I Have A Bit Of Time This Morning...

to myself and I am enjoying it.

Lindsay is with my parents on day trip and lunch out, Emma took the younger three to meet up with Tim after work this morning to do some yard work for an elderly woman he met.  She had placed an add in the local paper about free fire wood - she'd had a tree taken down and now needed someone to come remove it.  Tim is always on the look out for firewood - we heat with it some, and he provides it for my parents too.  He mentioned to me that this lady could use some work done in her yard, he spoke with her, she gladly said yes, and he and the crew are on the job!  He likes providing opportunities for the kids to learn to serve others joyfully!
 

I am home with Kamryn, and she is still asleep.  Using these quiet moments to ponder and write.  Kayleigh is managing a store now and that is keeping her hopping.  We are proud of how hard she is working and that she is learning and growing a lot.

I recently found my self caught up inadvertently in some drama, and that made me realize that we have a refreshing lack of that around here most days!  We are busy, working, serving, opening our home, discipling others, and for the most part try not to get caught up in that kind of thing.  We are not a family big on competing with other families or other people for attention or for some recognition.  We know we are sinners saved by grace and we try to walk in grace with others and as a family.  We are not perfect, by any means, and are thankful for God's mercies which are new every morning!

 I've been reading Elisabeth Elliot's book "The Shaping of a Christian Family."  It is not a 'how to' book, it is the story of her family and the choices they made (her grandparents, and her parents) and how that shaped the family that they had.  I like that it is simple really, though not easy.  You want a home where Christ is central?  Then make him central in all that you do.

I need to get busy with my morning, dishes are done and drying on the counter.  I need to get out our science book and pick a new book for reading aloud.  

I just had a call from Tim, they have finished their yard work.   He said that the woman was appreciative.  I appreciate his heart to serve others, and that he teaches the kids by example.  

My heart is full of thankfulness this morning. 

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

ps- the Peonies and Roses are from my garden last year.  Come on Spring! 

Chat Time!

So, as you know this has been a crazy week.  Thank you all again for praying and remembering Rachel.  You're sweet and I love you for it!

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The store has been slow.  Like death nell slow.  If it doesn't pick up we won't be keeping the physical store past June.  That's the stark reality.  We have great products, and service.  People come in and LOVE everything, but then walk out with out a purchase.  I have seen many businesses disappear one by one.  In fact I stopped at one today, and they were no longer there.  It's sad.  It is a sign of the economy and the fear people have.  Oh, yeah and a little thing called higher taxes or more taxes.  I understand completely!  Everyone's paycheck is smaller,  and yet the cost of everything has gone up.  This cannot be sustained.

We are trying to up the profile of our online store, and do more events.

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I am working on a new article for our state wide home school magazine.  This one is about reading and how each child is different and may come to be a reader through different methods than their siblings did.

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We're hooked on a BBC series called Foyle's War.  It is set in wartime Great Britian in the 1940's.  There are three new episodes due out this year and we can't wait!  Have you seen it?

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I also like a program called Wartime Farm.  You can find it in 8 episodes on YouTube.  Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman, and Peter Ginn show what it was like in Great Britain on a farm during WWII.  I learned so much!

This trio of presenters also do Edwardian Farm, Victorian Farm, Tales from Green Valley, and Victorian Christmas.  Our whole family has enjoyed watching these!

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Our seed order came last week.  I am excited to start some seeds soon.  I hope to have a nice herb garden this year.  I am also hoping to have a good veggie garden.  

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I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Remember that God is good.

Sunday

Sunday was Charter Day here in Pennsylvania.  We celebrate the king giving William Penn's father the charter for this land, by opening all the state museums for free.

We chose to go to Landis Valley Museum again.  It's a lovely place set for the late 1800's - early 1900's period.

They have wonderful volunteers who participate, showing how different things were done or made during this period of history.

There is a gun smith, and a cook using a colonial style fireplace (be still my heart!), there is a lace maker - 

Here is a sample of her work

So, so amazing that this was all done by hand!

There was also a woman showing us how they made line-n from flax.  Then she showed us how they made the 'line' into thread that then was woven into fabric.

She said it took about 65 hours of work to make one shirt.  Unbelievable.

These lovely ladies were there...

So was my sweetheart!  I love this photo of him - do you love his purse?  Ha ha!  Emma put Rachel's crossbody bag on him like a fannypack!  Too funny!

Little did we know that 12 hours later Rachel's pony would be hit by a car.  This is a photo of the hood of our neighbors small suv.  

We are all doing well and Rachel is especially doing better.  The first few days were rough for her.

Thankful for grace, and for protection.  Our neighbor was not injured at all.  

Thank You

Thanks so much for making a difficult day easier by leaving me such lovely notes of comfort.

Rachel is sad.  Heartbroken.  She is doing okay, but if you think of her please continue to pray for her.

Yesterday was surreal is many ways.  How do you prepare for having to deal with such a thing?  It is all those many little crises that come up over the years, and learning to lean hard into the Lord for His direction and comfort.

We felt it yesterday.  The neighbor who hit Libby, was so distraught.  They love animals, and she and her husband were so gracious.  Then came the issue of what to do with Libby.  

Tim works with a gentleman whose nephew just happens to own a couple of farms and one of them adjoins our property.  He was instantly helpful and gracious, too.  He wouldn't hear of taking any  kind of payment, not even for fuel costs.  "We're neighbors," was what he told us.

Friends, we felt God's gentle care for us yesterday.

We had a funeral to go to yesterday as well.  Sad, hard things, yet God was with us in it all...and it really put things into their proper perspective.  The loss of a husband, dad and granddad verses the loss of a well loved pony.  Both were unexpected and hard but the real, true loss is the man.  Ponies can be replaced, but a man cannot.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne

of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help

in time of need.

 God is true and faithful!

Today we deal with insurance and all that stuff.  I love learning new things, but I could have skipped having to learn this, but I trust God that He knows just what we need.

Blessings....

This Is Going To Be A Rough Day

Early this morning Sadie started barking and their was a wild pounding at the door.

The horses had gotten out and a sweet neighbor lady had hit Liberty.  She was so upset about it.  No wonder.  Not everyday you have a horse dart across the road in the dark.

Libby is no more.  Fortunately Tim works with a man whose nephew has a large farm and he is allowing us to bring her there to bury.

Rachel is heartbroken.  

Today will be a day of comforting broken hearts, as we are also headed to the funeral of a friend.  He died unexpectedly too.

We could use your prayers for us.  This is coming on the back of two really challenging weeks for us.

These are good reminders that life is short, and we can never tell how many days we have been given.

This is Rachel in July 2011 with Libby.  This is about two weeks after we got her.

Noah - A Must See Show

Noah is back at Sight and Sound for one year only, and we got to see the employee opening last night.  

I have seen this show many times before, the last being just a few years ago in Branson, but it has been updated and is now running neck and neck for my favorite show!

The staging is well done, the acting not OVER done (if you know what I mean), and the production values - lighting, costumes, use of color, etc, was wonderful.

The scene where the family is in the ark, and their loved ones who previously rejected the truth are begging to be let in...is very moving.

There are many parallel's to our world today, it's sobering, and a good reminder to keep looking to the Lord rather than the approval of men.

If you get the chance, please see this show!  You'll love it, your children/grandchildren will love it and it could be life changing!

 

Happy, Happy, Happy

Birthday!

My darling Emily is 19 today!


She is a beautiful young woman inside and out. 

We kinda like her, oh yes we do!
  

Tie Dye

Around here we knit and sew but I don't consider us crafters.

Yesterday though, Lindsay and Emma had a friend over during the big (non existent for us) snow storm, and they did tie dye.

 They rinsed out their t-shirts last night.

 This is Lindsay's...

This is Emma's.  

They had so much fun, and also did pillowcases.

Why don't we do these things more often?  I think the younger set would love to do this kind of project.  It can be counted for art as well.

I have a meeting this morning and then we are going out to dinner for Emma's birthday, which is actually tomorrow.

Tomorrow is big doings.

Ta-ta for now!

The Sun Is Shining...

and it's going to be in the 40's today.

Tonight it is going to start snowing after midnight.  It is supposed to be the most snow we've had all winter.  14 days before Spring!  So crazy, but hey, March can be like that here!

At least the girls and I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, as we are expecting anywhere from 6-12 inches where we live.

I know the younger set are excited!  They've been waiting for at least one good snow storm this year!

By the weekend, it will be nearly 50 and sunny!  Spring is coming!  
Our state celebrated William Penn's father receiving the charter for the land that is now our state on the second Sunday in March, by making all the state museums free to the public! 

We are going to go to Landis Valley again this year.  Several families from church went last year and had a blast!

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There was a lot of fun to be had at our house last evening.  Sonja and Asher, two of our young friends came over and watched movies, at homemade pizza and popcorn.  Their was some train building and some girlie fingernail painting too.  They are so fun.

Are you in the path of Winter Storm Saturn?  Am I the only one still getting a chuckle out of the fact that we are naming Winter storms now?

The Only Problem With Spring...

is that our relaxed schedule, is no more.  

 This week brings a return to a full schedule in the shoppe, no more winter hours, and a return for the girls to Sight and Sound.  Also Kayleigh, has begun managing a brand new Subway store so she is working insane hours, and that means we are also taking her to work, watching Kamryn and picking Kay up from work.

Bye bye days where no one had to head out early in the morning.  Bye Bye days to go visit friends.  Bye bye not having to drive people everywhere!

Hopefully Kayleigh will be getting a car soon.  And hopefully we will add a car to our family too, and that will lighten my driving load!

I am thankful for this break we've had.  I am so thankful for loving, happy relationships among my family.  It makes it a joy to spend time together!

The actual return to work at S & S for the girls is technically this Saturday, but they both have department meetings this week.  We also return to a five day schedule in our shoppe, Fab Fashion! And Friday is Emma's 19th birthday, and our friend Sarah's birthday too!  So we have some celebrating to do!  

Friday is also the employee premier of Noah!  We are excited to get to see this amazing show here in Lancaster County again!  It's only playing for this year, so if you want to see it get your tickets soon!

 
Today, we will be doing school, Lindsay and the younger kids then will be going to spend time with a young family from church, while to Mom goes to an appointment.  The men of our church are having a dinner tonight to honor our assistant pastor.  He will be 90 this year!  One of the men in our church is bringing his two youngest to hang out here during the dinner! We will have so much fun - we are going to have homemade pizza, paint Sonja's nails, make popcorn and watch a movie. 

Awesome Coral handbag from our store Fab Fashion!

Does the return of Spring bring changes to your schedule?  We are going to have lovely mild weather this week!  So exciting!

The Countdown To Spring Is On!

 Happy March!  I am so happy to see the month of February go, and March to arrive.  It has arrived very lamb like, so we'll see how the rest of the month goes.
 

 I am hopeful that my tulips will be just as beautiful this year as last year...though I doubt they will be blooming by Easter this year since it is so early.
 

If the weather is decent tomorrow I want to go out and do some pruning in my front garden.

 In this area where Lindsay weeded last spring, I'd like to put 12inch x 12inch or bigger pavers to form a sitting area where I can use an umbrella and a few chairs.  I love having outdoor rooms!

What are your dreams for Spring?