Just as my own posts touch some and slide by others, there are posts from fellow bloggers that I read over and over and then there are those that I skim. Some have meaning to me and some do not. I try to be compassionate to the writer by reading as much as I can and trying to take an interest, just as I hope others do for my writing. In a busy world it’s not always easy.
All that being said, when I see a post that absolutely should be shared with others and is thought provoking, I try to share it here. Not often enough, yet I make efforts when I can.
The last three days there have been some posts that I think are worth sharing here and I hope will be opened and read and shared again. Thought provoking and well written.
“Hey Oliver…mom won’t feed us lunch, but I think I found a solution.”“Oh yeah….I see what you mean.”“I think if I stretch I can reach it. That’s right birdie, keep your head turned.”“Hello Birdie, want to come in for lunch?”Smart Bird replies, “Thank you very much for the invitation but I think I’ll pass. I just wanted to check out the nice digs you two have. Maybe another time. Although, I saw a crow and I’ll let him know your having a party. “
Pink, blue, yellow and red
Yarn all around me
Taking shape in my head.
Knitting, crocheting and tatting galore
It’s a hobby and love
Not a chore.
Coffee in one hand
Pattern in another
It is decided and the outcome is grand.
Knit, pearl, yarn over, slip stitch
It’s all like a poem
Fitting together without a glitch.
Looking online one surely can find
Pinterest is incredible
Designed to blow one’s mind.
Patterns for women, men and children
From sweaters to gloves to scarves
To blankets to monkeys to things for the kitchen.
It’s not for the feeble or tender at heart
For one mistake
And it all falls apart.
Hands and needles coming together
Clicking along as if singing a song
It all comes together showing one’s love for another.
– Sherry 2015
Around Christmas, my neighbor woke up to find her beloved sweet kitty was in a coma like state. Upon taking him into the ER it was determined he was not going to come out of it. The loss of her sweet little Oscar still leaves her with a broken heart. I happened to speak with her as she was returning home after his death, and I felt so bad I just needed to do something. I found a pattern for a kitty and hence the picture above. I finished him on our way home from our vacation and I took this picture, sending it to her to let her know Oscar Jr. was on his way home to her. It was a sweet moment when she held him and put Oscar Sr.’s tags around his knitted neck.
Since that project, I turned my affection to a sweet little gal that was born to a wonderful couple at church. We prayed for the couple for many years, that they would be blessed with a child of their own. God’s graciousness was upon them and he answered our prayers. Her majesty needed this little dress. It took me a few weeks and was the very first outfit I have knitted. After several attempts prior to this, I swore I would never knit or crotchet clothes. Well, I actually did it… and I finished it. She looks adorable in her sweet little dress. (Yeah it turned out.)
I’m so glad that my hands are working well enough that I can once again knit. Something I feared was not going to happen. I once thought that all of those who received the fingerless gloves one Christmas were to be the only recipients of any hand made gifts from me. So happy to report that is not the case. Click, click, click… I’m still knitting… 🙂
We had a wonderful vacation, visiting friends and family, enjoying the warmth of the south and the ability to spend 90% of our days outside.
One of our favorite things to do when we are camping is cooking nearly every meal on the grill. One of the highlights was our eggs benedict breakfast for Easter. All done on the grill.
Salmon Crabby Patties
Two Salmon Fillets, cut up into 1 inch pieces
1 can crab
1 small sweet pepper, chopped finely
2-3 green onions, chopped
2 eggs
1-2 gluten free, rice free pieces of bread (enough to bind the ingredients, you could alternatively have used some Almond flour)
1 tsp. dill, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Seasonings and
1 TBS dijon mustard
Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add enough of the bread so that you can firmly form patties. Place the patties in a coconut oil or grape seed oiled skillet on the grill. Cook on low while you make the hollandaise sauce.
Hollandaise Sauce
3 Organic egg yolks, well whisked
Melt approximately 3/4 to 1 C. butter, in a small pan over the grill
Using a larger skillet, lay a canning ring on the bottom and add water just covering the ring. Place your mixing bowl on top of the ring and this will make your double boiler. (Make sure your mixing bowl is of a heat proof material.)
Whisk the eggs in your double boiler along with 1 TBS. water until it begins to thicken. As it thickens, slowly add the melted butter and continue whisking.
After you pour in the butter, drop in your eggs on the already buttered skillet and cook just so they are over easy. When nearly done and the eggs have been cooked over easy on the grill, remove the mixing bowl and whisk in 1 TBS Lemon juice and a dash of salt and Cayenne Pepper.
Place one of the patties on the plate, topped with one of the eggs and add the sauce on top.
It may not look as beautiful as it would if you went out to eat, however, the taste was absolutely a winner. Especially for those children who are not fond of either salmon or crab. 🙂
With May just around the corner, it’s important that people understand Lyme disease and chronic illness. The warmer weather is approaching, the birds are chirping and the ticks are already awake and ready to begin their vampire behaviors. As I look outside I see my son working outside to do some spring cleaning, I pray that he will be diligent about checking himself for the little buggers when he comes in to clean up. I also pray that he will not find a tick nor be bitten by one.
Jenna’s Lyme Blog had a wonderful post yesterday that included a YouTube video of Dr. Alan MacDonald and his expert insight into this disease that has wrought our country and world with ailments in the healthiest of individuals. He is a pathologist who has studied Lyme Disease for over two decades and worked alongside others who have and continue to pioneer in the study and research necessary to one day better understand Lyme. His interview is the most explicit and in depth that I have yet seen and for someone who do not live with Lyme, it is very much a learning opportunity that should not be missed.
Please take this time to view all three of the YouTube videos on his interview from the perspective of an expert pathologist. In honor of those whom you know, love and pray for, please help us educate others and spread the word about Lyme Disease. After all, May is Lyme Awareness Month.
Alan MacDonald, PhD; The Biology of Lyme Disease: An Expert’s Perspective: http://youtu.be/r8tESJVvM88
Riding one of the “child friendly” roller coasters with our son. Front seat wasn’t so bad as it was well tolerated. Yesterday I rode the Rockin Roller Coaster with the kids. You could say I had a brain lapse and got on the ride thinking “Oh there aren’t any drops it just goes fast.. I can handle this..” I knew that I was in trouble from the moment it went from zero to sixty… Yes, this is what this ride is all about. Okay, to stop any additional adrenaline rushes and cortisol waste, I closed my eyes and did Lamaze breathing. As my friend reminded me it was already dark in there. I told her I hadn’t noticed as my eyes were already closed. ha ha Hey, it worked and I walked off without any screams leaving these lips and I wasn’t spent from cortisol use.
Selfie with Cheshire.
Notice anything? The Hat is gone… Boo hoo!
Although we do like the new look it’s a little strange….
A little too close for comfort. Believe it or not he was actually under my chair.
To be my friend you have be able to take a joke or be the butt of one. So if you’re camping with me and you wake up with a red eye that lasts for 2 days you deserve to wear what I buy you. (Okay, I didn’t buy it, but I was ever so close and the kids almost made me… )
Yes this is the real carriage from the movie. And we got to hold the glass (plastic) slipper. Look at those two queens and their ladies in waiting. 🙂
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Sitting in a chair facing my friend, who sits reclined back comfortably in her recliner we discuss our new book and what a wonderful author John Bunyan is. His incredible allegory of the walk of a Christian in Pilgrims Progress. We usually meet once a week at her home (she is completely home bound and unable to do anything for herself anymore) and read a chapter or two of a book. This week, we began a new book and because we both were enjoying it so much, decided to throw in a second day. Our visits over the last 6 months have been pretty much the same, we visit first, her husband sweetly confirms she is comfortable and as he exits to his “man cave” office, she and I share a little more of our week and I begin to read.
As we began our new book, we were thrown a curve ball. I began reading and when I finished page 16, I began reading what I thought was page 17 only to realize that the story didn’t make any sense at all. I looked up to see that the page after 16 was actually page 23. Now, keep in mind that I cannot read on my own without having to read one page several times due to my Lymes and my friend cannot read at all and depending upon the day may have issues with processing information due to her corticobasil degeneration. That being said, you can just imagine my dismay to find that in a neatly hardbound book there were no pages ripped out and yet pages 17-22 were missing. We both sat there laughing not quite sure what to do. We quickly realized that our time together that day may be cut short by a error in the binding of the book.
Upon further investigation, I found the rest of the pages… 10 pages further into the book. So, as if it isn’t funny enough that we are reading Pilgrims Progress together, both of us having cognitive issues and both of us being more tired in the afternoon, I now was challenged with reading from right to left rather than left to right and my friend had to endure me stopping at critical parts of the story just to find my place. Honestly, I kept thinking it would have made for a great home video recording.
Well, as it is with my memory these days, I completely forgot this when I went over to read to her the second day. So of course, I began reading where I left off and of course ended up reading some of what we had already read earlier in the week amongst the new pages of the story. Once again, we had to laugh and I had to regroup and figure out where my next pages were. Were they 10 pages forward or 2 pages back.
Having Lyme makes life so interesting! Seriously, I can relate to the frustration that was felt in the movie Still Alice… I am physically so much better than last year that I am not complaining at all. Last year at this time I could not walk up a flight of steps without nearly passing out and I could not do anything for myself except maybe a shower, and that was not daily as I just didn’t have the energy for it. I was in constant pain, my exhaustion was unexplainable and my energy level was at best good for only about an hour. By mid afternoon my brain was so foggy that I could not process information, I was unable to drive as I forgot where I was going and when I drove I completely blanked out and couldn’t remember I had driven at all. To go anywhere that needed walking I had to use a wheelchair.
After 10 months I had serious doubts I’d recover from this illness. You can imagine my my excitement when I found the doctor and protocol I had been looking for since being first diagnosed. So in early May, my Integrative doctor agreed to let me try the protocol of the other doctor I found and by June I was going to the Highland games with the family and the wheelchair stayed in the garage. I’m not saying it didn’t need to be brought out from time to time, but overall I was seeing improvements. By July I was able to make an 8 hour drive to our cottage alone with my daughter and by September I was driving to CA with the kids. The pain subsided within that first month and slowly my energy level began to increase. The brain fog has also improved, unless of course I am extremely tired and have not slept well. Learning my limitations, keeping track of my symptoms and making adjustments with my meds has been such a help. Having two doctors who look beyond, listen to me with all ears and keep an open mind to the research I also do has been a blessing.
Your likely wondering why I went from reading Pilgrims Progress to my health. Well, as we read on Thursday, I couldn’t help but to think about the characters in the story, what they stood for and how even though the book was first published in 1678, the allegory is so powerful for us today. No wonder it is the second most widely published book in world to this day, second only to the Bible. Although I enjoyed the book a few years ago when the kids and I read it together and studied it, I think after the last year I am enjoying it even more.
On Thursday we read about Christian meeting the Interpreter and what he finds in the Palace prior to going any further on his journey. Within the Palace there are a number of rooms. One of the rooms was rather small and introduced were two children, Passion and Patience. The characteristics of the two were such:
Passion was seen as being discontent; wanting of all things now, and at that momentPatience was quiet; willing to wait for that which is yet to come
In the story, theInterpreter explains: “These two lads are Figures; Passion of the men of this World, and Patience of the men of That which is to come: For as here thou seest, Passion will have all now, this year; that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next World, for their portion of good. That proverb, A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more authority with them, than are all the Divine testimonies of the Good of the World to come. But as thou sawest, that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the End of this world.
Christian replies: Now I see that Patience has the best Wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. And also because he will have the Glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.
Interpreter: Nay, you may add another, to wit, the Glory of the next World will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his best things last; for firstmust give place to last, because last must have its time to come; but last gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed: He therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a Time to spend it; but he that has his portion last, must have it lastingly: Therefore it is said of Dives, In thy Lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou are tormented.
Christian: Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come.
And in conclusion, I want to end with the beginning of what Interpreter has to say next: “You say truth: For the things that are seen are Temporal; but the things that are not seen are Eternal:
I have to admit that last year when I was diagnosed, I wanted my body to heal and for my life to go back as it used to be. I wanted to go back to being the super mom who could get up in the morning, make breakfast, school the kids, drive them around town for their activities, pull weeds out of the garden, help my friends paint their houses, stop for groceries and spend long hours in the kitchen preparing dinners for my family, all in one day. I wanted to be able to plan out events for the homeschool community or prepare classes as I once had in our co-op classes. I wanted to be organized without losing things. I wanted healing at that moment. I tried to be patient, and I even prayed that the Lord use my illness for His good will. Yet internally, my mind wanted desperately to have my life back.
In reading the above exchange between Christian and Interpreter, I was seeing myself as being like that of Passion. Although my heart longs to be more like Patience, I know that my human nature as a sinner is more like that of Passion. As the months drew on and now another year, I am learning more and more the importance of the lessons of Patience. The story has resonated in my mind ever since our reading on Thursday and I know it’s through the Providence of God that He continues to teach this weary being of lessons He needs for me to learn, sanctifying me so that perfection may still yet be seen.
If I had received the blessing of quick healing, would I have followed the leading of my heart to go see my friend who was already home bound? Would I have understood what it was like for those who have no or limited social interaction with others? Would I be reading Pilgrims Progress with a friend who needs to be reminded of the eternal blessings yet to come? Would I have understood that I truly had sisters that took time out of their days to help me cope in my own loneliness?
Honestly, I think not. If God had allowed me to follow my own way, just as Passion, then I am quite certain my short lived illness would have been placed in a box on a shelf where dust would settle only to be forgotten. I would have gone on with my days wanting to be something more and someone more than I am meant to be. I would have likely filled my days with things that have no real meaning other than for self. My friend would still be sitting in her recliner, yet I would have missed the blessings of seeing her smile, her sense of humor with her husband and our wonderful discussions that come out of our readings. I would have missed an opportunity to serve another who was and is desperate for her own healing and for understanding as to why her life has taken the turn it has.
As I continue to read through Pilgrims Progress I look forward to seeing what the Lord once again has to show me. I hope that as you read this post, you too may consider reading along with us. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
There are many chapters in life. We begin life in a chapter that is defined by learning, we call it infancy. Learning how to smile, roll over, eat, crawl, walk, talk, and obey. The second chapter is defined by a more advanced learning, this chapter is called childhood. Learning how to read, add, get along with others, obedience to others outside of our parents (i.e. teachers), learning how to play sports, and how to participate as a team member. The third chapter in life is defined by our survival skills, called the teenage years. Learning how to keep up with your peers while staying true to who you are, learning how to multi task between higher education, social activities and future planning. If you are a child of God this time of your life can be especially challenging as you learn to live in this world without being of the world.
I would have to say that each chapter after that is defined not by learning yet by experiences. For me, the fourth chapter would have to be defined by my graduation from college and my career. Chapter five is for me when I feel that my life really began. It’s a chapter that has helped to shape my character and my faith walk. It’s a chapter that suspends my heart into new heights. The chapter containing the beginning of my marriage to my love, my beloved husband of 21 years. It was also the beginning of my heavenly Fathers tug on my heart, creating a new person who died to self and became new in Him. A time not without challenges, yet a time of considerable growth to become the woman I am now.
Chapter six is a chapter that holds the delights and wonderment of new life, motherhood. I would have to say that Chapters five and six are chapters that have chapters within them. They should be more like two separate books holding chapters of their own. (Kind of like the Lord of the Rings books.) There are many memories that take shape in my mind reminding me of the tenderness of life and the depths of which I would go to protect those I love.
Chapter seven is where I feel I find myself this day, pre retirement, middle age, whatever you call it when your children are no longer clinging to your skirt and they are finding their own way in this cruel unsettled world. As we face changes coming upon us we consider the blessings that have adorned our lives and have been given only by the Lord Jesus Christ. Through His hand we exist, through His hand we are blessed with all that we have, and through His hand we trust in His will for our lives.
As we teeter between chapters six and seven, I am finding myself at peace. A peace that can only be given through a heavenly father, superceding all human understanding. I cannot explain how I feel other than to say that although my head tells me I should weep and cry, I find myself holding it together without anxiety and without fear. I thank the Lord for His providential care that cradles me and keeps me from slipping to the ground in defeat.
As I have been packing up boxes and getting things ready in our cottage of over 10 years, I have been telling my husband and my daughter to make a memory of everything we are experiencing this past week. Over the years, I have been storing the memories and was reminded of them as they swirled around me this past week and weekend.
Memories of the building process and the one day marathon choosing of the flooring, cupboards, knobs, paint, lighting, counter tops, log banister, stone fireplace, tile, landscape, appliances and the sizing of the deck. A marathon of choices that kept the builder at a stand still for over a week as he could not believe we weren’t going to change out minds. When he called us to confirm all of the choices we made in that one afternoon, he was stunned that no changes were necessary.
Memories of the first weekend at the cottage and moving in on Mothers Day weekend. The picture of the kids and I in the woods show how much younger we once were. As well as the memory of the new kitten that climbed the brand new screens. And the leap of faith from the second floor banister a few months later when she was newly declawed.
Memories of the snowmobiling trips, ski weekends, weeks on end during the summer that were spent with new friends visiting each week. Of the fire in the new kitchen as we cooked up calamari for a snack and of the raccoons that found their way onto the deck to clean up the plates when we had retreated into the house because of mosquitos. Not to mention the 130 mile snowmobile trips to Mackinac City in one day just to have lunch.
Memories of the last summer that my grandparents spent in their home state. The picture of them sitting on the porch at the cottage will forever be a favorite. I can still picture my grandfather laughing at the cat that raced through the house every night at 10 p.m. and his enthusiasm that she didn’t fall off the of log railing when she balanced her steps walking above his head.
Memories of the travels back and forth once we moved out of state. From cats pooping in the kitty litter box right as we left to the projectile puke after we fed them in the car. Not to mention the fun of seeing a wolf on the side of the road in winter at midnight as we were only 2 hours from the cottage.
Memories of the last Christmas we spent with our dads. As well as the last holiday spent with both of our families together as a complete unit. The same Christmas when we went sledding by noon after opening gifts and my husband blew his knee out sledding down the ski hill with his brother…starting from the top and stopping with one leg at the bottom.
Memories of cousins running through the yard with water guns and sprinklers. Playing at the lake and in the woods that surround the cottage.
Memories of 10 birthdays spent in my favorite place! This will be missed!
Memories of New Years Eve’s sledding down the driveway after midnight. And the gourmet buffet that was served throughout the night waiting for the stroke of midnight.
Memories of friends that are friends of the past, whose time I cherished and whose memories will live forever in my mind. As well as those friends who continue to bless my life and who have shared so many memories in one of our favorite places.
Memories of our 20th wedding anniversary spent with the two of us. Even though I was sick and couldn’t do much more than lay on the couch, it was the first time ever we spent alone at our planned retirement home.
Memories of feeding the deer off of the deck while we sat by quietly watching.
Memories of the kids playing their bagpipes and hearing them echo through the woods while the neighbors wondered who it was that rattled their ears. ha ha
Memories of hearing the military jets fly overhead as they trained.
Memories of the deer that adorned our lawn in the winters outside our bedroom window, sometimes 15 at a time. And the fawns that ran around or slept on the front lawn during the days of spring and summer.
Memories of the builder that took such good care of us for over 10 years, acting more like a father figure than a builder. Always willing to help, always answering our call and always showing up when we needed him. We will never forget him nor his stories.
Memories of the snow falling day after day and the buildup up on the deck. The snow and it’s beauty seen through chalet windows. Brisk and constant taking your breath away at how wonderful it is.
Memories of the road trip my daughter and I took spending a week together and the fun we had driving around taking pictures of the beautiful garden of flowers in the neighborhood.
Memories like these cannot easily be taken away and will not easily be erased. I will cherish them and will look back on them as a chapter within chapters 5 & 6. As we close out this chapter we mourn at the loss, yet we look forward to the next chapter that God has chosen for us to take part in. As long as we are together, we will endure and as long as we have God as our center we will persevere all the way to the last chapter. Writing each memory from each chapter in our minds forever.
With another snow storm approaching, the cats have decided it’s time for a Disney trip. We cannot blame them, however, it is so funny that today is the very first day that they are sitting in their Mickey Cat beds at the same time as one another.
I seriously think they know the snow is coming and they are trying to tell us something. Little do they know we have been thinking the same thing!
