Fall

Ah, So I just figured out how to send my blog a picture from my cell phone. Well, my hubby really just told me, no actual figuring necessary. This is a photo from the beach yesterday, I thought it was great- fall at the beach. I intended to post a pix of my delicious cinnamon smothered Swedish pancake, made by my favorite Swede, with a cup a coffee. It was a yummy picture, but I took too long to send it and well, it got deleted... all that is left is this:

Swedish pancakes, cinnamon, coffee, combine that with pleasant conversation and crafty plans; it's been a lovely evening.

Change

So, I changed my template. The black was getting a bit drab. I really want to blog more. I feel like I have all these things to share or say. But usually I'm laying down to sleep or out and about, or taking care of my little walking baby (toddler? gulp. just not quite there yet!). So, I sadly seldom write the things I want to express. Just thought I'd share that. Probably most everyone feels that way. Anyway, so... I updated my blog to a brand new color! So exciting- but, on the other hand it's kinda drab too, in a lack-of-colorful style way... maybe I'll change it again sometime, now that I know how. I have been feeling a bit brighter lately. Like, I recently decided I like orange. "'Orange!??!!?!' you say. 'Isn't orange a sworn enemy of yours?'" Well yes, it was. But I'm in a orangey bright mood lately, so... here's to orange, and blog changes, and writing, and illustrating (something else I'm doing!), and finally getting a tad more sleep, and here's also to hope, to futures, and to now.

Random dribble from September

She sat in the coffee shop sipping her latte and thinking. The tap tap tap of keystrokes buzzed in her ear. She looked up. A man with a laptop, steaming cup at his right, and electronic ear quickly powered through his message.
When I was a kid and people talked to themselves my mom told me not to stare. Later I learned they were crazy and needed help. Now it's just a bluetooth and means you're important. Man, I gotta stop letting my mind wander....

Oh, Dig That Crazy Beat.

Well, now that I have a little person to care for, and to mold her mind in fun and glorious ways, I also have a great responsibility to pass down all the songs I grew up with and love (?).

Here's a running list, I'll update it as I get suggestions.

Gypsy Rover
Jump Down Turn Around, pick a bale of cotton
Ride a little horsey go to town
Oh, they built the ship Titanic
I love you, a bushel and a peck
My Bonny lies over the ocean
Hava Nagila
Jesus Loves Me
I know a girl whose name is _______ (mom written)
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my precious creep (to Braham's lullaby, mom written)
Shortnin' Bread
Do your ears hang low do they wobble to and fro?
Who's that knocking at my door, who's that knocking at my door?
Late last night when we were all in bed...
Down by the old mill stream
Tom Dooley

Organization

Hmm... do you keep a housekeeping schedule? Or any other type? Just wondering. I'm not really into it yet.

My schedule goes something like this: when people are coming, clean up alot. Occasionally clean the floor and wipe stuff down that looks gross & that Pumpkin might want to lick. Vacuum every once in a while, more often would be a lot better. Clean the bathroom often & keep it nice. Do the laundry when the basket is full, or overflowing. Try to put the laundry away after doing it- if not, at least throw it in the closet (in nice piles of course). Throw old fridge food away every time we shop (we have no choice since our fridge is for midgets- no offense to midgets, but it's true). Keep the kitchen as clean as possible given the space. Clean off the kitchen counters/stove/areas every few days because we put crap on it & it bugs us & we need the space. Every night we put toys away.

That's about it I guess- at least what I could think of quickly- I know there's much more. I just read a friend of mine's schedule of cleaning... woah. That's kinda ambitious. At times I put things on a list, but I tend to only get through a few of the things that I mean to do. Well, it's something to think about. It could help. I think I would prefer to bunch more things together every few days than an every day schedule. What do you do?

Joy, Peace, Awareness

I went to a cool teaching yesterday- at the end the guy had us each take a slip of paper & read/pray a blessing over 4 others as we went down the line. -If we felt inclined, we could keep praying, no rush or anything. Below is the blessing I was given to read, it was amazing- this is my prayer often; it felt especially poignant in that I've been struggling with maintaining peace before sleep at night instead of insomnia which I had been fighting for a few months (until a great friend prayed for me at the end of April in WA), and yet the struggle continues now and again... So, I ended up feeling especially blessed by this- the blessing was intended to read over others, but God read it over me as I read it aloud- each time I read it, I could just feel myself becoming more joyful and at rest- I slept well last night too. :)


Day 6 - I bless you with an awareness of God's presence.
Spirit (your name), I bless you with the great joy that comes from experiencing the presence of God, sensing him watching over your life. I bless you with experiencing the joy of his presence in private and public worship. I bless you with knowing his presence in the night watches as your subconscious mind and spirit are open to the Spirit of God so he can minister to you while your conscious mind is not cluttering things up. I bless you with sensing the presence of God in those things which the world calls problems and pain. I bless you in the name of Jehovah Shammah, God who is always there for you.

Sisterly Fun Update:

Update 1:

The Chicken had 4 babies.

Update 2:

The Chicken and the 4 babies disappeared. Only feathers remain.

Update 3:

Another Chicken also had 4 babies. They live safely under the house-steps. Wheeew.

Brrrrr, is it cold in here?

I just found out I have post-micturition convulsion syndrome, so... have patience... be kind... don't discriminate or judge.

and I will kindly try to do the same when we find out whatever it is you have.

Sisterly Fun

Here's a good time- gathering eggs with my sister at her place... For some reason I think this video is so funny and keep laughing when I watch it. But, Daru said "it's not that funny", but he tends to say that a lot, and I tend to laugh a lot. Now here I go again, laughing at the funniness of his phrase & my response! Seriously though, me and Squachy had a good time.

Fancies of Fruitfulness

I just bought a young Cherimoya tree, hoping it will fruit someday! If you ever get a chance, give one a try... delicious!

Thumbkin Attitude

relax, and enjoy...


ahh, now that's what I call preschool charm...

Mixed Feelings

While leaving the house today for a walk,Daru turns to me and says "When I filled out Republican on that form, I felt sleazy". "That's funny you mention it," I say, "I wasn't going to say anything, but when filling out Democrat, I felt betrayal". Daru and I are registered non-partisan. We decided to fill out these forms which give non-partisan voters the option of selecting Republican, Democrat, or Independent for the June 3rd Primaries. We split the difference so we can look at both sides and vote that way. Anyway, interesting reactions we had... Sad that there isn't one easy answer and one party to proudly stand by. It's hard to say which side to side with... it seems an issue by issue stance is the only way to go. So, here we are - sleazy, betrayal, and all.

baby thoughts & a call to love

From my online journal ramblings, thought I would share:

"March 14, 2008

I just love our little person. She is so cute and sweet. I love her little personality and the joy that is so evident even when she is discontent or feeling lousey. Today I pointed out the flowers on all the bushes we passed and just loved looking at them. Early this morning we got up and watched cars pass on the street. And today when we put her in her stroller to walk up to look at the nursery for more flower gazing, she just kept chuckling in delight as we walked up there- I guess she was enjoying the ride and the view, despite her sadness over her cold re-lapse.... She is so amazing and such a joy to watch grow and learn... lately you can just see her wheels turning and the connections she's making with her world. Hiding things under a burp rag and uncovering it is a fun game- she always knows its there and enjoys waiting or helping uncovering the toy. Last weekend we were out celebrating (Shmamy's) birthday and she grabbed my cup of water, like usual, she also grabbed my straw- this time I let her play w/ it and she put it in her mouth and blew bubbles in my water! So funny, I didn't even know she could do that and figured she'd just gnaw on it as a teether. Then, I could feel water going up it & she drank some water - much to our surprise, and hers too! She blew more bubble and drank some more before the night was out... so silly! Often, I take a toy and having it bounce around and eventually have it land on my head, then I wait until she looks at it, and then I say "elephant on my head!... oh no!" or "hedgehog on my head!.... oh no!" or whatever it is, this past week she started looking at the toy, and then quickly looking down at my face waiting for me to me to say "elephant on my head... oh no!" in mock-surprise, so that she could smile at the joke... sometimes smiling even before I got to the punch-line... it's so cute to see her joking with me! :) Her frequent smiles are priceless, her face lights up when she catches sight of us, what an amazing gift- to be loved so much by our little Pumpkin!"


Anyway, it's such a joy having her in our lives, and so fun marveling at these little growth spurts. Everyday things are so fun to look at and relive through the eyes of a baby! It also makes me think so much about the purpose of our lives and what it's all about. I think sometimes we so lose sight of the simple truth to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, and get wrapped up in the details of what we feel called to. Sometimes coming back to a baby's perspective, responding so readily to love, and embracing so easily comfort, marveling at creation, and delighting in other's delight is just the way to go. Now, to tap into God's love and really embrace it, enjoy it, take the time to be still and receive, to hear His heart for others and be brave enough to extend His love... this is where it gets a little more tricky... this is more the discipline side of things, but what a joy when we do. (at least, I think it is - when I get more disciplined, I'll let you know! haha Actually, this is the process we're all on, right? To learn to walk by His side and listen to His heartbeat and whisper as we go along. Hopefully the Voice becomes clearer, the knowing more intimate, and our response more readily given the longer we know Him)

The Gospel Message

You are the bride to the Bridegroom, and the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ.
You must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood to know Him, and your union with Him will make you one, and your oneness with Him will allow you to be identified with Him His purity allowing God to interact with you, and because of this you will be with Him in eternity, sitting at His side and enjoying His companionship, which will be more fulfilling than an earthly husband or an earthly bride.
All you must do to engage God is be willing to leave everything behind, be willing to walk away from your identity, and embrace joyfully the trials and tribulations, the torture and perhaps martyrdom that will come upon you for being a child of God in a broken world working out its own redemption in empty pursuits.

-Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller, summation of the gospel message