We've got some sort of virus spinnin

Birthday boy's day

About to put corn dogs into the oven, which is dinner along with barbecue potato chips....son's chosen birthday dinner. A homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting will add a bit of class. Yankee husband gets squeamish about corn dogs (or as we Southerners call them...pronto pups), but he'll be good about eating them. After all, it *is* a birthday dinner.

Wishing I could get motivated to do house-cleaning. You know how it is sometimes....cleaning is so abhorrent. That's today. Yuck.

Now must run around the living room, straightening a tad before the husband and daughter drive up. He says not to worry about it ("You've got a cute house," he says), but still, I see that it needs a cleaning up, and I don't mean maybe. Oops. Too late. They're here!

Must fly. :)

Late Monday

Got out with oldest daughter at noon-time and middle daughter was fine with that. Chatting about stuff is good. Clears the air and all. I grew up in a family that excelled in *the silent treatment* and neither Gary or I practice that technique. He's taught me to spill the beans, so to speak, and as a result, those long silent moments just don't work around these parts. ;)

Took two sons to the shop, while we were at it, and they helped their dad load and deliver some furniture. Then we all eventually came home and Gary hung some old black wooden shutters someone had discarded in part of the kitchen, so we can cordon off the dogs when we have company. Now part of the kitchen has the interesting saloon-type flavor. Reminds me of those swinging doors in westerns.

And besides all of the above, which is nothing really, tomorrow is youngest son's fourteenth birthday. That's a shock as it is since he's a very young thirteen anyway. He's smart as all get out, but is so innocent of the world. I guess you'd say he's old-fashioned. 'Course he does have his feisty side, but all in all, he's a bit like the Beaver.

Looking forward to a fun day tomorrow. Will stay at home and enjoy the day. Simple stuff, you know?

Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of GRUB

It's likely that if I'd ever read any of Rick and Bubba's other books, I'd realize that they'd be pure silliness. This book of GRUB is no exception. And while I was figuring that it'd be full of recipes, it wasn't, but I did enjoy reading the 20-plus dishes that they did include. But beware serious dieters, while they poke fun at calorie-counters, I think we all know that these guys eat for the enjoyment of it, and encourage others to do likewise!

My only stumbling block was seeing how much sugar they put in regular cornbread and the cornbread they mix into dressing. I'm Southern and always add a little bit of sugar to these dishes, but felt my eyes glaze over when I saw the amounts in these two recipes. But still, since this book is such a joy, I'd try it their way first. What have I got to lose?

This book would be a perfect gift for the numerous Rick and Bubba fans, and for anyone who wants a laugh. And these days, who couldn't use some light-hearted entertainment?

I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's blogger book review program called BookSneeze. More information can be found at their website.

When feelings get hurt

The least one shared something with me this morning---not a biggie, but something I'd rather not know. She said she overheard her two older sisters talking in the bedroom last night about how I *supposedly* want to spend time with oldest daughter more than I do our middle daughter. Man, I can't win. And honestly, this is one of the big frustrations of mothering many children. Someone's always feeling left out. And no matter how much I try to pay attention, they get upset. Either I misunderstand, or do things that don't set well with them.

Warning to women who want a houseful....be aware of the tussles you'll face, even when they're out of diapers. You've got to be honest with yourself. It ain't all roses and daisies. And to hear this sort of news first thing in the morning puts a damper on the day. Had to bring it up to middle daughter, who's eleven, and assure her of why it might seem that I prefer the oldest daughter. Has something to do with the fact that she works five days/week, and if we don't leave the house, I never have her to myself. Middle daughter seems not to remember that she went with me on errands just last week.

Must get my head on straight. It'd be easy for this to set the pattern for the day, but I'll try to focus on other stuff. It just hurts my feelings to think that the kids have these conversations while I'm not in the room, including tears, and to find out that I'm the cause.

Nuts.

Felt goodies, so far

Macarons

Have acquired a fetish for photos of Macarons, and will try my hand at making them when I get over the idea of leaving egg whites out on the counter overnight to thicken...being that that step is part of the recipe.

Anyone here eaten or made them? They're so doggone cute, and the ingredients are so simple.

Totally adorable!

Wouldn't mind figuring out how to make them out of felt, either. The hard part would be the little crunchy-looking section between the layers, called the *foot* of the cookie. How would I do the felt so that it looked like that? Maybe even some lace sandwiched in between the felt layers. Must think on this.

(photo from tumblr)

Week's end

Seems I've been taking on too many burdens lately. As my husband (not so jokingly) says....if I've not got something to worry about, then I'll go find something to fret over. But, think about it. With 8 children to look after, and plenty of meals to prepare, plus with homeschooling and just home maintenance---my lap is full. It's easy, though, to become so addicted to all of this busyness that I forget to enjoy what I'm doing. I mean, it's not like I'll be through any time soon.

My problem is that I'll get focused on such boring stuff, like what supplies need to be fetched at the grocery and if I shake the clothes detergent bottle, will I find that there's enough in it to last the day? If I stare at the remaining roll of toilet paper long enough, will it grow in size? Can half a loaf of bread fill up the bellies of the six kids at home while everyone else is at work? Can we just have eggs for dinner?

The repetition of it (even with funds to buy everything) is a bit of a drag.

But then....now this really happens....then I think of how blessed I truly am to have one more day. Someone we used to know died in a helicopter crash this week, and I think it made the national news. A hospital/patient transport helicopter fell to the ground near Jackson, TN. We knew the pilot from *way back when*, and a nicer guy you'd never meet. He was only 58 and left 2 grown children and a peach of a wife. I know he was a believer and is dancing with the Lord as I type. Doesn't make it any easier to accept, though.

So I sit here and tell the dogs to get settled. The house sleeps and I'm grateful for wellness, and the ability to enjoy another sun-filled day. I'm thinking it's the little things I need to be looking at. Not the national news and the nonsense that goes on there. I need to keep my focus on the Lord's business. And what He wants me to do now is take care of this family.

Fussing aside, I think I'll do just that.

A good day

Got a few groceries this morning, and this afternoon took second son to get new glasses. And being that we went to a local drugstore to get the glasses (after getting the prescription filled somewhere else), it'll take a few days. We tend to get them at a local mall...busy, busy and usually full of folks. The final decision to go to the drugstore was driven by finances ($39.95 for a complete pair of glasses!), and I'm so glad we did it that way. I loved that it had a small-town feel. We live in the largest city in our state, but still, you can find treasures tucked away if you want to get past the crazed manner of many big businesses.

Now hopeful that the weekend can be sort of relaxed as well. There's nothing pressing to have to do, but will likely have to get more groceries tomorrow. Just bought enough for today when I went earlier.

Whatever. I'm not going to let anything spoil my mood. Going to eat a son's homemade pizza in a minute and then just chill out. That'll do me just fine. ;)

Thursday

Have to drop off second son for his final interview with the brown truck folks this morning. In this one he wraps up loose ends and signs paperwork. I'm figuring he'll start next week, and that'll begin a whole new routine with dropping off and picking up. This is the first time I've ever been thankful for living reasonably close to the airport. In 15 or so minutes, I can have him at work, and that's a very good thing. Figure I'll just wait for him today, rather than leaving and hauling immediately back over there. Some quiet time in the truck seems to be in order anyway! I bought some new paper and pens yesterday...perfect for *something*. Might just take them along with the Shirley Jackson book I'm reading. I just adore her writing, but oldest daughter just shakes her head at me. Jackson is a bit odd, and that's all I'll say about it.

Must get my head on straight today. I'm glad for having this simple chore to do, and that I can spend the rest of the day at home. Least that's the plan, and we all know what happens to plans. :) Dinner's navy bean soup, and will make some cornbread to go with it. Simple yumminess. Really, with house tidying and schoolwork, that's pretty much my day. Can't beat that with a stick for simplicity.


Why am I telling you all of this stuff? (shaking my head) Guess I figure since I so enjoy reading the mundane details of other folks' lives, that you do as well. Silly me.

(photos from our kitchen in all its cluttered goodness....cactus by sink and my pretty spring banner given to me by Molly....love it!)

Food for thought

"On every occasion of uneasiness, we should retire to prayer, that we may give place to the grace and light of God and then form our resolutions, without being in any pain about what success they may have."~John Wesley

Found this mentioned by someone online. Wonderful quote, and very apropos just now.

And for a mental/visual slowdown, take a look at the photos I've collected at tumblr. Guaranteed to make you go *ahhh*. :) A great place to play....tumblr.

New chairs from the shop

Wanted to share a photo of a pair of chairs that Gary's just finished. He was copying one that a customer had brought by to show. Pretty, yes?

And, yes, they are for sale unfinished. More scope for the imagination. :)

My Sunday

I'm glad it's raining....seems like we're due for a day that forces us to just sit still. Our Sundays aren't spent with activities, but still, listening to the rain hit the windows is a recipe for a quiet day and I think we're way overdue. Plus, the fact that I have some good books to read definitely helps.

Having such issues with my faith, and finding that it's a bit shaky. Plus there seems to be a direct correlation between my ability to deal with stress/life when I'm rested. Anyone else out there get a maximum of 5 hours of sleep/night? Let me see your hands. ;)

And hopefully I can putsy around with this felt food frenzy I've found myself in the thick of. Such cute stuff, and with the selection of felt I bought the other day, hoping I can make some cookies today. I'm thinking chocolate chip. The frosted donut I finished the other night is cute, though I'd tweak the dimensions next time and make them more chunky. Have looked at online photos of other felt food and the most successful designs are fat and poofy. I'm thinking the donuts should look more bagel-shaped and not too skinny.

Anyway. With church under my belt from last night, the day stretches ahead of me in all it's quiet glory. Will leave you with the titles of the books I'm reading: At Mrs. Lippincote's by Elizabeth Taylor and The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister.

I've found that E. Taylor's books, while they don't seem to have any swearing, do have certain characters taking the Lord's name in vain. Not much, but enough. Just a warning. I find that surprising, too, considering the publishing dates (for the one I'm reading it's in the 1940's). Don't usually find that casual use of wording in many books written at that time.

And definitely enjoying the book by Erica Bauermeister. Very soothing, and with the constant cooking in her book, I know that fixing dinner will take on a wonderful glow.

Enjoy your day!

Some days there's not much to say. Our ordinary days are just that....ordinary. :) But we're content, and that's saying a lot.

Just ordinary-ness here. Feels good. But the fun parts are things that came in the mail: two books I ordered (the one to review for BookSneeze and Elizabeth Taylor's At Mrs. Lippincote's that I got used on Am@zon), plus husband's iPod that he won on ebay, and one son's journals from B&N. Fun city. Mail is such a kick.

Hoping for a restful weekend. Nothing much going on, and with the week being spent so much in the truck, that sounds good. Plus the weather is peachy---sunny and 70 degrees. Can't beat that with a stick!

High five!

It appears second son has gotten the job with the *brown* delivery team. His second visit there (an official interview today) went well, and he's been asked to fill out other forms and bring certain information with him next week. And from what he said to me earlier, there was one opening for the time slot he wanted and well, how it's worked out is pretty darn cool.

Got sorta teary eyed, this afternoon, just thinking about it. He's prayed for a job for months, closing his lawn business in faith that something would turn up *aka* that the Lord would meet his needs. Looks like it's happening, doesn't it? Guess it got to me to see another child move out into the world and be able to find good employment. Satisfying, you know?

This 6'-5" son has done well. He's God's own and it's apparent that he's listening to the Lord and the opposite is also true. I'm proud. :)

St. Patrick's Day greetings

Feeling much better today, than yesterday. Some days it's like my internal chemistry gets all whopper-jawed, and I just get out of sorts. Like if I have something overly sweet for breakfast with my tea, then that sets the day all rotten. Today was tea and yogurt. Perfect.

And, second son has an official interview with UPS tomorrow. Maybe it's the standard procedure after what he did there last night. That'll be interesting. No, what'll be interesting will be me taking him to the airport, coming right back to take the rest of the kids to my mom's, then turning right around to pick him back up and take him to Mom's. Zoom, zoom.

Me? I'm going to reward myself by visiting the fabric store (newly-built Hancock's...so pretty) afterward to buy some felt. The lastest MaryJanesFarm magazine has some felt cupcakes and cookies, with a tutorial on how to make them. I've been seeing them at Etsy and just love how cute they are. Figure with all of the work being hand-done (at least on some of them), it'll be easy without having to drag out the machine. Not that I'm afraid of sewing, but it's sort of irritating to have to make room for it on the table and then take it down again when I'm through. You know what I mean.

Anyway, thankful for a good day. Dinner's homemade chicken noodle soup and cornbread. Wish you were here. :)

Tweaks

Many thanks to Kim for her time in walking me patiently through *html* code, to Naomi for the great source she shared, and to Christi who had a link that solved the white space in the middle dilemma.

Now I can have the wallpaper I want (will change it frequently, I'm sure), and the white space for writing in the middle.

So cool. :)

Well, my goodness. Just realized it was St. Patrick's Day. Will have to instruct the youngest of my crew to wear green so they don't get pinched. Remember that from school? :)

And since my husband has a great deal of Irish in him, with ancestors moving over here around 200 years ago (which I count as recent), then he ought to be wearing the green as well. Milliken is the Irish name that went with his g'parents who moved here...just not sure how many greats we're talking about.

But while I can't claim any blood from Ireland, guess this German/ChickasawIndian/English/Scottish girl will have to set an example anway.

Outta sorts

Have felt outta whack today, and don't really know why. Told oldest daughter that I didn't seem to be pointing North anymore, and she comes back that somebody must've bumped my compass. Silly girl. :)

But still, just off kilter.

Might have been anxiety for woodcarver son who had an interview/tour at UPS this evening. It was a low-key affair consisting of him seeing what's what and just working on being the next one in the food chain. We'll see. Wasn't aware that it was on my mind, but maybe it was eating on me today. Mothering, you know.

Part of it is that the house is in angst. Each and every room has clutter issues, but not more than usual. It's just bothering me more today, for some reason. Nuts.

The only chore tomorrow consists of taking back a pile of library books, but will need to get gas before heading out. Don't you just hate that? One errand turns into one more....I can't stand it, and before you know it, you're away from home for an hour with what should've just taken minutes. Oh well, least 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' is on tomorrow night. My one out-of-character television indulgence. Go figure.

Blogger backgrounds question

OK, here's the deal. I want to make my own Blogger backgrounds, you know the kind with 2 columns for Minima, and preferably with white in the center section, but with wallpaper on the two sides. I'm not into the scrapbook sort of embellishments, but just plain. Just tired of fishing at other folks' site, hoping they have a background I like, but finding that most of them are too busy-looking, you know? And I get sorta tired of using other backgrounds and having to accept the little advertisements they put in the upper left-hand corner. I want to give them credit, but not so visibly....hence wanting to make my own!

My problem is that I'll be using GIMP to do it, and can't find an easy-to-understand tutorial to do it with. My husband says I ought to download GIMPshop, but am hesitant after trying to download the 30-day free trial of the official PhotoShop yesterday and getting bogged down with nonsense. Deleted that incomplete download after pulling my hair out.

I have a copy of PaintShopPro in the house, somewhere, but until it shows up will have to stick with the GIMP.

Can anyone help? I've Googled to find a tutorial, and they're either thinking I know what they're talking about, or are using a program I don't have.

Whine.

A light week

The plan is to take the week a bit slowly. I'll be online less, and will putter in the house more. Plus the fact that I'm going to stick my head into some old books for awhile....some Elizabeth Goudge and the like.

Sounds like a plan. :)

The trip to the museum was wonderful, but a tad misleading. It's called 'Monet to Matisse', but there were only two (I think) Matisse works and maybe 3 Monet's. But enjoyed the rest of them...esp. one Marc Chagall that I've seen in books.

Chatter

There's something about getting all the bills paid that puts a pink glow to the day....well, after that feeling of *oh no* that passes through your mind as the money drifts away. Nah. It's worth it. I still have a jingle in my pocket and my husband is carrying around less of a weight (mental, that is). Yeah, paying bills is sometimes tops in my book of simple pleasures. 'Course this only applies when there's some left over! ;)

I'm reading a book I found in the large print section at the library (hint...the libraries could make a mint if they'd either rent out reading glasses, or sell out right inexpensive pairs to folks like me who forget to carry their reading glasses out of the house)---'The Household Guide to Dying' by Debra Adelaide. Enjoying it immensely. The writer has a knack for making the reader savor her words. I need that, especially with my tendency to rush through tasks. Obviously the main character is dealing with her own mortality, but she mixes in some humor and quirkiness which keeps the story from being too heavy. Hope it keeps up through the end. (Update: enjoyed it up until about a 1/3 of the way in, then it began to drag...the language got a bit, uh, worldly for my taste as well, so I skipped to the very end to see the finish...)

And, saw 'Where the Wild Things Are' last night, and loved it. Such sweetness, and so funny besides. If we watch it enough times, there are sure to be some funny quotes to laugh about. We did that with 'Nemo' which the least one watched about a zillion times. That's my favorite all-time children's movie, but 'Snow White' is on up there as well, and you can't ignore 'Babe'.

Must go now. The vacuum awaits and need to overall tidy the main areas here. With the house clean from our planned, but canceled, company, I want to keep up the charade. Then, tomorrow I take the kids to the museum nearby to see a show with Monet and Matisse. Free before noon...can't beat that.

Afternoon

The temperature is in the 70's, the sun's out in a clear sky, and the windows are up. Curtains blow, and the house is scented with the last, lonely batch of chocolate chip cookies the little girls tired of baking last night. All the wash is done with most on the lines out back, and the little stuff tumbles in the dryer. I rarely put socks, undies and small bits outside to dry. There just isn't room after the lines get crowded with towels, shirts and jeans. :)

Company is delayed as she missed her flight....some glitch with the folks they ordered the tickets from. All is well now, though. She'll be here around dinner-time. (Update...friend having to re-schedule trip. A last-minute glitch. Makes you wonder when a situation is thoroughly prayed over. Hmmm.)

I just got up from a short nap after reading some chapters in a sweet children's book....Eva Ibbotson's book called 'The Beasts of Clawstone Castle'. What a wonderful day to spend the afternoon, especially after getting the house cleaned up for company. I love walking through the house when I'm alone (or almost alone) and seeing it all tidy. Doesn't happen very often, let me tell you.

After awhile, I'll go to my mom's to pick up the kids (only one is here--and that's because he's pet-sitting for a neighbor around the corner), and then will help one daughter put together the Inside-Out Ravioli that we'll have with some homemade slaw.

Good stuff.

Joy for today

The title for this blog, Contemplative Joy, is so perfect for me. It's not so much a spiritual name, but an inner wrestling I contend with on a daily basis. To seek and find absolute JOY, for me, is something I have to work on. 'Course with eight kids in my face, and a wonderful husband---well, you'd figure out I'd not be so difficult to reach, but you'd be a teensy bit mistaken.

Always, always, always I'm drawn to the things folks do purely for the fun of it. For instance, when my friend, Dotsie, pulls together a beautiful table setting simply for herself and her husband, I'm wowed. When a person buys something for themselves that just makes them smile, that draws my attention as well. I'm such a stick-in-the-mud with my constant working day mentality. My brain is on go to figure out things, get the best deal, remember what we're out of in the house, and twisting things around so that there's enough of this and plenty of that. It's maddening. It's like I'm riding on a mental-type gerbil wheel all the time. I have to force myself off so that I can even begin to think of fun.

Yeah, blogged about this before.

Blog, blog, blog.

Must be my Achilles heel, my weakness that has its roots in something positive...this attitude that has to be dug out and tossed aside. So, on that line of thinking...what's fun today? Picking up oldest daughter's girlfriend from the airport. A wonderful diversion for daughter, especially since she's still experiencing twinges from her *God directed* decision to break up with her boyfriend. Still smarts, but she knows she did the right thing. Glad she'll have a joy-filled weekend. Uh, more fun? Spiffing up the house so that it looks welcoming in its motley and crammed-full manner. Dinner with all of my children present (nobody working tonight), and simply enjoying the meal.

Seems that preparing and sharing food is one of the most precious things we *can* benefit from. Cheers!

Looking for some quiet

In mothering, it's hard to know when to pull back. When to stop all the noise and just rest. Least I find that to be true. Realizing now that I stay in a constant realm of busyness and stress. Even Kathleen Norris' book 'Acedia & Me' (which I just adore) talks about something similar, but more serious than what I'm experiencing. The quote is:

"...she characterized my condition as perpetual posttraumatic stress syndrome, precipitated not by one crisis but by a never-ending string of them."

Bingo!

Of course crisis might be too strong a word to use, but my body and mind are depleted. Don't have much fight in me right now. Stress has become my constant companion, and I'm plum wore out, as my dad used to say. But you know, just saying that lessens the pressure I allow in my own life. Admitting weakness is a good thing, I'm thinking, and it can't be good to consistently take on more and act like you're almost super-human.

Me? I'm whupped and not ashamed to admit it. There's freedom in that. :)

Trying to get into the habit of looking up past my own face.

Faith issues

Have been taking more seriously the part of the Lord's Prayer that says, "Give us this day our daily bread." Have always taken that literally to mean food, and being that I'm a mom, it must be so. Haven't had to worry about groceries these past few days, with the Lord supplying our needs on a daily basis. And I mean daily. Can't say as it makes me sing being that it makes me feel like an Old Testament Israelite (which I've mentioned before), but it's truly *what's for dinner* as the commercial says. (sorry, couldn't resist the pun!)

Am learning anew that we're to rely on God for EVERYTHING. And that He usually wants our company more often than we want His. Sad, but true. Mind clutter seems to hold sway with me, and distractions are my enemy. With so much going on, and nine other people to deal with, it's easy for me to find myself wandering from one room/topic/dilemma to another. Life gets a bit overwhelming, but I find that the Lord is always right there with me, no matter.

While quiet time is rare (but nap-time is the sanity for me), I treasure that God is walking through this scattered life with me. Can't say as I've got it figured out, but let's say I'm in very good company.

New Whittledsticks photos

(click photo to go to site)

Note to self

"If you have been waiting for God to do something for you, maybe you feel He's made a promise. I can almost guarantee the next thing that happens will seem like the exact opposite. It's a test of your faith. Will you trust Him while you wait?"~from 'Never the Bride' by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge

Almost Spring

Feeling some relief from the burden of this past week. It's been hard, I admit, and openly say that. Family stuff is the most difficult of all, and when a parent can't *make it all better* as instantly as when the kids were little, well, it's plain frustrating.

Grateful for God's kindness in leading our girl away from something that wasn't His perfect will for her.

Glad to have her back.

And on other fronts, so enjoying this spring-like day. Got to puttering in the front garden today, but was more lethargic than I'd first intended. The perennials had leftover stems sticking up all over about 5-6" high when the boys cut them back in the fall. Not keen on how that looks, so was sitting here and there, using the hand clippers to tidy it up. Didn't accomplish much, but it does look better. Well, better after Gary took the clippers from me and finished up while I talked to two neighbors who wandered over. Good timing, eh?!!

Must be spring fever...the desire to garden but the where-with-all is all but spent. Will enjoy Spring Break this week, though. We're planning for a visit from oldest daughter's best friend who'll be here on Thursday. Nice to have something (someone) to look forward to. :) And I'm intending to rest as well.

Well...

Oh, I moan so when I'm forced to wait on the Lord's timing. Not going to go into detail here, but manna it is. ;) The thing is, I want to know what's up ahead. For instance, I like to plan meals a few days ahead of time. To know what to expect in lots of areas of life fills me with content. But, unfortunately, that's not the way that God runs my life. He wants me to accept His will in tiny bites, and I don't like it.

I lose. Or win, depending on a person's outlook.

The Lord must want me to accept a life where I trust Him in a minute-by-minute fashion. Maybe when I'm too sure of the outcome, I get too settled in my life. Food for thought.

Just what's rattling in my head at the present time. What I do know, though, is that I don't know squat!

Dressing out

...and sometimes you need to boot out the *evil one* and actually show him the door. Seems he's (small letters---he never deserves to be capitalized) attempting to get a foot-hold in our house with the tender feelings being on the forefront. Trying to inflict some frustrations and weakness where those don't need to be.

Huh.

Got to put on that full armor the Word talks about. (Ephesians 6) And it's not that we've been thick in a wicked situation. Nothing of the sort. But, I do believe that when a person is following the Lord's direction, the evil one gets his knickers in a twist and tries to deflect attention to where it doesn't need to go.

Well, good luck.

Late Thursday afternoon

When life pinches, I feel the need to simplify. To scuff around the house in my white, fuzzy slippers. Cozy meals for dinner. Minimal dusting and sporadic cleaning out of the refrigerator. Some things appear more clear, like the way the curtains catch the sun in the afternoons, or the fact that we have ingredients to make a chocolate layer cake. The veil is lifted for just a bit and the Lord seems much, much closer.

Such is grief and hard times.

Maybe life is more precious when you feel it closing in on you. (or as some books would say...*life is more precious to one when one feels it closing in on one*) I never could get into books where characters say *one* all the time. Is that even how folks talk in real life? One thinks not!

Anyway, I'm glad that God is patient when we deal with stresses. He's never in a hurry for us to snap out of it or move along. My mom says He's always a gentleman, and I find that to be true. The cliche of time being a healer is very true as well. Our girl is experiencing that now, but would hope for a bit of speed on the getting over it part, I know.

Off to fetch our kids who've had time at my mom's today. I've been a slug with new library books (have you seen Williams and Sonama's new book called 'Comfort Food'? My goodness!) and bean/bacon soup simmering on the stove. Those beans have been a bit slow to soften up, though, so time will tell how done they actually are when we sit down to eat. ;)

Enjoy the rest of your day. It's all good.

Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

My first impression of Peter Leithart's biography Jane Austen, was a positive one for the sake of the wonderful book design. The size, paper and overall appearance continues to delight me. And obviously the author did an enormous amount of research in writing the book. Being that he has taught Austen's novels for years, the information given to the reader is incredible. The appendices and notes at the back of the book in themselves run to nineteen pages. That's impressive.

But I found the writing to be overwhelming. The number of characters/relatives introduced in the opening chapters, along with the extensive quotes made the book difficult for me to read. I kept having to backtrack, and for the sake of the research given to the task, hesitate to make that criticism. But while I appreciate the direct quotations, and realize the honesty of using them, still, they made the reading confusing to me. It seemed choppy.

For a die-hard Jane Austen fan, this book would be a valuable addition to their library. It would also work well as a textbook for a student wanting to increase his/her knowledge of Austen and her world. For the rest of us, maybe we just stick to the novels.

I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's blogger book review program called BookSneeze. More information can be found at their website.

A cold and cloudy Wednesday

Just taking the day as it comes....and enjoying this tiny bit of quiet before the house wakes up. While I silently (and sometimes no-so-silently!) curse the big dogs for waking up early, it is good for me to have some time without chatter so I can hear myself think. Just a bit of time to get my head in gear. The last few days have been so stressful with our daughter, being that she melts at the least provocation, and that's totally understandable. I've been totally wrapped up in her pain and recovery (love hurts so), but it's all for the good. I told her that this excites me for what the Lord really has planned for her life. So thankful that things are panning out the way they are and that she's *listening*....not to me, but to the Lord. But you know, even the hardships are part of the plan. Must remember that. It all fits together somehow.

Puts life into perspective, when tough things happen. Trivialities turn into just that...trivial and nonsensical things. Easier to see what I waste my time and energy on when there are real struggles sitting smack in front of my face (shaking myself off like a wet dog).

Off to finish my tea and sit in the dark. Life is good.

A healing sort of day

Tensions at home with oldest daughter making a tough (but very wise) decision regarding her *now former* beau. She's listening to the Lord, and that's all this mother could ever desire for her. If I was one for giving *high fives*, this would be one opportunity that I'd use to do just that.

Lots of talking, tears and confidences, but at this house, the latter doesn't last for long. We feel one another's pains so strongly and news leaks out. But all is well. Time is indeed a great healer. Thank the Lord for that.

Taking deep breaths, puttering, and using up the groceries before making another store trip. It's sometimes interesting to open the cabinets and freezer and say, "This is what's for dinner!" The reactions are sometimes amusing.

Must be off. But I must say that I absolutely adore this family that the Lord plonked me in the middle of.

Whittled Sticks

One of our sons does quite a bit of carving/woodworking, and he's opened up a website with his wares. It's new, so more will follow, but wanted to share. :)