Solitude, Beauty, and Creature Comforts

A quiet house

A walk in the rain

Pumpkins on an old stone wall

Bright leaves on wet lawns

A friendly cat

Maple scented candles

A bowl of hot soup

A soft couch

The newest Beatrix Potter mystery

Oh, the Wonder

Maker of the sun,

He is made under the sun.

In the Father He remains,

from His mother He goes forth.

Creator of heaven and earth,

He was born on earth under heaven.

Unspeakably wise,

He is wisely speechless.

Filling the world,

He lies in a manger.

Ruler of the stars,

He nurses at His mother's bosom.

He is both great in the nature of God,

and small in the form of a servant.

~ Augustine ~

Happy Sweet Sixteenth!

Anniversary, that is. We're celebrating our sixteenth today. That's it?!!! Seems like we've always been together as one. Time flies when you're having fun, right? And yes, it has been sweet, and I am eternally grateful to our Father for His grace in allowing me a husband I do not deserve.



Here are sixteen things I love about Dwayne, not in any particular order, and there are way more than this, but since it's our sixteenth, there is one for each year.



1. He loves the Lord and His Holy Word.
2. He loves me unconditionally.
3. He loves our children the same.
4. He honors his parents (and mine, too).
5. He is the opposite of me……..patient and easy going!
6. He overlooks my numerous faults on a daily basis.
7. He’s smart and is always learning.
8. He continually seeks the truth and strives to live by it.
9. He’s a good boss to his employees.
10. He’s honest and honorable in business affairs and in personal life.
11. He’s strong and handsome.
12. He likes the same things I do…..books, antiques, good music.
13. He’s a skilled craftsman and musician.
14. He unselfishly lets me drive when we go out together.
15. He works hard to provide for us without ever complaining.
16. He’s fun to play with.





And just a personal note to Dwayne...........

In Which the Menagerie Expands

A few weeks ago I heard an insistent mewing at our porch door. Wondering how our house cat had gotten out, I quickly opened it asking in a puzzled tone, "Calvin, what are you doing out here?"

Much to my surprise, a tiny face looked up at me and inquired, "May I come in?" To which I replied, "Why certainly, my dear. What's one more mouth to feed?" Well, it was dark and rainy and she was so scrawny looking. I thought it was a neutered male until I donned my reading glasses and took a closer look. Oops. Sorry about that. Or should I say, "Uh oh."

Meet Lucy

We hung some posters on telephone poles and in convenience stores, the result of which was a rash of crank calls from local boys (bored with their video games, no doubt) stuttering, "Uh...we found your cat. Nyuk nyuk." Hm. Guess they need extra help in reading comprehension as the posters said, "Found kitten."

Looks like she may have been abandoned. Too bad. She's a sweet kitty, and after the initial "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?!!" by Calvin, they seem to have grown accustomed to one another to point of even sleeping together.

The downside is that Calvin has replaced us as his playmates with Lucy. No more hide and seek. No more hiding under the coffee table and pouncing on us as we enter the room. No more games of "BOO!" No more lying on the landing and smacking us in the head as we go down the stairs. Anna's not happy about that but I don't think we are quite ready to adopt a pony or puppy for her just yet. I'm glad they get along so well. Calvin is actually affectionate with her.

Just love that long-suffering look on her face. "What I put up with for room and board." A couple minutes later she gave him a good smack across the puss and knocked him onto the floor.

We brought her to the vet who gave her a clean bill of health. She is very small for her age which he thinks may be around two years or a bit less. Until he checked her teeth, he thought - as did we - that she was about six months old. I've been feeding her several times a day to build her up since she's so thin, and it looks like she's gaining weight, but........is it from an increase in calories, or.......what do you think? Is she - ahem - shall we say, with kitten?

Signs of Spring

Baseball..........





Bugs...............




Blooms............




Butterflies......




Birds...............



Beaux.............

Beauty............

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

You know you're a homeschooler when........

............you dream you're having an adventure with characters from a book you read!

Can you guess who?

PIPPI LONGSTOCKING!!!

Good Intentions

I had them.

It is National Poetry Month. I love poetry. I fully intended to post one each and every day.

Then, then, then............

Then I came down with the mother of all colds.

Then Dwayne came down with a nasty infection.

Then our ancient septic system declared itself sick and tired.

All this on top of various and sundry cares, large and small, that have claimed our attention in the past few months. Financial difficulties. Job stresses. Health problems.


This is not to complain, for I know that it is the Lord's will concerning us at this time, and I pray that he will be glorified in it, that we will be strengthened and become more conformed to the image of Christ, and that he will use us to comfort and encourage others. I know many people who are in the midst of one trial or another, all different but equally distressful to those involved.


Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart, for he has overcome the world. I do take heart in those words. I also remember that he was able to look beyond the agonies that he endured on the cross to the joys which lay ahead.


Are we not blessed? I thank God: For Jesus Christ, for my salvation, for my marriage, my husband, and my children, for my family and friends, for the place we worship, for the unity of the body, for my life. For it is in him that I live and move and have my being. He is the reason for my existence. What is my purpose? To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.


There is great joy and peace to be gained in sharing our burdens with one another. I want to encourage anyone reading my blog to place what is on their hearts here so that we can pray for each other and praise the Lord together. Our bodies may decay and grow feeble but we can still exalt his name.

Have you surrendered all to Him? Every aspect of who you are? Every belonging? Every "thing" to which you cling? Not just the things you hold near and dear to your heart......but your pain and sorrow and sufferings as well?

Each morning after we read Scripture and have a devotion, Anna Rose and I recite whatever verses we are memorizing, and then sing a hymn. One we have recently learned is called Take My Life, and Let it Be. Its lyrics were written many years ago by a young girl named Frances Ridley Havergaal whose heart burned with the desire to be used by God to reach others for his kingdom:


Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.


Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for thee.


Take my voice, and let me sing, always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.


Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use ev'ry pow'r as Thou shall choose,
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shall choose.


Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.


Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take my self, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.



This is not an eloquent post, no Scripture references, just what is on my mind and heart today. I hope to encourage others by a reminder that even though circumstances may be difficult right now (and difficult may be the understatement of the year) for you, and it may seem that the Lord is distant, remember that he is forever the same, his Word never changes, his promises are unfailing. Pray. Pray. Pray. Read his Word, even if it is just the Psalms. Especially the Psalms. Praise his name. Pray some more. Trust. Be diligent. Be faithful. Be still and wait upon him.