and men in my life.  I am surrounded by males.   Normally outnumbered by the men in my life, I usually voice my appreciation for the women in my life.  But the guys are central and essential to my well being.

This is not my best picture of my husband, Frank, but it is the way I see him often.  He is a fixer, by nature.  His hands are full of tools and pieces of stuff to be repaired or replaced.  He loves to bring back the beauty and usefulness of  broken and tarnished items.

Jordan.  He is my awareness specialist.  He keeps me up to date about the world- opens up areas of thought that I may have overlooked- talks to me about ideas and events- and makes THE best coffee I’ve ever been privileged to drink.

Luke.  It was hard to find a picture of just Luke by himself.  He is a father and most pictures show him in that role.  And since he is in seminary studying to be a priest, he is truly going to be Fr. Luke.

Luke is my first born- we grew up together- he taught me how to be a mother and he made motherhood a joy for me.

Aidan.  The joy of my life. Both Aidan and Aiden!

I am so thankful for these boys/men in  my life.

God has blessed me richly.

All this back and forth to Chincoteague has been about business.

Meredith’s business that I have been commissioned to do for her.

Meredith’s business that has culminated in the purchase of this home.

In Chincoteague, Virginia.

I would not travel down there in the midst of TWO Nor’easters on vacation.

Not for two days to stay and two days to travel for 10 hours.

THAT is NOT a vacation by anyone’s standards.

But we did it. 

It is a beautiful home.

Meredith is looking forward to buying some kayaks and spending some quality time here.  I am looking into some plans for running some workshops for bread baking and cooking classes (plus faux finishing classes) combined with a chance to do some bird and pony watching at Assateague for the off season. 

There will be more information here in the future- and Chad is going to be setting up a website for the house where you can get more info- but that is all down the road.  For right now, the house needs some small repairs and cleaning and painting- and that is what we will be doing this winter.

Right now, I am just rejoicing that the negotiations are finally over.

This has been going on since May, and finally we are in the house.

I am thankful for God’s traveling mercies.

I am thankful for the possibilities of the future that this opens up.

I am thankful for the many times of family fun and fellowship that we can look forward to in this beautiful home.

AND – I am so thankful to be home.  In my home.  In Ohio.

Amen.

That means that we are here and made it safely. 

Here is Chincoteague.

A friend called us when we were in Pennsylvania and warned us about the severity of this storm.   It is a nor’easter and it is a doozey!

It was 10 AM when she called and said the storm, plus the high tide was going to make it hard to get onto the island today.  In fact, she said that they were going to close the causeway in the afternoon.  High tide was at 4:00 PM and we raced all the way here to get here by 3:15- and we were just about the last  car to make it across before the causeway was closed.

The water was really high.  The waves were washing over the road and the wind was wild, and the rain was pelting down so hard that our visibility was bad.

We didn’t stop for lunch or potty breaks.  We got gas and got back on the road within 8 minutes.  And Allyson drove heroically!   The water is still rising in the parking lot- the streets are impassible.  But we are in our hotel room and the rain is pelting against the window and we are safe, slightly frazzled and damp, but safe.

Lots of stress come with the driving conditions.

The Chincoteague Bay was washing over the road.  These carsare of people trying to escape being stranded on the island.

And here we are – on island.  It is a huge relief for my driver.

And here is a view from our second floor

this pier is now submerged.

I’m thankful we’re on the second floor. 

I’m not here, I’m on the road somewhere between Ohio and Virginia.

Allyson and I are driving down to Chincoteague-

Where they are talking about another Nor’easter!

Hah!  I get to say it again!

I’m hoping it won’t rain the entire time we are there-

I’d love to spend some time on Assateague  at the beach walking in the sand.

But that isn’t going to happen if a nor’easter is hanging about pelting us  with rain.

Anyway- I’m thankful for car trips with people I love.

And new adventures.

And happy endings.

And jobs well done.

I’m thankful for an understanding husband,

and a sister that supports me in whatever venture I find myself.

And to God who is forever faithful.

We live in a land of plenty.

There is abundance all around us.

Sometimes it is beyond our reach, but often that is because we aren’t really intent upon stretching for it.

But when I look in my pantry, and on the shelves of my canning cupboard – and in my freezer, I see such bounty set aside for use this winter.  Strawberries and cherries, apples, and apples, and apples, blueberries, and pesto and jelly, and dried and canned tomatoes.

And in my flour cupboard, rye, whole wheat, pumpernickle,pastry, white and graham flour- all ready to make countless loaves of bread.

And quarts of broth – frozen and ready to be the base of marvelous soups.

I think I must know how my grandmother felt after a summer’s work and the fall’s harvest. I feel well prepared.  And blessed.

And THANKFUL.

My husband and I have two wonderful sons.  They are loving and wonderful men and I am thankful for every moment I have with them.  But they are going to be a different post.

Because, although we don’t have any biological daughters, God has gifted us with many beautiful young women who have fulfilled my desire for daughters.  And I am so very thankful for the love and memories and hopes and joy we have shared through the years. 

I really started to engage with these women before I was married.  I started with my nieces and have developed deep relationships with some of them.  I love all of my nieces and nephews dearly, but with some of them there was a resonating desire for more than a casual friendship and they pursued the relationship as actively as I did.

Elizabeth and Allyson  and Meredith fit into this daughter category- because we played together when they were young and have only grown closer as we have matured and taken on adult responsibilities and burdens.  I love these young women- and I admire and love their  real mothers and appreciate the love they have shown in sharing their daughters with me.

Willow is the daughter of my heart as well as my daughter in law.  I am so VERY thankful for the friendship we share, for the love we have for each other as well as for Luke and Aidan.  I didn’t have much of a relationship with my mother in law.  She was not open or allowed to spend much time with me.                                           

And although my mother was a wonderful woman who loved the Lord and her family, she was not a good role model for being a mother in law.  So I was worried that I would mess up in this department- but God is so gracious and He has given me the opportunity to become a better woman through these women who have allowed me  a place in their lives.

I also have been gifted with the friendship of young women that I have mentored through the years.  Jen and Johanna came into my life when they were in their teens and have remained close in many ways, coming to visit when they are in town and staying connected by prayer and Facebook. 

I love all the women in my life- but these just qualify for a place in the “daughter”

category.  Thank you Lord for providing for the desires of my heart.

Just reviewing some of my crafts for Christmas.

Anyone got any good craft ideas they’d like to share?

Aidan is always ready for a good story with a small song and lots of finger play to go along and illustrate the point.  That is because he recognizes the elements of story and wants to participate in them.

He likes the definition of the characters. 

He likes the movement from questioning to answers.

He likes the drama.

Or maybe he just likes the pictures.

His involvement with books and story warm this old storyteller’s heart-

and his happy book  reading smile makes my imagination sing.

Because I foresee many hours of happiness ahead.

Reading together.

I don’t usually like to do book review’s, because I know myself too well and sometimes I can be downright snarky.  I try not to do food reviews for the same reason, but sometimes I can’t keep quiet- it has to do with a bad taste left in my mouth,  I think.

Anyway, yesterday I read Aidan Before You Were Born , written by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Linda Saport, Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (2002). 

I was overwhelmed… the art is vivid and rich- it almost saturates your vision in a totally fulfilling way- and the text- Oh my- the text had me in tears within moments.  The first sentence-

       “Before you were born

God wrote your days in a book.”

– gives away the background text for this book- Psalm 139:13-16.

But the words and emotions are so personal and real that you are taken on a journey of love in a land of ” Before you were born” and ” But when you arrived” .

This is a book of welcome and affirmation and praise and joy.

If you are a grandma or an aunt or ever plan on reading a love book.  If you love art, if you love beauty, or just if you love.  Get this book.  It will be on your favorite book shelf in an instant.

Because this is love defined- parental and godly love. 

The last pages say it so well-

“So as years and years and years

pass by

and the land and the sky

and the woods all around change –

and we too-

our love for you

will be worn the same way

only more.

And we can say

we know full well

that before you were born

God wrote your days in a book

and sent you to us.”

Yesterday, that is.

I had ” some essplainin’ to do”  as Ricky Ricarrdo used to say to Lucy on the old “I Love Lucy Show”.

Frank doesn’t really get the concept of spontaneous celebrating.

His idea of fun is something planned well in advance and budgeted into the family economy.  Time spent traveling to have fun should not exceed 3o minutes- unless we are talking about vacation or family get -togethers.

So, the idea of going down to Circleville yesterday was not met with great joy.

I did some fast talking, some psychological input, some cajolery and added a couple of hugs and kisses, and promised not to spend much money- and he sent us off with a smile.

And today, as I look at the rain coming down, I’m glad that I used my day as I did yesterday.  Because, I came home to dishes, and a quick supper, and very tired legs.  But I brought back the smiles and hugs of a happy little boy, and the conversations with a young woman I love, and the rich and colorful  tactile memories of a harvest festival.

And today, the rain is beautiful and seasonal-

and my view of my world is grey and wet-

yet- it seems even better because the beautiful weather we had yesterday

was not squandered sitting here at the computer or cleaning the house-

It was admirably used and enjoyed.

Living the moments and enjoying the journeys.