A man of few words and a lot of twang.

 Nate calls it "doin nuthin."

I call it "enjoying a couple hours of quiet to meditate on my Monday morning bible study while knitting a bowtie scarf from 100% wool yarn that I frogged from an old project sitting in my living room appreciating the autumn palette and blend of colors."

Nate calls it "gettin it dun."

I call it "putting my precious children in harm's way by raising them in the bucket of a tractor to trim the branches that hinder the zip line from zipping and may cause a snag which would send them orbiting to the ground at full speed.  Never mind that, now I am worried that your foot will slip and the bucket will slam to the ground which may result in death."

First Day Emotions

10% Tears.
2 school buses. 1 middle school-er. 1 elementary student.

10% Excitement.
New schedule. New school.

10% Pride.
They are just so stinking cute in their new clothes and big grins.

10% Anxiety.
What if Drew can't get his locker open? What if Finn needs his brother?

10% Relief.
Empty house and a pot of coffee.

10% Regret.
WAIT! We didn't do everything we wanted to do this summer!

10% Exhaustion.
Pool. Pond. Trapping. Snake catching. Friends overnight. Four-wheeling. Tubing. Ohio. Soccer. I don't think I could have packed in any more.

10% Fear.
What if something happens to my boys when they are away from me?

10% Butterflies.
Drew's big eyes and white lips as he saw his bus come around the curve.

10% Curious.
If I could just be a little fly that rides around with Drew all day...

100% Trust.
Trusting in the Lord to be with the boys as in Deuteronomy 32...

He shielded him and cared for him;
he guarded him as the apple of his eye,
like an EAGLE that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young,
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft.
The LORD alone led him;
no foreign god was with him.
Praying a school prayer...

Help my boys to consider their school work as an act of worship.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.


As they go throughout their days, may their words and their thoughts be pleasing in Your sight.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Give them friends who will spur them on to love You and serve You with all their hearts.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.

Use my boys to point others to a meaningful relationship with You.

May they take up their cross and follow You, even down those school hallways.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Be of Good Comfort

Because my friend is facing a battle with cancer.

Because the coral knit in my cabinet made me think of Isaiah 40:31... But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Because, sometimes, at 2:00 AM, anxiety can turn into creativity.

Because it's true that a prayer can go into every single stitch.

Because every mama appreciates a new pair of pj's.

Because I can't heal her or remove her fears, but I can sew.

Lesson One

Lesson one... do not hide
Lesson two... there are right ways to fight
And if you have questions
We can talk through the night

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I've been where you're going
And it's not that far
it's too far to walk
But you don't have to run
you'll get there in time

Lesson three... you're not alone
Not since I saw you start breathing on your own
You can leave, you can run, this
will still be your home

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I've been where you're going
And it's not that far
it's too far to walk
But you don't have to run
you'll get there in time
Get there in time

In time, to wonder where the days have gone
In time, to be old enough to
wish that you were young
When good things are unraveling,
bad things come undone
You weather love and lose your innocence

There will be liars and
thieves who take from you
Not to undermine the consequence
But you are not what you do
And when you need it most
I have a hundred reasons why I love you

If you weather love and lose your innocence
Just remember... lesson one.

Jersey Boy

Today, I am a hero in my son's eyes.

Sometimes, it takes pancakes for breakfast.
Or apologizing for my wrongdoing.
Or filling a big jug of ice water for a 100 degree soccer practice.
Or buying expensive baby formula for his animals.
Or praying for a new dog and no bad dreams.
Or allowing an occasional spin on Dad's four wheeler.

Today, all I had to do is some trimming, serging, and sewing to size down an adult competition jersey found at Goodwill to fit my skinny 75 pounder.

I don't get sweet smelling hugs from a girl in pink, or a giggly thank you. But I do get a big grin and a swell of the shoulders as he swaggers out on the practice field.

And for today, that's all the thanks I need.

And I just laugh when asked, "Who let Corona sponsor a kid's team?"

Free Kittens To A Loving Home

Nine babies
Bottle-fed
Can already do tricks, like hang upside down from your finger
Contact Drew for more information.

There is some good news...

Dan found their mama.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

My latest find... 5 Illustrated Children's Songbooks printed in London, England... 35 cents a piece.

The past week was filled with prayer requests for five different children. When I found these books on Saturday, I sat down Indian-style in the aisle to read them all. I trust that He can bear our burdens, but I had to give special thanks when He reached me through the dusty shelves of a thrift store to remind me of His promises.

There's NOTHING too hard for Thee, dear Lord,
There's NOTHING too hard for Thee,
With Thee is all the power and love,
There's NOTHING too hard for Thee.

So I'm TRUSTING alone in Thee, dear Lord,
I'm TRUSTING alone in Thee,
With Thee is all the power and love,
I'm TRUSTING alone in Thee,

I'm TRUSTING alone in Thee, dear Lord,
To meet my every need;
With Thee is all the silver and gold,
I'm TRUSTING alone in Thee.

The GIANTS great and strong we see
Filling up the land;
But Thou art with us, Lord,
and we will TRUST Thy mighty hand.

I will not FEAR the way, dear Lord,
I will not FEAR the way,
For Thou art ever with me, Lord,
I will not FEAR the way.

Praise the Lord, all five children are recovering. Looks like they're going to be receiving some cute little songbooks.