Sweet Sixteen...Three Celebrations!

Somehow we've managed to eke a lot of celebrating out of birthdays this year. Kati's 16th birthday was no exception...a whopping three times to celebrate this milestone year!

Never one to let things sneak up on her, Kati has been planning a Jane Austen theme for her birthday for months. The beautiful fan-shaped rose napkins were purchased and tucked away in early summer. The tea bag holders given as favors were selected well in advance of her special day. And for days-on-end, Bekah declared everything either "Jane Austen-y" or "not Jane Austen-y." (For example, "Jane Austen would never wear jeans, Kati!" and "This table looks very Jane Austen-y.")

The day came, and all of Kati's guests deemed the party quite Jane Austen-y. ;-)

Jane Austen-y tea set

Place cards labeled with characters from Austen novels

Lovely dinner companions

Eleanor, Marianne, Elizabeth, and Jane
(also known as: Kati, Kate A., Britni, and Kate F.)

Another day, we celebrated with family. You can't let a momentous occasion pass without sharing with sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, and grandparents, now can you?

Kati and Kristin reminiscing

Blowing out the 16 candle again...this time with admiring Maddie looking on :-)

Then on her actual birthday, we took Kati to her favorite Mexican restaurant and returned home to more gifts and leftover cheesecake.

I suppose that Kati is now officially sixteen!

The Thankful Tree

Several years ago, our family began a Thanksgiving tradition.

Many of you parents can probably relate to our experience. If you do something once (that's all it takes!), and the children enjoy it, it becomes a “tradition.” That’s how we began such “traditions” as watching A Christmas Carol to begin our Christmas season...or eating dinner at The Olive Garden on the 4th of July! So at holiday time, we are careful about not doing something that we would not want to continue to do for years-on-end. But no one is reluctant to continue this particular Thanksgiving “tradition” .

At the beginning of the month, we put up our “Thankful Tree”. I cut a large tree trunk out of brown mailing paper and hang it on the inside of our front door. Then we cut many paper leaves in bright fall colors. Daily, each family member is given a leaf on which they write something that they are thankful for, and then we tape them to our tree.

It is a delight to watch our tree grow with blessings—“my guinea pig”, “God’s protection”, “my nieces and nephews”, “God’s Word”, “my new job”, “family game time”—nothing is too small or too big to include. When we have guests, we invite them to contribute to our tree. We mail leaves to Ryan’s family to allow them to participate from afar. The Thankful Tree reaches fruition on Thanksgiving Day when our extended family gathers and are asked to add their blessings.

When I take the tree down at the beginning of our Christmas season, I do not dispose of those blessings! I “rake” those very special fall leaves and save them from year to year.

A Morning Feast

This morning...

• St. Luke
• Little Pilgrim's Progress
• "We Gather Together"
• Emily Dickinson
• Vivaldi
• Vermeer
• hot tea and apple butter muffins

Have I mentioned that I love homeschooling?

Choosing Gratitude

For years, I have kept this quoted passage tucked within the pages of my Bible. I can't even remember where I first found it. I only know that it pierced my heart so deeply that I wanted to keep it near, to be able to read it again and again and again. My human heart is so prone to complaining; yet I know that it should be filled only with gratitude. So when I find myself murmuring, I return to this place of eternal perspective and fall on His mercy. Lord, forgive me for forgetting your amazing grace.

Our culture is riddled with a poisonous spirit of entitlement. We always think we deserve more. We’re disappointed with our family, our neighbors, church, the waitress, the sales clerk, and the department of motor vehicles. Ultimately, we’re disappointed with God. He hasn’t given us everything we want.

What madness! If only we could see our situation clearly—even for a moment. We deserved expulsion; He gives us a diploma. We deserved the electric chair; He gives us a parade. Anything less than overwhelming gratitude should be unthinkable. He owes us nothing. We owe Him everything. When you realize you deserve nothing better than hell, it puts a “bad day” in perspective, doesn’t it?

Christians in Sudan—who’ve suffered unspeakably for their faith—are deeply grateful for God’s daily blessings. But us? We whine and pout.

Thankfulness should draw a clear line between us and a Christless world. If the same spirit of entitlement and ingratitude that characterizes our culture characterizes us, what do we have to offer?

If I grasp that I deserve hell, I’ll be filled with gratitude not only for God’s huge blessings—including my redemption and home in heaven—but also for His smaller blessings: sun, rain, a beating heart, eyes that see, legs that walk, a mind that thinks...And because Christ allowed Himself to be crushed under the weight of my sin, I’ll enjoy forever a clear mind and a perfect body...Never believe anything about yourself or God that makes His grace to you seem anything less than astonishing. Because that’s exactly what it is.

~Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox, Multnomah Publishers 2003, pp. 33-35

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Oooooooooo...I am so excited that it is now November. It is my favorite month (I think, although that is subject to change as is my “favorite” hymn and poem and book), and I give myself permission to start playing Thanksgiving music.

“Thanksgiving music?,” I hear someone say. Absolutely!

A couple of years ago, I found a book that falls under the category of you-never-know-what-gem-you-will-discover-at-your-local-library: Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember, by Barbara Rainey. It had an eye-catching Thanksgiving-y cover that attracted my attention and so I pulled it from the shelf. There are beautiful illustrations inside too, as well as the history of Thanksgiving, ideas for establishing Thanksgiving traditions, and beautifully decorated pages for recording your own family’s blessings.

But the real treasure is the accompanying CD! Over and over I listen to these lovely instrumental arrangements of worshipful hymns. Included are “Come Ye Thankful People, Come,” “We Gather Together,” and “For the Beauty of the Earth”—all traditional Thanksgiving songs which I want my children to know (and which we have sung around our table on Thanksgiving day!)—as well as other hymns which inspire worship and gratitude such as “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “O For a Thousand Tongues.”

I subsequently purchased this treasure, so I don’t have to depend on someone else not discovering it at my library. Money well spent.

You Are My Sunshine!

In a few days we will celebrate the sixteenth birthday of our precious daughter Kaitlyn. It sounds "cliche", but I can hardly believe that my "baby" is going to be sixteen.

When we were expecting Kati, our older daughter Kristin was thirteen and our son Ryan was eleven. The reactions to our happy news ranged from delight to pity to consternation! "I'm glad it's you and not me" was a common remark, to which I responded (mentally, if not verbally), "So am I!"

And what a blessing Kati has been!

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Proverbs 20:11

Our Kati was such a pleasant, happy baby. She grew into a sweet child with a gentle and generous spirit. Now she has blossomed into a young woman on the brink of adulthood whose many talents are being revealed to me daily.

Kati reads voraciously, loves to bake, dabbles in photography, watches birds, memorizes poetry almost effortlessly, enjoys decorating her room.

She is a tremendous help around the house. She sees what needs doing...and does it! (And helps keep me on track too!)

She is orderly and sensible. Quiet, but a deep thinker.

Kati is a wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter, and aunt.

And she loves the Lord.

As I rocked Kati to sleep when she was a baby, one of my favorite songs to sing to her was "You Are My Sunshine."

Kati, you're still my sunshine! And I thank God for bringing you into our home, our lives, our hearts! May your "sweet sixteen" year be filled with blessings as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday, Kati!

Considering My Words

Words. I love words. I could never relate to Eliza Doolittle when she sang to Freddy Eynsford-Hill, "Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words!" and "Never do I ever want to hear another word. There isn't one I haven't heard."

Unlike Eliza, I am enamored with words. I have always loved to read. I am fascinated by word origins. I love to play Scrabble and do crossword puzzles and play Word Twist on Facebook. The "word" categories on Jeopardy are my favorites...like "C's the Day" where all the answers begin with the letter C. I like to put my thoughts into words (hence this blog). I admire ideas well-expressed, such as those in hymns and poetry and great literature. I am stimulated by good conversation.

Maybe sometimes I have used too many words. I recall Ryan's request years ago when asking me an algebra question. "Mom, I have a question and I don't want the long answer. Please don't give me a long explanation. I just want the simplest answer to my question." And I must admit, I had to refrain from providing the "long answer" and reteaching a lot of algebra in the process.

The words of a Michael Card song have recently caused me to think about words.

You and me we use so very many clumsy words.
The noise of what we often say is not worth being heard.

And that led me to pondering the words of Jesus who said,

Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

And the words of wise Solomon,

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

But words can also be used for good!

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11

And so I pray,

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

and

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Future Plans

Overheard in Ron's shop this afternoon...

Gavin (almost 7): I love tools. I am going to be a construction worker when I grow up and build houses. Want to help, Bekah?

Bekah (8): No, but I'll decorate them.

It Is What It Is

Three-year-old Ryan sat on the sofa enjoying a crunchy apple. Teacher-type mom that I am (even before the days of homeschooling), I decided to share some science trivia with my little son.

"Ryan," I said, "some people call an apple 'nature's toothbrush.'"

The blonde boy held his apple in front of him for a moment considering, then replied, "I call it an apple."


That's my boy--then and now. Let's talk straight and call it what it is.

Congratulations to...

~~Barbara~~

Yeah, Barbara! The fall tablescape will be coming to your house...and Andrew can enjoy some gourds inside. ;-)

Thanks to all who participated in my first giveaway!

Who Am I?

A recent thought on my "Apples of Gold" daily calendar:

In Matthew 16, Jesus didn't tell his disciples that the important thing was to discover who they were, but "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" and "Whom say ye that I am?" Never are we told to get to know ourselves, but to know Him; it is no more I but Christ; beholding in a glass—not our own glory or discovering who we are—but, beholding Him, we become like Him; when we see Him, we shall be like Him—not because we have at last found out who we really are in Christ, but because we will see Him as He is!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ~ I John 3:2

FALL GIVEAWAY!

I have a weakness for fall decor...so when I saw this tablescape at Pier I on clearance a few years ago, I brought it home with me. But now, thanks to an overflow of things autumnal at my house, I am offering it to one of you!

The tablescape includes four ceramic gourds (approximately 2-inches long), five metal leaves, and the gravel. (Unfortunately, it does not include the pewter tray on which it is displayed for the pic, as the tray belongs to a cream and sugar set and does not wish to leave its mates.)

If you'd like to have this tablescape, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, I'll select (via random.org) and announce a winner right here. (Giveaway open only to those in the US.)

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Isn't autumn the best? From the cooler temperatures, to the bursts of color, to the new nut brown sweater I received for my birthday, to the return of soup to the menu, I love it!

All during the summer, I am watching for signs of autumn. The appearing of the reddish berries on the hedge is the first sign...in July! The shortening days and the display of school supplies in the stores say "fall is coming." And then the first mums and spicy pumpkin candles appear and I succumb. Time to put away all that speaks of summer and fetch the box from the attic ask Ron to fetch the box from the attic that contains everything that speaks of fall. (And fall does a lot of speaking around here.)

Autumn is in every room...

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen
(even the) Bathroom ;-)

...and outside too.

So it has happened that I have something extra that I'd like to give away! If you'd like a little something new to add to your autumn decor, then check back in later today for details on my Fall Giveaway!

Enjoying the Flavors of Autumn

Wish you could be here to enjoy the aromas in the kitchen today. Lots of cooking and baking in the works...

• Sweet potato pies...to be made by Ron who saw the recipe in my latest Country Living magazine...deja vu! :-)
• Rosemary bread...in the works by Kati, for our church fellowship's soup lunch tomorrow.
• Shortbread cookies...for Owen who is coming this afternoon for his Papa-and-Gran Day, baker TBA.
• Cream Cheese Chicken Soup...to be made by me, also for tomorrow's soup luncheon. This is a favorite introduced to us by my dear daughter-in-law, Sarah; Kristin posted the recipe on her blog a while back.

Love autumn's bounty!

rosemary bread rising

sweet potatoes waiting for pate brisee

* Check in on Monday for a fall give away!

Rainy Day Wishes

Kati was able to fulfill her rainy day wishes.



So was I, although I did not photograph it.

Bekah, not so much. Maybe next time, Bekah!