Sweet Hymns on a Dusty Gravel Road

I loved riding around in that old yellow Nova with him, my grandfather by choice though not by blood.  I don’t know how old I was when I met him, but he officially became my step-grandfather when I was 9.  He didn’t have to accept me so totally as a granddaughter, but he did and I’ve never doubted his sincerity in this inclusion and acceptance. 

Life was pretty crazy for me at the time.  My world as I knew it had been pulled out from beneath me with the death of my beloved grandmother.  Add to that the changes that came from meeting my real dad and his family, the addition of a step-family and new baby brother, and a move to a new school… I was so confused. 

Maybe that’s why those little trips to town or church, riding in that old car down dusty gravel roads meant so much to me.  Maybe it was his cheerful ways.  Perhaps it was that he listened to what I had to say when others were so busy.  He helped me to gradually make sense of it all.  He gave me good advice based on his love of the Lord and helped see me through many difficulties.  He also sang the sweetest old hymns as we would drive.  When I learned the words, I’d join in.

When my step-grandmother passed away, the church members came to sing the old hymns at her funeral.  As hard as it may be to understand, I wanted to sing along through the tears, in worship and thanksgiving to our Lord, but also as an honor to her.  I wanted to sing in memory of all those beautiful Sundays I spent sitting next to the two of them singing those songs.  I have to wonder how my grandfather felt hearing those same hymns that day.

It was their example and those beautiful words in the hymns that helped to make room in my heart for a strong foundation.  Their lives taught me so much about love and joy and faith.  My grandfather has moved a plane trip away, but he is still a vital rock for our family.

I guess that is why I still love it when we sing an old hymn at church.  Many of the songs we sing are newer, more current.  They are nice, but…  Somehow, those old hymns are so sweet to my ears.  They bring me to deeper worship and sometimes to tears.  From time to time, I find myself singing one of “his” songs as I work around the house.  Then, I see the enormous impact of their lives upon mine.  Thank you, Grandma Belma and Grandpa Tuck.

Rays of Sunshine

Life has been pretty cloudy around here this week.  I bet you know what I mean.  I make a very conscious effort to remain positive about being a mom.  There’s enough mom-negativity out there to go around already!  Still, some weeks are just plain hard. 

This week we are cleaning  up from a big birthday party, getting ready to start homeschooling and fighting off a mean tummy-bug.  My reserves are running low, the house is a mess, we’re all getting stir crazy and we are sick and tired of the “brat” diet!  No, motherhood isn’t always bouquets and sunshine.

Still, the clouds are parting and the blue skies are peeking through.  I’ve been through these difficult weeks enough to know that “this too shall pass.”  I know that with our return to health, my sweeties will be sweet again!  My house will eventually be clean enough to invite friends over.  We’ll be back to the park and play dates and church.  Someday, I’ll even make it out to my very neglected garden to pick tomatoes and peppers. 

In some ways, these tough weeks are good.  We cleared our schedule and spent whole days cuddling and watching cartoons.  Our pace has slowed, reminding me how great it is to have unplanned, agenda-free days.  We’ve read books and taken naps.  We’ve weathered the storm and came out stronger and wiser. 

Hope you are enjoying blue skies and sunshine today.  If you’re weathering a storm, take cover and hold on tight.  No storm lasts forever.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I’m thankful that…

~Tummy bugs don’t last very long.

~Ibuprofen is a wonderful thing.

~Old ice cream buckets make great barf bags.

~I have a washing machine that holds many sheets.

~My wonderful husband allowed me to sleep last night and spared me from the gag-creating job of cleaning carpet vomit.  Bleh.

Four out of six family members have made it through the virus.  That leaves me and little Sarah.  Pray that we’ll somehow be spared.  I have too many fun things to do to get sick!

Take care, everyone.  Oh, and please share your blessing here in the comments.  It sure brightens my day, and I need all the smiles I can get!

House Rules

Do you have rules at your house?  We don’t always follow these perfectly, but they are an excellent reminder to us of what we should be striving towards.  Hopefully this sign is as much an encouragement to the kids as it is to me! 

Thankful Thursday

My sweet girl is turning seven tomorrow.

Seven.

She brings such joy to us all.

She is gifted with generosity, kindness and love.

Happy Birthday, Mary.

Building Blocks

I found these cool crates on sale at Target last night and just knew they’d be perfect.  I need a place to store things in my laundry/craft room.  One (way up high) for birthday gifts, one for  extra sets of sheets, one for beach towels…  You get the idea.

This afternoon, my kiddos had a different and better idea. 

What if we stack these thing up?

And another tower right here…

Add a roof.

Work together.

Well.  If that’s how you’re gonna be…  I’ll just take my boxes elsewhere!

So, that’s how you take ‘em apart.

Help!!!

A great time was had by all!

Come play at the Childhood 101 We Play link up

Canning Tomatoes

It’s so nice to have more produce in the garden than I can use.  It’s also nice to have a little red wagon to haul the stuff back up to the house (thank you, my sweet kiddos).

Start by dropping your tomatoes into to hot water for about 45 seconds. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool the tomatoes down by dumping them into some icy-cold water.  Now, they will peel like magic. 

 

 

 

Pretty roma tomatoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bring them to a good, rolling boil.

 

 

 

 

 

Sterilize your jars and lids.

 

 

 

 

 

In go the tomatoes.  Fill the jars so that the liquid reaches an inch from the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to wipe the rim with a clean cloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add a lid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Into the hot tub, boiling water bath. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

Listen for the jar to seal.  Such a lovely popping sound.

A little summer to enjoy this winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s really that easy!  Do be sure to follow the instructions in your canning book, as this post is meant to inspire and provide an overview of the process. 

Happy canning!