Happy Birthday, Ben!

Our middle child and first son, Ben, was born 26 years ago today.  He was such a fun child to raise!  Ben was all about adventure and there were NO dull moments in his childhood!

Ben was a quaint little kid.  Once, after falling down outside when running, he asked me to make a "no running" rule.  I declined and he cried, "Then this sort of thing is going to just keep happening!"  This picture was taken after he'd broken his arm falling from a piece of playground equipment.  I guess I should have made a rule about that.

Ben's first dog was Chloe.  They were so cute together!

I always thought he was a particularly handsome little boy!

This was an adventure that went askew.  He was stuck in the roll-away!  Although I was horrified when I found him, realizing he could've slipped further and suffocated, I still stopped long enough to snap a photo.  What kind of mother does that?!

Ben LIVED to climb.  At age 2 he asked me, during church, if he could climb the walls after the service as they had some interesting indentations and such.  At age 6 he got into some trouble for climbing on top of a library!  Yikes!

Ben loved his siblings.  I especially liked watching him teach Sam (8 years younger) how to do things such as play Nintendo.  And Ben always deferred to Maria (4 years older) on important issues.  He sometimes referred to her as his other mother.

Ben grew up into a nice looking young man as well.  He has a grown-up job...

grown-up responsibilities...

and a beautiful wife...

...Who made a 2 day drive with him to surprise me when I was in the hospital last summer.

But he's still my sweet little boy!

I thank God I am Ben's mother!  He has enhanced our lives more than he knows!

A Day Off

I wrote out an entire post this morning.  I didn't like it. 

So, I decided to take the day off.

See you tomorrow!

Did I Cross The Line?

When Peace, like a River

When Peace, like a River,

attendeth my way;

When sorrows, like sea billows, roll;

Whatever my lot,

thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well

with my soul.

Text: Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888

Tune: Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876

I Can't Help Myself

I really, really love water.  It calls to me! Yesterday I returned to the dam with the overflow waterfall, along with my friend, Diane.  We explored the canyon below as well.  Wyoming has a lot of beauty!  The day was sparkling and we both felt refreshed and grateful.  The pelicans were especially fun!  Maybe the pictures will give you a little break from routine as well.

Please check back tomorrow for one more river photo. 

 I'm saving the best for the last!

The Power and the Glory!

Happy Anniversary to Maria and Eric

Once upon a time, well 10 years ago...

As a parent, one of the things you hope for is that your children will be surrounded by love.  To see our daughter cherished by this young man is a beautiful thing.  You should see the admiration and respect in her eyes at she looks at him still today.

Happy Anniversary to Maria and Eric, a great team!

The Tale of the Poor Little Flower

I have three of these matching planters out on our deck.  I planted four flowers in each and am waiting for them to fill out.  I think they'll be lovely.

However, last night I found one of the pots looking like this...

It may be hard to see but there are only three flowers.  The one on the left had been pulled out!  I found it lying on the deck and quickly replanted it, watering it tenderly.  I had hope for its recovery.   I did not see who did this evil deed so I won't name names.

Today I went out and found that the same poor little plant had once again been uprooted. 

It's poor little pitiful body was lying nearby.

The situation didn't look so hopeful this time.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but try it again. 

Would it be wrong to put this little guy on the prayer chain?

I will keep you posted.

Bummer Day for Bumblebee

Bumblebee, one of our grandogs (or is it with 2 d's...granddogs?) came by for a visit yesterday.  She belongs to our daughter and son-in-law.  See here to understand how loved this pooch is...  http://maria-rose.blogspot.com/2008/03/good-gravy.html      Anyway, she and our new pup, Bode (Be sure to pronounce it Bodie even if it is just in your head.) play together and have a good time. 

Yesterday, though things went bad.  I wasn't home at the time and don't really know what happened but the result was that Bumblebee ended up with a torn nail.  I don't mean that the nail was chipped.  The nail was tearing away from her foot.  Mike was here and had to deal with it.  There was blood.  It was apparent that a trip to the vet was necessary.  Mike took her in and as it turned out, the vet had to give Bumblebee anesthesia in order to do a little surgery! 

I was the one who picked her up from the vet.  She was all excited and jumped up to greet me.  Actually, she did that several times, which surprised me since she was wounded.  Apparently she finally realized that fact, quit jumping, and limped out to the car where she insisted that I needed to lift her in.  Poor Bum.

I don't know if you've been around Basset Hounds much but they often have droopy eyes.  Bumblebee's really aren't too much that way but something about anesthesia makes her eyes look really red and weird.  I don't think she'd mind if I showed you a picture.   Doesn't she look sad?  Really, she isn't.  She perked up and played and ate normally, so don't be worried.  She sporting a cool new bandage!

I hope you heal up quickly, Miss Bumblebee!

Bode's Slide Ride

Come Holy Spirit

image from: stchristophermv.org

Come, gracious Spirit, heav'nly dove,

With light and comfort from above.

Come, be our guardian and our guide;

O'er every thought and step preside.

The Light of truth to us display

And make us know and choose your way;

Plant holy fear in every heart,

That we from God may ne'er depart.

Lead us to Christ, the living way,

Nor let us from his pastures stray;

Lead us to holiness, the road

That we must take to dwell with God.

Lead us to heav'n, that we may share

Fullness of joy forever there;

Lead us to our eternal rest,

To be with god forever blest.

text: Martin Luther

Tune: Erfurt, 1524

Come to Me

33 years ago today Mike sang this song, one he wrote, as I walked down the aisle toward him...

COME TO ME

I woke up this morning and I thanked my Lucky Star

That I get to know and love this person that you are

I opened up my window and the wind walked right in

Blowing warm and gentle so soft upon my skin

It reminded me of you and the way you love to please

You're flowing ever faithful, you're the whispering of peace

chorus:

Come to me, you're my serenity

Lay me down in understanding, Lift me up along my way

To walk with you into this day

Come to me for an eternity

Your spirit and mine

Another day has come to pass, another step into my life

Another passenger has coming aboard to be my loving wife

You sure can wait a long time for the seasonn to be right

And you can watch the stars above

You can wish with all your might

But I'll place my bet on true love

It's the kind that comes to stay

It holds on in the darkness, it lights the brand new day

25 years later he wrote...

I Want To Go On With You

chorus: I want to go on with you

That's what my headlines say

That's my big news today

I want to go on with you

Through the good times, through the trials

I wanna walk the future miles with you

I want to go on with you

I'm lookin back now on all our time

I'm reminiscing and I guess that's fine

In fact, that's what I want to do

I want a chance just to say

That I've had many good days with you

I want to journey here some more

And dance upon life's floor with you.

chorus

I'm hoping that these words are okay

But I think I know you feel the same way

You have really been good for me

I know I'm a better man

 You have helped me understand what's true

So I need to say thankful words

For my life's been stirred by you.

Mike, I'm so grateful that I've had all these years with you. 

I still find you fascinating! 

I am so very grateful for our time together. 

You are a good man and I love sharing this life with you!  

Happy Anniversary!

  (Go to this site for these and other Mike Struck originals.)  http://origin.cdbaby.com/cd/mikestruck 

Underestimating Children

Do you think we underestimate children?  I do.  I don't believe we should expect a child to think as an adult or anything.  I don't think we need to be stressing our children by trying to stuff them with knowledge.  However, I know that I've been guilty of not explaining or teaching things to children just because I underestimated their ability to learn.

Maria and Eric have been showing letters to Cordy for a long time.  She has books that show "a" is for apple and such.  Maria said she'd recently been writing Cordelia's name and Cordy said it.  Maria, realizing Cordy now recognized her own name, tried teaching our names to her.  I didn't know anything about this and when they were over to our place, Maria wrote this...

Maria then said, "Where's Mama's name?" and continued on in random order.  Cordelia was successful at identifying (by pointing) at each word.  You can see how Maria marked under the p and m in our titles, which I thought was clever, helping Cordy see the difference.  Maria did not claim that Cordelia was reading or anything, but it was pretty cool to see that she was recognizing words.  She's only 20 months old, and I'm sure I wouldn't have thought to try that yet.  I would have underestimated her ability to learn this.  The important part of this is that Cordelia was proud of herself; it was a fun experience for her.  She also let us know when she was done performing as well!

This picture doesn't really have anything to do with this post. 

It was taken last month.

I just like to put up pictures of that sweet smile.

Give me a break!  I'm a grandma!





Edify!

Edify, this is a very important word to me.  It goes through my head a lot.  Sometimes it really annoys me.

(from firstcal.org)

The definition of edify includes "to build up, to construct, to strengthen a person" as well as "to inform or enlighten intellectually or spiritually." (from dictionary.reference.com)  When I consider if something is edifying or not, I ask myself if any good can come from it.

I suppose you wonder why such a nice word can be annoying.  Well, sometimes I just want to say stuff, whatever I'm thinking.  It may be something that would classify as gossip or it may be something just a little bit mean.  Why do I want to say things like that?  I don't know, but sometimes I just do.   I'm not proud of it but there it is.  It may be something like, "Hey, have you gained weight?" or "Did you hear that so-and-so cheated on his wife?"  It is even possible to SOUND sweet when you say it.

(from Kerripom.com)

Also, if you say "bless her heart" after such a comment, it's ok, right?

WRONG.  WRONG.  WRONG.

Usually the word "edify" comes to mind when I take time to think before I speak.  I'm guessing the Holy Spirit is responsible for that.  I'll have these little brakes screeching in my head and I find myself thinking, against my will, "Is this edifying?"  Rats!  I am usually, but not always, able to stop myself from blabbering out the non-edifying thoughts. 

On the flip side, sometimes I find myself thinking edifying thoughts about someone but don't make the effort to share those thoughts with them.  I'm trying to notice when I DO have an edifying thought so that I may pass it on.  Even that can be difficult.  Maybe they will think I am a weirdo.  What if they think I am trying to butter them up or think I am being phoney? 

I have to say, though, I've yet to get a bad reaction when I pass on an edifying thought to someone.  It might be one-on-one or it might be saying something edifying in front of a group, but it needs to be said.  This world can be dark and scarey, but we are called to be bright lights of hope, letting Jesus shine from the inside out.  We are to encourage and build-up others.

(from Centralaz.com)



                    Maybe striving for an attitude of edification is where it all starts.

                                   This is a link to a post on a blog I enjoy.
          http://loveinactionjourney.blogspot.com/2011/06/speaking-up-loud-clear.html 
            Janine elegantly writes on this subject.  You could say it is an edifying post. 

So, now you know about being edifying.  Now you know why sometimes I look like I have a little struggle going on in my head as I am questioning myself, "Will this be edifying in any way?"  What are your thoughts on the subject?  Does edification come easily to you?  Tell me about ways you've found you can be edifying.

Moments of our Life

Grandpa and Cordelia getting ready for an evening stroll with Momma & Grandma...

                        Cordy adores Grandpa.

Why follow the beaten path?

It's fun to run!

Here are three generations looking at a swollen river.  Two are holding back the one who wants to touch the water!

Enough with Moderation!

I know, I know... moderation is a good thing.  For instance, eating in moderation means you will manage your weight and probably feel a lot better. 

image from photobucket.com

If you are going to drink alcohol, moderation means you won't have to deal with feeling bad the next morning, you won't make a fool of yourself, and your liver will be happy.

image from caveday.com

Even things that are good for you, such as exercise, are best done with some moderating limits.   I don't think I am in danger of surpassing those limits anytime soon but it is good to be aware of the risk anyway.

But, I'm tired of moderation.... comment moderation that is.  I've decided to take a risk and let you all put your comments directly on my posts without waiting for me to get back to approve them.  Sometimes it takes me all day to do that moderating stuff and in the meantime, no one else gets to read each other's comments.

I know, I'm wild and crazy.  Hopefully everyone will play nice so none of you will have to read mean or nasty comments.  If that happens, I may change my plan.

Previously, I went crazy and dropped the word verification requirement for comments.    I have had NO spam so that has worked out fine.   Hopefully this risk will work out just as well for me.

 image from lisburncity.gov.uk

So here we go; Let the comments begin! 

Treasure Hunt

When my daughter,Maria, and I first talked about having a little business, my thoughts mostly centered around the idea of an outlet for pieces we create ourselves.  We both love designing and crafting, but there is just so much we can wear or display in our own homes.  We like to design a WIDE variety of lovelies, ensuring we are never bored with it.

Then one day Maria started talking about incorporating vintage items into our repertoire.  That sounded intriguing!  Maria, with her art history degree and good eye, has learned a lot about vintage and antiques.  She's been teaching me as we go and it has been such fun! 

For one thing, searching for these delightful items takes some time... time together!  Cordelia comes along and gives her opinion as well.  Even when we don't find pieces that fit into our store, we ALWAYS see something interesting, something with an obviously fascinating history.  Sometimes it isn't the items for sale but those people selling them... or fellow shoppers!  We always have a good time and that's what's important.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those times.  Maria, Cordelia and I  went treasure hunting! 

You can see how excited we were to head out on our adventure!  Well, Cordelia really wanted to get down and do something else at the time Grandpa snapped this photo, but she got into the spirit later.  We headed to a local antique sale, leaving the men at home to watch tennis.  I think they probably felt bad about being left behind but they held it together and hid their disappointment.

When on such a treasure hunt, there are a lot of items that must be sifted through that do NOT qualify as a treasure.  Well, everyone's idea of treasue can vary but we try to only purchase doo-dads that WE find to be charming.  I notice we are especially drawn to dandies that seem a bit unique or display some sort of visual surprise, but we have also found some appealing classic beauties.

These are all items that will soon be available at Wyoming Rose Boutique, but first we must sort, clean and otherwise tweak to be sure each piece is at its best.  That is part of the fun as well!