no time like snow time

today marked the seventh snow day this month.   we went back to school yesterday but another storm came through overnight.   the boys have loved having time to play video games more than usual.  i have enjoyed the time as well, but the time has been a strange "playmate."  

in the summer or when we are on a scheduled break, i have plans for what we will do most days.   however, on these snow days, especially on days when we get the call in the dawn hours, there are no plans.  

today after the snow stopped at mid-morning, i shoveled our normal snow path up our driveway and dug out the car.   since we have gravel, i do not shovel the entire drive.  i have found doing so results in all sorts of stray gravel in the summer lawn.   i am thankful for the active exercise of shoveling.   


over the last few days, i have not done as much housework as i should.  instead i have found other diversions-- reading and cooking (and jamming out---today to ben harper.)   i go back and forth in my love-hate relationship with cooking.   in the years, especially that first year, after andy died i avoided cooking.   i was not inspired and often i was tired physically and emotionally.   i missed cooking for another adult.   in the past few years, i have found my inspiration from the french culture and my own experiences with food.

several years ago, after watching the movie "julie and julia" i began to venture into recipes from julia child's book, "mastering the art of french cooking."   i fell in love with boeuf bourguignon.   then this past summer i devoured several books---"my sweet life in paris" and "my paris kitchen" both by david lebovitz, as well as "one soufflé at a time: a memoir of food and france" by anne willan and "my life in france" by julia child.

in the summer, i am inspired by the organic vendors and what they have available at the farmers' market.  i have experimented with vegetables i had never heard of or had never eaten prior to last year---celeriac, kale, beets, and fennel to name a few. 

i think i love making bread more than anything else.   my oldest son devours it, so i get the opportunity to make bread sometimes three times a week.  it is gratifying when someone enjoys the food you have created for him.

cooking and reading take me to new places.   one day i hope to visit europe---france, italy, the united kingdom and israel with my boys.








dinner:

spinach, gouda and ricotta quiche

homemade rolls

currently reading:
2 blogs with lenten devotionals:         www.shereadstruth.com and www.aholyexperience.com

jeremiah

my single mom life

today grateful for:
my boys

snow days

His provision  

good health and the ability to complete household tasks

electricity

music

books

to cease, desist, rest

today since it was still icy, too icy for me to venture out before 10 am, i informed the boys that we would observe the Sabbath at home.  when i asked them what the word, Sabbath, meant--- i was shocked that they did not know.   one answer was that it was one day a year where we did something special--i think he was thinking of passover.

so i read them exodus 20:8-11.   then i found a youtube video with an interview of a doctor who had become a christian 10 years before and was now the author of the book, 24/6.  


 שָׁבַת


the root of the word Sabbath (strong's h7676) is  שָׁבַת  shabath---which means to cease, desist, rest.   cease and desist reminds me of legal terms.   i do not believe we should be legalistic with regards to the Sabbath.  as i read in exodus 32:16, observing the Sabbath is part of our covenant with God.   dr. sleeth, the author of 24/6, states by observing the Sabbath all your life, you add 11 years of time spent with God.

the three of us spent time on this Sabbath viewing the video, 21 martyrs, worshiping at 11 am with a local church via their service broadcast live on the internet, having a family night, and having one quiet hour each devoted to a choice of prayer, reading, writing, creating as hopefully guided by His presence.   after the hour we came back together to share what we each did or what God gave us during that time.

from now on, on our Sabbath, we:

---will participate in corporate worship and fellowship,

---will limit electronics to just a few hours (maybe--hopefully working our way to no electronic distractions),

---will not do chores,

---will not do schoolwork, homework (aside from leisure reading), and

---will devote a minimum of one hour to reflection, mediation, reading, writing, creating with a focus upon God.



dinner:

roasted chicken

potatoes

arugula salad with roasted beets

currently reading:
2 blogs with lenten devotionals:         www.shereadstruth.com and www.aholyexperience.com

exodus 

my single mom life

today grateful for:
warmer temps to melt the ice

Sabbath

His provision  

multiple print translations of the Bible

the WORD

my boys' willingness and obedience

technology to connect us to our fellow Christians

snowy morning

no matter how dark the shadows or how deep the void looks in the night, the morning always comes.   

there is persistently hope.   

dawn seems most vivid in the winter.    

perhaps, when we ache for the warmth, the morning sun is brightest.

a new day brings new assurance and expectation.    

i was not lost in the abyss of the night.    

though i could not see in the dark, he never left me.   

even though i felt abandoned, He waited beside me.  

He lingered and guarded, waiting for my next move.   

waiting for me to speak His name or reach out my thoughts toward Him.   

the sunrise is the brilliant, circadian reminder that…

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,                                Because His compassions fail not.                                                              They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.                      “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,  “Therefore I hope in Him!”                 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.          It is good that one should hope and wait quietly                                          For the salvation of the Lord.
              lamentations 3:22-26

breakfast:
oatmeal

coffee

currently reading:
2 blogs with lenten devotionals:         www.shereadstruth.com and www.aholyexperience.com

jeremiah 

lamentations 3

today grateful for:
a snowy morning

warmth

coffee

clean water

safety

His provision  

good health

the WORD

fire

the sun

snow days

i am thankful for a week of snow days, not for my usual reasons–

-a chance to sleep in, 

-a chance to do housework, 

-a chance to play in the snow with my boys, 

-a chance to read, 

-a chance to cook, or such---

---but because for most of the time i have chosen to stay home and think.   to meditate upon purpose and the Word in the holy days which begin the season of Lent… the 40 days leading up to Easter.  

i began reading and will continue to read two blogs which are focusing upon Lenten thoughts--- www.shereadstruth.com and www.aholyexperience.com .   these two writers have a gift for words which inspire me to seek more of God and His Word.

i want to accomplish a few things in the next 40 days---

---aiming my children’s thoughts daily upon God’s heart and His will 

---narrowing my focus and refocusing upon God, His heart and His love 

---eliminating things that take my focus away from God

tonight before we did our nightly “thankfuls,” i asked the boys to close their eyes and meditate as well as pray for God to show them meaning regarding the scripture Jeremiah 24:7.   i am aware any day could be my last and every moment i am given is the opportunity to point them towards seeking and hearing from God.   there will be times in their lives in which they will have to make  solemn and deliberate choices.    it is my task to prepare them as God directs.

wachet auf !!!

awake, arise !!!

dinner:
spaghetti

currently reading:
2 blogs with lenten devotionals:         www.shereadstruth.com and www.aholyexperience.com

jeremiah

today grateful for:
snow days

my boys

good health

the WORD

electricity, technology, and access to inspiration writing

a warm home

the power of words

this weekend i am thankful for "words" from those i love.

my oldest son competes with a teen Bible quizzing group.  i was tickled to get to see his team compete this saturday.  usually the competitions are several hours away and he travels with the team.  i have only been to one other --his first competition.   although his team came in 2nd place....the highlights of the day came for me when first, he said the opening prayer before one of the rounds.  hearing him pray boldly from the heart gave me goosebumps.  

i did not grow up hearing anyone besides the church minister pray aloud, except the times when my dad said our standard grace before a meal.  it took me years (in my 30's)  to overcome my self consciousness of praying aloud and pray with the focus on God.  i am thankful my boys have learned and embraced faith at a younger age.

the second highlight at the weekend's competition was hearing my son answer a question with a verse he had memorized:

 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

                                                                                     Acts 21:13

i pray that these verses are written on his heart and he will be equipped to draw upon these words when needed. The Word---The Living Word


today i received an email from my brother with a message, his own words that mean more to me than i can express.

i am thankful for words and the Word that bless me.

dinner:
tacos

currently reading:
the last girls

acts

today grateful for:
weekends

my boys

my brother

my brother's wife

good health for my family

words

the WORD

a working vehicle 

a warm home

clean water

laughter

snow days

a time to laugh

over the past few days, i have had several occasions to laugh and laugh. 

earlier this week, my youngest had a bout of the stomach virus.  he is not sick often, so he has not had much practice being a good patient.  he complained about being hungry and was not happy when i said he could only have crushed ice, small amounts of liquid at a time and popsicles.  he insisted upon eating a few swallows of applesauce.  it did not stay down long.   at midday, when he was no longer vomiting, he leaned back on the sofa and said aloud, "this is the life...sitting on the couch watching tv."  i reminded him of his stomach upset from an hour earlier to which he responded, "oh yeah, except for that."

the next day we all returned to our regular routines.  when my oldest arrived home, he did not feel well, so he took his temp.  he informed me that his temp was 110 degrees the first time and the second time he took it, it registered 99 degrees.  i had to bite my tongue not to laugh in his face.  i told him that if his temp had been 110, he would probably be dead.   i took his temp several times and the highest reading was normal or a a few tenths above.   i chuckled about this again as i read a friend's facebook post about her teenage son's "man cold."

my oldest told me of an issue he had at school.  a few students were harassing him in math class by saying if someone touched something my son had touched they would have "germs" and they would need to make sure to use hand sanitizer. my son stated to the main instigator, "you know hand sanitizer only kills 99.99% of germs and i am in that .01% that is not covered. may i borrow you pencil? (touching the pencil before the instigator could answer)   ohhhhhhh, my oldest is so like his dad.....quick witted and snarky!

today at church, my youngest created a book of kindness coupons for me.  as he handed me this gift, he advised me to, "use them wisely."  of course, that alone made me laugh out loud.   as  i read through his coupons, i laughed.  he had included 2 coupons for a nap, 2 for a hug, 1 for hot cocoa, 1 for breakfast, and 2 for dancing.   he added, "i know how much you like dancing and naps."

a time to weep,
    and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
    and a time to dance...

my dancing is more of a joke and a threat of sorts. several years ago, the boys and i were playing music and dancing/ gyrating/ flailing  around the living room which caused us to begin laughing hysterically.  my oldest son's demeanor quickly changed and he began yelling for me to stop dancing!   i was having a giggling fit and i struggled to form words in response.  after several attempts to get me to stop, he came over and whispered  in my ear, "mom don't you know you are a terrible dancer?!"  i replied, "yes, i work very hard at it and i am practicing so that when you are in high school i can chaperone your prom."   he did NOT think that was funny.   nowadays when we are out in public and the boys are giving me a hard time, i threaten to begin dancing in public.  i have done it once or twice to their horror.

for me, dancing has another fond memory.  andy was a worship team member and leader.  i still miss hearing his beautiful voice.  one of my favorite songs that he sang was, "i could sing of your love forever."  each member of our worship team would sing each of the verses.  andy sang the following verse:

Oh I feel like dancing
It's foolishness I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy
Like they're dancing now

on one wednesday night, as andy was leading worship...singing and playing the keyboard, he shouted between the verses, "dance church, dance!"  he was encouraging the congregation to fully embrace praise and worship.  i teased him about his "outburst" later....i also told him how much i loved him, his love for God, his love for leading worship and his heart to listen to God's prompting.

fond memories....from the past and the ones we make each day.

dinner:
pulled pork, caesar salad and  homemade bread

currently reading:
the last girls

john 12

today grateful for:
sunday

church

sunshine and a day of warm outside temps

good health for my family

music

God's peace

why i blog

i realized yesterday that i had posted only 1 blog entry in 2014.  the reason i continue to blog is for myself and my boys.  i wish i had posted more in 2014, simply for the sake of remembering.

this morning i sat in bed, after the dog woke me up for the 3rd time, and i read all of my previous January posts.  it interesting to look back. i can see where we have been spiritually and physically.  i can reminisce over things the boys or i did that i have forgotten.

an additional goal for the year for me is to find more quiet time and to post my reflections and recollections.

breakfast:
eggs and homemade bread

listening to:
silence (the boys are engulfed in screen time in the basement)

currently reading:
1 thessalonians 5

john 12

today grateful for:
sunday

a warm house and clean water

good health for my family

technology and electricity

God's peace