From a distance he’s just your typical teenage kid. He’s moody, dark, and defiant. But he has another side to him that he rarely shows. He’s a deep thinker, loyal to death, and loves justice. Few people have the opportunity to see the “real” Superman. He’s the peace maker of the world with incredible physical strength.
Sometimes I think there’s this fear that if people really knew him they would reject him. So he hides behind his masquerade as the typical teen perhaps to protect those he loves. Or perhaps he hides to protect himself from the responsibility of the unique abilities he’s been given.
But it’s hard to hide in this little Podunk town. His uniqueness is tied to who he is. And in his immaturity he tries to squash that uniqueness. A natural born leader who rarely leads. Oh he will one day. Superman’s just biding his time. He won’t remain Clark Kent forever.
Do you ever look around at the talents of others only to long to be like them??? Enter Lentil.
It’s a beautiful depiction of what happens when a boy who doesn’t have the gift of singing discovers his own gift of playing the harmonica. It has forced me to self reflect on my own insecurities as a wife, mother and daughter. I have found rest in His arms knowing I am a child of the King. Funny how He can teach me a lesson through the simplicity of a children’s book.
Sophia has had a blast playing with our harmonica, building the town of Alto, Ohio
sucking on a lemon like Ol Sneep and then making a glass of lemonade
We take a trip weekly to the library so she can pick out her additional books that coincide with our book. We checked out Frank Lloyd Wright For Kids along with The Visual Dictionary of Buildings. We chose architecture this week since we are learning about the town of Alto, Ohio.
We topped off our week crafting and baking a Lemonade Cake! Can’t you see her excitement?! We are going to have a piece right now. *yum*
We are wrapping up our story for this week, “The Story About Ping”. Written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. The story is set in China on the Yangtze River. I’m really getting into this lapbooking thing. Here’s what we did:
Sampled staples from the Chinese cuisine; eggrolls, Wonton soup, and rice. (although she would not touch the rice)
Dressed up like a Geisha girl. We learned about ducks and preening by checking out the book at the library called, “Ducks Don’t Get Wet”.
She built the Great Wall of China out of sugar cubes, memorized Ephesians 6:1 and we sang, “Trust and Obey” from the hymnal.
This week when we have been out somewhere we have practiced being obedient the first time asked. I’ve even hollered, “La-la-la-la-lei!” a few times to grab her attention!
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1
I love storms. The power and unpredictability they display are simply stunning. Storms in life are that way. Sometimes they fizzle out before they begin. Other times they simply take your breath away.
Sophia and I are reading, “Storm in the Night”. I plan on documenting our journey of learning together at home. It’s sort of like a living scrapbook of what we have done together. This marks the end of our first week. We have sampled Mandarin oranges,
lapbooked about Thomas, Ringo and Grandpa,
spent time creating art while listening to classical music on NPR,
to ending with making an emergency kit…just in case we have a bad storm in the night.
Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
We celebrate ♥ every day in our house. Mkay. Don’t hate. Don’t hate. We have had our ups and down. Trust me. It’s a loooooong story. I might venture into it one day. I can tell you that we got married young. Way young. And NO I don’t recommend it. Ours was…how shall we say…a unique situation. Hubs and I were from 2 different sides of the tracks. It was love at first sight though. We were inseparable from the time we met. I was the Free Spirit and he was the Greaser.
We were married at the oldest courthouse in Tennessee. It was a hot summer’s day in mid August. The Justice of the Peace asked us if we wanted to marry under the large oak tree out front. OF COURSE! It was as close to a wedding as I would ever get but that’s how I roll, right? On the spot and in the moment. No time for planning, just living life to the fullest. Yep. That’s me. Well, there was a bit of planning. Sorta like, “Mom, Dad I’m getting married at this place and be there at this time.” I’m stubborn like that.
It’s been the most fulfilling 15 years of my life. Thomas and I are opposites and it always works out that where I’m weak in an area he is strong. He is the most loving, hardworking, and loyal man I’ve ever met in my life. He had a hard life and it would have been so easy for him to use that hard life as a crutch but he didn’t.
Like the lamppost that shows Lucy the way home and the lighthouse that points the ships in to shore, he points me towards Jesus Christ. I’m forever grateful for the L-rd having brought us together. If I had it to do over, I would have married him EVERY time.
We’ve endured so much together. Our first apartment that caught fire, the loss of our first child by miscarriage, endured separations in the USMC, to the challenges of a raising a child with special needs. Some folks just grow apart when life gets sticky. We will be the first to tell you that the L-rd has been the strand weaving throughout us, binding us together in love. After all, love really does conquer all. Doesn’t it? Oh I don’t know about all of that. What I do know is this; Hope in Him does.
Thomas,
I’ll heart you til the day I die. XO
This song is a reflection of our hearts and our commitment to one another. Oh, and his wife just so happens to be 3 years older than him…like Thomas and I. *wink*
We begin a new path tomorrow. I say new only because it is new for Sweet Sophia. The idea itself is as old as time. Education… at home. Did you just get a lump in your throat??? Homeschool is a word that invokes strong emotions. You either love it or detest it. Everyone and I do mean everyone has a strong opinion on homeschooling. I’m not here to indulge that. It is not the way but it is one of many ways to train children. It’s our way for now.
I’m reluctant to wade into the specifics because to be honest with you, it’s a journey. I can tell you that at some point I plan on sharing our experience concerning Sweet Sophia and Autism. It’s an extremely painful one and so because of my sensitivity concerning the matter it makes delving into it difficult.
From the time I was pregnant with her I knew I wanted to have her all to myself. I found it a strange concept of taking 4 and 5 year olds and pulling them away from their mothers to be put with strangers for 8 hours a day. I decided a long time ago that I did not want the leftover time of her spent day.
I wanted to enjoy her. I wanted to go on adventures in the woods. I wanted to snuggle up on a cold day and read stories by the fireplace. I wanted to gaze on her face as she learned a new concept for the first time. I wanted it all. Then came Autism. I still cannot unleash what’s pent up inside. I don’t know if you could handle my thoughts. I don’t think I could deal with the avalanche of emotion. It would bury me. I can tell you this though, I still want those things with her. Hours spent at doctors offices, therapies, and crying…lots of crying. I want what time has stolen from me.
Please pray for us. Pray that Elohim would redeem the time. Pray that He would fully heal…you were expecting me to say Sweet Sophia. Weren’t you? I let go of that a long time ago. Not because I don’t have faith but because I do. I trust that she is who He made her to be. Pray for me that I would let go of my expectations and let Him heal me of the life I wanted her to have and help her fulfill the life that He has for her. Beloved, what He has is so much richer than what I could have possibly dreamed.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost 1915
a. Shachah – “to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.”
Here’s what I’m worshiping the L-rd with currently: It’s being sung by Natalie Grant:
Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of Your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of Your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Here’s a bit of an explanation as to how the beautifully rich song unfolded:
What’s your favorite worship song?
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever. 2Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever. 3Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever… Psalm 136
P.S. I do have to say that I disagree with Amy on one thing she says: We all agree that the message never changes but having said that, I also believe that the “church” has over time split away from it’s roots and heritage in Israel and followed trendiness and other methodologies. Those things did change…but it did not have to. This, in my opinion has hurt the “church” gravely.
My apologies for the neglect around Blogland as well as the dryness of this post. We have been busy with remodeling Magnolia House as well as our current home is under contract. We are maintaining and going between 2 homes right now til we close on this one. Here’s an update:
Flooring down upstairs/ceilings painted/bedrooms painted/tile down in bathrooms/living area painted/light fixtures: some up and some not/hall bathroom is almost complete.
Today Thomas and I prepped the kitchen and the keeping room. Remember the whole area is paneling which equals double gross for me. We primed it ALL. It should be ready for paint on Thursday.
At our current home, the exterminator came out this afternoon to write up the termite letter for the new owners. While he was digging around out front he found my 8 GB memory card that has been missing now for about a month. I heart that man!
Also, if you have an ugly sofa you want to get rid of…DON’T! I found this great little family owned company out in Utah that buy up the name brand sofa slipcovers and they sell them at a FRACTION of the cost you would pay anywhere. And trust me I have looked and looked! They are also on Facebook. Their website is http://www.uglysofa.com/
I ordered the dropcloth sofa cover and chair cover in cream. Oh and yes! It’s Pottery Barn only I wasn’t the one who paid Pottery Barn prices. Sweetness! And while supplies last they are throwing in free “Mitch Swag”. To my delight were 2 Pottery Barn plaid laundry bags FREE!
We went with all Behr paint. It rocks! MY color choices were from Benjamin Moore. More on the specifics in another post. The vanity in the hall bath is a smaller version so we have more floor space. Not sure if I like it yet. The flooring is by Trafficmaster at .68 cents a square foot with a 15 year warranty from Home Depot. They stock it. It’s AMAZING! I’m doing my paper bag floor treatment on the stairs and throughout the entire basement living area.
P.S. We pulled out the Magic Chef green dishwasher and low and behold we found him…Chester, the mouse. Did I mention he was stinky??? Funeral’s at 8ish. C ya!
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. – John Stuart Mill English economist & philosopher (1806 – 1873)
In the midst of all of this renovating and moving… we pause to remember our family members and friends who served and are serving this great place we call home: The United States of America.
USMC: Retired Michael C. Davis Vietnam War
Hubert Cope Korean War
Thomas G. Simerly Iraqi Freedom – Post 9-11
Michael Joshua Davis Post 9-11
Army: Emory Davis Pacific Theater WW2
Bert Davis WW2
Roy Etsel Davis Korean War
Hubert Clyde Davis Korean and Vietnam War
Larry Steve Davis Vietnam War
Robby Hudgens Operation Desert Storm
Billy Hipshire Korean War
Clyde H Hipshire WW1
Bill and Mildred Kimmel WW2
Tim Simerly Post 9-11
Confederate: William Lyndon Hipsher
We are living in such uncertain times. I’m so thankful for the men and women who felt as though this freedom was indeed worth fighting for. They are my personal heroes.
Enjoy this long 4th of July weekend. Listen to the sound of the flags whipping in the wind, smell the fried foods at the fair, swim til your heart’s content and marvel at the fireworks show. But please, when you lay your head down at night to sleep, just know that somewhere in the world, a child is crying because he misses his Mommy, a wife is waiting by the phone to hear a word from her husband, an injured soldier sits alone in a hospital bed, a funeral is being planned for the war dead and a family is trying to come to grips of a life void of a loved one. Freedom is not free.
While in the midst of removing unsightly green wallpaper it happened. She spoke to me. Whom you ask? Why our home of course. Am I delusional? Probably. You would be too if you stared, steamed, and peeled as much wallpaper as I have all alone in a 1970 ish bathroom.
P.S. Thanks to my friend, Martha for lending me her wallpaper steamer. The process is slow and tedious but IT DOES WORK AND WORK WELL!
So what did she whisper to me? Her name. Meet the Magnolia House. I know y’all must think I’m crazy but I promise I wasn’t huffing wallpaper paste even thinking of naming her. But alas, every thing I own practically named itself. I think it’s a sickness but you’re thinking that about me any ol’ hoo.
See this: It’s a Magnolia tree. There are 2 of these beauties in the front yard. They are the iconic classic Southern landscaping trees. Can’t you see me now lounging on my front porch on a hot afternoon sipping what else but cold sweet tea watching my Magnolias wafting in the breeze? Ahh.
Well, enough dreaming for now. The UPS man just dropped off my Weldbond glue for my paper bag flooring. Yes! You heard correctly.
