great idea...

(Thank you for your prayers and concern left in the comments on the last post. We appreciate them. We are doing just fine. Much better since we got a diagnosis, not knowing was worse than knowing. Life is good, God is faithful, all is well.)

To me a great craft project idea must have at least some of the following characteristics:

• Must be simple enough to complete in couple of hours, tops!

• I must already have some or most of the supplies in my posession.

• I can't be able to simply purchase a close knock off inexpensivly.

• It must be somewhat unique, something I haven't seen everywhere.

To me, this cute idea qualifies.

Don't you think?

The theme of my life always seems to be the same...

Trust in Him.

God is always giving our family new reasons to trust in Him. New circumstances in which there is simply no other reasonable option but to completely rely on His mercy, His care, His providence, and His wisdom, that He alone knows what we need.

This unexpected and most welcome pregnancy at "advanced maternal age" (boy, am I sick of hearing that phrase) would be a good example of that.

Over the last few months our son has had some health issues. He has had some major tests done and we finally have a diagnosis. He has kidney disease. Its been a somewhat exhausting process. One where I definitely have not been doing my best trusting. Our son is handling it all quite well.

There is no cure for this disease. He is strong and healthy now. It is one of those things where you simply don't know what the future will bring--whoever does...

I think the doctor is still scratching his head trying to figure out how our ds18 and dd17 both have two completely different forms of non hereditary kidney disease. It doesn't make sense, at least to us humans, God has a plan, this I am sure of.

More trusting today... He left for college this morning after being home for Christmas break. This time he leaves having a potentially serious, chronic illness.

I know from past experience that there is great peace in the land of total surrender,

that's where you'll find me because that's where He wants me...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;

In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

love...

Oh, how I treasure these moments...

live...

I'm biased I know, but I love this little piece by my daughter. If you can't make it out, it's "LIVE" spelled out in sign language. I've mentioned before our two oldest children are hearing impaired. DD17 started wearing hearing aids at 22 months old, and rebelled from the beginning. She never wanted to be seen as "different".

God has allowed some heavy crosses in her young life, this one not being the heaviest but nonetheless quite challenging at times.

It's hard to be a kid with hearing aids, which, several years ago she chose not to wear anymore, and we accept that. Now, it can be hard to be the only teenager in the group who has to focus intently on everything that's being said around her, to try not to miss anything. When people are aware of her hearing loss, most are understanding and considerate. Sometimes they just aren't, you would be amazed.

Our kids never required sign language for communication. Although, in their toddler and preschool years we did use some sign, before it was en vogue. It was something we did naturally and was never learned or taught, we just did it. Our daughter has a renewed interest in sign and would like, perhaps to take some classes in the future.

I see this little piece as an expression of self acceptance, that's why I love it. I see my daughter embracing who God made her to be, a little more each and everyday.

My sister told me about a book she is reading Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. I have just started to get into it but it is already worth the purchase price. I read my daughter a little quote from this book the another night...

"You will never enjoy other people, you will never have stable emotions, you will never lead a life of godly contentment, you will never conquer jealousy and love others as you should until you thank God for making you the way He did"

Thank you Lord, for making me, me. Warts and all.

a little addition...

I made a little addition to the blog on the sidebar.

God's ways are strange and wonderful!!

Next year we will have 2 in college, 1 in 1st grade and an infant.

hi there!

This was the last of the flowers from the garden for the year.

Pretty, pretty! (This picture doesn't have much to do with this post-but I liked it) It's been a while, I know. I saw my sister this weekend who mentioned my blog and she was wondering if I was depressed because I hadn't written anything since my son went off to college. This fall has brought lots of changes, perhaps more than I was ready for. Our oldest going off to college, our dd17 starting her senior year in a new school and little one beginning kindergarten. Don't get me started on how difficult it was trying to figure out the best option for the little one this year-ooh, that was tough.So far, so good. they are all doing very well.Our son is thriving in college. Growing in faith and knowledge at a wonderful university. Our dd17 is growing and maturing in many wonderful ways we could not have predicted. The little one is just thrilled to be with lots of other kids her age everyday -kindergarten is fun! I 'll be the first to admit, I do not like change. But it is necessary for growth. Maybe I was a little depressed. But not to worry, I'm fine. Life is good, God is good! All according to His plan....

We are nearing the end of the garden. Tomorrow I will be making lots of cauliflower soup for the freezer, the whole family loves it-which is rather surprising, but not really when you consider it tastes like yummy mashed potatoes.

The last of the lettuce.

Tonights dinner menu: Grilled chicken breast on this yummy lettuce with homemade garlic-ky croutons. Mmm...

These are a few pictures from our leaf hunt this weekend...

I think we'll call her the butterfly whisperer, she doesn't even need a net anymore.

Scene near and from a covered bridge. There are lots of them around here, another little piece of history preserved.

Our son is on his way home for fall break. He's taking the train, a 6 hour ride. This is his first time traveling alone and of course he is old enough and capable of doing this, but as a mom, I still worry. As I woke up this morning I felt God's nudge reminding me to stop and pray for my son's safe travel. I had to chuckle when I received a text from him saying he was on the train and surrounded by a large number of Amish folk headed this way for a wedding. I was quite comforted by this image.

God knows what we need.

Have a fabulous day!

amy

socks...

Well, these last weeks of summer are flying by...

Busy, busy, busy getting our son ready to go off to college. I have been walking around the house today, bursting into spontaneous tears more times than I care to admit.

He's been packing up his room, his toiletries, school supplies, his new linens, clothes, snacks, water bottles, laundry supplies etc... . Today, in the midst of all this packing and cleaning out of drawers, he made a startling discovery...

We always here about the nebulous black hole, every household has one, that place only one sock out of a pair disappears into, only never to return. Upon cleaning his sock drawer he discovered approximately 50-60 socks, many without partners! Socks that belonged to the rest of the family! Socks that I have searched for high and low for! Socks that I had given up on almost entirely! How long have they been hiding in there? Nobody really knows.

Yes, I am having all kinds of emotions about my son leaving for college. I will miss him terribly. It won't be the same....

But at least we got our socks back.=)