No more perfect end to the day than a pipe

(For Matt, that is...)

and fireworks

Monday's post, two days shy

I am posting Monday's post on SATURDAY because, well, I want to. Monday's seem always to be such a busy day-but I spend much of the morning posting pictures so my 'busy-ness' is put off. Since everyone in the house is having their mid-day nap except me and the ladybugs surrounding me, I thought now an appropriate time. I will probably post the contest on Monday-but ONE post is far less time-consuming than all these photos.

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Is that not the most beautiful mask you have ever seen? I want one. I usually have a strict HANDS-OFF policy at non-book stores...especially when 'fragile' or 'expensive' enter the picture. But I made an exception with this beauty when we were window shopping at T.J.Maxx the other day.

Yes-had Corynn dropped it and smashed it to smithereens we would have been out $60.00, but the opportunity could not be missed. Just holding it up to your face, practically sent you into a beautiful castle, dancing along with the fellow masked guests at a masquerade. Oh, the secrets that could be kept behind your mask!

I wish I were clever enough to reproduce it-for far less money. I will probably give it a go, no doubt with far lesser results. It would be so much fun though. When I have time for frivolty...

Which means, soon.

I have come to a most profound conclusion and that is: People make time for the things most important to them. If they enjoy it-they FIND time to do it. That is why the sewing seeds skirt-making was no real sacrifice on my part. I enjoyed doing it very much. Now-if it had been selling candy bars to raise money-I probably would have shrunk off the responsibility. Or worse, ate the goods. But the girls at the orphanage would have been no less needy.

I have proudly posted photos of all my recent projects to share the joy in creating, but you should see my kitchen sink. Yes. I find time to do the things I want to do. I haven't scoured that in a L-O-N-G time and it shows. So you see my priorities.

I write this because, take it for what it's worth, people have choices to make everyday. We are not all victims. Some people choose to do the fun and frivolous, while neglecting the necessary and good. Others, do only the necessary and cry "UNFAIR" when they do not seek to complete (or start) projects that would give them great joy. Only a few of the exceptionally wise and disciplined-get the proportions right. It is a delicate balance; getting to what you would LOVE to get to and doing all that needs to be done.

One that I haven't yet mastered-that is FOR SURE.

My devotions show it. My 'learning to read' time with Corynn shows it. My sink shows it.

Do the responsible tasks which you need/want to do each day and then, set aside some time for you-to do a bit of the frivolous. Don't hold yourself back-don't be your own worst enemy. You CAN do good things for yourself. Those 'fun things' are necessary too, sometimes even more necessary than mopping the floor. You need to feel refreshed and happy. If you are 'charged up', you will reflect a happy and contented spirit. You will feel good and happy and that will be a blessing to you AND your family. At the same time, you SHOULD do right things for your home and family. You will not be able to fully enjoy yourself, if you are feeling guilty at having neglected important areas of the home/family.

Work on the tender balance of responsibility and being free. And if you do, let me know how it is going and I will let you know where my own road is leading. :-)

Happy day to you-whatever day you read this!

F*R*E*S*H

I treated myself again. I should probably slow down on my 'treats'. But I just *had* to. Stock on sale at Wegmans for $1.99 a bunch? The meaning behind the flower is "You will always be beautiful to me" which is fitting for me. Stock will always be special to me because it was one of my wedding flowers.

It has a light 'spicey' scent to it and puts forth beautifully vibrant stalks of flower. I have white, lavendar and dark purple inspersed together. Reminds me of what it would look like to have my lilacs accessible to me. I used to love mixing the shades of lilac too.

Notice the vase? That was another treat. But how can one pass up a robin's egg blue vase elegantly showcasing different types of birds; the pottery edge delicately cut to resemble lace, especially when the price tag says only $5.00!?!

Last one...PROMISE!

This will be the last picture of boring skirts for a while...I promise! I managed to squeak one more through the sewing machine before packaging the sewing seeds skirts up for shipment. This one would fit probably a 6/7 year old.

Combo

My dear friend Nancy, upon hearing about how I was stitching skirts, immediately began stitching one for her to contribute as well. She is an amazing seamstress and very giving of her time. She not only made a beautiful skirt lined with eyelet lace and ribbon, but made a coordinating blouse to go with it. SO lovely. She made it in a large size so one of the bigger girls will have stars in her eyes when she receives this!

Ready for mailing...

We headed to the post office on Friday to mail out our skirts and conclude our part in the sewing seeds project. The skirts made quite a pile!

I have to admit. I am sort of sad to be done with it. Perhaps it sounds silly but with each skirt I stitched, I found myself wondering about the girl who would wear it. What does she like to do? Does she have the great happiness that most children posess? What does she find joy in? What will her reaction be when she sees a dress made just for her? Will this skirt help to cheer her soul and make her feel beautiful?

And I found myself praying for her. Where ever she is, who ever she is, however old she is. I don't know these things-but it is an amazing thing to think about-that the omniscient Lord knows precisely who I am praying for. He knows her by name and more intimately than even she might realize. We are connected, she and I, by the love of a Father. I pray that through the trials of her young life, she finds solace, hope and JOY from the Father of all.

I hope the skirts that were so graciously stitched by SO many people show these girls that they are precious. I wish I could show some of them personally. I wish we could bring some home ourselves. If only we could afford it...we would welcome them with open arms.

Old Boxtiment

Corynn asked if she could decorate the package to the African children. I didn't have the heart to tell her they weren't being shipped directly there. Instead, I said, sure thing! When she was done...she asked me to look at it. "Oh-wow. Good job Corynn!" said I. But then she started to TELL me about it. This is what she said.

"It is a picture of the naughty tree in God's garden. And here is (pointing to the little green people) Adam and 'Heve'. Look 'Heve' is eating the apple (pointing to the green ball that is connected to the person by green strings-her version of conveying action) and here is the NAUGHTY SNAKE (the orange string with a head in the middle...that cracked me up!).

I said-"Oh-but who is the red person?"

"That is GOD, silly. He is the biggest-don't you see?"

She really IS learning, isn't she?

I couldn't be prouder, Little Miss.

OUCH!

We were playing outside when I noticed one of our trees had freakishly deep squares all over it. Would you believe we had a pileated woodpecker in our yard and Matt only told me when I showed him this tree?

"Oh yes-I have seen him there quite a few times when I've gotten home from work."

Thanks alot, you stinkpot!

Well, now that I KNOW, I will keep a lookout for our shy and DESTRUCTIVE friend.

The mush of spring

Here is my favorite field tree. Except waters encompass it instead of green fields. Two ducks were on the temporary ponds but flew away when I got out of the car....they are the two specks in the sky. Darn birds. I really wanted them in the water when I took the picture...

Anyway. I am getting such a collection of my 'field trees' pictures that I have decided I am going to buy one of those wall frames with four openings and highlight a photo of 'my' tree enduring all that comes with each of the four seasons. This will be the spring photo.

Picnic Pictage

We were all psyched up for a picnic at the park when we drove by the entrance and saw this. Well, I am SORRY but on a beautiful day like this-and after preparing the kids for a fun outing-there was no WAY we weren't going in there. We drove around the block and then walked to the park. I know-we are lawbreakers but you know what? That was a stupid law.

(I know, I have submission issues I guess...)

Following are a SLEW of pictures from yesterday's outing. I was glad we went when we did-because just an hour after our return home, the sky opened up and it was overcast and wet the rest of the day.

I have more photos to share (non park related) but those will be for another day...the children are awake now so duty calls.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Duck walk

Corynn ambled up to these ducks...and I said 'Corynn-go slow. Tiptoe and be quiet so you don't scare them". So...she 'tiptoed'.

Except it looked more like a leprauchaun springing about in little jumps. These ducks were very gracious to the hip-hopping girl coming at them. They let her get pretty close before waddling away...

The perfect spot

Water fare

Our picnic lunch included sandwiches (Peanut butter and honey for the girls and jelly for the boy), grapes, carrot sticks, chips and water. Oh-and those freakishly blue things? Peep bunnies-of course. Tis the season, after all.

Andrew refused to even TOUCH them-he wanted nothing to do with them. That is, until I made him try it (we have a try EVERYTHING policy at this house-candy included.hehehe) and then-you should have seen that boy eat!

There were some SERIOUSLY massive fish in the reservoir. ICK!

Finally-the food is done, it's time to play!

Maybe I shouldn't have done this...

Glee

I don't think I have ever heard such belly laughs bubble forth from the deeps of my Panda as I did today.

I spy

There is a little miss somewhere in this photo...but you'll have to find her yourself...I am not giving it away!

"Miss, could I please have barbeque sauce with the sausage gravy. Oh, and baneelly shake too." (BTW, that is vanilla...)