FirstBorn Family

What a Day of Rejoicing!

2010-06-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've never wanted to have my family spread across America. So, it was a sad day for us two years ago when our son decided to move across the states so far away. But, the Lord had plans that I didn't see back then. He led our son to leave us for awhile so that he could find the wife that the He had in store for him. Our boy found the love of his life and as in the scriptures it says, "he that findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord!".

So today, it is with great rejoicing that our boy is coming home. Our family will once again be complete! We are so blessed to be welcoming him back home with his new dear wife, Daughter #5! What a good day it is!

Sorry about the Comment Field Not Showing up

2010-06-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

I was getting weird comments about a month ago and someone dear to me let me know that I should probably not allow comments for a while. Then I forgot about it! Oops!

Hopefully all will be well now and you can comment if you like!

PS Thanks for the text Sis. Rosalie!

Gone, But Not Forgotten

2010-05-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

I guess you've all noticed that I've been out from the blogging scene for a while now. Pretty much since we got back from Oklahoma from our son's wedding. Since then, I've been using my normal blogging time for something else. I used to kiss my husband as I got him out the door and then hurry up, make my breakfast, get my cup of coffee and then sit down and read the blogs and write on mine.

But, while we were on our trip for the wedding, I spent a lot of time just watching my grown children interact. I wished so much for more time with them all. And realized that my time with them was slowly going away. They had each other and really didn't need me. What I found out was, I still needed them, and wanted to be with them. I took a good hard look at myself and how I was feeling physically. I'm not in any way old. But I wasn't feeling very good. Nagging feelings of different kinds were swirling around my head. I knew I wasn't exercising or eating right, even though I knew I should. Those guilty feelings kept being swept under the rug! But you can only do that for so long.

So, I came home and sought the Lord about how I was feeling. It kept being pressed on my mind that my labor wasn't ended yet with my children. I thought a lot about my lifestyle. What I do each day and what the Lord thought of me. How much I sought Him about what to do for Him. And also things like: What I eat. Why I eat. Why I didn't exercise. And how these two different kind of thoughts correlate. If I work against the Lord, and don't take care of the body He has given me, then will I be here for Him to use in my later years for my children...or my children's children?

I truly believe the Lord has given us the many blessings we all have in our lives. We live in an era of luxury here in America. We can all go to the store and buy the food we need. I say need; not want. Maybe someone wants lobster and they can't buy that. But we don't need lobster. There's a huge difference between need and want. And I think that's what the Lord began to really show me. I want to do many things, but do I need to do them? What do I really need to do? Or eat? And there I came face to face with myself. And it brought me to my knees.

So these past three months, I've been kissing my husband goodbye and then running and putting my exercise clothes on and exercising. I've lost 25 pounds. I have 45 more to go. Yes, you read that right. I have a long way to go. I just hit a milestone. I am now considered "overweight" not "obese". And I'm celebrating by writing this post.

Now, in no way would I want any of you to believe that this 25 lbs came off easy. I can't begin to tell you the many tears I've shed and the many times I have been on my face literally before the Lord, begging for His help to just keep going. There is no absolute way I'm doing this without Him. And then that brings me to another thought, over and over again. And here it is; I'm spending so much time on exercising my body... but what about exercising myself unto Godliness? Do I want His help getting spiritually healthy enough to seek Him as much as I've sought for His help in getting physically healthy? I'm still working on this. But I do know, I am going to keep working on it. Trying. Seeking for His help. Because, ultimately I have to present myself to Him. And I want so much to be a usable vessel. Both spiritually and physically.

May God help me in this endeavor.

Eight Pelkeys in a Two Bedroom House-

2010-02-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

First thing this morning, bodies were lying all over the carpeted floors, suitcases littered the the dining room, and now here I am just trying to make breakfast in a kitchen with only Teflon pans...gasp! Oh and someone (?) cracked the coffee pot yesterday. Mmm...was it me? It's cozy here in the kitchen, knowing that my children (mostly) are all around me. Son #4, who is getting married, went off to work today. Son #2, got a chance to go work with the brethren that live here, which is exciting for him and I think the rest of the guys will go and have lunch with them later.

I made a sandwich for Son #4 this morning which I had to promptly throw out once I realized that the lunchmeat was icky. But I made another one with good meat and he went out the door this morning with probably his last ever "Momma made it" lunch, and that is making me sad. Son #3 is trying to get some more rest, he is our "headache boy". He gets such terrible headaches. My heart is sad and I'm praying he gets up soon and feels better.

The sun came out yesterday in the afternoon and the snow all started to melt. No more icicles. The Dad and I went to the airport in the late afternoon and picked up the other three sons. It was so nice to see their big smiles and camaraderie as we met up with them and packed them tight into the car to bring them to the house. Then, last night we went to a place called Freddy's Frozen Custard. After that, we went to see some of the brethren. When we got back to the house it was fun to watch and see everyone snuggle down and settle in for sleep.

Trip to OKC

2010-02-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

We are here in OKC for Son #4's wedding! What a surprise to come down out of the clouds and find that the whole earth as far as we could see was white and covered in snow. Okay, I did know that they had a big snow storm here last week, but when we have snow storms in OR, the snow is gone in a day or two. Big surprise, this snow is going no where fast! There are the hugest icicles hanging from everywhere! Driving under the light signals is a scary endeavor. There are icicles hanging down from up there; what if one decides to fall down on our car as we travel under it? Yikes! Our new daughter-in-law, Daughter #5, confesses she has a similar fear after knowing someone who actually was killed by a falling icicle!

We are heading out shopping today, getting some things to help outfit Son #4's home. Especially since very soon there will be 8 Pelkeys staying in this small house!

Listening last night to the laughter of my children being reunited with their missing brother was such a joy to my heart. I can't wait until more of the kids get here later this evening to reunite with Son #4! I wish so badly that our whole family could have come, grandchildren and all. But, I'm going to enjoy every second I have while I'm here, cooking and cleaning and taking care of my loved ones all I can.

And the Winner is....!!!

2010-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so you all probably know that I am a librarian, (or at least a librarian wanna-be) and that I absolutely adore Children's Books. Well, late last year I found the most amazing book called, "The Lion & the Mouse" that I totally fell in love with. There are few words in this book, it's a retelling, by beautiful pictures, of the Aesop's fable. The wonderful thing is, this retelling doesn't need the words. Nope. The story is told through the illustrations. I can't say enough times how happy I am that this book won the 2010 Caldecott Medal which is given each year to "the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." Jerry Pinkney is the illustrator and his book is definitely worth the medal in my humble opinion.

If you want to see a few more of the pictures, click here on the Amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Mouse-Jerry-Pinkney/dp/0316013560/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264092207&sr=8-1

Or better yet,head to your local library and request the book! Then sit down and enjoy this wonderful book with your children that evokes words such as courage, valor, uncertainty, heroic deeds, loyalty and most of all enduring friendship.

Oh! And don't forget to enjoy the end paper!

Uplifted by Bounty

2010-01-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

About five years ago, my husband and I were able to make a work trip that put us within a three hour drive of a bustling community where there were many of our Church of the Firstborn churches. With great excitement we made plans to go on this trip! We wrote all the names of the area's surrounding churches onto little pieces of paper and put them in a bag and then got on our knees and prayed that the Lord would direct us to the place He would choose. Then we picked out two names.

The first church we went to was on a Wednesday night. We got there at the appointed time and no one was there! We were so disappointed. So we got out the church directory and called one of the elders to ask if they still had Wednesday night meetings at the appointed time. And we found out that we had crossed the time zone back an hour on our trip to the church! We had arrived an hour too early. The brethren all came then to the church house and welcomed us with such love and care. They prayed for us in meeting, thanked us for coming and made our hearts so glad that the Lord had brought us to meet them. Generously we were offered a place to stay that night, but since we had to get back to work the next day we made plans to come back that Saturday night to stay with them and they would take us around to meet other brethren in the area.

Our visit those five years ago opened a door for fellowship with these dear saints. Our little body of brethren here in Oregon has been through a lot in these past few years. But with the love and prayers of the brethren in that body we met back then, we all have been so comforted. They have been there with us, praying with us when our dear Sis. B. was sick, nigh unto death. They opened up their homes when two of our older sisters traveled to their part. Again, they treated our sisters with the utmost love and care! Our daughters became pen pals. And as a few of the sisters here started blogs, a few of their sisters started blogs and we got to share more in each others lives even though we were so many miles apart. Us girls have laughed and cried and rejoiced and sorrowed with one another through our blogs. We've come before the throne of God for each other and I have been so edified!

And then just recently, when our little church was flooded. And ruined. What did these brethren do? They gathered their bounty and sent it to our church. That's what they did! I wanted to write this little blog post to let that body of Christ, so far away, know that our little body over here has been so comforted and uplifted that you all would once again show your love and care to us. Times are hard everywhere right now, and so our brethren know how much what was given meant to you all. Thank you, and God bless your little assembly so far away. We all love you all!

Written and edited together by Me and The Dad <3

I'm dreaming of.... Tiger Butter?

2009-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

Over at Hillbilly Housewife's blog I found this recipe that sounds SOOOO good! I want some. Maybe even right now! This could be because I am recovering from the flu... I almost have all the ingredients too! I don't have the much needed crunchy peanut butter however. Just thinking of how pretty those swirls of chocolate and peanut butter must look in a pan makes my mouth water.

Having successfully caught the flu for the second time in a month, I've been hoping and dreaming of getting better so that I can finish my Christmas shopping and get my house tamed back into shape before our family's big Christmas Eve dinner. But I've been stuck on the couch doing nothing at all towards these goals . And to top it all off, I've given the bug to The Dad.

Excuse me... I'm heading back to the couch again to dream of... Tiger Butter!

The Sudden Flood

2009-12-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

I didn't cry until this morning. I got up and went to the kitchen in my usual routine, got my drink of water and turned go look at my Christmas tree and it hit me. There under my Christmas tree was our church's beautiful nativity figures. The wise men bowing under my tree, baby Jesus nestled all snug against his mother Mary. And I teared up.

Yesterday, Daughter L went to clean the church to get it ready for our Christmas Dinner and Sing that will be this coming Sunday. And she noticed, as she walked up to the front door, that there was what she described as "a river of water" coming out from under the doors! "How strange," she thought and opened the door. Out poured a flood of water that washed over and covered her feet. The water poured on and on because the whole, entire church was filled with ankle deep water. I got a frantic phone call, "Mom! There's a river of water pouring out of the church! It's flooded!" I have to admit, even at that moment my mind went to the song, "There is a River". Even as I write this I'm not sure if it was poetry or hysterics. As I got the story from her I ran and got my car keys, Son J and out the door we flew.

Heading to the church just a few miles away every car in front of me was going about 15 miles slower than the speed limit. I think that's a hallmark in situations like this. But finally I got there, it's pouring rain and there's my bedraggled daughter out front of the church and sure enough, there's the river of water still pouring out the open front door. Son Th was there also, poor man! He had got Daughter L's call too, but he was home that day, in bed, doubled up with the stomach flu. But now, there my brave man was trying to stop the flood of water flowing on and on.

The first thing I heard was water rushing. Rushing everywhere around me. I peered in through the front door and water was cascading down from the ceiling just inside the door and the ceiling was coming away in places and hanging down. Looking toward the men's bathroom door I could see in just a little bit and what I saw was amazing. Again, water showering down and chunks of insulation and plaster everywhere. Quickly I turned away because Son Th was still trying to turn the water off at the water main. And now I'm starting to think about the electricity! Water and electricity do not mix and my daughter had just walked up to a building full of water AND electricity! Oh and by the way, I was now standing in that same water. But there was no place to not stand in water because I then noticed that around the entire church yard there was water. The water must have been flooding for some time, there was water out all the way into the neighbors' backyards! My brain was trying to comprehend all this and by this time Son J had taken off his shoes and socks and had rolled up his pants to wade out to the water main to help his brother figure out how to shut off the water. Finally a city worker pulled up in front of the church and helped turn off the main pipe.

Gradually the water slowed and the torrent from the ceiling lessened. Our church's heating and cooling unit uses water to heat and cool with. It's up in our attic. Last week we had the unit checked and I don't know still how or what happened up there, but the water was all coming from up in the attic of our sweet little church that to me now looked destroyed. At last, my husband pulled into the driveway and put on his boots, went into the church and turned off the power. We at least were all now safe from electrical shock. But all of a sudden there was a crash. A big chunk of the ceiling had fallen in! I remembered then that I had my phone that I could take pictures with and so I started taking pictures. Most of them are a little fuzzy because I was shaking with shock, cold and wetness. It was, of course, pouring rain outside still!

I had to leave to go to the library to work after that. It was so hard to drive away. My mind was filled with so many questions. How could this happen? What will we do now? Where will we have church? When can we be happy in our little building again? And then thought hit me; it's just the building. The building might be devastated, but our real church; the people, are safe and we are fine. All will be well.

Sidenote: Thank the Lord for small mercies. Both Sis. D and I were so happy to know that our precious nativity figures had been lovingly placed up on a table last Sunday night in preparation for the church sing. If not for that, our little baby Jesus would have been found floating around the building and we would have had to rename him Moses instead!

Quiet

2009-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

I am home this morning. Quiet. Doing simple homely type things. It's really cold outside, but the sun is brightly shining. Crisp and snappy are words you could use to describe this delicious morning. I am home. Nothing outside my home is calling me to go do or come be. It's delicious. It's quiet. There is a fat robin outside in my backyard that I watched eat an entire leftover apple fallen from the old apple tree this autumn. My heart is glad that there are a few apples out there waiting for the birds to enjoy on this cold morning. I should have picked them up last fall. But I didn't. The chickens are huddled together out there too. The hens seemed to appreciate the warm water I brought out to them, clucking to themselves and chiding each other to come get a drink while it's still warm. On my back porch there are four boxes full of Christmas decorations and I brought the first one in and set it on my kitchen table. I opened the box and out came a jingle bell necklace, an ornament that I've had since 7th grade and a stocking. How did that stocking get there? It's a leftover stocking. It's Son #4's stocking. He lives far away from us. And my heart constricted and suddenly I found myself longing for the days when I brought out the Christmas decoration boxes and unearthed 9 stockings ready to be filled.

I am restless, here with the quiet of home. It's been exactly one year since two of my children moved out on their own leaving only three of us rattling around in this house together. There are times of quiet. And then there are times when everyone is back home and the house is bustling. I adore those times. Not so sure about the others. Quiet and busy.

I still can't say that I'm accustomed to this quiet. Only one child left at home seems lonely after raising a house full. But, I'm trying to make my peace with the quiet. Let myself even enjoy it now and then. Stopped for a minute here and there to listen to my memories of days gone by when it was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone around the table for lunch, down for naps and hoping I could steal a few minutes of quiet for myself while they all slept. My life is just different now. Quieter. Full of wondering, what should I be doing right now? It's so quiet.

Once Upon a Time....

2009-12-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

in a doubtlessly true-to-life land called Nearby, there lived three brothers. One was young, one was older and one was oldest. Now the young brother had come upon some good fortune one day and he decided to purchase two golden tickets to the greatest tournament held in the land. This tournament was held especially to decide who was the most victorious in the land of Nearby. The mighty winner of this tournament would go on to be the challenger in the Great War of the Roses held in a land called Faraway.

Now, immediately upon purchasing the tickets the young brother knew that he would be taking his older brother with him. He was sad that he didn't have enough to buy three tickets so he could take his oldest brother also, but he was happy enough to bring one brother. He couldn't wait to see the mighty heroes at the tournament battle it out for the winner. Slowly the day approached for the clash. His older brother and him made plans and carefully anticipated all the wonders of that day coming.

Meanwhile, the oldest brother watched his two younger brothers look forward to the tournament and rejoiced with them that they would be able to attend. After all, he would be able to hear all about their adventure when they returned from the mighty tournament. Such stories they would tell!

As the Great Tournament Day approached, the young brother who had the two golden tickets began to think. He thought harder and harder about the two tickets he owned. He knew that the most important Holiday in the year was drawing close as well as the great day of the tournament. He knew he didn't have a special gift for his oldest brother and this weighed heavily on his heart of hearts. So, with great love and joy in his heart it came to him one night. He would give his own golden ticket to his oldest brother and let him go to the tournament in his place! The very next day, he ran to give his own golden ticket to his oldest brother. The oldest brother said that no, he couldn't take his place. But the young brother urged and insisted that the ticket was his and he could give it freely to whosoever he desired.

At last the oldest brother accepted the gift of the golden ticket. And as the day dawned of the great and mighty tournament he rejoiced greatly along with his whole family that he had such a noble young brother who would give such a gift to him. Oh the stories he will tell to his young brother after the tournament! But most importantly the oldest brother would have the treasured memory to keep in his heart forever of what his young brother gave up for him.

The End

A Full Heart of Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

Today is the fourth day that I've been sick with what my kids are telling me sounds like the Swine Flu. I wouldn't be surprised if it is... or was. At the library I come in contact with so many people, am handed so many things from those people, help those people by touching the same computers they are working on all the while knowing that I am only being kept well by God's amazing grace. So, Thursday night, I felt a sore throat coming on. Be assured that this was the day that I had gone to get a coffee drink for me and Daughter L to share, had (of course)kissed my husband numerous times, kissed Son J goodbye as I went out the door to the library and then sat beside Sis. D at the movies that night sharing with her by personally handing over some of my Junior Mints to eat! May God keep all my loved ones free from what I might have given to them without knowing it! I can't say that the flu hit me as hard as I've heard it has hit many people. I know that everyone was praying for me, along with myself begging Him and so it is definitely God's mercy that I feel so well this morning. I am tired, but no sign of the flu going to my chest. Or even a cough!

The first thought I had when I felt the flu starting was, "oh no! Thanksgiving is just a few days away!" I absolutely love Thanksgiving Day. It's one of my favorite holidays because I get to cook, have everyone I love around me and feel that warm cozy feeling of my home filled with good people, good smells and good food. To me, laughter and love at the holidays is very important because my holidays as a child were filled with alcohol and fighting. Never, ever a good combo. (If you ever want to understand why I adore my husband so much, you would only have to take a minute's peek into my life as a child to see and recognize what a treasure I have today!)

On Friday night, I sent out my husband, Son T. and Son J. to do the Thanksgiving shopping just in case I didn't get well enough to do it myself, knowing that the stores would only get worse the nearer to Thursday we get. I am so thankful because they never missed a beat... they so graciously went and tried to figure out what in the world I meant by "stuffing mix" or "lunchmeat" on the shopping list that I could barely make for them in my flu foggy haze. I think I am pretty well set up for the big day as far as food is concerned!

So I guess this post is meant to say that I have a heart full of Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that God's mercy has been to me in my life. I'm thankful that the flu eased over me instead of taking me with all it's rage. I'm thankful that I have all the food I need to make the meal that will draw all my loved ones here to be with us on Thanksgiving Day. May God fill my home this holiday with peace that my children and grandchildren will stow securely in their hearts!

Down the Driveway He went...

2009-11-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Down the driveway he went this morning. Backing out like he always has, driving away from his home on his way to work. Faithfully he goes to his destination to fulfill his God given job. He's just a man, doing what is right. No big deal, right?

There's a sweet scripture that says something like, "he who findeth a wife, findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor of the Lord". But I'm wondering if there is an opposite scripture for us wives. Something like "she who is found by a husband, is found and greatly blessed and has obtained favor of her God". Nope, I don't think that's in the scripture! But it sure makes my heart glad for the day that my husband found me.

He goes to work every day. He has been my heart's companion for most of my life now. My dearest friend in all the world. And I am awed and humbled by the power I have to make his life sweet... or sad. In awe because I see how easy it would be for me to mess up such a "good thing" that God has given to him. And humbled by the huge responsibility to be a "good thing" to him. The apple of his eye. The one he can be always "ravished with her love" with.

As he went off to work this morning, I pondered about his heart safely trusting in me. He's given me his heart. Is it a precious thing to me? Another place in the Word talks about "doing him good all the days of her life and not evil". I shake my head so many times in wonder at what a gift I have been given in my sweet husband. But do I truly do him good? Each action I take toward my dear one can either make his life sweet or it can make him sad. It's not so much that I send him out the door with a lunch and a kiss that makes his life sweet. It's... do I hear him? Do I care about his heart he has entrusted me with? Do I listen to the underlying thoughts and gestures he makes when he lets his guard down for only me? I stand in awe and am greatly humbled by the work God has given me to do as a wife. It's something I am only beginning to understand the enormity of.

So, as he drives down that driveway each day, I will continue to wave insanely to him; hoping to catch his eye one more time to let him know that his heart is safe in mine. Then I'll go in my bedroom and get on my knees and thank the Lord that He found me for my dear husband and beg His help to be a "good thing" for him for the rest of my days on earth. And then I will be here waiting at the end of each day, when he drives back up into our driveway, safely home.

When Your Hut's On Fire

2009-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

I found this fable in my inbox this morning from my sweet Daughter-in-Law to be... it made me laugh and cry at the same time. This is just what I hope God is working in my life!

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?,' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives..... even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

(a nod from me to whoever wrote this original fable!)

Courage to Step Out of That Ship

2009-09-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

I've had occasion twice now to feel like I am in a small little boat swirling in the current of a gigantic ocean with the wind and waves boisterous around me. We heard yesterday in church about the faith of Peter to step out of his ship in the midst of his boisterous wind and walk to Jesus. And about his sinking because he looked around at the wind and waves. I wondered where I was in that story. I am pretty sure I have been hanging on for dear life to the sides of the boat I've been on. Step out on the water? Mmm.... not sure about that. But I am sure that Jesus has walked out to meet me on that ocean in my boat and that comforts me. My eyes are definitely on him, hoping that my boat won't sink. Surely my boat won't sink with His help?

Courage. Been thinking about the courage my husband and I have needed to step out of our room each day and face our life. We have so many eyes on us. Our children and their companions, our grandchildren, our brethren, people in the world. What will we do now that God has brought sorrow our way-- twice? It was hard enough the first time. We have raised seven children; known the joy and pain of raising little ones. Known the deep abounding love for our children. And then came the grandchildren. Have you ever heard it said that you love your children and then your grandchildren come and you find out that you love them even more, if that is possible? Well, it's true. All our hopes and cares and love go out to our little darlings. Each time one of our girls has announced that we were going to be grandparents again...I can't tell you what wonderful days those have been! To see the Lord bless the wombs of our son's wives has been a blessing beyond compare. And so now we need courage to face life. Courage to stand back and see that God has given so much to our "pelky9" that has turned into "pelkey20"! Courage to know that God can give life again, whenever He chooses. Courage to take steps forward. Courage to stand up and let go of the sides of that boat we are on.

The Sun's Coming Up in the Morning

2009-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Once again I faced Satan this morning
and I battled him all the day long
but in my weakness, God sent reinforcement
and at sundown I sang victory's song.

And the sun's coming up in the morning
Every tear will be gone from my eye
This old clay's gonna give way to glory
and like an eagle, I'll take to the sky.

No words can express what we've all gone through in the past few days and will still go through in our lives. But truly I can say that reinforcement will come at the time it is needed. God does not desert us in time of need. It is well...

Disappointed

2009-09-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last night I went out with "the girls". We went to see a movie. As I got home and climbed into bed, I wondered about what "the girls" got out of the evening. Did I do or say anything to build them up, or did I do or say anything that tore down? You see, I had been invited to go with them when really it was their "girls night out". Their plans were to really just go to see a movie... no responsibility on my part to be "the older Sister" and actually say or do anything edifying. Right?

Well, I don't know about that. Climbing into bed, I had a niggling feeling that I missed an opportunity to be the servant of the Lord. Had I sought Him when an invitation was given for me to go with "the girls"? You'd think I would have... we've been hearing this sort of thing in church for weeks now. I've been trying to turn my focus away from myself. Trying to focus on serving my brethren and the Lord in deeds. But it just seems like I am put into more and more situations that I come home from and realize that once again I missed another opportunity.

I wonder. If I'm not edifying, then am I tearing down? A movie with "the girls" didn't really help any of us along in our walk before the Lord. Now, I'm not saying that we should throw movie going out with the bathwater. But I'm disappointed in myself. I should have asked the Lord for help. I had 20 minutes in the car each way with these young sisters where I could have spoken some encouraging or edifying word to them... talked with them about what their thoughts have been on what we've been hearing in church. About what they've been doing towards being the Lord's servant. Or their thoughts on our sweet foot washing meeting last Sunday. But instead, I joked with them about candy and I listened to their chatter about their lives.

I'm disappointed. I love "the girls"! And I want to please the Lord and be the kind of big sister they need. But today is a new day. I'll try harder to keep my eyes open to the possibility of service... once again.

Oops I forgot! Another Blue Tongue!

2009-08-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Up to Date

2009-08-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

There has been SO much happening in our family lately. Been too busy to keep up with my blog, but I'll try and update all the stuff that's been happening. First of all, I've really truly enjoyed my life this summer. It's been busy, but the Lord has been so good to me; I want to thank Him most of all for all he's done for me in my life. For my wonderfully dear husband who is my bestest friend ever, for children who have grown into faithful and much loved men and women, for companions for my children who are so perfect in every way, for beautifully darling grandchildren who light my life with joy and happiness and for dear brethren who are the cloud of witnesses that I walk with everyday of my life!

Lets see, we had a birthday party for Amy
She got to dive into a chocolate pie in Pie Eating Contest!

We had our annual Sister's Trip, we went to Bandon, Oregon, where we had tons of fun
Here are some of our feet....

The guys went on their annual Hiking Trip... here's their spoof of our Sister's Trip picture of our feet:
I know, I know, it's not pretty, they don't have as nice of toes as we do!

There was the Scandinavian Festival that we all enjoyed...

Son R came to visit from OKC with his new fiance! We shall call her Daughter A2 since we already have a Daughter A! Actually there will now be two exact Daughter names in our family... two A. Pelkey's. Thank goodness for middle names! We fell in love with our newest Daughter A2 as soon as we met her... and once again I am thoroughly edified by God's mercy to our children in bringing the PERFECT companions to them and for calling another sweet girl into the faith for one of our sons. Here he is with Daughter L and his fiance...

They've gone home now, back to OKC and we are all hoping that they will move here after they get married on Feb. 6th. May the Lord make it so!

Now we are anxiously awaiting a new grandbaby, then Son Th and Daughter A1 will move into their new house, then they will have their 3rd baby soon after that. So, summer is not over... we are still busy as can be... but loving every second of it!

Is My Tongue Blue?

2009-08-03T08:17:00.001-07:00

For the Hiking Brothers!

2009-07-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's that time of the year when our men gather round and plan their hike. I know some of my men peek at my blog now and then... okay, so maybe I drag them to the computer and make them read my posts. But just in case anyone else is getting ready for that hike of a lifetime... here's how to Improve Your Technique!

How to Improve Your Hiking Technique - wikiHow

Scripture Mamasita mentioned...

2009-07-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

I just had to copy and paste the scripture that Mamasita mentioned in my previous post's comment area... goes along with my heroes theme beautifully! I want to be one of these who are in white robes!

Revelation 7:13-17 (King James Version)

¹³And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

More thoughts on Heroes

2009-07-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

I found an article in the World Magazine this past week where they asked readers to send in their favorite last lines from books they had read. One of the entries struck a chord with me and I can't get it off my mind! It's from Stephen E. Ambrose's book "Band of Brothers". It ends like this:

"'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?'
'No,' I answered, 'but I served in a company of heroes.'" -- Sgt. Mike Ranney, East Company 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR

I myself am not a hero in any sense of the word... but I know I serve the Great God of Heaven with a company of heroes--my dear brethren!

Evidence of Grandchildren in your life

2009-06-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

1. the potty seat in your bathroom even though the last of your children have been potty trained for over 15 years
2. that special toy that is sitting on your end table that someone special let you "borrow"
3. all action stopping when you hear the words, "Grammy..."
4. special treats in small baggies in your cupboards waiting to be given away
5. tiny gardening gloves and boots outside your back door
6. an itty bitty pool in your backyard waiting to be filled with warm water
7. a growing basket of books for special storytimes
8. a heart so full of love that you never thought could hold more!
9. an inclination to get on your knees more often that God's mercy will be to your little ones too.

I liked this!

2009-06-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

My Frog Does Not Waste Precious Time
My frog does not wast precious time
just sitting on a log.
He's learned to use the Internet,
and now he has a blog.
It's filled with tips on how to hop,
and how to catch a fly,
on things that frogs can do to keep
their skins from getting dry.

My frog has hints on where to find
the finest lily pads,
and writes in great detail about
the latest froggy fads.
He tells of different ways to croak,
and how to act in bogs...
it's boring for most people,
but it fascinates most frogs.

Jack Prelutsky

Hero #3

2009-06-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this one is a given... my husband...aka "The Dad" is my hero #3. BTW, these heroes aren't in any order... :)

Are you surprised? That my hero would be my husband-- goes without saying. I try to imagine my life without him and I just ... can't! God has given us many dear children who I know would take care of me so sweetly if I didn't have my sweet husband, but I do NOT want to think about that. So, I will treasure each and every second I have with him and thank the most wonderful God in heaven that he saw fit to bless me in my ignorance with the man of my dreams.

I've been re-reading Created to be His Help Meet lately and I was choked up to read the inscription that my husband wrote in it... he wrote that when gave me the book it wasn't because I needed it, but because he found me within it's pages. A friend had lent me the book to read and I got to read about half of it before my husband took it over and read the whole thing before I could, he then got the book for my very own on my birthday! I highly recommend the book first of all. Secondly, by reading it I feel like I fall so short it what I am doing here on this earth as a Help Meet.

But, back to why my husband is my hero. I grew up in an awful home. My foster parents fought all the time and it was not good. I used to wonder how in the world I would find a husband who I could trust and love having never seen such things myself! Then the Lord saved me. Took me out of that miry pit and just saved me. Simple as that. Plopped me down into a home full of love (Bro. Jim and Sis. Paula Smith's house!) and gave me 2 1/2 years there to watch and learn how to be a mommy and wife. Then came my Craig. We were so young! I'm sure the brethren quaked in their proverbial boots to think we were getting married! But somehow, we loved each other. More importantly somehow Craig loved me! I totally gave my heart to him...just threw in all my cards. I trusted God that He had brought me this young man and I knew that he would love me all my life. I had watched him for a while you see. I had watched how he was in visits; in church, how he loved the Lord. How he loved his Momma and his Dad. How he loved his family; his brothers and sisters. He was gentle, he was kind. He had a lot to learn! But we learned together! It's amazing when I think of all the years we have been given together. He is still my knight in shining armor. That armor has not dulled a bit... only gotten shinier in my eyes.

I admire him so much! He loves the Lord with all his heart and his integrity amazes me. And I get to be his help meet. I think, what in the world am I doing? Do I meet his needs? Do I love him the way he loves me? Cares for me... truly? Will I do him good and not evil all the days of my life? Have I already done so in the time I have been given? Hard questions... it's easy to say yes to them. But when life is happening, when I'm not sitting here at my computer writing this post, but out there in the trenches...do I truly do him good? Do I give him reason to have his heart safely trusting in me? My hero sure deserves all of that and more. I'd better go and get busy being a help meet to the man God has given me!

Hero #2

2009-05-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

In the past it's always been uncomfortable to me to hear someone say, "they are such an angel!" or "she's an angel in disguise!" or other such likening of a person to an angel. It felt like an intrusion into a realm that was not mine to speak of. But, recently I came across a scripture where a woman was speaking of King David and she says something like this, "he was as an angel of God, comforting me"! This surprised me and then I found a couple of other scriptures that were similar. So, that got me thinking of my Hero #2. She's a woman who I have known now for many years. I sort of inherited her kindness by way of the library. She had been a volunteer there for many years before I became the librarian at our local library. So, when the librarian retired before me , I inherited this dear soul's kindness. Her name is Gloria. How could I tell on this blog of how her kindness has affected me? She has shown me what selfless love is. She is old enough to be my mother, and she has even referred to her love for me as if I were her daughter. It's because of her selflessness and kindness that I call her my Hero #2. A long time ago, she was driving with her two little children, a son and a daughter, when a drunk driver hit her head on. Her daughter was instantly killed and her son only survived because he was laying down in the back seat. I had known Gloria for years before she even told me that! She comes and visits me often at the library and at my house and is so concerned about me. What's going on in my life, who's having babies. When Baby Elijah was stillborn, it affected her deeply and it came to my mind at the time that I knew she would gladly have traded places with me to ease my sorrow. When my family is going on a trip, she will bring us snacks for the road, she remembers The Dad and my anniversary and she NEVER comes to see me empty handed. And it's not that she brings me stuff that impresses me. It's that she thinks AHEAD of what would please me and remembers my favorite flowers and candy. I have a saying, "when I grow up, I want to be Gloria!" Her selflessness, goodness, kindness and heart to comfort me is "as an angel of God". She'll never read this blog, or maybe I'll bring it up at the library next time she comes in, arms laden with thought-filled treats; but still I am thankful to have this dear woman in my life and I know that God brought her my way to teach me lessons on how to become a selfless woman and give of myself to others! I love you Gloria!

Hero #1

2009-05-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

My first thoughts tend toward a brother who has been gone for many years although his dear, faithful wife is still among us. Bro. Charles Keeling, known to us all as Bro. Chuck. That taco hording man with the motto of "you can eat as many as you want here but you can't take 'em home" holds a dear place in my heart as a hero who in his life was an illustrious warrior of the cross of Christ. Another song reminds me of his life:
A faithful old vessel, stands in the harbor,
Bravely it's fought, many battles at sea.
It's a proud symbol of freedom and justice
Each battle scar stands for great victory.
Battle scars from the struggle,
Battle scars from the strife,
Battle scars from the conflict, it's faced in this life.
And when the battle's over and we lay our armor down,
We'll exchange these battle scars for a glorious crown.

I hold Bro. Chuck up as a hero in my life because of his preaching that I was able to hear each week when I was young in the faith. He lived " judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet" (Isaiah 28:17) and taught it each week from the pulpit. His talks were long, and my children were being born and were little babies at the time I got to hear him. But what I heard transported me to a place where I saw the picture of what God's plan of salvation was from the very beginning of time until Christ brought true peace on earth. Even now, I know that those were the days of my illumination; days that I will always hold dear. Yes, he was just a servant of God; God could have opened any other Brother's mouth and poured forth such words of life, but the eloquence he spoke with came directly from the throne of grace and I will thank God for it until the day I die. He was a man I admired for his achievements and noble qualities.

Heroes

2009-05-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

I lay in bed last night, not able to sleep for some reason again. My mind wandered around in circles and for some reason I thought about heroes. The dictionary defines a hero as such:
1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage 2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement 3 plural usually heroes: an object of extreme admiration and devotion

There are heroes in my life that aren't mythological or legendary. They aren't a principal male character in a literary or dramatic work. But I still consider them heroes. So for today, I'm thinking about the heroes in my life. People who I've looked up to for strength and guidance, people who I've striven to be more like; most often they haven't even known it. I love this song by my favorite singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet. I couldn't find a video of him singing it, but here are the lyrics. I hope the words make you think about someone who is a hero in your life!

Heroes Song by Paul Overstreet

Is a Certain one of Us Famous?

2009-04-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

No kidding, I found this book in my library and I just had to take it home. I'm wondering if a certain Sister who's blog title is so similar is really a famous author in disguise? I thought all of us bloggy girls would think this was cute! Love to all!

Prayer Request

2009-04-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the day. I have to speak in front of a crowd, which might include a State Representative. I'm having a hard time with anxiety here. It didn't help that my dear friend told me to make sure I had my bra on straight when I got dressed this morning. Or that she would check for me when she saw me! Okay, maybe that did help a little, laughter is the best medicine. But I really need your prayers for my speech tonight. Want to know a little secret? I haven't even written it yet! Last night's WoW Party helped me forget my anxiety and relax(?) a little. But I found myself getting out of bed and onto my knees begging God to help me get to sleep last night. I did get more sleep than I expected and I am so thankful that He heard my prayers. But if you remember, please say a prayer for me that I can just get through this evening.

WoW Night

2009-04-20T21:17:00.001-07:00

A few of us girls got together tonight for a WoW Party at Daughter L's house. I gotta say, it was pretty sad. Since my dear friend and I are the two "older" girls and are such nerds, we shared a character by combining our names. She took one side of the keyboard and I took the other. I left Daughter L's house just now and came home because my beddy bye time is pretty early. Poor thing, I left my nerdy buddy there all by herself. I wonder how she is doing... I wonder if she is off in WoW land wandering around looking for the other not-so-nerdy girls. Hopefully she has mastered her side of the keyboard and hasn't died two more times like we managed to do while playing together as one character. Maybe she is doing great without me? Maybe I was hampering her not-so-nerdy side and she's excelling without me... there in WoW land. Wow!

An Innocent Enough Date

2009-04-15T08:06:00.001-07:00

It started out innocent enough. I asked my dear friend out for chocolate. We have our usual favorite chocolate haunt we like to get our late night craving satisfied from. So last night, as I was driving to go pick her up, I thought, "wait a minute here, there's got to be other places to sit down, lean back and enjoy each other's company at!" But it's gotta have good coffee and chocolate right? So The Dad suggested another place. Off my dear friend and I went. Imagine us, walking into a nice restaurant that is quiet and has cushy booths to sit and visit in. That's what the place The Dad suggested usually is like on a weeknight. So in we walk and to our surprise the place is packed and the waitress asks, "so, are ya here for the burger and brew?" My dear friend and I just looked at each other blankly. But, we valiantly held it together... and asked what is burger and brew? So the cute little waitress launches into all the different variations of burgers we could get for $7.00 that evening. We stopped her before she got to the brew alternatives by saying we would just like some dessert; chocolate preferably. After looking dubiously into the crowded, lively restaurant and wondering if we would even be able to hear ourselves talk over the noise level, we allowed ourselves to be led to a very small two-person booth. There's a light hanging down over our heads. I presume it is supposed to give us a feeling of our own personal space, lit up so we can see our food. Instead, it glares into our eyes from above. We giggle a little at each other. Then by mutual consent, we both jump up out of the booth and make a quick run for it! Yes, we abandoned the place! Yes, we are giggling hysterically by now! So, after a quick phone call to Son Th, who was a chef and knows all the good chocolate haunts in town, we head on over to the next place. Park in a very scary back alley in a spot that quite possibly might be flagged as ticket worthy or even tow away worthy and we charge in for our chocolate. To get to the place we have to weave our way through a narrow pathway between two houses and there, finally, is the door to the palace of chocolate that holds the promise of satisfaction. But what's this in front of us? A stairway with a belching plume of billowing steam coming from it? Very 1940 noir feeling. Cue the smoothly suspenseful music. We open the door... we walk in and there is a waiter. Or so we surmise. We are still giggling a little at this point. Mostly from that 1940 plume of steam coming from the stairway... we're nervous! The nice man in the suit, who looks just like a waiter asks us, "so are you here for the Lingerie Party? Because if you are you just missed it!" My dear friend and I look at each other again and of course start giggling hysterically as we tell the nice man that we just want some dessert, preferably chocolate and some coffee. At that point, thank heavens, a very discreet waitress comes and rescues us from the "definitely not a waiter, Lingerie salesman". She leads us through the dimly lit, very quiet restaurant to the most divine looking dessert case you could possibly imagine. Cue the heavenly choir music. At that point, my friend and I both needed someone to tell us to close our flabbergasted mouths so we would stop drooling! Oh the beautiful desserts in that case! Oh the chocolate! Oh the cheesecakes so lovingly decorated! Bless the pastry chef who could create such masterpieces for our delight! What were we doing just standing there? Let's get down to business! Needless to say, we both were served the most wonderful chocolate cake on gorgeous dessert plates all (as my dear friend would say) fancy schmancy! The coffee was rich and satisfying and the place was quiet with little candles on each table. Cue the sound of clinking fine silverware on even finer china! We got to hear each others trials of life without the sounds of "burger and brew" being served to 100 people all around us. Oh! and one more thing to top the evening off just right. The "definitely not a waiter, Lingerie salesman" came by our table as he was leaving and gave us the rest of a bottle of fine wine that was leftover from his Lingerie Party, a Petite Syrah, for us to share! It was one of the best wines I have ever tasted. My dear friend and I definitely will be going back there someday... hopefully soon. Hopefully not on Lingerie Party Night. But I will never forget our date last night, that started out innocently enough!

Riding an Elevator...

2009-04-10T10:16:00.001-07:00

I'm doing some changes on my personal blog and on my library blog . Isn't the busy bees background fun?

Have you heard of ProBlogger? They are doing a thing called "31 Days to a Better Blog Challenge". I joined in an effort to make not only my library blog more readable, but maybe to incorporate some of the ideas found there into this blog also. The first day's challenge was to write an elevator speech for your blog. An elevator speech is a short speech that tells all about what you are doing in the time it would take to ride in an elevator to the 10th floor! Short, quick and concise. I wrote the one on my library blog, but I'm having trouble with my elevator speech for my personal blog!

So I'm asking myself... what am I doing blogging? Is blogging dumb? Is what I blog about even worth reading? Do you all ask yourself those questions? Some of the blog writers I normally follow might have already done so, because I have noticed it's been pretty quiet lately. What keeps us blogging? Certainly what keeps me blogging on my library blog isn't what keeps me writing here on my personal blog. Heaven knows I'm not even sure anyone reads my library blog! (should I laugh or cry?) I blog about the library because our community is trying to get a new library in Monroe, Oregon. I also sneak in some other fun stuff when I can, mostly about programs we do and the love of books. But what keeps me blogging here? What is my elevator speech for what this blog is about? Mmm... I'll have to think about that this weekend...maybe I should find the nearest elevator and practice!

Got Worms?

2009-04-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was absolutely beautiful here in Oregon. Blue skies, 70 degrees; what more could you ask for. Well, you could start by asking for worms. Yep worms. And I've got the worm crew for you! Here they are... ready to unearth as many worms as you need. And in case you're worried about the pretty-pretty princess in pink getting dirty? No need. Dirt doesn't seem to cling to her at all... whereas the bare little feet and hands on our prince charming seems to be getting a tad bit grubby. What's a Grammy and Poppa to do?

Lately...

2009-03-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

1. I've enjoyed all the sister's blogs...wept for your sorrows and shed different tears for your joy and testimonies. Thank you ladies for sharing your lives!
2. We had The Dad's little sister visit us with her children. What a joy they were! I loved watching videos of my nieces dancing so beautifully and seeing them become young women. I got to visit with my nephew who, on the brink of manhood is one step away from the Lord. We got to talk about our thoughts on the world around us and it was fascinating to see life from his point of view. It's wonderful to see my dear sister in law with her children and the care and devotion she has for them...we only wished her hubby could have been with us too!
3. It's getting easier to only have one child left at home... sorta!
4. My granddaughter wrote my name... LORI... and said, "that spells Grammy!" I will always treasure those little things with my grand children!
5. The daffodils are all blooming and it makes me want to go out and plant in our garden again.
6. I had to speak at a city council meeting and I was so nervous, but I went into the quiet part of my library beforehand and begged God to help me... and it turned out not to be so bad after all. I just needed to be myself...just plain old me!
7. I'm making headway on my yearlong reading of the bible! I'm staying up on it (some days I do better than others and I get behind a little! ) but I'm already to 2 Samuel. I have been so edified by the story of the children of Israel and their struggles. I do NOT want to be like them and disappoint our God. I absolutely loved reading Ruth again! I read it thinking of my dear daughter in laws. I stand in awe at the care and love that Naomi had for both them. My heart went out to those three women so much! My hope is to be such a mother in law as Naomi was to all my lovely daughters who love my sons so much!

Well... besides trying to think of what in the world to make for this Sunday's church dinner, not much else is happening lately!

Got my new "Thing" covered

2009-03-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

I waited and waited for the case for my Kindle... it just arrived day before yesterday and here it is! Isn't it pretty in purple? It turns into a stand so I can stand up my Kindle on the counter and read a recipe or let me be hands free doing something else while it reads to me!

My New "Thing"

2009-03-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

So I saved my $1 bills up for over a year and I had enough to buy my new "thing" ! I love my new "thing"! It's handy dandy and I'm having an awful lot of fun with it. It now holds my King James Bible, Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional, several Jane Austen titles, not to mention several other free books that are dear to my heart!

Much love goes out to my dear husband who puts up with both my love of books AND technology. My new "thing" combines the two into one lovable device!

Introducing a new Brother and two Sisters!

2009-03-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a whirlwind day! We knew this morning that we were having a baptism. Sis. Patsy gave her hand a week ago, but we waited because there were sick brethren who couldn't come to watch. But today, as meetng went on, and ended; two more gave their hands! So, here you see Sis. Kaitlyn at the way back of the picture, Sis. Patsy in the very middle and our new Bro. Jonathan! Yes, our youngest and final child has been baptized. And what a wonderful day it is! Thanks be to God that his hand has been extended to each and every one of our children and that they each chose Life!

Just wondering....

2009-02-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been sick with the flu and so I've been spending a little bit of time on the computer. If you can picture me dragging myself into the computer room and lolling on the desk in front of the monitor you'd get a good idea of how wonderful I've felt. Not a pretty picture. I haven't brushed my hair in two days... Anyways, I thought I'd do a little housecleaning on my blog reader and it made me wonder which blog reader do you all use? I just switched from "Sage"; a Firefox extension, to Google Reader. Sage seemed a little clunky and took up desktop space so-- out it went. I took some time to organize all my blogs into files within Google Reader, so I've got Idaho Sisters, Indy Sisters, Colorado Sisters, Oklahoma Sisters, Oregon Sisters-other (sister's from my hometown are under plain Sisters), Homemaking, Library and Geeky. Okay, the Geeky one came with Google Reader, but hey, I do keep up with some blogs that could be considered Geeky.

So, how do you all read your blogs? Do you just randomly show up at all the blogs to see if someone has written lately? Do you use an RSS feed in your bookmarks toolbar? Bloglines? Come on everyone, 'fess up. How do you keep up with reading new posts on your blogs?

Thank Full for dear Like-minded Friends

2009-02-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

I was sitting in a room full of people the other day just listening. The conversation was spinning around and around and I felt pretty much an outsider. The talk was leading down a road I haven't ever walked. Most everyone there had no idea what to do about the situation they were talking about; it was all bleakness and desolation in fact. Suddenly I wanted out of that room so badly. But, I was bound to my chair having been invited to be there and I saw no escaping until the clock set me free. Finally, having been released I bade my farewells and wondered at my weepy feelings. What was wrong with me? I felt like the room's conversation of bleakness had worn off onto me! I called my husband and spoke to him and he cheered me up. We spoke of God's mercy to His people and how we should love people in the world, as the Lord does, but not the things they do. That it's okay to keep these two things separate. Love the person, not the works they do. Now skip ahead to later that night. I was again in a room full of people; this time they are all my sisters in Christ. Again I sat there listening. And suddenly I was so lightened in heart. I wanted to start singing! I was an insider here in this room... I belonged. Every woman there knew exactly where she was going in life and there was no bleakness or desolation. Now I didn't want the clock to set me free, I wanted that clock to stop exactly where it was. I wanted nothing more in life than to sit there in my chair and hold on to the sweetness in that room. When the time finally did come to leave, I realized on my way home that I was refreshed because I had been with dear friends who were like-minded and so dear to me. Once again, I am so thank-full of God's mercy to me to give me such a cloud of dear friends to walk this way with.

Yummy!

2009-02-11T13:07:00.001-08:00

In my quest to eat mostly raw food, I found this yummy Lemon Pudding recipe that is SO easy and it's so good! Here goes: Soak one cup of pitted dates in some water for an hour or so... Then drain them and put them in your blender. Scoop out a nice ripe avocado into the blender also. Now peel, yes peel! 2 lemons and throw them in there too! Blend it all up. It turns out to be a lovely green color. Pour this pudding into a nice bowl and stow it in the refrigerator for about an hour. Now... after an hour, get the bowl out and get your spoon and sit in a nice comfy place. Close your eyes! Yep, you gotta close your eyes. Now take a bite. Mmm.... yummy. Oh, I forgot to tell you to think yellow while you are taking that bite! Think sunny bright beautiful yellow!

Expectant Longing...

2009-01-28T08:06:00.000-08:00

So, by now you all have probably read on my dear daughter T's blog that her and Son Ph are expecting. Every time I think about it I get this catch in my throat. I thought we were going to have to keep quiet about it for a while, but they broke the news yesterday and so I can sing about it all I want! Then, we had Son T and Daughter A over for dinner last night and as we were sitting there... Son T calmly said, "well, we're pregnant again!" The Dad and I both said, "are you kidding?" and "No way!" I'm telling you that our cup is running over! Both girls are due within a month of each other, Daughter T in August and Daughter A in September! Our little family is growing again. Thank the Lord for His bountiful mercy to me... and to mine. My heart is singing for double joy today! I long to hold both little ones in my arms... may the Lord make it so.

Dinner at the new apartment

2009-01-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

Last night Daughter L and Son T had The Dad, Son J2 and I over for dinner at their new apartment. Words cannot convey how proud of was of them. My daughter; for making a wonderfully prepared meal and our son; for hosting us at his table. They have made themselves a comfortable home together. After dinner we sat and visited on the Word and then we played a quick game Son T had gotten for Christmas. It was a wonderfully comfortable evening. They both talked about it being their intent to have the brethren over for meals and visits and it struck me that they had grown up just like I wanted them to. How blessed am I to have a bounty of faithful children around me who love the Lord with all their hearts! This surely is all I could ask for as a servant of God.

Two New Additions

2009-01-12T17:44:00.001-08:00

I wanted to post pictures of the newest additions to our church! No, no one got baptized recently. But... we did get a new cross for the front of the church and a nativity scene to display instead of our usual Christmas tree at Christmas. Big thanks to Sis. D's dad who made our cross for us, it matches our pews and is lighted from behind. All the brethren love it! And Sis. D and I really wanted and tried to find a nativity scene before Christmas and we looked online and everywhere we could think of, but we could not find one that was big enough, but didn't look cheesy. Then, the day of our church Christmas party, I was walking through the mall and lo and behold, there in the window of the Christian Outlet store was this beautiful nativity scene! It was on sale and I bought it on the spot. Our church really wanted to get away from the Christmas tree that we usually put up and I think the Lord made me find this one because everyone thinks it's perfect!

Christmas at Our House

2008-12-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

Litte Mister Twister

So we all have to admit it... Daughter A can wear ANY hat she wants too and still look cute!

Little Miss A in her Christmas Dress

Three little ones wondering when we will open those presents?

Little T showing off his aminal!

This one's for you Russ!, here's Baby M in all his sweetness!

Waiting to get the food!

Sis. K , Bro. D and Daughter L in their jammies!

No Christmas tree for us this year! Our Christmas "bench" made it's appearance once again!

Awww! So sweet!

Here's another one for you Russ... Bro. D is getting all the food!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, full of love and family and good food! Here at our house, things are winding down. There are still a lot of boxes to recycle and we still have two church tables in the computer room, with borrowed chairs from our Christmas Eve dinner. There are a ton of goodies hanging around. Ack! And we still have New Year's Eve to look forward to. I can't believe it's going to be 2009. We are nine years into the new century. I remember ringing in the new century with Bro. Tom who is now gone from us and awaiting his heavenly home. That was a very special evening and now it seems like so long ago.

There have been quite a few changes around our house lately. We got rid of our "land line". Now we just have our cell phones. For three months, if you call our old phone number, it will direct you to my cell number. It feels weird to not have our "land line". At first I was paranoid that I would miss a call. Or that cell phone service would go away and then what would I do? But I'm calming down. Really, our "land line" hardly ever rang. So now there is one less bill to pay! The biggest change is that two of my youngest three kids moved out and into their own shared apartment. I've had to be careful to not write about this until I could collect myself. I'm ok now, really. Most of the time anyway. It's hard to have that gaping hole of my daughter's room staring at me, and wonder if she is coming back. Do I move on and make it into my sewing room, or should I leave it empty... just in case? And should our youngest son spread out in his room, or should we keep space for our missing young man, just in case? Big sigh. These are questions that haunt me. I'm happy for my two little nestlings that have flown the coop, they are so cute in their new home! I'm trying to concentrate on that part of it, so I don't ruin it for them. You know, by making them worry that I'm too sad over here... in my almost... empty... house. Our youngest is half way through his 16th year, so I'm in no danger of being an empty nester soon. But it's looming on that horizon and I'm kind of feeling like I want to turn back the clock several years.

Enough of that! I'm going to get organized and set my sewing machine up and finish some UFOs. (that's "unfinished objects" in sewing/quilting talk) I only have two days of work this week, and so that will leave me 5 days of getting things set up and figuring out where to go from here before the new year really starts.

Secret Sisters-Revealed!

2008-12-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

So yesterday after church our sister's revealed who they had as their secret sisters. This is always so much fun. We take turns standing up in front and guessing who had us. Our dear Sis. "double R" got all of us girls these beautiful little fabric boxes in which she put our names back when we first drew names. (maybe in some of the pictures you can see the boxes), we were supposed to find a last present to fit in these boxes when we revealed ourselves. That was so much fun! Last year, she got us all these beautiful angel pins and she had our names on the back. We wore those pins all during secret sis time and then at the end we revealed ourselves by giving our secret sis her pin with her name on it! Sis. "double R" has such great ideas! So, without much further ado, since I'm pressed for time... here are the pictures!

Spending the Night w/ Grammy and Poppa

2008-12-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

I am so excited today! It was Son J2 and Daughter M's anniversary recently and so they are taking off to spend some alone time. So, this will be the first time that the grandkiddies get to spend the night with us. The Dad and I are taking Miss A and Little Man J to the Light Parade here in town tonight! Maybe we'll take them to DQ first for a special dinner? It's going to be frosty cold, but perfect otherwise to stand by the side of the streets here in our small town and marvel at the homemade floats all lighted up for the season! Who knows? Maybe Santa will be on that last float waving to the crowd?

So first of all today I "get" to go to the quilt shop here in town and pick out fabric to make my dear friend, Gloria, her special quilt. I have the perfect center piece already, but need those other two materials that will make it her own. Too bad... I have to go to the quilt shop!

Thanks Giving Season starts

2008-11-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

I really love that our holiday season begins with Thanksgiving. I believe that the whole season from Thanksgiving through New Years Day is a season of giving thanks. On Thanksgiving Day we celebrate a bountiful harvest, which we all truly do enjoy. We give thanks to God for all our many blessings and gather friends and family close around us to enjoy their company. Then it's on to a whole month of preparation culminating in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We decorate our houses to remember Christ's birth, we gather and shop for presents for our loved ones, we plan delicious goodies to give to each other, we look forward to our church Christmas dinner celebration, all the while remembering that Christ was born one day a long time ago to save us and to bring us true "peace on earth and goodwill toward men". Every family has their own special way of doing this, and what a blessing and I am so thankful that we have the freedom to do whatever we choose to do! Even when the festivities of Christmas are over, we then celebrate the bringing in of a New Year. A New Year to live for our Lord, a New Year to give our lives for our family and brethren, a New Year to begin again the turning of the tide toward spring. We truly do have much to be thankful for beginning with our Thanksgiving celebration.

On that note, I'll post a few pictures of our Thanksgiving Day!

OKC Visiting Brethren on Halloween

2008-11-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from our HUGE weekend with the brethren from OKC. Our brethren here enjoyed them so much and we hope they all enjoyed us as well. I am desperately needing sleep since we stayed up every night until WAY past my bedtime. Even with gaining an hour on Saturday night, we used up every bit of it visiting on the word of God. This picture is of Grandson J, who is so squeezingly cute! Then it's on to Puppygail our new little puppy around the house! She's got such an imagination!

Here are Miss B and Daughter L all dressed up for Halloween. This picture is a milestone for Miss B. She's wearing the Halloween costume she didn't get to wear last year because Halloween pretty much marks the time that it's been a full year since she got so sick. She looks and feels great now and her momma even testified in church Sunday that she can JOG around the track at the high school! (just a little bit!)
Here are the two Sis. L's, double R and me!
Our little Grandson M with his Daddy, what superheros they both are to me!

We all got a little antsy waiting for Bro. M and Sis. C's plane to arrive so we took pictures of our socks! Here are a bunch of our brethren waiting for what seemed like forever for 8:30 to arrive so we could go get them from the airport... the trick or treaters kept them all entertained though...And here they are! Our dear brethren from OKC. Visiting and more visiting! Wow, what a great weekend

Welcome to Sis. Rachel...

2008-10-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone hitch a ride on over to our newest bloggie sister... Sis. Rachel's blog at Happy Lil Family ! Welcome to the blogging world Sis. Rachel, we'll all be happy to hear about your sweet little family over there in OK... Love you!

My Beautiful Birthday Quilt

2008-10-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Here is my beautiful quilt my girls made for me. Each one of the family picked out their own piece of material. I talked to Son R. this morning and he said his came all the way from OKC with him when he was here earlier in the summer! What a treasure of a family I have and I will treasure my quilt that is so special to me. I love you all so much!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

2008-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

I've just been muddling through life lately. Feeling a little stretched thin in places and having lots on my plate. There's been canning to do, putting the garden "to bed" so to speak and generally getting ready for fall. I've canned more this year than I have in a lot of years. It's been fun, but it's a little stressful too. Now, I'm sure I'm singing to the choir on that, because there's tons of ladies out there canning to keep themselves sustained all winter... I mean sustained as in not going to the grocery store for that can of green beans! My canning has been things like pear honey, dill pickles,sweet pickle relish, pickled beets, cinnamon pears, pickled hot peppers, elderberry syrup, Fall Gold raspberry jam, Chesterberry Jam and some last minute peach jam. I've been having fun with my steamer/juicer and steamed up the elderberries that Sis. J gave me from the forest around about and then made the elderberry syrup out of that. (Sis. D, you can have your's back! Mine turned jellyish too!) A patron at the library had me come and pick grapes at her house and so I steamed those and got the really pretty grape juice that's in my frig at the moment! I LOVE my steamer/juicer. I even threw in some of my otherwise useless apples from my tree and steamed them. The juice was delicious. No, I didn't can any green beans, we ate them fresh! Shared them with some dear visiting brethren back in August, froze some and ate the last fresh ones last night at dinner. Mmm...yummy! We did get a TON of garlic into the ground. 148 cloves of one variety, 84 of another, 20 of another and then 16 of the last kind. Each clove that we planted will turn in to a HEAD of garlic! That's a LOT of garlic if it grows. We want to make our own garlic powder and it won't be ready until late next summer. It takes a long time to grow. But my mouth is already watering for my own home grown garlic. We love garlic around here! I've been trying to sew too. In between helping my girls sew Christmas dresses and Regency Ball gowns, it's hard to get to that cute little doll I'm making for little Miss A's birthday next month! I made Daughter L two dolls so long ago when she was a little girl and I've had a fancy to make my granddaughter her own as soon as she was old enough. She'll turn four next month and by golly, I think she is ready for a dolly! I will be making it with her own little dress and bloomers at first, but then at Christmas time I will make a replica of the beautiful Christmas dress her mommy is making her! What fun! Next I'd really like to make those grandbaby boys some jammies. The Dad is still working on the house. He had a little trouble with finding why in the world a sink hole was sinking in the front yard. Don't worry! It was an old rotten tree stump that was years upon years old. He rented a stump grinder last Saturday and ground it up, filled the sink hole and hopefully now it will be fine. This Saturday we will be getting the new gutters at the roofline of the house. And then I think he will be done outside! Just in time too, because our much anticipated visiting OKC brethren are going to make another try at visiting the following weekend! Whoopee! Can you believe we are less than two weeks away from NOVEMBER?

Green House with RED door

2008-10-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

These pictures are for Son R. living in the wilds of OKC wondering what in the world did his parents do to his old farm home.

The new color looks good, but I'm thinking what am I going to do with the plants that I carefully had selected to match the old Mauve color of the house? Now I have this gorgeous and delightfully smelling rose out front that is . . . purple. Yes, it's purple. Goes real well with the burgundy trim and RED door! I have to say that The Dad is very fond of his RED door. I'm pretty proud of it myself since Son Th. painted it. When he took the door off to bring it to the shop to paint he said to me, "Mom, you are going to be able to see yourself in this door when I'm finished with it!". I said, "Ok.", thinking really, "sure I will son!" But I tell you today, that you CAN really see yourself in that RED door! In fact, in the top picture you can sorta see how it would reflect any image with 25 feet of it. Soon, the door will have a beautiful brass kickplate on it that dear Uncle Paul used his big machines on to write "Pelkey" so nicely. It's bright; it's shiney. I mean really BRIGHT and SHINEY! We got it from FedEx yesterday and The Dad "oooed" and "aahhed" over it for a full 10 minutes and showed it to everyone in the house. (he's even brought it in to the shop today to show it off to everyone there) Then he promptly had a telephone conversation in the middle of BiMart with Uncle Paul telling him and anyone within 10 yards of us how much he loved this kickplate! Just kidding honey! I think you are cute! ;+) I'll post a picture of the door sporting it's new brass kickplate as soon as possible. So, what do you think Son R.? Will you still be able to find your old farm home when you return for a visit? Maybe not... since you might be blinded by that shiney RED door with it's brass kickplate.

The Good News is...

2008-10-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

The good news is that Sis. C's spider bite seems no worse. But the bad news is... they are not coming this weekend. I'm so sad to not get to have them in my home, but I'm so glad and thankful that her spider bite is not getting worse. She is in tons of pain, so she needs our prayers still but thankfully her body is not sick now, just the spider bite itself is bad. They changed their plane tickets so that they can use them anytime within a year. So, we'll see them asap. Can't wait for that asap! Here's a picture of a group of us at Bro. M and Sis. C's huge dining table where they made "mi casa es su casa" (my house is your house) come alive. My heart was and still will be to do the same for them.

Visiting Brethren, on the way!

2008-10-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it! Bro. M and Sis. C are coming all the way here from Oklahoma on Friday evening and they will be here until Tues. morning. I love these dear brethren so much and I can't hardly concentrate on anything else. I'm dreaming of the wonderful visits we will have! Only a few of the brethren here in Harrisburg have met them, so I am as excited for the rest to meet them and fall in love with them too! I really want to post a picture of our finished, painted green house with the blairingly red front door, but I'll probably not get to it until next week. Until then, you'll find me getting all the "martha" stuff done for our company so that I can be "mary" while they are here!

***Urgent side note... I talked to Sis. C this morning and she told me that she was bitten by a spider maybe 4 times on her foot. She is in a lot of pain and needs the prayers of the brethren. It's already gone up her leg and throbs badly. I'll update as I hear anything... Sis. Lori

Happy Tea Party!

2008-09-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures...we are all so tired! But it was a wonderful day in the afternoon sun and breeze. What could be better than when the Lord blesses your efforts?

Here are a few of the beautiful teapots! And Daughter L sorting tableware...

Sis. D sets each table's elegant service out separately in her living room...

Time to fold napkins!

Happy Day!

2008-09-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Counting Down to the Tea Party

2008-09-25T12:50:00.001-07:00

Oh what fun! We're getting ready for our annual Mother-Daughter Tea Party. These pictures are from last year's tea and show some of our ladies enjoying themselves and our gorgeous servers (thanks boys!) and a little bit of the setting. Our tea this year has a hint of a tropical flair. Oops! Can't tell! We have grown by leaps and bounds. We are pushing 90 ladies and daughters this year! The sad thing is we are having to say no to extra guests who have heard about the tea and want to come. Today I have taken a day off from the library so I can cook. Sis. D and I will be going shopping tonight for the last minute food. We've had a few cooking days already so her freezer is full of yummies just waiting to be served! As always there have been a few snafoos-- like a certain luscious tea that we were counting on serving is no longer available! Ouch! And those cookies that won't do what we want them to do... we'll just dip them in chocolate and let that fix everything! For the ladies who can't make it...just know that Sis. D and I and our daughters would love to serve you tea in the garden some day! And to those who are coming; we can't wait to pamper you all...

Catching Up

2008-09-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Several days ago I wrote that I would be posting soon about all that's been happening in our lives lately. Our little church had been stretched thin to get all the things ready we needed to get ready for our SKY Camp. Our prayers were answered and once again God came to our rescue and made it a wonderful weekend in all aspects. But that's old news now! It's been a month this Friday since SKY Camp and I just can't seem to get it together enough to sit down and post. We've painted the house... still painting in fact, it's now green but The Dad is working on the trim, getting new gutters up and hopefully the new patio covers will go up soon. I'm going to have to tell Son J2 this morning that it rained in the night and now both his shoes are soaking wet since the patio cover has been gone since we painted! (Just told him and heard a big sigh! Shoes by the fireplace!) That's right, it's raining! This is a good thing right? It just has to stop before the end of the week. Sis. D and I and our girls are doing our annual Mother-Daughter Tea Party this Saturday. Right now it looks good, weather wise, but it didn't say on the news that it was going to rain this morning either. So now I'm a little worried. We knew when we planned the tea party on Sept. 27 that we were pushing it, but our hope was and still is that God knows our plans and intentions and that He'll help us with good weather. Any prayers to Him in that regard for us will be greatly appreciated!

I've been real busy on the library front this past month, our community is trying to pull it's efforts together to build a new library and I'm learning a lot just about people and their natures. I'm such a "we can do it!" girl. But I am finding that sometimes my feet aren't on the ground and certainly there are people who's feet have never even tippy toed off the ground! In fact, I'm finding that some people can even seem like they have their feet buried under ground their outlook is so gloomy! Oh well, my "we can do it" attitude is still saying, "we can do it!"

Tonight there is a library meeting once again and I really need to be at home making stuff for our tea party. Bad timing for me, but at least my girls came to my rescue last night and helped me to can the rest of the pears and put pretty fabric covers on the Pear Honey we will try to sell at the tea party. I got my tea party sewing done and I'm happy with the little favors I made to put on all the ladies' plates. One problem. I had 62 little favors (can't elaborate! It's a surprise!) and I thought I'd maybe have some left over to sell. Well, Sis. D told me Saturday night that 68 ladies had RSVP'd already! And that wasn't including all of her piano students and parents who will probably do their RSVPing this week. Oh boy! We've never had more than maybe 50 at a tea party before and that is including our boys that help so nicely to serve the ladies. This should be interesting!

So, I'm getting myself into gear to once again not "just get through" this week and the tea party. But to enjoy it and thank God that I have the strength to do the things I love to do. I will take lots of pictures at the party and even try to remember to take pics of us getting ready with all the cooking we will be doing. I'll post next week!

PS Sis. Jana, thank you for the sweet "checking up on me" comment! Love you and hope things are going well with your move to the sunny state!

PSS it says at the top of this post that I wrote it on Sept 10th! That's because I really did start to post the next day after last post! I just never finished it! LOL

Going to try...

2008-09-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

to write tomorrow...or maybe tonight?

I actually read and caught up with everyone else's blogs this morning. Hopefully I can find some time between everything to actually download pictures and write some stuff. We'll see if I can sit down and write between these things...
1. House painting-keep men fed and hydrated
2. Tea Party sewing
3. Homeschool start up

PS... I miss all my blogging friends--I've loved all your posts... ;+)

Running the Race to the End

2008-08-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the Olympics off and on this past week. The other night they had the womens marathon race through the streets of Beijing. Having been a long distance runner in my high school days, I was interested to see the ladies run. I love to see their long strides and think about the endurance it must take to run 26 miles. I wonder what is going through their minds for those long miles of the race and what makes them try and win so hard that they go through grueling training to get to the Olympics. They are all running for the prize of an Olympic gold medal; to hear their national anthem played while they stand on the highest step. But for some, who train to run a marathon, it's just the finishing of the race that matters. It's getting to the end and the prize is within themselves; they finished what they set out to do against all odds. While watching the marathon the other evening, I was hearing the newscaster talk about why all the ladies seemed to be running in a pack together. He said it was easier that way, they all set the pace for each other. But he said that soon, someone was going to have to run out ahead of the pack; to break away and strive to set her own pace. And sure enough, one lady did start to edge out ahead and set her own pace. Until the end of the marathon, this woman ran her own race. At times she was almost a full minute ahead and the TV was showing that she was so far ahead, that if she looked back, she wouldn't even see any of the other racers. She had set her pace and was sticking to it. Being in the lead like this, the camera was on her and I got a chance to really watch her face. At times, she seemed strong and her body showed no sign of weakness. But for a little bit, she looked stressed and I thought she seemed lonely. Then she picked herself up and got her stride back. The newscasters were saying how it was wise of her not to even look behind herself to see where the other racers were and that if she did, it could discourage her and make her lose her stride and timing. So she didn't look back. She finished the Olympic marathon in first place. She ran into that stadium to win her prize with the crowd cheering deafeningly for her.

Watching this marathon, I was put in mind of my life and how I've run my race in the faith. I started out as a young woman, with a husband and our family grew and grew. I ran my race then with all my sisters along side of me. We all were doing the same thing, we had the same pace set together. Life was good because I could see that others were beside me. But one day, the Lord made me start setting my own pace. I had to take that step forward like the woman in the marathon. It's probably because I needed to run just with the Lord for the prize. I couldn't rely on my sister's to set the pace anymore. I've been bemoaning the fact that I don't have other sister's beside me to run with like I used to. Each sister that is my age is at her own place in the race; on the way to her own prize at the end. It's hard to not have sisters to watch; who have had many children, raised them and now those children are leaving to start their own lives. I do have my dear Sis. D., who is my comrade in arms against the adversary and who I thank God for daily. I know there are other sister's out there at the same place in life as me in other assemblies. But, it's really just me out here running my own race. Figuring out what the pace is. I need to stop looking back to see where all the other racers are that I started out with. I need to keep my face forward toward the end. The finish line. We heard in church Sunday about picking up our cross and following Christ. That's what I need to do... I need to follow Him. To make it to the end and hear the voice of God saying, "Well done, my child.", is going to take me running my own race to win the prize of heaven. Now I just need to go and ask Him to help me follow along and find the pace He will set for me.

Morning Glory!

2008-08-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post some pictures of my garden that The Dad has worked on so hard this year
We both work out there, but mostly it is his continual puttering that keeps it going. It's time to
order our garlic to put in the ground in September and we have been avidly pouring through the
Territorial Seed Catalog to pick which variety to plant. We are also going to plant some fall cabbage and
some Oriental Bok Joi which is luscious in a stir fry! Oh and we won't forget to plant some carrots so our
little guys can go out and pick them and eat them directly!

Contentment or Drama?

2008-08-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, the ministers here in our assembly were used to speak about contentment. You know, as in "Godliness with contentment is great gain" or "having food and raiment therewith be content" etc. But it was so much more and I wish I could put into words what that Sunday meeting has worked in my life. Not sure if I've made great strides toward the mark or anything, but I've had plenty to ponder since then. One of the things one of the minister's said was "are we content with being the person God has made us, or do we want to be something bigger and better?" This really struck home with me, not that I really want to BE someone spiritually, but it's just that The Dad is used by the Lord all the time and it seems like all I do is sit in my seat and well... just be there. I won't go into how terrified I would be to actually be used in anything spiritually now, but that meeting really made me start thinking. Am I content with who I am? Is it okay for me to be just plain old Sis. Lori and wait (as in being a waitress at a restaurant) on the Lord? In the mean time, I got a sweet magazine about homeschooling and the focus of it was on homemaking. There were tons of articles about rejoicing that you were a wife and a mom and it really made me see how I had let that kind of heart slip from me. There was one article that really struck home with me about having a complaining heart to have to wash the dishes... instead of thanking God for those dirty dishes and seeing that it was because you have food to cook that those dishes got dirty! I've been begging God everyday that I could just stay home again. Not have to work at the library. My plate is so full. I have so much to do, and not enough time to do it. So, do I love that kind of drama? Do I have a melodramatic heart of seeing something wrong in my life, something that I have to complain to the Lord about? There's been this little niggling thought in my mind about drama vs. contentment and then last night The Dad was listening to me complain ONE more time about how my life is TOO BIG for me and he asked me if I was focusing on having drama. "Of course not!", I thought as he said it. But then, as I lay on my pillow trying to get to sleep, I really considered his words. Could that be me? Could I be focusing so much on having TOO much to do to be thankful that God has given me the health and strength to do all of it? Do I just like the drama of life? Shouldn't I just be content to do everything the Lord has given me to do and rejoice in it? It's going to take me a long time to swallow this and digest it all. But I see myself in that question that my husband asked me. I really love the Lord and I don't want to displease Him in anything. Neither do I want to be a weariness to my husband's soul by my continual droppings of drama! Contentment or drama; which one will I chose?

One Month to Go!

2008-07-29T08:19:00.001-07:00

Everyone! It's countdown time for SKY Camp! What is Sky Camp you ask? It's our Harrisburg Church of the Firstborn's Camp Out. The location is the name. We have our camp out at SKY Camp which is located on Fall Creek Reservoir. Our body of brethren is small, so we only can have our camp out every other year. This year SKY Camp is on Aug 29-31. All food is provided, all you need to bring is your clothes/necessities and your sleeping bag and pillow! Our church does all kinds of fundraisers during the year and we raise enough money to pay for the food and for any brethren that want to make it but can't financially! So if your thinking about coming to Oregon this year, here's a great reason to come! You are officially invited!

House Mouse- What fun!

2008-07-24T08:45:00.001-07:00

Oooo... House Mouse and House Mouse Antics has their new catalog out with the 2009 Calendar! I am seriously in love with all their stuff! Go check it out...! And I found this really useful website called KuKuKlok . You can set this online alarm to ring so you know when you've spent enough time reading blogs! Actually I used it yesterday to time the little kids at the library who were using the kids' computer. Everyone gets 1/2 hour. But guess who is the mommy at the library who has to monitor this 1/2 hour? You got it! Me. I get so busy and forget to look at the time, so yesterday I used KuKuKlok and it worked great! The kids could actually hear their timer go off and told each other to let the next person go ahead.

Chickens in the Trees?

2008-07-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm posting twice in a day...but it's evening now and something just happened that I gotta write about! There are chickens in the trees! Really! I used to love this Sesame Street clip about the chickens in the trees. Tonight, it's been replayed in my own backyard. Of course The Dad is gone. Of course the men are all gone hiking. Daughter L and I are left to fend for ourselves...oh and the chickens too. It started innocently enough. We decided to go out and plant a few flowers; you know, really get something accomplished! I went out to the shed to get my trusty dusty trowel and thought, "mm... those chickens are sure making a lot of noise. I'd better go check." "Hey, wait! There are only 7 chicks, where is the 8th?" I could hear her. Might she be in the neighbor's yard? About that time here comes the neighbor out their back door saying there had been a chicken in their yard earlier. But where was she now? Mmm....I asked if I could come around and have a look see. Sure they said. So over I tromped with my hair all in a tizzy, it being now 8:30 in the evening. No chicken. They have a simple yard too, not many places to hide a chicken. Couldn't find her. The poor old lady says that the other evening she could have sworn there was a chicken in their tree...I think to myself she might be losing her marbles. Back home I went to count my chickens again. Now there were only 6! Great...what am I going to tell The Dad when he gets home? Umm...sorry, but we lost two chickens into the mysterious void of the neighbor's back yard? Oh boy! So Daughter L gets a great idea. "Let's cut their wing feather's so they can't fly anymore!" I say OK and flip flop to the kitchen to get my scissors with what is now becoming an evil gleam in my eye! We set ourselves up...we climb on over into the henyard. EEyyyuuuoooo.... is that chicken poop on our shoes and legs? Daughter L runs in the house and into the bathtub to wash her legs. Forget the scissors I say and let's let them loose for the night. So I just happened to hear chickens again in the neighbor's yard! I look up and into their tree and what did I see? You betcha! There are chickens in the tree! Two of them... well they can just stay there for tonight. I'm done tuckered out.

Understanding God's Mercy to Us

2008-07-19T08:25:00.001-07:00

Sis Shannon asked that I post some stories from our quick trip to Colorado and so here goes! This is Sis. Carolyn G. from Grand Junction. She cares for her dear husband, Bro. Marc who is so sick. I mentioned them in my previous post. A long time ago, we had Bro. Marc and Sis. Carolyn in our home (back when we lived in California!) and to make a long story short, they were not treated well while there. So, for many years, The Dad has been praying that our paths would cross again and we would have the chance to say we were sorry and make it right with them. We didn't know where they lived in Colorado and didn't know their last name, so it was pretty impossible to find out who they were. But, lo and behold! The Lord knew my husband's prayer and He made a way for us to apologize to them. Recently our nephew married a sister from Colorado and wouldn't you know it but it's Bro. Marc and Sis. Carolyn's daughter! As soon as The Dad heard her maiden name, he recognized it as the last name of the brethren who were in our home so long ago. We were able to visit with our new niece in Idaho and learned that her father was terribly sick and both The Dad and I knew that we'd need to make a trip to Colorado post haste. That is how we found ourselves on the road there and back again. We were welcomed in to the very brethren's home that we had mistreated so long ago and were welcomed with open arms! They had not carried any hardness of heart along with them through these years. God was very good to us that we were able to meet them again and this time to actually get to know them! We spent time with Bro. Marc the first afternoon and evening we got there and we enjoyed his apparent grace and bravery in the face of what surely could be death. He spoke of his joy in the faith and his hope for the faith to continue through all of our children. He stressed the importance of teaching our children about the treasure we possess and living the faith ourselves so that they can learn from our examples. He loves his children dearly. He loves his wife dearly. And rightly so, two of his children are in the faith now and he hopes for his third. And his wife! She is a dear solid sister. Up she was early in the morning caring for Bro. Marc and caring for their home. You could tell she was very busy at keeping her household running smoothly for Bro. Marc. She tends her yard and it's beautiful! You can tell she loves plants because even her house is full of gorgeous pots full of deep lucious greenery. Good grief, I'd have those plants dead in a week! Her calmness of spirit was an inspiration and she made us feel so at home. The next morning Bro. Marc was needing to sleep and rest and so we got to visit with her and the whole morning the telephone kept ringing. I finally gathered that it was her birthday and here she was cooking breakfast and taking care for us! Later that day we were able to get her a birthday cake and have a little celebration. Even Bro. Marc was able to have a bit of cake and sing to his wife! I cannot stress enough how much that Bro. Marc needs prayers. He needs God's grace to suffer the affliction he has. I know he wants it, I know he will only get it through the grace of God. So, when you think of him, please ask God for mercy for both him and Sis. Carolyn. She has a big job caring for him and their home. Oh and she also helps care for her almost blind mother, Sis. Helen who lives about 45 minutes away! I will always treasure getting a chance to know these dear brethren and understand that it was God's mercy to The Dad and I to have the chance to make things right with such sweet children of His.

There and Back Again

2008-07-15T07:55:00.001-07:00

We are home! Wow what a trip. I am so thankful that we got to go and see our dear brethren there in Colorado. It is a LONG drive! Let me say that again... it is a L O N G drive! 20 hours! We went there to see Bro. Marc and Sis. Carolyn G. who are the mother and father of our newest niece. Bro. Marc is very afflicted. He sincerely needs your prayers, most likely he has congestive heart disease and has swelling and other problems in his legs. I can't say enough how much he needs the grace of God to suffer this. But he is a testimony of cheerfulness and what grace God can give in this kind of thing. He says he is ready to jump over that final river Jordan! And why not he asks? That is what we are all living for...to die and make it to heaven to be with God. I hope I can have such a heart in my final days. His wife, Sis. Carolyn is now so dear to my heart. We got to spend a lot of time visiting with her and she cares for her husband with such patience and love. She definitely needs our prayers for continued strength in all that she does. Daughter L, the Dad and I got to go to church in Delta and meet so many brethren. It was so humbling to be in their old time assembly and meet dear sweet sisters like Sis. Helen, Sis. Carolyn's mother. What an honor to meet her! Girls, this woman has LIVED the faith! As we spoke with her, she would get tears in her eyes as she mentioned past trials, but what a smile and what a laugh and what mercies of God she spoke of! It was an joy and honor to be invited into her home and be welcomed. I want to go to her mansion and see her in heaven one day! If she knew your grandma, (and she asked you who she was!) then she was sure she would know you! My goodness how many brethren she knew! And we got to meet Sis. Julie! How can I begin to say what a blessing and an honor it was to see her sweet face and meet her? Words will never describe what a gift that was. She was warm and gracious and tried so hard to work things out to meet us. And we got to spend the whole afternoon with her! And meet her darling little kids! HI Taylor and Blake! Did you read Skippyjon Jones and Finklehopper Frog? And then Julie took us to meet her mother. Girls, again, what a blessing to meet such a sister! You could tell by little things she said how deep the faith was in her blood and what a rock she was. Again, we were welcomed so heartily and graciously. We also got to meet another bloggie sister! Sis. JoAnn! We got to take a picture with both her and Sis. Julie after church. Then on the way home, after driving all night, we got to see Bro. Van and Sis. Nancy. They kindly welcomed us into their home at 6:00 in the morning and we got to spend time visiting with them before we drove the last 7 hours home. Again, what can I say? It was wonderful to sit and visit with such dear loved ones and hear their old time faithful testimonies. I surely want to thank God that He allowed us to travel there and back again. He watched over us and kept us once again while we travelled 2438 miles. PS sorry about the sideways picture, I guess I'm a dork and don't know how to turn it!

Sisters from Oregon say Hello! And Colorado Bound!

2008-07-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

In back, Me, Sis. Brittany, Sis. Kristen, Sis. Dayna, in front, Sis. Tiffany w/Abigail, Sis. Mandy w/James, Sis. Lorraine, Sis. Amy w/Max and Lil' Timothy

Also, we are headed to Colorado this coming weekend! I'm hoping to get pictures of my blog sisters in Colorado and post on my blog. Please pray for us as we head on out for a quick trip. More later...

Eloquent Quote!

2008-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

"Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says..

"Oh no, she's awake."

---Unknown

One Day at a Time...

2008-07-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

I am learning. Trying to remember what Jesus said, about not thinking about tomorrow. I am pretty sure I get so stressed out each week by what I have to do that I have no pleasure in exactly what I do do. Does that make sense to anyone out there? What follows is some random things we've been doing and getting accomplished. You've probably all noticed that I've not been posting or commenting as much lately. That's because I feel so guilty and overwhelmed when I sit down at my computer; thinking of all the things I SHOULD be doing instead of sitting and reading/writing on the blogs. First and foremost I've been asking myself, "have you read the scriptures today, have you got on your knees to beg God for mercy to even get through this day?" It is so much fun to sit here and read all your posts and be a part of your lives, but I seriously need to buckle down and get things done around here. Okay, so here goes:

I'm finally over my allergies and it seems like it didn't last as long this year. That's a good thing. We've made some progress on our garden, had tons of lettuce to give away and WASH. I spent one whole morning (with SO many other things I should have been doing) washing lettuce. . . with a bad heart about it the entire time I might add. Okay, so last night, we pulled out all the lettuce and found out that if we filled a 5 gallon bucket full of water and dunked each head up and down several times in it, it washed really FAST! In place of the lettuce we planted some purple bush beans. We had these last year and they were so pretty! We finally got some tomato and pepper plants and got them in the garden. I really wanted to get a Hens and Chicks plant and put them in a pot by my front door. Did that, this past weekend. Our guys all went on their Clackamas River rafting trip http://www.blueskyrafting.com/photo -gallery2.htm They all had a blast and I heard them talk about going for a two day rafting trip someday. We went to Idaho for Bro. Mark and Sis. Carrie's wedding. The highlight was church meeting. We got to be in meeting with some brethren we hadn't seen in so many years! I got to meet a new niece by marriage who is from Grand Junction, Colorado! And even if we didn't get to go to their wedding in Colorado, she let me see their awesome pictures from the wedding. One of them was this dear picture of Bro. Jim Smith, who baptized me so many years ago. His wife, Sis. Paula is The Dad's big sister! We love them so much and hold their family so dear to our hearts. I got to finally see Sis. Charlotte's house; now when I think of her I will be able to picture her in her kitchen or in her living room working on a puzzle! Mmm...what else? Oh! We might be going to Colorado this next weekend...! We'll see what The Dad decides. More on that later. We got our family pictures taken, you've all seen some of them on Daughter L's blog but now you can see a little behind the scenes! I really want to get a whole wall of pictures put together with the best of them. Of the three quilts that I need to get done this month...I've got two of the tops done, and now I'm realizing that Son #6 birthday is next week! So, I'm going to run right now to the fabric store and get the batting and the backing. He's going to spend the night at a friend's house tonight, so I can possibly work on getting it together. I realized this morning that if we leave for Colorado this Friday, and not get back till late Monday, then I'd better get the rest of his quilt done this week! Yikes! Off I go, working on "one day at a time"!

Busy Summer

2008-06-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

In the next seven weeks I will be very busy. Well, make that 11 weeks. But especially these next seven. You all know that I am a small town librarian ("library specialist" to be more precise!) for a VERY busy little library. My library is a branch of a nice big county library, so my patrons are very lucky to have so much going on at their little town place. Each summer we have a huge Summer Reading Program that I already wrote about with performers and all kinds of wonderful things like that. This summer will be especially tough on me because the performers will be coming on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. Let me explain a little bit about my Wednesdays first and you will understand why I am saying it will be tough. My usual Wednesdays are really busy. I get going early and get some errands and shopping done first. I don't have to be at the library until 2:00. My library does not open until 3:00, but stays open until 8:00. Wait, you think! What about Wednesday night church? Well, I make sure I close the door to the library and am walking out at exactly 8:00 each Wednesday night and then make a bee-line to meeting which gets me there at about 8:17. Church starts at 7:30, so I miss most of the prayers and songs but I make it in time for preaching and testimonies. Well, this year, since the Summer Reading Program performers will be there at the library at 12:30 for seven Wednesdays, I will also open the library after the performances at about 1:15 or so. That makes my library open for a LONG time! I do get to have help, sometimes we have about 75 kids come to our programs and it can get very hairy! I have a great helper and also my sweet Daughter L works with me too. But if you could all remember me this summer, maybe the Lord will make things work out great. I really love being the little librarian and love all my patrons. I feel like the Lord put me there to show love to and take care of everyone who comes in. So, I'm taking a deep breath and heading forward...tomorrow is our first Wednesday of the summer!

Will I Miss this Boy?

2008-06-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

I have waited up until almost the last second to post this. To my great sadness and sorrow our Son #4 is moving to Oklahoma early Sunday morning. How can I even post about it? My heart hurts so bad. I have dreaded this day. . . the whole time raising my children. . . I have dreaded this day. He's moving. Our family won't be whole here in one place now. Will he be happy, will he be sad, who will have coffee with him, who will hear his hurts, who will see his smile and hear his laugh, who will hear his voice ring out across the room, and how will I be his Momma across the country. . .how will I be Grammy to his children someday when they might be there? Will I get to be like Sis. Trina and write a post entitled Russell's Return?

I know he will be fine there in Oklahoma. He will have brethren to live the faith with and God certainly will hear his prayers there as well as here. Maybe he will be happy. That is all I can hope for, is that he will be happy and that it will be well with his soul.

Carpets Cleaned-Check!

2008-06-06T12:16:00.001-07:00

Today we got our carpets professionally cleaned! I feel so fresh and squeaky clean now! Last night we moved all our furniture out of the house and in to our very nice neighbor's garage. Everything was off the floor so the carpets could get totally cleaned everywhere in the house. The only thing is that it's freezing cold here in the NW today and I have all my windows open to dry the carpets. Son J2 put on socks and then gallon size zip-lock bags on his feet so he could get warm! We don't wear our shoes in the house because it rains so much here and the carpets would be all muddy if we kept our shoes on. So I decided to wash the bottom of my sneakers and put them on with my wool socks. Now I'm warm! Tonight when the men get home from work we will get the furniture back into the house and put things back in order. The Dad just called and said I could close up the house and turn the heater on! Go figure! That's global warming for you...when you have to turn the heater on in June just to warm your tootsies!

Are You Going to the Library This Summer?

2008-06-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

So, everyone, are you taking your kids to the library this summer? The Summer Reading Program in most states this year (including Idaho, Indiana, Colorado, Oklahoma and of course, Oregon!) is "Catch the Reading Bug". You can take your kids to visit and join the programs, check out books for summer reading and in most libraries attend fun performers too! In my library we will even be having a performance with BUGS! What I love to tell both moms and kids is that during summer time kids can read whatever THEY want! Yep, no teacher telling them to read this or that. They can chose. What fun! Moms...here's a hint...look at the running sidebar on my blog. I have some of my favorite read-aloud books there. These are storytime tested fun books! You could sneak some home and catch the reading bug with your kids! Oh and here's another hint... I did this and still do it for my kids...and it works at the library too! I put "bait" around the house! Yep, I unashamedly bring home interesting NON-Fiction books that look interesting and just lay them on the couch or by the fireplace. Bam! I catch them every time browsing through the bait! Go to the kids section in your library and find some books about an interesting subject. Believe me any thing will catch their attention if it's just sitting there on the couch! Make sure you put fresh "bait" out often so they don't get bored... And what's really cool is that, little do they know it, but they are reading without you telling them to! Try it!

Next Quilt-Happy Birthday Daughter M

2008-06-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

Here she is with her Mermaid Quilt! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Daughter Control

2008-05-28T08:42:00.001-07:00

Big sigh...I have too many daughters. And the problem is just beginning. With three out of six sons married and one original daughter, it's hard to keep them all accounted for and safely knowing who's who. I knew this day would come. So, with the help of Daughter #4, I will now rename the daughters so I can keep it under control. Here's the deal:
Daughter #1 is not married yet and is the original daughter and will now be called Daughter L
Daughter #2 is married to Son #3 and will now be referred to as Daughter M
Daughter #3 is married to Son #2 and will now be referred to as Daughter A
Daughter #4 is married to Son #1 and will now be referred to as Daughter T

Don't ask me what we will do if one of the remaining 3 sons marries another L, M, A or T ! I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Daughters...gotta love 'em!

God Helped...once again!

2008-05-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

I bought this amazingly perfect material for Daughter #2's quilt several months ago...her birthday wasn't for a long time, so I stashed it away. A few weeks ago when us girls were going on our Sister's Trip, I shopped for the rest of our family's quilts and I bought another piece of material that I thought for sure would look great with this "perfect" material I had bought awhile ago. So I got home and went to find where I had stashed that amazingly perfect first piece and I couldn't find it! Oh no! Daughter #2's birthday was 3 weeks away. So I began to pray about it, asking the Lord to please show me where I had put it. I remembered I had put it somewhere because Daughter #2 was coming into the room I was in and I had to hide it. But I couldn't remember where I was when I hid that material. I started getting discouraged, because I had asked Daughter #3 to pray with me and we had torn apart every place imaginable that I might have stashed it but it wasn't to be found. Then, yesterday I asked Daughter #1 to look again where Daughter #3 and I had already looked. And in a few minutes I heard her shout, "here it is! I found it!" In her sweet little hand was that amazingly perfect material which I still found to be amazingly perfect and I just started crying. I was going to have to try something else in a few days because Daughter #2's birthday is now 8 days away...but God helped me, once again! It was just a small thing for the Lord to do, but he decided to do it for me...and for my daughters! Now they will have more confidence to ask Him for small things and see how He helps us!

The Return of the Reptile Man

2008-05-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

(cue scary music...)
Yes girls, the Reptile Man returned yesterday! Only library business would induce me to be within a few feet of murderous boa constrictors, bone crushing snapping turtles, and blue tongued lizards that spit at you! You see, I have to introduce this brave man named very appropriately "The Reptile Man" for our library program each year. And by the time everyone is the room to see him, I can't get out! I am literally stuck right there, in front--within feet of those hair raising reptiles. Tons of people from our little town come to see The Reptile Man. The kids love him and he's great with them too. The first year, we had 148 come see him, then last year it was 176...are you ready for this? This year, 295 people came from our little town just to see him! We do this program in the Fire Hall meeting room. It's packed! And the Fire Chief is so kind to let us crowd in to his Hall. Even after 295 people jammed in yesterday! All he said to me after the show was, "You know, I think next year I will pull all the fire trucks out of the garage bays and let you have the show in there!" He's great! Daughter #2 and Granddaughter #1 came to see the show this year and at the end, she raised her little hand to get a chance to hold the creepy boa constrictor's tail... I couldn't believe it! Here's the picture to prove it. Maybe she'll introduce The Reptile Man for me next year?

Latest Quilts

2008-05-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here is Son #2's tropical fishy quilt...not sure if he really knew why I was making him a tropical fishy quilt, but when I told him that I knew that his sons would love laying on it, he seemed happy!

Here is The Dad with his trout quilt...you can't see it, but in each corner he has one of Son #2's tropical fishy faces! He loved that touch. He LOVES his quilt... he only wishes the back could have had chickens on it!

A True Love Story

2008-05-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, there lived a young maiden who longed for a love she didn't believe existed, but had only heard about in fairy tales and stories. She had only the sad example of her foster parent's marriage to look to in real life and wondered if there ever could be a true knight in shining armor somewhere in this Realm. A knight who would stay true and love her with all his heart. How, oh how, would she ever find such a love?

Then one day, when she was not expecting it, a young man was introduced to her. He was not the handsomest young man in town, nor was he the strongest. But something shone in his eyes. Oh his eyes! But alas, as she was a young girl and far from marriageable age she could only watch that young man and wait. As she watched and waited; a miraculous thing happened! The young man became her friend. Just a small friendship to be sure, but it was a beginning.

Now as time went on and this young girl got closer to marriageable age, she was surrounded by young men looking for wives of their own. All were men of honor with shining swords in their hands ready to become knights to fair maidens; sweeping them off their feet and carrying them into the golden sunset to begin their happily ever after. The young girl also looked and pondered the goings to and fro of these young men. But there was not to be seen a young man so pure in heart and shining of eyes as the young man who had become her friend. The man who had captured her secret heart. So she waited and watched.

Now this young man who secretly had the young girl's heart kept himself busy. He was busy sharpening his sword and building up his strength to serve the King of the Realm. It seemed that, as he grew in strength, he shone more brighter and fairer than any of the other young men in the land. Little did the young girl know, but this young man secretly had his heart set on her. And was biding his time until the day he felt that he was ready to take on a maiden of his own and do the King's bidding. Quietly he watched the young girl and waited.

Then one day, the young man was given leave by the King of the Realm to set out to find his own true happily ever after. So he went straight away to his friend, the young maiden. His secret desire. He spent time with her and he found they shared many of the same heart felt desires. Desires for serving the great King of the Realm, for staying true to one love in life, for raising children up to serve the King and for steadfastly seeking the way to the King's heavenly home. The young maiden could not believe that this young knight of her dreams was such a man as this. Could it be, that what she had first saw in his eyes was true? Could it be that this man would be the one who would save her from the sorrow that she had known as a child?

The answers to these questions she found by going to the King of the Realm. She humbly besought Him and asked if the light she saw that shone in the eyes of her secret desire was true. She found that it was the King's delight to answer her and give her a beautiful gift for her asking. She found that the King knew all about her sadness as a child and her sorrow at what she had seen in her home. He knew of her longing for a life full of beauty and love. So He sent her away with a rare gift; a gift of a deep and abiding faithfulness to the young man of her dreams and a sure knowledge that the young man would be faithful to her. What the King had shown her was that as long as she remained faithful to this young knight, and served him well in this life, that all her hopes and wishes and dreams would come true and that they, together, would be given the gift of happily ever after.

So she returned to the young knight and he made her his wife. All their desires were granted to them. They became servants to the King of the Realm, loved each other with a deep love, were given seven children to raise up to serve the King and lived happily ever after.

I know this story is true because it's my story... the story of my true love... my dear Husband who is turning 46 years old today. Happy Birthday to my one and only Knight in Shining Armour. I love you with all my heart forever...Miracles truly happen to people like me; for a miracle happened when God gave me you!

Uh-Oh...Is this a Rooster Posing as a Hen?

2008-05-16T07:42:00.001-07:00

I'm really getting worried about this little "girl" here! She's got an awfully big comb compared to the other "girls".

Here is the whole flock of little ones strutting their stuff among the Calendulas last evening. Ok, I'm sorry I called you stinky yesterday girls!

For Today

2008-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

Outside my window- is the chicken tractor with all the ladies watching me as avidly as I watch them!

I am thinking- about my upcoming weekend and the quilt I'm making for The Dad and what I can do to make his birthday special on Monday

I am thankful for- the sweet smiles of my sleepy children getting started for their days

From the kitchen- someone forgot to start the dishwasher last night!

I am creating- a plan to keep the garden going this year and sew in the evenings...

I am going to- have a good attitude about these stinky little chicks in my utility room and count down the days (hours?)until they get to live outside with the older girls!

I am wearing- my pjs still, even though I should leave for the library in just a few minutes!

I am hoping- to come up with a really good meal my birthday man will love!

I am hearing- the chirping of those stinky (oops!) chicks in my utility room and the sound of Son #6 as he gets ready to go with me to the library.

Around the house- you'll find lime green thread on the ground from Son #2's quilt, my kitchen table overflowing with quilting stuff/sewing machine/rulers etc. and a DVD for Sis. B that will help her exercise while sitting down!

One of my favorite things- is that bag full of material I bought at the Quilt Store just waiting for me to make into beautiful quilts for the ones I love.

I am praying- for my dear Sis. R and Sis. C in OK who are planning a wedding next weekend with tons of company coming and who are stressed out getting sewing, cooking, cleaning and shopping done in time!

Now it's your turn...

Getting to Work- on the Quilts!

2008-05-14T08:21:00.001-07:00

I started this past year on a project of epic proportions; making quilts for each of my family on their birthday. So far, I've made 8 of them, and I have 7 more to go! It all started with us girls making a quilt for "Project Quilt", which is an organization that gives every Oregon soldier going to Afghanistan or Iraq a handmade quilt to take with them. My kids saw that quilt I made and said, "we would love a quilt like that!" So, I decided that I couldn't get 15 quilts done by Christmas, but I could make them each one as their birthdays came around in the year. So I started last November with Granddaughter #1 and Daughter #4. And it's been a whirlwind ever since! Here are some of the quilts I've made... oh no! I can't find a pic of one of them! Each of the quilts has some fabric in it from one of the other quilts! So, on the married couple's quilts, I am adding some of each other's material, etc. It makes it fun for them to see who's material they have in their quilt. Anyway, when we were on our Sister's Trip, I got to go to the Quilt Shop in the nearby town. I was able to find the material I needed for the rest of my family's quilts! I am so excited. It was so much fun and some of the girls helped me pick out fabric. So, I have to finish Son #2's quilt today and then work on The Dad's quilt. The Dad's birthday is Monday, so I'd better get to work!

Who Could Resist These Faces?

2008-05-13T19:58:00.001-07:00

While Daughter #1 was out with The Dad last night watching "Speed Racer", I snuck on her computer and "stole" some of her pics from the Sister's trip since I new she took way more than I did. I have no clue why in the world this post is underlined. So excuse my underlinings!Here is Grandson #2! He's the one with the infectious smile. (not to mention infectious cookies he sneaks into his Grammie's mouth!)

And here is Grandson #1 who knows how to wear an adorable hat just like his mommy!

And here is that cute little one and only Granddaughter

Saga of the Sleepless Sisters

2008-05-13T07:57:00.001-07:00

sHere's about the only girl among us who actually looks like she got rest this past weekend! We all missed our own beds and felt either too hot or too cold!

Actually Grandson #2 looks pretty chipper right here! What a smiley boy. He was a good little guy this weekend and made us catch our breath every time he went down those two stairs into the family room of the house we were staying at. Let's just say he went "head first" several times! You can just barely see the bruise on his forehead from a previous brush with disaster.
Here are the breakfast girls. Notice little Miss A's sweet apron her mommie sewed for her just for this occasion! Too cute! Her mommie is reading her the book "Little House on the Prairie" and I showed her the picture of how Mary and Laura had the exact same aprons as she did! She had to explain to me that theirs were green and blue and hers is white, of course, silly me!

All in all we had a great time despite our sleepless nights. Daughter #4 and I got to snuggle down and watch the movie "Bella". And even though I was sicker than a dog, Daughter #3 let me hold Grandson #3 for some much needed Grammie time. Sis. D had an adventure with the stairs and a bag of ice on her tushie... poor baby! You gotta watch those slippery slopes! We all breathed a sigh of relief when she could sit down properly. And once again... we all brought TOO MUCH FOOD! Oh well...don't want to miss out on a chance for munchies. We accomplished our one duty on our sleepless weekend. We planned SKY Camp! It's August 29-31 so mark your calendars everyone...

Sister's Trip This Weekend!

2008-05-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

Each year, our Sisters and their daughters get to go on a weekend away trip just because! Oh, we have an excuse...at least we like to tell ourselves that! We go away and plan our big Church Camp. And we really do plan and get organized when we go on our trip. But, most of all it's wonderful together time for us all. We look forward to it and plan on lot's of good food and fun. So it's countdown girls... T minus 4 days and counting!

S t r e t c h . . .

2008-04-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Dad and I have noticed our bodies getting a little more aches and pains lately. It also seems like we can pull muscles more easily! Oh No! Hope this doesn't mean we are getting old. Oh well, no help for that! But what we can do is try and stretch these achy muscles of ours. So I went on the handy dandy library catalog and ordered some videos and DVDs for stretching. It's been pretty hilarious for the past two mornings as we've gotten up early and stretched together. I am seriously out of shape and not in any way could I be considered limber. My limber is lost! Ha Ha...that's a book joke! Get it? Girl of the Limberlost? Ok, never mind. The first DVD we did, yesterday, was so fast! How could we even "enjoy" the stretch when the lady was on to the next movement before we could even get into the first position? Oh brother! This morning's video was a stretching for partners one. Emphasis on "feeling like a tree". Swaying and all kinds of yucky New- age weirdness. Does anyone out there have a favorite stretch DVD? I really want one that just does the old fashioned stretching routine. Please let me know...oh, and enjoy picturing The Dad and I stretching and "feeling like a tree" this morning!

Please excuse my Silence

2008-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to think of things to write on my blog, but my heart has just not been in it. I haven't written on too many of anyone else's blogs either. But I'm trying!

Yesterday I had to pass a milepost for me. I really needed to see God's mercy as I passed this milepost too. And I did. A dear Sister was going to be delivered of her baby so soon after our Elijah's passing and it was hard for me to even think of it for her. As she travailed through the night, I couldn't sleep for sorrow. Lots of thoughts would keep coming in and it was probably me allowing the adversary to torment ...but I asked for another dear friend's prayers that the adversary would go away and the Lord put me to sleep. I was so relieved in my sleep that when the call came to say that the Sister had been delivered of a healthy baby boy...it felt like I had already knew it in my heart!

It's not that I doubted God's mercy at all. But, now my eyes are opened to how much we need God's breath of life to be given. I know I was sober about this before...good grief...I've passed through seven deliveries of my own and seen five of my own grandbabies born. But now, I know more fully that God is the one that holds that baby in the palm of his hand and I will never look at another delivery the same. Thanks be to God for the safe delivery and the gift of life given to our dear friends in OK.

Great Sorrow

2008-04-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

It is with great sorrow that I write about our beautiful grandson, Elijah, who was stillborn on Saturday. His Momma and Daddy had so much grace through her labor and delivery and the ordeal afterward. Even now, when you walk in their home, as she is recovering, you can feel the grace of God on them both. There is too much to write and too much sorrow in my heart to write it. Our family has been given only good from the Lord up until now. How can I complain? We've raised our seven children without even a broken bone. To have our first sorrow happen to our children breaks our hearts. And yet, I am fully confident that if God had chosen to do it, he could have breathed life in to little Elijah at any moment. My sorrow does not overwhelm the confidence I have that God is the author of even this. As I stood and testified in church on Sunday, I have so much to be thankful to God for. His mercy has been to me since the day I was born again almost 30 years ago. I know his mercy will continue and he will be the Gentle Healer that our family needs.

Beautiful Song... From One of my Favorite Singers!

2008-04-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Girls Step Out of the Coop

2008-04-04T18:00:00.001-07:00

My chickens, AKA "The Girls", make me happy. Here is a picture of a big fatty hen. We haven't named her except to call her "Fatty". She doesn't seem to mind this rather rude nickname. She happily struts around the yard whenever we let her out of the coop.

Here is "Fearless". She's the natural leader of the clutch. She's the first out of the coop and seems to lead all the adventures. Isn't she a beautiful blue color?

Here is the whole assemblage. I threw out some old tortilla chips and they went cuckoo. The problem is, since they know when the door opens we might be giving them a treat...the whole flock makes a mad dash for the patio!

Here's a pretty picture of a dandy duo. They don't have names, poor ladies. There just here to make eggs and walk around the backyard for heaven's sake!

I'll leave with this final note... we have six girls...we had seven. But one died as she got run over by the coop. Yes, it was Granddaughter #1's first brush with the dreaded word..."dead". She was very sober about it...and talked with Poppa about it every time she saw him for a few weeks after that. Only one confusing thing about this was, it was about the time we thought that Tecumseh, our dog had gotten lost and we told her that he died. Then he showed up the next week. Mmm...kinda gives her an interesting view on death, don't you think?

Over the Back Fence...

2008-04-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

As I meander to my computer...ok, for real... I run in here to my computer every morning to steal a few minutes to check up on "my" blogs...I can't help but wonder what is the pull? Why am I so drawn to check up on what my bloggie sisters are writing? Is this a good thing?

I came up with a few thoughts and I'll share them with you. First of all, I absolutely love being a part of all of your worlds. I feel like an old time housewife chatting with you girls over the back fence when I read your blogs. I am humbled to be included when you write back to me on what I've commented on your postings, I am elated to hear what you write on your blogs and I search diligently for edifying words to write as posts. Girls, what's most important is that on our blogs we can feel each others joys, sorrows, worries, cares and laughter...together. We ask for prayers from our God for one another and we've seen Him hear and answer us. We've cried with each other and posted heartfelt comments to each other to lift each other's hands up. I've gotten to see the silly side of all of you too...you've made me laugh and giggle and it's lifted me up when I've been down. Most of us live across the country from each other...some of us have never met face to face. But, it doesn't seem to matter! We all seem to be drawn to each other on our blogs... So, think of me each morning as I make my coffee and see The Dad out the door with his lunch and a smooch, because you can bet I'll be hightailing it in here to my computer to meet with you all...over the back fence!

Entertaining Angels Unawares?

2008-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

In this picture, the old man is very aware that he is entertaining an Angel... Have you ever thought that you had unwittingly entertained an Angel? It sure is going to be hard to pull the wool over my eyes, because I find myself looking for them all the time! Yet, I'm wondering if yesterday a couple of them dropped by my library? There were these two men, one young and one older and kind of frail. They stopped by to use the restroom and it was at a very busy time. Lorraine was there with me too, so she knows who I'm talking about. The younger one took the older one gently and led him to the restroom and then came and just stood by my desk expectantly watching me. In my rush of helping other patrons, I let it go until I had finished with a few others. Then, since he was still watching me expectantly, I asked him if I could help him. He said that he was just here for the restroom. Then the older one came out of the restroom and he was very kindly looking. He started to converse with Lorraine and she couldn't understand him because he was speaking Spanish. She directed him to me and I asked him if he was looking for books in Spanish, he tried to speak to me, but was fumbling for words and I (thank the Lord!) waited patiently for him to speak to me in Spanish...hoping I would be able to understand. (Note: neither man looked of Hispanic origin!) He said it was nice to be here and to see me and then I showed him to the books and told him everything our library carries in Spanish. He nodded his head and smiled very nicely the whole time. Then he said it was a pleasure to meet me and started to leave. He held out his hand to me and I took it and it was very sweet how he squeezed my hand ever so gently and I squeezed it back with all the kindness I could give him. And off the two of them went...At that time, I didn't even think about them being Angels! Of course, I still don't know if they were, but it hit me this morning, as I was thinking back over my day yesterday, that maybe they were! Every day I am in the library, taking care of different patrons or visitors, I realize that while I know most everyone who walks in, sometimes a visitor comes that I don't know...and you never know who it might be... But this does not make me accountable to be careful to entertain kindly only the people I don't know who visit... I really do try and treat every one of my patrons as if they were the Lord coming in. And it's not hard! I feel so much love toward people sometimes, and I know it's just the Lord in me. It would be a privilege to have the opportunity to entertain angels unaware...but maybe I'm too watchful?

Odds 'n Ends

2008-03-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, enough sickness around the house! I'm tired of being a couch/bed potato! I need a shower and my hair washed and some clean clothes...not jammies! Okay...maybe tomorrow...I'm still a little weaky/yucky/coughy/sneezy/blahzo feeling today. It was kinda funny...we were all watching "Nancy Drew" this afternoon...you know; all us sickies have nothing better to do than lounge on the couch...and suddenly there was this funny scene and we all tried to start laughing but instead we were all having a coughing fit! Oh brother!

I had a very nice visit last week from a dear old friend/sister. I got to spend some one on one with her and you all know how much I needed that! She told me to get a grip...which was what I needed and what I KNEW I needed. We had lots of fun together and it was a fresh breath from heaven for me! So...onward we go. I also read another blog of a sister who has about as much on her plate as I do... http://menmykids-galey.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of Spring! Maybe tomorrow I will get out and put my hands into the dirt with The Dad? He would love to get going in the garden this year...and we are getting new chickies April 1st. Now where will we put those little boogers? Oh yeah! In my Utility Room! And while they are so cute at first...they get smelly real fast! Yuck! But the grandkids will adore them...so must I. Big sigh...

I listened to some nice advice from another sister's bloggie. . .about internet safety... http://lifeofalistmaker.blogspot.com/
and changed the url of my blog. I'm hoping everyone finds me again! I need to put all my blog friends in the sidebar again too. Hopefully you are not all expecting me to be making those luscious meals on my menu blog http://mytabletoyours.blogspot.com
because I'm seriously not making those meals since I've been sick! Good heavens! I've still got the Corned Beef in the frig waiting for me...maybe tomorrow?

Last night we watched "Enchanted" on DVD. That was the sweetest, most fun movie ever! I loved how they pulled elements from other Disney movies into the story...did you see it? Did you hear the "Little Mermaid" music in the background at one point? What about the name of the restaurant? Bella Notte from "Lady and the Tramp"? If you haven't watched this movie yet, run...don't walk your fingers to Netflix and get it on your queue!

One thing sweet to write about... On Tuesday, when I wasn't at work because I was so sick, a dear friend brought loads of food for my family. Oranges, soup, cake, fruit salad...TONS! Girls, sometimes I think this lady is an angel sent from heaven to be a friend to me! Really! She volunteers at the library for me, which means she puts books away back on to the shelves when she can. But more than that, she brings me cheer every time she walks in that door to the library! She brings me flowers, food, smiles and hugs. She remembers what my favorite flowers are and brings them especially for me. And on top of that, she makes me feel like she is repaying ME for some kindness I've done her! I'm telling you that when I grow up, I want to be just like her. She is a very sweet LADY. Anytime I get to introduce her to my friends or family, I feel like I am introducing an angel to them...I really love this woman. So, even though she's not part of the blogging world...Thank you dear friend Gloria for honoring me with your heart...
and that's the Odds 'n Ends from me!

Good-Bye Bro. Eric

2008-03-05T08:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning we got the call; Bro. Eric had passed away. The Dad and Bro. Dave had just been there a few hours before, spending the night with him and knew that his passing was imminent. But still, it is very sobering how God chose to call home Bro. Eric, yet he chose to have mercy on Sis. Brittany. Whenever someone passes away that you knew, it sure makes you stop and think about the day ahead for yourself. The day of your own passing. And you ask yourself, will I have grace? Will the Lord be pleased with me? Am I keeping my eye on what's most important in life so that day will be a joyful turn?

I'm sure there are lots of Brethren who knew Bro. Eric better than I did. But, my heart goes out to Bro. Ed and Sis. Jane. Bro. Ed has had such grief in his life; losing 3 children and Sis. Jane took such sweet care of Bro. Eric until the end with such grace. I hope in the days ahead the Lord will give them both rest and blessings and joy to know that Bro. Eric's sojourning days here on earth are over.

Needed: Real Live (older) Woman

2008-03-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Been doing too much thinking lately. That's not always a good idea. What I've come up with is probably just a complaint, but here goes. There's definitely a need in a woman's life when she is starting out raising her family; of an older woman in her life to nurture her and "show her the ropes". There's so much going on in a young woman's life when she is newly married and starting out on the road to motherhood. Even having other young mothers to befriend is so important. Somehow, that sense of camaraderie makes what you are doing seem normal. Watching the young mothers in the library I can tell when a young lady has an older woman in her life and when she doesn't. It makes me sad when I see someone who is lost out there with no life line. Sometimes it seems the most important thing I am able to say to my daughter in laws is, "yes, my kids did that same thing" or "that's exactly what happened to mine when they got that sickness or cut teeth". I can look back in my life and see how I watched the older sisters and needed the younger sisters when I was starting out raising my kids. Well now, here I am, in a very strange time in my life and I don't have anyone to look to and "show me the ropes" like I used to. I'm at that "in between" stage when I'm not done raising my kids, but am certainly not to that point where I'm an old woman. So, where are all those "in between" women out there for me to travel along with? That's even a laughable idea, because there's so much to do in my life now that I don't have time for friends. Ha, ha, stop and have a cup of coffee with me? I'm lucky to even sit down for five minutes and post on my blog. Where's my role model? Okay, there's Mary and Martha in the bible! There's Abigail and the Proverbs 31 woman. So, I find myself on my knees and in my car and as I go to sleep and as I wake begging God to help me with this new stage I'm in. Not ever sure if I'm going in the right direction on any particular thing in my life, but a real live (older) woman... to watch and "show me the ropes" would be nice every now and then!

Meekness, Grace and Tribulation

2008-02-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

I sat in church on Sunday and thought about my trials and troubles I am going through. For some reason, the word meek came to my mind and of course, I got my usual picture of being a quiet and unassuming person. But then I really started thinking about those things that I call trials. And I thought about something that Sis. Jeanine testified about many years ago in church. She said that once you had a willing heart to go through something, then you have God's grace. I've found this to be true in things that have come my way. So, is this meekness? To allow the things that trouble you to just flow over you like water, to not be troubled by them, to know that you can't change anything and to stand aside and allow that. To have a willing heart to be run over like a steamshovel by a troublesome person? To say, "okay, this is not going to change" to a troublesome situation and have peace to wait on God. I think a little light went on in my brain in church Sunday and I'm going to hold on to it. Meekness. It's not something I will be able to say I own yet, but I am walking toward it.

I wanted to testify in church on Sunday about what I loved about the faith, back when I heard it. What I wanted to say was that I loved those things I read in the bible as a little girl; the words meekness, gentleness, mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, love, truth. Those words called to me from out of darkness. But,I had the opposite in my life...hatred, hardness, shouting, bitterness, jealousy; these were all I saw in my home life. I'm so thankful that God gave me those beautiful words of life in the faith. I have seen truth and love and humbleness and kindness and mercy and gentleness and even meekness overflowing in my life around me. I am so thankful that He gave me the Faith when I so needed and wanted it!

Online NW

2008-02-22T19:37:00.000-08:00

On Friday I got a chance to go to a conference called Online NW . I went in my capacity as a Community Library Specialist, which is my other persona, when I'm not keeping home as a Wife/Momma/Grammy. I am really interested in bringing my little library into Web 2.0. In fact there is a name for this, it's Library 2.0. If you are not familiar with the name, Web 2.0, you are at least participating in it by reading this blog and having your own blog. Any kind of blog, wiki, podcast, vodcast, widget, blidget, etc. is part of Web 2.0. Next generation Internet. So, Library 2.0 is using the tools of Web 2.0 in a library setting; more precisely on library websites. Here is a link to my library's website http://thebestlibrary.net/corvallis/default.asp You can navigate to my New Monroe Library Blog by clicking on the Monroe tab and you'll see my 3rd blog. Not very interesting unless you are excited about a new library building for Monroe. All of you who have put blingy things on your blogs like LibraryThing, or counters, or YouTube videos or even posting pictures are definitely using Web 2.0 and I applaud your interest in new Web 2.o technology! (sound of clapping!) Here is a new tool I heard about at Online NW, you can use it to check on how many people are visiting your blog, how long they stay on your site, and where they are located. Have fun! It's called Get Clicky and it's found here: http://getclicky.com/