Thinking Outloud

Isn't this the point of blogging? No different than journalling really. I just got up after lying in bed awake, praying to pass the time and to unload my cares on the Lord. I could no longer sleep, having my mind racing with possible solutions to a miriad of problems. I just had to get up and do something. I actually got up to write a list. Lists always help me, although sometimes my expectations for myself and others are so lofty that I can't possibly meet them and get more frustrated. Perfectionism at its worst.

So I have had Meghan on my mind most heavily. She is 20 and has been on her own now for only about 2 monthes and has just dug herself into a really deep hole. She is so entranced by the world, and has been rejecting our teaching and the Lord for a long time. While she was at home, it seemed that she was still trying to please us, at least on the surface, but now that she is out on her own, she has all of a sudden just followed her every whim. Right now it has been two weeks since she has had a conversation with us at all. The wedding that she a Charlotte were both in allowed us to see her, but was so strained because we saw her for the first time living in the way that she had been hiding for so long. This weekend we have been getting our Christmas tree and putting up all our decorations. This is the first year that Meghan hasn't been here to do it with us. She was usually my right hand gal, excited about helping to get it all up. There is such a hole in our home right now, and it is so painful! I cried when I hung her ornament with her baby picture. Where has that little girl gone? I feel like I don't even know her. I keep handing her back to the Lord. It's all I can do. He knows her better that I. He knows the full truth of her heart. And only He, with his infinite resources, can call her and bring her to Himself. Probably the biggest question in this momma's heart is, if He doesn't right now, what is my relationship to be, my role to be with her, in the mean time? And that is really a mute point right now, since she is not returning any of our phone calls anyway. I need wisdom that only the Lord can give.

The other issue on my mind is homeschooling. We have, up to this point, been pretty late risers, by most people's standards. It has been my goal to start our schooling by 9:00. By this time Louie is gone to work, breakfast is done, the kids should be ready for the day, chores done- personal and their assigned chore of the day. By 3:00 in the afternoon, no matter what their schedule that day, classes and homeschooling here, they just can't concentrate any more. It's impossible to really get any more than a few at a time focused on homework. There just seems to be this buzz of activity - teens coming home from school, neighborhood kids knocking, phone ringing, dinner to think about, sometimes sports practices, etc. Besides, kids need to run around and get some exercise, to move their bodies. So it doesn't seem that until after dinner that I can get them back to any kind of focus again, to do homework, prepare for the next day, work on a project like cleaning their rooms, or doing their laundry. There just isn't enough time in the day! What I wish, is that they would take time in the afternoons for pursuits like pleasure reading, knitting, drawing, practicing piano, building something. By contrast, the buzz just seems really unproductive to me. They just kind of feed on one another's energy. All this is to say that my latest solution, or inspiration has been that we just have to get up earlier and start earlier. I can't seem to generate any more productivity out of the afternoon and evening, so I'll just have to tack more time in at the top of our day. So tomorrow ( technically today) we will get up at 7 AM and see how an extra hour can help. If that is not enough, another half an hour until I am satisfied. Truely, I think that 7 will not be early enough, but its all I am willing to ask at this point. Less drastic for every one at one time. We are such hibernaters in the winter!

Well, if I am to get up earlier than usual, and in just 4 hours, I had better climb back in bed and get some more sleep.
Good morning? We'll see.

Birth is a miracle everytime I witness it!

I just came home from the birth of 10 lb. 1 1/2 oz. Baby Swolley. (She doesn't have a name yet, as Mom and Dad need to get to know her better first. ) What a privaledge it is to observe the forming of a new family when a new baby is born. This baby was the first to this new couple, and I assisted them as their doula. My midwife recommended me since I have worked with her before and also because I am local to this couple. What a wonderful homebirth for a first time mom. It is always amazing to witness the strength that the Lord had built into a woman's body to give birth. It is especially a blessing to see a young couple trust in Jesus for their family, and to see them rest in His power to walk them through every contraction. What tender moments that they had as a couple. He found new respect for his wife and her strength, she rested in the strength that she saw in him as he supported her, and then to watch them both fall in love with their new baby is just magic! I would never call what I do, work...
Congratulations to the Swolley family! She is absolutely beautiful!

Baking Day!

Well, an apple pie is ready to go in the oven, the yams are baking for making Yams Topped With Pecans, the eggs are cooling (Deviled Eggs-yum!), the Cranberry Chutney is all ready in jars, and the rolls are next! Love days like this, especially with my two oldest daughters keeping me company, and bumping elbows with me in the kitchen. Speaking of kitchens, I have been doing kind of a crazy thing. I'm applying for a kitchen makeover with Food Network because I have the world's most busy small kitchen. This entailed filling out an application (easy) and doing a 5 minute video (arghhhhhh!) I am not a natural on camera, and my kids are not all cooperating. But I need that $50,000 kitchen! So I am suffering through it. I have got to send it off second day air on Friday or it will be too late. I have to say I have the most hilarious footage of the kids all helping me with dinner the other night though. Talk about crowded! It's so typical though. My kids (under 5) love to sit on the counter by whatever I am making. I am tripping over our step stool half the time because it keeps being used and moved. Quite comical if not dangerous.

Well, I am so thankful that my family is all still so close to home. We were at one time facing a holiday season without Amber, but are so relieved to have her here. I am also thankful to have my grandparents still with us, and to have them in my home for Thanksgiving this year. What a privalege to share my children with them and them with my children, after all they are in their mid-nineties!

Here is hoping that you are thinking about all the ways that God has blessed you in the last year. If you are struggling to find something , ponder this...
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6

Isn't that the most exciting thing to be thankful for ?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Swamped!

I thought that with the ending of soccer season for 5 of my kids, that I would have so much time! Apparently not.
Life has been so crazy this week, that I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving for a few days at home with my family.
Today we had 6 girls over from Kristin's U-9 soccer team for their last end of the season event. I ordered small, size one mini balls for each girl and then they signed each other's ball and ate ice cream. I had bought 4 different kinds and cones, thinking that I would hit every preference. Instead the majority of the girls wanted all 4 flavors and ended up with this big towers of ice cream! It was quite fun, and they are such nice girls that even I had a good time.
This was all following a busy day of driving Louie to the ferry, dropping off 4 of my kids and two friend's kids at their classes, taking Kristin's class to the Bainbridge Historical Museum, taking the younger kids to meet my mom at the Blackbird Bakery for tea to pass the time till it was time to pick the kids back up, deliver them to school, do lunch duty there, race home to feed my own, drop Katherine and Margaret back off for art and circle class, come home to clean house, back out to pick up the girls and buy the ice cream, sweep the house, and greet the team! Whew! Yesterday was just as busy, but was such a delight. The day started out at Keri's house, where she hosts a ladies bible study for a bunch of us ladies, studying Sally Clarkson's "Ministry of Motherhood". We meet once a month, covering one chapter each time. This month was special, a lady from her church had volunteered to teach us all how to make pies. I have made alot of pies over the years, but it was such a blessing to have an older woman give us some tips. I learned that a pastry cloth keeps you from putting too much flour into the dough, making it more flaky and less tough. What a great thing to know! We each walked away with a pastry cloth and a sleeve for our rolling pins. We had a wonderful time of fellowship, eating lunch together and then a pie that was demonstrated. Boy was it good!
Louie flew home from a business trip in Bismark, ND just in time to play his last soccer game of his season. He called me when he got into town and wanted me to come. At first I thought that it wasn't realistic, but then surprised him by going just by myself. The older boys all went to youth group, the middle girls to Awana, and Amber stayed with the little ones so I could go. It was a step into the past because he was playing in Memorial Stadium, the same field that he did when we were dating as college students at SPU, 22 years ago. My buddy Christina was there with her boys, watching her hubby Roger. We had a wonderful grocery bag dinner sitting up in the stands all by ourselves, and were great fans, cheering our team on despite their loss.
Seems everyday holds plenty of action. It will be wonderful to pray with my prayer partner Terri tomorrow. Putting everything at the feet of our Savior, and into a biblical perspective is the highlight of my week. That will be followed by piano lessons for 3 kids, thankfully here. Katherine gets to go with her buddy Vanessa to Leavenworth for the weekend. Ought to be a land of snowy bliss about now. I'm just a little envious. Louie will be away for most of the weekend, running our district's recreational soccer tournament. I'm hoping to get in some hours of knitting. I'm also trying to keep in the front of my mind, our preparation for the Lord's Day.

Crisp November Day

What a gorgeous day it has been here in the Northwest! Cold, clear, and sunny! One of my favorite times of the year.
I sank to an all time low today, but it was for a good reason. The younger girls and I are doing a science unit on animal tracks, habitats, behavior, and were reading today about animals that live near or among civilization. It was great to compare all the footprints that different creatures make. Well, my girls didn't know what an opossum is, and I was surprised because they are regularly by the road as roadkill, so I put them in the car and drove them around to see if we could find one! I guess I'll have to resort to showing them a picture, but we did enjoy the drive. Brightly colored leaves are lining the road, and floating from the sky making the perfect Autumn picture to add to our green Northwest background.

Thinking about Thanksgiving

Well, I was really in the mood for Thanksgiving to be at our house this year. I just didn't want to go out, yet again. We determined that this year was Thanksgiving with my folks, the Bergens and my 94 year old Grandpa Canright and 95 yo Grandma Louella, and Christmas with Louie's folks. This switches every year. Thankfully my mom was game for everyone to come here this year. I can't help but feel a little emotional about it, with Meghan out on her own now and Amber going off to Africa soon. Mom just said, "What do you want me to bring?", so that has been on my mind as I think about a menu for the big day.

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Turkey w/Cranberry Chutney

Stuffing w/ Raisins

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Yams with Pecan Topping

Green Veggies (yet to be determined)

Cranberry Salad

Deviled Eggs

Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

I was thinking about decorating and setting the table. Last year I saw some great Pilgrims for a centerpiece at Robert's Jeweler's in downtown Winslow. I hope they have them this year too! They stood about 8 inches tall and were so quaint. Come to think of it, there was an American Indian too. My mom brought me two white serving bowls today that will match my dishes nicely. I love the smell of beeswax candles burning, and they are so much fun to make with the kids. We get the sheets of beeswax that looks like honeycomb, and roll them around a wick. You can also press pieces of beeswax into it, shaped like leaves, or holly for Christmas. It's a fun activity.

One project that I have to get done is my windowseat covers so that I can use the windowseat in my dining room as a banquet. It literally doubles as a bench, seating at least 5 people. I've been putting it off because I haven't yet found the last fabric for one side of the cushions. What I have is black and white toile for one side, and red and white pillow ticking for the sides. I really want a rose print for the other side, so I can reverse them and get a different look. I haven't yet found the just the right one. The welting will be done in opposite fabrics for each side, so that the toile side will have the rose print for welting, and the rose print side will have the toile welting. I have a number of fabric samples that will make great throw pillows. Time to dust off my sewing machine and get started! It should be so cute when it's finished! Publishing this is definitely adding some needed pressure to get it finished! I'll post a photo when it's done.

I've wanted to invite someone to our family holiday dinner but we have always been the guest at one of our parent's homes so this year since we are going to be at home, I can invite someone! Hmm... I love the idea of extending hospitality to someone that would be alone otherwise. Time to look through the church directory!

Sunday - The Lord's Day

Today was a typical Sunday. We woke, slammed down breakfast, bathed kids, dressed kids, found shoes, packed our contribution to our "Common Meal" (potluck), and were in the car by 8:45 to drive to church. We left Brian,12 at home because he had lost his dinner at 5 AM at an unfortuate friend's sleep over.

We taught Sunday school, went to service, ate lunch, and enjoyed the fellowship. Louie had a chance to talk to a fellow about Boy Scouts for our sons and is considering joining their troop, which has a decidedly Christian worldview. It is an exciting opportunity. I hope that the boys can join. My Logan, 15 is desperately in need of friends, especially ones that are Christian and have similar interests. Logan is my "outdoors" boy. I was glad to learn that it isn't too late for him to join BS.

On the way home from church, we stopped at a Strawberry Park and watched our oldest boy, Kellen, play in his soccer game. His select team tied 2-2. We left before it was over because the girls and I had a bridal shower to attend. Kelli, our Meghan's friend is getting married in December and our Charlotte,3 is going to be the flower girl and Meghan,20 a bridesmaid. The shower was fine, but a when a couple is not Christian, somehow the celebration is just not as significant. It's just so sad that they don't know the spiritual aspects of their union.

This evening has been relaxing, we've read the paper, ate leftovers for dinner, and kids have been picking up their rooms. One of my favorite shows to watch is Ultimate Home Makeover, so I'm kind of watching that right now.

One of the spiritual subjects on my mind has been about keeping the Sabbath, making the Lord's day special, set apart. I am not sure that I could get cooperation to drastically change our routine. One of the changes that I have been making is getting the house tidied up the day before and having the kids lay out the clothes that they want to wear to church. This is really helping to save time. It also makes it so that I am less compelled to clean house when we come home from church. I am trying to make subtle changes that won't impose changes in our routine that my hubby hasn't approved or implemented, yet am praying that we will honor the Lord on His day and convict Louie if there is to be more change.

Today I brought Corn Chowder to our Common Meal and everyone loved it, so I will post the recipe.

Corn Chowder
Serves a crowd.
2T. butter
1/2 sweet onion, chopped finely
1 red pepper, chopped finely
5 celery stalks, chopped finely
1 1/2 lb. chicken breast, cut into small bite sized chunks
saute the above until chicken is cooked and vegies are well sweated (is this a word?)
add the following
10 potatoes diced
4 cups frozen corn
1/2 t. margoram
1 t. salt
pepper to taste
cover the above with chicken stock, and let cook on medium high until potatoes are cooked through,let cool down to a simmer, add 1 qt. half and half. Put half the soup solids with some liquid into the blender and puree, adding it back to the soup for some thickening.
This soup is much better the second day.
Enjoy!

Welcome to My Home on the Web!

Dear Friends,
I can't tell you how excited I am to have this blog of my very own! I was in the "Dark Ages" until last week when a friend (Thanks Marti!) showed me her blog. A whole new world and an incredible potential for making and maintaining friendships and family ties opened up to me! Wow! OK, I am really a newbie at this, pardon my going on and on.

I hope that this can be a place where you can check in to find out the newest craziness in the Bond household, what my latest project might be, or just to hear me think. I am so glad that the Lord is always working on me, and is as merciful as he is patient!

Blessings,
Wendy