Views from the Trampoline

Love these views -

this little one,

 willow trees,

and this sky.

Snuggling and looking at all there is to be seen.

This 6 year old mouth.

A blanket and reading in the sun.

And even from here, I love the view of my favorite kitchen table spot :)

Looking forward to many evenings like this,

as this semester of Chemistry and Physics is finally coming to a close.

Ones where I stop - and enjoy the view of where I am...

A Little Lemon Tree

I have always wanted a lemon tree...

And look what my hubby bought me (us) :)

The flowers have the most beautiful smell! 



 And these teeny little lemons are too cute!

Picked out a nice spot yesterday evening, with Joshua's help.

Just lovely

Since I am a gardener want to be, without present knowledge,

I can't wait to see how the tree grows and how long till these are brightly yellow

and ready...

A perfect springtime planting!



The Changing Seasons of Life

Oh the seasons of life.

Some are such happy ones.

Some, you had no idea how sweet they were until you look back.

Some you are happy they are over, never to return.

And some, they are... the ones you just have to get through -

 Not bad, just not what you want.

Life the past few months have been a rush. 

A blur of busy activity, rushing from one event to another.

Like these pink lovelies.

For weeks we noticed the buds as we rushed by, in and out of the house.

And finally, blooms.  Lots and lots of them.

I do so enjoy them while they are here.

Filling vases here and there.

And they are already gone... until next Spring...

And this busy season of life? It too will pass.

This time of school and shuffling, and forgetting what needs to be done,

of rushing this one up and to school, and this one too, and dishes and cooking,

and grocery shopping and laundry. Of college and studying and homework and tests.

Of little ones with fever and sickness, of doctor appointments,

and of me - getting wisdom teeth pulled, at my age.

Of not having time for even an overdue phone call or sharing of hearts over coffee.

This season too shall pass.

And one day, a new will come.

It will spring up possibly without notice.

Like this little tree, growing in a shady corner of the backyard.

Some seasons have been just how I wanted them. 

All in order and under my control...

Time to linger, time for friendships, time for a spic and span house,

and planned out cooked meals.

Time when it felt easy to encounter God.

To see and hear from Him.

To be in a wonderful bible study with dear friends.  Curled up on couches.

For long quiet times while little ones slept or napped or played nearby.

But what to make of this blurring time?

 It doesn't feel nice and orderly or under any control.

And then I wonder why think it should?

I know that at anytime, I can look up...

In between the rushing of life events, all the need-to-do's,

He is there...  A prayer away. 

And only He will give me the strength to endure - all the seasons of life.

Catching Up

Where have I been since my last post?

Hhhmmmm???

I have been (the theme of the decade) - 

busy. 

Seriously, I can actually recall days that stretched...

Watching the sun and shadows cast long slants on my walls.

Solid blocks of time.

Where did all that go? 

Well, since I last spoke here,

our little one got a raging fever,

a trip to the doctor, chest xray, pneumonia, shots and antibiotics.

Then a recent round of high fever, concerns the pneumonia was returning,

another round of antibiotics.

This was when chills had set in, and eyes drooped closed, with forehead hot.

I have done lots of reading.  As usual.  It is the one thing I do in my "downtime" -

those brief moments between one thing and another. 

Amazing how many books you can actually read - in those in between moments.

Me and my honey celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary!

And we actually ate at a fancy restaurant - all by ourselves,

where they make these squiggles all over your plate.

I am still trudging along in Chemistry and Physics...

Daily trying to decide which one is harder and which one I dislike more...

Yes, that bad.

I had a test in each class today, don't know my grades yet.

But for now, I am taking a bit of a breather.

I still love to get up early, to light some candles,

enjoy my coffee and kitchen table moments...

Always working in some bible study -

 though with school, they take me way longer than they used to.

Presently memorizing The Sermon on the Mount.

My problem is, I get to where I know it completely while looking at the first

letter of each word.  Take away my first letters, and I struggle more than I'd like.

Counting the blessings - the wonderfulness of now.

Even enjoying late nights - at the kitchen table.

Where God can and does meet me over candlelight,

my bible, and a tall glass of iced coffee.

I even went to see a movie with my best girlfriend!

Then promptly went home, did a little research on this

"based on a true story" story.

Bought the book on my Kindle and had it read by the next night.

So glad I saw the movie first...

And all the regular mom things as well...

Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning (though less and less these days!),

packing lunches, tending to dogs (who wanted these anyway...?),

driving kids around, trying to get back into running and exercising...,

wondering where the sun had gone for the past few days, celebrating in

seeing it today, grocery shopping, watching American Idol...

I think we are all caught up!

Hopefully I get another breather before long!

Changes Are In The Air

I am never one for change. 

I tend to prefer to stick with what I know, what's comfortable.

And though I am afraid of some of the changes on the horizon,

this time, I'm also excited.

Some sweet changes blowing in -

My azaleas are budding.

And soon they will be covered with soft pink flowers -

and I will fill vases -

bringing the beauty inside.

Bradford Pears are in cottony bloom.

They catch my eye everywhere I go.

Me pointing them out has Joshua counting them,

everywhere we go.

I just love trees with red berries. 

Naturally decorative, all on their own.

Soon, all the trees will be covered in leaves.

Love this sight of the moss blowing on such a windy day as yesterday.

And then their are changes that terrify and excite at the same time.

I went for my nursing school orientation this week.

Here we find out all the shots we must get, blood work drawn, physicals done, papers to be filled out.

Security checks done, fees to be paid, things to get in order - and soon.

I have never had to drive into the city before - other than sight seeing/family outings kind of things.

I feel so grown up, having to drive into the city to get to this big old building -

where I will attend nursing school.

More gas to be pumped, traffic to contend with, bridges to cross and miles from home.

Seems scary.

Sort of like this painting, that greets you when you enter the building.

Just a bit intimidating....

 Don't know why the date stops at 1992, because further down, the dates were all up-to-date.

I have been told all of the horror stories of nursing school, and yet I am sure there are many more...

but I must remember that God has clearly called me to this.

He has been with me all this way - through all these classes,

He will not abandon me along the way.

And He is where my confidence must come from.

Trusting Him is the only confidence I have.