Bird Lover Hodgepodge

1.  April 26th is National Audubon Day, honoring John James Audubon, the French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter known for his detailed study and illustration of birds in their natural habitats. Do you have a bird feeder? Any birds in your home decor? Have you ever owned a pet bird? What's your favorite bird?  

I attribute my love of birds to my parents.  We had Audubon and Peterson books all throughout my formative years.  We kept a running log of birds we'd spied in the binoculars by the door.  My Dad made amazing bird carvings that I now get to showcase in my home.  I have a rescued nest filled with eggs/shells I've found abandoned...along with a feather collection.

This winter was the first I tried to go without a bird feeder...it's in a difficult spot to fill, I thought I'd cut costs and I had a lot going on...but I really missed it....especially chickadees and cardinals.  I do have my oriole feeder up this spring and one hummingbird feeder for any early travelers.

My favorite bird is the chickadee...short and spunky, like me! 

2. What's something you took to 'like a duck to water'? 

Reading...I learned easily around 3 years old and never stopped!

3. Empty nest, nest egg, proud as a peacock, free as a bird, birds of a feather flock together, or the early bird catches the worm...choose one and tell us how it currently applies to your life. 

Early bird catches the worm.  I get up very early these days so I can see my teens before they head to school.  I've found it to be a surprise blessing.  I get to watch the sunrise, pray for them, and get some stretches in before I have to jump into other tasks.  

4. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds...your favorite seed and a favorite food or dish made with that seed or topped with that seed? Have you tried all the seeds on the list? Any you don't care for? 

I have tried all of these seeds.  I'm a seed fan.  My friends and I call them 'hippie seeds'...haha.  I have a recipe for protein balls that I will attach.  Super easy and fun snack to share.

5. Something in the past week that made you 'happy as a lark'?

We've had the opportunity to have friends over for Friday games and dinner...and also hosted a gaggle of college kids for Sunday lunch.  My happy place is hospitality.  My heart was " happy as a lark!"

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Finally cut up some fabric to begin my 'canning quilt'...I haven't done much sewing since February...I don't know that this will be the final layout but it's a start.  I have A LOT of fruit and veggie fabric because I've been collecting for years.  The idea is that it's canning jars on the countertop as viewed from above.  

Enjoying My Teenagers

I enjoy having teens.  They are bright and interesting.  They are hilarious and fun.  Oh sure, there are days when I'm tempted to worry when they make goofball decisions or display a lot of uncomfortable emotions...but overall I'm loving this season of life....if teaching them to drive doesn't get me killed.

They're going through so much in this developmental stage...emotional, physical, spiritual.  So much of the parental distress I encounter among those who are hating the teen years, stems from poor discipline in the younger years.  Because the foundations of discipline and authority weren't laid down early, they are unable to fully switch into solid instruction.  This is frustrating for everyone...their teens and them.  

Please don't hear me saying this from some lofty mound... 'we've done it perfectly'...that's not what I'm saying.  If anything, I see our early mistakes quite boldly in our little mini me's faces and behaviors.  I do see areas where we've had to go back and shore up some discipline and re-assert authority.  We've all (our teens and us old folks) had to be reminded to bow before the Ultimate Authority.  God has needed to humble us and help us live in obedience to His will and ways.  A recent metaphor used with one of our children is, "the box of privilege you live in will be small until you can show us responsibility and self-discipline in these areas."  The more they respond to godly discipline, the more instruction we can bestow and knowledge they can build.  Hilariously, I agonized over that last point and decided on metaphor...lest anyone thing I literally put my teen in a box. LOL 😂 

But, there are fun days in parenting teens.  And those days are truly great.  I get glimpses of who they will be as adults...it's so very close on those days.  I'm delighted at the more frequent cross overs to friendship.  I am still firm on the 'I'm your parent, not your friend' concept...meaning 'My job isn't to be your buddy and have you be happy with me."  However, it does make my heart happy to see them coming out the other side...and choosing to be our friends. I love when my daughter comes skipping up to me and says, "Mom, do you want to hear something funny?"  Or when my son chats with me in the car about friendships and projects and lovingly rolls his eyes and hugs me after I've sent him another dorky capybara meme.

And even on those days of foolish decisions and overwhelming emotions...I am blessed to have God's Word to guide us...to focus our heart's on what pleases Him most.  God is the perfect parent.  His Word lights our way.  

Please share with me any words of encouragement you have from your own journey.

What are you reading? February/March Check-in

I just realized that the February reading check-in never posted...so I will add on March and post them together.  I have been busily reading.  

I am working to incorporate more audio books into my life.  I have been listening to them as I go for walks...my attempts at exercise.  I find it hard to multitask while listening.  I either stop listening and have to back up the recording, or I mess up what I'm trying to do or cook.  I think if I had a commute or long car ride audio books would work splendidly.  

I have been reading a lot of fiction at bedtime.  I've had some rather heavy counseling cases and fiction helps my brain slow down and focus on something else than the problems at hand.  Sometimes that takes a few hours...and sometimes I read 'just one more chapter' haha.

Read:

Fiction: (On my nightstand because I don't have to pay attention and highlight while I read)

Garment of Shadows by Laurie King

Island of the Mad by Laurie King

Riviera Gold by Laurie King

Castle Shade by Laurie King

Non-Fiction:

Adorned by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (reread for women's ministry)

Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves & Winston T. Smith (reread with group)

The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson (annual reread)

Conflict Resolution by Lou Priolo 

Audio:

Therefore I Have Hope by Camron Cole

How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson

In Process:

Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung (re-read w group)

Audio: Saints Sufferers and Sinners by Michael R. Emlet

Audio: The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis

Heaven Rules by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

What are you reading??

Hodgepodge 500

1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? 

For Spring Break we flew to VA to visit family.

I'm very much looking forward to our driving out West this summer.  It will be one of our last big family trips...and much more than 500 miles.  The kids are getting older and wanting to get summer jobs...so I know the time is fleeting.

2. Tell us about a time recently that it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

I find lately that I have days open to my own planning that are busy but relatively slow paced...that are then followed by days where I'm too closely scheduled and I am 'racing against the clock' from one errand and appointment to another.  I really need to find a way to scatter things up but that doesn't seem to be the way of things.

3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? What was your impression of the experience?  

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? 

I have not attended any large sporting events.  I don't enjoy large crowds.  I barely make it through high school sporting events and I'm only there for the band (my kids are in marching band/pep band).  We do love watching the World Cup every four years and I would go to that if I got the opportunity.

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Do you make your own or buy it bottled? Sweet or unsweet? Flavored? Lemon or no lemon? How about a Long Island Iced Tea? 

My husband is an iced tea drinker...I am a warm tea drinker.  He drinks it all year round.  In an attempt at being more healthy he has gone to unsweet tea with maybe some stevia added.

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way? Tell us about it. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

I've spent a large part of my life volunteering.  As a pastor's kid I was 'voluntold' in many ministries.  When the kids were little I volunteered in their schools...pretty much doing para work for free.  I am still very involved and will be Band Booster president this coming year.  I also volunteer heavily in our church and volunteer as a biblical counselor for our community.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Spring break brought a lot of illness and our family is just now digging out of weeks of a respiratory/viral awfulness.  I'm thankful for the slow down that illness can bring...and for the beauty of springtime.