Great Grandma

Victoria and Great-Grandma Grace

Summer is for BBQ's and sun hats.

For picnics on decks perched on hills,

reaching for the lake.

For cousins returning from far off places.

For yearly gatherings of family,

generations coming together
witnessed by water and sun and warm.

Summer is all that...
and more.

You Capture:Summer is hosted by Ishouldbefoldinglaundry.

Light and Glory

America, my country.

A land birthed with faith and prayer and hard work and sacrifice.

 heading out to watch fireworks on the lake

George Washington declared in his first inaugural address,

"I must express my gratitude to the Almighty. No people can acknowledge the invisible hand of God more than the people of the United Sates. Every step toward independence was protected by his hand. Let us remember that the smiles of heaven will continue on a nation only when it heeds the eternal rules of right and order."*

 boats gathering

John Adams, in a letter to his wife, predicted that the day the declaration passed would be the most memorable in the history of America. Then he added,

the beginning of the show, shot off the island

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these Sates. Yet through the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory."*

This year, the rockets glared red,
the bombs burst in air, booming and echoing and reflecting across the water, declaring,
the flag is still here,
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And I pray again,
America, America, God shed His grace on thee.

My we reflect Your Light and Your Glory. Amen.


*The Light and the Glory for Children by Peter Marshal & David Manuel,  p157, 143

Shared today for You Capture:America @ www.Ishouldbefoldinglaudry.com  And pardon the not completely perfect photos. Night shots are hard enough. Night shots when on a rocking boat are nearly impossible! But I got out there and tried something new. And it was a challenge! Which is what You Capture is all about!

Rain on my window

Rain, rain, go away.
Sun come out,
I want to play.
























That was yesterday.

My phone beeped weather alerts multiple times,
my kids hung out in our not-so-bad,
but not-really-that-nice farmhouse basement
and I had the convenient opportunity to make my husband's wishes come true
and organize the piles of empty boxes and outdoor stuff cluttering the floor.

Today the sun is shining, the wind is blowing and things are drying out.

I'm thankful no tornados were seen here and we could watch the last episodes of Monk in safety. Speaking of Monk, I wish all shows ended that well. Yes, I cried happy tears. And it's just a TV show. Any recommended series you would suggest we get from Netflix next?

Today is the last day my kids will spend their day at VBS and the last day for me to get projects done in peace and quiet. Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. But the chance to paint and re-decorate with only my own thoughts to interrupt me is cherished.

I've finished my projects. I keep wandering the house to admire my own handiwork. Do you do that, or am I crazy? Pictures coming soon.

I planned on ending my week with a full day of deep cleaning. But my body rebelled and insisted on a nap. It was blissful until I smelled my chicken on the stove smoking. Thankfully it didn't burn to a crisp...

Looking forward to this weekend. Two birthday parties for friends, my husband turns 40, we celebrate our 12th anniversary and Father's day! And because I had a week to myself, I'm not even stressed out about it!


Rain on my window has been shared at Ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com for You Capture. Check it out!

Hammock Fun - You Capture

Fun! Even on a cloudy, windy, chilly day, my kids found there was fun to be had on our new hammock.

All I've heard is giggles and happy sounds making their way to the warmth of my office.

Ok, so that WAS true. Now this crying kid needs a mommy intervention.  

Oh well.

It was fun while it lasted.

For more fun, check out the giveaway I've got going on - a $40 gift certificate to CSN.com, which has 200+ online stores. Shopping with free money. Now that's fun!

For more pictures of fun ~ visit Beth at Ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com  for You Capture.

You Capture: Sky

Today's You Capture challenge inspired me to lay on the ground and include the sky in my shots. 

and along the way I discovered a few treasures

in addition to a fly by my chives.

Tomorrow stop by to see my favorite way to enjoy a blue sky.

Have a happy holiday weekend!

Spring at Sunset

Blooms at sunset and windblown little girls make me happy.

For more captures of spring go here, here, here and yes, here too.
I like spring, can you tell?

A Gift of Moments Past

Many years ago, more than ten, at least, a grandmother lovingly wrapped yarn 'round needle, 

tenderly tucking bonnets and sweaters away for great-grandbabies she would never know.

Those quiet moments of needlework give way to these, 

the few moments of her little life, when Victoria will don tiny bonnet and sweater 

and be wrapped in her great-grandmother's love.

Today's You Capture theme is A Moment, hosted by I Should Be Folding Laundry.

And....if you have an answered prayer you'd like to share, 

Filed Under Grace: Documenting Answered Prayer returns this weekend. 

Come back and link up on Saturday, alrighty?

You Capture: Quiet

Quiet.

That's what I love about country life.

For a while now quiet has looked like this:

The wind whispers. The soft sound of snow blowing, drifting can almost be heard.

This profound quiet will soon give way to a peaceful drip, drip, dripping. 

And after the mud has dried, the sun returns and gives this country blooms.

The world will venture out of hibernation and the echos of cattle grazing across the fields will return.

This place is still.  Peace and quiet.

~~~~~
This is the last day for entering my giveaway
for a chocolate and cinnamon mill
to add flourish to your favorite drink!
Your chances of winning are good- only 16 entrants so far!
SO.... head on over and enter. NOW!
*grin*
~~~~~

This has been another edition of 

You Capture: Quiet 

hosted by

I Should be Folding Laundry

Morning Dose of Hope

I wait for the LORD,

my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

Guide me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:5

More on hope here.

This post includes a {very}subtle hint about what I'm giving away next week.

The Faces of Vacation

Three days of laughing at the snowy outdoors, donning swimsuits and defying the elements. One indoor beach. An artificial hurricane. Many slides...a river. The air warmed and even tanned our skin under the glass dome. Twelve families lounged together, kids playing hard. Memories are easily made with these friends. Here are a few of their faces.

 

Is hosted by I Should be Folding Laundry. 

Every week is a new photo challenge and this week's theme was faces.

You (don't) Capture (my)Truffles, they're mine!

This is what I've been up to.

Holiday decor on truffles.

Truffles and caramels.

Baking and cooking and crafting.

I love Christmas.

A chance to pull out every.single.favorite.treat recipe and make them ALL!

~~~

And....I went shopping this afternoon. With all three kids. Needed to go to Michael's. Of course I spent way too much time browsing and gazing longingly at things I could not have. (And the kids spent just as much time touching things they couldn't have.) One of them was a wreath. Mine is ancient and needed more than just a little hotglue and loving attention. It need a whole new wardrobe. So for $3.50 I gave it one. Not too bad, though I need one more poinsettia to make it an odd number. Or maybe symmetrical is in. I don't have time to care anymore. Or time to go back to Michael's and fetch another pick. So here it is: an economical wreath leading into an imperfectly kept house. Hey, at least the shoes are all lined up against the wall...