A Happy Fortieth for Kristal

It was probably late summer when Shaun asked if he,

 with Kristal's friends, could plan a surprise party in our back yard.

It all sounded great when the weather was nice,

but seeing how it changed so quickly, we ended up adding a tent to the back shop

to open it up to a large space. 

The day of the party there were many hands involved, coming and going,

putting up lights and  decorating.

A friend of Kristal's lent her decor pieces, which filled up the bare walls.

Photos were strung in frames and onto bunting banners.

The shop/tent was dramatically changed just with that!

Add the food

(with a tong for each guest)

and we were ready!

The kids could hardly wait for mom to arrive,

blindfolded, not knowing where she was being taken.

The blindfold was taken off on the driveway 

and as she came down toward the tent

we sang Happy Birthday ...

raindrops feeling like happy tears in that moment.

It turned out to be a beautiful night, celebrating our girl, 

born on our fifth wedding anniversary.

It makes me smile how she has always loved parties,

starting from the day she was born.

She is one who reaches out to everyone,

and makes friends wherever she lives.

I always feel special when they find out I'm her mother

because I know she is loved.

Photo credits for most of these shots go to Chris. 

 

Forty Five Years

I'm beginning to see how one day, when it's all been said and done, 

we'll wonder at the brevity of it all ...

but for now I'm grateful for forty five years and even more!

God has been with us each step of the way,

catching us when we fell, 

sometimes having to carry us ...

growing, stretching and strengthening us to this day

where we see He's given more blessings than we can count.

Thanksgiving Miracle

We have all come to realize this year 

that getting together as families cannot be taken for granted.

For some it feels like a dream of the past or the future,

causing me to want to tread carefully

lest my I wake up from my dream.

Covid 19 brought our family together while we were building our house,

and never would I have guessed that we'd still be together in October ...

still waiting on visas,

kids doing school on zoom with a sixteen hour time difference.

I set the table the day before because it's one of my favorite things to do

and I do not want to be rushed. 

There's a wonderful sense of anticipation when I look at the table all set.

We added a table to the dining room table and

stretched right through the opening into the kitchen eating area ...

made me smile.

And yes, finally, the table in it's ultimate glory,

filled with family.

It looks like by the time I sat down, some boys were done!

Around the table we took a bit of time to share how God has been our Rock of help this year.

An Ebenezer of sorts, and a focus to remember.

And that's what Thanksgiving is about. 

Fall Nesting

The path I walk is starting to look like it did when I first started blogging,

with seasons of life on my mind.

Fall really is such a beautiful time!

I've been feeling the urge to nest,

finding my spots to brighten with some fall decor.

and lighting a few candles.

I'm enjoying the change in more than one way.

Although anytime is time for pizza, 

I thought I'd share the link for some naan pizzas tucked into my freezer right now.

One thing for sure is that Fall is time for soups.

I've made the split pea soup on the blog,

roasted red pepper,  roasted cauliflower

 and roasted mushroom soup.

I'm noticing a pattern.

You can pretty well roast any vegetables, blend them up and add broth 

to make a quick soup. 

 

Here is the link to the mushroom soup. 

It looks like our little apple trees will produce enough for a few pies.

Speaking of which, it's been fun to see Tehya and Natalie 

acquiring the pie making skill. 

I never could have imagined this. 

All the seasons of life are so evident within our own family right now,

reminding me of a song written and produced 

by Steve and Anni Chapman in the early 1990's.

Who knows but that my ispiration for the name of this blog came from that song? 

Seasons of a Man

I am the springtime, when everything seems so fine

Whether rain or sunshine, you will find me playing

Days full of pretending, when a dime is a lot to be spending

A time when life is beginning, I am the springtime 

 

I am the summer, when days are warm and longer

And the call comes to wander, but I can’t go far from home

When the girls become a mystery, and you’re barely passing history

Thinking old is when you’re thirty, I am the summer.

 

I am the autumn days, when changes come so many ways

Looking back I stand amazed that time has gone so quickly

When love is more than feelings, its fixing bikes and painting ceilings

Its when you feel a cold wind coming, I am the autumn days

 

I am the winter, when days are cold and bitter

And the days I can remember number more than the days to come

When you ride instead of walking, and you barely hear the talking

And goodbyes are said too often, I am the winter

But I’ll see spring again in heaven, and it will last forever.

💛💛💛 

 

Taking Back a Day

 

It was Wednesday morning, 

I was on my way to the park for my walk,

when I got the call from her mom,

"Evy keeps repeating that she just wants to go to Mimi's today.

I can't say that she is unwell

she just keeps asking."

So I picked her up from the office,

and we virtually went back in time

to a normal day before March,

before the move,

and before full time school. 

After work her mom picked her up, a happy girl!

Aren't we all wishing for something to be like it used to be?

Maybe taking back a day has come to have new meaning.

The Front Door

One thing that stands out in our new home is the front door,

as to the many who enter, even now.

Not only the ones who can just take their bike

or walk to Papa and Mimi's now ...

but the ones who are missing the fellowship of meeting at church. 

For this reason our front door has become a church door.

 

The powder room prepared to be user friendly - for such a time as this.

It truly is a season none of us would have thought could ever become reality. 

But here we are.

I love seeing the joyful smiles of our Care Group joining us every other Sunday.

It's always a reminder of how we are made for community

and encouraged by coming together.

There is joy in the little things and thankfulness in the bigger things ...

such as technology and people who are willing 

to take the time to bring church into our homes.

Songwriters, Christopher Joel Brown, Steven Furtick,

Brandon Lake and Tiffany Hammer

have expressed their sentiments in a beautiful way,

Lord, there's nothing, nothing better than You ...

'Cause the God of the mountain is the God of the valley.
There's not a place your mercy and grace
won't find me again ...

You turn mourning to dancing,

You give beauty for ashes.

Your turn shame into glory.

You're the only one who can.

These are words of a future and a hope,

which we can all use at this time.

So as much as we can, let us meet to encourage one another.

Let us open the door of our heart,

to the only One who is able.

P.S. I'm breaking my guide as to how I write, usually more diary-style or written for someone, rather  than interaction style, but I thought I'd interject here. If you do not have a church home to log into, here is an invitation https://northview.org/livestream-2/