Simply Surreal

Gone to the Lake.

See You in a Week!

One o' Those Days

Here I Am, Heart in Hand.

Frankly... I should have known.

When I woke up to the sound of pee hitting hardwood (and yes, it was fully recognizable as that sort of sound, being aimed up over the crib railing in the room next door), I should have known. You know. That it was going to be one of those days.

One of those days where Prairie Boy's hollers at Prairie Prince to stop peeing on the hardwood result in Prairie Prince's hollers of resentment at being told what to do, which result in the hollers of Prairie Pumpkin who feels rudely awakened from his peaceful slumber.

One of those days where I descend the stairs to an open front door blowing in all manners of chilly, wet, summer storm air and catch a glimpse of Prairie Princess standing outside in the middle of a giant puddle, in nightgown and rubber boots, stirring muddy water with a wooden spoon. Um, hello?

One of those days where I discover muddy boot prints traipsing from the front door right through the entry, dining room and kitchen to the wooden spoon drawer, and then traipsing right back out again...

One of those days where Prairie Guy instant messages me at 10 am to ask me (um... remind me, he's catching on quick) if I am taking Prairie Prince for his morning blood work, which has been scheduled for a month in my day planner (just like the dentist and optometrist appointments that were scheduled, in said day planner, that I completely didn't check, and completely missed 4 appointments last week. Very funny story there by the way, in hindsight I mean, which I will have to tell at some point, but I digress...) of which I have completely forgotten. And am still wandering around in my pj's and messy hair. With undressed children. Playing in puddles in their pyjamas.

One of those days where I get a call from the church secretary and the moment I hear her voice I remember about the kids bulletin, which I am supposed to email to her for printing, which I haven't made.

Yup. One of those sort of days. I should have seen it coming. I mean, I was just setting myself up for one of those days, really. I was just tempting frustration and discontent to push their way through my door. I heard the knock, I looked through the peep hole, saw them there, and unlocked the door. Okay, maybe I even left it open a crack. Yep. I admit it. I asked for it. All those things in my sidebar about striving to live a simple life, joyful in spirit, amidst all those hampers of dirty laundry (five yesterday to be exact) and runny noses? Well, the operative word here is STRIVING. It should really be italicized or something, to stress it's importance. Cause this ain't second nature for me or anything. And today? Well, let's just say today, my life was not feeling romantic, or winsome, or beautiful in any way.

It did not help matters any that last night I was over at a friend's house, helping Berry Girl set up for this friend's post grad party for her son. Okay. I love this friend. She is like everything I would love to be and am not, and quite frankly, probably will never be. She has pretty perfectly manicured lawns, despite living on a farm. I know for a fact she sent pre-cooked, nicely packaged, full course meals with her husband and son on the father's day fishing trip, while my husband and son had to fend for themselves with wieners and beans and the like. She has spotless floors, and a home that screams Martha Stewart. My floors... well, I've already mentioned the pee. And the mud, and well let's just say there is usually a generous portion of peanut butter and jelly thrown in for good measure...

There were perfect arrangements of roses everywhere you looked, (Prairie Guy brought me roses the other day, very sweet of him, but they somehow look second rate next to her roses, positively shameful of me to think I know, but I'm being perfectly FRANK here, remember?). I could go on and on, it was all just... magazine cover quality. Delicate little trays and platters of who knows how many dainties... bright shiny peppers filled with fancy dips, Styrofoam trees of cream puffs... the woman could be a wedding planner.... truly beautiful. And then she came home, glamour encapsulated, perfect hair, perfect face, perfect dress, perfect legs, perfect shoes... *sigh*. You get the picture, right?

And then I come home. And everything that usually doesn't bother me.... bothered me. Immensely. The patience that I usually have when it comes to all the plans and dreams we have for this old yard, well... let's just say, it was gone. I wanted a beautifully landscaped yard. And I wanted it NOW. The contentedness that is usually mine over this little old farmhouse and it's long term potential? Vanished. I wanted it decorated, and finished and shiny and beautiful YESTERDAY. The easy going "keep it simple" attitude that allowed me to have our pastor and 2 other families over for supper and give them homemade burgers on store bought buns and styrofoam plates (gasp)? Appalling! What kind of woman am I anyway?? A styrofoam plate lady. So sad. I sure ain't no Martha Stewart. However much I'd like to be. It just ain't happenin' right now. "Poor, poor, poor me. Poor, poor, pitiful me." (to the accompaniment of Terry Clark's country drawl).

And that's how I was feeling at 10 am this morning. Whiny, crabby, blah, just fully resigned that it was going to be one of those kind of days. But then I had the light bulb moment that revealed truth. It didn't have to be one of those days. I had a choice after all. And I could choose to turn it around. Or at least give it a fair shot. And that's what I determined to do. So I hollered for the kids to put on some nice clothes, and brush their hair. Quickly did myself up and changed baby into something soft and blue, told the kids we were going on a donut date after Prairie Prince's blood work and off we all clambered into the Suburban, them happy as clams, me with a grim faced determination to cheer up quick. It didn't take long.

The velvety green (my favourite color remember)of crops doused in rain, the geese with three fuzzy goslings in the ditch on the side of the road, the voices of my troop belting out the lyrics to "Liza Jane" (truth be told, they sing Liza Jake, we do live in Mennonite country after all) and Bill Bailey (only Prairie Princess sings Bill Baby) at the top of their lungs, well, they had me smiling in no time. Even though I had to hold a 2 year old tight while they searched for a vein with a big bad needle, once, twice, three times. Even though I miss the sunshine and blue skies already and the gray mist and cloud cover contributes to my gloominess, (don't get me wrong I wanted rain, but the sun is my happy friend and I miss him when he's gone)... even though... well, you get the picture, God gave me eyes to see I need to choose. So I chose. I chose silly music, and chocolate dipped donuts, and earnest conversation with four fun loving kids. I chose to ignore (for a moment) the mud and the mayhem and the general chaos that is sometimes my home and life with 5 prairie chicklets. So it is turning out to be one of those days after all. One of those great, winsome, wonderful days.

Thankful 180 & Counting

Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness to Reap a Harvest of Happiness.

I'm thankful that

180 He made a good world... 181 He redeemed a fallen world... 182 He promises a new world.... 183 He is here in this world.

It amazes me how Satan wants me to live in depression, over what he has done, when God wants me to live in joy, over what HE has done. Satan wants me to feel dirty and dreary about the sin in the world, God wants me to feel ecstatic and cheery about His work of cleansing

184 I am thankful for the ability to recognize that today. 185 I'm thankful that I can lose the burdens and weight and allow myself to float on wings (His wings) of hope and light. 186 I'm thankful that I'm feelin' good.

Birds flying high---You know how I feel

Sun in the sky---You know how I feel

Breeze driftin' on by---You know how I feel

It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life for me--- And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea--- You know how I feel
River running free --- You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree--- You know how I feel
Dragonfly out in the sun--- You know what I mean, don't you know

Butterflies all havin' fun---you know what I mean

Sleep in peace when day is done, That's what I mean

And this old world is a new world, And a bold world for me

Stars when you shine--- You know how I feel

Scent of the pine--- You know how I feel

Oh freedom is mine, And I know how I feel

It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life for me--- And I'm feeling good

As performed by Michael Buble

Your turn! Join me in giving thanks to the Giver of Good Gifts today!

Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17

Winsome Wednesday

Winsome- charming in a childlike or simple way-attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.

Winsome Wellies

Our Pond and Prairie Birds

And a new nest of duck eggs uncovered in the meadow.

First time out. It was pretty stinkin cute. I only made him sit there for one minute, but he went willingly and hollered out `Mommy... beep, beep!` When the timer went off. .

Smart enough to put on a hat before going out to play... pink hearts and all

This doll has been his special "baby" since the arrival of Prairie Pumpkin

One he can carry around, you know, without dropping on it`s head or anything.
and lay face down in the gravel
and cover with dirt.
Because heaven knows, boys will be boys, even while attired in girly hats.

Rescuing a baby robin from Sophie, who is after all a bird dog



Winsome Signage. Our kids have discovered what fun can be had with a hammer and nails. Their mother has discovered what damage can be done with said hammer and nails. This was one of their nicer concoctions.

Isn't it whimsically 100 acre woodsish?

That's quite the nail there... and no, I did not know this project was underway.

Practicing hammering 4 inch nails into the wood siding of the sun porch, not quite so whimsical.

And winsome music that suits my mood. We sang this song in church on sunday, and I cried. I have been truly enthralled with the beauty of His creation this week, baby birds, baby skunks, meadows, pastures, night skies, fluffy clouds.... and to sing these words to Him, and mean them, brought home how fair He truly is.

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

ABC's of Me

A. Attached or Single? Attached, at the heart to my Master; at the hip to my man, and by every other ligament to one of 5 prairie chicklets.

B. Best Friend? God, hands down. Hubby close second.

C. Cake or pie? I just wasted 5 minutes trying to decide, I could be here all night.... pass.

D. Day of choice? Whatever day "today" happens to be.

E.Essential item? A very, and I mean VERY good bra. Can't be without one.

F. Favorite color? Green. Most definitely green. Sage green, hunter green, ivy green, evergreen, pretty much any green....

G. Gummy bears or worms? neither, ew.

H. Home town? Lil' Town on the Big Prairies surrounded by dirt roads, wheat fields and a great big wonderful sky.

F. Favorite indulgence? Latte and Skor bars, sometimes mixed...

J. January or July? July, if you would have asked December or July it would have been a tough choice but January bites.

K. Kids? Oh yeah. Five and counting. Or are we? Well... five anyway.

L. Life isn’t complete without? Jesus

M. Marriage date? May 25th, 1996, the most enchanted day of my life so far.

N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2 sisters one brother.

O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges

P. Phobias? Potential accidents involving one of my children.

Q. Quotes? "To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself." Josh Billings

R. Reasons to smile? He is risen. He is risen indeed!

S. Season of choice? Whatever season I'm in.

T. Tag 5 people: If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. It is Tell Me Tuesday after all... respond in the comments or backlink to your own blog.

U. Unknown fact about me? I let my babies nap on their tummy (gasp).

V. Vegetable? Corn (on the cob) or is it asparagus?

W. Worst habit? Control freak, I've come a long way, baby.

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound.

Y. Your favorite food? Eggplant Parmigiana

Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? The otters, they know how to party!

Back in the Saddle

Reflections on Marriage, Motherhood and Ministry.
I'm back on my own over here, and quite enjoying the feeling of being "back in the saddle" as they say. So today, I will leave you with someone else's (the inspiring Sally Clarkson) sage words of wisdom, experience, and encouragement while I seek to "do" rather than "talk", to find that intricate synchronization of accomplishment and adventure, to stay in the saddle, and enjoy the ride.

Ode to Tired Mom's was just a breath of fresh air this morning. A few snippets to whet your appetite?

There once was a sweet mom with children,
Who worked day and night just to serve them,
She cleaned and she cooked
and she taught and she booked,
Till she died of exhaustion and left them. ....

We moms are giving out at a much faster rate than we are taking in and so depletion and exhaustion and consequences thereof are normal. So blowing a top once in a while is very normal. I love the verse in Proverbs that says, "Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean." I have at least six oxen in my stalls all the time, so my stall is always in different degrees of clean-ness!....

Another mom sent me a letter asking if my children were ever overworked in ministry or if we just had fun all the time. Probably, because my life has been so hard (children with illnesses and difficult issues; moving 17 times--6 times internationally; having little support or encouragement from family and almost never having anyone take my children as many grandparents do; and oh so many other difficulties), it is the very reason I seek to create life and beauty and fun--because I don't want to die in the process, and I don't want to live a life of constant depression and weariness, knowing it is not good for me! I want to keep going and live and keep being gracious, because life and light and beauty give strength--to me and to my children!

Enjoy!

Simply Scrumptious; Rhubarb Recipes

Rhubarb Crisp
(Chris, do tell your secret/quantity with the orange peel, as that was scrumptious and I want to add that in from now on?!)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup melted butter
1 ts cinnamon

4 cups rhubarb

1 cup sugar
2 tb cornstarch
1 cup water
1 ts vanilla

Mix oat mixture, spread half in the bottom of a square pan, press down with fingers.
bring cornstarch mix to a slow boil, remove from heat and allow to thicken
add rhurbarb to cornstarch mix, stir
layer rhubarb over crust
top with remaining oat mixture
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

(I use this rhubarb and cornstarch mix as crepe filler too, this is one of my favourite ways to eat rhubarb!)


Rhubarb Coffee Cake
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 ts baking soda
1 ts cinnamon
1/4 ts all spice
1/4 ts cloves

2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup milk

2 cups rhubarb

2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tb butter
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Sift dry ingredients together
beat eggs, oil and milk in separate bowl, mix in with dry ingredients
Add rhubarb, pour into bundt pan
Mix topping ingredients together and sprinkle over batter
Bake at 350 for 50 min


Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
5 Cups rhubarb
1.5 cups sugar
1 pack strawberry jello

Mix rhubarb and sugar in large stock pot, allow to steep overnight
Bring to boil over medium heat
boil 12 min's over low heat
remove from heat and stir in jello
transfer to hot sterile jars, seal


Strawberry Rhubarb Fruit Leather
Rhubarb Puree
—Wash and cut into small 1⁄2 inch pieces about 1 quart of rhubarb. Put 1⁄4 cup water in a saucepan and add rhubarb. Cook only until rhubarb starts to soften. Let cool slightly; put in blender and make into puree. It should make about 2 cups puree.

Strawberry Puree
rinse berries, drain, put in a blender and blend until the consistency
of thick puree.

Combine 1 cup rhubarb puree and 1 cup strawberry puree.
Add honey (2 tablespoons or to taste),
Spread on dehydrator tray and dry.

Be sure the leathers are dry. To make sure the fruit leather is completely dried, try to pull the leather from the plastic wrap or tray. If it peels from the plastic and holds its shape, it is dry. It is important that fruit be completely dry or it will mold during storage. When the fruit leather becomes too dry it will crack and crumble and won’t roll, but is still edible and good to eat. Drying time will vary according to dehydrator, puree consistency and how thick it is applied to the tray.

To store, roll fruit leather loosely in plastic wrap and place in a dry, sealed container. The leather may be stored in the cupboard for 4 months to a year, (the cooler the storage area, the longer the keeping time) or in the refrigerator or freezer for more than a year.


Rhubarb Slush
8 c. chopped rhubarb
8 c. water
Boil and strain. Discard solids.

Add to liquid:
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. lemon juice
1 pkg. strawberry Jello

Bring to full boil and cool. Freeze in ice cream pail. To serve, scoop frozen slush into tall glass and pour 7-Up/Gingerale or Canada Dry over it.

I personally don't do rhubarb pie. I love pies, just not rhubarb pie...

of Specks and Logs

Here I Am, Heart In Hand.


I had another one of those Mack Truck moments, and as always, it was not the pleasantest of experiences. It shook me (read woke me) up and got me thinking. I'm still rather *uncomfortable* with these new to me thoughts and as always, I feel I need to shake them out, examine them closely and iron out the wrinkles before I will feel free to fold them up and shelve them accordingly in this mental database otherwise known as my brain. Sometimes just putting it down in black and white speeds this process.

Prairie Guy went on a father/son fishing trip with good friends on Father's Day weekend. He had a great time and caught a whackload of fish and made lifelong memories with our firstborn son (4). As he recounted different sagas and tales of the weekend to me, he suddenly asked; "Did you know that ***** (a christian friend) was a smoker?" I was rather taken aback as no, I did not know that he was. The surprise I felt in finding this out, (I feel quite close to the person in question, even though we only see each other periodically and don't live in the same community, we have come to feel they are "family") got me thinking. It was a strange kind of surprise. Tainted with disappointment maybe? Betrayal? Could that possibly be a hint of underlying judgementalism? I wasn't sure, it wasn't blatant, but it was a feeling I wanted to explore and be honest with myself about. Did I look down on (or maybe I would better express it by saying "look a little less up to?)" this person as a result of this new found knowledge? The next time I was talking to HIM, I broached the subject.

The conversation went something like this; (now please understand, I'm not saying He talks to me audibly or anything, this is the way my thoughts progressed, and I just *know* in my spirit when He is "talking back", because those answering thoughts lead me to places I wouldn't wander into on my own accord. Good, stretching, higher places. Hope that makes sense. )

"I'm disappointed in ***** on account of this new found knowledge" Me, with a furrowed brow.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"I wouldn't have expected it of him."

"You wouldn't have expected.....?"

"This weakness."

"What weakness?"

"Well, you know... *smoking*."

"Why is that a weakness?"

"Huh? Because it's not good for you. And our bodies are Your temple and all that...."

"I see."

Uncomfortable moment of silence.

"What....? Am I not right?"

"Oh no, I'm not saying that. You're right."

"Well.... what then?"

Still no comment. I swallow determinedly and continue digging;

"It shows a lack of discipline. Lack of self control. Lack of wise stewardship of the body and all that"

"Uh-huh."

Silence. Quite a long silence really. And that's when the headlights came on and I saw that Mack Truck barrelling down on me.

"And you?"

"Me, Lord?"

"Yes you."

"What do you mean?"

"What about that coffee that is such a coveted part of your daily routine? Is that *good* for you? Are you self controlled enough to kick it even though you *know* it's not healthy? And the plastic (read margarine) you spread on all that cardboard (read refined flour products) you eat. You *know* so much of the store bought garbage you eat is downright bad for you.... do you quit? And how about the chemicals you have doused and spread on yourself and in your home and continue to do so out of mere "laziness" at times even after making the switch to "eco-green"? The Pepsi.... dare I mention the Pepsi?"

Silence accompanied by a deer in the headlights look from me.

"Wow. Lord. I never really *saw* it til now."

"M-hm. "

Shamefaced; "You're right, Lord."

"M-hm."

Contined, rather shocked silence as the weight of this continues to sink in.

"So.....?" (Him)

"So....." (me)

I get the funny feeling He's smiling

"I get it, Lord."

"I knew you would."

And the moral of the story is... never look down on your neighbour in his weakness unless you are ready to be confronted with your own and realize that indeed, we are all equal. We are all weak, but He is strong. Am I willing to give up the coffee and Pepsi? That is a painful question. One I need to face. But this week, I am going to be raw and real with myself about the tendency I have to be noticing specks when I need to be dealing with logs.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. James 5:16

Thankful 165 & Counting

Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness to Reap a Harvest of Happiness.

I'm thankful for

165 Rain showers (short but sweet, I'll take whatever I can get)

166 Happy Flowers (see blog header and this post's header, aren't they *lovely*???!!!)

167 Sunshine on flesh, it's medicinal I'm sure.

168 Health and 169 happiness

170 Fathers day, 171 fathers and 172 (usually) my children's father (I'm a little ripped at him this very moment to be perfectly honest, but this too shall pass.)

174 His Word. It's amazing.

175 Chick-flick nights with friends, food and iced caps (thanks Chris!!)

176 Picnics with precious picnickers followed by 177 naps on the lawn

178 Fresh fish, battered and fried

179 Luscious rhubarb, the first crop of the year.

So tell me, what are you thankful for??

Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17

Lavender Picnic

Winsome- charming in a childlike or simple way-attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.

This week we celebrated lilacs and rhubarb with a "Lavender Picnic". Beautiful lilacs and mouth watering rhubarb crisp. Summer!

Winsome LilacsThe Preparations
The Guests of HonorMustn't Forget This Winsome Fellow

The Centrepiece
The View

The Appetite

Faithful Fathers

To the One who designed me
gave me breath
life
continues to give me the gift of life
and nurture me with His gentle care
He is a faithful Father.

To the one who accepted me
gave me a home
hope
continues to give me the gift of family
and be "there" in your quiet, faithful way
you are a faithful father.

Tears
tears of joy
and thankfulness
of overwhelming love
and thankfulness
to Him,
to you

Who would have thought
one like me
unplanned by those who conceived me
wounded and aching, hopeless and longing
through the vulnerable years of childhood
would find her heart's desires being birthed
through the very pain that encompassed me
squeezing the breath from me
like a chrysalis
forcing me to fight to break free from the darkness
reach for the light
climb out from the chords of past sorrow and degradation
and find that indeed, life is beautiful
to discover my wings, and learn to fly.

Because that was His plan all along
and the journey was mapped out from the start
the depth of the pain and hopelessness past
enhancing the heights of joy and hope present.

And you, my earthly father by choice, and His design
(don't ask me how that works, but I believe in both)
helped me along the way
by being a stalwart example of His attributes
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
gentleness
and self control

All things I needed to learn.
All things He wanted me to learn
All things you have in part helped me to learn
you, are a faithful father.

I am blessed.
May my life
in some small way
be a blessing to both of you
my faithful fathers.

*Simply* Scrumptious

Haven't shared a "simple" or scrumptious recipe in a bit, maybe because I haven't cooked a single meal in the past 6 weeks? Yeah, tell me about it... I am a wee bit spoiled with this mother in law o' mine. Not sure what I'll do when she leaves next saturday! Anyway, this next one is new to me, and is a little trick of hers for using left over rice. Definitely simple (took all of 10 minutes start to finish!), and scrumptious, a keeper in my books!

Fried Rice Cakes.
leftover rice (we had 3 cups)
eggs (1 egg per 1 cup rice)
parmesan cheese (scant 1/4 cup per 1 cup rice)
salt to season
olive oil to fry (app 1/2 a cup, they need to be partially immersed but not covered)

Heat olive oil in a pan to a medium high heat
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl
Use a regular soup spoon to measure your rice mixture into the pan, (each cake should come out the diameter and depth of an oreo cookie)
Fry till crispy golden on each side
remove to paper towel

Enjoy!

May I Have Your Full Attention Please.

I need to tell you, I am *amazed* by the power of confession. Since I started baring my soul here in my little "I am Frank" posts, I have been made so conscious of behavior that I was previously numb to and have found myself highly motivated to improve. Not sure why, but I think there is something to be said for vulnerability and transparency. I feel like my habit was to shove many of these little "issues" into the back closet of my conscience, and bury them under musty piles of denial. Now that I start pulling them out into broad daylight I can truly examine them, and see how rusty, or moldy or in need of polishing they really are. Putting them on display means that I am that much more committed to dealing with them and not just shoving them back in the closet.

I have continued to work hard at not allowing myself to sit down at the computer when my family is around, and I am happy with the cut back. I have been careful to consciously speak words of praise and affection to my family in the last week and have seen how it has blessed them and me to have this positive current of verbal energy passing from me to them.

This week I really want to work at intentional and attentive (on my part) social time with both Prairie Guy and the chicklets. When school is in session and I am in routine mode, this is never a problem. But being in holiday mode, (and I admit, a complete slacker with any and all routine since Prairie Pumpkin arrived on the scene) well, let's just say this area has been sadly lacking. I am trying to be flexible, and find a "light" way to fit this intentional social time into our holiday atmosphere, and I think I have it pegged. I want to implement afternoon tea with the kids, and get back my "quiet time" with Prairie Guy when he gets home from work. The kids are all pumped up and on board with both ideas. Today The Poppet (6) carefully set out the china while Prairie Girl (8) made the tea and I cut up the watermelon for our 3:00 tea. We sat around the table and I let them tell all their silly stories and jokes and just was their captive audience. Wow. I realize I don't do that near enough! :( (Chris (Prairie Chris- welcome to the "new" Chris!), you are so great at this, I'm trying to learn from you!)

Then I prepared them in advance to make the mad dash for the second story when Daddy drove up. This gives *him* a moment when he gets in the door (he's just not the kind to find screams and running jumps to be an "inviting welcome". I know there are men who do, and I find that endearing, but I have learned my husband's needs and plan accordingly. They can scream and run and jump at him 10 minutes *after* he's come in the door and he's a total trooper about it) as well as give *us* a moment's peace to actually converse.

So today, as soon as his vehicle was spotted the kids went running off to play upstairs until he called them. I went to greet him at the door, take his things, give him a welcome kiss and then go and SIT DOWN next to him for 10 minutes to quietly interact. Wow. It was nice. Nicer than my old habit of visiting with him at the dining room table while folding the laundry. That was intentional but a sort of multi-tasking intentional. This was an intentional "I'm all ears, and eyes, and body contact" intentional.... much better. Going to try to make these two things intentional parts of our days in the upcoming week. I'm pumped about it!

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. James 5:16

Thankful 145 & Counting

Sowing Seeds of Thankfulness to Reap a Harvest of Happiness.

I'm thankful for;

145 a handy husband who fixes tables, builds fences, makes me furniture, and is building me a patio and wrap around porch.

146 lilacs in bloom that cloud my yard in nature's perfume

147 green grass, 148 green trees, 149 green garden shoots, 150 basically anything green

151 a healthy baby who must be gaining half a pound a day

152 movie dates, 153 chinese food, 154 tea parties and 155 picnics

156 dentists, 157 doctors and 158 health coverage

159 Prairie Guy's great work environment, staff and job

160 This home, 161 this farm, 162 this town, 163 this province, 164 this country.

Please join me in giving thanks to the Giver of Good Gifts today!

Every good thing and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon and stars, Who does not change like their shifting shadows. James 1:17

Weed Whacking

Beautiful black garden soil. I wasn't *supposed* to plant a garden this year. I mean, with a new baby to tend, two new horses to train, swimming lessons, 15 days of classes to finish, a summer to enjoy and of course the OLYMPICS to watch, I really thought I better forego the garden this year.... but no sooner did I see that freshly tilled soil and I knew I couldn't keep my hands off it. It was just crying out to be measured, staked, strung and seeded. *Sigh*.

Planting is so much fun. Beautiful, black, virgin soil. Pushing seeds and pre-soaked sprouts in row by row, the anticipation and promise of seeing them break the surface in coming days, reaching, pushing, stretching for the light. Ah, the miracles of nature.

I enjoy the planting, the watering, the thinning, the harvesting, the processing. One thing I have never enjoyed has been the weeding. Somehow *that* chore is always made fastidious by the heat on my head, the sweat in my eyes, the cramps in my back or buzzing insects that stick and sting. I always marveled at those who said they enjoyed the weeding process and found it relaxing and therapeutic (I guess that's how some people feel about me when I talk about laundry!). Til' last night that is.

So since I wasn't *supposed* to put in a garden, I am really trying to stay on top of it, so that I won't neglect my other duties by letting the garden chores build up on me. So I dutifully go out with my little stirrup weeder every evening and make a quick walk of the rows, giving a good digging shove at any new weed that is daring to show it's face. It happened to be a perfect evening. The sunset a crimson red, cool enough that there were no bugs, still enough that not a leaf quivered, it was soothingly calm and silent. SILENT. Not something I know much of these days with 8 people in our little farm house. And then I got it. The therapy of it. It felt GOOD to give a quick what-for to each weed as I came across it, and I felt a sense of accomplishment because every night it gets easier, every night there is just that much *less* work than the night before. More strolling among the rows, less hacking and bending and pulling.

How unlike last year, where I let those unassuming little weeds stick around too long, and before I knew it they had taken over and had me in tears of frustration as I tried to salvage the good while cutting out the bad. I was overwhelmed in short order and so depressed about the quantity of weeds that I actually *gave up* and hoed up 2 entire rows of carrots because there was just no way I was going to be able to deal with the weeds that had crowded them out as young plants and taken over.

And then I thought of the spiritual parallel. How much better my spiritual garden keeps when I daily take a walk through and deal with the weeds of worldliness that want to crowd in and take up space in my sacred plot. How much harder it is when I let those worldly seeds take root and hang around without nipping them in the bud. How quick they are to sprout and take over. How pesky their roots and how aggressive their reproduction! Lord, help me to see the weeds that crop up in the soil of my life. Help me to be conscious and alert to recognize them quickly and kill them off before they take root. May I keep this place holy and inviting for You, my Master Gardener.

One Man's Junk

Winsome- charming in a childlike or simple way-attractive - pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.

In order to appreciate the winsomeness of the following picture, you need to understand that;

1. We salvaged table in question from a truck headed to the landfill.
2. We stripped the legs in question of their BLACK paint (the top is an oval slab of solid marble)
3. We left the table in question in it's au naturelle state (unstained) for 3 years, first for lack of a location to carry out the rest of the project, then for lack of priority on the never ending to-do list.
4. We had the legs of the table in question GIVE OUT when we brought Prairie Pumpkin home from the hospital and set his car seat in the middle of said table and all four older prairie chicklets climbed up to admire him.
5. We Have been living with our PATIO table in the dining room for the past month while the table in question was in the shop getting THIS beautiful face lift.

So now you know why this picture does indeed classify as winsome (to me). And baby, nice job on matching the chairs! You're the best.

Sophie is adorably winsome even at her grumpiest, wouldn't you say?

And the rest of this post is devoted to Winsome Green... all I can say is;
"Ah............ it's ABOUT TIME!!!

Take Me Back

Been going through old pictures. Ah, reminiscing. Youth, young love, marriage, beginnings. How the years fly. So I thought I would share, but I also want to hear tidbits of *your* story. Whatever you are willing to share; how you met, fell in love, got engaged, were married, honeymooned (just *where* you honeymooned would be sufficient =) ). You get the idea. If you have a blog and want to post pics and back link to this post that would be dandy, if not, well, maybe you should *get* a blog (hint hint :P) but no, seriously, just post a comment and let's get to know each other a wee bit better.

I met Prairie Guy back in 1992 when I joined this OM ship; the Logos II.

We each spent 2 years participating in a discipleship training program that took us sailing around South and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.

and hung out in the same crowd during our leisure time (and yes that *is* me in that glorious water... dreamy, huh? It wasn't all sand and sunshine, I spent working hours cleaning public washrooms, and did you *see* that last picture of us sailing? Small ship, big waves, um, I think you get what I'm driving at.)

After one year, Prairie Guy's two years were up and he went home to Italy and we kept in vague contact, he was pursuing dreams of becoming a church planter and I was dutifully praying for God to open ministry doors and bring him a suitable wife (an italian one that is). When all of a sudden one day I get a letter that enthusiastically informed me he had found the woman he wanted to marry. Imagine my surprise to find out it was.... me. Um. Not exactly what I had been anticipating. But after the shock wore off, there was no doubt in my mind there was no man on earth I would rather spend the rest of my life with.

I spent another year on the ship, and then in 1994 we were engaged in Italy where I made a stopover on my way home. This is the picture from our engagement announcement, real waterfall, cool huh?

We were married in 1996, in the south of Italy (I spent '95 working for the Billy Graham Crusade and there was no way I could manage an office and plan a wedding at the same time, so the wedding waited til' the crusade was done.) It was the wedding of my dreams at an Italian Villa in the rolling hills above the Adriatic in the end of May when the roses were in full bloom. It was perfect in every way.











We honeymooned in Sardegna (the italian version of Corsica) and it is still my all time favourite location on earth.