Five Minute Friday: In Between

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Writing words today with the Five Minute Friday writers.

In Between

Start

You would think, I certainly would think, that I would have this summer thing down by now. I’ve only been doing it a few years.
This year seems different, we are in between trips, which I do not take lightly or for granted. The trip out west was huge and interesting and bonding. The next trip to Virginia, for work, will be a great blessing in a different way.
We are also still in between sorting relationship-marriage-type issues, which is good and hard at the same time. The past four years have been enlightening in an unpleasant, showing how selfish I am kind of way.
And, we are in between school years, trying to figure out who needs what, when and how. With a senior and a kindergartener in the fall, life will be interesting.
I want to enjoy all of the in betweens God gives me!

Stop

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Me and Him, leaving the North Rim. (Yes, I am standing on a rock because I am a foot shorter!)

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The whole family, enjoying life’s in betweens!

James 1:2-8 (NIV)

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Five Minute Friday: Rhythm

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Linking up the Five Minute Friday writers, after missing last week without wifi in Colorado.

Rhythym

Start:

Rhythm, oh rhythm, where are you? I have been looking for you all week! After 16 days on the road, saying my energy waned a bit this week is an understatement.

Trying to figure out a routine for the summer, keeping up with necessary work and adding in summer fun, without being a big grump.

The unpacking is finally complete, unless you count the odds and ends from the children in the van, plus the Utah red dirt. It is really a mess. Rachel has volunteered for van duty in the morning. Thank you!

The boys told me there was a spider in the downstairs bathroom this morning, so I caught it. She cooperated rather nicely, then we searched the conservation site to identify our find. We let her go after an hour or so, satisfied with our summer science learning.

A church friend called to invite the children to the new monster movie that opened today. That threw me for a loop, as I really, really dislike those goofy animated movies, especially paying full-price. So, after hyper-ventilating and getting overwhelmed, (Why, oh, why do I do that??), it was decided that the older three would go and pay their own way.

I let Adam drive us into town, then was a softy and gave them $10 for snacks, bought the younger three and Kyle a large frozen custard to share and need to leave in about five minutes to go to the WM neighborhood market and the movie theatre again.

Not the rhythm I expected for the day, but all is well!

Stop

(I added two minutes to my timer to get finished!)

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The “friend” I caught in our downstairs bathroom this morning!

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Researching…Only a wolf spider.

Psalm 40:5 (ESV)
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Ten Things You’ll Always Find In Our Fridge

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My post today was originally a comment at Preschoolers and Peace. Thank you, Kendra, for the fun idea!

My list:

1-lb tubs of organic greens
3-lb bags of organic baby carrots
Eggs, some best-we-can-find from the grocery store and some purchased from our 4H leader.
Almond Milk
Organic peanut butter
Organic fruit-sweetened jelly
Zevia Soda (Occasional treat for the six sibs, almost daily for the mom.)
Novolog (For my son’s pump.)
Lantus (For back-up in case of pump-failure.)

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It takes a full fridge to take care of this family!

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV 1984)
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Sunday Smiles and Scripture: Three weeks, three churches, three states

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Home tonight after being blessed by churches in Albuquerque, Kanab and Dodge City during the course of our southwestern vacation adventure.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Five Minute Friday: Fall

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Joining in to write another Five Minute Friday post.

The rules:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Fall

I worked so hard to make everything safe when they were little. Rubber edges and corners for the fireplace (still have them), the “Slow downs!,” “Be careful!,” “Watch where you’re going!”‘ and on and on.

Then those older three decided to become teens, and the next one almost 10, the next just turned eight and the baby, well, at almost five, he’s not a baby anymore.

I learned that I had to prepare for their fall. They were going to come. Only one broken arm, and that was the girl on our brick kitchen floor, trying to catch her baby brother seven years ago as he started to fall. One set of stitches to the head and one to an arm, one trip for glue to the head.

They fall, I learn to relax, we are getting through this wonderful life together.

They climb trees, I sometimes can’t watch. Skateboarding, bike riding, all good, all scary for mom.

I want to not fear the falls, I want to help them try to avoid what they can and recover from what they can’t. I love my six.

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The older three on an outcropping at the South Rim of The Grand Canyon.

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The younger three with Daddy, waiting for their big sibs. Some things you have to say no to. That would have been too far too fall!

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I Wasn’t Ready For This!

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I thought I was, but I’m not…

My oldest, Adam, started driving on Saturday!!! I can’t believe it!
He wasn’t particularly interested, but is turning 17 at the end of July, so we talked him into it (nicely forced) so he can get lots of practice in before he leaves home.
Thankfully, he has to drive with us for six months before he can get his full license.
We live less than 10 minutes from the “big” city, but are out in the country, so he has had some state highway experience already. He’ll be doing interstate driving for an upcoming summer vacation as well.
I told him on Friday after he passed his test, that it would be a whole new world. In reply, he told me that I used to not be able to wait for him to get older and be able to do things for himself and now I’m not ready. So true! Very strange!
Babbling, crawling, talking, walking, bike riding, telling time, swimming, reading, plus more, are all life skills that are very important, but driving! Yikes!

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Second trip out, first with the whole family! (BTW, the vehicle was at a complete stop before he posed for the picture!)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Furniture Feature Friday

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Linking up with Furniture Feature Friday for the first time at Miss Mustard Seed.

Stripping and refinishing help needed, please!

We were told that our table is solid walnut. (Full history below pictures.)
The table and benches are very solid, but are in great need of refinishing, as you can see from the pictures below.
My husband is interested in taking it apart and using a biscuit joiner to put the top together again tightly. (Thank you Tom Silva from This Old House for the tool tips!)
We have never stripped or refinished anything and would like to do it well. I have a small bookshelf I could practice on if someone could please point me in the right direction!
Thank you so much!

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Our table, aka best e-bay purchase ever.

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Close-up of the end.

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And, the other end.

The history:
We purchased this table, after searching for quite some time, in April of 20007. We were a family of seven at the time and added another son in 2008!
My husband found the table on e-bay by searching for dining tables within a 200 mile radius of our home.
Our table came in just under the mileage wire and we were the only bidders. The table and two benches cost us the minimum bid, a whopping $50!
The owner had it stored in a shed and was in the process of moving. He told us his father had made the table 40 years prior.
My husband and oldest son, nine at the time, took the seats out of our 12-passenger van and loaded it with the help of the owner. (The owner taught my husband how to unlatch the doors on the back of the van so they would fold flat.)
They arrived home late and had to take the hinges off our back door to get it in. It was all the three of could do to get it into our kitchen.
The table is so heavy, that when our second son got up the next morning and tried lifting the end up he asked if it was bolted to the floor.

Thank you for your help!!

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Five Minute Friday: View

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Five Minute FridayFive Minute Friday.

View
GO

The view gets a bit fuzzy some days in the tired.
Thinking yesterday afternoon when the blog engineer wanted to cuddle me and our youngest came in and talked and talked and asked so many questions in a 30-second period. These days aren’t going to last long.

Listening to a podcast yesterday evening, while adding up the last two month’s grocery receipts, I heard the encouragement from two mamas with children in their 20s to slow down, don’t wish these days away, have more fun with your children.

Thinking-how in the world do we eat so much? Well, there are eight of us. Two teen boys, a teen-ish girl, tween boy and two younger (can’t call them “little”) boys. It won’t last forever.

I am so going to miss these days. I don’t want to miss them now.
The view is clearer here in the early morning with a quiet house.
I’m going in a few hours to take my oldest to get his driving permit!
STOP.

I didn’t do well with five minutes this morning. I added three minutes to the timer, in one minute increments (Not recommended for optimum concentration!)

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This gift was on my photo stream. I found it early, while looking for inspiration before starting the timer. These two boys, the type-a twins separated by 11 years and 360 days and their triplet sister who snuck in, while on a walk in the neighborhood with Daddy last night.

Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Diabetes Blog Week: Day 6, Diabetes Art

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“This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!”

This post was “due” on Saturday and here I am sitting in bed at 10 p.m. on Monday. I couldn’t write anymore about diabetes. No more.
After a two-day break, I’m going to finish the course. Not the way I thought I would (which was either finishing a poem I had started a couple of months ago about John or talking him into doing something for me for the post), but with two links to previous posts involving John.
One from March about origami (actually the mess he makes creating!) and one from this past Friday, a *Five Minute Friday post with the prompt “song.

He is quite an artistic guy, and next year we’ll start earlier and come up with something fun!

*What is Five Minute Friday? The details are here.


Psalm 98:4-6 (ESV)
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!