Was I expecting to be expecting at this time in my life? No way! I had a five year plan, and it did not include shocking pregnancy tests, roller coaster rides of emotions and sickness, motherhood books, birthing classes, belly bands, and bigger bras (but I’ll take the latter if I have to 😉 ) Nevertheless, here I am preggo with a tiny bump to prove it at 17 weeks.
If you know me at all it may come as a surprise to you, reader, that when I see posts of the lusty summer months and their festive nuptials and those sparkling starry-eyed newlyweds they cause me to reflect on my chilly autumn wedding and my lack of luster following the wedding …
“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” -Tozer
Well well well, What have we here?
So we’ve been having….. Another rough weekend…. or week….. or let’s just say, month. But, despite the unkempt abode and the unkempt hair and the unkempt dogs and the unkempt laundry, the Lord is good to us. I have been sick as a dog off and on for the past few weeks, unfortunately, despite all my best sicky-remedies; Ian has been exhausted as a dog for the past month due to 15 hr work days. Come the weekend, we crash in bed – swearing we’ll not get up till somebody forces us to either keep our jobs or lose ’em – and look around the house at the mopless dirtiest floors and those shedding giddy labradors…. and say to each other, “He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. He is always faithful, and we are so grateful for Christ’s love.” Sometimes I get a wave of inspiration to be creative again, and then I try to some avail only to crash and burn in the end. Yesterday I was in bed until 5pm …
While studying the history of humanity – their cultures, social formations, philosophies and their artistic endeavors – in a secular academic environment and Christian liberal arts college, I observed that women are both corrupted and glorified through cultural expressions. Interestingly enough, when sin insidiously spread through the good earth and warped it’s perfectly effervescent qualities, woman became cursed with this stark reality, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” This commentary by theologian John MacArthur explains that to mean, “Sin has turned the harmonious system of God-ordained roles into distasteful struggles of self-will. Lifelong companions, husbands and wives, will need God’s help in getting along as a result. The woman’s desire will be to lord it over her husband, but the husband will rule by divine design.” In other words – what we see every day in this 21st century society – is the demoralization of the human soul, the fragile woman. Her natural beauty …
Two years ago when we were planning our wedding, I really wanted to have a personal painting displayed for our guests to sign. My original intent was to paint this design. Alas, I ran out of time due to my bridal haze and due to investing more energy in preparing our new abode. But, several months later, the plywood board that I swiped at Lowes for $6 became the inspiration for another abode project. While staring at the wood square and trying to imagine other possible potentials, I noticed that the grains and shades formed a picture. My imagination is quite vivid, and it seems in my dreams that I am drawn to places. I am always drawn to calm, serene places. What I envisioned in the wood was the sunset over the ocean… I started messing around with acrylics and water to create a stain wash. I didn’t sand or prime this plywood piece; I just wiped and pressed the stain onto the raw wood grain, which required several coats. Great ideas come to …
Project reveal! I mentioned the other day in this post that I’d finally completed one of my little crafty endeavors… It’s a winter wreath made up of “nature’s scraps”: I picked a bunch of pine branches from the backyard; stuck in craft feathers; wrapped the center in floral tape (left over from my wedding); and used craft wire to secure it. Since I already had most of the supplies, I think the total cost was $5. Voila!
This wintery weather has outlived my cozy winter heart. The holidays have blown through with the chill, and the snow dumped after we watched White Christmas. It’s the 2nd day of March and we’re expecting 10 inches of snow tomorrow. I don’t feel so warm anymore; I’m just too cold now. That is to say, this is the time of year when I start dreaming of the beach… I LOVE summertime. I love everything about it: bright sun rays, sweltering highs, fierce thunderstorms, crickets roaring, shiny stars, gritty sand, casual volleyball, crashing waves, low tides, sea shells and sea creatures, raging fire pits, gooey marshmallows, colorful bikinis, flip flops… Summertime, I am ready for you! In light of such love, I came up with a brilliant idea. When I’m a mom of a brood, every summer I’ll hitch up an RV, pack my dogs and littles, and drive till the map turns blue. My favorite summer camping spot has been Assateague Island… For the past four years I’ve visited with a clan of close friends. That island …
