Music to My Ears

This has been a most delightful weekend.   Our small group Oasis Christmas gathering on Friday evening was a thoughtful sharing of how we live our faith in front of our children; making memorials of our faith to remember God's goodness and sustenance in difficult seasons. I'm thankful for an oasis where our heart can be laid bare and there is no shame; where we can live and grow our lives together in this pursuit of Christ.

Saturday made way for a visit from Uncle Bob.  We indulged in home made baked Three (really four) Cheese Macaroni with Yumbo's - Bob's childhood term for baked ham and cheese sandwiches.  We rounded out the warm-from-the-inside-out meal with my very own Parmesan, garlic and spinach stuffed mushrooms. Oh, yeah.  For dessert, we enjoyed Dutch Banket - not quite as tasty as the Hofstra's secret recipe, but yummy nonetheless.

After our fill of a tasty lunch, Uncle Bob helped us trim the tree. Lovely, indeed, but where is that box with the angel  tree topper and my patchwork table top Christmas tree? We'll find it, but in the meantime, I'm loving this twinkling tree adorned with memories from here, there, and everywhere.

Gracie put up the tree pretty much by herself this year. She earned quite a few lemonheads in her show of independence.  Talk about a proud moment...Grace asked me if I would teach her how to use the washer and dryer.  MUSIC to my EARS, I'm telling you! Then this morning after my googling stint during the before dawn hour, Gracie surprised me with a bright eyed and bushy tailed "I'm up early this morning. Can I read a book?" More MUSIC to my EARS. I'm still smiling.

Finding Myself: Apple Pie for One

It's one of those crazy "up before I should be" mornings and I was googling stuff here and there. I looked for the history on my favorite dinnerware pattern Scio Hazel.  Nothing much there, except a reminder that I need cream and sugar bowls to complete my set. I also checked out pieces of Calico Fruits - this whimsical gingham checked pattern with cherries, finding a charming pitcher with NO bids and free shipping!! Maybe I'll put a bid on that. Maybe.  So, googling here and there; a long lost friend and then I googled myself.  Look what popped up: a recipe and reader review I submitted to Chicago Parent about County Line Orchard. Who knew?

The apple of my eye

Check out the review & recipe here:  Apple Pie for One

A Weekend of Gifts

40. An Oasis, a small group respite for the both of us

41. A Grace FULL enthusiasm for little hearts in love with His word: 

Me:  Tonight is Koinonia and we will do more fellowship than Bible study
Grace: Aww...but I love the Bible study part

42.  Prayers of the saints
43.  Words of life
44.  Heartfelt hugs
45.  Grape salad
46.  Familiar, friendly faces at Parkapalooza
47.  Small town charm
48.  Country church steeples
49.  Growing girl branching out into Indiana Youth Ballet, scoring a role in the Nutcracker ballet
50. Uncle Randy chats for the girl growing up:  "I love her bunches!"
51.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks:  "I like reading. I'm thankful for good books to read."
52.  A lesson in joy; an introduction to Philippians
53.  The resident wellspring, drawing deep from the reservoir of His grace and goodness. He sustains me in all things.
54. Invitation to worship from an old friend
55. Connections to home so far from home
56. Pastors' candid talk about Love, Sex, and Marriage: it's about trusting God
57. Giggles and more giggles; laughter does good like a medicine
58. Love of languages - Gracie is delighted to dive into Spanish, teaching Papa George his name:  Abuelo
59. Singing Grandparents Day greetings.  I love her heart songs
60. A routine of bests, worsts, and thankful hearts before bed.

Eat, Greet, and Growing Up

I enjoyed lunch with Grace today at the school "Eat and Greet".  Nice, checked table covers and all. We chit-chatted about her day so far.  She's so tickled in her new place and I love making new friends who intuitively know my name, "Gracie's mom".  My heart melted when she squeezed me tight before she joined her classmates in line. She might be a blossoming third grader, but she's still tender enough hug this thankful mom; still little enough to adore these glitzy high heel shoes. Perhaps the latter is more likely an indication she is growing up.  Growing up too fast...too fast. Slow down, princess.  I need you little still.
37. sparkly shoes in brilliant colors and time to enjoy her visions of growing up
38. freedom and flexibility to enjoy lunch with Grace at school
39. hugs and squeezes unashamed

Untie The Knots

33 gifts, this one a reminder that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by a creator who wrote my name on the palm of His hand long before time began. 

  Dear God:

Please untie the knots
That are in my mind,
My heart and my life.

Remember the have nots,
The can nots, and the do nots
That I have in my mind.


Erase the will nots,
The may nots
And the might nots
That try to find a home in my life.

Release me from the could nots
The would nots and the should nots
That try to obstruct my life.

And most of all, Dear God,
I ask that you remove
From my mind, my heart and my life
All the “am” nots that I have allowed to hold me back
Especially the thought that I am not good enough.

In Jesus Name,
Amen!

Facebook post

34. Smiling, happy faces greeting my Grace on her first day at the new school
35. Friendly passerby stopping to see if I was ok while waiting for Grace - quite neighborly, I'd say
36. Cheery, chipper girl off the school bus

Glorious Love

I found this little note, gift #32, clipped to my new clothesline:

Glorious Love 
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John  3:16

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine.
Song of Solomon 1:2

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.  Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. Song of Solomon 2:1-2

Giggling Gifts in Girly Packages

Gracie is hosting a sleepover with three of her bestie friends who just happen to be sisters. What a gift. What a blessing. I love that Grace has the opportunity to rub shoulders with these delightful kids. All different, they blend well and yet, sharpen one another. This is gift 24. Sweet girl friends for my Gracie.


Which reminds me, last time they were here, I overheard Grace tell them this: You know, we could stay friends for always and every year get together like, you know, a Roomie Reunion and then our kids could be friends, too.

Gift 25 has been a delightful find of a friend for me in their mother - kindred spirits with hearts rooted in love for missions and the wanderlust spirit of Abraham. Why am I surprised? She is a God friend, indeed.

Roomie Reunion 2012

Carriage House at 
Cornerstone Farm

 

26. Forever friends with hearts knit together by time, laughter, and even tears. Friends who love like family.  I'm thankful.  Every day I'm thankful.

27.  Summer breezes blowing my cares away and drying my sheets on the line. =)

28. A place of rest...He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He makes me whole and satisfies the deepest longing. He calms my deepest fears.

29. Babbling and bubbling water, washing clean my mind and calming my soul.

30. He loves us. Oh, how He loves us. Singing until this thought saturates my soul and drives the shallow echoes of any other voice from my mind.

31.  Oasis - worship, healing, and fellowship; most recently Italian Cream cake and Key Lime pie...wait, there's fellowship, worship, and healing. Cake and pie just make it all the sweeter.

Gifts

It's been a dry summer. Dry everywhere and I just haven't had time to water the flowers like I should. Today, the deep crimson red caught my eye as I pulled into the driveway.  I see it everyday, but today I really stopped to look and say "thanks". Gifts. 23. Color in a dry, parched spot. Thank you.

Annie - Still Singing

We are still singing songs from Annie around our house. Though Grace would prefer I left the singing and dancing to the cast, I still try. Here's a taste of the show prepared by CMHS. Annie Medley - Summer Theater Enrichment Program. I'm so proud.

21.  emerging gifts and talents
22.  opportunities to craft those gifts and talents through the summer theater enrichment program 

More Gifts & Good News

We've been on the waiting list for the magnet school near our community since Grace was 5 years old.  After 3 years of waiting for a slot to open and many phone calls to check on the progress, I received word yesterday! Thrilled doesn't capture it!  Thank FULL does a better job.  Grace was excited at the news as well.  Wait! Uniforms? Grace realized she must wear her coolest new school clothes in the next 3 days while she had the chance.

What a gift!

13.  caring adults that make kind deposits in my girl - it takes a village
14.  opportunities to serve at Gracie's school
15.  an appreciative teacher
16.  a helpful friend walking me through the dryer hook up process over the phone
17.  sharing pictures with Papi
18.  homework
19.  patience to help with homework


Me: Grace, are you finished with your homework?
Grace: I'm just loving it so much, I want to enjoy it for awhile.
Right.

I love this girl! 
20.  baby love