Gone Fishing
We are at our home away from home-it is amazing and dream-like to wake up to sunshine everyday. I love my home state from about April-November and even a while into December–but then somehow she turns into this dark place where the sun only makes a rare appearance. This is the sunshine state.
We have this great dock off the back of the house on a canal. There are a lot of canals here-last year we fed an Alligator(I know-I know-we’re not supposed to do that)–and this year–it is fishing-no alligators. It first started out as a casual affair. A little fishing here and a little fishing there with complaints that there must not be any fish in there. I would lecture about patience and try to teach a life lesson-but experience is the best teacher.
After this catch-things have become more heated around here.
My Hero-also knows how to filet a fish-among all the other things he knows! My girl wanted to watch-but it was her beloved fish he was dissecting–but she did manage to video the whole thing.
This was her first bite of her beloved catch–
And then her reaction to the first bite! Not so much loving her first catch. But…
…My Hero and I thought it was the best fish we had ever eaten–nothing like fresh fish–
*For anyone interested-we believe it was a large mouth Bass–at least 2 feet long–
Every-time I turned around this dock was getting a work-out. Fishing-Fishing-Fishing…
And this one time there was this fish on the line that was huge–we were in strange territory here–you never know what you could catch in South Florida–there could be a gator on the line–the pole bent over–
But…we are pretty sure this was just a Carp–we call those junk fish in Michigan. It was fun to catch–but this fish was one of those that got away–it was too big to pull up–and the string broke…
No fish dinner for tonight–but I am sure when I ask where the kids are-I will hear, “GONE FISHING”!!
Week 1-Resolution
It is a new year-actually it is the 5th day into the new year. It came very fast for me and as most people have their resolutions for 2012 solidified in their day planners-I am still running mine through my head. A new start-a clean slate–really?
A photo challenge spurred me to think about my resolution for 2012-what do I want to do better? -well- everything- -so that was out–I don’t do well with goal setting. I want to do everything-how do you choose just a few things to fix? Eat better? Exercise? Be a better person? –who doesn’t want those things? I knew I had to seek deeper-and that in itself can be a little scary. I don’t like change–plain and simple–I will put it out there-it is good for me and in the end-I am happy for the change, but I fight it like a cat fights water.
I want to change inside-those things that are unseen-I want more courage-I want to see the unseen in my life. My soul is noisy-I have just realized this–and noise in my soul will rob me of joy and peace-why this noise? My God is calling to me-He says, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”
My resolution for 2012- B.e.l.i.e.v.e
A belief is what you accept to be true. I think I have made so much noise by pushing truth out and allowing so much noise to drown out the voice of He who gives truth–I want to Believe–
Believe God is enough–be willing to lay down the noise makers in my soul–and Believe that only He is enough.
It will be quite a journey–this year of 2012–I believe God will change me–I believe He will give me that soul rest. I believe, Lord-help thou my unbelief.
Week One of my 2012 P52 project-Resolution
Hitherto
The word ‘hitherto’–is a look into the past for me. A lingering on the events over the past year that are now gone. I can look back with gratefulness to a year full of God’s graces and mercies. I tend to swing here and there-as do most people who live in this body of flesh. I can look back at times of sickness and see God’s healing hand and gentle touch of guidance when I have gone out of the way. In my trials and in my triumphs-the Lord has been right by my side. He truly is my very best friend. I can look back down memory lane and see his lovingkindness and faithfulness.
This has been a year of changes-and I am so grateful also that hitherto–I did not stay stumped and without growth. The growth at times was painful. The growth at times was glorious-the most glorious is knowing I will be a Nana soon–my son-and his wife-will have a son. That changes me inside. I see that all my hopes and dreams and all the toils of raising children is to see them raise their own children-and because of the toil and the pain and the growth and the hopes and the fears-all that I loved-all the prayers will be passed on now. My grandson will be raised-and prayed for and hoped for and toiled for-in the hopes that his life will glorify God.
So–this year doesn’t mark an end because ‘hitherto’ also points to the future–more toils, more strength, more battles, more victories, more prayers, more trials, more temptations, more victories!
Is it over now? There is more yet–He who has helped me hitherto will help me on my journey all the way through–
So to these children(sorry Jenna, you left too soon)–we toil, we pray, we hope, because the joy that is yet to be fulfilled is our hope in you. Glorify God with your lives–for your joy and the joy of hitherto-yet to come–it is He who will help you–hitherto.
“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (Samuel 7:12)
*my thoughts on a devotion by Charles Spurgeon
On With December
December has come as quickly as I can remember this year. Time keeps forcing me on. The time of celebrating the birth of my Savior is here. May all your days be merry and bright-from our family to yours-
Merry Christmas!
Silent Night
This is actually the video for my Sign Language Blog-but I thought it would be nice to put it here. One of my favorite songs of Christmas.
Good-Bye November
The last of leaves have fallen-Thanksgiving feast with thankfulness done. We are on to brisk winds and the short cold days of December. Christmas is in the air-but today-I am still holding onto November.
Linking up with Texture Tuesday-and so thankful for so many things…
A look at my layers palete in PSE 10
Here is the before-
Happy Thanksgiving!
Empowered Youth
Empowered Youth
Definition. — Youth from all over the United States gathering together to hear preaching on topics that point right at them, to play games that only ‘those of age’ appreciate, competitions that prepare and equip them for service now and in the future, to get away for 5 days to make decisions that can last a lifetime.–
This Youth Conference has always meant in the past that Dustin and Andrea are coming!–and they did. They brought several of the Youth from their Church. Andrea is growing my little grandson-and looks *cliche* ‘cute as a button’–and Dustin–my first boy–is going to be a Dad–I remember saying to him at one point–another *cliche*–”just wait until it is your boy standing up there!” Where? I’ll get to that in a minute. Everytime Dustin and Andrea come time vanishes–they could literally stay for a month and it would fly by like a week. Ok-except for the cooking part. I try to make lots of goodies for them. They are pretty busy with the conference-so breakfast is usually above and beyond. I was able to try several things off of Pinterest. My new addiction.
This was my favorite–Blackberry Sweet Rolls. Go find my Pinterest - and you will find all things I tend to stress in my life. I cooked several different things from my Pinterest. I really hated to see them go-but we will see them again in December and then in February-when my grandson will arrive. so-back to Empowered Youth–
This was my boys first year of Empowered Youth. It is hard for me to believe he is old enough to be called a youth now-and no longer a child. He is 12 years old. To me-that still seems like a child-but he says and does so many things now that leap him out of that catergory. I think I prayed without ceasing his first day there. Would he stand up for himself-would he humble himself to hear from God-would he remember to wash his hands before he ate?– I survived and he thrived.
He worked very hard to be able to participate in two of the competitions. He knew last year after Empowered Youth that he wanted to preach in the Preaching Competition. He knew what he wanted to preach about. He was really bold about January of last year-and come October of this year-got very cold feet. We have always told him that he must complete what he has started. He sought help-he talked to his brother-he got advice from two different Preachers that he admires-he worked with one of the Preachers in our Church-and he worked hard to get rid of the fear that always comes your first time speaking in public. He preached his sermon to his family-he preached to his basketball-he preached to his sister-(because he does that all the time anyway).
He also competed in the Instrumental competition. He had also been working on a very difficult song for almost a year. About 3 weeks before the competition, his Dad asked him to play it for him. Now, keep this in mind. My Hero is amazing at most everything-I say most-because he just does not get music. He is very opinionated about what he likes and what he doesn’t like-but he really has no clue as to why. Adam plays his song-waits for the praise from his father. His father looks at him and says, “I don’t like it.”–That was it–I don’t like it–I knew what that meant-My boy’s father is also his Hero–that meant I had to find a new song AND explain to his violin teacher (who is absolutely amazing!) why the song they had been working on every week for the last 10 months was not going to work–with only 3 weeks–3 weeks! I went online and found a song that was to my Hero’s liking-and we made sure he liked it before my boy even took his bow out of the case. Again-he worked really hard–practicing right after breakfast and again after dinner. You see-my boy is not a violin kind of guy. Violin’s are soft and magical and they sing–there is not another instrument that can sing-that is why I make him play it–my boy plays sports–he lives and breathes sports–the violin–that is my thing I force on my child. Why? Because I know it will make him a better person-because I know he will be able to use music his whole entire life–how many 90 year old men do you see out there catching fly balls or making a tackle? But–give a 90 year old man a violin-and if he knows what to do with it-he can make it sing–ok, so yes, I am good at convincing myself how great it is for him–it is.
To me-he was a winner before he stepped into the room where he was competing. I am his mom-I saw how hard he worked. I saw him get upset and then give all of his fears and insercurites over to God. I saw him seek out good council. I saw him give his all-and see all of that work encouraged. He was 1st in the Preaching for the 7th and 8th graders-and I think even more surprising for him-3rd place for his instrumental solo.
Empowered Youth was just that for my boy. He made decisions that week that we believe he will hold onto for a lifetime. He surrendered to God-and there is nothing more meaningful to a parent than to see their child surrender to God and to know that He is who gives wisdom and joy and peace-and God makes Empowered Youth.
Those Leaves That Fall
It is Fall-or some may call it Autumn–I think Fall is appropriate.
I don’t find this change of season too agreeable. It is far too short. The lovely colors are over in a matter of a few weeks. I do enjoy it while it lasts-but now-it is November first. The leaves are all but gone now.
I thought a poem and a texture was in order for this end of the season-when the leaves have all fallen-
and to cheer me-linking up with Kim Klassen for Texture Tuesday~
If you need some cheering up-go visit other Texture Tuesday link ups–
A Day in the Woods
It was one of those pure Michigan fall days. The sky was a deep blue-the air warm – but had that touch of fall wrapped in it. It was a day to spend in the woods. We don’t get out to the woods as often as we would like- but we do cherish the days we are able to put everything aside and make it a day. The cousins were in town-so it made it extra fun.
Sometimes I think a day in the woods is better than any amusement park. Given a day in the woods-it is amazing how time just slips away-with not enough time for everything.
The favorite is always riding the Quads. We have had Quads for so many years, I don’t remember not not having them. The are a necessity around here-but on a side note ** I remember when Dustin wanted to ask Andrea to marry him and he needed to buy her a ring, he sold his beloved Quad-that he worked for 2 years to buy. It is quite the family joke that Andrea wears Dustin’s Quad on her finger. That makes her very special.
The girls decided they wanted to take a spin in the canoe. I watched them carry the canoe to the water-then I decided it was time for me to go on my own exploration and color tour.
I love the woods. I love the quiet-I love the colors and the smells. I love the old junk I find from years gone past. Old fence posts and cast iron pots and ceramic dishwear-rusted and old. The woods are full of history. I see old barbed wire fences and trees bent low.
There is color popping out everywhere. It makes the woods seem more calm and quiet. The birds are heading south for the winter and the animals are getting ready to hunker down for the winter around the corner.
There are still some flowers lingering the the woods; although, they are few and are of the wild sort. They add a touch of hope-still there-in the midst of tree leaves dying and falling-and the stillness the fall brings.
The trail winds past weeds fading and trees changing-and I make my way back to the girls at the pond.
The scene was perfect for me-they didn’t know I was there capturing their every move. Cousins-I think this is a memory the will hold for a life time….I know I will.
I also caught a shot of the boys before they caught me. I love these shots. I love this pond.
I would have to say that these motorized vehicles were still the favorite of the day-yes-the canoe was new and fun-but it didn’t have a motor!
This is Adam-my boy-I didn’t get shots of the girls for some reason-I was probably on my blanket under a big tree–reading…or napping…or
The swing was now empty. I could hear the quads in the distance-I was content under my tree-the day lingering on.
This was an old bottle found in a junk pile in the woods. I hate to call it junk-because the stuff we find is so cool. I don’t like to call it garbage either. It has been there so long-it is now part of history and not junk. Funny how that happens.
My Hero-always working-even when he doesn’t think he is–building a firepit here–
Then the daylight began to fade. The woods take on a whole different look in this light. The kids began to stay closer to the barn-and my girl-who is convinced that Big Foot-or Sasquatch-as we like to call him–She thinks he lives in these woods–and of course, we like to keep the story alive and well for her as the skies became dark.
The air was now cool and the fire warm-hot dogs roasted and s’mores made-it was an end to a wonderful day-spent. Many memories were made and I myself will hold onto this day as the winds of fall blow all those beautiful colors away and the sun will hide again until spring–
