A Good Day

Well..the annual family trek to Bates Nut Farm was today. It's something we look forward to every fall. We love the wind, the trees, the leaves landing on our heads, the sights and smells. We love the color orange...everywhere. This year, we had a new "fourth" to our group: Faith's new friend Mikaylin took over Heather's seat in the car and kept the chatter up the whole way. It was a lovely day...a slight cool breeze reminded us that Autumn had arrived.

They started their time in the corn maze. Friendly competition and fast feet began the journey to find all 8 stations. Faith finally found the path and got all her stamps, Chuck had to help Mikaylin a little bit.

Next stop: to get faces painted. It's always good to have a reminder of your day when you get home..something to show off to the neighborhood. What a decision! So many choices! A taste of the holiday to come: Harvest

Of course, you must have your picture taken in original, farm attire!

Of course, what is a trip to a farm without a Hay Ride??? We got in line with the other excited travellers, anticipating a wagon pulled by lovely dapple-gray draft horses. A swift change, and we got to experience what Festus on Gunsmoke lived on a day-to-day basis: a Mule ride! Somehow, it just wasn't the same.

And then, for the finale, picking out the pumpkins. I have to tell you, I really missed Heather at this point. She has such an artistic eye, she can find whatever pumpkin she is looking for, no matter what shape she has in mind. It's a true gift. The pumpkins were a bit different this year, more uniform in shape. Not as much variety in size. However...persistence definitely pays off!


Mission Accomplished, thanks to Daddy. Another memory for the books. We took our weary feet, and extra-large bag of Kettle Corn, home with a smile. While we missed Heather today...it was good to keep the history going and the memory books filled for Faith.

A good day.

A Taste of Home

I am getting ready to send Heather another care package...and couldn't fit myself in it. (:D) I also couldn't fit in something she loves, something the two of us enjoy very much. It's the pears off the tree in our yard. So...Heather..here is a sampling from our crop this year. I know you can't really taste them, so let me assure you that they are a sweet, juicy, flavorful batch of goodness.

I really enjoy putting together little packages for the girls (I know she shares!) It's fun to think about what might bring a sense of home, help, or just plain silliness. I wish the box I could afford to send was bigger. It just isn't. The sense of surprise is what brings me such delight. I like surprises - the gift kind, anyway. And I really like to give them. There's something about someone putting some thought into what might bless you that brings the greatest sense of love to me. It truly is the thought that counts.

So, Heather my love, here's the thought that counts. A taste of home.

Beauty

I just saw the most beautiful picture, I have to share it.

I happen to think that it speaks volumes.

Look at the colors.

Look at the clarity in the eyes

Look at the smile

THIS is a face that is joyful, content, glowing.

I love it sooo much!

I can't wait to see this face in person!

Heart's Desires

I am sooo excited!

Heather is preparing for a (another, in fact) dream of a lifetime. A trip to Israel. I can't tell you how long she has longed for this. When she broached the subject openly the first time, years ago, her dad had an immediate answer: NO. Dad's do that. They consider the cost, the safety factor, the emotional cord and it's ability to stretch without breaking. Mom's consider the last part, too, only they seem to be more willing to push the baby bird out of the nest.

Now, I don't share this deep dream with Heather, not that I don't want to go experience it also. But, for her, it is something so much more than a country with stories to tell. It holds mysteries and beauties that her artistic eye and heart can only dream of. And so, with trepidation, she signed up. With trepidation, because there is so much here to consider. So much so, that she called home to talk about it. Now that part gives my heart it's great joy. She wanted to share her heart with us, and gain counsel, before she committed. What parent doesn't delight in that?! So, I quickly consulted the Spirit and gave the only counsel I could: pray...and pay. I want to see her fulfill her heart's desires as best she can. I want her to experience all the Lord has for her while she is wholly focused on exactly that. I want her to fly.

It's funny...I'm still cheering as she flies away.

Gifts

The package arrived! yeah!

It took 12 days from start to finish, and when I asked Lauren if she had heard that Heather got a package, all she could say was..."You mean the Brownie Mix? YUM!"

I love that no matter where they are, they stay true to their chocolate preferences!

I am still waiting to hear what Heather thought of all the stuff jammed inside it...I hope it was a blessing and a cause for laughter.

the Home Front

Another week has passed. I imagine this picture is what my girl's room at the college looks like, only with bunk beds. I imagine this for 2 reasons: 1) her room at home should look this neat when she is occupying it! 2) I have no pics of her "flat" and therefore have no other point of reference. This picture thing is rather important to me right now. I have been able to talk with Heather. I have laughed (a lot), cried (some), and listened and shared news. But I have not "seen" her in her new home. It is the one thing I find most frustrating. I am no longer sad, wishing she were here with me (I am most content in that area.) I have never been worried about her safety or calling. What I can not do is "imagine" where she is living, and therefore can't "imagine" the impact she is having on it, and it on her. I feel like she got her first apartment, and I haven't been invited over to view it. Silly, perhaps, but true.

On the home-front, we are settling into a routine. Chuck is back to work, Faith is getting on track doing homework. I am back to walking with my friend in the mornings. Cooking seems easier and harder at the same time. I keep reminding myself that it doesn't matter if Heather likes a dish or not, it's Faith's palate that has to be accounted for. Laundry is less. Night times are still a bit off...no girl to wait up for and fill in on the day. I find myself running to the computer a lot more to see if she's online. I guess old habits die hard. I like sharing my late-nights with my owl. But all-in-all, we are settling in.

I'm dying to see what happens when the package I sent arrives in England.

23rd Psalm

Like well-cared for sheep, the girls have arrived at their destination. I have only heard tidbits of the last leg of their journey, so I can only imagine what relief there must be knowing that their sojourn is over. I know, for myself, the sense of relief I had when I heard their voices. (Lack of communication can make a parent a trifle nervous.)

I am so pleased to hear how they met an angel of the Lord at every turn. When the map was unclear. When the food was unavailable. When the door was locked. When the bus was...a bus. God has been there, a very present help, every time. Am I surprised? No. My God is The God of grace, mercy, abundant love, and gifts. He loves to give good gifts to His kids. All kinds of gifts. Chocolate for dinner, an old can of soup, a hoarded roll and apple to fill the void. Beauty in unexpected places. And sheep.

Yes, sheep. The girls wanted to see sheep, and green valleys. I know I had to talk them into going to Wales. It took a lot of persuading...it was a long way out of the way and a cost was certainly involved. But the gift of Dolgellau is unexplainable. Sheep say it best. The land is full of them. And rock walls, made with hands and held together for centuries without mortar. A land full of color. Green hillsides. Ancient trees. Breathtaking mountain ranges. Dancing streams with crystal clear water. You see, Wales impressed me when I was there at 15. And again at 26. But the sheep....you see, sheep remind us that we are much like them. Sheep need leading. Protecting. Feeding and Watering. And rest. Lots of rest and peace. The shepherd provides all of it. Without a care for himself, he cares for his charges for a lifetime. His lifetime. As does our Shepherd. He leads us into peace, rest, refreshment, nourishment. He protects us like no other can. You see, we get lost when left to our own devices. We end up hungry, ill, lost, and ill-natured when we do things on our own.

Sheep are lovely. And Wales is full of them. Most of all, Wales is a place to remember your Shepherd, and relax in His tender care.

I am glad they are at the college now. I am more glad of the journey to get them there. The preparation for what comes next has been well worth it. I know that God met them at every turn.