Saturday, December 10, 2011

A Season For Everything

I'm not sure right now whether I'm going to continue writing in my blog.  My lack of posts for much of this year is obviously a sign that I've lost my steam for blogging!  I just can't seem to find the interest that I once had.

There's a season for everything ... is my blogging season is over? Or maybe I just need a longer sabbatical? I enjoy reading a few blogs myself still, but not nearly as many as I used to.  Perhaps my blog's purpose has been served.

Regardless, if you're reading this, I thank you for reading! And I wish you a merry Christmas season. I'll see if the new year brings my bloggy groove back!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Hurray for September!

Well, hello there!  I'm beginning to miss you, my blog!

I love September - my birthday, my anniversary, back to school.  And the winding down of the hot, muggy weather (if you don't include today and tomorrow!)

Summer has treated me well this year.  No depression slump as I've had the past few years in late July through August - yay!  It's been a busy summer - a vacation in June, Friday morning bible study for me, Tuesdays in the park with our homeschool group, swimming in our neighbors' pool, visiting friends and having friends over, 3 VBS's for Aaron, a family celebration for my parents' 70th birthdays in July, several movies, a couple trips to the beach, and the list goes on with ordinary daily things that somehow get fit in.

I'm looking forward to getting back into our homeschool routine. Less running around, and more structure to our day. Although I also find myself sometimes day-dreaming about what it would be like to send my kids to school and be alone all day (can I do it just for a couple weeks?!), it's interesting how the boys become more content to be at home knowing that their friends are at school and can't play during the day.

I'll be back soon with a few pictures from summer, but for now I need to get things done for our last summer Hurrah! We go to a family camp with 3 other families we've known since college. We don't live close enough to see each other often, but our kids have known each other their whole lives with yearly get-togethers. It's such a special bond we have with those friends, and although it's a busy activity-filled weekend that leaves me needing to catch my breath, these weekend make memories to treasure.






Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Break

Lately I've found that this blog is the last thing on my mind. It's been a long time since I've had thoughts of, "Oh, I should put that on my blog". I haven't even spent much time reading other blogs that I usually keep up with.

I've been feeling good the past two months and more busy I guess. I've been out and about more, so less time sitting at the computer. Also a little more time outside as the weather permits (so slowly and hesitantly Spring has arrived this year in Michigan!) Spring is my favorite season, followed by Fall. I want to enjoy it and soak it up!

I'm taking this as a cue to take a break from my blog for a time.  I'll be back when it feels right.

Enjoy Spring!!


Saturday, April 23, 2011

It Is Finished!


“Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God!
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 

1 Corinthians 15:54-58  (NIV)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Ramblings

After adding an additional medication for my depression, which had been acting up off and on since last fall, I've been feeling some renewed life in my mind and body for a few weeks now. As one who prefers not to take any medicine, I wasn't thrilled at first that I needed to add another one. But if the new combination improves the quality of my daily life, and therefore my family's, then gladly take it I will!

Signs of spring, highly anticipated, are slowly arriving! We saw our first robins a couple weeks ago and even more birds are showing up every day. Snow piles are finally gone. Longer hours of daylight. The trampoline is up and running. And the dog is tracking mud into the house if we don't catch him in time - not my favorite sign of spring!

We enjoyed a visit from Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) this past weekend. My mom and I sorted through and organized several boxes of their photos that they brought up. Especially fun was seeing some oldies but goodies from the 70's and 80's!  Always brings back memories and lots of "Oh, I remember that!". My muscles are still thanking me for a game of bowling on Saturday. Grandpa is a great bowler; the kids love to bowl with him. Isaac even beat Grandpa by one point on the first game with a score of 170! How's that for a 12 year old against a 40-year bowling veteran?

I've gotten into a much-needed whirl of scrapbooking since a cropping weekend away with three friends in February. I'm quite behind - I'm still working on 2006, but I'm making progress and am hoping to keep up my momentum on into 2007 and 2008. It feels good to be accomplishing something creative and productive!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Chicken Corn Chowder

This is adapted slightly from a recipe my mom made often when I was growing up.  Then, it was just Corn Chowder, and we often ate it with grilled cheese sandwiches. It's a quick and easy recipe.

My sister first made it with chicken and that's how we prefer it now.  My kids love this; they wouldn't care if I made it once a week, any time of the year!

Chicken Corn Chowder

4 slices bacon, diced (optional)
1 med. onion, diced
2 – 3 med. or 4 small red potatoes, ½” cubed
¾ - 1 c. chicken broth/stock
1 (12oz) can evaporated milk
1 (15 oz) can cream-style corn
¾ c. frozen corn
1 – 1 ½ c. cooked chicken, cubed
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper

In large pot, cook bacon until crisp. Take out and set aside.

Saute diced onion in bacon grease until tender. (If omitting bacon, just use a couple tablespoons of your favorite oil. But be warned that you’ll miss some good flavor and, of course, the marvelous smell of bacon cooking!)

Add cubed potatoes and enough broth so the potatoes are just covered. Cook on medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 12 – 15 minutes.

Add milk, corn, chicken, and spices. Simmer on low until heated through, about 10 minutes.  Stir bacon pieces in just before serving or sprinkle on top of each bowl.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

It IS coming, It IS coming ...

SPRING that is!

I do love winter, for a couple months anyway ...the quiet beauty of softly falling snow, a fresh white blanket of snow covering that makes everything look clean and calm, the beauty of bare trees branches reaching up into a clear blue winter sky ... But I'm officially over it now!

So yesterday I changed our computer background photo from a snowy picture to this, as a reminder that winter really will end.




(this photo was taken in Holland, MI at the end of April last year)

Come soon Spring!