Red sky at morning

Sailors take warning.
Red sky at night
Sailor's delight.

Well, I don't know much about sailors, but I enjoy a red sky in the morning just as much in the evening. This morning's was spectacular. It began low and deep, a dark band of burgundy just over the horizon, turning scarlet and magenta, flaming into crimson and orange, spilling through the window bathing my kitchen and sitting room with a tangerine hue. It blazed hot and pink, then just as quickly faded into the gray - a commonplace winter day with a magnificent introduction. What a fiery show - so easy to miss in it's brevity, but dazzling nonetheless.

As I enjoyed the salmon blush throughout my home, I pondered on the night it was chasing away with it's splendor. A restless one, for sure. Spent wondering what it was like for my grandma to be spending her first night face to face with her Savior. Spent wondering what it was like for my mother and grandpa to be spending their first night without Grandma.

I thought more on sunrises and sunsets - how we love to see them, even pursue them. Remembering evenings spent shivering on the beach, waiting, just so we could be there for the blazing display of the sunset. Seeing the flaming pinkness at dawn and being unable to hold back a "Hey, come look! Quick!"

What is it that makes them speak to us, beckon to us to watch, observe, until the last gleaming bits are gone? Is it not a foretaste, a little hint, a sweet taste of the glory of our precious Lord? A reminder of His majesty?

Of course I'm not the first one to think so. A quick search in my concordance produced others.

2 Samuel 23:4
he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.

Habakkuk 3:4
His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.

Is not Grandma now surrounded by His splendor? The eternal sunrise and sunset? The Alpha and Omega?

When we're dragged down by dreary gray days, or overcome by the darkness of night, God provides a beautiful reminder of His resplendent glory, and provides a precious hope of our future eternal home in brief moments - by the red and golden glow of sunrises and sunsets.

Oh, God, thank you that Grandma is with you. Thank you for the continual reminders of your goodness throughout nature. May I always have eyes to see the little glimpses of glory in the commonplace everyday.



Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

In preparation

for shed moving day tomorrow, we've torn down more of the fence to allow the truck and trailer to maneuver the shed over it's new home. This morning, the kids and I worked more on leveling the site, rototilling it up, raking it, and then driving the van back and forth over top to pack it down. Earl and Isaiah took turns helping me "drive" the van, thrilled to learn how to shift from drive to reverse.


You can see the shed on the trailer in the driveway in this photo Isaiah took. A week and a half or so ago, Marty and a few other fun-loving men worked all day in the POURING rain to jack the shed up from it's former home, get it loaded and steady on the trailer, and pull it slowly down the road to our driveway - in the POURING rain. It was an adventure, I tell you.
The window you see on the back of the house there is the one above my kitchen sink. I love being able to look out and see where the kids are, and watch all our animals.

*An update on Marty's burns....He had another appt. this morning. Two fingers are doing well, and are slowly seeping the fluid from the blisters, which is good. It's better than bursting open which would increase chances of infection. The other two still have enormous blisters. We have to change the dressings on them twice a day, which Emma has enjoyed greatly.
Unfortunately, they are 3rd degree burns, which means more than likely he will never have feeling in the burned places. However, that does mean he has not had much pain since the evening he was burned. We are praising the Lord that the burns aren't directly on his fingertips or palms and that they are progressing nicely.

One year ago today

Moments after birth.



A wonderful daddy.



Exquisite. A half hour old.



Joyful mama. Inquisitive siblings. An hour after birth.



That afternoon. Enjoying being together.

Happy birthday, Solly. We are dearly blessed to have you.

Branded

Determined to STILL accomplish something yesterday while home sick from school, Marty planned his day with the kiddos.

1. Do animal chores.

2. Watch The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course with the kids. (Since everyone was sick, we actually brought our little tv out of the laundry room pantry shelf, and rented a few videos.) This one was rated 5*'s by our young'uns - a rare thing in this household! Since used ones are SO cheap, I'm pretty certain we will be owning this one soon.

3. Nicely stack the piles of boards from the chicken coop we tore down last week against the back of the barn. This was to be a special "training" session for the kids. Each one would be instructed on their particular aspect of the job, evaluated by Marty as to their willingness and diligence, and would be compensated accordingly. Emma had to sort the boards into like-size piles. Isaiah had to carry and stack the larger boards. Eli and Earl carried and stacked the smaller ones. It was an effective lesson, because a couple of the children were good hard workers and a couple were more lackadaisical , and everyone saw that when Marty parceled out what they had earned.


4. Take it easy.

Later in the afternoon, Marty decided to burn a few of the useless boards. Unfortunately, he grabbed the wrong end of his metal poking stick. Knowing immediately it was not just a simple burn, he raced to the hose to douse his hand in water. The hose water was warm from lying in the sun, but he did manage to get cold water on it. I arrived home from the grocery store shortly after the injury. He came to the car and showed me, and I immediately had him go back to the sink and hold his hand under water. The main parts of the burn are across the insides of his first three fingers, and his thumb. I think his thumb actually has some charred skin. It's blistered pretty badly, and burned deeply. The pain was pretty intense if he tried to remove it from the water, so off to urgent care he went holding a bag of frozen peas. Emma and Isaiah went with him to help, and to learn about first aid for burns. Hey, if ya' gotta go, ya' might as well make it a field trip, right?
Afterwords, he called to let me know they were on their way to Kroger to pick up his prescriptions. He had turned down the injection for immediate pain relief they had offered him their at the clinic. If he had gotten it, he would have had to stay for observation, and I would have to come pick him up as he wouldn't have been allowed to drive. Naturally, that seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth, so he decided to wait until his prescription kicked in.
His wounds had been tended to and dressed, each digit's bandages covered with a stretchy sock to hold the bandages in place and provide further protection. Strict instructions were given to go to a burn clinic in less than 24 hours - either the one in Toledo, or the one in Detroit. His burns are significant enough, coupled with the location (his right hand), to require further care. I guess the concerns are with nerve damage, loss of sensation, and scarring closed.
Additionally, while driving to the pharmacy, he called to say he didn't think the car was running correctly. Yep, then he called me again, saying it wouldn't run, they were stranded at the pharmacy, can I please come pick them up, and to find the number for the towing place. So I ended up having to pick him up anyway!
Today we will find out more information when he visits the Henry Ford burn clinic in Detroit. It isn't too far from his school, and is also where he had his reconstructive face/head surgery after his accident in July.

Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

First official Nature Study Walk

Today is a smashingly gorgeous day with a targeted high of 68 degrees. (Can anyone tell me how to get the actual degree sign - the little circle?) And as rain is forecasted for tomorrow, we are definitely taking advantage of today. Chores and homeschooling were done in short order, aided by the fact that we've finished up one history section and I'm still figuring out what we're doing next.
The nature journals I promised the kids had been waiting on my craft table until the opportune moment.

I called them all back indoors and parceled out their new possessions. The three oldest received a sketchbook, a package of 24 watercolor pencils, and additional peach colored pencil (necessary if drawing Caucasian flesh tones), and a flat paint brush.

The youngest (poor kid) got an old notebook, some old colored pencils and crayons, and an old paintbrush. He was tickled. All these precious things were tucked into their own small backpacks, along with a plastic trash bag. We used the bags to sit on since the ground is quite wet.

I gave some minimal instructions:

"We'll go for a short walk and sit down somewhere. Each of us will look at the ground around us very carefully and choose something to draw. Then we'll draw it. If you wish to watercolor it, we'll paint over it with water when we come back inside. How grand our sketch is is not what's most important. What is most important is that we learn to observe what is around us."

And we traipsed off!

We ended up in the far corner of our pasture where the kids have used some old fencing and a tire to build a fort. Each did as instructed.

Emma chose to sketch a bush with old rose hips.

Isaiah worked intently on his drawing of leaves.

Eli happily drew a fish (?!) and a monster. Hmmm... Gotta work on this NATURE STUDY thing a little bit!

Earl scribbled for all of 12 seconds, then ran back to the trampoline. :) Hey, he's 2.

I won't show you my sketch for today cause it was lousy, but I will show you my sketch of our barn looking from the kitchen window on Saturday. I'm happy with it.

I AM CARA

Although the construction dust is still flying about my blog, I just have to share this with you right away. One of my very favorite blog authors, Mary, (who will be listed in my links as soon as I get to it) is hosting a writing contest again. I immediately knew I had to participate, and this is my entry for the I AM poem. For the last three months, I have been working on the I AM FROM poem. When I put my perfectionism aside (see below) and finish it up, I will give both poems as gifts to my parents. (I am proud to say that this I AM poem only took me 2 days!)
I know my readership is probably down to 1 (my husband) since I haven't been posting, but if you do happen to stop in, please let me know you were here, and also - would you be so kind to visit Mary's fabulous blog and let her know in her comments that I sent you? She's awarding BOOKS as prizes and your comment could help me win one!!

If you'd like to write your own "I AM....." poem, the template I used can be found HERE.


I AM CARA

I am the long awaited first child born in Kosciusko to a missionary kid turned professor and his student turned professor who’s earliest recollection is the face of my father peeking tearfully through the window of the X-ray room because it was his fault my ankle was crushed in the spokes of the bicycle we were riding together.

I am the child who played Authors and Rook and pretended the crumbly, sparkly shale in the backyard was pixie dust and enabled me, the “maiden in distress,” to fly away from the boys of the neighborhood who were the “evil kidnappers.”
Who loved reading and crafting and all the little bits of nature – nests, snails, tadpoles, stones, and such.
Who stored in my treasure box many lost teeth, the little bits of nature, and a prized gift from a young girl visiting from China – a teeny, hand-woven basket.
Who dreamed of having horses, was crushed to discover a horrible allergy to them, and was surprised and delighted to find I would completely love owning a small flock of sheep.

I am the teenager who spent my idyllic summers splashing about in the creek and visiting my missionary relatives in Brazil.
Who wore skirts and no shoes and loved singing and hated the trumpet.
Who picked armloads of peonies and mulberries from the college and then proudly walked home carrying them in my arms.
Who dreamed of serving in third-world countries and knew I would experience a great loss someday.
I am the young lady who “stole” my mother’s vintage, handmade, red apron, and grammar handbooks and my father’s field guides, poetry books, and dictionary when I left to make my own home and library.

I am the woman who suddenly felt experienced beyond my years at 24 years old while picking flowers to put on the grave of my beautiful, stillborn daughter.
Who loves my Savior, my husband, and my children more than the mere tools of words could ever communicate.
I am the mother who loves nursing and would be heartbroken were I unable to do so and whose moments of perfect bliss come when I can be close enough to smell the sweet, milky breath of my perfectly satiated, yawning babe.
I am the Homeschooling Momma of 8 children – 4 on earth, 3 in Heaven, and 1 in the womb, who has far more ideas for artistic and creative projects that can ever humanly be completed, avoids cleaning the floors around the toilets, and who makes lists to keep track of my lists.

I am the woman who is traditional, yet unconventional, extroverted, but shy, visionary while reflective, intellectually curious, passionate, and complex.
I am the woman who yearns for discipline and routine and then decides to throw a perfectly planned schedule to the wind and do something spontaneous – for better or worse. I am the woman who is learning to not let perfectionism steal the joy of completing or attempting a project. I am the Writer who writes pages upon pages in my head, but never seems to get them down on the keyboard. I am the woman who STILL loves bare feet, creek splashing, and all the little bits of nature, and never feels the need to iron any clothes – only sewing projects.
Who still longs to learn sign language, to play the piano, and to become fluent in another language.
Who still dreams of serving in a third-world country.
I am the person who dreams of dark-skinned, curly haired youngsters – my children across the sea – not of my womb, but of my heart - and adoption and oodles of children and is oh, so grateful for a husband who shares the same dreams and who hopes to fill the remaining spots in our 15 passenger van as quickly as the Lord provides.
I am the Lady yearning to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit and to live a life that reflects the Love of the One who gave His life for me.

edited 2-12-07

A walk in the meadow

Monday, my children and I enjoyed a walk in the meadow. Here is a sampling of what a careful observer could experience. I am grateful for the great beauty the Lord has given our family to enjoy.

The fuzzy leaves of a mullein basal rosette.


The faded petals of Queen Anne's Lace fold up to form a cup shape, hence earning its lesser known name, Bird's Nest.



These berry branches keep the birds busy well into winter.


A fuzzy stem of grass.


A perfect dandelion.


A Mexican sunflower


The pollen-laden legs of a busy honeybee.


A sunflower head heavy with seeds.


A glimpse of a portion of our changing meadow.

So proud

is what I am of my 6 year old son. And what he is of the little "shed" he built last week with scraps of his daddy's lumber.

He gathered various scrap pieces, put them in their places, and nailed them all together. Then he added some scrap shingles.

After gathering just the right board and hinges for the door, he begged a bit of help from Daddy, and then proudly posed for picture of the finished building.

Sitting here with his own little shed in front of the latest shed my husband built is our little carpenter in the making.

Mmmm, he is a lovely gift from Heaven.

Earl at lunch

One of the reasons this picture warms my heart so much is because of how rascally this sweet little boy of mine is. :)

I have the most wonderful family in the world - a personal post

So I had that tooth surgery yesterday morning, remember? Well, yesterday evening, I decided to go watch my husband's softball game like I usually do. Well, although I felt fine at the game, I think it was too much activity and talking, cause I felt AWFUL on the way home. I walked in the house and went straight to bed. My daughter, Emma, held my hand on the way home to help me feel better, and came in the house hot on my heels - all concerned, giving me lots of hugs and kisses, and asking how she could help me. She got me all tucked into bed, heated up my hotsock for me (a long tube sock filled with flax seeds that we heat in the microwave and use like a heating pad - I LOVE IT) since I strangely had the shivers, even though it was nearly 80 degrees. Then she and Marty helped the boys get their evening snacks/supper since I hadn't really fixed supper. In a while, she came in with a very soft snack for me to eat because it was time to take my medicine again and it makes me really queasy. What a dear.
My one and a half year old, Earl, was happy as a clam and went around the house singing at the top of his lungs in his own little baby language. It is SO precious when he does that - justs puts his head back and lets it all flow out. He sang ALL evening.
Marty helped Isaiah, my 5 year old, look up jack knives on ebay, and just browsing through the listings entertained him for quite a while, and boy, did he have a lot to tell me about them later! :) Isaiah LOVES to learn, and he studies things very intently. Just by looking at the pictures he learned a lot.
And sweet Eli, my 3 year old, just played happily, laughed along with a Little Bear video (which he pronounces Yiddle Bear), and cuddled with Earl and Daddy in the lazyboy.
Marty just was a super daddy, like he always is. He got everybody fed, diapers changed, washed, and ready for bed, and played, and laughed, and loved on everyone.
I just lay in my bed listening to the happy, sweet sounds of my family, my heart full of love and joy, praising the Lord for the enormous blessings He has given me - FAR above what I deserve.
PS - I had a good night, slept well, and feel okay right now. Haven't even had my medicine yet - trying to hold off since it makes me feel very strange, queasy, and drowsy.

In honor of my 10th anniversary

Tomorrow, my husband, Marty, and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage! Gasp! It doesn't seem possible that time could have passed so quickly. He is my dear, true love, and our love is stronger and sweeter than ever. What a tremendous blessing the Lord has given me in him!
In honor of this event, I created two little pieces of art with a dual purpose in mind. I scanned them into my computer, reduced them, and am in the process of creating a little charm for a necklace for myself. I also plan to mount the original works on an ATC blank, and give them to Marty. He has several times dropped hints that he'd like me to make some ATC's for him, so here are the first two.

















I plan to eventually make 9 cards for him so he can have an entire page full. When the charm and ATC's are completed, I'll post them. :)
Cara