Who writes this stuff?

My photo
I try to keep my priorities in order: Jesus, my Andy, our children, everything else. I homeschool our boys, love to read almost all written words and have been challenged by the military life for 18 years. Right now my faulty human body is demanding a lot of attention. One day at a time, learning as much as possible every day and remembering to look for JOY when other things threaten to overwhelm.

My Blog Title Verse

"For the Lord gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
The Message translation puts it this way "God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding."


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Trust

 Santa came early here. We are sort of borrowing from the Jewish tradition and celebration the 7 nights of Christmas - culminating with one big morning on the 25th. It makes for a bit of confusion, but being able to have presents under our own tree here, as well as be with family in two different places makes the confusion a small inconvenience.

 On the first night of Christmas Santa brought... Legos, of course. This santa shops all year and loves Target's mark downs. Both of these were in storage in GA the entire time we were in MO, but getting them half price was worth it!


But what is this? 
Why, sandpaper, of course! To go with their very own sanders. 
Isn't there a law somewhere, (perhaps the child labor law) about giving things like this to your children?! Just kidding! 
Now they are equipped with their own face masks, goggles, sandpaper and sanders. Ready to work on the Fairlane with Daddy. Yeah!! 

 Despite everything, Zion insists on believing in Santa. His faith in something bigger, something that can't be explained - it is inspiring. I suppose what it all boils down to is that he trusts that he will have something to be happy about. At his age, Cars, Legos and Schleich figures are about all it takes to create happiness. But he trusts those will be provided for him. Even if they aren't fancy or expensive. 

 This morning I was reading about Trust. I started in Romans 9, where a devotional I was reading was talking about our inability to earn our salvation. Thus, we just have to trust Jesus for his redemption. And since we already have no choice but to trust Him for the most profound thing in our lives, truly, can we not trust Him more with the little things?

 Zion memorized Proverbs 3:5-6 while we were in MO. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

 Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, "Though the fig tree may not blossom... and the fields yield no food. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Yet, you say. Yet... still I will rejoice. Not just trust, rejoice. Job says, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (13:15) Fig tree not blossoming... bummer. Fields yielding no food... that starting to hurt. SLAYING! That's getting serious. "Yet will I trust in Him."

 I suppose, that like Zion, we will have to boil it down to something simple. I think 1 Peter 5:7 sounds good. "Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

 That about sums it up.

 Trust isn't always easy, especially when there are so many amazing things, new ones springing up every moment, to worry about. I guess that is why we have to choose to trust, and "lean not on our own understanding."

Blessings, 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Antiques

Andy and I both bought Antiques today.

My new friend Kirsten and I escaped for a few hours this afternoon. A small mommy escape, just girl time. There are some adorable antique, boutique, and even thrift stores in the small town just 20 minutes north of us. We shopped, ate fried pickles, and talked each other's ears off.

 I found these amazing turtle bookends. Heavy brass. Early 1930's. Who knows what they say though.... Anyone want to interpret the Korean for me?
 Spur of the moment purchase.
$20

Andy has been talking about his purchase for years. And years. Perhaps his entire lifetime. I have always said "someday". It seems that this is the year of "someday". (If you recall, the dog was a "someday" thing too, and sure enough just a few weeks ago she joined the family)
 Anyway, Andy bought himself an antique today too.

100 x $20

Andy says that this picture is unfair. We actually have a lot more parts then shown here. They are just not currently on the vehicle. In case you can't tell, it doesn't even have wheels. Or an axle. They all exist. It's just that none of them are actually attached to it. And lots of the parts are not precisely in working order. Or at all in working order. For instance, the motor. 
 I had agreed to the project. He had brought home several rubbermaid containers of "extra parts" a few days ago, partially filling the garage, and getting me use to the idea. But today when the trailer with that thing backed up into my garage, well, I almost didn't take it well. 
 I have had time to cool off a bit since then, or perhaps a better term would be "warm up". I have looked at some of the fun parts: the cool rear windows that roll down at an angle, the round tail lights that are just classy and the fender skirts that "dress it up" a little. In a year or two when everything is sanded, painted, rebuilt and upholstered... she will be beautiful. Something like this - 

1963 Ford Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe - 
Probably not red for us... but since he changes his mind every two seconds, we'll just see when the time comes. It's still a looooong way from needing painted! 

 Antiques. 

 I really want something pretty to display my depression glass in. An antique glass front cabinet. However....

 I think I'll stick with a finished project. It will be awhile until Andy is available to help with any woodworking around here! 

Blessings, 
 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My baby is 6

My baby is turning 6 today. My, how time flies. The hard drive that has baby pictures is still packed, but here are a few pictures from old blogs. I wasn't a camera person yet, so you will have to excuse the fuzziness.
 I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. You are free to skip it, but he sure is cute, so I don't know how you can resist!
 My little pirate

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His 3rd birthday

This story about him makes me cry every time, but is just so beautiful.

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A backyard builder








He just keeps growing up. But he is growing into an amazing little man. 
I am so very proud to call him mine. 

Happy Birthday Zion!!

Blessings, 


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Who's this?

I was on the phone with my friend Amanda this afternoon. With the Thanksgiving travels, then trying to settle back into school (we both homeschool) we hadn't talked in almost two weeks.
 She called me up to ask a quick question about yeast, since I'm "the one who makes bread". (Someone please remind me of that more often - maybe I will actually get around to making it again soon!)
 Anyway, as we were chatting about bread, and rising possibilities, I heard a call for help. As I ran down the stairs to discover the source of the anguish...

 It was just that the dog had escaped.

 Yes, the dog.


 I think that Amanda nearly fell over laughing.

 I have a dog.

 Me.

 A big dog. A young, bouncy, slobbery, big dog.

 And I absolutely adore her.

 You see, I am not really a pet person. I like our frogs, because they are nicely contained. The crickets they require for their breakfast, lunch and dinner are not much fun. But they are (usually) contained also. Somehow bigger pets have always just seemed unnecessary. I had children to fill my quota of slobber and hyperactivity. I didn't mind changing their diapers when they were little, and am still prepared to clean mud and throw-up as needed. But animals are another story all together.

 Which is why Amanda nearly laughed her head off. Because she knows me well.

 But Daisy seems to fit right in. She is already crate trained, sleeping there, and staying there when we go shopping, etc.  She encourages us to get out of the house more. Even though it is cold she still needs her daily walk. She is working on Canaan's pitching arm, as he practices throwing tennis balls for her to fetch.  She sits quietly at our feet while we work on school, just content to be close. She is warm, so warm, and my cold blooded self appreciates her as an extra blanket cuddled up against me on the living room floor.

 We have only had her since late Sat. afternoon, but already she has become part of the family.

 Who knew?

 Certainly not me!

 My broom, mop and vacuum are going to get more exercise then they use to. Although I sweep up after every meal, I use to be a vacuum once a week type of girl... I don't think dog hair is going to agree with that. Sigh. But in all honesty, I don't think she actually sheds that much more then I do. And she has a far greater percentage of her body covered in hair. So, my super long curly hair and her tiny short and straight hair will compete for room in the vacuum bag. They can co-exist quite peacefully.

 And our Daisy? She will be teaching us something new every day. (for example, getting a good picture of a furry baby is just as hard as a good shot of a toddler)
Mommy, the flash is in my eyes!

Enjoy your family, in whatever shapes and sizes they come in!


Blessings, 

Monday, November 21, 2011

Find a penny, pick it up...

 I grew up listening to, and now repeating for my own children, the old sayings. "Look before you leap." "A penny saved is a penny earned."
 It seems I have either an old saying or a Bible verse that springs to mind in almost any situation. Of course, words are sort of my thing.

 The one that has been the theme around here lately is that we have been "nickel and dimed" to death. Of course, that isn't exactly how the saying goes. I think it originates from the idea of getting a good deal on a big purchase, then all of the little details that are charged in relation to it - a nickel here, a dime here - adding up. Andy has been muttering under his breath about nickels and dimes for months now.

 The move to MO, and then this one immediately following, were both on a really well planned budget. We took very little with us to Missouri so we could take a little trailer; only had one car while we were there, saving on gas; rented a basic little duplex. But... because we brought so little with us, we kept finding things, little things, that we needed. $5 here, $10 there. (actual nickels and dimes are completely out of the picture now people!)

 Same goes this time. We had amazing volunteer labor, a great deal on a truck, and gas even took a couple cent dip the weekend we moved.
 But on the other side of things- My mom gave us one set of curtains, but I had to have a second with these completely different windows. Plus curtain rods. And a new rug for the back door. And I have no idea what happened to the trashcan for the boy's bathroom... And....

 Nickel and Dimed.

 I look at the house and see how many things there are still unfinished. How many things I have to do until it looks "right". Then again, I suppose the little details really don't matter. Red curtains on one window and blue on another - hey, they are all the way across the room from each other, right? After all,

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

 I will continue to "look at the world through rose colored glasses" and hope to always see a "glass half full" - even if there are nickels and dimes strewn around making a mess everywhere!

Blessings, 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thanksgiving, a week early

We're here! Our caravan of vehicles were loaded, driven, unloaded and returned to their proper locations. The bulk of the boxes have been unpacked and their contents put away. School books have re-emerged from banishment, much to the chagrin of two little boys.

 This afternoon Andy and I were working on one of those last projects. One that makes it really feel like home, but truly, truly is not fun.

 Hanging pictures.

 I don't know. Maybe some people enjoy hanging pictures. But I can never decide what goes where; which color frame matches the other decor, what size is needed to fill a certain wall.

 Then there is the actual hanging. Argh!

 I must say though that moving, and hanging, and re-hanging pictures has been fabulous for our marriage.

 Not so much right at the beginning.

 But I think we have gotten the hang of it. Maybe.

 Those old rules about "measure twice, cut once"... it is the same for "hammer once". We went thought a lot of putty in our first few houses. We have gotten better about discussing every picture first.

 At one of our first houses he hung all the pictures, and they were so high up that I could barely see them. There was some disagreement about that. The next house he was still deployed when we moved in, so my mom and I did most of the decorating before he even came home. There was some disagreement about that too.

 Today we took it one picture at a time, enjoyed a rainy afternoon, and measured everything at least twice.

 Until the measuring tape broke in half. Literally.

 We decided it was time to take a break after that!


 I read somewhere recently, "What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you remembered to thank God for today."

 Thankfulness has been on my mind a good bit lately. As we unpacked and I opened boxes of things I had not seen in a year, in this beautiful house that I never could have imagined- I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for. Loud, rambunctious boys that run up and down the stairs every day. Food, that I love to make, in the amazing array we have available to us here in America, and that fits beautifully into the pantry here. My beautiful addiction who gets up at 5 every morning to go to PT, and the fact that he can. The proximity of a fully stocked and free to use pharmacy. Internet access, which I took for granted before Missouri. People to love, and be loved in return.

 Thanksgiving is coming, and most of our nation will spend the day stuffing themselves, watching the parade, and preparing for a day of shopping early the next morning.

 But hopefully the name of the holiday will stand out just a little and remind people why we take a rest on that day.

 To THANK God for their amazing blessings.

 Everyone has them.

 Different then mine. That is what makes them their blessings. But blessings none the less.

 Start practicing now. Thank Him tonight too.

Blessings to you, 

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Scheduling

 I have spent entirely too much of the last few days in a whirlwind of stress. I have managed to get a lot accomplished, I think. But truthfully, I probably would have gotten more accomplished if I had calmed down a little.

 It has been a long time since we have had to move in from a long distance location. I never thought I would say it, but the people in MO were so much easier to work with! When we moved in they had the water and electricity already running and just asked that we get it transferred to our name within the first 2-3 days.
 In Fayetteville the house has no electricity or water at all, and before we can get the keys we are required to provide them with an electric "account number". Like I would want to move in without electricity?!

 So, as much as I hate the phone, I have had to actually break down and use it several times. Most of the prep work could be done online, but the actual setting up of an account required speaking to a person.

 I am so very loquacious on here, and in "real" life - why do I struggle so much with the phone? Sigh.

 Words are such an important part of my life. I would say that I struggle with the phone because I cannot see the person I am talking to - but I certainly can't see whomever is reading my blog. It is open to the entire world, if the entire world happens to stumble upon it. Maybe it is because the words on the phone seem so unfeeling. Face to face with someone you can make eye contact, apologize if you say something that is taken the wrong way, interact with hand gestures, and even the tone of voice (which is vitally important in a conversation) is so much easier to hear in a "real life" conversation.

 Here, in the big wide world of blogging I have a chance to think my words over before I hit "post". I tend to have a lot to say, so I prefer to re-read them before I share them with eyes that are not my own.  As with the phone, tone of voice, hand gestures and eye contact are impossible - but at the same time, I have so much room for italics, quote marks, Exclamations, etc. Similar to "real life", it doesn't take long to get to know someone, and to understand their way of talking, their way of typing, their style of communicating.

 So, talking and blogging I can handle. But phones still scare me! How sad is that?

 But... Supposedly all is well and we will have water, sewer, electric and keys (Thanks Kelly!) when we get there on Saturday. And a truck, with a matched bid from several companies (go me!) will be ready to pick up on Friday afternoon.

 In other, very happy news, God threw in a little bonus for me. We already had friends from college that are stationed at Bragg. Fabulous treat to move somewhere and already know someone. We also found out that a friend of the family, recently returned from a tour in Germany, is at Bragg right now. But it just keeps getting better!
 Anyone who is friends with me on Facebook knows that I am not really a FB girl. I tend to be a once a weeker. But with Andy's first jump I really wanted to get the prayer request out there. So I posted. And what should God provide? Another military friend stationed at Ft. Bragg! We were neighbors about 4 years ago when we moved to Moody AFB, but they left soon after we arrived. Now we are both Army instead of AF, and about to be living in the same town. We haven't really talked in 3 years, but the link of FB was there to reconnect us. Small, small world! I have never been a huge fan, but today I am thankful for Facebook.

 Lastly, words about my sweet addiction.

 Andy is supposed to be finishing up his last jump right about now. He had a night jump, in full gear, tonight. I hate the jumps with gear because it is so heavy, but he is use to lugging around lots of equipment. What is the difference? Lugging it around or falling out of the sky with it?

 Tomorrow he out processes. Friday he gets his wings then skedaddles, hoping to get up here and the first loading done that night.

 Saturday we load the rest of the truck and leave town, doing our best to make it all the way "home" that night.

 Sunday is unload, and our fabulous family of volunteers who are coming to help unload head back to their regular life.

 Truly, Andy and I both have amazing parents. Amazing! Dropping everything to drive up for the weekend, just to help us out. I think we might be spoiled.

 But don't tell them that. Shhhh

 I hope your life is smoother, calmer, and just as full of blessings!

Friday, October 28, 2011

The names bite back

 I wrote recently about names, titles, the things that define us. Things that I love. Names that I am so glad to have as part of my life, as the definition of who I am.

 But I left some out.

 Ones that I can't really say that I am happy about.

 And those decided to come back and remind me of their presence with a passionate fury.

 Right before we left Missouri I stumbled upon a blog called "Texting my Pancreas". As someone who has been diabetic for almost 20 years now, I enjoyed the humor she was able to find in living with the day to day annoyances of the technology connected to diabetes. Trust me, I am grateful for the technology. It certainly makes my life easier - but at the same time, it is a lot to keep track of too! The whole theme behind the title, someone thinking that her insulin pump was a phone and that she was texting during dinner - that is my life.

 That was one name I left off the list. It stays constant, and usually under control. Diabetes comes with ups and downs. Low blood sugars make me dizzy, woozy and often silly. High blood sugars make me lethargic, depressed and often grumpy.

However, after 20 years, I like to think I am pretty good at being diabetic.

 But epileptic, that is still new.

 I have a hard time even claiming that name, that title. Three years- They started in July 2008 and that first year was filled with "auras" and an unsure diagnosis. The second year was off with a bang, with a full scale grande mal seizure just days after Andy returned from Afghanistan, and still unsure of an exact diagnosis. This third year I had finally adjusted to meds, felt comfortable driving short distances again and wasn't as exhausted all the time.

 But last week my body decided to throw that all out the window.

 My official diagnosis is "localized partial seizures". I am on enough medicine that my body continues to function most of the time even when a partial seizure occurs. I sometimes "blank out" for 2-3 seconds, but most of the time no one but those who love me most would even notice.

 But for some reason last week my brain got overwhelmed and decided that my medicine wasn't enough anymore. I had several "blank outs" on Tuesday, longer then usual - more like 10-12 seconds. Which doesn't sound like much, but it makes you afraid to drive. Because of the meds I can function during an "aura", but it hurts like crazy. It is so much easier to close my eyes!

 On Wednesday though something more then usual happened. Whatever misfired in there made my memory go away for several hours. And that is terrifying.

 Terrifying.

 I knew my parents, sisters, children and oh, how I clung to the thought of Andy. And somehow, two of my best friends stayed real. But everything, and everyone, else was gone. I was asking my mom to tell me about the birth of my children, because I couldn't remember. I could see a picture of my wedding on the wall in my parent's living room - but I couldn't remember my wedding. Even the two friends that I could remember, I made mom tell me how I knew them, how I met them, why they were my best friends. I couldn't remember why, I just knew that they were.

 My dad put the boys to bed for me, and I laid on my mom's lap and cried. Little by little my world came back to me. I sat in bed later that night and looked at pictures, absorbing as many faces as I could. People that I truly could not find only a few hours earlier. People that I LOVE.

 Terrifying. I cannot say that enough.

  On thursday morning I was still a little foggy, but functioning. We called the Neurologist I used to see when I lived here and he called in a new drug for me.

 Mom dropped everything for the weekend and took me to Columbus so I could see Andy at Airborne school. I knew that it was all just a misfire in my brain. I had talked to him on the phone, heard his voice, made sure he was real. He even took the time to talk about stupid college memories, when all he really wanted to do was complain about jumping out of towers.

 But I really needed to see him. I am slightly addicted...

 So here I am, a refried brain, new meds once again, and getting ready to move in just one week.

 Sigh.

 Epileptic is one of my titles, a name that belongs to me, and I will remember that next time I describe myself. It doesn't have to be negative. It doesn't have to drag me down. (although with the first new medicine the doc gave me last week everything sent me into a fit of crying... so it definitely "dragged me down"! Drug #2 seems to be working better) In fact, I will try, try, to remember to praise Him for it.

"Your love, oh Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the great deep. Oh Lord, you preserve both man and beast." Psalm 36:5-6

 I am who I am. And that is a lot to keep track of! Praise God for technology, for family, for my beautiful addiction who loves me back, and most of all that I can trust HIM to take me where I am supposed to be. Memories are beautiful. I am so thankful for them. But what I look for, more importantly, are the ones to come. Those old, overused saying are around for a good reason... because they mean something. So I will say with feeling, "Tomorrow is a gift". I will open it with joy, live it with faith, and close it with the hope of another to come.

 That is all I can ask for.

 "Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

 Please, remember to appreciate every memory, and every moment that is becoming a memory for later.

 Blessings, 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

It's a small, small world after all

 My sister Emilee is addicted to Pinterest. She recently decided that she should introduce me, and try to make me addicted too.

 It may be working... but that isn't the point of this discussion.

 What struck me while roaming around the amazing world of Pinterest is how very, very small the world is now that we are all connected through the internet.

 You see, on Pinterest you create "boards" where you "pin" things that interest you - things that you want to remember. One of the boards I created was, surprise, "green living". When I searched Pinterest for green living ideas I stumbled upon MYSELF.

  I cannot express how extremely weird that was.

 Someone had read my blog about homemade bodywash, pinned it, and it had passed through the Pinternet world.

 I wondered why I had gotten two comments on it lately!

 In some ways it made me want to remove my children's names from my blog and quit all discussions about where we live. I understand now why my sister quit blogging when she had her daughter! But we are out there already, and I cannot quit now. Some moments the words get stuck, but it is impossible to keep them contained completely. I need to write. So we stay...

 Right now - these pictures from a few days before we left Missouri have been begging to come out and play.

This dew covered spiderweb is what started the adventure.



This field of beauty in the midst of construction was only one street over - just a direction we had never ventured.

Hard at work

Enjoying the sunshine

And sharing nicely, at peace with the world around them. 


We weren't thrilled to be in MO. The 4 months there were a stressful, crazy, random. But, we were together, learning, and, I hope, remembering to enjoy the beauty around us. 

 Blessings, 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Number 32 in picture format!

 I did some rearranging yesterday and tonight, here in blog land. I really should be rearranging "real" stuff here at my parent's house, packing up to move to Ft. Bragg. But Andy is gone and the bed is half empty - so I play on the internet instead.

 I feel like Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, but what I shall say is - "let me sum up."

 Andy graduated CBOLC on tuesday and we left Missouri ASAP. Andy drove the 12 hours to my parent's in Georgia and we fell into bed exhausted around 2am.
 The next morning we unloaded the trailer full of our stuff, met some family at the mall for lunch and left the boys with my sister.
 Amazingly, we (barely) beat the traffic out of Atlanta and made it to Ft. Gordon, finally getting to meet our new niece, Britton!


 After seeing sweet Ani up and off to school on Thursday we headed toward Fayetteville, NC and the wonderful Ft. Bragg.

 And the search began.

 We had been looking at houses online for days, but you really can't tell what you are looking at until you see it in person. You have to see the neighborhood, the carpet, the backyard before you know if it really what they are trying to present to you. To "sell" to you, even as a rental.

 We got to know the city fairly quickly, and figured out where we didn't want to live!

On a completely unrelated note: Thursday was the 12th anniversary of our first date, so we cancelled the quest at a decent hour and had a date. Slightly different then our first one, (since our first date had peanut butter sandwiches and this one included a hot tub) but I have no complaints! It was a fabulous break in a haphazard week full of driving and searching for a house.

 Twelve years!

 Friday was the day. Beginning bright and early, we were determined to find a house.

 And determination paid off. We went from one side of Fayetteville to the other, making sure we had explored every option. But we found it!

 When Andy finishes Airborne school in 3 weeks we will have somewhere to live.

 Now I just have to figure out how to get everything from here to there. Fun, fun!

Blessings, 

Monday, October 03, 2011

32

In the middle of cleaning the walls and wiping out the cabinets I had to stop for a minute and breathe. Where better to take a break then the place I can best be myself?

 Obviously, being in the middle of a move, I have been thinking about moving. I move a lot. A LOT. Always have.

 I almost can't imagine life without it.

 The new house, new rooms, new places to put my furniture - it is almost as if everything is new again.

 The new stores, new foods, new backroads and twisty discoveries of nature - an adventure waiting to happen.

 The new friends to form lifelong bonds with - as long as the old ones don't forget me, well I am always happy to make more!

 The new gathering of followers, lovers, of, Jesus to join with - that is sometimes harder to find, and slightly frustrating. But eventually He leads us where we are supposed to be.

 I have been moving my whole life. I exaggerate not.

 When my parents brought me home from the hospital they lived in married student housing at college. Not approved for children. Within weeks they moved. Dad finished college: moved. If you count those two, I was moving into my 6th location before I was 6.

 If you count dorm rooms in college, this house we are leaving is my 31st place to live. Which means we are headed into number 32.

 I am 32.

 And that is only counting houses. That doesn't count separate moves. I have gone back to my parents more times then I want to count!

 No wonder I am good at it!

 I don't think I would take the time to clean out the inside of my cabinets without the incentive of a move. I am pretty sure I wouldn't clean the doorknobs nearly as often as I end up doing it. And my microwaves and refrigerators hardly have a chance to get dirty.

 Moving is good for me. Perfect for me. Moving sort of defines me.

 And I wouldn't change my life for anything.

 But after this 4 month stint, I am unbelievably ready for a real bed!

 Blessings, 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

What's in a name?

We have been talking about names around here lately.

 Andy's class has some foreign students attending, and one of them, I think it is the Egyptian, has a very long, complicated name. You see, he has his own name, his father's, grandfather's and great-grandfather's - all in a row. That is a lot to keep up with!


 Canaan already carries his father's name in the middle. 

Zion carries a piece of my family history. 


 and that last name, the "family name", there is such a bond in that. 

 I will always, and forever, be one of the Binkley girls. Nothing can change my roots. My bond with my sisters and amazing parents. To belong to both my father and my mother's family tree, and the amazing history that has been followed back so far and has stories that are thrilling to recall- I am honored.

But...

 Now I am also so very glad to be a Freeman. To be claimed, and accepted into the family of my true love. I eagerly listen to the stories of their history, and make sure they are passed to our children.

 The stories of the history of our names.

 But what about the names of the present?

 I know the legal names I carry; the one that was given to me, just for me (Bethany); the one to carry on the past (Ruth, for my grandmother); and the one I acquired when I promised my future to my best friend (Freeman).

 But there are other's out there too.

 Wife. Mom. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Teacher. Writer, when time allows.

 Am I remembering to leave a spot for my most important name?

 Child of the King! Redeemed, called to praise, and eager to shine His glory.

 So many names. It's almost overwhelming if I thinking about it too much. Which one needs my attention most right now? Which name am I responding to at this moment in time? But if I pause and remember for just a minute-

 The names fit together so well to become,

just one me. 

Blessings,  

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Into the wilds

 Last week we decided to explore a little more of our backyard.
 Down at the bottom of the hill, just past where Canaan had his adventure on the bike, is a dry creek bed. Perfect for exploring.
Almost immediately we found interesting things.

  Paw prints. Dog, I am pretty sure.
 Raccoon perhaps?
An humongous bug.
 I thought Canaan had found something educational. A bug to study. A print to photograph. A leaf to ask about. 
 Nope. 
He found man made trash, abandoned and covered in mud. 
However, it was "fascinating to an 8 year old" trash.
 In the meantime, Zion had meandered his way down the creek bed, exploring on his own. 

 Until he discovered our first roadblock. 

 Over...
 Under...
through every obstacle that comes our way! 
Onward we go...
Around a corner, and suddenly, gasp!
 What in the world? It is a dead... something. I never did figure out what it was. It was pretty much just fur. Very little else was left. Ewww, but kinda cool too.
 After that I was ready to take pictures of pretty things.

These little bits of color, trying to hold on to the last piece of summer. 

This is what Zion thought of the beautiful yellow flowers.

I took a ridiculous amount of pictures along the way.
 Canaan enjoying his new "toy",
 Zion trying to research what sort of tracks we were discovering,
 and the generous sharing of the rolypoly bug from one brother...
to another.
 I, literally, ran into this. Well, actually backed into it, but still...
 Not Cool!
 I haven't gotten around to researching it yet. 
Anyone want to tell me what it is, so I don't have to go to the trouble?
I think this moss and fungus covered log is my favorite picture of the day. It shows such a beautiful expression of life, growing even in death. It is a beautiful, colorful reminder that nothing is wasted in the purity of nature, the way God intended it. 
 On the way back the boys decided to have a picture taken with "their" animal. 
And we end at the beginning. Over, and under once again - where it leads to this time, who knows?

 On a closing note: Today I asked Canaan to write 5 sentences about our expedition into the woods. He decided to write a multiple choice questionnaire for my blog. Here it is, in it's original spelling. (which is atrocious)

I found a hammer. Win we got home i? 1) i found it 2) i ate it, 3) i clingd it
 (The answer is 3, cleaned it)

We had green thigs on us. Wat woor the green thigs? A: Leefs, B: grubas, C ants
(the answer is A, and they were those little green sticker things that feel like velcro)

We found a hous. Wat culre was it? A: Broun and Green B: Green C: cat
(According to him the answer is A. I don't remember. After about 1/4 mile we left "the wilds" and reached a subdivision. We could see the back of a house up the hill and he says it was green and brown)

I love his attempt at humor. Every question has a comedic choice. Mostly I love that this was his idea. A simple writing assignment turned into a desire to be "published".
 My little ham! 
I hope you are having some adventures in the wild, even if it is just the wild of your backyard. 

Blessings,