Autumn Days

Happy Autumn! :)

Pumpkins in the cornfields
Gold among the brown
Leaves of rust and scarlet
Trembling slowly down
Birds that travel southward
Lovely time to play
Nothing is as pleasant
As an autumn day!

Magic Monster Spray and Things That Go Boo!

"Bump In The Night" ~ c. 2009
So my youngest son Espen is scared of the dark. More often than not, lately, he refuses to sleep in his own room which usually lands him on his sleeping bag at my bedside. Friday night I was exhausted and ready for a break, when Espen started whining right from the start of his normal bedtime routine. Desperate for a little peace and quiet and some much needed shut eye...preferably before midnight...I invented "MONSTER SPRAY!" (Now available by the way...to those who have ghosties in their closets...at the local Walley World) I grabbed the can of Lysol Disinfectant Spray and took it to his room and announced "LOOK! I have magic monster spray! One spray and it keeps the monsters away!" I even showed him the picture of a house on the can...saying 'look it's our house!' (Desperate minds will try anything...LOL) So we sprayed it under the bed, around the window, in the closet and all the corners. And just like magic...it worked...he went to bed and slept ALL night! :) I was shocked...nothing like using a little psychology to get a good nights rest. I highly recommend "MONSTER SPRAY" to all those parents out there who are desperate for a little sanity at bedtime. Who knew Lysol was so powerful..hmmm....wonder if I could get a kick back from this if I wrote the company! LOL;)

Mother Culture...Blooming Where We Are Planted

Sometimes, I feel that I was born in the wrong era, my brother-in-law said as much to me several years ago. He said I was born in the wrong 'time.' Even though, I know that God's timing is perfect, it is difficult to keep mother culture alive and thriving in a society that places such worth on outward accomplishments. I truly love being at home with my children, teaching, cooking, baking, cleaning house, being a help-mate to my husband, reading, painting and just living a simple and contented life. Unfortunately the time that we are living in now, demands so much more than what was expected just fifty years ago. My dream when I was a little girl was to have a home and family of my own, most especially to become a mother in every sense of the word. It was not to go out and have a career as a 'superwoman.' In these days of feminists and equality for women, keepers of the home, tend to get a bad rap...it is not easy to be a keeper of the home. The first question I am often asked is..."and what do You do?" It seems it is frowned upon in today's society to not have lofty dreams of worldly success. It is a very difficult task to live simply in such a complex world. Keeping life uncomplicated and free from so many distractions that the world throws at our feet is very trying indeed. God did not create man and woman equal, we were each created for separate purposes that fulfill a common need. One a provider the other a nurturer, companions to each other. Each valuable, but very different indeed.

I long to be the keeper of the home that it speaks of in Proverbs 31:27-28 :

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her."

I had such lovely examples of this virtuous woman in my dear little grandmothers, both just as humble and content with the simple things in life as they could be. By God's grace and His strength I hope to cultivate that love of simple things, and dispel the need that the world tries to plant in our hearts for complexity.

Proverbs 15:16

"Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith."

Children Learn By Example....

Ephesians 5: 1-2

"Be imitators of God...And Walk in love,

as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us."

Children learn by example....

Today my youngest son, Espen (who is 4 years old), proved this! During meeting this morning when Bryan asked if anyone had a hymn. Espen blurts out loud and clear without thinking twice about it..."number 6!" My first response was to reach across the row of chairs where he sat beside his big brother Tristan and cover his mouth and say "Shhhhhhhhh!" But then I thought better of if, and pulled my hand away and let the chips fall at they may...so to speak. Bryan said "We can sing that one." Just as calm as a cucumber! Needless to say I was not calm at ALL! My face turned the darkest shade of a red apple, and I started to sweat, I thought to myself...what will happen during testimony...LOL Then the thought came to me, that this could be a positive experience for Espen , and create a deeper love for meeting, by just accepting his humble little request to sing "number 6." I wouldn't want to squelch the still small voice that must be dealing with his little heart.

My thoughts turned to just HOW often Espen has stated he wants to be JUST like his brothers...and I thought of the awesome burden that they alone bear. They have a little one who is traveling in the footprints that they leave behind. And it made me want to be a better example myself...before ALL of my children. Sometimes when we least expect it, God sends us gentle reminders to keep us on track. This morning it was something as simple as a hymn..."When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride...." Espen did not realize the actual hymn he was calling out...it is just a number to him right now...but I am hopeful and prayerful that one day, he too will want the dying life. I so want to be a pillar in God's family...by His grace may it be so.

Coffee Break...

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~

Enjoying not a cup of tea...but a nice hot pot of coffee....with some Belgian Chocolate Toffee cream...what a pleasant way to spend a chilly, rainy afternoon. ;)

Camping...Cards...Bubble Gum...Sandy Feet & Sisters!

Gracie/ Barnes ~ Braves the cold while Mary, Mary plays cards from her sleeping bag cocoon...LOL

Mary, Mary....we had to get some coffee and QUICK the next morning...this is how we slept with toboggans on our heads and scarves around our necks! LOL
Lucy & Mikee ~ November 2004 Did I mention we chewed LOTS of bubblegum! Brad looks like the cold GOT to him! LOL

This is what you look like when you spend the night in a tent in freezing temps...with 3 Crazy people!

The temperatures were approaching the 30's...the wind was whipping....and the next night it decided to RAIN!

Camping in a tent what could be more FUN! (Said strictly with tongue in cheek.)

Ever wonder at the wisdom behind why we choose do to some things....what the enrichment value is of certain experiences that causes us to trek through them???

When looking at this awful pic...that is what came to mind! And I immediately thought about what would make a

lady who was four months preggos at the time camp in a tent!?

The answer?? Maybe the cold air killed off a few more brain cells. (snickering loudly) ;)

My dear sister (a.k.a. Mary, Mary ) is what saved me from this whole scenario...it was her that walked with me through the dark and FREEZING night to go to the potty house, hundreds of times in the night.

Whoo hooo!

So LET the wind blow...the rains fall....the icicles glitter...and the tent cave in...as long as I have Mary, Mary as a sister and friend! :) LOL

Sisters...without mine I would be clueless. She makes me laugh even when I don't feel like it! We have so much fun when we are together it is as if we have NEVER been apart.

For the first time in over a year, I got the chance to spend a day with my sister yesterday!

It was truly a gift....

Love you Mary, Mary....:) Quanie

On being a pansy...a patsy...and a cry baby....

So my dear sweet hubby is going away tomorrow to a fishing tournament at the Outer Banks...and I am ALREADY missing him. It amazes me just how much I miss him when we are apart. We spend so much time together that he can finish my sentences before I do. Sometimes we have the exact same thoughts...this happened this morning he said what I was thinking. :) He is what I always dreamed my husband would be. My best friend in all the world. We share a common faith and a love for God...and he is such a wonderful daddy to our children. I would not know HOW to live without him.

I married very young at the age of 17, so he IS my life! I thank God for him every day, and hope to grow old and gray with him by my side. When we were dating I wrote him a letter...that said..."I love you more with every beat of my heart." Who knew how true this little line would become. I am grateful to have found a forever love.

So on the verge of crying tears at having to part with him for a few days, I thought I would write this little post.

I love you my dear sweet Bradley....stay safe and hurry home soon! LOL

Okay NOW I am officially a pansy! ;) And the funny thing is I don't even care!