Fall decor

Autumn is my favorite season when it comes to decorating. I love the rich, warm tones and satisfying color combinations. Geneve and I have been having too much fun decorating together.






Are not the bookends cute?!



This would be on top of the refrigerator in our bedroom. It's called making the best of what you have. :)

Sigh...I just love fall!

for your enjoyment

Lately I've been enjoying...

• lilacs

• My philosopher-brother reading Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories
  [Excerpt from "Alan and the Attic"]
  

(Alan, who is not allowed in the attic, is walking on the rafters. Mother hears creaking noises overhead.)

"'Alan!' she cried. 'Come on down at once!'

"He came, but not the way she expected.

"Suddenly there was a loud crack as part of the ceiling fell and hit mother on the head. Then two feet appeared, followed by two legs and the rest of Alan....

"Of course, when Daddy came home and saw the awful mess he had to clean up--well, Alan felt something worse than splinters. And this hurt wasn't in his hands!"

• my beautiful sisters

featuring the 4th sister ;)

Easter joy

Far back as I can remember, spring has been my favorite season. I am enchanted with new beginnings: sunrises, daffodils, and resurrection. This time of year I usually feel like singing “Pippa’s Song”:

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven...
All's right with the world.

-Robert Browning

And of all this newness, this beauty, this joy, Easter morning is the crown.

Yet this year, as I look forward to Easter Sunday, I am repeatedly reminded that all is not right with the world. My friend finds herself in an extremely difficult situation, a child I love is hurt by her parents’ choices, and a member of my youth group faces possibly lifelong restrictions to his ministry because of a false accusation. Just last evening a dear friend’s beloved Grandpa died. I find myself tempted to doubt what I wrote in my post on spring a few weeks ago. What is God really up to? Where is the possible good in these situations?

But then, why Easter? This God chose not only to become one of us but to take upon Himself our suffering and sin.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3

In taking our mess upon Himself, He has given us the victory. Because Jesus ultimately conquered the powers of darkness, though they still rage in the world around us we have hope.

No, the answer is not easy. Truly creation groans for the day when things are made right forever. But I am grateful for a joy which transcends the happiness that is dependent on circumstances.

This joyful Eastertide, away with sin and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified, has sprung to life this morrow.
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain; but now hath Christ arisen.

-George Ratcliffe Woodward

my sweet emily

Flowers

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread" --John Muir

Precious children...

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” -Jesus (Mark 9:37)

Sweet little girls,
With your wide, innocent eyes...





When I look into your eyes
Sometimes I think I see
Jesus looking back at me





I pray that when He knocks
Your heart will open wide
That you will recognize His voice
And follow as His Bride.

(Photo credit: Shaunda Stoltzfus)

A Little Update on My Life

Christmas vacation is coming to an end...and this evening as I sit at the computer working on our school schedule I realize I am ready to again take up the challenge of teaching my sisters. One of the biggest changes for me in 2008 was going from student to teacher. But I am still learning so much every day...as a direct result of teaching. :-)

Now for some pictures (surprise, surprise!)...


This would be the graduating class of 2008 from Faith Builders Christian School. (Wow, that seems like so long ago, but I still miss these people!)

Here are some pics of my students (who also happen to be my sweet sisters)...


Miss Veronica working on...something. I don't always let my students lounge on the sofa. :-)


And the budding scientist observing a mixture...or is it a solution?


And I couldn't find any pictures of Miriam doing schoolwork, but here she is. :-)


Have a wonderful 2009!