Answered Prayers

God is good to answer the big and small prayers of His children. I was reminded of this over the past week as two very specific prayers–one big and one small–were answered. We’ve prayed for months that God would provide someone who could help ease the CPA work Kevin is often inundated with. Indeed that is his profession, but when you need to grow and run the business, the actual business can keep you from managing the workload. It’s a bit daunting to list an opening…who knows what you’ll get. But after much prayer, God sent a person who is qualified and off to a good start. We trust this will continue to prove the right decision and if it isn’t, that God will reveal that quickly.

In the small category, my parents bequeathed us their piano 4 years ago now. I have wanted to provide the kids lessons many times over, but finding an affordable, eager teacher willing to come to our home has proven difficult. I committed to pray that God would provide someone who would meet these qualifications and anticipated when and how that would come about. Just this week, I’ve seen those prayers realized. God sent a Senior in our area who is planning to major in music at a nearby university next year. She was looking for lesson work, but didn’t know where to start. She prefers to come to our home, is very affordable and seems like a great first teacher for our children.

Our older two boys are starting now and hopefully the others will follow. There is a possibility she may want to keep us on even as she attends university next year and beyond. We’ll see. But for now I am rejoicing in a God who is intimately acquainted with all that we need and desire. It’s not that we get everything we ask for, but it’s often that we don’t have because we don’t ask (James 4:2). I am renewed in that truth this week and have been encouraged to remain on my knees interceding for the both the big and the small.

Putting Up

From our garden boxes, originally uploaded by kedsrus.

The one thing I asked for both Mother’s day and my birthday this year was garden boxes. My husband did put in two 8×2 raised boxes, and much like they say about tatoos, I think I’d like some more.

It was a great learning year and I made notes for next summer, but I want to be able to “put up” (to borrow a term from previous generations) more than what these little boxes afforded us. They graciously fed us green beans and cherry tomatoes all summer. We’ve had red cabbage slaw and hot peppers in soup and salsa. But I would like to do a whole lot more beans as well as dedicate a whole box to vertical plants so I can put those Ball canning jars my Aunt Cynthia gave me to use.

Either way, this was one afternoon’s yield. The kids loved giving me progress reports and would pick what they found–ready or not at times. We had 3 little pumpkins. Two rotted on the vine as it got a blight, but this one made it’s way into muffins.

It was the summer of jam around here this year: strawberry, black raspberry, currant, concord grape–all sitting on our shelves waiting for winter. We were gifted much and also did our share of picking. The kids were eager helpers in picking…mostly because of the all-you-can-eat fruit factor, I’m sure.

And that brings us to the fall…routines, rhythms, and reason all in full swing. I’m looking forward to enjoying the fruits of this labor during the bleak months when I may need a reason to put a smile on my face. The memories we made ought to help do the trick.

Smiles

Today was filled with color. The morning, by God’s grace, was spent at a brunch with women I admire and love. The evening was spent in fellowship at our Pathway’s Christmas party. Both events were filled with lots of laughter and good moods. Not an ordinary day where people are in varied states of mind.

Instead the mundane things were set aside and the heart was made glad.  These colors made me smile today too.

Last night we had a talented Scout dad set up his keyboard in our living room for our den meeting.  He played beautifully.  As I looked around the room, I noticed our house was filled with smiling faces.  It was wonderful.  Music makes the heart glad.

Luke and Gabe recently told me they don’t see me smile enough.  I have to admit that it made me pause to realize how often my brow is  furrowed and concerted throughout the day as I tick things off my list.  It’s not that I am upset usually, but it’s just not my natural disposition in the midst of busy days to smile.

Maybe I should be more intent on following the lead of these little dimples. Whatever the case, there was no need to work at it today. It was just a day of smiles. Thank you Lord!

Catching up

Since I seem to be playing catch up around here, I thought I might as well keep in that vein and post something about each of the kids.

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of volunteering in Gabe’s class. They had a thanksgiving feast and then I stayed to watch gym class and music. It was so much fun to be there with him. I need to do this more often–for all of the kids. It was worth the effort to get there. And thankfully he was excited to have me. I always worry they’ll be like “mom! why are you here!” But he wasn’t at all, so that was good he was happy to see me.

Amelia got her haircut and her father was the stylist. Kevin was helping her comb through her knots and said enough is enough. Her fine hair gets so easily tangled. Ten minutes later she had a cute “dump cut” ala dad.

I liked hers’ so much, I decided to cut mine too–yes, myself. I thought, well Kevin can just fix it. Turns out it was a bit too challenging for him, and I went to a stylist instead. She gave me exactly what I was looking for. Whew!

Luke loves to fish and went over the summer with my dad and mom on the lake. Here he is helping prepare them (from the freezer) for dinner. Kinda neat to know that he caught our dinner. Kinda sad that his mother’s recipe made them taste like cardboard. We ate them anyways and look forward to more in the future. Gotta get a better recipe before then.

He is wearing his sports goggles because he has lost 2 pairs of glasses in 8 months. Uuugh!

Here’s Britta’s hilariously toothy grin which she flashes every time she’s up to something. Here she found a Dum Dum sucker on the ground and was having the time of her life. We got some video too, but those teeth speak volumes about how much she enjoyed it.

Happy Jack is consistently the last one at the dinner table. Often he goes straight to bed from the dinner table because 1. he has sat there so long it’s bedtime, or 2. that is the consequence for his’ not eating. At least he still has a smile on his face in between bites.

I realize this picture looks very scary, it’s just the way Ty tilted his head in at the last minute that made it so. Rest assured he was perfectly safe and supervised as he whittled away on a bar of soap in efforts to earn his Whittlin Chip for Cub Scouts. It’s a great (smelling) way for beginners to practice.

Well I think that’s all for now. Hopefully I can post a bit more regularly throughout this month.

Playing with light

I took a few pics of the morning light last week. It was a welcome change to December’s cloudy drear around here! We did get 2 inches of snow today which is also welcome this time of year. Everybody likes a little snow at Christmas.

How about that princess sippy cup on top!

My mom got me this mug. It’s becoming my new sippy cup. Thank you mom! and thanks for the Black Friday shopping date. Let’s do it again next year!