Wildlife

A friend made a comment on my pelican post that it was comforting to see the wildlife she grew up around. I've thought about that a lot. I live no where near where I grew up. I live in the Midwest, but I grew up in West Texas. There are many times that I miss the wildlife of my childhood.

Things like:
Skinks















And Horned Toads












And even Tarantulas













And Rattlesnakes


You wouldn't think any of those things are pretty, but they say home to me.

Pelicans

For a week or two, in late March or early April, Pelicans migrate through our area. The first time I saw them I was stunned. Who knew there were Pelicans on the Mississippi River?

The guide at the river told us that 100 years ago, the pelicans used to come through here by the thousands. Then they took a different route. For the past ten years, they have returned and last year a flock of them even nested about 10 miles up the river.

They are huge birds with a 9-foot wingspan.


Then while we were at the river taking these pictures, I saw this bird.

I have no idea what it is. Anyone else know? Update! My sister figured out that it's an eastern meadowlark.

Here's the answers.

Honeynut Cheerios

A stack of CD Jewel Cases

The handle on a cabinet door.

Elisha's new suit coat.

Slow and Steady, but Constant

I need to lose a bunch of weight. I'm finally healthy enough that I need to get serious about this. I am too rebellious for diets to work, so it has to be a slow, steady change of lifestyle or I'm not going to succeed.

Just like the Christian walk, I need to do this one step at a time. Pray for me, please.

Forgiveness or Permission

I'm sure your children have never done this, but mine have. You discover a child doing something or wearing something he isn't supposed to and his response is, "I did it (or wore it) before and you didn't say anything." The translation is, "I didn't get caught last time so it must be okay to do it again."

Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

We all know people who think that their actions are okay because God doesn't whack them right away.

But now, let me take this a step further. There is a little seed thought trying to take root in my brain, so this idea isn't fully developed so bear with me.

I'm going to preface this story by saying that I have a wonderful marriage, but I'm always looking for ways to make it better. My husband and I were sitting in a service and the preacher said some things about submission. I looked at Mark and whispered, "I'm submissive, aren't I?" Of course, I expected him to say "Sure, Honey."

But that's not what he said. He said, "Let me think about it and get back to you." I was stunned. I searched my own heart for an honest answer.

I do everything my husband asks me to do. If he tells me not to do something, I don't do it. But . . . sometimes . . . it's easier to get forgiveness than permission. Sometimes I don't do what I know he would rather I do, but I do what he will let me do. I'm not always submissive to his desires. I'm not always submissive to his preferences.

Now, before you get angry or puff up, let me tell you another story. On December 13, 2006, I was wheeled into an operating room with less than a 10% chance of surviving my condition. My body was failing but my brain was just fine. As I lay on the operating table considering the fact that my odds of waking up in heaven were better than my odds of waking up here, several things went through my mind. First, I wondered why my life wasn't flashing in front of my eyes. Isn't that whats supposed to happen when you have a near death experience? Then I pondered standing before Jesus in a matter of minutes. Was there anything I needed to clear with Him? (I feel like those things you confess at that moment aren't very sincere — it's kinda like catching a kid with her hand in the cookie jar and she immediately begins to apologize.) After deciding that my heart was a clear before the Lord as it could be, I realized that I might not be here to take care of Mark. That was the one thought that gripped me. I needed to be here to take care of Mark.

Later, I realized that when it had come right down to it, that was the one thing that had mattered. God gave me a wonderful man to be a helpmeet to. Besides my relationship with my Savior, Mark was what mattered. I want to be the absolute best wife to him that I can be.

A Pleasant Surprise

My brother is just a year and two days younger than I am, but he married much later in life than I did. His two girls are both younger than my grandson. I didn't get to see his older girl until she was 2.5. Yesterday, my brother called me and said, "How do I get to your house from this golf store?" He was in town and I didn't even know he was coming.

Surprise!

I was so excited to see my new little niece, Violet, who is only 5 weeks old. My brother and his family have decided to move to my area and so I will get to see my little nieces all the time!

This made me laugh

see more crazy cat pics

My Vacation

My sweet honey and I had the best time on our vacation. First we drove to Michigan to attend church with a friend that I met on a Christian ladies bulletin board. Even though it was the first time we met in person, I feel like I've known her forever. Her husband is a pastor like mine. We had a wonderfully sweet time of fellowship.

Mark and I also had a wonderful time just the two of us hanging out. We laughed at things along the highway and I read to him while he drove. It left us so relaxed and refreshed.

On Monday, we headed to the Chicago area. Since 1982 we have been attending the annual Pastors' School at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. I think Mark has only missed 3 times. I missed a few more because of children and illness.

The services were powerful. I am still assimilating all of the teaching from the daily sessions.

The theme for this year's school was "If I Be Lifted Up" and the emphasis was honoring
Christ.

I don't know what my children and grandchildren will remember about me, but I work and hope and pray that they remember that I loved Jesus.

Pastors' School ended on Thursday night. On Friday, Mark and I slept in. We were staying at the prophet's chamber at a church. The pastor is one of Mark's best friends. After we got up, Mark spent some time with his friend and we played about 15 games of carpet ball. (I was the only girl, but I won the tournament!)

We at lunch at one of the best Chinese food restaurants in the Chicago area. I don't usually get excited about Chinese, but I love eating at Gum Wah! Friday evening, we went shopping and out to eat. I found a bargain book store at the mall — look out!!!

Then we took our time and drove home on Saturday, rested and revived! Who can ask for more?

What Is It?

This morning, after I finished teaching my Sunday School lesson, the boys in my class were playing (I teach 4-yr-old boys). I had my camera so I started shooting close ups of some stuff. Most of them are obvious, others not so obvious.

Can you guess?

Blessed Ressurection Sunday!!!

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

I Corinthians 15:20-22

"Lucy! I'm home!!!"

We just got back home from our 7 day vacation!! It was so nice to get away. We saw lots of friends and lots of stuff and I have lots of blog material. Right now, I still have to unpack, but I'll be back later!

I wanna win!

Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.



To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!

I'm Outta Here! (For a week)

I don't know how much Internet access I'll have while I'm gone, but look for me next weekend!!

So we went with color this time

We just repainted our living room. We've always had white walls and we decided to do something different.







My next big project will be the windows. I need to sand and re-stain the woodwork and get some curtains instead of the miniblinds.







Then later this year, probably late summer or early fall, we are going to re-do the wood floors.

I'm going away for a week

My wonderful sweetheart and I are leaving Saturday for a whole week! First we are going to Michigan where we will attend services at a friend's church. Then on Monday, we will be heading to the Chicago area to attend the annual Pastors' School in Hammond, Indiana Monday through Thursday. We do skip out on Wednesday night for hubby to preach at Faith Baptist Church in Posen, IL. Friday we are going to spend a little time with our friends at Faith Baptist and maybe go to Chinatown in Chicago. Then finally on Saturday, we will be heading home!

I am so looking forward to spending this time with my beloved. He works a full-time job in addition to pastoring so we don't get to spend a lot of free time together.

Books

I'm an English major at the University of Illinois Springfield and it goes without saying that I read a lot! Some books I read are not worth revisiting. Sometimes I discover a jewel. This semester I'm taking a Children's Literature class and we just read a book that I count as one of my new favorites. The book is A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck. It is supposed to be juvenile fiction, but I loved it. It is the story of two kids who spend a week with their grandmother in rural Illinois every summer and the book covers eight of those visits. It is hilarious and touching. I am a grandmother now and though nothing like the grandmother in the book (I hope) I really hope my grandkids remember me as fondly.

Eagles

Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."


Where we live, the eagles winter. We live on the Mississippi River at the northern-most point that doesn't freeze over. There are locks and dams here that keep the water moving enough to provide fishing waters for the eagles.

Several times a winter, we go out taking pictures of them. They are so beautiful. There is nothing quite like watching an eagle swoop out of the sky and snatch a fish from the river.

The eagles usually leave the first couple of weeks in March. In the next few days they will disappear and we won't see them again until late November. Last year at this time, a dear friend passed away unexpectedly. It was still cold, so at the cemetery, I sat in the van with my grandson while my husband handled the graveside service with the family. I saw the most amazing thing. Just as my husband began the short service, an eagle launched from a nearby tree. He circled the group moving higher and higher the whole time the little group was huddled around the grave. The eagle then broke and flew away right as the service ended. It was amazing.

There is very little that seems as effortless as an eagle in flight. When we wait on the Lord, God gives us that same strength.

Some crafts lately

This is the train quilt I made for my grandson.
























I crocheted this one for my granddaughter, Emma, who should make her entry into the world the first week in July.



















This is a little blanket I crocheted for my niece, Violet.

Change is in the air

My daughter and grandson have lived with us for the past 3 1/2 years. My little grandson is my buddy. We were playing last night and I had to go do some work and he said, "Okay, Nana. Maybe you can be a little kid when you grow up!"

I've always known in the back of my mind that they wouldn't live with us forever. I knew she would get on her feet and make her own life. Now it looks like that may be happening soon. Sometime in the coming months I think they will be moving away.

Part of my mother heart is very happy for her. She is excited about making her own way for her and for her son. But my grandmother heart is really going to miss that boy being here all the time.

Genesis 31:49 "And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another."

Pray for my neice

This is my little neice, Violet. She is one month old and was admitted to the hospital Friday night. The doctors don't know what is wrong with her yet. Please pray for her and for her Mommy and Daddy. Thanks.

It's coming

A little bird was just scratching and pecking outside my window. I don't know what kind of bird it was and I almost jumped up and got my Audubon guide, but I'm trying to get some work done.

I was so excited to see it there. It has been so very cold this winter that I've seen very few birds or squirrels. They've been holed up trying to keep warm just like I have. But now, they are venturing forth. It's still cold, but we can feel spring in the air.

I'm back

A few days ago, it was 65°F and it seemed as if paradise had been dropped in our neighborhood. But it's still March in the Midwest and we will stay below freezing now for at least a couple more days.

Spring is coming, though. I can feel it in the intensity of the sunshine. Soon the flowers will burst forth, the corn will drink in the melted snow and shove the soil aside in its search for the sun. The summer heat will consume every hint of moisture and the snow will be as distant a memory as warmth is right now. Before we know it, the husky whispers of dry stalks will signal autumn and winter will follow again.

Our perception of time is unreliable, but time is certain.