Stillness

Do you like to be still? I do not. I am not a still person by nature. Since I have been sick though, I have been much more still than usual. The only kind of still I really enjoy are those moments in the early morning~with a cup of tea or coffee, my Bible, a good book, facebook, or quiet conversation with my hubby. One other kind of "still" I like is the still after the work is completed....the satisfied still of looking around and seeing success. Being sick is not the sort of still that brings me pleasure. Often the laundry is NOT done, the dinner is NOT made and sometimes even the children's hair is NOT combed. It is an uneasy still that does not know what is wrong and fears the worst. I do know this though....that even in the still, He is STILL God.

Our Thanksgiving was one that made memories. Of course, I was feeling sick, but made a few of the traditional favorites anyway in preparation for dinner at my parents. My girls all have colds and Thanksgiving eve, Rick came down with a fever and sore throat! One our way to my parent's for dinner, we hit and killed a poor puppy dog. There was nothing we could do, but of course we felt terrible! The clothes washer also went out recently as did the garbage disposal and we made the horrifying discovery that we have had small furry visitors in our house! Keren WAS one of Job's daughters for a reason, right?!?!

All these things, while I am "still." My only consolation is this, that while I am being "still," I know that He is STILL God!

PS. Please keep me in your prayers. I see the Oncologist Tuesday. I would LOVE for God to heal me before then!

Being a Christian

I LOVE pumpkins. This one was decorated and given to me by my sweet aunt.

While I am trying to recover from who-really-knows-what, I'm sharing a link to a post from last year....maybe you missed it? It's all about a favorite fall family activity of ours.

Read it here:

http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2010/10/parable-of-pumpkin.html

Fall & Family

Fall is such a cozy family time of year. I really think that it is my favorite, but then...when winter comes, I like it, and in spring it is the best. The hot summer is probably not my favorite, but even it has a place. The changing seasons are such a wonder!I have not been feeling well at all lately, hoping the doctors find something soon, and that it's not too serious. Anyway, my family is so sweet and kind. Kammy wanted to make me breakfast in bed on Saturday. I had to go back to bed and wait for it, and daddy and big sisters helped her. I thought it was about the sweetest thing ever!Junk mail. Kaite drew on this piece, and I thought it was awesome for a 2 year old!I love fall veggies. Above is some spaghetti squash we stuffed.The girls and their friends made some pretty pumpkins out of rolls of toilet paper yesterday. To add some "puffiness" we wrapped each roll in a couple of shopping bags before wrapping them in fabric scraps.We have also been enjoying the outdoor firepit. Rancher loves to beg for roasted marshmallows. Even he knows that they are WAY better roasted!The kids are always good for a hot dog off the grill or roasted straight off the fire.When we moved here in June, we planted tomatoes. It was late in the year, so we didn't expect too much. They never turned red. The solution?Fried green tomatoes. Dipped in ranch! Yum!

Dressy Shots

Wouldn't you know it? Rain on picture day! We took a few shots here and there between showers/downpours/thunder ect. Someone would notice that the rain had stopped, so I'd comb ALL that hair as quickly as possible and we'd gather shoes and run outside. Just about the time we'd get all set up, it would start raining again!

I was pretty determined to get something--curling and combing 5 heads of very long hair for nothing, is not my idea of a good day. Between the wind and the rain though, the curls were pretty much gone in the first 5-10 minutes.The umbrella wasn't a planned prop--it was a necessity.My $100 camera has a timer, so I did our pictures myself. Next year, we are going to a studio! (I say that every year--but I mean it this time.)In spite of the weather, the kids were super awesome to cooperate with me!This is one I snapped while we were waiting for the other girls to gather and it's turned out to be a favorite!Kammy looks so lady-like here! Surprise, surprise!Kalli and my mom both mentioned that Kayla is getting so big that they find themselves thinking it is me walking up next to them at first.Happy-go-lucky, fun, bubbly Kalli!I'm really regretting all the ruffles on my sweater and blouse--as if I needed any more bulk! Oh, and Kammy really is leaning WAY back like that on purpose--it's soo fits her personality!Remember, we are on a timer here, so I get the camera set up, the kids set up, the hubby set up, and I RUN like an idiot. (10 seconds!)Another shot of Kaite. She dislikes the hat, and I hat to promise the moon for this one!Rick has flowers behind his back, but they just blended into the landscape.

We do still have casuals to do--with the dog! We decided against trying to add the dog into the rainy pics especially with the dress clothes! I'm thinking that the rain might be a minor hinderance when compared to the havoc a dog will add to this mix!

Fall has arrived at my House

Love this quote and the sunflowers I photographed on our Labor Day outing.

Just a few "fallish" items here. The old Hershey tin is an antique~it was my Grandma's!This little man graces a wreath on our front door.On the bench...a blackbird and the sign I made a few years ago.I'm lovin' the sunflowers with my blue here.The dining room with a burlap runner.I switched out the greenery for some fall flowers. Hubby can no longer call this, "the little green head."

Candy pumpkins the girls and I made and placed in a truck bed for delivery.Another "girl craft" ~ candy corns made simply by wrapping yarn around a styrofoam cone.My outside decor~ the adorable, COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED little girl is just a bonus feature to this picture! :)On the piano ~Oh--and fall requires new clothes, right? This skirt is Monteray Bay skirt is from our local thrift store and cost me a whole $3.99!The top....Apostrophe for $2.99!I tried a new fall recipe too! Snickers cake. The icing is made with cream cheese, cool whip and brown sugar~topped with crushed snickers bars. It looks pretty, but I don't think it won a spot in my repeat recipes.Some plant shelves in the living room. I recently picked the watering pot up at the thrift store and added the monogram.

I have several projects in the works as we speak, but I've been busy living~teaching and pastor's housewife-ing. They should be completed SOON.