Summer's legacy

No, I have not adopted any more children.  My son's summer school is still at the University studying Calculus 3... I had problems teaching math once we hit multiplying fractions.  However, the gorgeous weather we are (finally) enjoying is reminding me of past summers of "doing school" all year long.

We had to do a little work each day on math during the summer or the student in the house would forget an entire previous year.  I know, I have said this a thousand times but... how did the boy who took two years to get through Saxon 1/2 end up taking the most complicated math courses at the University?  For my fellow parents of children who are not math prodigies... there is hope.

One nice thing about summer in the Northern Hemisphere... all children are homeschooled.  Even kids who attend public and private classrooms often have the freedom to explore, to find delight in all that is available to touch and observe and smell and sometimes even taste (especially toddlers... ugh).

Anyhoo, summers were mostly all about science and nature studies.  How could a mom and a boy stay out of their favorite trails when the weather was beautiful, the humidity low, and there were rocks and bugs waiting to be discovered. I still feel a tinge of sadness when I pass the wooded park where we spent many an afternoon exploring.  There are also fond memories of Lake Michigan, zoos of various sizes, creeks, gardens, and back yards, and walks along the water in our favorite artsy town with a little girl.

I have always been a big believer of hands on nature studies.  Some of my earliest memories of Stephanie as a little child included picking up pretty rocks on the road and chatting about God's remarkable creativity.  How He could have made everything in black and white but instead God created... sparkle (have you picked up quartz lately?).  Not to mention the duck billed platypus.

 Of course, life is not perfect and there were summers of too much TV during seasons of illness and adolescent girls who preferred reading to nature hikes (although years later, Stephanie told me about the summer she read tucked on the branches of a tree).  These included a few summers when Mom had to work and Saturdays became all important.   We had our share of reruns on TV and Mario Brothers when we lived in a city but over all the years of childhood... summer memories were made.

That is why we take the opportunities in summer when they happen... and why this Mom kept a vintage picnic basket packed with everything needed except the food for last minute dashes to a favorite place of exploration (a picnic just makes it more festive even if only peanut butter sandwiches or cheese and bread).

Summer is the time to grow veggies (or at least herbs in a container) and drawing a child into the wonder of seeds planted and the miracle of growth.  Summer brought about the joy of just picked corn dripping with butter or messy watermelon for dessert both eaten outside on a hot day.

Summer can be about catching a fish and cooking it... which did not happen in this home but I have memories from my own childhood.  No, for this family summers were Dad teaching tennis techniques, the proper way to toss the basketball into a hoop, or  how to drive when one turned a certain age.

As I look back on many summers as a Mom, I sense what was really taking place during those summers was developing a love for learning and exploring, flowers, duck ponds, picnics next to the small zoo or near the trail or on the sand by the lake, rocks and arrowheads, getting one's hands dirty in the soil, and taking into their adult years a sense of wonder.  Truly a legacy which makes summer special.

Picture: Building Memories; allposters.com

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Choose Life... I've pondered that before but a decision this week reminded me of it again.

Christopher called from work one day to tell me he had to spend a prolonged lunch hour on campus and he was willing to buy lunch (he knew I had been craving Indian food).*

Although I wasn't feeling very strong, I said yes... and enjoyed a lunch at my favorite Indian restaurant with my favorite son.  Good food... good company... and the enjoyment of summer on campus.  :)

As I thought about it later, I realized so often the decision to choose life is often found in choosing to say... yes!  This comes easily to some people but I am one who likes to plan and think through what I'm doing next.  However, so many pleasant memories of the past surround the word yes said at the last minute... especially when saying yes to children.

As a homemaker, saying yes almost always requires changing my daily plans.  It has included a stop by the grocery store on the way to the park for cheese, good bread, something cold to drink, and dessert... perhaps a loaf of cheap bread to feed the ducks in the pond.  Of course, if the picnic had been planned then all would be prepared at home... but this was a last minute yes!

To say yes may be free of any charges or it may need time to look at the budget, removing one item to add another.  In particular if there are tickets to be purchased or overnight travel.

One of the most memoriable and unexpected last minute yes-es from my husband brought about a drive into Chicago and a three-day family vacation during Stephanie's last spring break at college.  A small amount of money spent on an inexpensive hotel, restaurants, and museums... but priceless memories.

Yes has meant building our raised bed garden and adopting Miss Victoria (both excellent decisions). 

A reluctant yes preceded a thousand mile drive to visit New England in autumn to see my grandchildren and my friend Sally Clarkson in person.  Oh, and my daughter and son-in-law, of course.  Their offer to pay all our expenses and find a Bed & Breakfast for us to stay overnight on the way (to make my trip easier) made it difficult to not say yes.  :)

Some physical discomfort, yes... but delightful and wonderful memories of New England, attending the women's conference with my daughter where Sally was one of the speakers, the Clarksons and our family all spending a night at my daughter's home, and additional days with the lovely Sarah (whom I have unofficially adopted as an additional daughter).  All because I finally said... yes.

Yes can have eternal consequences, such as saying yes to the forgiveness and salvation offered by Jesus.  Yes can be very difficult as mothers and fathers and spouses watch their loved ones leave for war after saying yes to the military.  Yes can require suffering in third world countries to bring food and the Gospel to those without hope or as easy as hosting an afternoon tea for teenage girls as one shares the love of Christ with scones and sweet sandwiches.

I was thankful I said yes this past week.  May I be more willing to choose life and say yes more often, to really live each day in spite of any physical or financial challenges.

* Dad was not included in the invitation to the Indian restaurant... he does not appreciate spicy food.  :)

Back to making a home

I'm feeling a little better each day, praying these antibiotics take all the sinus infection away.   I told Stephanie in an e-mail that my first sign of life was tweaking the accessories in the living room.  After spending days upon days on the sofa in that room, I needed to make a few changes (will take pictures of that eventually).

How do you tell a blogger?  They take their camera with them as they go about their day.  :)

I had to take a picture of the above scene for it showed getting back to "normal"... the crock pot slowly cooking dinner, the basket with today's green bean harvest, and apple mint draining from its' morning shower... back to making a home... slowly but surely getting there.

We're getting a break from all the storms and heavy rain.  Once the soil in the raised bed dries a bit, I will plant the last of the green beans in the area where I had to pull out the lettuce and broccoli.  That is a lot of green beans from a package costing less than two dollars.

I enjoyed all the comments about growing green beans.  I also have fond memories of snapping green beans as a child.  There is a small framed picture of my mother... a black and white photo from the late 1950s... sitting on a bookcase in my bedroom.

It is one of my favorite pictures of her as she was sitting in the yard of our home in the country when I was but a toddler... snapping green beans for dinner.

My apple mint did not like all the wet weather so I've cut it back a lot.  May as well use the good mint in tea. 

My husband thought I was planting the tomato plants too far apart... little did he know.

The crock pot has a small roast in it with two cans of Cream of Mushroom soup and nothing else, not even onions... a simple, simple dinner that the guys love.  The soup makes a lovely gravy and the beef will fall apart after cooking six or seven hours on low.

I must admit I will use instant mashed potatoes since I'm still getting very fatigued by dinner time but you can't even tell since the meat and gravy are the star of the show.

Green beans fresh from the garden and the last of the corn from the freezer (purchased last summer from the farmer down the road who sells it from the back of his pickup truck) add to the simple dinner.

Can you believe it has been nearly a year since I was sharing how I froze the corn?

While there are major projects eventually to do, it is good to be back to the simple day-to-day tasks.  Nothing like a prolonged illness to make you appreciate the little things of life.

A touch of red and yellow

I was taking a picture of the pumpkin muffins and got carried away... realizing just how much red and yellow there is in my kitchen.

What can I say... these colors make me happy.  :)

Small steps in the kitchen

Have I mentioned I had forgotten what this particular antibiotic does to me... as in causing a combined sleepiness and that loopy feeling?  At least I am having two steps forward for every one step back in the healing process.  I'm able to talk again (albeit a raspy sound) and my ears clear up once in awhile.  However, even though there is a little congestion left and a slight cough... I can breath.  I heart oxygen.

I am well enough to fix simple meals in the kitchen.  The guys have missed having healthy snacks so I made the next best thing this morning, my pumpkin muffins which are made by combining one box of yellow cake mix and one can of pumpkin (I added a cup of chocolate chips today).  They are pictured above and are quite good considering one starts with a cake mix.  You can find that recipe... here.  I'm not quite up to baked goods "from scratch" yet but these are better and cheaper than store bought.

The aroma of pasta sauce simmering on the oven is making me hungry already.  I used to use at least one pound of ground beef in my recipe but now I brown one half pound of sausage (the other half pound of sausage is used for an egg and potato scramble on another day), add one large can of tomatoes with garlic and basil (or Italian style), and one small can of your favorite pizza-pasta sauce (or a small can of tomato sauce, adding your own herbs).  I add two hole cloves of garlic and let it simmer covered on low for about an hour.

When there is time (like today), I take it off the heat and let it just sit and cool down for awhile... letting the ingredients marry even more. I've made pasta sauce all kinds of ways through the years but this ended up being what we liked the best... and it has a meaty flavor with a lot less meat.  I'll add an actual recipe to the recipe blog soon.

I have already mixed together soft butter with dried garlic granules and Lawry's seasoned salt to use on sliced French bread I bought on clearance at Wal Mart over the weekend.  I find it almost always available on the clearance rack and since I use it for garlic bread or French toast... stale is good... and cheap.  :)

I don't mind using white bread products once in awhile since I serve a regular diet of whole grains.

When busy meets slow

I suppose this could be called "further ponderings of Sunday Afternoon Tea"... either that or proof we are an Equal Opportunity Ponderer.  Yesterday's musings were about circumstances in our life bringing us to living a life which is... slower.

As I wrote it, I was thinking of all the people I know who read this blog who have no options other than a busy life... those who are called to full time work and ministry.  Thus... today's further ponderings.

I've been remembering those times in my life when there were seasons of crazy busy. We all have had them... whether with a full time job, school schedules, athletics, volunteer and church work, taking care of babies, being a caregiver for one who is ill, farmers and gardeners in spring through fall... you get the idea.

It was during my corporate years that I learned the necessity of balance in my life.  Since I love to cook, my only hobby I took time for was gourmet cooking.  It may sound strange but on the weekend, I enjoyed spending hours cooking.  I relaxed as I was alone in the kitchen (my work always involved being surrounded by lots of people) and my family appreciated the yummy results... truly a win-win situation.  :)

Stephanie had a friend with a busy professional schedule.  Her refuge was her sewing room in her home.  Although I didn't receive the sewing gene (nether did my mother or daughter), I can understand how the process would take one's mind away from that part of their life for which they had little control.  Slow balanced busy...

When we spend too much time on the gerbil wheel of life, never having time in our days for anything which requires us to slow down and ponder, we end up years down the road looking back and wondering where the time went. 

My eventual decision to leave the corporate life came on a business trip to San Francisco, as I looked at the beauty around me.  Suddenly I knew I did not want to share my life with co-workers... but with my husband and daughter... no matter how much I enjoyed my work.

Expectations run high in our society.  Yes, there are those who are called to be salt and light in the workforce but to what extent do we fill our days with work and never slow down to "stop and smell the roses"... or knit a scarf, arrange flowers, listen to music, read a book for recreation, really talk to a child, or enjoy an hour on the deck with a cup of tea and a devotional.

I believe this is what Swenson is talking about in his wonderful book called Margin (highly recommended).  In past generations, people were forced to slow down as much was done by hand.  The busy mother spent hours preparing a meal and sewing clothing by hand (later with that wonderful invention, the sewing machine).  Unless one was wealthy, this was the way families were clothed and fed.

Farmers planted seed by hand and pruned fruit trees one branch at a time.  Society depended on craftsmen and women whose work came... slowly.  Slowing down was not the decision it is today, it was a way of life.

So, why are these ponderings so important to me right now that I spend two days writing about them?  Because I'm seeing so many families who don't realize they have hopped on society's electronic treadmill with the gears set to fast.  They spend their twenty-four hours each day without really living their days.  They do not realize that a full calendar does not equal success in life.

It honestly does not seem like much time has gone by since I brought my newborn daughter home from the hospital but I look back now as a grandmother.  Life passes quickly but we live it one day and one decision at a time.  My prayer is we all know the difference between pure gold and fools gold... and choose life.

Picture:  Globe basil in my garden

Sunday Afternoon Tea

I've been pondering the Bible verse which tells us we are not to despise small beginnings. Thinking instead how our culture despises just about anything small... and slow.

Our society admires the person who has mastered multi-tasking, not giving full attention to any one thing but cramming as much work as possible in each moment.

Illness forces us to be still and reflect.  It brings one to be "in the moment" as we think of that which must be a priority to accomplish.  We learn to appreciate those timid beginnings and small successes.

We go from being able to do little... washing a few dishes... to laundry... to decluttering the house... to cleaning the bathroom mirror and sink... to sweeping the front porch... to putting together simple meals.  Work done just a few minutes at a time but reaping the feeling that all is well again in our world.

Yesterday morning I looked out the French doors in my family room and cringed as I saw the results of multiple big storms and high winds hitting the deck these past weeks.  It was such a mess and cleaning it enough to enjoy the deck again seemed overwhelming.  However... I decided not to despise small beginnings.  :)

Armed with a roll of paper towels, cleanser, and my old broom, I set out for the deck to give it what Mom called "a lick and a promise".  I cleaned the two tables, swept the floor of the deck (not perfectly but it looked better), cleared leaves and greenery from chairs, and swept spider webs away from the door.  The plants were rearranged and freshened and the watering hose moved to a corner out of site from the window.

Little bits of work here and there, not all that much... accomplishing a small miracle as the deck was transformed back to a place one could sit and ponder, take a cup of coffee in the morning, or just look upon while sitting in the Lazy Boy inside with the air conditioner cooling the tired worker as she rested.

I don't remember when I realized the "truth" of society I'd been given for years was actually false.  As we grow up, we assume what those older and in positions of authority are telling us must be true. From high school years onward my generation was taught we must reach for the stars, solve all the problems of the world, and that true success was found in working long hours so we could have lots of stuff.  That which was slow, or rural, or homemade... was old fashioned and obsolete.

Perhaps it was when Stephanie was born and I found myself enjoying hours rocking her as she slept that I felt a twinge of doubt.  It certainly became apparent as I started to enjoying time in the kitchen mixing together butter and sugar and flour and eggs in various forms... watching simple ingredients become... magic.

I know I was becoming aware of the un-truths as I would turn on the coffee pot in the morning and begin to chop and dice and assemble a stew to slowly cook... anticipating what dinner would be like later in the day.  By the time I chose to check the thrift store before the mall... I knew what I thought was truth was all society's smoke screen.

There would be a twinge of  looking back as I would stop by the grocery store for picnic food and see women in suits and heels... bringing memories of enjoyable projects and business lunches (but not of the crazy schedule).  However, when I enjoyed the picnic and spent the afternoon climbing trails with a young boy, I knew our decision to educate at home was good.

Relearning early lessons has taken a lifetime.  "They" roll their eyes when walking by one who is knitting on a park bench, enjoying time alone on their lunch hour... how ridiculous when one can buy a sweater online in seconds.  How odd to enjoy spending time pushing a toddler on the swing as one ponders beautiful weather.

"They" mock us as we write a letter by hand for a dear friend instead of spending two minutes on an e-mail and "they" certainly cannot understand an hour spent in prayer.  Let's not even think of what "they" say when one decides to take their child out of "real" school and spend their years homeschooling.

"They" cannot understand the happiness of homemade cookies filling the cookie jar when there are shelves of colorful packages to be purchased at the grocery.  "They" do not know the joy of the farmer's market or walking out to the garden to pick vegetables, looking through the recipe file, tying on the apron and spending time in the kitchen all to prepare one meal... and watching the faces of loved ones to see their reactions to the work of our hands. 

Who are "they"?  "They" are my own thoughts reverting back to early teachings.  "They" nudge me to hurry through an afternoon of creating beauty in my home to do something important and it is "they" who cause guilt when I'm watching a cooking show or perusing cookbooks in the afternoon for a delicious way to use kale.

I have learned the only way to overcome early (wrong) teaching is by living life on purpose and enjoying the process of those simple skills such as sweeping a deck or washing dishes in sudsy water.  I no longer despise small beginnings... or humble work... lessons learned as I realized the slow life is the good life.  When I stop to mend a shirt, take kitchen scraps to the compost pile, or spend a Saturday morning at garage sales... I am renewing my mind and embracing domesticity.

There are times in life when we are forced to slow down... illness, job loss, personal crisis, pregnancy and sleepless nights with a newborn, moving... just to name a few.  Small beginnings, taking time to develop skills through a lifetime, choosing loveliness instead of rushing through life, walking slow enough to feel the presence of God... changing the way we think as we find Truth.  A good thing.

Further reflections on the above... here.

Handwork, housework, and hot!

Just can't see how this is comfortable...

I'm beginning to wonder what will come next... we've had flooding rain and tornadoes and hail and now... HEAT!  Now, I am not one to get paranoid about many things... except that whole Bigfoot thing... but one has to wonder.

Any outdoor chores which must be accomplished has to be tackled early. This morning, it was the one of the hedges in the front of our house.  Both have grown wild for the first time since we lived here.  They look like evergreen actors from the movie Hair. (Does that show my age?) 

It was always my responsibility to prune them but a series of circumstances in the past year kept me away from the job... and you know what my spring has been like.

So... this morning, pruning shears in hand, I decided to start the process.  I used to borrow a friend's electric shears but they were old and in poor condition.   Last year, I decided to deal with "a little at a time" pruning by hand instead of risking electrocution.  I actually found hand pruning to be like much handwork we do... relaxing.  While neither hedge will have that sculpted look available with electronic shears, they can look lovely when given time and attention.

I began my morning work by talking to myself, as in "Let's get this started now!"... another sigh.  I believe there was a mental picture of making hay while the sun shines... or before we hit the 90 degree temperatures.

Well, imagine my surprise when forty-five minutes later, I had about 75% of one hedge pruned.  (I would have stayed out longer but this antibiotic comes with a warning about too much sun.)  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be!  I have renewed confidence in tackling other back burner projects.  How good it is to get beyond maintenance lawn and housework again.

Hubby will have to give the top of the shrubs a haircut but they look so much better.  I will finish what I can reach tomorrow and then begin on the hedge in front of the house.  I get tired very easily and a little bothered by congestion but nothing a quick break and water can't handle.

I saw my doctor yesterday and he said I was about 75% recovered.  I still can't hear out of one ear, continue to have congestion, and he says there is a little wheezing from the lungs.  But I'm recovering.

Since I had only two antibiotics left from the second round, he gave me my old friend Cipro to take for an additional ten days.  Yes, it appears this requires a third round of antibiotics.  Why should I be surprised??? :)

I have been asked for new pictures of Anna.  Well, her daddy has been on a business trip to Spain (how about that for timing?).  He's coming home now so hopefully Mommy will regain her sanity enough to point and click.  She says the little cutie has been going growing.

Picture:  One of the strange places Miss Victoria loves to sleep

A few favorite links

If you have wondered what I have been up to lately, it would require lots of snoozing.  These powerful antibiotics are helping but they do make me so sleepy.  Of course, after weeks of sleepless nights... that can be as healing as any medicine.

Stephanie and I were talking about the cost of the antibiotics, which ended up being close to $18.00 for each pill.  She agreed if she was going to spend that much to ingest anything... it should be at a steakhouse.  Yes, at least three courses.  :)

Anyhoo, I thought I'd share a few favorite writings of friends from the past few days as I spend time sleeping and cooking and sleeping and laundry and sleeping... and healing.

Beauty from Lanier at... here.

Beauty from Sarah Clarkson... here.

Wisdom from her Mum... here.

An update from Jewels' daughter... here.

Happy reading and please pray for the farmers where I live.  Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed from the tornadoes, high winds, hail, and flooding of the past week.  I have not checked the mud pit that is my garden today, going to give it one more day to dry.  (((HUGS)))

Green bean harvest!

I made my way to the garden for the first time in a few days.  Look what I found!

This heat and humidity is good for something.  The last time I looked, there were itty bitty green beans getting ready to grow and now there were plenty of fully grown beans ready for harvest.

I planted a different green bean this year, an heirloom variety called Triomphe de Farcy from Burpee.  It's a french style bean which said it was early (48 days or so)... I guess so!  :)

Everything is growing great except the remaining lettuce, which didn't make it with all this heat and rain.  I will plant some more green beans in that area once the soil dries out a bit.  It's mostly mud now.

A soggy Monday morning

This series of hot and muggy days sparking severe thunderstorms is getting a little old.  One does not know whether to duck the high winds or begin building an ark.  Not to mention there can be too much of a good thing where water is concerned.  My deck plants are proof of that.  I can almost hear them gurgling from their roots that enough is enough.

For the latest in this bronchitis saga, I spent six hours in the emergency room on Sunday.  The nurse at the clinic had warned me to head for the ER if the head congestion seemed to be getting worse.  By Sunday afternoon, I knew I'd better receive medical attention.

It turns out I probably have had an acute sinus infection along with the bronchitis all along (no wonder I couldn't breath!).  In "normal" people, the antibiotics given for the bronchitis would have cured both but did not in my case.  So... very powerful antibiotics were started before I left and a prescription given to have filled today.

Thankfully, a chest x-ray showed clear and the infection was not in my ears, too.  The swelling from the sinus passages was causing the hearing problem.  

I was blessed with the nicest nurses and ER doctor this time.  He explained why I have had problems with a couple of the antihistamines I took these past few weeks.  Turns out people with thyroid and/or diabetes illnesses should not take any antihistamine with a "D" in the label, which is what we had on hand for the guy's allergy symptoms.  These are usually the antihistamines you have to obtain from the pharmacist and sign for so they know you are not using them to make meth.

We started our summer school schedule this morning.  I think it should be illegal to have a class begin at 7:30 in the morning any time of the year but especially in the summer.  I was already awake when the alarm went off at 6:15 but the college student had become use to a 9:00 start to his workday.  Let's just say it took awhile for him to wake up.  He will combine full time work hours with the class and studies the remainder of the summer.

Christopher may be moving on campus this fall, he should know soon if he gets accepted to the Christian co-op a few of his friends live in already. He has been asked to commit to a year at his new job so living on campus would make it far easier to combine ten hours of work during the school year and a heavy class schedule.  Not to mention making it much easier for Mom.  But I'm only thinking of him.  ;)

Thank you all so much for your prayers and well wishes.  Hoping to feel much, much better soon.

Sunday Afternoon Tea

It is good to be back on a Sunday.  My heart was here but the rest of me could not make it for the past two weeks.  :)

It has been one of those Dark Night of the Soul journeys which had an innocuous beginning (bad cough and swelling of the ears), a trip to the emergency room unable to breath, reactions to various medications, and night upon night of not being able to sleep.

As I propped myself up on the sofa during the night, trying to be still and not wake up the guys (and somewhat jealous of their ability to sleep soundly), I had plenty of time to think and ponder and pray.  My emotions ran from fear to frustration and finally... hope.

Holding on to that knowledge that it is not as bad as it was and not as good as it will be.  Realizing we have no idea at times what to be thankful for... the ability to sleep, taking a deep breath, cooking dinner, reading, hearing, talking...all simple things I was struggling with at the time (and to a lesser extent... continue with today).

As I have said from long ago, I don't want to waste any trial.  I truly believe if God is allowing us to walk a painful (at the time) journey, there are hidden jewels of wisdom and knowledge to be found.  Feeling at my worst this time, I had no interest in learning anything.  I stomped my feet (at least mentally) and asked Him just what He is trying to do... kill me?  While there was no immediate lightening and thunder, we did have tornadoes touch down nearby... perhaps one should refrain from shouting at God???  :)

As the worst was behind me and the bronchitis was clearing in my chest, I only had to deal with the inability to sleep, swollen glands and ears, and challenges in hearing as well as talking... I have begun to deal with the frustrations and grasp at least a nibble of faith.

Just last night, I was able to remind myself this will not last forever.  Although I was waking up almost as soon as I fell asleep... as the congestion continued to make breathing difficult at times... there came a peace when I knew it will not go on forever.  I can handle life one day (night?) at a time.

It is that same realization that has kept me holding on to faith in times of unemployment, great financial need, less than ideal circumstances, and dealing with a hyperactive little boy... this to shall pass.  Struggles may abound on our journey of life but somehow in our humanity, we gain strength as we know this particular trial or temptation will not go on forever... and our faith muscles are strengthened each time we face adversity and come through it without giving up.

Slowly I am already doing a little more cooking again.  I've been able to declutter a little as well as run the washer and dryer.  I'm not up to reading novels but I have been pulling favorite decorating books off the shelves to peruse and enjoy.  The front porch received a half-hearted sweeping and spider web removal... not perfect but good enough.

I know there will come a day (soon) when I will feel well enough to try some new recipes with herbs from the garden, sip a cup of coffee on the deck before the heat of the day (and bugs) take over, read (my eyes hurt), write, talk (assuming my voice returns completely), and attempt various creative projects in the home.

What will I take away from this past month?  Never take for granted the ability to do that which is the everyday stuff of life.  In comparison, so much of what I complain about in the daily journey (fatigue, strained budget, difficult people, dirty dishes which reproduce on their own) are in fact absolutely nothing to complain about when compared to these past weeks.  May I not forget the lessons learned...

In the meantime, I continue to covet your prayers so I can hear and talk and once again sleep in my own bed... breathing easily would be nice, too.  (Doctor follow-up visit is Thursday.)

Books read in May

Cough, cough... sniff sniff.  Sigh, another night with little sleep.  Did I mention I made a post Emergency Room visit appointment with my doctor and could not get in until Thursday... next Thursday?  Oh, well.

Let's talk books.  All my books read last month were before getting so sick with the bronchitis and the various symptoms which came with it.  So, I didn't read nearly as many as planned.  May was also the first of my warm weather "Hodge Podge" selection of books to read. That will continue through the warm weather months.

Books read were...

Long Journey Home; A Guide to Your Search for the Meaning of Life by Os Guinness
This is an interesting book about the journey various people have taken in their coming to Christ.  Os has been around a long time and has many stories in the volume. I thought it quite good.  However, it is a rather deep and philosophical book and I admit to not being quite up to such deep thinking at times and perusing the last third of the book.

Victoria's Intimate Home (Victoria Magazine) (Repeat)
I think I mentioned this book in another post.  It's a lovely book published by the old Victoria Magazine about decorating the private places of our homes... bedrooms, sewing room, "get away from it all" room, etc.  Beautiful pictures.  Out of print but available used (usually fairly cheap) online.

Read For the Heart by Sarah Clarkson
This book is going to receive its' own separate review.  However, I can tell you I really liked it and I wish I had it by my side when homeschooling from a Charlotte Mason perspective.  I'll be writing a review soon.

Walking From East to West by Ravi Zacharias and R.S.B. Sawyer

Loved this book by Ravi and Sawyer.  He explains in the introduction why he asked for a co-writer for his autobiography.  It proves to be a wise decision, making the book both easy to read but covering all the basis.

Ravi looks at his life from an Eastern perspective, which looks back multiple generations and all the unlikely series of events through the years which brought him to where he is today.

He is very truthful about the suicide attempt and depression he suffered brought about by the verbal and physical abuse of his father.  He shares how years later their relationship is restored and made close after his father comes to know the Lord, too.

This is a good read for every age but I'd highly encourage older teenagers and young adults to read it to see how God can take a man from very difficult circumstances to become one of the world's leading apologists for the Gospel.

Edge of Apocalypse by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall

I didn't know what to expect with this book but the cover looked interesting at the library.  :)

It is certainly not a deep book but it also isn't the easiest to read... written in a very conversational style.  (You can tell Craig Parshall... hubby of Janet... is an attorney in the way he writes).  It could be just me, I have to carefully read novels where much of the story is told in the conversations between the main characters.

Having said that, I found it fascinating.  It is suppose to take place a few years out, during the first presidency after the Obama administration.  It begins with a nuclear attack on New York City by the North Koreans and how a new technology developed by the main character stops the attack from happening.  Once this technology is brought to light, both our government and foreign powers want to control it.

I found this book rather chilling as it takes so much of what we see in the headlines now going on in Washington and shows us what would happen if our government and media were both corrupt and the average American began to believe that which was not the truth.  It's kind of like... what would happen if our worst fears about where America is heading were to come true.

Being a Christian novel, it also plays out a scenario in which characters come to faith or have their faith challenged due to increased persecution of those who believe in a Judeo-Christian way of life.  This is done in within a believable storyline and well thought out.

It is obviously set up as the first book of a series.  I'll definitely want to read the next in the series when it comes out.

A funny thing happened when I lived in Detroit

Hi, friends.  Super tired here... was not able to sleep well due to congestion and that swollen ear (talk to me from my right side if you want a response).  Another reason... we were up somewhat late watching a hockey game.

Yes, you heard me.  A hockey game.  Actually, the lateness of the hour was from watching after game hoopla.  In case you have not heard, yet... Chicago won the the Stanley Cup last night in a last moment "did it or did it not make it" goal.  It made it.

I did not grow up watching hockey.  All I knew about it was there was fighting and the players were often missing teeth.  That all changed during our stay in Detroit.  Hubby traveled a great deal so our car tended to be at Detroit International more than at our house.  Which was not bad as urban living does allow for a multitude of stores and restaurants within walking distance.

What we did not do, however, was go out after dark... even if we were in a suburb... it was still Detroit.  So, Christopher and I watched more TV than normal and (as anyone knows who lives in that area)... that means hockey is shown on the local stations.  This happened to be during a season when Detroit won the Stanley Cup so it was a looong season.

That old adage, "if you can't beat them join them" became true as I watched game after game with my son, who was quickly becoming a fan.  He had been an awesome street hockey player "back home".  I never came to understand the game completely but I learned enough to enjoy it.

So... when the Chicago Blackhawks became a real team again (and we are a Chicago sports family here), I would tune in once in awhile.  Then the playoffs came along and what started as mild curiosity became an obsession.  Christopher would get together with his friends to watch the game on a "real" TV (you know... big and flat screened).  I watched it on the old Sony in the living room where the antennae allows us to pick up the major local stations with hubby peeking at the score now and then (he loves Chicago sports but never got into hockey... probably the only sport besides trout fishing he does not follow).

I believe as a woman, my favorite part of the series was after Chicago had won and there were all the interviews with the guys and their families... hockey made personal.  It takes a lot of determination to be an athlete.  Lots and lots of days with Mom driving the little guys to the practices at age six and seven and twelve and fifteen... until they can drive on their own.  There are usually great stories behind every athlete who makes it to that level of play.

Last night, hubby began to realize what Christopher had long ago determined... to be a great hockey player (at least on the Chicago team)... it helps to have a red beard.  He would not grow a beard because his was flaming red (with brown hair... go figure).  I think there's some red in Christopher's beard.  Both having ancestors who were Vikings.  Maybe I should have encouraged that street hockey more. 

Anyway, congratulations Chicago.  You overcame a lot of adversity to win the Stanley Cup.  That makes the best story.

A life well lived

I'm beginning to feel better.  It may have something to do with getting my first real night's sleep last night in over two weeks.  It's amazing how one can handle the remaining symptoms when not sleep deprived.  I know I'm getting better because I'm thinking of new posts I want to write (as opposed to having trouble opening the laptop to let you know I am alive).

The life well lived is John Wooden.  In my part of the world, his death (even though expected at age 99) was important enough to bring on a Breaking News Alert while watching the local Fox channel one evening.  I found it interesting that ESPN News morphed into a Johnny Wooden memorial not long after that.  It became fascinating how many times the name of Jesus was mentioned, not often heard on ESPN.  That was because one could not separate John from his Lord.

It isn't the fact he was voted the greatest coach of the 20th century that inspires (that is... my friends... the greatest coach of any and all sports in the entire United States... for one hundred years).  For me, what made him great was living a lifetime on the UCLA campus and being salt and light as a Christian, and accepting success gracefully.

His dream job was to return to Purdue (where he had been a star player) as head coach.  That was where his heart led him.  Instead first circumstances and later success kept him in California.   He not only survived at UCLA but excelled, bringing the Truth of the Gospel to hundreds upon hundreds of young people not so much in what he said... but in the way he lived his life.

His story reminds me that man may plan his way but it is truly God who directs his path.  Sometimes the journey we are on makes no sense while we are walking in it.  I expect for a long time, Wooden couldn't understand why he and his wife could not return to their beloved Midwest.  Now, looking back... I doubt he would have changed anything.  God sees it all, the entire tapestry He is weaving.

I watched an interview he had given just months before his death.  He was asked if he feared death.  He said not at all... he was looking forward to going to Heaven and seeing his beloved wife again.  He had no doubts that Heaven was real and she was there.  She was the only girl he had ever kissed.  :)

I thought of that when I heard he had passed on and it made me smile.

The garden in early June

The one thing I had to keep up with has been the garden. (It doesn't care if you are sick or not, it must be planted and weeded and watered...)

Which meant a couple of days weeding with a hacking cough as well as numerous days leaning up against a pole while watering it all.

(Hubby has been busy finishing the last of the raised beds and pulling huge weeds which sprung up between the beds since we didn't get the weed fabric on it earlier... as well as doing all the lawn work.)

I just love the way it looks now and I want to encourage anyone who is interested to build a raised bed.  Ours was done over two spring seasons... built and planted a little at a time... budgeted a little at a time.

The two boxes in the front were build last spring, the box in the back at left was built earlier this spring (it will remain an herb garden), and the back right box was just finished a couple weeks ago.

We'd like to expand it next year.  I find it easy to take care of, even given fatigue issues.  Of course, hubby does the hard job of actually building the whole thing...  then he hands it over to me.  :)

It is built very simply, how do you like the way we keep our gate closed?

This is the newest built and planted.  It will be one of two beds used for rotating tomatoes since these two get the most direct sun.  It contains three herbs transplanted from the deck container. 

It also has recently planted green beans, a few pepper plants, and a watermelon plant (curious to see how it grows there).  Next year I'll plant tomatoes in this space.

 

This bed contains green beans and tomatoes this year.  It is also where I transplanted the cute globe basil plant when it wasn't growing well in a porch container (which was not draining correctly).

This year, this bed has green beans, broccoli, kale, and lettuce.  You can't see the lettuce from here, it is looking like it needs to be picked... does not like those hot temperatures.

This bed will always remain an herb garden.  We'll see how soon the apple mint takes over.  :)

I pinched back the basil after taking pictures.  Will "harvest" some apple mint and lemon balm for teas soon.

I hope you enjoy the tour of the garden.  More storms are moving in so I wanted to get some picture taken this morning.

A quick note to let you know I am alive

At least I'm existing.  :)

I still have constant challenges just to get through each day so continued prayer is much appreciated.

It continues to be a difficult journey, one whose end I will be very happy to see. 

Some things you just have to walk through, depending on the prayers of others.  You all are very much appreciated.  I hope to be back very soon.

Home from the hospital

This illness did take a sudden turn for the worse and I ended up in the emergency room.  It was bronchitis. (Thankfully not pneumonia.) 

I received two breathing treatments before being allowed to return home, along with antibiotics and something with codeine to ease the cough.

This has been one of the most miserable experiences I can recall.  I have a new found sympathy for people with asthma. 

Thank you for all the advice and suggestions.  Keep up the prayer, I still need it for a total recovery.