Five Minute Friday: Unexpected

Only up since that morning, how could I hope one would come so soon to the feeder when I had rarely seen any visit my yard in the five years it had been mine. 

In my chair by the window, with book in hand I read the words, “You can trust Me, Robin.”  Never is my own name in print.  The sun was beginning to go down as I asked once more for a visitor to the bright red nectar.

My thoughts drifted back to August—and the few days of quiet respite at the lake home of a friend.  I had not expected the new friends I made on the back patio.  Flitting, flirting, flying so close to me and stopping in mid-air to stare me down.  These tiny, playful creations—such a gift to a soul weighed down with overwhelming fear and confusion, to the point where putting the “happy” mask on each morning was becoming effort.  Under more pressure than the heart was created for, joy burst.  They freed sweet joy!

Months and hot, summer days were long gone.  Was I looking for the ridiculous or for a life-line?  Wasn’t I really asking for grace?  He had said I could ask Him anything.  Even for a hummingbird?

I read my name, black on white once more . . . looked up—and saw grace perched on red plastic.

*This is my first attempt at Five Minute Fridays after meeting the lovely, Lisa-Jo at Relevant.  She gives a topic to write on and we are to write, non-stop for 5 minutes with no backtracking or editing.  Wow--was that hard for me!  This was more like 7 minutes because at the end of 5 even I was left hanging! :)  Hope that was okay.*

What's Your Song?

Have you ever asked about your song?  You know—the one that God is singing over you!  Don’t you kind of want to ask and find out?  I mean...really...the God of all the universe is with you, is delighting in you, is loving you and rejoicing over you with singing!!!!  Don’t you want to know what He is singing over you???  I’ll admit I sure do!

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17

I asked Him once before and heard the song “It is Well” in reply.  At first I thought, how can He be singing this over me?  A little more time spent quietly in His presence and He showed me it was “well with my soul” because it was well between Him and I!  (You can read a little more on that exchange here if you’d like.)

So last night, before going to bed, I took the authority that is mine through Christ Jesus over my thoughts and asked again... “Are you singing over me today?  If so, what song?”

Immediately my mind was flooded with a song I have not heard, sung or even thought of for years!  The chorus of Keith Green’s, “O Lord You’re Beautiful”.   But...the words were changed and I wrote them out in my journal as they sang in my head...

My child...you’re beautiful

Your face is all I see

And when your eyes are on My own

My grace abounds to thee!

(I’ve listed the complete original lyrics to this song at the end if you are unfamiliar with it.)

I just let the words sing over and over and over again before feeling led to write down more thoughts from Him concerning me.

“You are beautiful because you are My daughter and My treasured creation.  Beauty is in all I do.  Beauty and love for all My creation.  My attention is always turned towards you.  Because I love you.  Keep your eyes on Me and My grace will continue to abound in and over your life.”

He is singing over you as well.  In the stillness of your time with Him today, ask Him about your song.  His love for you is not a secret!  Believe in this lavish love and listen for it.

Ask...believing...and you shall receive....

Keith Green—O Lord You’re Beautiful

Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

Your face is all I see

For when your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, Please light the fire

That once burned bright and clean

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

I want to take your word and shine it all around

But first help me just to live it, Lord

And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to you

40 Minute Blink In My Day

Kari Jobe is singing over the stereo speakers. Actually, she is yelling as the volume is set a little loud from when the 15 y.o. was playing one of his CD’s earlier. I hear the words from one of my favorite songs of hers—“He is here for the broken and life to the one who is undone. Be still, my soul, be still...”

I’m singing along when...

3 y.o. boy comes in the front door crying because he fell in the rocks. I check and kiss all the owies and send him back out.

15 y.o. son asks if I read over the information on the next writing assignment on Summarizing References. “No—sorry...I forgot. Give me a minute.”

13 y.o. boy comes down. “Mom, are you done on the computer? I need to do my math.”  Well, yes—I guess I am now.

Head to the homeschool desk to find the writing curriculum.

Remind myself to go up to do the laundry first. Find 18 y.o. on my bed watching a Francis Schaffer DVD. Wish I could sit down and watch, but off I go with dirty clothes in hand.

Rotate laundry and head downstairs trying to remember what I was doing before coming upstairs.

Trip over vacuum cleaner hose that had been left out. Wind it up and put in closet.

Remember to go find writing on the homeschool desk. Desk is about 8 inches deep in books and papers. The recovering perfectionist in me cringes. I mentally make note to plan some time this week to work on this mess.

6 y.o. girl comes through the door and I hear her whiney voice before seeing her pretty face. She states that it is too cold outside to play. I tell her that it is the warmest January in years around here--she's not impressed--and “Go play!”

Find the writing curriculum notebook binders and head to chair.

3 y.o. boy is screaming outside so I ask 13 y.o. to stick his head out the window and ask him what’s wrong.

Sit down with cup of tea and writing binders.

4 y.o. girl comes in soaking wet and states that she fell in a puddle. Get her wet clothes off and usher her upstairs to put on clean clothes.

Sit down with writing material.

6 y.o. comes in asking where 4 y.o. is. “Do we get to come back in now?” “NO! Go outside and have fun!!!”

Get report from 13 y.o. on 3 y.o. yelling. Some unhappiness concerning the sharing of a Frisbee.

Walk by my kitchen desk and tidy it up quickly. Recovering perfectionist smiles and takes a deep sigh of satisfaction at the accomplishment.

6 y.o. comes in with a drawing that she completed while outside and asks can they pleeeease come in.

3 y.o. tracks mud in with his shoes. Get him changed into his boots. Send them both back outside.

Hang coats laying on hall bench up in closet and let the cat scratching at the back door in.

Sit down with writing curriculum. Tea is cold!

Hear 3 y.o. yelling outside at one of his sisters.

13 y.o. walks in the room and asks what’s for lunch? I tell him I have no idea!

6 y.o. comes back in saying she needs to help the 3 y.o. “Honey, he’s outside.” “No, he’s stuck in the garage.” Oh—that’s why he was yelling. He couldn’t get the garage door opened.

Both the 6 y.o. and 3 y.o. come up out of the garage. 6 y.o. asks once more to stay inside. 3 y.o. yells at her to go ride bikes with him. With forced smile on my face—I send them both back out the door.

I look at the clock. 40 minutes have gone by since I walked by singing along with Kari.

I sit down with a tablet of paper and take a sip of cold tea. I begin to write down all that has transpired over the past several minutes. I want proof that I actually did do something during this time.

4 y.o. comes in and asks if its lunch time yet. I can hear 3 y.o. crying.

6 y.o. comes complaining to me that 4 y.o. gave her part of a broken necklace and then took it back. I tell 4 y.o. to give it back and not be an Indian giver—explaining what that means. Wonder out loud with 13 y.o. where that phrase “Indian giver” originated and he goes off to Google it.

Kari is still singing—well, yelling. I chuckle at the timing of her words. “You sweep me away—sweep me away in your love...where nothing else matters!” No joke! :)

6 y.o. is eyeing me mournfully from the back deck.

I guess it’s time to let them inside and figure out what’s for lunch. We’ll tackle writing tomorrow. I have a muddy floor to clean up before the 15 y.o. who mopped it this morning comes down.

I Delight To Do Your Will...

Okay...I just stopped by the blog to listen to the music while I composed an email. Check out the "Truth To Walk In Today" on my sidebar by BibleGateway.com (which I believe changes each evening around 8:00 p.m.)

“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8

And what were those words that I woke up to this morning? "Do the will of God from the heart" Ephesians 6:6b (see earlier post--posted at 8:44 this morning)

Is our God an awesome, personal, phenomenal God or what? I just can't help but smile over His ordained "coincidences"!

The Blessing Of One Day

"Perhaps we should try to write down the blessing of one day,

We might begin: we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.
The attempt would remind us of our vast treasure of content."

George Buttrick

Grandpa's 10 grandchildren gather for the traditional trip of 14 years to the same pumpkin patch. Then to Auntie's house for hot dogs roasted over the fire pit and working together to stabilize the shed that Great Grandpa built many years ago.

The many blessings of one day! Immeasurable...unspeakable...a vast treasure, indeed!

Just Beautious!

Look at the lovlies who came down and greeted me early this morning!

(Did you catch the "feetie" pajamas underneath Faith's dress :)

Yesterday, during Bible time, we heard a new version of "Glorious Freedom" being sung by Faith.

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom
no more in chains of sin I repine.
Jesus the glorious, He is a painter (umm...original version says "emancipator"... :)
now and forever, Jesus is mine.

Betcha didn't know that Jesus was a painter as well as a carpenter!

It's a sweet, sweet life...

Part of My "Clan"

Here's a picture of my kiddos with Grandpa and Auntie on the day of the Scottish Highland Games. Don't they look just marvelous! Nate's shirt has a little scotty dog on it and says "I'm so cute I must be Scottish!" The little girls have scotty dogs on their shirts and skirts as well. Never thought I'd see my guys in skirts--I mean kilts--but they do look rather manly, don't they! Especially when you factor in the swords and knives they were carrying.

~If you missed the orginal giggle behind this picture, go here~

Man vs. Wild & Two Little Blondies

We don't have cable television in our home so we are pretty ignorant of all the "must see" shows out today. This past weekend while visiting my parents, my sister turned Man vs. Wild on for her son and the other kiddos to watch. I just caught that it was a Discovery Channel show and didn't know much more than that. The ladies then reclined to one section of the front room while the children were watching their "nature" show on the other side.

All of a sudden, I hear noises--gasps and such coming from my girls, especially Jelena (3 y.o.) I look up from our grown up conversation to see a man biting off chunks of a snake that he was holding in his hands.

Me: Ahhh!!! What is he doing???

Faith: The man is eating a snake (in a voice expressing that she thought this was WAY cool!)

My Sister: Yeah, this is Man vs. Wild...he does stuff like that. Do you want me to turn it to something else?

Me: Umm...yeah (thinking--oh my girls are going to have nightmares over this...I know I'm going to have nightmares over this!)

My Sister then turns the channel to bull riding. Okay...kids are happy and no more men eating snakes. Just big boys trying to ride big cows. (I don't think God had this in mind when He created these beasts! )

Fast forward to later in the evening when I was getting the girls ready for bed...

Faith (5 y.o.): Mommy, did the man eat the head of the snake?

Me: I don't know honey, I wasn't watching.

Faith: I don't think he did. He just bit it off and spit it out.

Me: Oh, okay. (Feeling a little queasy now...)

Faith: He ate the body alright, I saw that. But I didn't see him pick up the head and eat it.

Me: Ummm...Faith, why don't you go in and use the potty?

Faith: Okay. (and happily off she goes to use the bathroom).

Jelena: Mommy?

Me: Yes, honey.

Jelena: (head tilted to the side for effect) Why did the man eat the snake?

Me: Sweetie...I have NO IDEA!

Prayers were said, kisses given, bodies tucked into bed amongst giggles because it is so very much fun to sleep over at Grandma's house. (We especially like that Nate and Mommy sleep in the same room.)

I turn to leave the room and put out the light.

Faith to Jelena: No...I don't think he ate the head...only the body.

Oh what a lovely bedtime story to end the day on. Thank you Discovery Channel!

Excess Baggage ~ Part 1

Have you ever felt like you were carrying around a bit more than you could handle? Well, let me tell you about my Saturday...

This past week we spent visiting my parents. On Saturday we attended the Scottish Highland games. Now, if you are a non-clan member, the weekend of “the games” are spent celebrating Scottish heritage and mixes in athletic sporting events based on farming chores from the past, traditional dance, food, music, vendors, individual clan booths, people dressed in Celtic garb and a lot of fun. Both of my parents have strong Scottish heritage lines and then I married into the McKay family. Saturday found my family--minus one husband--my parents, my sister, her son and a cousin all at the park on a beautiful, hot afternoon.

Not wanting anyone to feel tied down to the little ones in the afternoon around the playground, I sent the older 3 off to enjoy the other events with their aunt and grandparents. A very hot, tired and sunburned mother sat at the playground for the 8th time that day with a bulky Kelty backpack carrier, an overstuffed diaper bag with everybody’s stuff stuffed into it, 3 small children and 3 various colored balloons.

Now since it is almost impossible to swing on a swing or slide down a slide attached to a balloon, mother ended up wearing the 3 balloons herself while she glided from one play structure to the other trying to spy her 3 dressed in red amongst the other little lads and lasses.

All of a sudden, this mother notices that the 5 year old is doing the potty dance. Historically, this child waits until the very last second to give up whatever activity that she is currently engaged in for the interruption of nature upon herself. This appeared to again be one of those times. I went in search of the other 2 left on various toys and proceeded to convince them in my tired, but smiling, nice mommy voice, that it was time to get off now. The 3 year old was in a position on one structure that required a bit of effort in exiting and the 1 year old thought the mother was playing and proceeded to run back and forth hysterically laughing as I tried to get to the closest end he was at to assist him in getting off.

One glance back at the 5 year old proved the utmost of urgency was necessary.

Gathering the 3 tiniest clan members up, I grabbed the backpack carrier in one arm, the 50 pound diaper bag in the other and proceeded to hurry my little ducklings as quickly as possible to the closest temporary toilet facility available—with 1 blue and 2 purple balloons attached to my arms and flapping wildly in the rush. The thought came to my mind—“we must look utterly ridiculous!”

When I looked up to check the progress we were making in keeping all together and going in the right direction, I noticed a large truck parked in front of my destination. “You are kidding me!” I thought, as I made out the Honey Bucket sign on the side of the truck.

As we got up to the toilets I saw a man working proficiently with his tools as he sucked out, soaped up and watered down everything inside the toilet stall on the right. When he noticed me staring at him with my 3 charges in tow (along with the carrier, bag and balloons) he stopped working long enough for me to question him. “Please tell me that you haven’t cleaned the other toilet yet because my daughter is just about to wet herself!” He chuckled and said “no, go ahead, I’ll wait”. I thanked him profusely and tossed the blonde headed procrastinator into the little green building.

While untangling the balloons wrapped around themselves, the carrier and the diaper bag I tried to breathe out of my mouth as much as possible. Those trucks do not smell nice.

I grabbed the 3 year old away from the door of the other toilet as Miss Curiosity wanted to “watch the man clean the bathroom”. I then dropped the carrier just in time to grab the son who was reaching down to grab the hose of the sucking machine the man had been using. After the various words of caution—“no, no”, “don’t touch”, “that’s yucky”—I got him situated on the grass. I looked up to notice the 3 year old now intrigued with the big cleaning brush and bucket of soapy water. Tripping over the carrier, I grabbed her by the arm just in time to keep her from close inspection once again.

Five year old comes out of the toilet about now and three year old tells me she needs to go in. Okay, I get the older one sent over to the hand washing area, the other sent into the green outhouse and turn to find the curious little boy now trying to climb the big “twuck”. They leave those things running and the noises they make themselves are enough to drive a little man crazy with curiosity!

By now, the balloons are once again completely tangled up. I have dropped the diaper bag and half of its contents have spilled on the ground. The 3 year old once again appears and informs me that she didn’t have to go after all—Dandy!!

Okay, everyone over to the hand washing station to get clean. The 3 year old tells me she doesn’t need to wash her hands because she didn’t go potty. I tell her (no longer using the nice, smiley mommy voice) that she will wash her hands and will use soap just because I said so! I try my best to wash the busy hands of a 1 year old while my own hands are tangled and twisted up with balloon ribbons. 5 year old is frustrated because there are no more paper towels. She grows more frustrated when I tell her to just wipe her hands on her skirt. (With her "follow the rules" oriented personality this just is not done!) Little guy makes one last attempt to touch something, anything, to do with that truck and the man’s “toys”.

Finally, a now extremely hot, tired, sunburned “about to loose her cool” Mama, her 3 little clan members, the bulky carrier, dirty diaper bag along with the confused and tangled balloons leave the scene. I am in search of an older sister, brother, Grandpa, Grandpa, Aunt or cousin, anyone at this point for some help with my stuff and some smiles for my little ones.

I would have grabbed the closest bagpiper had I thought he could have been of assistance!

I’ll let you chuckle on this for today and write a little bit more of what God showed me in the midst of the funny tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, if your day involves a backpack carrier and balloons—watch out! :)

(Excess Baggage ~ Part 2)

My Dough Boys

Jesse was in charge of entertaining Nate so decided they would make some scrumptuous chocolate chip cookies! Yum!

Here are my 2 handsome bakers.
Sharing the love with Daddy. A little light reading while the cookies are baking.
Fresh, hot baked cookies straight from the oven! Definitely loved around here!

We like to double up a cookie recipe and freeze the majority of the dough in balls to keep ready in the freezer. I have a small dough scoop that I use when making cookies. I usually bake up 2 pans and then do a flash freeze on the rest of the dough. I then pop these in a large zip-top bag for the freezer. Whenever we want fresh baked cookies (even if it is the very next day:) all I need do is put some dough balls on the pan, let them thaw for 15 min. or so and bake. It's always great to know that I have a treat all prepared if I have some company show up unexpectedly.

And who doesn't enjoy hot cookies right out of the oven! These guys sure do! Obviously, they don't even have to be cooked to enjoy. But it is highly recommended... :)

Just Downright Embarassing!

This is what I am talking about folks! Get a load of the carrots out of my garden! If it wasn't so darn funny I'd cry over these sad little guys. Do you have any idea how much weeding I did with the hot sun beating down on me and burning the back of my head! Not counting all the miracle grow I sprayed on these fellas and slug bait I meticulously spread to protect them! Protect them from what? Even the slugs would have passed these babies by! Ugh!!!

Sometimes you just gotta laugh and see the funnies in the midst of the heartbreak!

It's Official...

The can is...dead!

And the Winner Is...

Announcing the winner of .....

The Cutie Patootie, "Just Makes Us Smile All Day Long", Toddler Contest...

Nathaniel McKay!!!!

Now this is how peanut butter on toast should be eaten and thoroughly enjoyed! Nobody likes food any better than this little fella...(did you catch the bread at the tip of his nose?)

Ain't he something else, folks???!!!!

Any volunteers to give him the haircut that he so desperately needs? (For full disclosure of the process, you may want to check this out here and this one before agreeing to perform the procedure...)

Gotta love that little man of mine!!!

Life is Sweet

A beautiful sunny, summer morning...

A swing on the back deck...

Surrounded by my favorite people...

Enjoying warm blueberry muffins...

Taste the simple, everyday moments for...Life is sweet!

Where's Nate?

It's never a good sign when I ask the other children the two words "Where's Nate?" and receive a blank stare!

This is what Brianne found upstairs. A sweet smelling, shiney, slippery Nate. He had gotten into the scented vaseline and proceeded to decorate the carpet, train table and large Pier 1 Papasan chair....not to mention the decorating he did of himself.

He has been de-slipperied and is off to take his afternoon nap, where we don't have to ask "Where's Nate?" for the next 2 hours. Meanwhile, I am officially done researching the planting of blueberry bushes to go clean up a huge mess upstairs.

If anyone has any great ideas on how to get vaseline out of a chair cushion that cannot be put in the washer and out of carpeting, please send me a note, would ya! Much appreciated!

Date Night With Daddy...Mommy Likes Them Too!

Tonight Chuck took the girls out on a date for ice cream. They love "date night" with Daddy! :) So do I! Several "dates" ago, Faith asked him while they were out if they could bring home some flowers for Mommy. Since then, date night with Dad includes stopping at the store for Mom's flowers! Thanks Faith! :)

Lake Chelan...Little Sun, But Lots of Fun!

If you scroll down the side bar with the list of "my favorite things" you will see listed there...Lake Chelan Vacations! Thanks to parents with time-share condo's (Thanks Dads and Moms! :) we have been blessed to visit Chelan 7 or 8 times now (this was up to debate all week as to how many times we have been to the Wapato Point resort in Manson on Lake Chlean). Through the blessing of those Grandparents, we are able to stay in a nice 3 bedroom condo at a resort with lots to do and see. It is such a lovely time for our family and one we ALL look forward to. Its so fun to listen to the children share with each other "remember the year we..." "remember the big wind storm that took out part of that tree..." "remember when we got...at..." "remember when we went apple picking..." "remember chasing that huge bunch of geese..." "remember the 3 times we visited the Chelan hospital..." and on and on. We have only done a little camping and so these visits, starting when Brianne was 4 and Jesse 1 1/2, have been the "vacations" down through the years for our family. We have our favorite activities, our favorite restaurant, our favorite desserts, our favorite "stops". The weather this year was crummy and we borrowed Chuck's parents boat, but it didn't feel like playing in the water :( but it still was a wonderful week and many more memories and "remember when's..." were made.
My keepsake from the trip was this large, shallow bowl (our new fruit bowl :) that the children made for me at the pottery store in Chelan. The handprints of the 3 "littles" are on the inside and the 3 "bigs" are on the outside. The outside was barely large enough for those bigger hands! What a blessing each hand on this bowl is to me! Of all the "pretties" I am blessed to have and enjoy in my home, this dish is by far now my favorite!

Do Not Fear the Dock...

Our first day out on the dock, the three "littles" were a "little" nervous about this "pathway on water". It was so funny! We told them to walk down the middle and they would be fine. Faith kept her arms out to balance her to make sure that she stayed in the middle and kept stopping and well...freaking out...that she was going to surely fall into the water. By week's end, we had to MAKE them hold our hands and WALK on the dock because they loved it so much and had lost all their fear. A little fear is good...and healthy!

The girls were afraid the chasm would surely swallow them up... I really can't tell you how funny they were on this thing that first day out. Nate kept crying and clinging to Brianne. By weeks end I think he would have just walked off the end if we hadn't been paying attention.

Family Traditions...Smores and Rootbeer Floats

Each year we have 2 special dessert nights...Smores and Rootbeer floats. I cannot remember now when we started the smores, but we had the rootbeer floats our first visit to Chelan and when I was showing Brianne and Jesse the pictures from that first trip before leaving for the second they asked about the pictures I had taken with the floats. Explaining what they were, Brianne's eyes popped open and she said "well, we ARE going to have those again too aren't we?" So, yep, we have...each and every time. It's the only time we really do have them. :)

More Pool Pictures...