I love his and he loves mine

I often have dreams, sometimes they are glimpses. For example, last night, I dreamt that I was concerned about Jason's beehive and so I went down and checked on them and they were fine.
Today, I woke up to sirens, an odd and alarming sound in our rural setting. I looked out the front window and it was just a rainy morning scene. I looked out our back window to a flooded view of the fields and forest, not particularly alarming except for the beehive which sits beside the creek on a patch of higher ground that was being threatened by the rising waters. I donned my rain coat and galoshes and set out to inspect the situation. A few swampy minutes later Jason got a phone call... the bees are in the creek.... The hive sits up on slate and bricks, so the beehive was still in the high and dry, but there wasn't any dry ground around it and the waters aren't scheduled to stop rising for at least a day. This qualified as a minor emergency and Jason came home from work to rescue his bees. All is well now and we have a better idea of what will be an ideal beehive location... ( Not sure what the story was with the sirens, but the fire trucks, police, and front end loader headed back out not long after they had come by.)

I am very fond of the honey bees. I don't do much to help care for them, but I feel very affectionate about the sweet brood. I am delighted that I have a man that is inclined to have such a fascinating and useful hobby. I wish him lots of success and increases in skill and knowledge over the years, and look forward to enjoying the results! My personal hobby contributions are many, too many perhaps. Some of my enjoyments require family participation, such as gardening and goat raising. Right now the goat responsibilities primarily belong to everyone at this house besides me, and nobody seems to mind the daily feeding and watering. Milking is on hold while we wait for the dams to freshen, perhaps in March the milking will begin again as well as the care of little kids!

We love each others hobbies. I love Jason's beehives and wine making and the possibility of trebuchet building (which is a high hope for Chester too!), and Jason loves my gardening and goat raising and sewing and photography and harp playing and knitting and crocheting and writing and cooking and ..... like I said, maybe I have too many, but there are just so many interesting pursuits! We all love maple sugaring, and it is almost the sugaring season! Life is good.


















(The beehive rescuers)

Psalms 139

¹O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
²You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
³You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
⁴Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
⁵You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
⁷Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
⁹If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
¹⁰Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
¹¹If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"
¹²Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day
Darkness and light are alike to You.
¹³For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
¹⁷How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.
¹⁹O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
²⁰For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
²¹Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
²²I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
²³Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
²⁴And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

Feeling Resolute!

We have had some growing up to do... lots of lessons and they weren't all easy ones. Many trials and triumphs, fears and fruits, hardships and happiness not just in the past year, but over all the years. Looking back there may have been a thing or two I would have tweaked just a bit differently, but mostly I really like where we are in life and if changing anything, even the negatives, would mean that we would be living a much different scenario I am not sure I would want to exercise that option. We are at a very good place in life. Many blessings and much to look forward to! If I have to make a New Year's Resolution it would be something along the lines of... focus on the blessings, have courage through the obstacles and broken things don't always need fixed, sometimes they need retired completely....

This past year has seen a lot of de-cluttering of the house and the emotions. A lot of weight has been lifted and the outlook is more clear. We have been very blessed, but sometimes life can be so full of so much that the blessings are hard to focus on. Letting go, even of valuables that are not entirely necessary, in order to be more fully in the present and available for the ones I am truly responsible for, is the order of business for the coming year, the lesson learned... hopefully :-) By God's grace we are hoping to grow wiser as we grow older..... Seek peace and pursue it! Gravitate towards the optimism and face the negative with realism! Believe that prayers are heard and answered by our loving, forgiving, all knowing, all wise Creator. Simplicity is rarely simple and should be pursued.

Holiday Highlights!!

Sobering Christmas Thoughts...

(Matthew 2:16-18) "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
'A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.'"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This part of the Christmas story is so very sad. All the little boys of Bethlehem lost their lives for the "crime" of being the peers of Jesus. The story hasn't changed much in the past 2,000 years. There are peers of Jesus all over the world still being persecuted and killed. For me, it makes the Christmas story very sobering. I like the season's cheerful spirit, the enthusiasm of the children, the kindness it sparks in strangers, but I don't actually get too outraged that there are those that want to take Christ out of Christmas. He most likely wasn't born in December anyway... from what I understand the "Church" tried to "redeem" some of the more popular pagan holidays. It has always been a celebration of winter solstice, they just added Christ's birth to the celebration, so many of us think that is a fabulous idea to have a birthday party for Christ that it really became popular. I like celebrating the birth of Christ at Christmas, but I also take a little time to mourn the sadness that it caused and pray for the current sadness of so many and wish a bit of comfort and cheer in the darkness. Jesus truly does bring hope for the world, but there are many, many enemies of hope, in spite of what they seem to be "selling".

I read an article in the news today about thieves stealing the sign over Auschwitz. I am still amazed at the mass deception of a people and that it caused so much death. The millions of victims of the holocaust were peers of Jesus. The sign that was recently stolen had hung over the front gate of Auschwitz (similar ones hung in other death camps)... it said, "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work Sets You Free") The sign promised freedom, implied hope. "Hope and Change".... this country has "bought" it too....

Getting along with "Humble Means"

Most people are riding on a mixed up train, with tickets in hand and high hopes of reaching intended destinations. What they don't tell you at the station is that ticket choices do not come with any kind of guarantee, "Satisfaction NOT Guaranteed" is written in invisible ink at the bottom of each ticket, only the yellowing effects of time causes it to be visible. Actually the only thing that is mostly certain is that you will experience disappointment. Those who buy tickets for the destination of "Happiness Town", often find themselves standing on the platform of "Endless Pursuit". Many are surprised to find that a ticket to "Never Lonely" finds them checking in to "Heartbreak Hotel". If your sights are set on "New Fortune", you are most likely to retire in "Love Lost". Probably one of the most frustrating mix ups is for those headed to the town of "Virtue". "Virtue" has two platforms. The train never stops at the first one, it can only be seen through the windows, never touched, only suggestively promised, as beautiful pastures and perfectly ripe orchards make for enticing passing scenery, a passenger headed to "Virtue" eagerly awaits the anticipated destination and longs to enjoy a beautiful, virgin land. Why then is the second stop for "Virtue.... by way of 'Mirage in the Desert'"....? Their town motto is, "You can't have your cake and eat it too". The ONLY destination that does actually come with a guarantee is not a town, but a country. If you are lucky enough to purchase one of the limited offer tickets to the country of "Contentment", you will be sure to arrive. The map to that country is found in Philippians 4... "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with Humble Means, and I also know how to live in prosperity...." That's right, the ticket master's name is "Humble Means", and if you can't get along with him, you aren't going to like where he sends you.

The Silent Artist, Demanding Attention

The silent artist
Softly works
With one color only
O'er the sleeping earth

Children awaken
Eyes bright with cheer
Adults awaken
Lost plans, new fears

No escaping our notice
Opinions are made
Masterpiece of wonder
Or canvas of jade?

Christmas Sky

"Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years..." (Genesis 1:14)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

² Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Return of Christ

“But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven." (Mark 13:24-27)

Confusion Says

Wish they'd make up their mind
They're wasting my precious time
They say I'm to blame
And tarnish my name
Then tell me to mind my own stuff

If the problem has me as its cause
Let me work on repairing the flaws
If the business ain't mine
That suits me just fine
Then fix it! And stop blowing snuff!

("If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." Tweedledee)

Reminder to Self

There are a lot of verses and a ton of wise advice that cautions us about who we spend our time with. It is important that we seek out those that we admire, because we will become more like the people that we associate with. We are not to surround ourselves dogmatically with only those that we admire, how else would the lost come to know Him? But in the process of living the life, we are likely to come across many, many people who are not pursuing the path of truth and peace and humility and grace, some may call themselves Christians, some may not. These people will probably despise a true believer... “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. " (John 15:18-19) When this happens, it is tempting to grow bitter. We are not encouraged to spend all our time with the most troublesome people we can find, but we are given a great deal of encouragement on the subject of our attitude and actions....

1 Timothy 4:1-5

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

^{Matthew 5:11-12;43-48}

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'

But I say to you, 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you', so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Romans 12:17-21

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' On the contrary: says the Lord.

'If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head'.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Luke 6:20-28

"Looking at his disciples, he said:

'Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

Woe to you who are well fed now,

for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets'.

Love for Enemies

'But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you'".

Thank You, Lord, for this food and this day!

I have really been enjoying food more than ever these days. Something is different with this pregnancy, all the other pregnancies undermined my efforts in the kitchen, but this pregnancy seems to be enhancing them. Hooray! And Jason is enjoying being part of the kitchen revival, which makes it that much more enjoyable. The kids are still happiest when macaroni and cheese is on the menu, but when it is made with real noodles and real cheese, as opposed to instant from a box, or made with "cheese products", and served with home canned stewed tomatoes and venison meatloaf it still meets my criteria for the kitchen standards these days. This week's (and a few days extra) supper menu includes:

~Corn Pone Pie and beets (and old standby actually)

~Some of Pap's delicious fish - baked and seasoned with a touch of lemon and herbs, steamed limas, and fried potatoes

~Venison steaks (not sure if they were compliments of Snyders or Showers, but thank you both!)
baked potatoes, and artichoke gratinata (recipe from Giada De Laurantiis, who has become my favorite Food Network chef)

~Cheddar Chowder and homemade WW biscuits

~BBQ chicken, baked green beans with homemade garlic white sauce, pasta salad with diced avocado (I didn't save the seed, but our avocado tree that we planted from a seed last year is still doing great!)

~WW pizza from scratch with home canned tomatoes, italian herbs, and three cheeses (real cheeses of course), applesauce

~Reuben burgers on gourmet buns (our own sauerkraut is an awesome touch), and broccoli alfredo

~Lasagna (I have a great recipe that does not require boiling the noodles first, but still has that wonderful "from scratch" appeal), Ceasar salad

~And last but not least... the aforementioned mac and cheese with stewed tomatoes and venison meatloaf


Christmas cookies make for a lovely seasonal dessert! Fruit slushies have been on the list of must haves these days also, fresh squeezed oranges and lemons added to frozen raspberries is a fabulous high vitamin C treat on these dry, virus filled days of winter....


It probably doesn't qualify as a gourmet menu, but it sure makes the kitchen smell good, and the house feel warm and cozy, and fills our bellies, and nourishes our spirits!

Psalm 37

---

Psalm 37

Of David.

1Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy great peace.

12The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken,

but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18The days of the blameless are known to the Lord,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish:

The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,

they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be cut off.

23If the Lord delights in a man’s way,

he makes his steps firm;

24though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be blessed.

27Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the Lord loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,

but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29the righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

31The law of his God is in his heart;

his feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

seeking their very lives;

33but the Lord will not leave them in their power

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Wait for the Lord

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

there is a future^b for the man of peace.

38But all sinners will be destroyed;

the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The Lord helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

We've come along way since the Pilgrims....

Stories about the first Thanksgiving vary quite a bit, but what I feel quite certain of is that food meant a lot more to them back then than it does to us now. Although we all need food to survive, very few of us Americans have experienced the threat of starvation, let alone having to live off what the land so graciously provides or doesn't. I have a few canned goods stocked up, a freezer full of meat (thanks to some generous parents and grandparents!), and after a couple of runs to the grocery store we have more than enough for a Thanksgiving feast as well as many more meals. I am not afraid of starving this winter. The Pilgrims thoughts were fresh with horrific memories of previous winters, no grocery stores, no freezers, no hospitals. The strong survived to mourn the weaker ones and live to work another year to fight off the ever present threat of hunger, sickness, cold, despair, and danger. Whatever their relationship was at the time with the natives, I am certain that in some ways it reflected the feelings of many Thanksgiving dinners even now, an attitude of tolerance and a desire to focus on the common bond of humanity and mortality. I doubt that too many of the current festivities will turn as sour as the relationship of the settlers and the natives, but unfortunately enmity is still a part of humanity. As is strong bonding and love, some people are just so easy to be thankful for!!!

I spent the day in a festive mood, cleaning a bit more than usual and thinking quite a bit about food preparation. Here I am, past 2:00 a.m., still pondering food prep... not because I am all that concerned about food prep, really I am not, but more because I spent the day cleaning!! Dust stirs up my sinuses and organizing must use a certain part of my brain that is much slower to shut down at night.

So, lets talk turkey.....

My husband just installed a propane wall heater. A very good thing for the coming chilly months, it will make the kitchen much more cozy! So, I called the propane company to let them know we would need automatic delivery a bit more often. Not a problem, but the secretary was very concerned that it has been awhile since we had our last delivery and the wall heater uses a lot more propane than the range does... have I been smelling a sulfur smell? It would indicate that we are very low on fuel.... I don't think I have smelled sulfur, but her concerns wore off onto me and now I am Googling, "How to grill a whole turkey". It really doesn't seem that big of a deal, so long as the grill is full of gas! It will be interesting. And I will be extra grateful if we make it through a day of pies and cookies as well as a feast of turkey and veggies before our propane dwindles to nothing, and if it doesn't hold out we will get creative and perhaps celebrate in an even more traditional way! We have lots of firewood!!!

All that to say.... on reflection of the first Thanksgiving, I am not worried about tomorrow or the day after or the day after. "Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, my God shall supply all my needs, He shall give His angels charge over me, Jehovah Jireh cares for me." Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Birthday of Faith

You were born in the season I love the best
Of pumpkins and hayrides and family fests
Your Daddy's image, your Mommy's girl
I'm proud to be part of your blessed world
May each passing sunset bring memories sweet
May each day becoming carry wished for treats
Happy Birthday, my Mother!
Many more, my friend!
May the blessings of loved ones know no end!!!

Ain't We Sweet?

"Sometimes you feel like a nut!"





















Love my slimming pose!!















This looks like it needs music....





















Not sure what to say....

















Ah! There's the music! Savannah has a well developed funny bone!



Avé is actually pretty hilarious...















Not so sure about me....






















They must get their sense of humor from their Papa ;-)












































maybe sometimes
me....

At any rate, we know how to crack each other up!!

Bon Voyage to Our Migratory Grandparents

The cool breezes blow. The nights grow long. The extra
blankets and woolen socks come out from their summer
slumber. Canadian geese, robins, butterflies, hummingbirds,
and Gram and Pap all make the long voyage to warmer
climates. We are saying goodbye for now to our summer visitors.
Maybe someday we will follow you to your winter getaway,
but for now, we will batten down the hatches, throw another
log on the fire, and set the teapot to simmer. Winter hasn't
really begun yet, but the first snow, the shimmery
icicles, the anticipation of sledding, and maple sugaring,
and crocuses peaking through the snow, is enough for
me to stay content and snugly in my Pennsylvania cabin,
with my sweet country man and precious children. I love
my wonderful life, but we will miss you, Gram and Pap!
Safe travels!! Bon Voyage!!

Not Really A Pack Animal, More of an Owl

A few months ago I read a book called "Wesley the Owl". It was about a scientist that raised an orphaned owl. It was very interesting and insightful. I really enjoyed the book. Especially a few of the observations made about owls in general. Owls bond, but they aren't pack animals. Pack animals can be trained with consequences, owls will train you, or die trying. Pack animals understand playful aggression, owls are serious. They will die if they are left completely alone, but they are very choosy about who they truly accept. They are introverts. They have been highly misunderstood over the centuries, from being considered to be evil spirits to being thought of as having sage-like wisdom, neither is particularly true. They are owls, and they are pretty good at being owls if they are respected and given space. You can upset an owl, but you can't really intimidate them. Don't harass an owl, or rush at them gushingly, or be too loud, or surprise them, or expect them to like you because you're charming.... just show them some respect and be sincere, they are worth it, really, they are.

Wolves are pack animals. They totally get each other. They snarl and bite and steal each others supper and its all good... and if a non wolf comes near they act as a unit and attack together. An interesting phenomenon that is reflected in the characters of some people, extroverted people mostly, but not all extroverted people. Some extroverts are more like the family pet. Friendly, loyal, always glad to see you, hate to be without you, ever. Man's best friend, hard not to like, unless they act a bit more like a wolf. Then, if you aren't of the wolf species, you just aren't gonna fit in, and you had probably better create a safe distance. That's all there is to it. Nothing wrong with being a wolf, God made them too, but they can be scary and heartbreaking. Rats are also pack animals, but I don't feel like talking about them....

I've always known that I had some pretty strong introverted ways, a bit owl-like. I have a strong bonding nature, I do love people and interaction, but I dread the thought of large gatherings filled with shallow chit chat. I know I send mixed signals, even to the people I care about the most. I want sincere relationships, and I long to be sincerely appreciated for who I am, but I easily get over-stimulated by people, and I am easily misunderstood. But don't shoot down the owls, people, just cause you don't understand their purpose. Which, by the way, is to keep down the rodent population for starters....

Most people understand extroverts, they are fun loving, people oriented, beautiful individuals. Introverts are usually very misunderstood, because of their need for solitude and their rich inner thought life that does not need to include others. But if you want a thoughtful conversation, some good advice, and a focused opinion, seek out an introvert, but be patient with them, they may have had their "people limit" for the day and need to recharge their inner equilibrium.

My introverted self is finding more peace lately. A lot of my life has been a relentless barrage of forced loneliness or constant human stimuli. Gradually, healthy relationships have been forming and a wonderful community of friends and kind family is a rich part of my life, people with full lives and mature outlooks, friends with little time for shallow chatter. My husband is my most wonderful friend. A bit more of an extrovert than myself, and a good thing too, considering that he has to work with people all week, and occasionally he is still ready for some weekend socializing. But mostly he loves to just be us, we blend well. I do love people, I truly do. I especially love people that understand that I need them in my life, but it is quality of time, not quantity of time that I appreciate most. Meaning... when we are together, please be real and don't expect me to enjoy shallow banter anymore than you probably enjoy discussions on the extensive history of education, or perhaps we could share a skill together. Let's schedule some time together, every once in awhile, and in the meantime, leave a thoughtful comment on my blog. It is my way of sharing my inner self with those who care, without getting "peopled out".

Balancing introversion with parenting has been challenging. Babies don't care about a mother's need for "recharge time". Even so, I was always extremely fond of my little ones, and even more so as they have grown to become incredibly wonderful people with rich thought lives of their own. They enjoy the company of each other and they respect each others emotions, including mine. I feel very, very blessed to have such kind children. I am also looking forward to having a baby that is already blessed with so many older siblings. They have a lot of love to give, and I will have a few extra arms and eyes to help out so I can get a shower, or pay the bills... its the little things that make a family run smoothly.

I used to have a pretty good friend, a brother actually, although technically a brother-in-law. In some ways he was even more of an introvert than myself, but in other ways he was even more afraid of loneliness... He has married what appears to me to be an extreme extrovert, definitely of the "pack" mentality. I think she brings out his fun loving side, but I wonder how his inner introvert is handling life. I know he is not completely happy because he has had to throw away so many bonded relationships, but I do think he has found a large amount of the compatibility that he has craved. He has found someone that really wants his admiration and will go to extremes to create a cocoon of "security". I know that love really can cover a multitude of sins, and I think that perhaps for him it has. When he got married, the introverted ways of myself and my husband refused to throw caution to the wind when it came to the expensive trip required to attend his wedding reception. His extroverted wife considered that to be the unforgivable sin and we have been at odds ever since, but I think that her husband understands how important it was for us to show them that "respect", so he fully supports her tyrannical outbursts, and so do many others. It is sad for me, I would like to have been friends with both he and his wife and learned to appreciate the person he has come to love, and would love to have been appreciated by her for the person I am, as he used to, but apparently that was never an option with her. I guess that is really ok. A contented marriage relationship is far more important than getting along with a slew of in-laws. I have learned that from her. She has always put her own relationships first, and it seems to keep her perfectly happy, and who doesn't enjoy the company of a happy woman? So, the result of all this is, that in some ways I have become a bit more like her! If my in-laws don't suit me, why should I stress? It is kind of liberating. So, thanks for that! I will save my "people time" for people that actually like me, and I will learn from everyone, but perhaps not the lessons they were hoping to teach me!

The wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool does from his friends.
Chinese Proverb

Lemon Blossoms

We have had this lemon tree for several years now. It is such a novel treat to be able to grow lemons in Pennsylvania! We usually get two or three lemons a year :-) and they are very sweet,
not nearly as tart as the ones from the store, although I don't mind tart, especially these days.
As in the days of being pregnant with twins, I crave sour foods! I figured that lemons were a healthier alternative than all those Sour Tarts I used to indulge in... I will have to wait several months before I can enjoy another one of our home grown lemons, but that's okay. For now the scent of lemon blossoms fills the air and winter in our home defies the bitter cold by producing tropical fruits for us to enjoy! Anyone have any ideas why our Christmas cactus blooms at Easter?

A Walk in the Woods

A few weeks ago we enjoyed a magical day walking in the autumn woods of Pennsylvania. The children always seem to have an optimistic view of homeschooling, but on days when school gets them into a setting such as this they count themselves among the fortunate few that get to spend the fleeting days of fall in the great outdoors.

Certain Tide

Be careful what you wish for
If wishing tends to work
Mostly it does in my case
God allows the blessed quirk
Wishing tends to cause change
Change tends to cause unrest
Unrest can lead to every type
Of grief and unhappiness
If courage and steadfastness
Can carry through the stress
To hope and bright tomorrows
Determination can sort the mess
Along with change and lessons
Learning should also come
Focus and future goals
Tempered by the scorching of the sun
Is it better to have lived with longing
Then never to have longed at all
To climb the treacherous mountain
Able to stand a million feet tall
Or camp out in the valley
Never feeling lightheaded winds
Never dangling above the precipice
Would that be such a sin
To never seek the moment
Of a surmounted obstacle
Perhaps its not a choice
But a calling after all

Have you ever watched the sun rise?
Can you really see it move?
Or do you look away and back again
Snooze a little snooze?
Have you sat to watch a flower grow?
The petals to uncurl
Never force a rose in bloom
Or the feelings of a girl
All life lives change in stages
Natures moments seem so slow
But seasons, weather, lifetimes
Quickly come and go
We could not choose to not have change
Even if we tried
Pick the course, adjust the sail
And ride the certain tide