WWU--Every Spiritual Blessing

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home Life

This week, Joseph, poor thing, has had a sore throat and cough.  He is fine other than that, and has done his daily activities as usual.  But he did spend one entire day in his pajamas!

Jacob, Danny, and Thomas are working hard at their schooling.  Jacob's and Danny's Rhetoric class at the local community college is going well, and they are currently working on another speech.  This one is a little trickier, since it is about gender roles and the definition of a family, plus they have to work within the constraints of the essays given in their textbook.  We're bathing this issue in prayer, and the Lord will be faithful.


My Kitchen and Garden

The garden has finally petered out.  I thank the Lord for His bountiful harvest for our family, using just three raised bed garden boxes.  I still have tomatoes in bowls all over my kitchen, and though I'd like to space them out as far as eating them goes, I know they need to be eaten once they turn red or I'll have rotten tomatoes!  We're enjoying them while they last.

Here are the peppers we picked off my pepper plants.

Project Desk

I haven't been crafty lately, but I have accomplished some cleaning projects!  My friend Helen and I called each other (for accountability) on Tuesday and spent the entire afternoon cleaning the first floors of our respective homes.  I started in the dining room, and ended up there the entire three hours!  It is amazing to me that I had to spend that much time in that room, since it is one of the cleanest rooms on the first floor.  But, it contained its clutter.  I will blog about the dining room in my Tackle-It post next Tuesday.

I decided I would just pick up each misplaced or "no-placed" item and process it--hang it up, put it away, throw it out, etc.  I found a game I had bought at a summer garage sale, so I de-cluttered the hallway closet and put it away on the shelf with all the games.

I also found the cover for the hallway light fixture!  Kevin, our handyman extraordinaire, had painted much of our first floor, and the cover never made its way back on to the fixture, probably because we were going to clean it!  So Jacob kindly cleaned it, replaced a burned-out light bulb, and got the cover on.  (Confession--Kevin painted about a year ago...)

I spent some time cleaning in the kitchen; boy, can this room get messy even when I'm not cooking!  Below is the counter area next to the fridge, where we pour our drinks.  Another unabashed plug for his services:    Kevin installed the tin backsplash that you see in the photo.

I found the basket in a garage sale (50 cents!), so I used it here to contain Fernando's vitamins and other bottles which were spreading all over the countertop.


Behind the Lens

I finally figured out how to upload photos from Lightroom 3!!  Here is one of my favorites from my photo shoot with Danny (17) and Thomas (14).

Heart Thoughts

I started a weekly Bible study on Thursday mornings with a dear heart-sister in Georgia.  Our phone ringing at 6:30am is an alarm clock for the boys!  We chose the book of Ephesians, which I have studied in depth before.  I thought it would be a little easier for us to read through and study.  *riiight*  :)

Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly places in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 nasb

We made it through several verses in chapter 1, and got stuck--in a good way--on the phrase heavenly places in verse 3.  The word places is not in the original Greek, which is the word for heaven.  We had a lively and thought-provoking discussion about why Biblical scholars would translate this word heaven in some places, and heavenly places (or, more accurately, heavenlies) in other places.

I'm still mulling over that word.  It is good to meditate on God's Word!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Purity of Heart and Other Thoughts

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

My Home

When we began our homeschooling year, I thought I was doomed.  But I'm much happier now that our schedule is running smoothly and I know what to expect--generally speaking, of course!  Fernando addressed the issue of chores, which was the only item being neglected the past several weeks.  Using my "Home Management" chart, he assigned a son to each day of the week, and laid down some rules.  Praying this works!


College and Homeschool

Jacob is cruising along at college, and always comes home with stories, mostly of what he has learned in class that particular day.  My head gets stuffed with all sorts of tidbits about psychology, U.S. government, criminal law, and juvenile delinquency.  Whew.

Danny seems to have found a rhythm with his online chemistry class, and he complains much less about going to English Comp class with Jacob.  Even though he does not like it, he is more of a natural writer than Jacob, and the professor likes his work so far.  Jacob has to work harder at it.  They enjoy their time together, both in the classroom and in the car.



My Kitchen and Garden

I have an October garden!  Tomatoes are still ripening on the vine, green beans are still growing, as well as herbs, onions--though small, and jalapeños.  I'm happy.

My Project Desk

No pictures to show you, but I've been slowly working on altering blouses to fit better.  I bought several blouses at Goodwill with my birthday discount, and I need to take in sides a little, and sew on hooks and eyes.  Hopefully I'll post some photos for Tackle-It Tuesday.


Behind the Lens

On my way to the garden this morning to capture some veggie images, I almost stepped on this spider web, still wet with dew.  Mr. Spider quickly went into hiding, but the glistening web called me to take its picture.  So I did.

Heart Thoughts

The thoughts emanating from the Scripture our family is reading during devotions have been weighty.  The Lord has been impressing many things on my heart, but I'll share just one verse from Thursday's devotions.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious,

and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart,

this man's religion is worthless.

James 1:26 nasb

Religious refers to ceremonial public worship--the external trappings without the internal belief.  It is simply superficial pseudo-faith, which reminds me of the verse about whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones (Matthew 23:27).  Which it should, because James used this word religion to refer to the Pharisees.

The main thought, however, was in regard to bridling one's tongue.  Fernando's commentary said:

Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech.

It has made me ponder my manner of speaking, and even the words I use.  Controlled brings to mind the lack of angry outbursts, and the welling up of patience as I respond to others.  Proper connotes the actual words I use--hmm, slang, possibly?  The use of casual phrases or words--good luck (do I really believe in luck?), or even "darn" or "shoot" instead of other--um, colorful--expressions.  Purity of heart--may the Lord cultivate self-control in my speech!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Sunday at Montrose

Fernando and I had Part One of our anniversary date last Sunday.  We ended up downtown at Montrose Harbor, where, despite the cloudy gloom, I enjoyed the view from behind the lens, and Fernando enjoyed the prospect of catching a few fish.

We didn't do much talking, but Fernando explained that he can fish all afternoon without saying much at all.  I think this is the only time he doesn't talk.  It was a peaceful afternoon of spending time together.

At one point, a young boy plopped his fishing gear and a bucket down right next to us.  He got his bait ready and threw in his line.  He was not shy, and was soon chatting with Fernando (okay, what is it that people of all ages find so inviting in a dark, linebacker-sized bearded man??).  Generous man that he is, Fernando helped the boy hook his bait, and even gave him a bobber and a weight for his line.  Was that boy ever excited!

I enjoyed watching all the sailboats glide across the water, while weekend life hummed along just beyond the shoreline.

All in all, it was a good day.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Be Still

This is the time to wrap up my week--the goings-on in my home, behind my camera lens, and in my heart--in words and photos.  To find out more, or to join, please visit CanadaGirl's blog.  You can also click on her button at the end of this post.

Tuesday's robin

My Home

I've just been trying to keep the house generally clean and my spirit calm this past week.  Fernando says--and I've said this before--that homeschooling is my #1 priority.  But I need to figure out how to balance everything else, or there will be no clean clothes, and no dinner on the table.

Our anniversary was on Sunday, a wonderful day to have an anniversary on!  Celebration--part of which will be a surprise to Fernando--to come tomorrow afternoon!!


Homeschool and College

We're still trying to sort out schedules and get into a smoothly flowing routine.  Jacob missed most of his late-start Psych class which started on Tuesday, because he thought it started next week.  Then, he somehow thought his 7:30am Thursday class started at 8:30am.  After double-checking his schedule, he grabbed a nectarine for breakfast and tore on out the door.

Danny had his first on-line chemistry class.  It was strange to hear voices--especially girls' voices--emanating from the basement throughout the late Wednesday morning hours.  I'm still not used to this whole internet/headphone/voice online class thing.  Good grief, I used to get up and walk across the room to change the TV channel!

Thomas and I are getting along famously in school.  He is pretty much keeping me on track.  He won't leave me alone.  I can't blog when I want to.  (This is a good thing.)

Experiment in physical science

My Kitchen and Garden

I picked several more tomatoes this week--yay!  And there are lots of jalapeños still growing; I'm leaving them there until I'm ready to try making green tomato salsa.  Since this weekend is packed, hopefully I'll be able to grab a few hours one day next week.

I was able to snag some time on Friday to (finally) bake some bread.  Hopefully the eight loaves will last through next week...

Double-long loaf of whole-wheat bread

The Lord blessed me with a suribachi!!  It is a Japanese mortar and pestle, unique in that the inside of the unglazed bowl has a ridged pattern helpful in mashing garlic and herbs.  I had read about them, then researched a little, and by God's grace, found this one for only $10.

My new suribachi

Am I the only one who thinks a birthday salad is great??  I used farmer's market lettuce, and tomatoes, green pepper, carrots, and onions from my garden.  I topped it all with homemade creamy garlic herb dressing, and my tummy sang "happy birthday to me!"

Stick a candle in it!!

My Project Desk

On Friday I wore a French blue blouse which I bought at Goodwill.  This week I sewed hooks/eyes on to prevent gapping, and I took in the sides so I look like I have shape.  Because I'm broad-shouldered and, um, blessed up top, I need larger blouses.  But then they look like tents on my waist!  So I developed and cut out a template, which I used to take in the sides so it flares out a bit at the bottom and gives me shape.  Photos to come later, I hope.  :)

I also made a wedding card (and a bookmark) for Tim & Evy's wedding this afternoon.  I took apart their wedding invitation and used several pieces to make it.  The pocket which holds the pull-out "card" is a section of the invitation.

Tim & Evy's wedding card

Behind the Lens

I'm sooo happy to have my camera back.  I took so many pictures last week!  It was great to be able to take Ellie to downtown Chicago on Sunday to capture Elliot's baptism and some artistic photos at 12th Street Beach.  Besides Sunday, I've been taking pictures all week, of anything and everything!  I'm also trying to capture images specifically for my blog.  Any excuse to use the camera!  Here is my favorite photo from downtown at Lake Michigan.

Grace in motion

My Nightstand

In all the busy-ness of this week, in all the driving around seemingly for no purpose, in all the frustration of mounting laundry and what's-for-dinner, the Lord desires that I stop, and still my heart, and focus on Him.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Psalm 46:10-11 nasb (emphasis mine)

CanadaGirl is the lovely hostess for our Weekly Wrap-Up.  Please click on her linky button below to visit her blog, to read more, and to participate.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now it's time to get ready to go to a wedding!!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Friday Farm Girls at Heart--My Life, The Lord's Garden

At the end of summer, my thoughts run toward the vegetable gardens in my backyard.  Harvesting, canning, munching freshly pulled carrots.  But curiously, my thoughts are also turning to my flower gardens, much of which have been neglected this summer.

My front porch garden

Several years ago, after I had had surgery and was having a hard time recuperating, a dear friend almost single-handedly dug out my front porch garden (above).  She mapped out a color plan, then accompanied me to the nursery to pick out flowers.  Then she helped me plant.

Since then, my garden has grown, becoming a jungle at one point.  I have divided plants and transplanted others to different parts of my yard, and still it keeps growing.  This spring, I purchased a macro lens for my camera, and trotted out to my front porch garden to see its close-up version.

My eyes were amazed!  Leaf edges, raindrops, bugs, individual unopened buds.  Little things I never paid attention to, or even could pay attention to because they were so small.

My garden is a picture of what the Lord is doing in my life.  Sometimes, I fight against the little things, not realizing that God has a bigger plan that I don't yet see.  And sometimes, I'm concentrating so single-mindedly on the big-picture vision He has for me, that I don't see the beautiful details He is weaving into my life.

Each individual bud, each individual flower, woven into one beautiful garden.  God the Designer, the Planter, the Transplanter, the Grower, the Harvester.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Blog Blog Blog!!! (and some pictures...)

I have a very dear friend.  She spent all afternoon yesterday playing with me and my blog.  I think I remember 5% of all that she showed me I could do on this little ol' page!!  But, I'm still excited about the changes that will be coming soon.  Really, it's just in how this blog looks, but it's still amazing to me!  And Lori is amazing. 

I wish I could take some pictures, but alas, my dear camera is getting repaired.  However, I can post some pictures!!

Since I have shutter withdrawal, here are one or two pictures from vacation--upstate New York.  And for those naive folks who think "upstate" means you can hop in to the city whenever you want, remember the up in upstate.  As in north.  :)

These pictures are a few of the birds and critters I discovered at the Lake.  There was no comparison to sitting on the south porch with my camera and a cup of tea, the air filled with birdsong as I waited patiently to see what came to visit.  :)

Back to life,
Christine