Ardyn's Photo Scavenger Hunt

Ardyn had some friends come over this morning to celebrate her 9th birthday. They had a list of captions for which they had to pose. Philip had taken all the other kids to Luke's basketball game, so I followed the high-pitched gaggle of girls around, snapping shots until their list was checked off.

"Story Time"


"I Can't Believe We All Fit In Here"


"No One's Feet Touching the Ground"


"In Someone Else's Shoes"


Then, as they decorated their photo albums, I tried to upload the pictures to W@lgr**n.com so that within an hour or so I could have the prints picked up. It was a no go. (snort, stomp, huff) I'll just have to include some prints in the thank you notes next week.

We cleaned up our craftiness & rolled out and baked some stuffed-crust pizza. I sliced a fresh pineapple for the first time in my life. The girls were quick to point out that I failed to read the instructions, but it tasted great.

We sang and ate cookie slices and hugged on the birthday girl.


Thank You, God, for Ardyn Grace. She is beautiful and enthusiastic and generous. You have blessed her with kind friends who share a love for You. Thank You for blessing our home with her life.

Thanksgiving @ Horncreek

Just had fun looking through some more photos from our trip to Colorado. I thought I'd share...

My dad's sister, Jeannie, and me with all my brothers...plus baby Johnathan:)

I LOVE this photo of my mom with Elizabeth! So pretty!

Mari Alice hangin' out in the lodge...

Tim & Me & Josh at breakfast...family dynamics.


Thank You, God, for allowing us to take such a great trip last fall. It is so easy to praise You surrounded by such natural beauty, joy & devotion! Thank You for my sweet family. I have been blessed. Thank You!

Sweet Sixteen

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary. The florist delivered an enormous silk wreath with twigs and sprigs and flowers and fruit. It's fantastically messy...which means that my neat'n'tidy mind could have never created it. I love it! It's on the front door for now, but I'm hoping to find a warm, cozy spot for it inside. Any suggestions?


Thank You, God, for Love.
For Being Love.
For Authoring Love.
For Sustaining Love.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Thursday, January 7, 2010...

Outside my window...Honkin' COLD! Predicted wind chill of zero degrees tonight. Frostbitten Texans, anyone?

I am remembering...how cold it was last Christmas when we took the kids to $ilver Doll@r City. Even forty dollars worth of REALLY good hot cocoa couldn't keep us warm. But it was big, cold, fun.

I am thankful for...Elizabeth. I cannot imagine life without her. She is a beautiful note on which to end the song of childbirth.

I am creating...quilted stockings for next Christmas...and a musical for MP3.

I am going...to drive Landen to his first DNow tomorrow night. (sniff, sigh)

I am reading...in the evenings - Your God is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan and to the kids after lunch - The Potato Chip Puzzle by Eric Berlin.

I am hoping...that Philip is safe and sound as he goes out into this weather to restore some one's power. Dear Lord, please surround Philip with Your safety and warmth.

On my mind...purposeful and diligent living. It's January, what can I say??

From the learning rooms...wrapping up the 3rd quarter. One more round of spiral notebooks, a box of pencils and some G2 pens (Luke settles for nothing less than the best), and we'll have this year in the bag.

Noticing that...I'm on my third glass of ice water this evening and I'm still thirsty. My lips are chapped too. Wish I could turn the heater down, but I'd freeze all the darlings.

Pondering these words... "No one has EVER been TOO Heavenly minded. You can be of no earthly good, that's for sure; but it's NOT because you're too heavenly minded. When you have hope, 2 Peter says 'You purify yourselves as He is pure,' and you become dangerous, radical, holy, loving, self-sacrificing servants on the planet until He returns." -John Piper "Subjected in Hope" 12/29/09

From the kitchen...Spaghetti, salad, green beans, and cheesy bread.

Around the house...Philip just left, but he was enjoying the UT game with the boys. Ardyn's reading in her room and the other girls are asleep. Oscar is visibly weighing the options of warm fire in the living room verses drafty spot under Momma's computer chair in the bedroom. His constant relocation speaks of his indecision and sense of chill.

One of my favorite things...B@th'n'B@dyW@rks hand soap. Everyone knows I MUST have kitchen lemon at the kitchen sink, but since Christmas I have scented foam in both bathrooms. There's no more asking the kids if they washed with soap. When they return from their biznez, hands- dampened and heavily fragranced -verify their righteousness. Hallelujah! Cotton Blossom and Sugar Fig ROCK!

From my picture journal...

Our Thanksgiving Cabin, HornCreek 2009


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Laundry Girl

As I finished up the breakfast dishes, I asked Mari Alice to help me by removing the clothes from the dryer. Since the time she dragged an armful of sopping towels to the couch, she has been careful to clarify which machine we are talking about. She hasn't quite mastered "left" and "right", so we usually have a lengthy discussion prior to her act of service.

Today's sounded like this.

Mom: "Mari, could you get the clothes out of the dryer?"
Mari: "Sure! (pause) The dryer?"
Mom: "Yes, the dryer."
Mari: "The wet one?"
Mom: "Not the washer; the dryer. Ok?"

And I suppose since her opposite puzzle set doesn't include "wash & dry" as an acceptable mainstream pairing...

Mari: "Ok, but can we just call'em The Wetter and The Dryer?"

Thank You, God, for Mari Alice. She is so helpful and bright. Thank You for giving us each day to love and learn. You're the Best!

Best Day I've Had This Year!

Why I love starting a fresh new year with my Kathy:

She is patient and smiley.
She lets me be exactly who I really am.
She wears dark solid colors and one set of jewelry...Plain Janes are we!
She finds increasing amounts of happiness with each moment spent in B&N.
She is decisive.
She is decisive. (Double credit awarded for that very nice quality!)
She is inspirational and encouraging.
She is humble and good.
She will gently tell me when I'm wrong.
She laughs at my stories.

AND...when I accidentally leave something behind and she says she will mail it to me...I know for sure that she will.
She's just that way.
Dependably sweet.
Sweetly dependable.

Thank You, God, for a wonderful start to 2010. Thank You for my dear friend, Kathy. You have blessed me year after year with deepening roots and blossoming beauty of our friendship. Thank You for loving me through her. Bless our homes and draw us closer to You. (And thank You for Philip and Josh & Kathy & Johnathan and Lauren for allowing today to unfold so wonderfully) I LOVE YOU!!