Category Archives: Gratitude

What I’m Into February 2015 Edition

03 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Books and Thoughts on Books, Gratitude, One Life, Uncategorized, {This Moment}

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What I’m Into February 2015 Edition

So it is March 3, I am a little late to the conversation yet again.  But that is okay I think.  February was a rougher month, lots of snow, cold and gray skies along with cancellations and some of the blues.  But the sun does shine again, encouragement is given and received and we press on toward spring and joy!  Here is February in a nutshell:

Read and Reading:

Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson, Fringe Hours by Jessica N Turner, Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan (audiobook)

Currently reading: Made for Heaven, Your Beautiful Heart, I Dared to Call Him Father, The Magna Charta

(I completed _3_ books this month)

TV:

Hmm, my kids got me hooked on Once Upon A Time and we binged on the show every Thursday & Friday evening…getting through all 3 seasons on Netflix. The kids have moved on to Star Trek & Classic Dr Who, but I am “fasting” from Netflix for awhile. I don’t like how pulled into that show I found myself! While I enjoyed sharing the time with my daughters, I missed the time of reading together or sewing.

Music:

I am pretty excited about children’s music once again. My grand daughter has enjoyed the Linda Arnold cds and the Bear Tunes that I pulled out recently.

Things I Loved in February:

Snow! Lots of snow

snow

snow angel

 

snow painting

 

Celebrating a 14th Birthday!!

And going to our Tuesday & Wednesday afternoon home school co op classes. Actually I hang out and the kids go to classes.

In the Blogosphere:

Christmas time is my favorite season

The science behind that crazy viral dress.

Courage

Leviticus

 

On The Blog:

A giveaway of a book that has meant a lot to me in this new year

A funny book for boy families that I received

May my hard heart awake thy pity, not thy wrath.

Well that is what I’m Into this February 2015. Thank you for reading, and please, share with in the comments some highlights from your February, or join the community at Leigh’s

 

 

A Valentines Remembrance Swap!

13 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Craft Projects, Gratitude, Joy, Life Long Learner, Uncategorized

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A Valentine RemembranceCommunity is life giving and invigorating, challenging and inspiring.  I’ve been a quiet part of the Simple Woman’s community for years.  It has been inspiring, life giving and encouraging to me.

This year, as part of my goals (NOURISH) I am stepping out a bit more intentionally to be an active part of community, in real life and online.  So, may I invite you to join me?  To have a little intentional friendship fun this Valentines, make a new acquaintance and maybe a new friend?

The Simple Woman has invited bloggers to her Valentines Remembrance Swap.  Here are the nitty gritty details:

valentines remembrance swapJust go to The Simple Woman’s blog!

*January 22nd-sign-ups closed
*January 23rd-Matching begins
*January 26th– Watch for email with your swap partner’s info
*February 13th-ALL swap packages MUST BE RECEIVED”
If you if this sounds fun to you, I hope you’ll join Peggy over at The Simple Woman.

Christmas Break, Full and very Good

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Celebrations, grandparenting, Gratitude, Parenting, Uncategorized

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A Pictorial Review of our Christmas Break

Christmas 2014

Joseph and Mary begin their long journey to Bethleham

Joseph and Mary begin their long journey to Bethlehem

At the very beginning of Christmas break we made an unplanned trip “back home” for my great uncle’s funeral.  This was a special time of remembering a quiet, yet great man and connecting with extended family.  As always we delighted in squeezing as much time as possible with “the cousins”, my sister and her kids.  My dad put us up in a different hotel this time, which had an indoor courtyard.  The kids spent hours playing games and eating.

Christmas Break 2014I got to hug on and visit with my cousin David for the first time in years.

We arrived back home on the 23rd, whew. This is the second time in recent years that I have traveled right before Christmas. I am thankful for these opportunities, but it is also a little hard in the full busyness of the season.

Christmas 2014

Rudolf Hair My nephews challenged to sport some Rudolf hair, so my kiddos helped me get my red nose on.

Christmas 2014

A Whovian gift

Our Christmas Eve tradition of one gift after the candlelight service, almost always pajamas.

Christmas 2014

a sweet tradition continues

A sweet tradition continues.

It was quiet late Christmas Eve when I pulled the ingredients & dough out of the cabinets and fridge.  And that’s when I noticed that my youngest was STILL AWAKE.  After pausing for just a moment, I invited her to get up and join me.  Oh how thankful I am for remembering that the time together far far far outweighed my desire for quiet, or the desire to keep the surprises in the living secret until morning.

Usually when I make the Carmel Rolls, I just use white sugar or honey and cinnamon.  But for the Christmas batch, I pull out the red & green sugar sprinkles.  Makes them just a little more festive.

Christmas Break

Oh Holy Night

Joseph and Mary make it to the stable, and the Babe is placed in the manger.  I had to hide Baby Jesus a couple weeks earlier because my granddaughter was quite taken with Him.  It concerned me that we might not find the piece as she kept wandering off with it.  A sweet memory to cherish, “my baby Jesus”.

 

Christmas Break 2014

For Christmas we gave our 3 youngest daughters an overnight ski trip.  They took lessons the first day and explored the green slopes the second day.  It was brutal cold, but they soaked as much as they could from the time.  I spent the time in the Lodge reading and visiting with other people, as I am not able to participate in skiing.  The first day was pretty long, but the second day we shared a table with some other people and the conversation was delightful.

Christmas Break 2014

The girls took to skiing just like I hoped they would.  They are active and very coordinated people, so skiing is now added to the athletic endeavors they can pursue throughout life.  We have another ski trip penciled in for late February, and maybe one during spring break.  After that I will feel comfortable with them going off with friends next year.

Whew, it was a very full Christmas season!  I took one more trip during the break that I will blog about in a few days.  Three trips in 2 weeks were so wonderful, but also had me stuggling to get my feet back under me when school started again!

Thank you for letting me share these memories with you!

This Moment, Year’s End

02 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by in Gratitude, One Life, Uncategorized, {This Moment}

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Linking with SouleMama

 

 

This Moment #FringeHours

If You Don’t Have a Joyous God

21 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Celebrations, Gratitude, Joy, Life Long Learner, One Life, Uncategorized

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This week we will be joining with extended family to celebrate the life of a kind, funny, Jesus loving uncle, father, grandfather.  The sharing of this video is so timely for me, so maybe for you too?  My Uncle Paul was one of the funniest and kindest men I’ve ever know.  His ability to correct me without making me feel demeaned is something I remember from my rebellious youth.  Thinking about it now, I imagine that Uncle Paul could see that there was more behind my deviant behavior.  His humor lightened the mood wherever he was.  It is with a grateful heart that I remember Uncle Paul, and the joy he shared so generously, as we head off to celebrate his life.

Please take a brief 5 minutes and reflect with me on Joy.

“If you don’t have a joyous God, you better run for cover.”  Dallas Willard

What I’m Into, November in Review

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Gratitude, Uncategorized

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What I’m InTo November 2014 Edition

 

What I'm ReadingRead and Reading:

The 13th Gift by Joanne Huist Smith, The 20th Christmas (seems I took an early Christmas detour in my reading at the beginning of November!), The Christmas Jar (a request from my youngest daughter)

Currently reading:

Families Where Grace is in Place, and Misplacing God (and finding Him again), War of Words

(I completed _3_ books this month)

TV: Rewatching Dr Who episodes and have started Sherlock with my kids.  I started out really not liking Sherlock.  But I’ve been drawn in, just like with the doctor.

What I'm Into

dream realized

Music: Enjoying the music of James Galway, and seeing the music further inspire my young flutist.

Christmas music in small, worshipful doses.  Yes.  Especially liking the new music by Shaun Groves, and for the “young nana” a bit of 1 Girl Nation Christmas cheer.  But he commercialism Christmas music is completely gagging me right now.  The sound of a trumpet singing through the house, yes.  The lilt of a flute floating on the air.  The depth and range of a growing pianist brings me to song.  Music is my love language.

And I am back to listening to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.  Love is not a victory march.

 

band concerts

band concerts

Things I Loved in November: Quiet rhythm, warm house on cold nights, lavender scented rice cuddlers, a house full on Thanksgiving.  Gift card holders out of Altoids tins.  Pumpkin pie. and Cuties.  YES. Laughter of teens ringing loud and pure.

Thanksgiving tradition

pumpkin pie & cuties breakfast. Thanksgiving tradition

lavendar rice cuddlers

Gift Card Holder

Altoids Tin Gift Card Holders

Gift Card Holder

In the Blogosphere:

A Screwtape Letter

10 Commandments of Marriage

On The Blog:

Advent Resources

So all this and more, What I’m Into, November 2014

This Moment, All In

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Gratitude, Uncategorized, {This Moment}

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

all in

This photo was taken the morning after our Thanksgiving celebration after I looked through the window and SAW.

The day before, chairs had been evenly set around each table.  A little while into the afternoon I did hear the laughter and I did see the big group of cousins gathered around.  But it wasn’t until the next morning that it was clear.  They were all in.

 

linking with Soulemama.

This Moment ~ Practice Time

21 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in Gratitude, Life Long Learner, Parenting, teens, Uncategorized, {This Moment}

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{this moment} ~ A weekly stop. A single photo – or two – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment that I have been given. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

practice time

dream realized

Veteran’s Day

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Gratitude, Uncategorized

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This Veteran’s Day I want to repost an entry from 2010.

Veteran's Day, Dad

Dear Dad,

I want to tell you thank you.

All those years you served your country,

I now understand

That you also served your family, past, present and future,

Hoping to preserve the freedom to live…

To live a life free

To pursue life to the fullest.

It cost you greatly,

And us too,

But Dad, today

I simply want to thank you, and the many many others who have served, and serve today to preserve beauty, freedom and life.

My paternal Grandfather, WWII

My paternal Grandfather, WWII

Veteran's Day

Great Grandfather, WW1 Veteran

Veteran's Day

Great Great Grandfather, Civil War Veteran