What warms the heart?

Whole Wheat Pancakes with thick, smoked Bacon for Breakfast on a cold day.

I remember waking up in my parent's home after being away at college. The aroma of Bacon called me to rise and join my Mother for breakfast in the Kitchen.

 It is my goal to imprint the same type of memories in the mind of my son! We had a wonderful family day today... First Saturday Mike was off in months!

Childhood Sanctuary

Whenever I fall prey to the stress that adult life sends my way, I head to a place in my backyard... A Place where a special chair sits by my sacred garden. 

 

Among the birds singing their sweet songs and the butterflies being amused by the rosemary and thyme, my favorite childhood chair remains, basking in the beauty that surrounds it ... 

I am not quite sure when this old, distressed piece of furniture came into my life, but I do remember the feeling of excitement.  "Just for me?"  I asked my mother.  Her reply:   "Of course." 

Though the seasons change, my little special chair does not.  It survivies rain, heavy winds, and rays of sunshine; it stands faithful and often hints of Pride, knowing that no matter what my mood, it is there to preserve my childhood memories.  During the exuberant early days of autumn, as a child, I used to sit with excitement near our tiny pumpkin patch, wondering which great pumpkin was coming. 

My chair is the bridge to my past,-- an extention to days of innocence - when life was simple and the hug of my Mother was more than enough. 

 

As my Grandmother May sat near me in her own chair, reading a book, the strength of womanhood was instilled in me for life. 

Weeks will sometimes pass before I sneak in  a memory or two; but when it gets to the point where I need to deeply exhale, then inhale and refill my soul, I sneak to my backyard chair and rekindle the thoughts of yesterday, where a little girl sat with the marvelous world all around her.

Images of Summer

 “I have way too much time on my hands these days.”

 -Said no Mother EVER!!

"What is life?  It is the flash of a firefly in the night"

-Crowfoot

"Life is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
 It is the little shadow which runs across
 the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

 -- Crowfoot the Indian

"There is more to life than Increasing Its Speed."

 - Gandhi

I will never regret a n afternoon
picnicing with children" - Dawn

"We had mighty good weather
as a general thing, and nothing ever happened
to us at all."

- Mark Twain

"There is absolutely no reason for being rushed
along with the rush!
 Everybody should be free to go very slowly."

Robert Frost

"Life, itself is the proper binge."

-Julia Childs

And when the rain beats against my window pane,
I'll think of summer days again,
and dream of you..."

-Chad Jeremy

Summer Bliss: Paradise Reclaimed

My Bliss is reading in the Garden...  barefooted, swinging on the swing in the backyard watching the children make fairy forts, and sipping Iced Lemonade with fresh mint garnishes. 

 

I find myself acting more like a child in these settings, feeling carefree and relaxed.  I call this feeling "Bliss,"  and my summer is full of it. 


It is in the Summer Season that my hankering for the casual lifestyle is strongest, but I also delight in the pretty. 



 
 


 


My cottage fresh style is never so carefree as in Summer, with fresh flowers straight from the garden, white tablecloths, with white sparkly lights, and candles on the picnic table on the back deck. 





I find it exciting to drift beautifully into well-mannered "rooms" in my garden during the sultry evening hours of summer. 

 

 

 

Of course, there is the Play Room in the middle of the Grassy Knoll of the Back Yard,

 

 

which is always abuzz with crazy activity

Making Little Forts out of the Bushes in the Back Yard

 

Children making forts and decorating them with flowers

This was the front porch including a "Weather Station"



Decorating with Rose of Sharon Blooms

Playing "House"

Picnics in the Sun



Memories are made of this...

 

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the Whole and Hidden Heart of your life, because in the last analysis, all moments are Key Moments, and Life itself Is Grace.”

-Frederico Bucherno, 1854

 

Books I am currently Reading

"Managers of their Schools " by Steve and Teri Maxwell

"Journeys in Faithfulness" by Sarah Clarks

Mary and Martha. Mary, mother of Jesus. Their stories reveal how Almighty God can reach into the life of an ordinary girl and, through her love and obedience, bring His beauty and grace to bear in this world. Celebrate the sacrifice and courage that made these women the heroines they are with this collection of inspirational stories and devotions. In Journeys of Faithfulness, author Sarah Clarkson explores their paths of faith while challenging today's young woman to reach higher and go deeper in her relationship with Jesus Christ by choosing well and staying the course in her walk with God. A wonderful gift for mothers and their daughters! Recommended for ages 12 and up.



The Book of Acts



And Here is one for summer reading:

Godly, children's reading books can be hard to find, but your search is over. The Moody Family Series are fiction books about a homeschool family. Each book is a wonderful read that will leave you anticipating the sequel!

The Good Old Days

Just found this card Mike gave me years ago...

 

how far he has come! 

 

I was always on my toes back then...

 

kept me HOPPING!

Strong Spirited Children

A child's spirit is like a child,

you can never catch it by running after it...

you must stand still, and,

for love,

it will soon itself come back." --Arthur Miller