the girl's got wheels

After much reading and nail-biting... she had all the right answers (except for one). I've already experienced this twice before.  That time when your young lady (or young man) sprouts wheels... Congratulations Erin!

Blessings, Debbie

great and grand

Erin enjoying the gift of instruction from her mama's mama's mama, a.k.a. Granny.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.  Titus 2:3-5

Blessings, Debbie

frosted blessings

When I try to imagine what it would be like to be stuck inside a body that won't cooperate or is in constant pain... or with a mind that won't remember anymore (not like I've been complaining about lately but real loss)... or the rest of my years in a small little room with no windows, even if the staff is loving and things are clean...  I cry.  When I think to take the time to bless these people who live just up the hill from me... I feel frustrated that we don't do it more often.

Being as this is the season when we are more apt to look for these opportunities, I love it that much more. Being as I am a selfish human being... I'm embarrassed that it takes this feel good season for me to remember what shouldn't be forgotten.

Our Keepers at Home group made and delivered gingerbread houses to make the tables festive.  We were able to visit several of the residents.  Some were delighted.  Some weren't very responsive.  The girls were unsure but willing to grow.

We've purposed to come back with valentines for every resident in February.  I pray I'm never a forgotten one.  And I pray that I will be better about remembering...

Blessings, Debbie

the tree

Tradition states that cheese and crackers, smoked salmon and pickles must be eaten near a stream if one is to have any luck finding the perfect tree.  Hot apple cider to wash it all down is just a little extra insurance.  Apparently Audrey knew just how to lay it all out seeing as the perfect tree did in fact make it into our pick-up and will soon be gracing the bay window in our living room.  Actually, we don't believe in luck, we believe in divine providence.  And just in case we should be misunderstood, the girls left a memorial stone in the spot where we were blessed with our forest gift.

Tomorrow we hope to bedeck this tree with colored lights (last year we did white, much to Audrey's chagrin, and promised her that the next tree would have colored), gingerbread, dried orange slices, strung popcorn and cranberries and... uh oh.  This tree is sounding a bit too tasty for the animals to resist!

Erin picked a tree for her bedroom too.  She will use the white lights and would like to use my antique glass ornament collection.  Uhmmm.  So, somebody remind me why dogs and cats are a good idea...

Blessings, Debbie

pre-Thanksgiving thanks

This morning the girls and some friends met at a local church to help fill food baskets for people in need this holiday.  After that, we ran a few errands and then headed home to make a few check marks on our pre-Thanksgiving chore list.  We ate lunch then headed to another friend's house where some of our home school teens gather weekly to view a dvd series on apologetics, then back home again to attack that list.  At 6:00 people began showing up for dinner and Monday night prayer.  It's 10:30 now.  Everyone left about 45 minutes ago and the dishes are done.

Today I am thankful for my daughters, for friends, for food, for prayer. And I'm thankful for a holiday specifically designated for the giving of thanks.

Blessings, Debbie

precursor to an apple marathon

I'm not quite ready to commit to canning or freezing but we girls were more than eager to dig into the box of apples and fill this house with the aroma of fall.  Some of the crisp, juicy Jonagolds and Melroses were peeled, sliced, cored and set to simmer with sugar and cinnamon for a thick applesauce, while a crust was prepared to recieve the rest.  We coaxed our boy over with the promise of dinner and pie if he would bring the ice cream.  Now I sit at this computer feeling deeply satisfied.  Satisfied that comfort food really is a comfort, that my girls are going to be rockin' wives and that we are blessed with appreciative men (you know the old adage, the way to a man's heart...).

~~Debbie