And the garden is finished!

Wa-La! We have a garden!

After 2 months of working on and off due to weather, we have a completed garden. The two "Square Foot" beds are 4 x 8, and there's a 3 ft walk all the way around. Chris and I decided to put 2 ft chicken wire on the floor next to the fence. That's to keep out George! Yes, we named that fat woodchuck that keeps coming in my yard. Now I need a name for the possum I saw last week!

I also built a compost bin - of which I'm still learning how to do that. A friend says I'm making it more difficult than it is, but I don't know. We are offically watering the garden with rain water. Two 55 gallon rain barrels are capturing so much of that awesome rain that God sends down, just so I can water my garden. It must be really good water, my plants are growing straight and strong! I will post a current picture of what's growing later on. For now...here's the process and finished garden. Welcome to my garden:

Here, we layed weed cloth down and got the frames with chicken wire in place.

My strong husband is inserting the posts for the inside of the frames, they are 12" deep when done.

Post hole digging. Let me tell you, as a woman...there are limits I respect. And I am Oh so grateful God made man!

My gate. This gate was built in Georgia when we lived there. C built it for me and I loved it so much we hauled it with us. Yes, he rolled his eyes, still does. But that's ok. I like my gate. :-)

I started with 1 4 x 4 garden last year. This year it has grown. I hope to Keep It Simple, yet have an abundance of food to freeze and can. If you are interested in Square Foot Gardening, check out his website or better yet, buy the book. It is fantastic!

Peace,

Dee

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is the day we pause to remember and thank our mother. For giving us life, for putting up with us, for teaching us (good or bad). We must also give thanks and remembrance to one very special Mother. For without her "fiat" or yes, our Savior would not have come when He did. Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. We look to her as a shining example of what it is to be a daughter of God, woman, wife, and mother.

As a daughter of God, her faith was important to her, important enough that she studied and knew her "Bible", the old testament, so very well. She had confidence and faith in God. Her obedience to Him is so natural, and her faith so strong that when the angel Gabriel came, she didn't doubt, she was confused as to how it could happen. The Yes that Mary said, the "be it done to me according to His will", could only come from a surety of faith in God. Putting herself in His hands.

As a wife, her obedience to Joseph. HELLO! If your husband woke you in the middle of the night and said we are leaving now...and you were 8 mths pregnant, would you not look at him like he lost his mind! She was quiet, always keeping things in her heart. Meditating on the things that people spoke of. She didn't run to Sally her neighbor and "dump" if you will, all that has been happening, or all that Joseph is asking her to do. She pondered them, quietly in her heart. Should we not give our husbands the same respect, and come closer to achieving that Proverbs 31 woman of being a asset to our husbands?

And finally, but not least, as a Mother. I don't need to go on about her Son, Jesus. I want to write about her role as a Mother. Her angst and panic when Jesus was lost for 3 days. Then her total relief when she and Joseph found him. Her teaching Jesus, knowing...pondering in her heart all the things people had said through the years (at His birth, at the temple..both times), her teaching this little boy. Giving all she had- a mother's love, teaching when He was very little, and ultimately, giving her heart. Her Son had to do something for me and you. He HAD to. For all generations past, present, and future (that would be us back then!). Mary didn't jump in and say - No, Jesus, not now, don't do this now! No, she remained quiet. Maintaining the quiet, humble spirit that God had seen in her to choose her as the Mother of His Son. For even to the point of being on the Cross. She cried, she hurt - for all the things happening she still had human feelings, feelings of a Mother. Her Son was being beaten and NAILED to a wooden cross. As He hung there, the soldiers and people had enough respect for her that they didn't push her away. She was there at the foot of that Cross, the cross for you and me. With blood running down her Son, and His flesh torn. She was there. Supporting Him, Loving Him, and caring from a distance because all that pondering through the years had lead her to understand what had to be done. She accepted God's will for herself early on, and she was accepting God's will for us at the foot of the Cross.

Please pause just for a moment to thank her. She is so deserving of just a moment of your time.

God's peace,
Dee

Ruthless Spring cleaning

Call it Spring fever, call it "tired of my home in dis-array" or call it what you will, but I had had it. I took a week and a half of (yes I DO work, I am a full time housewife!). I went to my husband and told him my plan: No walking, no daily mass, no anything until I got the chaos and clutter under control in our home. About this time he raised his eyebrow, and I responded "Ok I'll make sure we have food and there MAY be clean clothes in the basement, but not ironed :-)

He agreed. So off I went, full speed for days. From 8am to 5pm - the Mount Vernon method. I started on the right from my front door and went through EVERY space, drawer, cupboard and cabinet until it was emptied out, cleaned out and only a select few made it back in. Ah! the serenity of order and peace. Now I KNOW what is in each drawer and cabinet, I don't have to go on a wild goose chase with my husband to find something.

Well, 5 days into it I couldn't keep my eyes open past 8pm, so hubby and I agreed it's time to back down. I am glad. Most of it is done. I'm working upstairs and would like to finish that with the same vigor, but the Lord gave me this message: all good things are done in time. Not with rushing. So, I will do what I can in the frame of my normal daily routine.

Now the exciting part. In this decluttering mode, after a year of praying, we decided to sell our large side by side frig and get a smaller one. Mainly because our home, built in 1929, doesn't have the frig "space" for a larger, 2000, version. The day I went to go shopping and start price checking, I was talking to a friend who I buy eggs from. Fresh, farm raised eggs. Oooh, with bright orange yolks. Okay, enough drooling. Anyways, Roxanne and I were talking about my latest adventure about a frig and we came up with the idea to trade! She could use a bigger one, especially freezer space and I needed smaller and already have a deep freezer in the basement. Hence...I got a new frig, and so did she. :-)

Out with the old...

In with the new..

So, this week I am concentrating on finalizing clutter in the office and linen shelves while getting back to the joys of routines. Tomorrow, Laundry and House blessing day along with shred the mile high mountain of papers.

Decluttering and paring down your home always brings about peace. If you can't do like I've done, and I realize the Lord has blessed me with the time and ablity to do that, you CAN take it one day at a time. Start with a list of all the things bothering you. Break it down by room, then break it down to the top thing to accomplish that day, then the next. Don't get to far ahead, remember...If you ever want to see God laugh, make plans. When I am addressing my list in each room, I tend to mark A B C for Monday, then when Monday is done, A B C for Tuesday. That way if things come up, like Molly has an eye infection so off to the vet we go, it won't mess up a whole week's worth of plans.

My home is coming together, finally. After almost 2 years I am able to settle in. I think we are staying for a bit, at least until the Lord says otherwise.

May God's peace be upon you,
Dee

Graduation Day!!

We made it to Family Day on Thursday and Graduation on Friday. Kim (Danielle's older sister) flew in late Thursday night. It was great to have both the girls together. Here are some pics, I took to many to post so I will post a few to share. Danielle and Kim drove back with us to Ohio and Kim flew out on Easter. We've had a busy week and as I write Danielle is packing to fly out tomorrow. Next destination: more training in N.C. for the next 3 mths.

I am so grateful a good friend of mine is picking her up at the airport and helping her get all her seabags, etc to the base. Thank you Kim!!

That's all for now. Oh, Sand Flies! in SC at Parris Island. If you ever want to know about them ...don't ask! and be grateful!!! These little buggers actually made it into the museum (as a cartoon) on base. The cartoon depicts them with "iron" teeth. I will just leave it at that!

Hope you enjoy the picture's of Pvt. B. Danielle Peterson:

This was the M.O.T. run (motivational run) at 7 am Thursday morning. Check out the grin!

Danielle's platoon and senior drill instructor, yikes!!

Pvt. B. Danielle Peterson

Her platoon got the trophy for Final PFT, Final Drill...big accomplishment. You go girl! (or should I say girls!)

So, this door has a rich tradition in the Corps. Only recruits can go in it. No one else, for any reason. There are doors on the side for everyone else. Danielle has graduated now and can't enter them. Here you have one retired Marine, after 20 yrs, and one brand spankin' new one..Love ya both!

Danielle's platoon doing a "Pass by" on the parade deck.

Sisters, a bond that can never be broken.

"The" handshake of congrats.

Once off base she wanted to stop at the first place we could so she could change. Hence the Burger King bag. NOT my choice! She got to make her first call and first french fries in 13 weeks. Keep in mind, no phone, no computer, no male contact, no stores, no off base for 13 weeks. Marine training...only the best for our country! (So I'm partial, give me a break!)

God's peace,

Dee

3 days until Danielle's Boot Camp Graduation

I can hardly believe it. 3 days until Danielle's graduation from boot camp.

We will get to see her Thursday for family day, that will be the first time since January 12 when she left. She called last Sunday for the first time, and we were gone. (insert really sad face here). That's ok, the Lord allowed Chris to hear her voice and he said she seemed excited to see us on Thursday...so she made it through the Crucible!

We leave this afternoon, driving for 3 hrs then will finish the drive (9hrs) tomorrow. Our hope is we will be back in time for Easter service Saturday night. God willing we should be.

Please keep her in your prayers, and us as we travel.

God's peace,

Dee

Quote about Proverbs

So a friend in Georgia years ago introduced me to reading a Proverbs a day, I still do this though not as regular as I used to. I have gotten back into it recently and this is a quote that came to mind:

"Proverbs is like a multi-vitamin, take one daily."
by me!

Cute huh?! Though I can't take the credit for it, the Lord gets the glory.

God's peace,
Dee

Basket Weaving Weekend

It was fantastic! The Lord gave me the opportunity to go away for a couple days to a weekend for basket weavers. It was held in Mentor OH, right on the Lake up north. You can see more about it here. The newspaper came and did an article on us and a short video which is also available on the site.

Besides an amazing weekend that sparked the fire of weaving inside me that had died from the years of not being able to, the Lord blessed me in many ways.

Saturday's basket, the handle is the fun part!

Friday's basket, Cherokee on Cedar or as I called it "the little bugger." 120 spokes 16 hours to weave!

The class I took on Friday, weaving what I affectionately call now, the "little bugger". Or Cherokee in Cedar.

The room the hotel let's us use to finish our projects from the day. We were there until 11pm weaving.

*I learned more about my weaving and corrections to make so my baskets form better.

*I met women (and men) from all over the U.S., one as far away as Alaska.

*A gift from the Lord: On Saturday there was a raffle of several items. I purchased 12 tickets, hoping to win SOMETHING. There was 3 "piles" if you will, of pattern books,weaving supplies, handles, basket decorations (add-on's), etc. One was a lime green tote bag to carry all your supplies in. I really wanted the tote bag because I saw most of the long time weavers had a similar bag to carry their tools. I ended up putting 11 of my tickets between the 2 piles of supplies and books and the last ticket in the bowl for the tote. The hope of winning the tote filled me with excitement.

I left to go to another room that had a vendor, Royalwood, to make some purchases of long needed tools. My name was called so I went in to see what they needed. I won one of the stacks of supplies. Yeah!! I was so excited because I usually don't win raffles. As I walked back in to finish my purchase, I heard my name called again. My first thought was "oh no I grabbed the wrong stack", so I hurried back in only to have them tell me I won again!! I was SO excited. Now I had 2 piles of books, handles, and supplies. As I grabbed my second winnnings and turned to walk away, my heart was filled with so much excitement when I heard my name called again, for the third time!! I won the lime green tote to carry all my loot in. How cool is that!?

As one friend said, not only did the Lord bless me with the spark inside being ingnited, but also gave me some books and supplies as if to say "yes, this is what I want you to do, oh and here is a bag to carry it all in." I could never have afforded all this without saving for a time for it all.

God knows what we need and if we are willing to step out in faith, He will be there to bless our efforts. Know Him. Trust Him. He will always be faithful to you.

God's peace,

Dee

Giving from your living

Good morning! My prayer time this morning was fruitful. A passage from Mark 12:44 caught my attention and the Spirit of God granted me some things to ponder about and I wanted to share them.

Mark 12:44

She not only gave of her want, she gave of her living.

I see the relation to this with the parable of the young man who cam to Jesus asking how he could have eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him. Though in this parable - the young man was sad because he didn't know if he could do that.

The point of both is by giving from your living, you have faith and want not.

For others may not have anything, and giving of your living will help others while you have more then they probably do. Your faith in God providing will grow and you will walk in the way of Our Lord, never needing more than what God gives. If we share what He gives - we will be provided for and we are helping others be provided for.

Out of Love. It's a circle. We do this out of Love for our neighbor and ourself. One of the 2 greatest commandments. Ultimately doing this for our love and faith in God that He will take care of our needs (not our wants mind you).

So give of your living. Be inspired by a nameless woman in the Bible - that caught our Lord's attention - and be blessed by loving others as well as yourself. For God will be in your heart, mind and soul.

God's peace,

Dee

Houston, We have pictures!!!

I am so excited. Yeah, I know...it took long enough! So here is a trial run of downloading my first picture from my new camera. And of who else? My baby girl, Molly! She was caught and was too tuckered out to get up when I came down the stairs.

New Camera!!

This is my new Canon xs Rebel, I feel like a kid in a candy shop!

Yippee!! Yippee!!

I went to Circuit City's closeout sale and the camera I had my eye on a few weeks ago was on sale (praise God)...and it was the last one, the display model, so I got an extra savings. AND I AM LOVIN' IT!! God is so good.

Now if I could just figure out how to use the dern thing LOL. Oh the pictures it is producing. I can't even begin to describe.

As I get used to it I will be posting, just wait and see.

This camera means so much to me sometimes I just carry it with me, just because. The night I got it we went to dinner and it sat right in front of me...never with in reach of C (how do you make that little sound when you are being sneaky or ornry, well imagine that here.)

Now if I can just figure out a way to carry it with me all the time, and my purse, and my water, and whatever else needs to go with me for that moment. Because don't you know. The very moment I leave without my camera, there is something amazingly beautiful that I spot, and this beautiful fandangled gadit is at home!

Any suggestion from those who carry theirs?

Oh the place's I'll go, .

God's peace,
Dee

Ice Day!!

Our front yard. It's a bit blurry...new camera :-)

Today is an Ice day here, sort of like a snow day...only snow then ice. It is a mess. In all my life of living in the north-east (all of 1 1/2 yrs :-) I have never seen anything like it.

Yesterday it snowed 3-4 inches, then turned into rain. Only to wake up this morning to the 4 inches of snow completely ICED over. From the top it looks like a glaze on top, a shiney glaze. I will post a picture later.

So events of today:

-Chris' classes are all canceled.

-went to daily mass (at the college) thinking no one would show and it was packed full!

-Roads are closed except to emergency vehicles (or the random wife who feels it's a real emergency to drive to Kroger to get Cold-Eze b/c her hubby is trying to stay healthy and ward off anything that's developing. And she really wants to start her new job next week healthy too!!)

-Trees are snapping like crazy and everything outside is covered with a sheathing of ice.

-It has already rained all day, then turned to ice rain (again) and a big snow dumping ontop of the mess we had.

-So, Chris is napping, I'm doing laundry and our budget and getting ready to make some tea.

Anyone else for tea? Tea always calms the nerves and let me tell you, almost every hour I am praising the Lord for electricity and a heater.

God's peace,
Dee

First letter

We just got our first letter from Danielle today. It was short, but she says she is doing good. She has one D.I. who is "nice (ish) and one that is EVIL" according to her letter. Attention is already being drawn to her because she is trying to help the others in getting up and getting around. The first 36 hours they didn't sleep and she says she feels disoriented everytime she wakes up.

But all in all...she says "I'm doing what I can to become a Marine." She is doing good...Praise God!

Please keep her in your prayers.

God's peace,
Dee

Burrr

Ummm....HELLO!!!

It's MINUS 4 degrees outside this morning!!!!

(eyeballs are poppin' out here, and frozen while popped out!)

Nobody ever said anything about MINUS temp's when we moved here!!!

Most of you know each morning I get up early and treasure the quiet time with the Lord. I journal some, read the Bible some, and read something from Al-Anon. This morning's time was cut a bit short and I came back later to sit and reflect. This is what came out of that reflection time and I feel I should share it with you.

A reflection from Matthew 24:36-51 ~

I see how Jesus is teaching me to live as if He were coming at any moment.

He warns us that we are to be on watch for we know not when the thief is coming in the night.

He also speaks of those drinking, partying and marrying as if the Lord's coming is long off. And warns us of this behavior.

Jesus is showing compassion for us. He wants us to have the eternal salvation God is giving us through His son Jesus. And He loves us so much that He is warning us, telling us point blank how to live our day.

Through the way Our Lord is towards us - should we not heed His warning?

We are all sinners, of which I am the greatest, but as long as we are striving to live our day according to God's commands, according to the behaviors and ways Jesus lived - we will show a love and desire to do right, and I believe God will have mercy. He loves us enough, do we love Him enough?

It is not easy. It is hard each passing moment -

To stay out of others affairs - yet be there with compassion and love when they need it.

To reach out with love and forgiveness to those who have hurt us time and again in the past - and possibly may do it again.

To open our arms to those who have only taken from us and never filled us when we needed it.

To NOT be a director over others lives - but to allow God to be their director.

God gives us the grace to do this.

It is our will, our choice, to do God's will and love our brothers and sisters, or to do our will and be lost and far from Him.

The awesome part is - He is always there should we wonder. Waiting for our return. Like a loving parent to a child who has wondered away to do what he or she wants. That parent loves them enough to let go and let them discover themselves - but is there when they come back. God does this for us. How can we turn away and say "I want to live this way not that. The Lord is coming but not today" to a God who loves us enough to give us warnings and offers the teaching we need to live.

Do we love Him enough to show Him through our actions today? Right now - in the next person that crosses our path?

I must practice today - keeping the things I have learned this morning - close to my heart and review in my mind often. Lest the events of the day lead me away. In chaos and confusion I will be lost, until I settle down tonight. With my head hung low becuase I forgot. I do the best that I can, but I know i could put forth a teesy bit more effort - to show gratiutde to the God of my understanding.

God's peace be with you today,

Dee

New Dutch oven on the way!!

I did it. I finally bought a nice, new piece of cookware. I have been shopping for years, never knowing what I really needed or wanted. We are evolving to the no telfon, no aluminum cookware and my eye has been on Le Creuset for some time, but couldn't bring myself to spend the big money.

I already have Lodge cast iron's, which are slowly getting seasoned (though don't try scrambled eggs. If you do add one extra egg to make up for what sticks!! LOL) and now I have found Lodge has enamel cookware just like Le Creuset! For a fraction of the cost! How awesome is that!

I was concerned about the lead content in the glass that is used in the enamel and this is what Lodge Logic says:

Are Lodge Enamel products tested for lead safety?

Lodge utilizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Test Procedure 7.5.1.4a Leachability of Lead and cadmium for Glazed Ceramic Surfaces. The FDA Division of Compliance Programs uses ASTM-C738 as the Standard Method of Test for glazed ceramic. In addition to information provided by vendors, Lodge Manufacturing Company uses third party testing to ensure that products with the Lodge name comply with standards set forth by the United States Food & Drug Administration. All our domestic as well as imported cookware complies with the FDA Standards. We are also in compliance with California Proposal 65, the world’s most rigid standard for lead and cadmium content.

I'm convinced. So it's on the way. A nice, red (Island Spice) 6 qt dutch oven by Lodge Logic. Check it out...

Nice huh?!

I am still shopping for a new camera, though I started my photography class last night and found out I can get the close up pictures I want with a good Macro lens for my Minolta 35mm. That would save a bit of money. The tough part is that I've gotten spoiled. I like looking at my pictures BEFORE I get them printed. Silly I know, but we all have our quirks!

God's peace,

Dee

Tagged

I had been tagged a couple weeks ago by my sister SusanD but Christmas and birthday took precedence over my time. Sorry Susan!

But alas, I am getting the opportunity to play the game and tag others so here goes:

7 Unusual things about me:

1. I love to be outdoors, especially at 5 am..alone with God.
2. I wear boots (Ropers) all the time, unless we've had snow..then I break out the fur lined Merrel's.
3. I enjoy making things and giving it to someone anonymously.
4. I am taking a photography class this semester.
5. I have raised 2 step-daughters for the past 17 years.
6. My soul is comforted by the hug of a horse or dog.
7. I dream of having a home with a bit of land for a few animals.

Ok so here's who I'm tagging - Susan , Rhee , Cyn , Ang , http://prairieportraits.blogspot.com/ , that's it for now...breakfast is ready. Priorities ya know!


So for the blogs I tagged, here's how you play the game:
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers and let them know.


God's peace,
Dee

A New Chapter

Last Wednesday was my birthday, Whoa! It was a mile marker as some are lovingly calling it. I'm calling it the start to the second half...the next chapter.

After finishing a 4th step inventory (many of you know I'm in Al-Anon) I have been given the grace to see into myself. The good, the bad, and the space in between. With my birthday, I am celebrating the good, while reviewing and remembering daily I am a good person. God created me to love and be loved. I am a daughter of the King of Kings, and He loves me! I have found my values. I have found the woman who has been lost for years, and along with that, the anxiety of how in the world to make changes using 2%, as my dear loving sponsor is teaching me.

The grace to see within myself the bad. The thinking that I am not worthy of taking care of myself or putting my needs and wants out there to tend to. The grace to see how I have been treating myself. All from the years of growing up with an alcoholic, my thinking has been skewed. Some of my belief's just evolved from circumstances, some from things I was told.

But as my dear sister has put it on This Day...this day I am a good person who loves to give of myself to others - I just have to learn to do it without losing myself. My focus this day is on me, learning about me, understanding what it is to take care of me, and how to have fun all over again. Today, I am letting others keep their problems, emotions, and schedule's for it is not mine to manage or fix. Today, I am celebrating the next half of my life. And there will be change, for I am created by God and I deserve to know I am worthy!!

Today, This day...I am loving me!

The more I read the Bible and learn, really understand, the person Jesus Christ, I am learning He lived in a state of loving and caring for others but with detachment. He took care of himself first (going off to pray, sleeping when he needed it) yet He gave of Himself to anyone that crossed His path and ASKED Him for help. That is the eye opener for me. They asked. He did not go out and search for people to help, or get in their business and tell them how they could better themselves. He healed, He taught, and He loved all with those who came to Him. What an example to live by.

I am grateful for God sending His son to teach me, and to tell me I am worthy just because I breathe!

May God grant you peace...This Day,
Dee

Without a camera!

My handy, take with me everywhere, tiny digital camera gave out on me! It is stuck open and is going to cost more than a new one to fix, so I am saving for a new REALLY nice digital. This Spring I am taking a photography class at the local community college. I've always wanted to do that and hope that this will get me out of the house a bit.

As my life journey continues on I have learned:

* I love to be a housewife, but I need to do things that "fill" me too.

*Cleaning is important but not "all that". There are more things to life then a "routine" of daily cleaning, maintenance, and planning.

*When I focus on C or anyone else to much I lose myself. Currently I feel invisible so I am working to change that by doing things that make my heart sing: Photography class, drawing class and attending a Winter Weave basket weaving 3day workshop near Cleveland in February, volunteering at our church's thrift shop.

*Turning 40 in two weeks can bring two choices...1) Whoa! I am starting a new chapter in my life! with Oh my gosh! Where has the years gone...what am I going to do with the rest of my life? OR 2) Yikes I'm turning 40! How did THAT happen!

It is fitting that the Lord has brought me to this point in my life now. With the Incarnation of Christ and meditating on His coming, I have been standing back and looking at me, my life and where I am with Him in my journey.

My current meditations: Perfect Love casts out ALL fear. This leaves me to ask Him what is this Perfect Love? How can I get it to sink from the head to the heart? He is working on me, slowly, in a way only I will know. But for today, He asks me to be quite and come to spend time with Him so He can tell me how much He loves me. {smile}


I wish you a Merry Christmas and may God's peace be upon you~
Dee

It's about God

This morning as I entered into that joyouse quiet time with the Lord, this came to me. My husband asked me to post it, though I don't usually get involved in any politcs this is focused on the Lord.

~God's peace...

Obama won the presidency. Many people may think, "Oh great! This country is going to hell in a handbasket" or how "this person can devastate our country."
But wait! This is perfect grounds for the Lord to work miracles and we can praise & glorify Him.
We must draw near. We must pray, fast and give of ourselves. Sacrifice. For the Lord must know we belong to Him, not to a person. God made Barack Obama. God can do anything. I have hope and believe in God, as my guide, as my protector, as my creator.
I see this as a beautiful opportunity to give praise & glory to God for miracles He can do. For we will know they are from Him - all the more to praise Him.
We needed this! For our faith's sake.

Acts of kindness

Did you notice the little tail?

I love...

the soft spot in your heart. When in the early hours of the morning there is a chill in the house and Sasha is dancing by your feet, you carefully pick her up to hold her close so she can get warm. It moves me inside to see a man act so lovingly to one of God's little creatures.

I smile when...

you carefully hold our little 3 lb dog when she is having a seizure. With love and compassion for her you are right there..no matter what you are doing. :-)

It's official

Danielle enlisted in the Marine Corps on Thursday October 30! We are so proud of her! She hopes to do the 4 years and see where she is after that. Boot camp starts January 12th.


I have struggled with this in many ways, which I won't go into here. In prayer over and over the Lord has told me "let her go, this is what she needs right now. I know her, I know what she needs and I am watching over her." This has given me a peace inside that I can't explain. The same message was given to me for several days.


Of course, Chris is excited. He was in his prime at the MEP's station in Cleveland. Visiting with the other's who are active duty Marine's. While we were there I got to witness something amazing! The Lord taking this opportunity to work through my husband and minister to someone else that was active duty. They had a very deep, touching converstation about the Lord. Who knows why? Only God. But I do know it was an experience for both parties involved, and I was blessed to be able to watch it.



He is so awesome, He never ceases to work through us if we are willing.

God's peace to you,
Dee

Season's first snowfall

If you look really close, there's snowflakes justa' fallin'...

As I write this, the rain and drizzle this morning has turned into our first season's snowfall. Ah! Already! I'm excited, but surprised at the early arrival.



It is so beautiful, it makes the cold a bit more tolerable. Maybe that's part of God's plan, :-)

Announcement....

We have an annoucement to make. Guess who is joing the Marine Corps?......

Our sweet loving little one...Danielle.

When she came home to share with us her decision we were a little surprised. Not totally shocked though.

Danielle has talked about this several years ago, when we moved back from Okinawa and she was going into high school. Now, after 3 semesters here at the private collage she (and her Dad) have been attending she is certain she is not ready for college and not college "material" if you will.

Her desire is to learn more about her self, push herself and develop self- discipline. Pretty smart for a 19yo (almost 20) who isn't sure what she wants to do with her life yet.

My hope and dream for her is to be successful at what ever she does. I love her and I will miss her terribly (empty nest thing is hitting hard right about now!), but I know the Lord loves her and will take care of her. More than I could ever try to.

I love when: I try to take her picture and she is so silly making faces. When she leaves, I get a big hug and a sigh. I hope she knows I love her too!!

Please pray for her. She signs the papers and the swearing in on Thursday Oct. 30th.

God's peace,

Dee

PS I just love eBlogger!! Argh. I don't know how the underline above keeps showing up and I have put spaces in several times and they just keep dissappearing when it posts. Sorry for the "one big"paragraph.

A trip to the Zoo!

Last Sunday was a free day at the Pittsburgh zoo for something called RADICAL DAYS! It's an annual event that several museums and the zoo take part in and one day is free. I like free, do you?

So Chris and I packed some water bottles and a snack and headed to the zoo Sunday. How fun! Oh, how many people! I do believe all of PA and the eastern side of Ohio was there all on the same day. Did enjoy it though. It was a great outing, a good break for Chris from all his homework and work work. I like to treat ourselves to an outing to spend time away from all the home projects and homework. Especially if it's free!!

Here are a few pictures:

How magnificent are God's creatures. Something had their interest over there.
The zoo's new largest baby! Isn't she cute, and a personality that is very playful.
Tickle tickle!
One...
Two..
Three!!!

Have a great day!

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Dee

Being grateful

Painting by Minerva Teichert

This evening I had the chance to entertain some friends that drove up from GA. As I was cooking in the kitchen I saw my husband and the couple on our back porch and found myself jealous. I thought "I want to be out there lounging too. I want to listen. I want to enjoy their company. But instead I'm stuck in here preparing dinner that I SHOULD have prepared most of it earlier." yatta yatta yatta! Complaining.

Then I got a question posed to me by the Lord. "Are you Martha or Mary right now?" Yeowch! I hung my head in shame.

I could see the whole story from the Bible in an instant. How Martha felt bitter towards Mary (not that I was bitter to my friend), how she grew impatient and angry because she wasn't getting the help she wanted. Maybe even some frustration because she was trying to have everything put together for a nice meal, and was doing it alone.

Once I recalled this and the part where the Lord says "Mary has choosen the better part," I realized my husband and family were enjoying the better part. Talking about the Lord in their life while I was inside preparing the food.

My heart instantly changed. How selfish I was. The Lord melted my heart and I got to change my perception to "I am so glad they are out there enjoying each other's company, and that I have the ability to prepare a healthy meal while they talk about the Lord." WOW!

That, ya'll, was only the Lord. My heart calmed down. The frustration and jealousy immediatly left. I was grateful. Grateful to serve.

Thank you Lord for teaching me. I am grateful to serve.

God's peace be with you,

Mrs. Peterson

Annual Family Pumpkin Patch visit

We have had a standing tradition since the girls were little. Each fall we would go to a local pumpkin patch and gift shop. They would bounce in hay or take a maze. In Georgia we got to go on a haunted hay ride, what a hoot that was!

Here we are for this fall. We were blessed to have Danielle with us. Nothing makes a mom's (or stepmom in my case) heart sore like your daughter holding your hand in public. Even at 19. Yep that was a keeper moment.

Chris waiting for us and watching little one's play in the hay.

Danielle and me, a treasured time.

Isn't she silly.

Chris' pick for our family pumpkin.

We have had white pumpkins, green pumpkins (when we were stationed in Okinawa), little pumpkins and bumpy pumpkins...but never a tall one. We shall see what he creates this year.

God's peace be with you...and Happy Fall!

Dee

Family Reunion

After 22 years, the kids of the Love family got together. And what a time we had! We all flew in and spent several days together in So. FL. My half-brother had a time share. How exciting!

I wasn't raised with the 4 of them (one is missing) but the 3 that made it shared memories and I got to share my life too. Very awkward for a bit but things settled right in.

When it was time to go, I actually had forgotten about the "saying goodbye" part. And I started crying. After my half-brother dropped my husband and I off at the airport, I just broke down in tears. He has cancer and was in the midst of finding a new drug that would work. Praise God, he is in remission now.

My family (p.s. We are the last of the Love family as far as we know.):

The first moments after we all flew in.

Remembering.

My neice Lauren and I. We are the only 2 in all my Dad's kids and their kids that look alike. Wild huh?! She has a twin sister that looks like the Love family, I take more of the Gasaway family (yep we have deep roots in Iowa ya'll).

God's peace,

Dee

Blessing...

So, am I blessing me or my family?

Some people say taking a break to have a cup of tea or read for a short spell is selfish. "There is much to do", or you may hear "how do you have the time".

Each afternoon about 4:00 pm I take a break. The corner of my couch becomes my get-a-way. With a warm cup of my favorite tea, a small snack and an interesting book gives me a 30 minute get-a-way from my day.

I have often thought of this as self-ish, or there is one more thing I must do before I start dinner. How many times does that happen and we never take a break? Days...weeks...months..

As I sat down to snuggle in, I looked at the scene and thought "Am I blessing myself or my family by making myself take this time?" Both.

Sitting down for a bit, I am blessing myself since I get to refresh my body and mind. Taking tea, that part renew's my spirit. This is a great way to take care of my health or just to enjoy a sipping kind of tea. Reading a lovely book that interests me is a way to get my mind off the journey of the day. When my 30 minutes is up, I get up with a relaxed mind, body and spirit.

This is the part that blesses my family. Walking into the kitchen to make dinner with a calm mind and spirit creates the atmosphere of easing into the evening for my family. I am better prepared to go into the evening hours with the mindset that the day is winding down and I need to get my home and myself ready for tomorrow. My husband may come in and still be in the harried mode of "oh my gosh there is so much to do", but with my relaxed mindset, we are able to come together and enjoy a peaceful evening. Sometimes with a few giggles inbetween because we are in different modes.

I'm off. It's tea time!

God's peace,

Dee

A humble scene

Welcome! It has been quite some time since I have posted. I am still feeling the call to develop my writing skills and to share in my experience as a wife and homemaker. It fasinates me that so many women I meet feel the same way I do, "I just don't understand what it is to be a 'Christian wife', and "the job of homekeeping is so overwhelming I never know whre to start so I don't." I too feel this way, often, and am here to share with you a warm hug. I believe that together we can support and encourage each other.

I had this opportunity last night. During a wind storm last night we had winds here that were about 70mph. The power went out about 5:30 ish, and didn't come back on until this morning at 10:30. While Chris was finishing his homework I noticed our fence had come apart from the wind, and was being pulled farther apart. We went out so Chris could repair the fence, THANK YOU Chris!!, and heard a huge snap. A tree down the street fell on our neighbors home.

Chris went down to see if he could help, and came back with one of the tenants who is a friend, and the 2 little dogs that lived in the home. She was in shock. Deanna had been in her bedroom upstairs when the tree went through the roof.

This was an opportunity the Lord gave us to serve, so we took the dogs for her while she contacted the owners and other friends to stay with them. I made some tea and Chris went down to ensure no one was still around or in the home. It was very humbling.

After a bit, she and the owners went to a friends to stay the night. I was ever so thankful for our home, for God's mercy and protection, and for a husband who cares. I was grateful for the security of our home during the wind storm though my fears and anxieties rose each time I heard trees cracking.

My loving husband came to the rescue. He got our hurricane lamp from the back porch and we got snacks and a warm blanket to sit on the front porch. It was such a comfort to be together and to pray together for our blessings.

My heart goes out to that family, but their pain and disaster has been a very humbling experience for both of us.

Never forget what you have and always be grateful, for the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

God's peace,
Mrs. Dee