to-day we et ham

There are days when I feel eloquent and intelligent, and then there are days when I say 'ain't' a lot and bungle words to streamline a text.

 Today I certainly wish to be eloquent (it is Easter, after all) but we'll just have to see how this goes...

 Easter means a new Spring dress to debut (and a dreadfully spotted mirror). This little sundress rescued me from the mire of shopping in about 30 seconds flat (I've mentioned before, I think, how I struggle with clothes-buying). There it was on the first rack and it said, "Whatho!" So I said, "Whatho!", tried it on and the rest is history. It is my Easter-SpringConcert-AlbumCover-Graduation-AnySuddenWeddings'-Default dress. :)

 Easter means running to the grocery store to buy eggs (gasp!) because our hens only lay pre-colored eggs. Running into the store late on a Saturday just to stand in line with a dozen eggs could be embarrassing enough, but getting out to the car with the solitary sack and realizing you forgot the color dye and must endure the Single Item Shame again is enough to make anyone cower in the the car while a braver soul (i.e. my mother) pretends we're not related.

(If you do not understand this fear, you do not live in a small town.)

 My Easter began at 6:30am when I awoke to a sore stomach. An evil trick for one such as me who anticipates the Easter Basket of Goodness with the excitement of any nine year old. But it wasn't all bad. I returned to bed and curled up with Reichenbach Fall, and though I missed the church breakfast and Sunday school, by nine I was feeling well enough to make it to the Easter service to sing and smile and carry home the lily in honor of Our Savior and my grandparents. 

 Dinner was a giant ham. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I was starving. So I ate a green egg. And then laughed at myself, eating green eggs & ham.

 After dinner and after Baby had run out of giggles, I brought out Dydo and practiced my duet (you'll not regret taking a moment to listen. I promise.) and trio pieces until my harmonics would do nothing but squeak. 

Now the day is done. A good day all told, if quiet. So I'll end. I have writing in TLOS to do and you've probably had your fill of Easter posts anyway.

.....

Being in great anguish He was praying fervently; and His sweat came like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

(luke 22)

“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God.” And they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” 

(luke 22)

It was now the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured ; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out said, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this He breathed His last. When the centurion saw what had happened he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 

(luke 23)

And a man named Joseph... a good and righteous man... a man from Arimathea, a city of Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God, this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock in which no one had ever lain. 

(luke 23)

[The women] came to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus... [The angel] asked, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead?” 

(luke 24)

Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.

the only north star i'd follow this far

The very first and foremost, I am so grateful for all of you who left notes on my last post with prayers, Scripture verses, and encouragement. What a comfort it is to belong to the loving Christian family, and to feel that love through your prayers. Prayers that have been sorely needed.
Unlike I thought before, Momma has to undergo chemotherapy after all, for though her cancer was early, it is the most aggressive type and has a chance of recurring, in which case there is no cure. It is just a sliver of a chance, but one that we will not risk. She had her first chemo treatment yesterday, so I ask for your continued prayers because the side effects are brutal.
 Satan seems determined to fracture my family, whatever the cost. And though the ship quakes and the sails tear in the violent storm, we refuse to sink.
The devil may be in the barnacles that cling to our hull, the sharks that circle in hopes of failure, or even the merciless tossing brine itself, but Jesus is the captain, God our destination, and Holy Spirit the trade wind that will guide us to the harbour on that eternal shore. (here end my nautical metaphors :)

Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? Have you still no faith?"

mark 4:39-40 nkjv

Last weekend Momma, Little Brother, Sister & Baby, and I all traveled down to Colorado to visit my grandma whose health is failing, before Mum started treatment. We only got to spend one day with her and my Aunt, but it was good.
 A few of our side adventures include driving around lost in a city for two hours in search of a certain hotel (that turned out to be on the other side of town). Settling instead for the first hotel we could find, experiencing Duck Dynasty for the first time (what the..?), and not-sleeping thanks to the college basketball party arriving next door. If there was ever a time I wanted to pull a Batman (scale the wall, bust through the glass and start beating those rats in jerseys with a blunt instrument) it was then.

Meet Charlie, the newest addition to our menagerie. Nine weeks old, this little Mini Australian Shepherd with one blue eye and one brown practically fell out of the sky into my Momma's arms. It was quickly decided that she required this little fluff ball for therapy :)

I really regret not being able to post more often, but the simple fact is I have no time anymore. I miss writing and editing photos for the little audience I have. I miss a lot of things I used to do and take for granted. Like riding (haven't ridden in a month - hoping the weather will give me a window today). Like finishing a book. Like writing more than a paragraph in TLOS at 12:30am when I finely get to go to bed.
 My days consist of caring for my nephew, house training an ornery puppy, and an endless amount of housework (Respect for Momma status: ALREADY HIGH to NEEDING NEW CHART). I don't mind all that stuff (well, maybe Charlie's incontinence). But all day nearly every day is hard.
 However, I am growing and adapting, and am challenged to carve out my true priorities and discover how hard I'm willing to work for them.
Today is my first day off where it is not blizzarding (just ridiculously windy) and I don't want to waste it, so I shall
 bid you all a fond adieu.

a little pink ribbon

listening to: when love was slain // selah

Remember back when I promised to write simpler, more frequent posts to you all? I am sorry it hasn't quite worked out that way. You see, I had thought I was getting everything back together again after months of upheavals and uncertainties. I thought I had found a new 'normal' and was prepared to settle in and take a break from constantly bracing for the next bombshell and its accompanying after-shock.
 Well, in the past three weeks my mother has been diagnosed and begun treatment for breast cancer.
The Lord is good and it was found very early; the doctor is almost certain that all of the cancer was removed in the surgery, and as soon as she is healed she will begin radiation treatments.
 Another shock and scare it was, to be certain, but looking back it was all clearly taken in hand by Our Father to put right.

I am certain Solomon had a time machine, or was on good terms with a Time Lord, because when he wrote Proverbs 31 he pretty much made a word portrait of my mother. The fact that she is worth far more than rubies is just the beginning.
Sometimes she tells us kids that she does not deserve us. We laugh and have to agree. What has she ever done, Lord, to deserve children with the stubbornness of Germans and sparking temper of the Irish?

Her children arise and call her blesséd...

Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring praise at the city gates.

from Proverbs 31

of amazons and coffee

Somedays are just made for writing of adventures in the Amazon in Pirate Bob notebooks, learning the Anglo-Saxon alphabet, and snuggling fat babies. Swirling snow outside and cinnamon tea is also a plus. 

Later Little Brother, Baby, and I will cruise into town to the feedstore for pellets and cracked corn and to order this year's new batch of chickies. Then we'll mosey down to the coffee shop for a treat and a Mum, ready to go home.

Then I might try to get some ponies to jump.

It's going to be a good day.

an ode to pete

pete in the snow
pencil & watercolor

a 'pete the pony' watercolor in its early stages

trying my had a various styles: cross-hatching, line, and dot shading. pencil, ballpoint pen, fine felt-tip.

corona & cokie
 a birthday present to their momma, my sister.
watercolor

I love my little Pete the Pony sketches. Usually drawing brings out the perfectionist-of-the-worst-sort in me, but somehow Pete has always been my friend on paper. I don't know how but he always turns out just right - so unlike my other drawings!