I'm so glad we've had this time together.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,
to mind your own business
and to work with your hands,
just as we told you,
I Thessalonians 4:11

Based on this verse, some other thoughts I've been having and that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, I've decided to stop blogging. At least for the time being.

I've thoroughly enjoyed blogging (over 1,900 posts these past 6 years!). Sharing my faith, my family, my life with those of you who stop in here to read.

Let's keep in touch though. Most of you I can still communicate with through facebook or email. Or snail mail - we could do our part to keep the post office in business!

I may return to blogging someday - if I do, I'll let y'all know through whatever means I have for keeping in touch. Leave a comment or send me an email if you'd like to keep in touch.

Thanks so much for listening to my ramblings lo these many years. Y'all are the best!

~~~~~~
I'd like to leave you with these Wonderful Words:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-39

this weekend, I...

• 

• porch sat with the folks
• picked up a few things at the Mennonite market
• enjoyed the ride
• suffered more 90 weather
• canned some peach honey
• porch sat with the folks
  
• enjoyed another good Sunday school discussion - folks were honest and vulnerable and God is so good
• appreciated the time of worship (and the freedom to do so!)
• came home and listened to Jon and Kristi's church and heard Jon singing on the worship team
• had an esophageal spasm (lasted about 30 minutes - though not bad enough to send me to the hospital this time)
• took a nap (that spasm wore me out)
• went to church to hear the 3rd-6th graders tell about their time at camp. INSPIRING!
• porch sat with the folks
• did some pondering and came to a semi-decision
• watched a little Hercule Poirot on PBS
  

You? See what others did this past weekend over at Becky's blog.

walking

In this week's Sunday school lesson we are encouraged to choose a person from the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) and study that person. How does the story of their faith journey challenge my own spiritual journey?

I chose Enoch. We know very little about Enoch.

Genesis 5: 21-14

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.
And after he became the father of Methuselah,
Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years.
Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found ,because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

How does Enoch challenge my spiritual journey? He walked with God. He had faith. He pleased God.


I do not want to be like Ahaziah King of Judah who 'walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD' (2 Kings 8:27).

I want to be like Enoch.


To walk with God...to please Him...to have faith. This is my goal and my challenge.


"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM." Colossians 3:17

while I was not blogging...

...we were enjoying a brief but fun visit from my aunt and uncle.

I stayed with them on my way up to and home from Josh and Sadie's home. They are conveniently located not quite halfway between our house and Nate and Michelle's.

Now that Pat is retired and Daniel is out of college (no more tuition!!!!), I am planning on more frequent trips up north. And stops at my aunt and uncle's. However, it sure was nice to have them here for a few days.

We went down to the Amish market (actually, they are Old Order Mennonites) and bought some wonderful produce and fresh baked goods.

We shopped at the fair trade store Mom and Dad's Sunday school teachers own. They have wonderful goods at very reasonable prices. Someday soon they will have a website. Which I will be sure to shamelessly promote here.

We went to Fort Loudoun and met an assistant surgeon who offered to 'purge us, puke us or bleed us'. We declined. He also helpfully mentioned that he could amputate any limbs that needed amputating or remove any musket balls we might have acquired. We declined - preferring to hang on to our limbs and not having recently acquired any musket balls.

We ate well and we porch sat. 'Twas very nice to have them here.

~~~~~
Today is about the 100th day (slight exaggeration) of 90+ degree weather. But the lawn needs mowing, so we will take turns on the mower and drink plenty of water and apply plenty of sunscreen.
~~~~~
We were at an ice cream social last night. We didn't know anybody there - except for our financial adviser and his secretary (they were throwing the party). We sat next to an older couple and started chatting about the weather...then gardening...then found out they know some of our neighbors.... It made what might have been a slightly uncomfortable time very pleasant. They told us they just canned 171 quarts of green beans and made 5 gallons of sauerkraut. I feel like such a slacker.
~~~~~~
This past weekend, Jon, Kristi, Josh and Sadie went on a little vacation.

So did Nate and Michelle. And it just so happened that for a brief period of time they were in the same place at the same time. Back in our Northwoods hometown. Uncle Nate and Auntie Michelle got to meet sweet Miss Sadie for the first time.

Wish I could have been there.

Nate and Michelle went out to dinner and were waited on by bb's daughter.
Jon, Kristi, Josh and Sadie went out to lunch and were waited on by Candy's daughter.
Fun!

this weekend, I

• porch-sat with Pat and the folks
• visited with neighbors
• canned peaches
  
• made peach juice which I will can into peach jelly and peach honey today and tomorrow
• sorted through stuff
• read
  
• stitched
  
• played piano
• porch sat with the folks
• killed japanese beetles
• picked tomatoes
• enjoyed a good discussion in Sunday school
• sang in the choir
• snoozed through the first 20 minutes of the World Cup
• read the paper
• clipped coupons and made the grocery list
• porch sat with the folks
• went to Sonic with the folks when Dad suggested we go enjoy a $.99 cent Sunday
• who could refuse that?
• watched the brilliant Hercule Poirot solve The Murder on the Orient Express on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre
• woke at 2ish to the wonderful sound of thunder and rain
• lost power for an hour

You? Join the weekend fun at Becky's.

canning peaches

Today the peaches are ready. Perfect! I'll be canning them today.

And...in a blackbelt tightwad move, I'll be saving the peels for this:

Peach Honey

Ingredients:

8 cups peach juice (from peelings)
4 cups sugar

Method: Save all washed, sound pieces and peelings from fruit used for preserves and pickles. Cover with water and cook slowly in a covered saucepot until soft. Then put in a cheesecloth bag and press to remove all juice. Drip the juice through a jelly bag and measure. Place in a sauce-pan and heat. When it boils vigorously, add sugar at the rate of half as much sugar as juice. Boil rapidly until the consistency of honey. Pour into hot jars, leaving 1⁄4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and adjust lids.

Process (10 minutes boiling water bath for pints)

all over the place

fritillary on zinnia

For a brief moment yesterday, our car thermometer registered 100 degrees. I hope to never see that again! Today it is supposed to only 89, with a possibility for some much needed rain.

Since it has been oppressively hot all week, I've been spending a little bit more time on the computer than usual. I can justify this. :) Pat is sorting through some things that we will be
selling on ebay and craig's list and any where else we can. So, I've been checking prices. And getting motivated.

First stop was this blog. She earns her living by buying things at garage sales, thrift shops, etc and reselling them. She has made some fantastic purchases and I confess I got a little bit lost in her archives. 'Seriously? I've been sitting here for an hour reading about stuff she bought in September of 2006?'


BTW - am I the only one who does that? Sees an appealing blog and reads through some of the archives? Please tell me I'm not.


There is no way that I would want to start hitting garage sales and thrift stores to develop an inventory of things to sell - but it works for her. Besides we have plenty of our own inventory. No need to add anything else!

The other blog I read - which is diametrically opposed to the first- is this one.
I am increasingly attracted to the minimalist sensibility ( though not the Buddhist thought that often accompanies).

One blog about consumption, albeit the second hand variety; the other blog about purging possessions. Yes, I'm definitely all over the place.

And speaking of all over the place. Did you hear this really cool interview? (Scroll down for the link to play the interview - doesn't Carole look fantastic? She is 68!) If I were to ever go hear any popular artists in concert - it would be Carole King and James Taylor. You?

have I mentioned...

how hot it is? Dad said it was 101 yesterday with a heat index of 105. Or was it 106? Or does it matter when it is that high?

We are staying close to home and conserving energy by reading, doing paper work and needle work (me, not Pat).

I make a jar of sun tea most days. One family size tea bag in a quart jar placed out on the front walk. In just a few hours - tea. I also make lemonade (1 C. sugar, 1 C. lemon juice 1 C. water - stir until sugar is dissolved; then add 4 C. more water). And...we have been mixing lemonade and ice tea - half and half - a refreshing drink on these sweltering days.

It was nowhere near this warm on this date 28 years ago. I remember it so well.

The day our second son was born. And now he has children of his own! Unbelievable!

Happy Birthday, Jon!!!!

Our hairapist is recovering from cancer surgery. She spent the weeks prior to her surgery crocheting two baby blankets - one for our Sadie. Isn't she the best? Facing serious surgery - she thought of others.

I've stitched up a few burp cloths to send along.

Another cute picture of my cute parents:
Stay cool everyone!

summer (h)eats

Ahhh... summer. It is most definitely here. The weatherman announced last night on the news that there had been 24 days over 90 degrees this year (I'm thinkin' - only 24?). Our grass crunches when you walk on it.

More 90+ for the rest of the week too. We do our yard work before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m.

And in the interim? Yesterday I made another peach cobbler (drool) and some more pesto (double drool). I'll pick blueberries tomorrow and buy more peaches and do some canning. Must buy corn too.

Love eating summer time food. Ripe, juicy melon; peaches. Thick tomato slices ( with a dusting of sugar - my bad). French bread slathered with pesto - topped with tomatoes and mozarella cheese and slid under the broiler for a minute or two. Blueberry or peach cobbler. Or blueberry and peach cobbler! Sweet crunchy corn on the cob.

Love eating summer time food.


What are some of your favorite summer time eats?

this weekend, I...

• 

• spent lots of time with the folks and the sis
• went to visit our 'hairapist' at the hospital (please pray for Harriet as she recovers from cancer surgery
• made peach cobbler
• ate peach cobbler
• ate peaches (so good)
  
• crawled into Mom and Dad's crawl space to retrieve Mom's journals - particularly the one chronicling the adoption of my niece Christina (she was in a Romanian orphanage and Mom and Dad were living in Romania - long story...I'll tell you someday)
• cleaned porches and refrigerators
• stood in line at newly opened Dollar General in hopes of being one of the first 50 (motivation - $10 gift card). No gift card for me, but instead $5 off my $20 order, so I was somewhat placated
• took sissy to the airport :(
• sang in choir and felt that familiar lump in my throat as I sang patriotic hymns and considered how blessed we are
  

the folks on a swing at a resort in Georgia last week - aren't they cute?

I've already done battle with the Japanese beetles this morning....time to tackle the weeds!

Join the weekend fun at Becky's!

couldn't resist..

...posting a few more pictures of our sweet Sadie:






Yesterday, Mom, Dad, Suzi and KimmeeSue and I went to Georgia (via North Carolina).

We had a wonderful time and a delicious lunch at a beautiful resort there.

Today, though, I'm paying the piper. Two weeks prior to my trip and all the while I was gone the temps were in the 90's. Too hot to work outside, but not too hot for weeds to grow. They are taking over the place!

It was only 65 this morning when I got up, so I'm going to spend some time pulling weeds. We are harvesting a pint of cherry tomatoes every day - I'm thinking of drying some in my 2000 Town and Country silver minivan dehydrator. It will be nice to have sun dried tomatoes this winter!

This morning the windows are open for the first time in weeks and there is a cool (ish) breeze blowing through the house. I've already drowned about 3 dozen japanese beetles; now to tackle the weeds. Hope y'all have as fun a day as I'm having!