Five Minute Friday: Path...

Today is my first day joining in Five Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama.

Here are the rules set by Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back to The Gypsy Mama.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.  Seriously.  That is, like, the rule.  And the fun.  And the heart of this community.

So today the word is Path

Start

I happen to like this thought.  A path to me conjures up a road with trees growing overhead - like a tunnel.  Then several years back I went to our family's new property for the first time - there was a path there that was my the perfect image of what I imagined to be wonderful.  


This path is used by 4-wheelers and gators.  We are on an island, there aren't vehicles.  We walk.  We have traveled this road many a time.  


Last week we were on our first walk to the isthmus and at the end of the path is a horse pasture -- horses are big, pretty, and scary.  I always dread the gate being shut.  As we walked closer we saw there was a new path - around the horse pasture.  Yea!  So, our walk on this path now does not require any adrenaline - except for the knowledge there is a bear (or maybe two) on the island right now.


At the end of the path is the joy of exploring the isthmus - tide in or out, it's always beautiful.

Stop

Wow - that was short!  I didn't get to tell you about the tide pools we enjoy, or the random red rock on a beach of pebbles.  I actually already had the collage made up about our walk to the isthmus -- remember my mention of a new addiction the other day?  Ya, so not only was this fun - but I already had a picture ready to go.

I am linking this up to The Gypsy Mama.  You should do this too - if you do, please comment and let me know.  I'd love to read yours too.

Rain, Rain....

First of all....I've found a new addiction - making collages on PicMonkey!  It was soooo much fun.  I've never understood the thrill of digital scrapbooking - wow!  probably just as well.  I spent this rainy day making collages for the blog - you will now see so many more pictures than you would have :-D.

As I mentioned on facebook earlier today - raindrops are dropping on our head....in the 10 days, we have seen one day with the sun.  We only see the mountains around us about half the time it has been so cloudy/rainy/breezy/foggy, and chilly.  But - I LOVE BEING HERE, the view, and the lifestyle promoted when here.  Everything slows down (or comes to a stop). 

Remember I told you about our wonderful shower...oh, it is wonderful!  However, when it is chilly (as in 42-50* with the breeze/wind off the glacier) as it has been - I do choose to time my shower carefully.  We have a small hot water heater, so while the shower includes hot water - you do have to shut the water off while washing your hair, shaving, body scrubbing -- or you will run out of hot water.  The shower is located under the far corner of the deck.  I took a picture so you could see it 'in action' :-D, besides I was waiting for the water to get warm.  What sits in the house is very cold.

See that tuft of grass to the right of the 'floor'?  It is about a foot lower than that front right corner - that is the top of a very steep 'hill'.  It is not a sheer drop off cliff but if you slip and start down, you won't slow down real quick.  The top right picture is the view you get to enjoy, savor (when it's warm out), and look at while in the shower.  The bottom right picture is the 'entrance' to the shower.  You stand under the cabin, leaving clothing & whatever you don't want wet or potential of heading downhill.  Then there are three rock steps down to the platform.  On the left, the wire basket holds shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and razors.  And the stump just in front of it helps hold the wire basket flat - and to set your shower necessities on, or just to keep your balance so you don't head downhill.

He IS God...

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Isaiah 46:9-10

Look at those extremes of our Creator's creation!

Obviously the mountain is big (behind the rainbow is a trail you can climb in about 30 min); the rainbow is untouchable; and then the tiny white flowers growing out of the rocks.  The white flowers are about the size of my pinky fingernail.


Our Creator God made these things for His good pleasure and our enjoyment.  Right now I am reading The Pleasures of God by John Piper - it is very good.  I can only comprehend small amounts of pages at a time, but it is so worth the slow read.


{don't know what's up with the funky spacing on this post - but between that & slow internet...}

{sigh}...

Oh, my heart is happy, happy, happy.  I am in a location I very dearly love.  I have both kids here with me.  AND I have had communication with both of my brothers today - one I got to see & hug and one was via several emails.  {sigh}  From Sept-May my brother, Matt, lives 2 miles up the road from us....it has been over a month since I've seen him.  He kept working out of town this winter, so I've seen him probably 10 times (other than in passing at church) since January - pathetic!  (however, we get his cute little girlie once or twice a week...)  So, he flew down here today bringing a potential work crew to see about framing up the new cabin.  We got to see him for a couple hours before they had to head back.

Would you like to see my view when I work here?  Good, here is my view from sitting on the couch.  Also, I am sleeping on the couch (100% by choice) so I can enjoy this view to its fullest.  I love, Love, LOVE waking up during the night/early morning and seeing the mountains with the sun coming over them.  I soak it up.  I love waking up and just knowing this is my view -- it really does satisfy my core.

Can you even believe this?!  It makes me so, so happy.  Even when I spend hours on the computer here - this is what I get to look up and see.  To my right are two windows just about six inches shorter than the one straight ahead that opens.  The two on the right don't open.  This is basically the whole room - it is 16x16; and two of the four walls are basically windows.  Totally my kinds of room!  The metal ladder will not be the permanent access to the loft above, but it is what we use for right now.  See that "pole" on the left side?  That is actually a tree, it goes through the floor and the roots are still in the ground under the cabin.  I will show you more pictures of that tree later - but for today, that is all you'll see.  'Cuz I'm still gushing over my view...can not get enough of it!

When I stand at the tree, in the center of the room - this is what I see.  I NEVER get tired of this view - it just really sets everything right for me.

This is when I step out the door.  {sigh}

Thank You Lord, it is only because of Your provision this haven on earth is possible for our family.  

I can not even begin to express how much being here makes me happy...I have ached for six years to be able to come and just be.  We are basically glorified camping -- we have an outhouse, our kitchen sink is outside (rain or shine, we wash dishes outside), our shower -- oh, wait until I show you the shower!, we have to fill our 300 gal water tank every couple days, and in general it simply is not convenient.  But it is oh, so very wonderful and worth every bit of extra work it takes just to live here! 

oops....

I thought I posted last week.

When I just signed in I realized I didn't actually post last week, but it was one of the things I "did" in my sleep....*sigh*  For me, one of the signs of not enough rest and too much stress is that I start to have a hard time separating real life from everything I think of in my sleep.

I currently have several posts rambling around in my head.  Last week was INSANE - I had an unexpected job come up that had to be done right then (when I had actually expected those days to be used planning our trip).  Plus my son had his first youth group trip - he left on Friday afternoon, then Friday night & Saturday was a women's conference, and Sunday morning we left, picking up Vince on the way.

I'm super excited to now be here -- but it is no small process.  We are talking pack - load everything into boat on trailer - six+ hour drive - park truck/trailer - 30 min+ boat ride - unload stuff from boat onto shore - wait on shore while dad hiked up the hill to get the Kubota & trailer - load as much as possible onto trailer - then hike quarter of a mile UP - pull plywood from windows & doors - unload things from trailer - get power on - start unpacking while guys go for second load - while getting water tank filled - when trying to put food in frig it was moldy and standing water, find a spray bottle & vinegar, to clean out frig first - get freezer turned on - find toilet paper so we can go to the bathroom - okay, now we're starving (it's 10:30pm!) - back to work, where are the sleeping bags, pillows, etc.  ....  So, when you figure we left at 12:15pm that put us going to bed at 12:46am ... it's funny no matter how we do it, it always seems to be a 12 hour process to get from home to cabin.  This time we were with dad & everything was already loaded into boat because it was the first trip down this year - other times while we may not need to pull plywood off, fill the water tank, or clean out the frig - we have another load/unload process in there.

Anyway, all of that is to say WE'RE HERE!  I even brought plants down and have them all planted.  I anticipate lots of playing with the camera, blogging, writing, reading, note writing, and software learning....and all with a view!  Rain or shine.

 on the way....  Isn't it gorgeous!

 oh, ya! .... so worth the drive and effort!

 This is about 12:30am, as we were brushing our teeth.

{the moon's light peeking through the clouds}

12:40 or so...the view from my bed.  LOVE it!

{This is as dark as it gets right now}

Are you able to get a glimpse of why I'm so happy to be here?  Can you believe that moon?!  Wait until you see more pictures :-D!

Project Simplify: Pantry

YEA!  I actually got my pantry organized, wiped down, and labeled.  I wasn't positive it would happen this week, but once I got it started it was really only about an hour....  It took me longer to figure out how to make a stupid simple sheet of labels on the Mac more than anything else - put together!

So, once I got the labels done - I printed it on a sheet of labels I had and used about 18" of contact paper, also something I have on hand...so, essentially free :-D, my kind of project!

I simply put the label on my containers, then so I could wipe them off and re-name if wanted, I covered them with a piece of contact paper.

  

I didn't know some of my flours need to be refrigerated, so I did a little rearranging there too.  I believe with the labels my Gluten Free stuff is less likely to get contaminated.  My family just doesn't get it, not to be mean, but just not thinking about it.  I'm hoping with the red containers and 'GF' written on containers that are needing to stay Gluten Free it helps them stop and think before using.  For twelve years mom's pantry has been my go-to if I ran out, and my pantry has been her go-to...that is a hard habit to break.   I'm not even trying to break it, just re-train.  I'm hoping with the shelves labeled my kids will be better about helping keep the pantry clean.

So, now under my lovely sign and behind my curtain - is a clean organized pantry.  I so, very much love "a place for everything and everything in it's place" {sigh}!  Do you see my poor tree reaching for the light.  It is aimed towards the glass door.  It's starting to get more light.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!


Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!


God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,


Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;


Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,


Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,


Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;


Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,


Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!


All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;


Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!


God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

{source}

This was a rough week.  I can't really put my finger on why, just on many levels there were endless prayers.  Hard things {you know, the ones only prayer can get you through}: A friend having a biopsy.  A friend at the brink of quitting on the spot, but struggling to remain godly in a bad situation. Work problems.  Trying to figure out what I'm going to do for income.
Good things {Thank you Lord, You are merciful and loving}: Anticipation of a fun Friday evening.   Sewing.  I found a DVD tutorial I really needed (like 2 months ago) - already purchased, just pushed back between file folders (found it while getting tax stuff together).  A friend's medical report coming back early and being good.  A face-to-face coffee visit with a friend.  My sweet niece coming to visit.
Yuck things {just get over it already!}: Getting tax paperwork together.  Endless tired because of daylight savings {I hate daylight savings-I don't get enough sleep as it is, don't take another hour from me.  And the adding an hour, what a joke - I never see it :-D!}. Two sick children.

Did I mention we had a fun Friday evening planned?  The Moody Bible Institute's Symphonic Band is on their Alaska tour and tonight we attended their concert, and are hosting some of the students.  Moody has a special place in my heart because one of "my" youth group boys is attending there this year, and both my brother and sister-in-law attended Moody Bible.  My sister-in-law graduated from Moody Bible in Chicago and my brother was in the last (or next to the last) graduating class of Moody Aviation in Tennessee.  Anyway, the week was long and did not go as I planned.  I felt anxious, to the point of almost not going to the concert.  Both kids felt lousy and I just felt on the verge of freaking out.  {I really hate it when mind over matter doesn't work}  In spite of the week and all feelings, this afternoon I chose to sew.  And I chose to go.

I mentioned to a friend earlier in the week I wanted to make little lunch sacks to pack the girls' lunches in tomorrow - her comment was "two things you love - to sew and give it away" :-D she knows me.... So, I sewed. And took lots of deep breaths.  I got the bags done and loved every minute of working on them, imagining what the girls would be like, what instruments they would play, and what color they would choose.  I made the bags out of paint drop cloth {my new favorite material} and pieces of my favorite bias tape I had left over from other projects - a quilt, two aprons, and my mom's kuspuk. Tonight I felt like too much of a dork - so I didn't give it to them.  I feel so selfish because I did something I enjoyed and I don't want them to feel like they have to like it.

Enough of the lunch sacks though and back to the concert, it. was. so. good.  I can't really describe it {totally a heart thing}, but I can say they directed the music to be focused on prayer.  Several times different students shared an interpretive reading of various chapters and had it incorporate with a personal life experience of theirs; the two I really remember were the ones on joy and divorce.  Choosing to see joy where others may not.  The pain and hurt in divorce.  I struggled through many of the songs to not bawl, but especially after those two shared.  As I reflect over the evening I find it interesting those are the two imbedded in my heart.  The last song they played was "Holy, Holy, Holy" - -it is hours later and that is still going through my head.  Amazing.  He is Holy - "though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see".   {deep breath - "Holy, Holy, Holy" is playing right now on Pandora Radio as I type.  Yes God, I'm listening.}

I'm attempting to participate in Project: Simplify with Simple Mom.  So far I can't say I've done real well.  Last week was supposed to be decluttering kid spaces...hmmm, we started and the mess is still there.  I did get my sewing area cleaned though - I hope that kind of counts for something :-D.

Anyway, this week is the pantry & fridge.  I have some of it in the works.  I also need to follow up on my fun treats from Katie's Rose Cottage Designs.

I am pretty slow on getting decorations up in my home.  I am one of those people who doesn't really "have a style", I'm not super eager for matching, themed things - but I do want everything to go together.  Since financially it's not been an option to buy things when I'm tired of something; I have been a re-purposer out of necessity - it also makes me think long and hard.  I want to like something and not get tired or bored with it.  My typical style is when something really strikes me, if it's financially possible, I get it, and it usually fits in without too much trouble.  Behind that curtain is my pantry, it is the only food storage in my kitchen (besides fridge/freezer).  There is not cupboard space for any food items.  The shape of the pantry behind that curtain is an awkward angle on the right side, it is the other side of the wall to go down the stairs to the garage.

Here is the placement of one of my treats from Lori at Katie's Rose Cottage Designs.  I love it!  Right now Katie's Rose Cottage Designs is closed until April 1st for restocking.  You can always check out the sold items though and see what kind of treasures you will be able to find when she re-opens.

Blessed Rest-full day to you.

needing to see some green :-D...

I hope you have had a wonderfully blessed weekend 

and rest-full day today.  

If you are facing difficulty and challenges, 

and they are threatening to overwhelm you - 

I hope you will turn to the Heavenly Father.  

You just have to ask.

He is always with you and He cares.  

Sometimes it is hard to change the path we are on,

but He promises to be there for us when we call on Him.  

Always and Forever.

"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me." 

John 14:1

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

What makes your house a home?

I have a question for you, I'm curious to know what makes you think of your house as a home?  Is it what you create with food, material, wood, time, memories.  Is it what you do when you're home - reading, watching movies, watching TV, playing games, visiting with friends?  Is it that you are married or single, have children or not have children?  I find when I am trying hard to not stress out, I compare my life growing up to now, how my kids are growing up.  I hope and pray when they are one their own, when they think of life at home as a child - it is with fond memories, not the day-to-day frustration I feel is overwhelming right now.  I want them to "remember the good old days", "the days before....". :-D

Our barn

What do you use for mixing in your kitchen?  I grew up with my mom having a Bosch.  Mom used the Bosch at least once a week; for making our family’s bread.  We didn’t buy bread, we made bread.  She would mix a batch of dough for four loaves of bread at a time.  When I was seven or eight, I could make the bread, I actually knew the recipe.  I’m sure my mom divided the dough into the four loaves, but I do remember going off while waiting for it to rise, coming back to punch it down, and letting it rise again.  I’m sure my mom was really on duty, but it was one of those things we kids were all aware of & my brothers would take turns/fight about who got to punch the bread.  {you know, those wearisome moments for mom, but they are oh so fond memories}

Yum, the smell of home made fresh bread! {deeply inhaling}  I remember bread being something my mom was known for.  I don’t remember her ever buying bread, I’m sure she did every once in a great while, but I don’t remember it.  I still remember smelling the fresh baked bread, and it was whole wheat bread.  We would grind the wheat berries in the stone mill and she even did all the tricks of adding gluten to make it less crumbly.  {Oh, how that makes me cringe to remember back to how I felt.  I grew up having stomachaches, headaches and other symptoms; but that was just the way it was.  I didn’t know any different.  It makes me smile now to think of what I would eat.  I don’t remember cookies as special treats – we got freshly ground whole wheat berries, still warm out of the grinder – with molasses on it.}  This is my memory of bread in our family through my senior year in high school – okay, not the warm wheat and molasses part but we had homemade bread part.

I remember my friend's mom mixed a double batch of cookies by hand(!) because their hand mixer wasn’t strong enough.  I couldn’t imagine how she was strong enough to mix it together.  My mom and grandma had the same Bosch.  I don’t remember how old I was when I learned what a Kitchen Aid was.  I don’t remember knowing anyone who had a Kitchen Aid until I was older; it wasn’t until I moved out on my own that I decided I wanted one, after all everyone had a Kitchen Aid.  They came in pretty colors and sat out on the counter; and nobody knew what a Bosch was. :-D  As a young adult, I did have a bread maker at one point – but I hated it!  It was one of the low-end early ones and it either burned or didn’t cook, and was such a pain to clean out….

Fast forward many years, many real life hardships, and much longing for a real home.  I came to associate the Bosch with a home.  My mom still had hers and it had been 20+ years and it was still going strong (she wasn’t about to give it to me, I asked).  I thought I could make my house into a home if I had a Bosch.  I’d never seen one for sale, didn’t even know where to look to buy one (obviously the days before internet) and most people still didn’t know what a Bosch was.  

When I started homeschooling my son, I went to our curriculum fair and found there was a small independent retailer of Bosch mixers.  I was so excited; I wanted to get one really bad.  I wanted to get back into making bread.  Then I saw the price - $500+, ya – it might as well have been $5000 or $50000.  That dream was set aside. 

Eight years ago my children and I went to my grandparents in northern Wisconsin to spend the winter months with them.  Mom & Dad were going to be tied up for several months with work and the year previous there were health concerns, so I went down because I could and was blessed to spend time with my grandparents again.  My grandma was a year past stroke and my cousins lived across the field, it was a way I could help the family.  It wasn’t that my cousins couldn’t do it; they just graciously allowed me to come join them.  

Grandma's last birthday - just a month before she passed away

It was an opportunity to spend time with my Wisconsin family and help with taking care of grandma and grandpa.  Our trip was to be Jan-March.  Two weeks after getting there, the morning after her one-year post-stroke appointment, my grandma had a second series of strokes that put her into the hospital.  She passed away two weeks later.  The month following my grandpa started kidney dialysis three times a week.  My children & I were able to extend our stay; we had the privilege of living with my Grandpa until mid-July, a total of 7½ months.  It was an amazing time – my Grandpa was 80, my son 6½ and my daughter 3½  – my cousin and his wife lived across the field and had three little ones of their own.  His wife (Christina) & I got to know each other.  Our kids grew to love each other as cousins, Nate & Christina are “aunt & uncle” to my kids even though they are my cousins so that isn’t technically right.  {their home is one of the places we spent weeks at last summer}

There is not one day or moment I have ever regretted us being there, spending that time with grandpa.  We lived in the home I spent seven years of my childhood calling home; the home I have fond memories of fresh bread in.   Where I remember going out to the silo in the barn to fill the bucket with wheat berries that we ground into flour.  Anyway, my grandma had set aside her Bosch mixer for me.  Everyone in the family knew it was for me.  I remember being in such awe that I was going to have a Bosch, and not just any Bosch but my grandma’s Bosch, the one that matched my mom’s.  I am sorry to say I have only made bread a couple times – I felt the ingredients were too expensive to make bread!  How crazy is that?! 

the cookie/soft batter beaters - I have bread kneaders & plates for shredding as well

At some point in it's life while waiting to be given to me, the Bosch fell off the freezer.  We weren't sure it would work, but my grandpa had it tuned up before we brought it from Wisconsin to Alaska and there was nothing wrong with it.  It is now nearly 40 years old and still runs great, it has never broken and I have used it lots for cakes, cookies, frosting – and the blender for smoothies.  My guess is this mixer will be still going strong for many, many years yet.

Where the blender attaches is under the lid on right side.

I wanted to start making bread again a couple years ago, but then I started school so it didn’t happen.  Now, I have to do gluten free and the ingredients really are too expensive to mess up.  At the same time, it’s $5.50 for a single loaf of gluten free bread (Udi’s is the best!).  I have not had a piece of bread in months.  I have had a couple of gluten free hot dog buns (Udi’s) because I got them in the $2 off older bread & just put them in the freezer.  I want the smell of fresh bread; I want the simple life style conducive to making our own bread; I want my daughter to learn how to make bread.  I’m now in a debate of do I need to get a bread maker instead?  But I don’t want a bread maker, is it necessary for making gluten free bread?  My greater debate/challenge is re-prioritizing so we can have the simpler lifestyle.

Rather than stressing - I'm choosing to hang onto these two promises:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Matthew 6:25

"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

Sun!

Today I skipped out on all the need/want/have-to-do's on all my lists.  I went to visit with dear friends and meet a new baby.  It was WONDERFUL!  To top it off, the sun was bright and warm.  I of course had my "real coat" with me, but I only wore a long sleeve shirt with a down vest.  I felt so light.  I was seriously relishing how warm it was and how maybe spring would come sooner {as long as I don't look at the __ feet of snow on the ground, in piles EVERYwhere}; after all it was so warm {I would have guessed high-30s/mid-40s}.  Then I saw a thermometer.  At that point I questioned my sanity.  It was 19*.  Yes, that is above zero and not a negative number - but seriously?!  19* is still a LONG ways from melting.

I needed a break from the computer and when I'm home I don't see the sun in my apartment.  So, since I was out, my children were with my mom, and the sun was shining - I drove.  I didn't do my normal start at point A, and do errands in a line and end without back-tracking.  I kind of lost the ability to care, the sun was in my eyes and it was "warm".  In the end, I checked in with mom - all was fine at home, but she & a friend were getting to sew.  I was almost tempted to go home and sew.  In the end, I got a coffee, went to the highest parking lot in town, and parked.  I sat in my car, looking at this view, with warm sun in my face and my eyeballs were very happy.  I had planned to read some stuff I needed to get through, but instead got to catch up with a friend from out of state.  {the wonders of cell phones :-)....}

We are blessed to live in Alaska.  In spring I do wonder why I choose to be here - but look at that view!  I could have turned in pretty much any direction and the view was the same - fresh, crisp, white snow on mountains, glistening to the point of hurting your eyes.  Alaska is home, even though I have heart ties in Wisconsin where I spent several childhood years (so I have a strong all things farm pull),  I have lived most of my life here.  While I'd love to see/shop at some of the wonderful places I see posted about {antiques, fabric, home decor, etc.}; I'd really miss Alaska.  I do really wish we had spring though.  :-D

Just so you know - I'm not totally a pessimist....
  -- Snow storm on April 26, 2008 ... Alaska in April
  -- Snow in April, 2009 ... April Fool's or not?
  -- Not trusting warm in mid-March, 2010 ... SPRING! (maybe, but probably not)
Uh, huh...I'm just finally learning.  Enjoy it in the moment, but don't depend on it staying :-D.  Yes, I am thick skulled and slow to get this -- but this is the last three years' records....so, I still wish we had spring and think in the future I just need to plan to go see spring elsewhere.  I can see the flowers, smell the flower, and feel the warm sun; then come back and be content to wait until Memorial Day weekend to do my planting :-D.

It's the little things...

Today my kids and I were needing to kill a bit of time, so we headed to Value Village (our version of GoodWill).  I love thrift store shopping when prices are cheap, too often for the price I find something at Value Village I can buy it brand new on clearance. That annoys me!

Anyway, so we'd done the rounds looking for legos, skis, "butterfly" shirts (shirts with big floppy sleeves-I remember them as angel sleeves), and jeans, so we were walking the perimeter of the store to the checkout.  We, of course, detoured past the craft stuff (I left it all there) and into housewares - I was just glancing over the dishes to see if anything jumped out at me.  Let me take you on a short bunny trail: my mom has a thing for purses, mine is for tote bags; my mom has a thing for bowls (all sizes, and no more than 2 the same-drives me nuts!), yet mine is for plates.  Not big plates, but saucer size and salad plate size (they stack, no matter the size).  We don't use dinner plates, except for serving.  Back to Value Village in the housewares... I see these plates, a batch of two with a rubber band.  They're saucer size, don't have a cup indent, and have beautiful flowers on them.  I LOVE flowers, real flowers, pretty much all of them; but when it comes to photos/items pained floral I'm picky.

Okay, I'm taking you on another bunny trail:  My dad's mom loved flowers as much as I do.    This love of flowers has been ingrained in me since before remembering meeting my grandma (at age 7).  It is a tangible connection I have even now with my grandma.  I loved my grandma dearly, she passed away eight years ago now.  I know she is in Heaven with a new, well, healed body, but I'm selfish and I still miss her.  When I see certain batches of flowers, or a certain kind of painting, or type of tea cup/mug, maybe the way the sun shines through a window onto a batch of flowers - those memories of being a child from 7-14 years of age coming rushing over me, it is as if it were yesterday.  Those are the years our family lived in northern Wisonsin, living near my grandparents.  It is the way I remember her, so many, many years ago (20+ years).  I greatly loved my grandma and I still miss her.  

I picked them up to discover they were sitting on another batch of two with a rubber band, salad plate size - really, my two favorite sizes?  My breathe caught, they were so pretty!  And, there were two of each - one for Christine & I; or for a treat with a friend & I (just need to find teacup/mug)...depending on what the situation is at the moment.  All four plates looked unused, no scratch marks, and still very evenly shiny. (By the way, I left the two dinner plates that matched there :-D) 

I decided I really wanted them, but I wouldn't pay more than $5-7 per set - and if they were $5, then I was only going to get one size.  In other words I wasn't going to pay more than $5 for plates I didn't need, I just really wanted them :-D.   All the other plates I thought were interesting were $5.99/$6.99 for a single plate, I took a deep breath before checking the price, and guess what?!  The two little ones, $.99; the two bigger ones, $1.29 --- that made $2.28 for all four!  That is my kind of deal!!  I was so stoked, it wasn't even a debate in my mind.  (not even taking the four and leaving the two bigger ones)  My kids saw my face and agreed, "just get them mom".  My mind was SCREAMING, "God, you are so funny!  Not only did you let me get ALL of them (when I don't need them) - You gave them all to me at less than half of what I was willing to pay for one!"

My kitchen walls are dark brown/red, and the other accent/decor is khaki/burlapy/vintage mini roses/tea cups/etc.  Not dainty, more rustic.  Our other plates are an avocadoy green, dark brown/red, and off white, our bowls are off white -- so it really does all go together.  Once summer comes I can take pictures in my kitchen, but until then they really don't turn out.

I know they are just stuff, but when I see them it is the "ache/catch/thought" that causes me to take a long, slow, deep breath and just say "Thank You, Heavenly Father.  Thank You for giving me a grandma who made You her focus, taught me, and loved me so dearly.*  Thank You for all of your provisions".  A lot of my reaction is due to the painting on these plates, they remind me of my grandma.  He IS in the little things!  I know plates are so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, yet He knew it would make me so happy.  Their coloring totally goes in my kitchen with my other colors and pottery.

{fast forward several hours} - I've taken my kids to see The Lorax, we've gone to get groceries, and now we're home making pizza for our Friday night pizza night.  This whole time, I feel just a bit giddy, like a dork who can't quit thinking of the good deal God gave me today.  So, I'm washing dishes and while washing the new plates, I turn it over to wash the bottom side - guess what, they're Cheri Blum!  It shocked me -  Cheri Blum is the only artist who I've ever consistently seen a picture/painting and it catches my breath; I even had checks of hers once, it was the only time I ever paid full price to re-order the same checks.  I had no idea!







*I don't in any way mean my parents didn't, but grandma understood me.  I got my creativeness from her, she & I were very similar in many ways - physically and mentally.

Love the Sun. Love the Snow. Love Homeschooling. *Repost*

**This is a repost, but it accurately reflects life right now today, exactly two years later.  We have covered a lot of life since this first post; I'm glad to have the same joy, peace, and contentment in home schooling.  Sadly, I can't say the snow and sun shown here are the same - but that's why we take pictures, right :-D!**

My chair is covered in fresh beautiful snow again!

I love this view out my "front" door.

Isn't the sun shining through absolutely gorgeous? The picture does not do it justice.

I love that because we homeschool the kids get to take full advantage of the snow and sunshine. Spelling can wait! :) After all, this is the day we spend a lot of hours in the car waiting for each of the kids' activities - so Vince did his spelling between cross country skiing and youth group, while Christine went into gymnastics. We started a new math curriculum a few weeks back - one that Vince finally likes. By his choice he spent over two hours doing math today! I'm so thankful we have the flexibility to do things in a different order and on "weird" time schedules.

Besides that we want the dog worn out so he'll sleep and not bark at night. That is so much easier to accomplish when it's beautiful out. Because of our homeschool schedule, the kids can choose to go out to play when it is days like today. They love it.

Hickory is trying to climb in the hole with Vince. It is so sweet, Vince has his hand on Hickory's paw - is that to hold him back from climbing in front? Christine is building her own fort on the right side; I believe the plan is to meet and go straight back to under the trampoline that is behind the snow pile.

I know today was windy, but thankfully for a couple hours this afternoon the wind did not hit this portion of the driveway. The kids were only going to go out for a half hour, cause it was cold and windy... Two and a half hours later, when it was time to leave they wanted to know why I was calling them in. Couldn't they "pleeeeeease stay out longer"? "Please, can't school wait. We'll do it later, when it gets dark. We promise!" ... AS IF I would call two happy kids in from playing well together, outside, in the fresh snow, with the dog, to do school. I think not! :) When I said it was time to leave for skiing they couldn't believe how much time had gone by.

What a perfectly wonderful day!

T-shirt pillows

Are you cleaning out closets but have some favorite clothes you don’t want to really get rid of? (I admit, I have piles of clothes that are just good material and pretty...for that perfect something, some day.)

Last fall while in the cleanout process of my son’s clothes I came across several t-shirts that were his favorite and he hadn’t wanted to tell me they were too small because he didn’t want me to get rid of them. When he finally decided to ‘fess up he said, “Can’t you make them into something to put on the blog?” I had to smile – he didn’t want them to go away and the most enticing thing he could think of was to associate it with the blog.

So, we came up with t-shirt pillows for his bed. He is a “nester” when he sleeps; he creates a nest of blankets and pillows every night before going to sleep :-).

All I did was sew across the bottom and the bottom of each sleeve*. Leave the neck open for stuffing. I had him use poly-fil stuffing and stuff them to the thickness he wanted; then I stitched the neck closed. *Because I had matching colors of thread for each shirt I did not turn them inside out to sew. I just did a stretch stitch at the bottom over the previous seam.

This was one of those projects that took so little time and effort (maybe two hours for all four?), yet made my boy so happy. It is several months later and he still has them on his bed :-). He often brings this project up to other people too, telling them what I did. How fun is that?! I scored as a mom!!! :-)

I will be doing lots of random house/sewing project posts in the near future. I'm working on finding all the pictures...many are from my old camera and I didn't realize how often it wasn't focusing until now when I'm trying to work with them. :-(

I am going to link this to Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special link party, in the sewing section.

SPRING! (maybe, but probably not)

Winter...Breakup...Spring...LOTs of snow, back to Winter...

and Spring again.

You gotta love the extremes of spring in Alaska. We get to change our mind frequently. Even though we had one breakup I knew winter wasn't over yet - it was way too early. Back up just over a week ago, this is what was happening out the window.

Big brother teaching little sister to cross country ski - while it "dumped" snow. She wanted to learn so much & he finally obliged - on his own terms, his idea. It has been a nearly every day occurrence ever since.

Totally made this mom's heart proud!

She was giddy excited!

Days of sickness and snow. Then the amaryllis opened it was so pretty! Last week it seemed warm and I really wanted pictures of the red with all the white. So I took the amaryllis outside. (p.s. If you want to continue enjoying the amaryllis inside - I would not recommend doing this. The amaryllis did not recover...sorry, mom)

Today

We are in the midst of Springish' type temps again. The declaration of today - "I went out, the sun hit me and IT WAS WARM!" and the kids are soaking up as many rays as they can (when you're still pretty much covered head to toe). It is just above 40* today.

Notice one is bare toed & the other has boots on. I believe she's making a snowman. The CD player is sitting where the amaryllis was last week. Not sure why the CD player is sitting on a folded blanket, to keep it warm?

Valentine's

My precious boy gave me a heart bouquet for Valentine flowers.

He informed me he got flowers for me last year, so this year he decided to do something different. I heard the translation - in past years either one of my brothers took him to get flowers, or was in on picking them up. Other times, my kids have talked to me ahead of time and they've given me permission to buy my own flowers or they've put their money together & I've stood behind them in line while they've bought them. My kids know I love fresh flowers, they make sure I have them (or at least the permission to have them) often.

I can not put into words what it means to have your child want to give you something so much & make the best of not being in control of their situation. If only I could be so confident & full of my Fathers love for me that I would make something & give it to Him wholeheartedly. My kids know I love flowers & this year there wasn't a plan for them to get me some - so they made them. Paper layered hearts taped to the ends of tree branches. Christine made me a single, shimmery tulip & left it on my pillow last night, it isn't attached to anything - but it is the perfect bookmark. It brings tears to my eyes to think how much they wanted to give me flowers & they did. God has truly blessed me with wonderful children. He gave me the "flowers" when I got up this morning & tonight at 11pm one of my brothers came bearing flowers from both of my brothers, for Valentine's. The thing is, God allowed me to enjoy what my kids made all day, then I got fresh flowers too and I know my kids will be thrilled when they see them tomorrow. They aren't threatened by real vs. paper. I'm so glad they're learning the value of what is in their heart, not the cost of something. I now have both in the vase - the hearts are amazing mixed in.

Wow! What a day - I got a trip to Jo-Ann's, found material for a blanket for our "couch", the camo blanket V's been wanting, ate lunch with friends & got his camo blanket made all before eating dinner - like I said, what a day... Thank you Heavenly Father we can have fun on trivial days such as Valentines to boost us into showing love to others, the way You intend us to do everyday.

It's December already!

Wow does time fly! I can't believe we are into the final month of 2007, it's a little scary to me how fast this year went. Anyway, we are into the time of Christmas projects - I absolutely LOVE this time of year.

I had big plans yesterday of working on multiple projects...by the time we got home from church & ate lunch it was almost 3, then Sondra came to knit & felt purses about 3:30, the makings of a wonderful evening....but the power went out about 4pm & it was out until midnight. What's funny is even though my projects didn't require power to do - they did rely on power, I needed to see better than what candle light provided. Even though we had no power & it was dark, dark, dark (winter with no snow for even moon & star reflection) by 6 pm. We still watched White Christmas....how you ask? Laptops with batteries of course! When the movie was longer than the battery power in one laptop, what did we do? We got out a second laptop - how sick is that?! :)

It is always a good reminder of how good we have it - we take so much for granted. Even with no power, we had each other & knew we were safe. We had a roof over our heads and a fire in the wood stove so we were warm. We had lots of candles lit & a couple flashlights. If we'd wanted to cook, we could have come to my house & used the gas stove/oven - instead we had cream puffs, dark chocolate truffles, and peanuts to snack on (remember we didn't eat lunch until 3'ish). On top of all that -- if we really needed anything, we didn't know anyone else who lost power! It was on all around us, just our section of our neighborhood was in the dark. Funny how our piece of the world is so often all we see.

So here's a reminder - this time of year is NOT about what all we do or don't do, it's about the baby that our Heavenly Father sent to this earth for us. Jesus was born for the purpose of dying on the cross and rising again; because He did that for me & I've accepted Him as the center of my life - then I get to spend eternity in Heaven. It's not even about me doing everything right, I can't. I am a sinner saved by Grace.