Five Minutes of Slow

Ready...set...GO!

After a season that was absolute, full out sprint....God gave me slow.  Not a full stop...but certainly a decided stroll.  

He knew I needed it...to lean even harder into Him.  There was an adrenaline rush to the fast...a no nonsense clarity to the, "I can't do this and I need you Jesus... a "I am weak and You are strong"...a "gather yourself and RUN"...

So, in ways the slow held hard lessons...quiet, waiting, lonely.  And...I found in it a chance to abide...to dwell deeply...to await His perfect timing and to see His ways are always best.  To again renew and embrace being a helper to my husband...who needed me to go slow and care for his injured back...and a time to embrace my mommy-hood...to kids who needed me to go slow...listen and love.  

And now as things begin to gather...the old, familiar busy days of summer activity...the slow, abiding remains...the love for an early morning of slow...and the rich, abiding.  God continues to give opportunities to trust Him more.

STOP.

Sunday: Disturb us, Lord

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wilder seas

Where storms will show Your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push back the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,

Who is Jesus Christ.

-Sir Francis Drake, 1577 

Before and After: Master Bedroom

I finally decided to makeover the master bedroom.  I don't know if makeover is exactly the right word.  The past few months has included the consideration of possibly moving to a place where we could better accommodate caregiving for family.  With that being on the table I was very slow to do any upgrades that weren't necessary and resale became the word of the day.  It turned out not to be the best way to care for our family so we won't be moving for the foreseeable future, which allowed me to open some paint and go for it.  My Loverbrains thought this was a bit silly, cuz no one sees this room but us, but he loves the finish.  So, that makes it worth it. 

Before:  I made the gray, roman blinds and they were beginning to droop.  Very tricky to make, just saying.  I apologize for my photography skills but the room is quite large and has a vaulted white ceiling.  It felt very builder beige blah.  Also, the art had worked with our previous wooden bed but was too small now somehow.

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SO, I selected a beautiful shade of blue...Refuge by Sherwin Williams.  I painted just the one wall and  created a collage out of mirrors I'd been collecting over the years.  We added cordless, bamboo roman shades and hung heavy black out linen/brocade drapes.  I added a plant too.  I may still add a dust ruffle to the bed.  I haven't decided.  I love it.  It's very much a room to exhale in...a refuge.  

After

Thoughtful Thursday: Time alone

 Today, I had tea, with jam and bread...for any other Sound of Music fans out there.  I have had a lovely hiatus of alone time lately.  Maybe even too much.  I can get all inward and overly analytical.  Today was probably one of my last alone days for quite a while.  School is ending tomorrow.  Grandparents are coming to visit.  A quick, 'off the grid' vacation to TN is in the works, followed by a serving trip, VBS and trips to see loved ones and their new, squishy baby.  

I made some freezer jam.  It's so beautiful.  I'm always alarmed at the amount of sugar.  Yikes.  But, it's a sometimes food, right?  We still have a lot of berries just for eating these next few days.  I made it alone.  Clinking and smooshing in my kitchen.  Scrubbing and wiping.  Quiet.

The weather has been humid and full of thunderstorms lately but this morning was clear and beautiful with a light breeze.  Perfect for berry picking.  If my back didn't remind me I was over 40 I would have picked forever.  I didn't want to be greedy though either.  Last year we experienced a bit of a "hoarding' around here and fields were picked clean very quickly.  I never got into a field...so no jam, apple butter, or canning happened.  

Usually, I berry pick with my kids but when I saw the chance to get into the field I decided to take it.  My girlie is learning to drive this summer.  The boy child is very into playing and teaching board games to his friends.  So, today I picked alone...I listened to others chatting around me a wee bit...and thought how good it was to be quiet...here the birds and the breeze...breathe the berry scented air...squish the mud underfoot. 

I've felt a bit tender after the season of discipline and trial we've just come through.  I find my usually extremely extroverted self shying away from gatherings.  I have been tired in every way...and feel the expectation is for me to be my normal cheery self but sometimes we go through things that change us...and we just want some time alone.  I hope I'm ready to jump into the summer season...maybe a little more sober minded, serious...not necessarily a bad thing...just different.  I can say with confidence that God is good, all the time.  He is close to the broken hearted.  He is good and does only good...no good thing does he withhold. He will never leave me or forsake me.  

Memorial Day Hodgepodge

 1. We're approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the US of A...will you mark this in some way? If so tell us how. According to a list found here some things you might do in honor of Memorial Day would be-shop in a Veteran owned business, learn to play a patriotic song, watch the Memorial Day concert, take a virtual tour of the White House, write a letter to a soldier or a soldier's family, fly a flag, attend a Memorial Day parade, donate flowers for a soldier's grave, put together a care package for a soldier, and take a moment of silence at 3 PM (the National Moment of Remembrance)....of the ideas mentioned are there any you will try?

We will fly a flag and talk about why the day is important.  Sometimes we watch a parade in town.  

2. What's something recently that made you 'come to attention'? 

We've been going through a season of discipline and trials and waiting...As we've started to come out the other side, many things have caused me to "come to attention" regarding my priorities at home, in marriage, in parenting, in ministry, etc.  Hard is not bad, it's just hard and sometimes it gives you better perspective.

3. In what area of your life do you need to 'soldier on'? 

I think whenever you're in a time of waiting...just plugging along and being faithful...'soldier on.'  Makes me think of a song "The Warrior is a Child"...

4. As a long weekend approaches and summer draws near, what's a favorite food from your childhood you think about adding to the menu? 

This time of year I always think of my Mom's potato salad.  It's the best.  I generally make firecrackers...mini saltines soaked in oil, ranch powder and red pepper flakes...yum.

5. Your favorite patriotic movie? 

I love the movie Iron Eagle...

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It was fun to join in today. I am always inspired by the Hodgepodge...and had time today.  I want to make commitments and plans to be more consistent in blogging but maybe I'll be more likely to write if I don't put those pressures on it.  I miss you lovelies.  

No dice, No regrets Hodgepodge

1. Last thing you said yes to? Did you regret it?
I agreed to host a shower that I probably should have thrown myself.  Now I'm essentially a venue for an inexperienced hostess.  I'm trying hard to be mature and flexible and not lose my mind.  I regret not offering to take it over...or throw a separate party but regrets don't mean much...time to paste on my smile and fix my heart and go love my people.
2. No big deal, no contest, no dice, no hard feelings, no ifs ands or buts, no kidding, no offense, no pain no gain, no way...choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.
No dice...I not that this is used to mean 'no deal'...but, I'm thinking about how happy I am that the sweet friend that we've been having over for Taco Tuesday since her hubby's passing is able to come over again in person since virtual Taco Tuesday is tricky and we were all tired of dice games.  We discovered that if we all had the same amount of dice we could play almost any dice game via Zoom...Yahtzee being the favorite.  So glad!  So there, NO DICE, Covid!
3. Thursday June 11th is National Making Life Beautiful Day...in this strange season how are you adding beauty to your days/life?
The garden is looking beautiful...and I'm managing to keep a hanging plant alive for the first time in a long time.  I think working on our attitudes and loving each other well is the best way to make days more beautiful though.
4. According to an article found here, these six foods taste better in June than at any other time of the year-strawberries, asparagus, peas, peaches, beets, and garlic. How many of these have you tasted so far this month? Anything on the list you'd say 'no thank you' to trying? Rearrange the list starting with your favorite (1) to your least favorite (6).
Peaches-I have made two peach pies so far this month!
Strawberries-I can't seem to get into a field to pick because the demand is crazy and they are letting high risk into fields first and then getting stripped clean by noon.  It's a bummer.  Maybe I'll have luck at the farmers market.  Probably won't get enough to make freezer jam this year.
Peas-I love fresh peas but I rarely buy them.  As a little girl I grew them with my grandma in the summertimes I spent with her.
Asparagus- I love them grilled but haven't seen any good bunches yet.  It's a bit early yet.
Garlic- I use garlic in almost everything I can! (I tried to rate these from 1-6 but I really love them all).  I am thinking of buying some tails from a friend for a stir-fry.
Beets- pickled beets!  Yum!  This year I haven't had any yet...still too early but I did have kombucha with beet and cayenne from a friend.  It was amazing!
5. Describe your current mood in three words.
Tired. Busy. Introspective.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I finally started the final phase of counseling certification two weeks ago.  It has been as hard as I thought in most ways and I'm glad I stepped out of many things to make space.  In some ways it's been more encouraging and exciting than I thought though.  I wish I could turn off my brain at night though...it just keeps going and going.  It's going to be a long haul.  I'm at the bottom of a mountain looking up...wondering if I have what it takes.

Farkle Hodgepodge

1. Ever played the game Farkle? Are you a risk taker? In games only or also in life?

Yes, we have played the game Farkle.  I think there's a few versions of it too...one called Spicy Farkle.  Our family is very into board games.  I am not a gaming risk taker, per se.  If I get to the point where I recognize I can't win I will work to make it more difficult for the leading player though.  I'm not a risk taker in life, either.  I like the saying "I love spontaneous activities, provided they are carefully planned."  

2. What's your favorite thing about your yard or whatever outdoor space you may have?

I miss the screened porch we had at our old house.  I enjoy the little porch seating area on our front porch here...especially when we have the flag hung because it makes a shaded, secret place to read.  

3. Tell us about the most interesting building you've seen or been in.

When I travelled to Scotland with my grandparents I saw some old castles that were very interesting.  My cousin and I were especially intrigued with the "bathrooms"....holes in the walls that went straight down to the moat.  Never really had the same images of castles in my mind after that...hahaha.

4. In this current season of social distancing, what's something you've come to realize you take for granted in more ordinary times? Do you think you'll make a conscious effort to appreciate whatever that 'it' is once normal life resumes?

I took for granted hugging people.  In fact, I had to work at remembering who wasn't "a hugger" in my social circle.  I feel sad to think I may not be able to just grab and hug those I love again as I greet them and bring them into my home.  "New Normal" is a term I'm not enjoying.

5. Share a favorite song with a springtime flower in the lyrics somewhere.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

One of my dear friends met her Savior yesterday, face to face.  She was a MAF pilot in Papua.  She was a bright light for Jesus and our family will be missing her very much.  This is one of the last pictures she sent to us.  She was so full of joy to be there after years of training and language school.