will stay. I've been hearing their calls the past few mornings when I am waking up. Spring can't be too far off when the geese are flying.

I missed getting a picture of the mallard ducks. They are a little more timid, I guess, than the other water foul and stay in a section of water where they are protected and things are a bit more calm. For the price of a loaf of bread we enjoyed a little time at the bay. The girls thought it was fun even if the swans were scary.

George Washington

Today our country "observes" George Washington's birthday, whatever that means. Usually it means the banks and libraries are closed as well as schools, but other than that I'm not sure anything special happens in too many places. I just happened to have, in my collection, a photograph of young George and thought today the perfect time to post it. As you can see he has a cherry branch in his clutches.

This was actually one of the neighbor boys when my brother was small and next door to our house grew a cherry tree. Each summer we would pick the sour cherries and eat them or try to sell them door to door. Once in a while Mom would decide to bake them into a pie. One year, I think I was in junior high, I was up in the tree and decided to jump on one of the branches. It couldn't handle the stress and the whole thing snapped off leaving a gapping hole. For several days I was known to my brother by the name George.

Following are a few quotes from our first President and founding father, George Washington-

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."

"Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."
"To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace."

(Maybe today I'll make a cherry pie...)

Another Day in the Park

Ben, Hannah, and I went out for another ride this afternoon. We stopped in Target to pay my bill and grab a few things then wandered around in Kohl's for a while. Afterward we decided to make a return trip to Webster Park. Following a week of warm, rainy weather, we knew the shore would look drastically different from Monday. Much of the snow and ice has melted away and in places the shoreline is now visible, but great chucks of fringed ice remain glued to the breakwater.
Farther down Lake Road, just over the bay outlet bridge, we stopped to check out the pier at Irondequoit Bay. I was surprised to see a man in a black wetsuit hop out of a car with a boogie board under his arm. He seemed almost in a hurry as he strode across the sidewalk and down to the water's edge. He placed the board into the frigid water, climbed on, and paddled away toward the the lake.

I really wanted to go out to the end of the pier, but the wind was bitter, my hood wouldn't stay on, and my face was frozen. Ben and Hannah did have winter jackets with them but, of course, had left them in the van. (Can you tell they're still best friends?) We made it out as far as the bend in the sidewalk, turned around, and ran halfway back.
A large population of water foul congregates on the bay side of the road. Photographers find it fascinating and so do bird watchers. We hadn't brought along any bread for the birds, but there was someone there who did. She sat up on a rock, put a piece of bread in the palm of her hand, and held it up for the birds. Every once in a while one brave gull would swoop down and grab the prize. For those who weren't so bold, she tossed chunks of bread onto the rocks or ice.
Something else out on the ice caught our eyes this afternoon, a couple of emergency workers practicing an ice/water rescue. I'm sure they were dressed warm and waterproof, and know what they are doing, but it still looks scary to me. After a week of temperatures in the 50's or above the ice is extremely dangerous. There were no ice fishermen to be seen.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, James!

I love you!

More Family Artwork

This is a painting done by my grandmother. I asked my dad if he had any information on it but he had little to offer aside from the fact that it once hung in my grandparent's kitchen and he had always liked it. He once told my grandpa that he wanted to have it someday, but Grandpa didn't remember and gave it to one of my cousins. John did offer to give it back to my father, but Dad said no, he was happy to have it in the hands of someone who cared. So, it is still in the family, well loved and taken care of, and my cousin was kind enough to take a picture and email it to me. There are two other paintings as well but this is definitely the prettiest. Grandma didn't consider herself to be the artist that her two sisters were, but I think she did a wonderful job.

The Return of Teal Lake and a Warm Snuggly Baby or Two

It's definitely one of those Winnie the Pooh days; blustery is almost an understatement. Between the melting snow and driving rain, we have collected up quite the backyard puddle. The consolation is in knowing there is now a working drain and once the present water table drops, our backyard lake will disappear.

It has been a busy kind of day, not only do I have Troy, but I also have two small grandsons. I'm back to the days of diapers and bottles. My floors are decorated with toys; cars, plastic farm animals, play dishes, and Fisher Price toys. Ben is reading a story to Troy and Lucas is asleep on my lap. Josh is taking his nap and the kitchen is waiting to be cleaned up from lunch. If I didn't have to check on the fire I'd just stay here with this warm cozy baby asleep on my lap.

Baby!

Hello?