Favorite things about Summer & Fall

Favorite things about summer:

• Rainbows after a storm
• Crickets
• Dragonflies
• Birds singing
• The Pool
• The Beach
• Seagulls
• Time with family
• Warmth
• Sunsets
• Sunrises
• Sitting out on the deck
• Flowers

Favorite things about fall:

• Warm days, Cool nights
• Leaves changing
• Fresh start
• New Crayons and Colored Pencils for my little one
• Wonderful Schools for all 3 of my children
• The smell of leaves burning
• Candles
• Warm colors
• Pumpkins
• Apple Orchard

Advent

The Jesse Tree: In preparation for Christmas, each day (we skip days here and there and catch up!) we read through the devotional.  Each day there is a story from the Bible (Creation, Adam & Eve, Noah & the Flood, Jacob's ladder, etc), an ornament (Hand of God, Apple, Rainbow, Ladder), and a prayer. Sarah is really enjoying it this year. 

Our Christmas Tree with a village underneath.  One day we will pull out our train again.

The stable, decorated by Sarah.  I bought the people and animal at Stauffers of Kissel Hill when we first got married.  I also painted them.  The kids have always loved the band of angels that were their Great-Grandmom Thomas's.  And every year they fall over! 

This year I made an advent wreath.  I cut the greens from our small evergreen out front.  I have been enjoying doing an advent devotional this year.   It has helped me focus on the Birth of Christ.



Thankful

This is my Moleskin journal that I use for Hymns and Worship Songs.  I am currently making sure I have the following Thanksgiving hymns and worship songs in my journal: We Gather Together, Count Your Blessings, Thanks to God, For the Beauty of the Earth and Come Ye Thankful People Come.

The morning of the Fall Party: This is one of the farm animals-a chick!  Her mask is waiting at school.

This is blurry but here is the Farmer and all her Farm Animals.

The Fall Party Theme was Owls.  They made these really cute barn owls, listened to a story called "Owl Moon", went on an owl hunt and made owl rice cake snacks (see below).

The Owl Snacks inspired her to make a turkey rice cake snack! 

October Bright Spots

Well, this week has had some highs and lows.  The lows are pretty low which makes the highs even brighter.  Here are the bright spots:

Apple Butter which still reminds me of Dan, my cousin!!

Beautiful mittens made by my daughter for my birthday

New calendar pages & starter pack from the Franklin Covey Store, my favorite store in the world

a new purse for my birthday!

One of our favorite movies to watch.  My hubby purchased it for a few dollars because they don't have it in the rental store anymore.

This one has such a story to it.  Please excuse my messy island.  Note my beautiful candle plant holder!  Here's the explanation for it-the plant is getting wet underneath it so it's airing out.  Anyway, on the way to the store this morning, my little one, yet again, was talking about heaven.  "i want to take my blanket and doll and bucket and I am going to collect gems (from the walls of heaven) and gold (from the streets of gold) and I am going to make a picture from them and write on it Mighty God for Jesus and then I'm going to ask him for a frame. "  Well, I was pretty overwhelmed.  I said, "you could make him one this afternoon.  We will get out your paints. and then I will help you write Mighty God on it."  So here she is painting a picture for Jesus. 

Here it is.  Love it!  We then read the book "Heaven is for Real for Kids" by Todd Burpo on my kindle.  It is so great!



Here's my bday card & money (for a purse) from her.

An awesome book from Mom and a journal from my son

Enjoying a new book.   Love the library!

Go Tigers!  School asssignment for the littlest for Monday. It is a small youth but I think it's still going to be a bit large.  That's okay though.  It's worth it. 

a new cookbook from my dear friend

Friends!

Beautiful tree out front which now has no leaves.  I love fall.

I enjoyed a great visit with this dear friend.

For our 24th anniversary we went to the Traffic Jam & Snug Restuarant in Detroit.  It was featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. 

A Sunday walk.

getting face paint for Awana.  She wanted to be a cat.

Beautiful Michigan Day

 Here's a list of my favorite birthday highlights from today:

• Great Church Service at Trinity
• David went to church with us, just like old times (in the same car!)
• Nice cards, notes & gifts from special people in my life
• Awesome lunch of gluten free pizza from Buddy's while everyone else enjoyed Hungry Howie's pizza.
• Phone conversation with my Mom
• Walk through the Lower Huron Metropark

Lower Huron MetroPark



Racing Leaves



This is the nature girl!  She filled up half her bucket with treasures from nature.



Love these trees against the beautiful Michigan blue sky

Time to head home

Celebration of Discipline: Meditation

I have been reading through the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, originally published in 1978.  What an awesome book.  I had also purchased Celebrating the Disciplines which is a journal workbook to accompany it.  I have read chapters on Meditation, Prayer, Fasting and Study. 
This book has helped me wade through the confusion of what is the difference between Eastern meditation and Christian meditation.  Eastern meditation is emptying the mind, detaching from the world and merging with the cosmic mind.  Christian meditation is an emptying of ourselves and filling up with the Lord.  We need to detach from the confusion around us so we can have a richer attachment to God.  And here's one of Richard Foster's awesome statements: "Meditation is the one thing that can sufficiently redirect our lives so that we can deal with human life successfully.  It brings greater perspective and balance into our world."  Here's my summary of what he says:  Meditation is a quiet time to empty ourselves and be filled with his peace.  It's a time to focus on the Lord and allow him to transform our hearts.  As a result our lives are impacted and we extend it naturally to others.  My obstacles to medication are interruptions, being in the same place each time (as Foster recommends in order to focus), finding a regular time, and quiet (or lack of it!).  Foster gives specific instructions on what to meditate on and how to do it.  He encourages the selecting of a Scripture passage for one week and focusing on that.  He says to take 1 event, a parable, a few verses or a word and allow it to take root. Use all senses and join the story if possible.  Don't study; receive.  In this, we will forget about "self".  He also instructs on how to release our needs to the Lord when we are just beginning to meditate, by placing our palms down (releasing) and stating or picturing what weighs on our minds or is a concern to us and then placing our palms up (receiving).   I like that Foster is so practical. 
One of the things I have learned to do is take the Scripture "Be still and know that I am God" from Psalm 46:10.  I state it like this:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know that I
Be still and know
Be still
Be
I had never done this before and find it so refreshing! 
I want to end with a quote from a classic devotional book (which I started reading as a result of the chapter on Study this past week.  Foster gives recommendations on what to read) and what an amazing book it is.
The Confessions of Saint Augustine
written in 401 AD and translated
(I got it for my Kindle for 0.99)
"Oh! that Thou wouldst enter into my heart, and inebriate it, that I may forget my ills, and embrace Thee, my sole good!"

Butternut Squash

I love butternut squash.  In the October 2009 issue of  Better Homes and Gardens, they had a recipe for Butternut Squash Bisque.  That was the beginning of my love for them.  It is so good and something I like to make each fall.  Here are the ingredients: butternut squash, butter, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, braeburn or gala apples, chicken broth, and apple juice. I am looking forward to making this sometime over the next week.

The October 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens has a section on recipes for Butternut Squash.  The one I am looking at making is Caramelized Squash Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese.  Ingredients are: butternut squash, orange juice, maple syrup, dijon mustard, ginger, salt, pepper, olive oil, mixed salad greens, pistachios, and goat cheese.

Both of these recipes are on their website:  www.bhg.com

Herb Garden

 

 

 

My Hubby made me this beautiful herb garden this past spring.  I have loved herbs since I was a new Mom in my 20's and attended a Mom's Morning out at a Mennonite Church with my dear friend, the Farming Queen.  So my Hubby asked for some wood at our workplace and was given this awesome old wood that was used for a sign many years ago.  He built the raised bed, loaded it with good soil, and filled it with cilantro, sage, chocolate mint, oregano, dill, and parsley.  Now that was a wonderful gift! I noticed this week that our resident rabbit had made a nice cozy hole next to the sage.  What a lucky rabbit.  Reminds me of Peter Rabbit.  I think I should name our rabbit Peter except this week "he" birthed 3 baby bunnies so let's call him Patty.

 

My Personal Retreat

Just wanted to make a brief note about my personal retreat this past weekend. It was a wonderful time to rest, read, think, pray, plan, eat, and I even took a little time to shop. I will blog more in the days to come. I went so I could write my goals for the next year...a first for me. I completed that task. And found it enjoyable dreaming about what books I'd like to read this year and lots more. I was too weary to walk more than once plus it was a bit rainy. But the place I went was a beautiful old house. 3 other women were there and we had the house to ourselves. Amazing that they entrusted this place to us for the weekend. Thank you Lord for this place and this time. It was much needed.

Green

I have so much enjoyed watching the trees become green again! But oddly enough this year I find the pink trees and forsythias (which I truly do love) rather annoying. Would you just green up already? I know that is just awful but I have had enough of cold weather. I luv the warm evenings and days...
Reporting back on my window plants. The daffodil lasted all of 1 1/2 weeks. It now sits in our garage all spent and ready to be planted. Bummer...that was way too short. I'm keeping an eye out for a pretty plant that will last more than 1 1/2 weeks. As for the herbs, they are going crazy and about ready to take the kitchen over. Of course I haven't thinned out the plants because plant murder is just not one of my things. There are 4 plants and the one that hasn't really grown much is the oregano. Must be a tough one to grow since of course I'm very skilled at this!
3 weeks til my retreat. Can't come soon enough. I dream about getting away all by myself and laying in bed listening to quietness in the morning. I do love the littlest one even though she screams "Mama" "Mama" "Mama" "Mama" "Mama". You know I was thinking about this tonight: is she trying to make me totally crazy? What's with having to repeat yourself 40 million times in a row? No wonder I'm so worn out. "Mama" isn't the only thing she repeats. Tonight it was "Juice" "Juice" "Juice". I recognize she wanted juice but did she have to say it a billion times? Persistent. That's what she is. She did get juice but I made her ask for it nicely. It was the cutest thing. She stood in the kitchen and I watched her calm her little self down and say "juice please" in the nicest voice. She made me proud.
My middle child has been hugely helpful with her and I've been enjoying having a bit more time with her this week.
Well, now that the littlest one is in bed, the 4 legged one is whining upstairs. Agghhh!!! does it just never end?
I'm going to go make sure she's not terrorizing our groceries and then plop myself down on the sofa. Enough for today.

Spring Time

I so much wanted to express myself on this blog but the fullness of life has put a nix on that one. So, I will have to lay aside those expectations of doing 52 pictures and Way back When-sday. And I'll plan on blogging when I blog.
This has been an amazing week for weather! It has been in the 60's here and sunshiney. We spent some time in the yard blowing bubbles, drawing with chalk, and playing in the sandbox. We went to the park and I pushed the littlest Baum for a long time as I soaked in the sun, admired the blue sky and noted that there are buds on the trees! Hope. That is so refreshing after winter. After the gray and colorless days. I'm good with winter until the end of January. And this year was even worse because in February the littlest Baum got sick and passed it on to all of us. It's now Spring and we're in the last half of March. The littlest Baum has brought yet another cold home with her and passed it on to me. And Papa Baum continues to not feel well from the first sickness. One day at a time. It sure reminds me to lean into my LORD. He holds our breath. He created each of us. He is the Great Physician and I depend on him.
My favorite magazine is Better Homes & Gardens. A few weeks ago I was shopping at Value World (they have used clothing and everything else). I found a BH & G from March of last year. It cost me 25 cents. They had an idea to buy a bulb for my windowsill and some herbs along with an outdoorsy sculpture. I found small daffodils at the grocery store with happy yellow wrapping around the pot. Then I went to the dollar store and found a robin and put her on my windowsill next to the daffodils. I asked Papa Baum to look for some herbs at the Depot (as the littles Baum calls it) and he came home with a kit to pot 4 different herbs. You should see them! I do believe I planted way more than should have been planted. so now there are a billion chives, cilantro, oregano and parsley plants popping up and I don't know what to do with them. I am concerned if I remove 1/2 of them or 3/4 of them, that I will be considered a plant murderer. I wish this didn't bother me so much. Just thin them out and be done with it! Right now they are sitting in a darker spot on the counter. Once the leaves are bigger, I'll put them on the windowsill and in June will put them outside...maybe. Well, that is, if they make it that long.
And what I'm most excited about these days is another retreat. I went on a personal retreat last May and it was so nice. It was at a Catholic Retreat Center. This time I'm trying a new place. I will be making my own meals this time around. Last year I wrote my life mission statement.
This year I plan to pray and look at the next year. What goals do I want to accomplish in the next year in 7 areas of my life: Individual, Wife, Mother, Homemaker, Administrative, Family & Friends, and Ministry.
I love the Franklin Covey material. I've got an awesome planner that I bought for my 40th birthday. Then I read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and was so inspired to re-evaluate my life. I long for my life to matter and these habits are tools to help me live my life to the fullest. The author, Stephen Covey, is a Mormom, which I don't endorse but his principles are astounding. I am able to take them and apply them directly into my life. It took about 2 years to read the book because my goal was to implement what he taught in there. So much to learn and I'm just beginning. Thus the mission statement and the 7 areas of my life. Life makes so much more sense. We are all uniquely made and I believe I have strong Administrative gifts which is why Covey's stuff impacts me so much. We all need to find the best way to become who God intends us to be. It's not the same for all of us. God is our guide and I'm so grateful.
Well, this reminds me I'm going to go check out the retreat center on-line to see what the grounds are like. How many acres? I love walking and exploring.
Have a blessed day...

52

Bates Hamburgers and Fries are the best! Keith, little Baum and I enjoyed a delicious dinner last night. This was a special treat! There is just something about their burgers. Actually the whole experience is fun. Bates is a tiny hamburger stand in Livonia. If you want to order takeout, you wait in a 8x4 porch type area with a window into the kitchen where you can see them cooking the burgers and fries. The menu is so simple. Another plus. Simple is good. They take your order and when it's ready, hand you a white bag filled with burgers and another one for fries. Do you want 6 or 12 burgers? Plain or cheese? Yummmm!!!

Way Back When-sday

Again, another Capri-Kel addition. She is such an inspiration! Speaking of inspiration, my Mom said I am inspiring her to cook. Well, to be honest, it all began with her many years ago.
The first picture is my Mom with my brother and me. That was taken in Atlanta when I was 6. We lived there for 4 years. I had to include that so you could see a picture of my Mom!!
She made the most awesome castle birthday cake. I think her specialty is baked goods. I also remember the chocolate sheet cake she used to make when I was a teenager. And when she POURED the chocolate icing on the cake it just leaked right off the side of the pan and I had the privelege of cleaning it up. Always had that most awesome privelege!! Anyway, the second picture is from my 9th birthday. Bet you hadn't guessed that! That's my Dad and my brother. We lived in Philadelphia at the time and see that wallpaper? it was so awesome. I love textures and that wallpaper had fruit on it that had a velvet feel to part of it. I also hate textures at the same time. But that's just another of those things about me. Hey, this was 1976. That was an awesome year to live in Philadelphia! I believe it was a huge celebration year for the Bicentennial! For those of you more versed in history, feel free to correct me.
Capri Kel would be proud to know that I was a huge fan of Laura Ingalls as well. See my hair? It was from those pioneer days.

The Way to Cook Inspired by Julia Child

I have found myself really enjoying learning to cook. It seems that it's been in me for many years but life has been full and it hadn't seemed like something I had time to pursue. Til this past summer when I felt discouraged with menu planning and my lack of creativity...I prayed that God would please help me be inspired.
Well, I had no idea that shortly after that, the movie "Julie and Julia" came out. Wow! I pulled out my cookbook "The Way to Cook" by Julia Child and asked my daughter if she would like to begin some cooking from there. I'll share pictures one day from those times. For now, I want to introduce my most recent joy: Cooking!
I'm learning to enjoy wandering through the fruits and vegetable section at the grocery store. Finding new ingredients like leeks to cook with.
Today I made Chicken Kiev for lunch. Mmmmm... it was so good. I love something baked in the oven on a winter Sunday. The recipe called for 1 1/2 sticks of butter. I used 1/2 of that. I'm sure I could use even less, but that was a good start. That recipe was from the classic Better Homes and Gardens checkered cookbook!
I'm looking forward to experimenting a bit with our microwave-making more than popcorn and reheating food.
And sometime I'll share about the soups I've been making from our church's soup kitchen cookbook. Yum! Those have warmed up some cold and dreary days.

52

Well, I'm so inspired by my friend that I'm going to get going again on this blog which I barely started on!
So, she wanted to know if anyone wanted to join her in taking 1 picture a week for the year. I will attempt to do that. But first I must get our camera hooked up to our computer. Accomplished. Amazing.
Picture 1 is of all of us on 12/28/09 (okay, that's last year, but I think that's pretty close!)
Picture 2 is the littlest Baum sitting outside of our "tent" yesterday, 1/11/10. I remember doing that with our older 2 when they were her age. That was a long time ago!

Internet Cafe Devotions

This is a great website and I have no idea how to make it look fancy, but I'll at least comment on the devotional.
The verses for today are from Galatians 5:22-23. When asked what fruit of the spirit I'm struggling with, I'd say peace. That's because parenting has this way of bringing out my feelings of inadequacy. I have 2 teenagers and a 1 year old because God's plans are great than mine! I'm encouraged to change how I view parenting by looking at it as an opportunity to become more like Christ. It's a chance to die to my selfish self.

House Update

Chuck Hall built us some beautiful bookcases. I am so happy!!!!

Dependence on God

This season of my life reminds me of how truly dependent on the Lord I am. I was so thrilled when David and Katie were able to dress and entertain themselves. The days when I didn’t have to watch them every moment of the day to make sure they weren’t doing something that would hurt them. I relished in my independence. My days off from work were mostly mine. Just me at home enjoying the solitude. I was at the point where I was planning my future. David and Katie were moving into middle school and high school. Before too long they’d be heading into preparation for their life work. What will I do with the rest of my life?

In November of 2006 I found out I was pregnant. Throughout the next few months, the Lord taught me over and over that his plans were greater than mine (Isaiah 55:9). I sensed that He wanted me to turn my heart back toward home, toward my family. I battled with my selfishness. I studied Mary’s response to being pregnant in Luke 1:38. She saw the Lord as sovereign and submitted herself to his plan for her life. As I began to yield my life to the Lord, I was more at peace. Off and on, I have thought about what I could be doing with my time. This is an ongoing battle with my sin nature. Recently the Lord showed me something remarkable. It tied some unsettled feelings together like a math equation that adds up to the Lord’s sovereignty. I have been living my life focused on how I can get more independence. David has recently gotten his driver’s license. I think of being free to drive as the beginning of independence. On the other side, I have a friend who is elderly and has had to give up her driver’s license. She is dependent on others to bring her medication to her and remind her what day it is. This is how God created us. We each will return to that dependent state. I prefer to not think about that. But that season is in my future. I can’t stop it from coming. So, my choice is to push for more independence or to submit myself to the Lord’s plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). It’s still a process for me but I’m seeing that my perspective needs to be grounded in the Lord. I want to grow in my relationship with Him. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12, 14)

September 2008

Well, it has been a full couple of months. This weekend it again has struck me how much I am trying to juggle each day. Having 2 teenagers and a 1 year old is quite a contrast! Thankfully the Lord is sovereign. He knows what is best and he has brought us another little life to invest in.
We had a fun time this weekend visiting with Keith's sister and her husband. They came here from Pennsylvania. They left this morning. While Keith and the other 2 kids visited with Jan & Denny on Saturday, Katie and I worked at the school concession stand at the University of Michigan game. The crowd was going crazy at the end of the game. U of M was losing 19-0 and in the last quarter they ended up winning the game. It was amazing! Michael Phelps was there but never bought anything from our stand. Bummer.
This week it is getting a little cooler and greyer outside.
Keith hung our blinds in the family room. They look nice. Now, we have a border to hang. Bookshelves are being built for either end of the room and then we get to decorate the walls, put cushions on the sofas and better lighting. It is coming together. Fixing up our house is a huge project but well worth it. Our goal is to provide a great place for everyone to come home to and for others to enjoy with us. We love having people over but haven't done much of it.
Sarah is walking quickly, working on some new teeth, saying "flower" a lot, and growing her hair longer. David is driving them to school fairly often which frees some of my time up(and sanity, since the school parking lot can be a bear). He continues to take drum lessons, play for the worship band at youth group and hang out with his friends. Katie is anxious to start drivers ed. She'll probably take the 3 week class in the Spring. She is enjoying piano and has lots of fun being with her friends. She told me this weekend that she really enjoys watching football and soccer. She is a sports person.
Keith has been working hard on home projects and he's doing a great job. Our 20th anniversary is on Wednesday! That is hard to believe. In honor of our anniversary, we have a special trip planned for the end of February.
Til next time...

Summer 2008

I have been reflecting on what life was like a year ago. I was almost 8 months pregnant and not feeling well. Little did I know that I was about a week away from giving birth to little Sarah ( see picture from the day we brought her home from the hospital, July 9th, 2007)! She has grown so much this year (the other picture is from Mother's Day, the day she was dedicated to the Lord, in Church). Her personality is really coming out these days. She squeels when she sees us and waves good-bye. She loves to climb the stairs and play in the kitchen cabinet. She pulls the popcorn packets and raisin boxes out of a basket in the cabinet and puts them in and out, talking the whole time. She loves David and Katie. They are such a great brother and sister. For me, knowing that Sarah will be 1 is a wonderful thing. We are through with a very tiring and full year.

The kids are enjoying their summer so far. David and Katie helped out at our church's Bible School last week. David helped out with games and crafts. Katie and one of her friends were in charge of eight 3rd grade girls. She also helped with 2 other girls in doing hand motions for the opening session for Bible School. In the picture, you can see Katie's hair and how curly it gets. And I'm liking David's hair in the picture; it's nice and short! Well, his summer hair is pretty nice too but it gets kind of long. He loves summer when he doesn't have to go get it cut according to school dress code.

For me, personally, God has been teaching me that he is faithful. His love and faithfulness remain with me. This is a real help to me. Remembering who God is rather than focusing on me or others faults. I'm also seeing the importance of turning my anxieties into prayer. It's a way better use of my time and it brings me rest rather than distress!

It's a beautiful evening here. I love summertime!