a bend in the road

A few weeks ago we were having trouble adjusting to the "new" normal.

That's what they call it,
according to the lady at the cancer support group.
And we get that.

The "new" normal.

You know,
or maybe you don't,
how you learn to adjust to what is now normal when living with cancer,
or another debilitating disease.

Seeing someone you love so much feeling constantly yucky,
worn out,
in pain,
needing medication to make it through a day.
Realizing that we shouldn't be taking for granted getting up each day and walking across our room unassisted.
Having something as simple as an appetite.
Or being able to go down the stairs on your own and throw in a load of laundry.
Or picking up your two year old, not just holding him on your lap, because you can't lift him.
Wondering if such and such place will be wheelchair or walker accessible.

But you do adjust.
You don't like it, but you adjust.
You take it for what it is and you pray,
all the time,
and you accept, sort of.
And you learn to cope.

Then you hit a rougher spot, (they call it a time of upheaval or crisis in the illness)
and everything feels upside down again.
Their pain is worse, their options seem not so great.
You just SEE them struggling with what should be normal life.
It just feels rough.
Bone wearying hard all of the sudden.
For whatever reason
and your coping abilities feel like they have run out.

And we're not the ones sick.

I don't know why some days seem harder and you feel more helpless.
But some days you just do.

We had a stretch of that a few weeks ago.
For various reasons we felt turned upside down again.
In the midst of it, we did what we do.

We prayed and cried, a lot.

And we did what, frankly, we don't do enough.

We talked.

and tried to sort through some bewildering feelings.

And prayed some more.

During this time of upheaval and trying to adjust to the "newest normal"
God sent several blessings and comforters our way,
in the form of friends, family, scripture and prayer.
And a special blessing, in the form of my mother in law, to help smooth the rough stretch.
She sent a very uplifting poem our way.
It was just what I needed.
Though it caused a new river of tears, these words calmed my troubled heart.

I hope it will uplift yours as well.

THE END OF THE ROAD IS BUT A BEND IN THE ROAD

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the "song had ended"
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying~

There's but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side~

Together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it's ONLY A BEND.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the "pause in the song" is a "rest",
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best~

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work in not finished or ended,
You've just come to "A BEND IN THE ROAD".
Helen Steiner Rice

I'm thankful for this gentle reminder that God sees the bigger picture.
Really for me, it makes me see that God is the bigger picture.

We can adjust to what ever "new normal" brings,
with God by our side,
and our sweet Shauna's indomitable spirit and still sunshiny smile.

We continue to ask all of our dear Christian friends to keep praying for remission,
strength, and control of the pain.

Love to you all.
I pray your Lord's Day is Blessed with True Worship of Him
~Debbie

A Pocket Full of Pinecones

Construction on our home (and a few other things obviously) have somewhat taken over our life. For the first time in our Homeschool's history, our school books were not pulled out in Late August, Early September as they have been for the last nineteen years. Now, don't get me wrong, we have had our ups and downs, and we have always been flexible to the needs of our family, and the crisis that have occasionally arisen...But never have we been this late.

However, school books aside, plenty of learning has been going on. My children have learned to be more compassionate and helpful with the needs of others. They have been patient with disrupted plans and lovingly open to doing what needs to be done. And to say that they have learned a bit about construction would be a gross...um...can I say under-exaggeration? But now, it's time to dust off the school books and get the new ones out. I usually spend the summer rejuvenating and gearing up...however... :)

But the last week or so I have been re-reading one of my favorite home school inspiration books, Karen Andrealo's "A Pocket Full of Pinecones". It's a lovely little read. Sweet, simple and inspiring about a fictional families life and love of learning about God's word and His world. I don't necessarily agree with everything doctrinally, but very much enjoy her style of writing and the encouragement it gives me to use nature and nature study in all of our every day learning. Especially as Fall is in full swing here in our lovely little piece of Heaven in the Missouri countryside...crunching leaves and acorns abound and our little road is just beckoning us to take a nature walk.

It was just the boost I needed to "officially" start our school year...albeit a bit late. If you are home schooling your self, or know someone who is, this book is a real treat.

Well, I'm off to read a chapter or two more, and then dust off a few school books. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Love, Debbie

The Baby Bird Predicament

Why do we always get ourselves in these situations?

We arrived home tonight from the grocery store and we were bringing our bags in.
Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.

A tiny little huddled up ball of feathers laying on the ground.
It was right near where our dog and cat were hanging out.

ugh.
Did they do something to hurt this little guy?

I went over to assess the damage.

He was completely unresponsive



but breathing

and no signs of blood.

He wouldn't move.

He wouldn't open his little black eyes.

He wouldn't peep.

So...
my girls brains start swirling with ideas.

He needs a little dropper of warm milk Mom.

{{We've been reading the Sam Campbell books and this is how they revived a little bird}}

Here is what we did do~

they went out and dug some worms.

I chopped them up into bits and mixed the bits with water.
I forced his tiny beak open

and in dropped the worm juice.

mmmm....

we went back out a bit later and he was moving and opening his mouth for more.

guess I make a mean Worm Soup.


Now it's night though.

I can't go out every hour and feed this little fella.

We put him in an old abandoned nest in hopes that his parents will find him.

We haven't seen any signs of Momma or Daddy Blue Jay.

Do they take care of their young or put their eggs in other birds' nests?

I hadn't thought of that.

anyways~

Wish us lots of luck.

Remember how it went when we had the little shrew for an hour?
Poor Truman.


You can do it Baby Jay!!


edited~

Baby Jay didn't survive the night.

We are getting a lesson in the circle of life.

and yes...

we will be holding a funeral for our feathered friend.

Finding Beauty in the Starkness of Winter

I feel at loss for words the moment....

but let me share some of the rest of my photos
from the botanical garden



~a magnolia~

~looking up the center of the silo~

~a view from the top of the silo~
the plants are in quilt patterns...
it's quite amazing
~a beautiful pine~
it's hard to find color this time of year but this little tree was
brilliant in the evening sun

~and this was the sunset on the drive home~

God gives the most wonderful reminders of
His Eternal Love and Power.

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visit the others who are thinking about God's love at Spiritual Sundays

the Calling

There's something in the cool crisp air
It beckons in the breeze
You'll hear it in the quiet woods
and in the rustling leaves

With a quiet listening heart
Is how to hear the Calling's song
For the busy hurried person
The call will be soon gone

It says come see the world before
It settles down to rest
It offers up a promise~
If you go you will be blessed

Blessed with gold and blessed with crimson
From strong and noble trees
Be still and wait and listen
And you can hear it whisper Please.

Don't miss the prize it offers
It comes but once a year
Be still and go and listen
and the Calling you will hear.

~by Chasity~

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my feeble attempt to be poetical

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Great news~~~~our Etsy shop is now up and running.
Hope you can come by there for a visit~
our shop door is always open and we've been working on some
fun new products.


~Hope you all have a wonderful weekend~
I will be out on a camping trip....
answering the Call....

Dawn's Early Light

It has been raining here for days. Not that I mind.
I find the rain refreshing and calming...
especially in August when it is usually scorching and brown.

For some reason I woke up early this morning.
Not usually a trait of mine.
I love the early mornings but find it hard to pull myself out of bed to enjoy them.

I grabbed my camera and went out to claim the calmness of the morning.

The rain has encouraged the moss to grow everywhere.
I love moss. It's so enchanting.

The world was draped in dew and left~over rain drops.

It seemed as if the whole world was still wrapped in slumber except an occasional happy bird looking for breakfast.

It's the kind of morning when you feel you need to tip-toe quietly in the grass so that the magic spell isn't broken....

and there isn't any question as to why this flower is called a morning~glory.
I'm so glad I was able to catch this beauty before the sun came up and it
closed it's lovely face.

May you find peace and calmness in the day...

I'm off to grab my cup of coffee and breathe in the morning before the sounds of traffic and chatter enter the world.
hugs to you~
chasity

Did you know...?

That God is Love as evidenced by the Creation He has given us.

Also that God is love as evidenced in the instructions given us in His Word.

That the Bible is made up of 66 books...

.

Written by at least 40 different inspired men...

..

Spanning 1500 years in the writing...

..

Yet all in agreement with no contradictions...

..

With 3 different dispensations.

..

The Patriarchal, the Mosaical, and the Christian,

..

the last of which we are under.

..It has two major divisions,

..the Old Testament,

..and the New Testament.

..

The Old Testament has 39 books,

.

and is divided into 5 books of Law,

.

then 12 books of History of the Jews,

then 5 books of Poetry,

..then 5 books of Major Prophecy,

..then 12 books of Minor Prophecy.

..The books of Prophecy are only so called because of length, not based on importance.

The New Testament has 27 books,

.and is divided into the 4 Gospels,

..then the 1 book of the History of the Church, which is Acts,

,

then Paul's Letters or Epistles from Romans to Philemon,

..then the Other Letters or Epistles from Hebrews to Jude,

..then the one book of Prophecy in the New Testament, Revelation,

..written to warn Christians of the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans,

..and of Christ's Second Coming.

..Most imortantly, do you know we will be judged by His Word?

..Revelation 20:12

..He will not be giving us a phone call

...or sending an e-mail

...that we might have time to get ready.

...1 Thessalonians 5:2

...He expects us to be ready.

....I am so greatful our Creator and Redeemer has given us a guide to follow!!

...Let's all be studying to really know God and His wonderful will for us.

......Happy Spiritual Sunday!

...Warmly, Debbie

Wood Nymphs and Dryads and Forest Fairy Friends

"Look, do you see that poem?" she said suddenly, pointing.

"Where? " Jane and Diana stared, as if expecting to see Runic rhymes on the birch trees.

"There...down in the brook...that old green, mossy log with the water flowing over it in those smooth ripples that look as if they'd been combed, and that single shaft of sunshine falling right athwart it, far down into the pool. Oh, it's the most beautiful poem I ever saw"

"I should rather call it a picture," said Jane. "A poem is lines and verses."

"Oh dear me, no." Anne shook her head with its fluffy wild cherry coronal positively. "The lines and verses are only the outward garments of the poem and are no more really it than your ruffles and flounces are you, Jane. The real poem is the soul within them...and that beautiful bit is the soul of an unwritten poem. It is not every day one sees a soul...even of a poem."

We finally had our forest play date and it was perfectly delightful.
The little wood nymphs came out to play...

....fluttering and whisking about....
...and peering into places where their forest friends may be hiding...

The previous lines are from the book 'Anne of Avonlea'
If you have never read these wonderful books by L.M. Montgomery...
you should hasten to do so.
She has the most wonderful way of transporting you to a world of sweet happiness.

Have a wonderful~day~~enjoy it to the fullest!
Chasity

Flowers and Words.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden,
Than anywhere else on earth.
~D.F. Gurney


Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair.~SP Shutz

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom,
Maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

May you be blessed in a flower garden today. Be still. Be content.

Enjoy your outdoor wednesday visits.

Happy Anniversary Debbie and David!

xoxo
Chasity

Thankful Thursday

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

{it speaks for itself, does it not?}

photo from flickr- Deepak Prakash

Thankful Thursday

The first flowers in my garden are blooming today....and I'm thankful. It gives me joy beyond description to see them. And though they are frozen this morning at 22 degrees and the grass is crunching beneath my slippers {mhhm, my slippers} I know that very soon, winter will be gone for good and I can drink my tea on the side porch---watching the sun rise in all it's glory, seeing the flowers bloom in all their beauty, and hearing the birds sing their glorious songs.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:28-29

chas

Whose birthday cake are you eating?

February 12th, 1809----today is the birthdate of our former president Abraham Lincoln. Yet it is also the birthdate of Charles Darwin.

The first being a man who did so much good for our country. A man who is known for honesty and integrity.



The second, a man who lost all faith in God and put our wonderous creation in the hands of evolution.



We can see the downward-spiraling effects of a nation filled with people who have been spoonfed this lie and just eat it without question. It is a mournful day indeed when we consider how many have left the Almighty God to side with a man who said "disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete."
.
If you haven't yet seen the documentary 'Expelled'-- today would be an excellent day to spend the buck at Redbox and watch it. Let us be thinkers and not just followers.
.
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right”

Well said Mr. Lincoln...and Happy Birthday.

A Lovely Weekend

Deborah

What a blessing that God sprinkles a few beautiful, warm days in the midst of winter!! The high was supposed to be 70 on Friday, so it was our day to be off to our local Nature Preserve, Burr Oak Woods.

The plan was to get a trail run in with my oldest son, while the three youngest (almost 16, 14 and 12) hiked the trail, then we would meet back up with them. Candice and I were quickly abandoned by all three boys, as they decided they were going to run the trail together. Alas, we were left in the dust. But it was such a beautiful hike, we didn't mind at all! As Candice and I were hiking we kept seeing and hearing squirrel after squirrel scurrying all around us. We decided they were surrounding us because we were the best looking nuts in the forest. :o)

Then, with the nice weather on Saturday, all of our hubbies got to go on a long bike ride and we all enjoyed spending the day together for Darren's 30th birthday (our husbands youngest brother-- Shauna's husband). We had such a wonderful time. Good company, good food, good conversation, what a blessing our family is! All the cousins had a tremendous time. They built a giant volcano in the sand box, complete with several baking soda and vinegar eruptions. And....drum roll please...The three of us girls got to run together!! Hooray for us!!! Our first run together of the season! It was short, hard and fun!

.

Today, in between church services we had a passle of kiddos over. Some of the older ones went and played football, and some stayed here and had battle after battle with light sabers. I lost my arm multiple times while doing up the lunch dishes. Thankfully I recovered and was able to do a little sewing on some more bunting this afternoon. :o)

.

Tonight we are taking all the kiddos (married and otherwise) out for supper to celebrate our youngest daughter, Candice's, 16th birthday which will be later this week. (Enjoy every moment with your children. Time slips away on wings without you even seeing or hearing it go.) Isn't she lovely! Hope everyone's day is wonderful.

A Good Day in the Forest

Chasity
My wonderful husband took the day off of work yesterday and we spent some time at the nature preserve near our house...a little hike in the woods with the girlies.

It was exactly what my aching heart needed to be close to my family and my God.

...the heavens declare His handiwork.