Christmas memory for the books...

Teenagers are a special breed. 

Humor. 

Creativity. 

Old enough to really do some stuff. 

Stuff that can be entertaining to boring old adults. 

They are also extremely hard to shop for sometimes. 

One particular teenager only wanted money and gift cards for Christmas. 

Ah gee... That is extremely fun to wrap says a mom.

  

Then a sister, decides it is very fun. 

With 5 kids and most too young to have jobs to earn money, 

I encouraged them to draw names many years ago.  

They have big hearts and want to shop for their siblings and this reduced some of the stress.  

So a certain sister drew her teenage older brother's name.  

Enlisted me to help, since she doesn't drive solo yet. 

The mission:  Collect as many gift card envelopes as possible. 

 Preferrably from girly stores. 

Since he wants gift cards or money, so be it. 

The next step... 15  ~ $1 bills.  

(The spending budget for the drawing was $15)

Each dollar tucked into an envelope.  

All of them in a gift bag.  

A few of the envelopes went missing.  

The best part was, 

he was with me the day I ran in and out of the doors to collect 

some of the envelopes! 

He drove me around and kept the car and the driver's seat warm for me! 

Treasured joys and memories from the Holiday Season

Gratitude leads to Joy

A truth, I hope my children allow to sink deep into their souls.

Love setting up the Nativity. 

A Christmas gift from my mom many years ago.

For the first time ever I have an angel for the top of my tree! 

She is beautiful. 

My children noticed her immediately, which surprised me greatly.

First words out of their mouths when they walked in the door,

"You got an angel!"

They knew I had been looking, but I never told them I found one. 

This journal ~ an unexpected gift that brought me to tears. 
An difficult day, a friend delivered a wrapped gift for now or later.
I tucked it away under the tree. 

She had no idea, this simple journal I had passed over time and time again. 
Always something else on the list that received priority. 

But God knew..

Oh, how the tears flowed on Christmas morning. 

God is in the details and timing and He loves us so.

Filling an hour...

In July, there was no more Wednesday night activities at church.  Just for the month.  Each Wednesday it rained.  The day cooled off.  I know this not because I chart the weather.  But each Wednesday as the temps dropped, we headed to the lake to fish with my dad.  He just can't be out in the heat.  He is on oxygen and hot temperatures make it extremely difficult to breathe, even on oxygen.  The church schedule has resumed and the rain and/or cooler temperatures continue on Wednesdasy.  It has left me in the quandry.  Attend church and build relationships with others, which is much needed or spend time with Grandpa at the lake.  

Grandpa had other plans tenatively.  So we went to church.  Afterwards, I just wanted to be outside.  To just be away.  So I asked the kids, would an hour be enough.  Could you be satisfied with an hour, fish or no fish... ?  It was unanimous.  Grandpa isn't a go for an hour kind of fisherman.  We called him up and told him the plan.  He hesitated and then responded with, "Oh, why not?"  
I started the timer, but then was told it wasn't fair... start the timer once the lines are ready.  I laughed and said, if I delayed there would be incredible dilly dallying... more laughter. But I did stop the timer.  Silly me. Because I forgot to start when this girl had the
first line in...

Moments I want to remember and treasure

Getting this guy to read and like it, well I was close to giving up.  I love to read!  Love it.  As a parent with 5 children, I have learned children are fearfully and wonderfully made.  They are unique individuals and a passion for reading is not always passed on to our children.  I endeavor to teach them how to ask questions, how to seek out answers and to desire to keep learning.  I have also wanted them to love delving into a story on pages so deeply, they just don't want to put the book down.  I want them to prefer paper and ink over a remote and brightly colored lights and noise.  This summer, I listed off a series of chores and activities to be done each day.  Chores for the home and self care.  Reading for the soul (Bible time).  Reading for the mind and creativity.  An artistic pursuit, to explore personal creativity.  Until all of these are done, none of them can ask me what we are going to do or if we can go do this or that.  Blessed peace in the morning for a few hours each day!  

New interestes have surfaced as a result.  

It wasn't until I told this kiddo about the Summer Bookit Challenge did he become driven to read. Something about being entered into a drawing for pizza gift cards inspired him.  What he didn't expect was to enjoy reading!  He read and read and read.  He got caught up in the stories.  He was so excited when he finished reading Peter Pan.  My prayer now is that this love for reading continues beyond this summer's challenge.  

Casting a line....Catching more than fish...

The summer has been cooler than expected. The temps are a good 20-30 degrees lower than expected for July.

For us that means weather that Grandpa can get out and go fishing.  

Incredibly grateful for a cool summer evening that even requires layers and jeans, for warmth and protection from mosquitos and ticks.

The joy in being the first to catch! 

The excitement this sweet Princess exhibited when she learned of this option.  She quickly ditched her "social" plans for the quietness of the lake.  

Willing to go off for a bit by himself to see how the waters are over "there."  I admire his strength and willingness to do something "different" and go a different direction than others. 

A wiggly and constant in motion one, slows down and is actually stilled.  Suprisingly, but oh what Joy this mother had in watching him grow up years in just a few hours.  

Ever so grateful for this night, this summer, this year with my father.  Life and health may have slowed him down a bit more than he cares, but sometimes that slowing down brings about a different pace that is good and healing.

The hands that have tied many a hook and threaded many a worm.

Hands that now teach all of us the tricks he has learned over the course of 62 years of fishing!

I traveled back in time to almost 30 years ago, to a heart broken girl who came home and was discouraged and embarrassed.  There were no words that could comfort.  He did the only thing he could, he took that girl fishing.  After a few hours and several trout on the line, grief and tears were replaced with smiles, confidence and joy.  Time, quietness and alone with the father, sometimes, that is all we need. My Heavenly Father and I meet often, but my sweetest moments are when I am in His creation, stilled and away from the noise of life.  My mom met with Him on all her many walks and hikes away from the rush of life.  Many Sundays were spent quietly worshiping Him and with Him alone on a mountainside as she hiked and climbed.  I know of others that spend their time along the waters of a lake, river, on a bike and experience the solitude on a path with wind in their face.  Breathing deep and disconnecting from the frantic pace of life and technology.  So grateful for the chance to share that with my children this week.