Good Books

So one benefit of this transition is the chance to read.  I would never have said that I enjoyed reading.  In fact many of the books the girls read at school, I have never read.  I have to wonder what my parents would say about this, but I'm assuming that I just rathered being outside with the animals, playing with cousins/friends, working in the barn, playing sports - who had time to read.

In my adult years I would find some time to pick up a book that my mother-in-law or a friend would recommend Secret Life of Bees or Stones into Schools.  I typically found myself interested in leadership books like Good to Great or Five Dysfunctions of a Team.  I also am drawn to books on gardening/food like Four Season Harvests or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle or Local Choices.  But anymore I'm more brave to pick up a book at the library and give it a try.  Two books recently were The Dirty Life (a woman's choice to move on a farm and the challenges with living sustainably) and On the Right Track (from olympic downfall to finding forgiveness and the strength to overcome and succeed).  Both books were good in their own way, recognizing with our choices come consequences--some positive, some negative.  We can allow the negative to overwhelm us, suck us dry or choose a different lens to look through and appreciate what we have learned through the tough stuff.   

Whether the books are fiction or non-fiction I find myself drawn into the story.  If you ask Jeff, my moods tend to take on what I am reading or that I ask him random questions that stem from something brought up in a book.  I think what has impacted me the most is this desire to have purpose, to make a difference.

So I am inspired again to live with intention.  To care about where my food comes from, to decrease waste, to live with integrity, to appreciate life, etc.  I don't have to do something big like Greg Mortenson and build schools in Afghanastan in the hardest to reach places so that girls can get an education or even like Marion Jones who now plays in the WNBA and speaks to audiences on "Take a Break", to think before telling a lie, to seek out good advice, to act with integrity and take responsibility. 

I am challenged to embrace today and to discover the ways that God wants to use me now.  As I have been floundering with this new stage of life I am reminded again that as I seek first the kingdom of God, as I sit at Jesus' feet, I won't need to figure this out on my own.  God knows the plans he has for me.  I also know that there is a lot of transforming that He wants to do in me.  For today I rest in God's loving arms, wanting to be attentive to His voice and leading.

A Taste of Spring

50 degrees and sunshine.  What would be better on a day like this than to dig in the soil and ride a bike!  I decided this morning when I noticed that most of the snow had melted that I would try and plant some of the bulbs that I had brought with me from VA.  I also had decided that I would take a bike ride.  I thought both of these things would be doable after the sun had come out and warmed it up to 50.  So after mixing up bread and doing some cleaning I decided I would ride my bike to the bulk food store to get a few things.  I pumped up the tires, found my helmet and headed out.  So whether I was oblivious to the wind or I didn't realize how sheltered we are with the trees, I was in for shock when I turned into the wind.  Let's just say that VA has mountains and Ohio has wind.  I got a good leg workout as I pedaled into the wind, going 6 mph.  I got my items at the store and headed home.  I was grateful that I could enjoy the ride home, riding with the wind most of the way.  So whether I was stupid or just determined I'm not sure.  But it felt good to get out on the road. 

After lunch I found my digger and the box of bulbs and went out to see where I could dig.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the sandy soil to be dark and easy to plant in.  So again whether I am stupid for thinking it's okay to plant at this point or just determined to get some dirt in my fingernails, it doesn't matter, because that was the best therapy I could have for today :)

For now I'm thankful for warmer weather, even though it will go away soon.  I will look forward to seeing the bulbs emerge later (hopefully in a month) and to riding my bike again soon.  Thanks God for the reprieve from the cold winter.

Visit from Friends/Family

 My sister, Kandace & Anya enjoying the snow last weekend.

 Kandace is a massage therapist :)

 Deep thoughts by Chad & Jeff

 Ginny & Anya eating icicles

Making naan bread for personal pizzas, while the parents go out to eat.

 Kate, Ginny, Anya & Clint

 Their wonderful creations

Emily & Carmen contemplating card making

The sun is shining, it's 43 degrees, we just had a great visit with good friends - Chad, Carmen, Ginny & Clint from VA and I'm sitting in the recliner chair soaking in the warmth.  I'm having this tug of war of whether I want to sit and read a book "Authentic Leadership" or go out for a walk.  Both are drawing me - it's refreshing to read good writing on leadership but I also so want to soak in the sun while it's here.  I'm guessing the reason for the tension is because I'm recognizing I need both in my life right now. 

Today I had a precious person in church say to me, "We always ask how the girls are doing, how Jeff is transitioning, but I just want you to know that I'm praying for you too.  I know you gave up a lot to come here."  Of course I want to play it down, but it meant an awful lot for someone to recognize again that I left a very meaningful job and a place I loved.

I remember the year that Anya went to kindergarten and I decided that I would take a year to myself before I started back to work.  In that year I felt that God was preparing me for something, I didn't know what but I could sense that something was on the horizon. 

Typically I want to rush the winter season away and get to spring so that I can get my hands in the dirt again.  But I know in my head that the winter snows and cold is all needed to prepare the soil for another year of harvest.  I just need to allow this head knowledge to settle into my heart and rest knowing that this "winter season" for me now is necessary to prepare me for the future harvest.  While I want to appreciate the time to do what I want, I wonder what the needs are of others and how I can shine Christ's light in other places.

I mentioned to this person at church that I'm wanting to be patient and know that God will be showing me what is next.  It would just be nice to know how I could be preparing for what is next  - what books could I be reading, what places to volunteer for some experience, etc.  It's obvious to me that I always feel like I need to be "doing" and probably right now I just need to "be". 

So for now I'll keep trying new bread recipes, plan for the garden, watch the birds, listen to praise and worship songs, read random books, do lunch with new friends, walk to the post office & school, visit my parents, host friends/family, pray for others...I do also have to say that I am eagerly anticpating the birds migrating through and visiting our feeders and the warm weather to warm up the soil so that I can start to plant and watch the flower gardens emerge. 

So for now maybe I'll go for a walk and then come in make a cup of tea and enjoy my book :)

Mesmerized

Blizzard Warning...Gusting Winds...Power Outage potential...stock up on supplies.


This is what we started hearing a few days ago about the upcoming storm.  It was to start slowly on Monday night, a lull Tuesday morning and then it would hit.  We had about 2 inches of snow by Tuesday morning and then really nothing until last evening when the winds kicked in.  It definately felt like a blizzard.  I was starting to second guess why I didn't let Jeff go out and buy a secondary source of heat for us in case the electricity went out.  Instead I crawled into bed and prayed that it wouldn't be that bad. 

This morning when I took Jessie out we walked through some snow drifts that had accumulated on our drive but was amazed at how little snow we really got and that it was mostly just blowing existing snow around.  Of course the drifts were close to anything where there was something to stop the wind, so we have drifts by our garage and in our backyard amongst the trees.

So not more than 20 minutes later as I'm eating breakfast, I look out and the snow had started to come.  So I've joined Jeff on the couch that looks out the living room windows and am sitting watching the snow fall.  Big flakes.  Dropping straight down.  I find myself mesmerized by it, just like when I sit at a campfire and watch the flames. 

To celebrate Jeff's installation service this weekend we got him another bird feeder.  We put this one closer to the house and within two days the birds have started to use it.  So while watching the snow fall we are also watching the birds flitting from tree to bird feeder to tree to the ground and back.  The Dark Eyed Juncos are as numerous here as the sparrows were in Virginia.  I commented to Jeff today that we don't have sparrows and wouldn't you know soon after that a house sparrow came to the close feeder for me to see :)   I think we're going to start a bird list.  Mostly we have the Juncos, Blue Jays and Cardinals.  Jeff thinks he's seen snow buntings in the field but they haven't come to our place yet.  We've also had a Coopers hawk and another big one that we weren't able to identify.











Well I'm off to brave the outdoors to clean the snow off the feeder so that they can get to the seed again.  Then I'll be back inside, on the couch, mesmerized by the big flakes, the beautiful red of the Cardinal and closeness of the birds to our feeders.  I'm not sure much will get done today.  Pretty sure that's okay.