God likes white dishes

Or at least He wanted me to have some.

You see, I've been using this strange conglomeration of plates for several years now. So many of them have broken and the rest are chipped. And I've been ready to switch them out for something new. Or at least new to me.

I've shopped online. I drooled at IKEA. I even picked out the set of dishes I wanted. At IKEA.

But IKEA is far away from me. Very far. Too far to drive for dishes.

Today I felt compelled to visit yard sales the town nearest me. You must understand, I dearly love yard sales, but rarely do I make myself get up early on a Saturday morning to yard sale.

So off I went. On my drive out our 1/2 mile driveway I prayed and asked God for white dishes.

Immediately I thought, what are the chances of finding white dishes at a yard sale?!? No one is going to be selling white dishes at a yard sale. And Lord, son one also needs jeans.

Yard sale #1. I looked through bins of boys clothing. Stained and expensive. Then I walked toward the back of the yard. There on a small table were {drumroll, please} white dishes! Lots of white dishes. Twelve dinner plates. Twenty two luncheon plates. Twenty three bowls. Ten mugs. Yes, I know it's an odd assortment. But it was the white dishes I'd asked for. For ten bucks.

Yard sale #2 was where I found the 2 pair of nearly new Wrangler jeans for son one.

And now you know why I think God likes white dishes.

(Yes, I started this post several weeks ago and here it is finally. My sincere apologies to those sweet friends who keep checking back for something new. I wish I could tell you how much I'd love to blog every single day. But I'm not supermom. Maybe someday it will happen. For now, I'm a sometimes blogger. )

So girlfriends, Blissfully Domestic is giving away a sleep number bed!! Race on over to her site and leave a comment for a chance to win!!

I must confess. I did. 

Comings and Goings

I'm busy.

I'm always busy.

I can't even count the times I wish I could blog. I want to share things God is teaching me. I want to tell you the things I love about teaching my children at home. I want to ponder aloud the goodness of God in His great love for me. Love for me that doesn't change based on what I do or don't do. I want to post my favorite pictures. I want to write and write and write. 

But I'm busy.

I find myself in a most wonderful time of life, with less time to chronicle it than ever before. How frustrating. 

So maybe I'll be like Mary and "ponder all these things in [my] heart". And hopefully every now and again the pondering will dribble out here so you can share my joy. 

I will say this: Aslan is on the move. Last weekend there were so many "God-moments" for Daniel and I. Things we heard. People we met. Things we "happened" to hear on the radio (we NEVER listen to the radio). Unexpected conversations. Prayers of blessing for us. Scriptures prayed for us. 

Our God is amazing. 

Our 2 year interim here at Mattawana Mennonite Church is finished in August. And so we find ourselves asking, "God, what is next? Where do we go? What do You want us to do?" 

Those questions haven't be answered yet. But Aslan is on the move. And the answer will come in time. Whenever He is ready. 

And we'll take whatever adventure Aslan sends to us. Because even though He isn't safe, He is good. 

And that's not a pat answer. 

Celebrate!!!!

Yes. It's really true. Today is National Candy Corn day. Grab a handful and. . . celebrate!!!

(And for all you moms out there, tomorrow isn't just that holiday we wish would go away, it's another one we don't even know about: National Knock-Knock Jokes Day. P.S. Don't tell the kids. Cause if you do, it'll be a very long day.)

Sweetness for Monday

Happiness is like a kiss - it feels best when you give it to someone else. 

Author Unknown

Don't try this at home. Unless you're up for adventure.

About a month ago we purchased a Subaru wagon on eBay. Rosie Cotton (Yes, we are one of those strange families who actually name their vehicles. And yes, there is a reason her name is Rosie. She's a beautiful dark red color. I added the Cotton because, well, if you're a fan of LOTR, you'll understand.) Rosie needed a new clutch, but now she's ready to drive. I love to drive a tight little 5 speed, and Rosie fits the bill. 

So, Wednesday afternoon the girls and I were off to Walmart and a few other stops. After one stop I went to shift into reverse in the parking lot and viola, the whole gear shifter came off in my hand. 

First, let me tell you what I did not do. I did not cry. I did not curse. I did not pray. I did not call my husband. I think maybe I should have prayed, but I wasn't worried about anything. And Jesus knew where I was anyway. 

Here is what I saw:

Hmm. 

And here is what I did: I decided I would see if I could actually shift the car while I was still in the parking lot. I figured if it worked, I could just finish my shopping and drive home. If it didn't work, I could always call my darling husband and yell for help. 

It worked. I was thrilled. :o) 

It was kinda fun. 

Don't try this unless you like adventure. 

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering what choice names we have for our other vehicles, I'll tell you. Our green Suburban is called Big Daddy. And Daniel's little Mazda pickup that blows clouds of blue smoke on start up (when there's really nothing in the world wrong with his engine), well, he's called Little Smokie. Little Smokie's up for sale now that we have Rosie Cotton. Any takers?

Among other things. . .

*sigh* I never intended it to be so long between blog posts. I love blogging. But alas, as I mentioned before, it is summer. And I don't remember a summer quite as "traveled" as this one. Although I guess last summer had it's own unique set of circumstances. Moving a family of 7 who've lived in the same house for 5 years and accumulated lots of "stuff". So, maybe this summer isn't quite so crazy after all. . . 

So far this summer we've enjoyed 

• a trip to D.C., 
• a week of Hobbs family vacation (Daniel's dad, grandmother, sister, brother, sister-in-law, four cousins ages 5 and under. . . plus our family* * * what a wonderful time!!), 
• a 50th wedding anniversary celebration,
• then the Yellow Bus Adventure (see previous post),
  
• a week at home to recover from the comings and goings and celebrate Tobin's birthday
• a week at Beulah Camp in Gordon, Pa. Daniel, Nathan, Esther, Carlee and I did all the music for camp this year, and Dr. Allen Brown was our evangelist. 
• a trip to Ohio for Choral Camp at RBC. Emmy and Sophia LOVED Choral Camp! And since RBC is located only minutes from my parents home, we loved the week with Grandpa and Nana. We've spent some time nearly every day in their pond. I must say that the Hobbits are becoming quite the little fish. Very brown little fish. 

*sigh* So here I am in Ohio. I drove our Suburban from PA to OH last Sunday with 7 children (I brought along 2 girls from Belleville who needed a ride to Choral Camp). 

It's been a whole week without my husband. And I'm over it. These times give me a whole new appreciation for parents who "go it alone" all the time. I'm the one who is responsible for everything. Everything from Scripture reading and prayer in the morning, to tucking in and prayers at night. Keeping track of swimmers in the pond, and little children who forget to close doors and let all the air conditioning outside. Children who struggle with bad attitudes just because the summer has been so much time away from home. And Papa isn't here. 

And so we're staying on at Mom and Dad's house until our church conference begins on Thursday, July 24 in northern Ohio. With gas prices as they are it didn't make much sense to drive all the way home and then back again several days later. Besides, it give the children (and me!!) a chance to spend time with Grandparents. And Greatgrandparents. 

My dad's parents have been living with Mom and Dad for the last several years. With Grandpa and Grandma Showalter's declining health, Mom and Dad have entered the challenging phase of caregiving. They are doing a beautiful job of creating a peaceful, loving, stable environment in which the elders can grow old with dignity. 

This makes coming home to Grandpa and Nana's house an interesting phenomenon. We presently have in this home: 3 adults, 5 children ages three to nine, and 2 very elderly adults who require care. The combination has been very interesting. Hmm. Did I say that already?

Great grandma loves the activity and never wants to miss anything. She loves to listen in on stories that are read. She loves to sit by the patio doors at the back of the house and watch the activity in the pond. She wants to make sure she's not in anyones way. 

Great grandpa likes things quiet. He doesn't hear well and when his hearing aids are turned up he catches all kinds of little sounds the children make. I've had to tell Sophia not to whistle in the house. He is constantly watching the children and reminding them to close the doors, or not to throw balls in the house or something else he sees them doing that he thinks they shouldn't do. 

And so I have to be reminded not to take things personally. And remember that I'm living in a nursing home these weeks. I want the children to be sensitive to the elders, but it has been rather hard to make sure they're always quiet, or not running, or speaking in an inside voice. I know these are very special days with Grandparents who may not be around much longer. I must cherish them while I still have them.

Sorry there aren't any pics to accompany this rambling post. If you reach this point, I congratulate you. You must be one of my very faithful readers! Probably the rest gave up by the end of the first paragraph. 

There are deep thoughts rolling around in my head, but it's too early to blog about them. The last several weeks have been full of a lot of emotion regarding things happening at church and our involvement there. But that's a post for another time. . .

And so, that's my update for now. . . among other things. . .

Randomness. . .

I'm enjoying my new camera. Can you tell?

An overwhelming gift

Today I was overwhelmed. 

I've dreamed of owning a slightly more professional camera for some time. But there was no way I could just go out and buy one. I've talked to people who take great pictures. I've looked at really great cameras. But it always ended there. 

Today the UPS guy drove in my driveway. Emmy ran out to get the package. Today the package had my name on it. I tried to remember if there was something I'd ordered. Had I bought something on eBay and forgotten about it? Where had this package come from? 

I quizzed my husband. He hadn't ordered anything. Then I opened it. 

Inside I found the very camera I'd been shopping for and dreaming of. I stood at the kitchen table in front of the open box. . . and cried. 

Who could have sent me this gift? And why? 

Later in the day I discovered the giver. He said it was the most fun he'd had all week. I'm not sure who was more excited; him or me.

This gift felt like another hug from God. A gift given by someone who loves me, but prompted by the Spirit of God. I was left feeling so grateful, but so unworthy. What an awesome gift. Most of the day I've felt totally speechless. I've alternated between laughter and tears. 

And so God sent us His only Son. A gift we don't deserve. A gift we can never repay. A gift given by Someone Who loves us very much. A gift that is the Spirit of God. 

Thanks Keith. 

My first picture: mushrooms. 

Tristen likes to pretend he's taking pictures too. 

This is the Hobbit's favorite new way to come down the stairs. Tristen and Papa do it side by side regularly. Here I caught Sophia trying it. 

Children and books are a very common sight at this house. . . 

"For God so loved the world that He gave. . . " John 3:16

Off to Mom's house

We leave for Ohio this morning. Daniel and my dad will spend Tuesday through Thursday at a pastor's meeting in western Ohio. The children and I will spend the week with Mom and Grandpa and Grandma Showalter. 

I'm not sure how much blogging I'll do while I'm gone, but hopefully I'll at least be able to post a few updates for friends at home. 

Thankfully, Mom has a big, beautiful iMac in her office I can use, so at least I won't be having Mac withdrawals!

More later. . . 

Why?

I want to know why my house is being invaded by a colony of very tiny ants. It's the dead of winter. We are having snow and ice and sleet and rain. 

Where are the ants coming from? And why are they just showing up now? I could understand if it was summer and I could see a trail of them coming in around a door jamb. But now?

And so, upon the advice of two friends, I purchased Terro. From what I hear it's the only ant killer that really works. I'm trying. The bait's been out for about a week and I'm starting to find dead ants. Hopefully they'll take the yummy poison back to all their relatives and they'll all go to ant heaven together. That way they won't be wandering around under my sink and in my spice cupboard anymore. 

About that ice: when I got up and looked out the window this morning, the bright overcast sky shone it's light on a very shiny road. It was glare ice. But at 30˚ and rain, it's melting. The children are begging to play outside today.

I said only if it's not raining. 

Peace

Here is my current "centerpeace" on our dining room table.