a favorite christmas tradition...

I have so many favorites, but that's my sentimentality coming into play. Here are a few examples of how this momma goes cuckoo-crazy on the Christmas traditions...

I love to pick out our LIVE tree from the same local tree farmer here in town. My favorite trees are tall and round with short needles. The girls each have their idea of a good tree. So, now that they're older, I have to bite my tongue when allowing them to pick the tree. I do give hints and oohs and ahhs are appropriately doled out to the trees of my choosing during the picking process...I can't help it. How can one be completely silent when choosing

THE tree?

The "my how these girls have grown this year" Christmas card picture. This year's was done on an extremely chilly blustery day. Sorry girls, no coats, or hats, or mitts. Momma needs to see those cutesy gingerbread shirts she slaved over to get finished in time for Christmas card pictures. Nobody was frost-bitten and I did leave the van running for good measure...

On Christmas Eve, right before bed, the girls open one gift. It is always a new set of pajamas. Even though they know it's coming, they still love the surprise of what the jammies will look like. Obviously, Calla was a tad excited!

The girls wake up to their stockings on their bedposts. They open them right as they wake up for the morning, bedhead and all...

The Christmas story first. Before any presents are unwrapped from under the tree, we read Luke 2. This year Calla read for us.

And perhaps my favorite tradition is one that was not even set up by me. But as you can see, I am a sucker for tradition. My father-in-law loves listening to his grandkids sing. Several years ago, he started asking each grandchild what Christmas song they would like to sing. All of the adults join in and we sing one song for each grandchild. I love to see what each one will choose. Amelia chose "Jingle Bells" this year. She's my budding theologian. Calla chose "We Three Kings." I was surprised to see most of the kids knew the words. I wondered if I even knew all of the words to the first verse.

So, I love Christmas and all of it's traditions. I even left out a few. A new ornament for each child each year. Hot breakfast after all the gifts are opened. I think I've stopped introducing new traditions - for now. I so enjoy Christmas...

"a peanut butter christmas"

Because our service was cancelled for the week of our adult cantata, we put it on the following week instead. We were without our 12 college extension students, but I felt it was completed very well. It seemed we were all in the right key anyway...Best of all, the message of the gospel was clearly presented and people were blessed. So, the "Merry Christma" ties are put away and stored until next year's cantata. ( yes, it is spelled incorrectly...that' s how we got the ties at such a clearance price...)

For several years we have had a simple children's Christmas program at our church. The kiddos sing a few songs and we are done. Last year, after not being able to have a Christmas program at all, we had two wonderful ladies volunteer to take on the program for 2010. The effort was extremely evident. The songs and readings were practiced for months so that even our 3 Veldman 4-year olds knew the songs by heart.

The reader's theater was "A Peanut Butter Christmas." Calla had a part and did a tremendous job. She had to be a little sassy and had no problem stretching her acting skills in that direction. :) It was a busy couple weeks preparing for the two programs, but the outcome was tremendous. We will probably have enough energy to start it all over again 9 months from now...

christmas is the time...

friday, huh?

So this week has come to an end.

Calla is out of school for two full weeks. Woop! We love having our Calla-girl home.

The preparations for our children's program are finalized. Well, the church responsibilities are done. Our practice and Sunday School party are finished. This lazy mom still has some sewing and twirling and tulle-ing to do so that my little ladies are dressed to the nines by program time.

Our adult cantata was cancelled last week due to crazy snowstorms. We will attempt to put it on this Sunday instead. After I teach Sunday School. Without a dozen college extension students who have now made their way home for Christmas break. Without a practice in over a week. But God is sovereign and will be glorified if we are performing for the right reasons.

I have finally taken care of a long-standing issue with my knee. After 5 doctor appointments in a week and a half, I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday of next week to have a ganglion cyst removed. I will gingerly walk to each Christmas activity and spend a bit more time on the couch next weekend.

So, this weekend will bring just as much activity and responsibility as the past few weeks have held. But I will take time in the busy-ness to "Be still, and know I am God." After all, that is what we're busy for...

a word fitly spoken...or not...

So, I often have things that I think about saying and quickly realize that it might not be the right company to express my thoughts to. Case in point...

As I treacherously tiptoed across a labyrinth like parking lot that was so mucky and slushy that the once-gleaming-white-but-now-nasty-brown snow seeped through my leather shoes and soaked my toes, I thought, "Slushy parking lots are depressing and totally squelch the Christmas spirit."

Luckily, I thought that this sentiment was better suited for a friend-to-friend conversation rather than the clerk who was possibly responsible for making sure the parking lot was cleared. No need to squelch two people's Christmas spirits...

oh baby, it's coooold outside...

Our computer weather reader tells me it's -13 degrees outside. Our van thermometer read a balmy -4 degrees.

I had bundled up kiddos with warm fleece blankets wrapped around their legs trekking through the snow and ice -packed streets while our van chug, chug, chugged to try and warm up.

I have to admit that these bitter cold days have a tendency to make me very discontent.

Oh for a garage to warm up our car.

Oh, for a van that didn't creek and groan in the cold.

Oh, for a van that didn't have trouble switching gears once the weather turns under 45 degrees.

Oh, for tires that weren't so bald that I feel like I am ice skating rather than driving.

But I can only be discontent so long. I have a hard time feeling sorry for myself. How could I possibly be discontent when I have been given such a life! I am so blessed.

I have a van.

It gets warm in the 5 minute ride to school.

My kids all have numerous coats and hats and gloves to choose from.

If our clothes aren't warm enough, we have closets full of other choices.

We have a warm house to exit to our awaiting warming chariot - just a 15 step jaunt in this amazingly cold weather.

No walking to school for us.

No bus waiting to take my kids to school. I get to be home and be their driver.

We can afford to replace our bald tires.

And 10 minutes later, we can come home. 10 minutes.

So, I'll take a lesson. Satan would love to steal my joy today. But God would love to reveal to me a gigantic list of blessings...

busy little bees...

Where does a week of time go?

It is so easy to fret away a few days. Sewing. Errands hither and yon. Fundraisers. Kids. ER trip. The flu. A child with the flu. More sewing. More errands.

Yep. That about sums up my last few days. And I'm tired. But the house is quiet and I may do some sewing, interrupted only by Mr. Bocelli's melodious voice...

Let's go pick out our tree!

Running through the rows.

Calla and Daddy measuring to see if the tree will fit in our corner.

My girls with their pick of the year.

Oh, the sacrifices we mommas make when allowing our children to do the tree picking!

My tree prerequisites...

tall - check

full - no check

round - no check

long-ish needles - no check

Amelia's pride and smile knowing she got to pick her tree - o.k., that deserves a big check mark!

The stockings are hung...

The girls' stockings are hung on our make-shift mantle.

My gorgeous nativity is making an appearance for its first Christmas. My wonderful Momma bought me the set for my birthday and I have patiently waited two months

to put it out for display.

This is a fantastic Santa ceramic my talented Grandma painted years ago.

It is among my favorite decorations.

This lovely angel tree had a place in my Mother's home while I was growing up. It reminds me of her and my childhood Christmases whenever I set it out.

I thoroughly enjoy pulling out my Christmas decorations each year. I have somewhat thinned out the excess adornments and narrowed it down to the beautiful and the nostalgic. Each one brings me joy as I set it on a shelf. I love Christmas decorations because I love Christmas and all it brings with it...

December is in full swing...

We walked out of the house today to see snowflakes. Sticking to the ground and the van.

Oi vay!

Here it comes...

( I will admit, in a very low whisper, that the first few snowflakes are quite beautiful.)

I marveled at the precious little flakes that stuck to my windshield.

They really are a marvelous creation.

The girls sang the word "snoooooooow" all the way to school.

I am thankful that our first real snowflags have waited until December to make their appearance. And now I find myself dreaming of a White Christmas...

A very Veldman Thanksgiving...

a day o' fun

We took a trip to the Children's Museum for the day. It is pretty dinky compared to the Appleton version, but it was still a barrel of fun. I think I most enjoyed the quality time spent with my girls. I love watching them in imaginative play!

Then we skipped down the street to the chocolate shop. Lots to look at and choose from. My goofy kids chose the movie box candy over the handmade truffles,

but it was wonderful just the same.

frogger...

I have been meaning to get video of Nora's "crawl" before she starts walking. Well, here it is!

imaginations...

Having Calla home from school for a week provides several new scenarios.

We can sleep in as long as our one-year old will allow.

We can stay in our jammies until crazy hours - all the while hoping nobody plans to drop in and surprise us.

The best part is having Calla and Amelia being able to play together for long periods of time.

Today they were in full imagination mode. They built a makeshift fort on Amelia's bed and proceed to make all kinds of stories as to why they had this incredible fort.

Princesses. Robbers. Secret far-away lands.

On our ride home from running errands, they played a rousing game of "shout-out-any-color-you-see." It was a great idea...until you enter in the fact that our trip home is almost all country roads. Amelia shouted out several colors while Calla kept shouting "brown.brown. brown. broooooooooooooooown." Then she looked to the sky and started into, "Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue." Ok. time for a new game.

At home, more books were read in the fort. Playdoh cookies were made. So much fun.

And there's another day filled with opportunity coming again tomorrow...

Harvest Program, 2010 style...

Every year, our fabulous-o elementary teacher (she is actually the reigning WACS teacher-of-the-year 2010) writes two programs for our school kids. One in the fall and another one for the spring. They are always amazingly written. Wonderfully thought out. Each child is showcased in different ways. We often comment that she could copyright these programs and sell them. They are marvelous!

This year's Harvest Program was no exception. She wrote two different dramatic readings and interspersed several songs for the students to sing. One highlighted the elementary. One had several girls doing sign language in the center of the stage (What a blessing to see my 7-year-old using a skill that is close to my heart!)

And then the clincher...a duet! A surprise duet!

Calla and her cousin singing a duet. It was beautiful. They were so calm. It brought tears to these eyes. I am thankful, and more often than just at Thanksgiving, for a teacher and staff that are helping to instill character traits and spiritual values in our daughter. What a tremendous gift to have a school that reiterates the morals we are teaching at home! What an outstanding blessing to have a daughter who already displays a heart full of talents being used for the Lord...

ouch, that's smarts...

Nora Kate is climbing the stairs now with reckless abandon. I still follow her up, because she has yet to master the trip back down the stairs.

I have always boasted that my girls have never fallen down the stairs. Now, they have had their share of bruised shins from tripping UP the stairs! So I am hoping my baby girl can master the stairs just as well as the other two did.

Their momma, on the other hand, still has some practicing to do. Yesterday, after waking the slumbering cubs, I went to go get breakfast assembled. My sleepy, sock-clad foot slipped out from under me. I didn't fall down the stairs. I flew up and landed straight on the step. I yelped and moaned for a few minutes. Boy, did that make the kiddos leap out of bed! I got dizzy and threw up. I called in the reinforcements to take Calla to school. The rest of the day, I gingerly walked around or sat on a heating pad. No food. A nasty headache. Lots of pain meds. I am feeling better today. Bending over seems to be the most precarious.

So maybe I'll have Cory be the the one to teach Nora how to master her descent on the stairs...

Snowflags...

Oh the signs of winter are all around us! I wish I could anticipate the coming season with as much excitement as my children. Calla started praying for snow weeks ago. She always gets a twinkle in her eye when she asks about the first snow fall. The girls have asked me numerous times, "When is it gonna be winter?" "I can't say. It could be anytime. It's almost here. One morning we'll wake up and it will be snowing," I answer in my best feigned excitement voice. Winter... That first snowfall used to bring such glee. It is beautiful. But I can't help but think of the dreary brown slushy snow days that follow. The long winter months of shoveling my way to the van to start heating it up and scrape the windows. Trudging through the snow every morning with a gaggle of sleepyhead girls and a bundled up baby on my hip. Long, cold days with no desire to take the wee lasses out anywhere. Mucky parking lots. Red, chapped cheeks and hands on my thumb-sucking baby. Winter... So I'll try to take tips from the girlies. I'll get excited to see that first snow. I'll try to get excited about sledding and snowmen. And I'll be thankful for the wonder of snowflakes, or snowflags, as Amelia has taken to calling them. Because I obviously need an attitude adjustment about winter...

an art project...

I had the students make a "blessings scroll" as part of our art project today. They made a rough draft on lined paper and then made a final copy. We were brainstorming about the types of blessings they could write about. Not a single student had any trouble coming up with a pretty hefty list of blessings. I was hoping they would be interesting and end up as "keepsake" material. With a little hot glue and some twigs, miniature pine cones, and acorns from my in-laws yard, they turned out so cute! Calla's list of blessings had me grinning. They are obviously in no particular order. I was glad that Cory and I made the list in front of the Playstation Move...

if I only had a horse...

Amelia spent the better part of ten minutes telling me how much she wants a horse.

I told her that we don't have room for a horse at our house anyway. She promptly let me know that she wanted to move.

When I told her horses cost a lot of money, she explained that when she gets older and has a lot, and a lot, and a lot (I'll spare you her 2 dozen "a lots") of money, she is going to buy a horse.

She'll feed it and clean up it's poops and braid it's hair.

"I really want a horse. Please, Mom, If you get me a horse, I'll get you a book. Or some flowers. Or maybe just a picture of flowers."

Deal.

a little too coordinated...

So she figured out where my Sunday School bag was hidden. She went straight for the candy bag, found her choice of flavor, unwrapped it and started enjoying her treat. Look at that smile and contentment! Stinker...

taking a breath of fresh, thankful air...

Head out to the van!

Winter coat with the hood pulled up on this balmy fall morning. Nightgown. No socks with last night's dress shoes. We get Calla to school in some of the craziest outfits, but we're usually the only ones who see it. I have resolved to get dressed each morning, because it is inevitable that the morning I have my pajamas and white tube socks on is the same morning my neighbor is out with his dog. Or Calla can't get the school door opened on her own and I have to humble myself and get out of the van to help her. Two or three embarrassing encounters have reformed me to at least make sure I am assembled decently.

On the trip home, I was sighing in contentment. Amelia sang "Oh, be careful little mind what you think..." continually on the 5 minute trip home. She stopped a few times to explain to me what each verse meant. "Like, when we think, 'I don't want to go to church, God!' Right, Mom?" Out of the mouth of babes! I am so thankful for a church full of workers who are teaching my children these theology-laden songs and their meanings.

I also watched as neighbors walked to work and waved at each other. As different city workers and companies were fixing up our beautiful little town. As I realized I can drive home on a route that is all stop signs and rural streets instead of stoplight after stoplight and gridlock traffic. I am so thankful for our sleepy little town. I am thankful for family and friends who live around us.

I am thankful for life today. Thank you, Lord, for the life you have given to this lowly child of yours...

a date with the love of my life...

A girlfriend and I swapped babysitting. We both had a desire to spend some alone time with our hubby. So it was set. Free babysitting. Free dinner through a loyalty program card. An impromptu concert we heard about on the radio. It was wonderful. We were amazed at how quiet a dinner can be without little ones interrupting to go potty or asking a bazillion questions or spilling sodas or generally being children. We love our kids. We love being with our kids. But we love our relationship with each other enough to take some time away. It doesn't happen nearly as often as we'd like it to, but it sure does seem sweet when we do get away. Even just 12 miles away. It is still precious time to sit with my love. Talk without interruption. Hold his hand and listen to music in a beautiful theater. It was nice to be able to remind myself that I am so madly in love...

mto...

Mom's Time Out...a wonderful ministry to the ladies in our church with kids under the age of 10.

It's a break from every day. No kids allowed for about 2 hours. They feed us breakfast. And I'm not talking cereal on the quick as you head to the kitchen or out the door. Biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs with sausage and potatoes, breads, coffee...yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, deliciouso! (yes, that was a Dora reference in my "no kids allowed" post).

We have a talented lady come in each month and show us how to do or make something. This morning my dear friend and her daughter came to show us how to make those neat, decorative, lighted glass blocks. Plus they had some fabulous tips for giving gifts this holiday season. Remembering to make lists and suggest lists from others...it always sounds so logical, but I often wonder if I sound greedy if I hand people a list. And I often don't receive any lists back either. This year, I have already begun a list and will attempt to have it completed and sent out before everyone is done with their Christmas shopping.

We then are challenged, as mothers, through God's Word. I have found myself having a desire to change a few areas in my life as of late. One of them is the words I speak to others. And as He is prone to do, communication was our topic this morning. Just as a fire, when it is controlled and contained, can be a blessing and a help, so can our words be a blessing and help to others if they are controlled and contained. When we allow our words to go uncontrolled, they will cause irreparable damage in a short amount of time just like that flame of fire. We also discussed some of things people have been heard to say out of bitterness or jealousy or anger. Some things are said because of fear. But all of our words come from the "abundance of our heart." What are my words displaying? I also realized that in situations when I feel my words are foolish and I'd love to take them back as soon as they escape my lips, it is because I have not bathed that conversation in prayer. When I speak to a grieving person, or a hurting friend, instead of talking off the cuff, I should be prayerfully considering my words before I speak them. The more compassion and love and prayer I show toward that person, the easier the words of comfort will flow forth. I envy those around me that have a gift of encouragement. How often they have encouraged me through kind words? And I am reminded, their words of kindness come from a genuinely compassionate heart that has been praying for me. If I desire to speak wisely, I must first have a compassionate heart.

I love our church. I love Mom's Time Out. I love my Lord and all He is teaching me...

get ready...

Up the first step...

In the garbage...

Look out! She's getting into mischief. I will point out that both moments captured on film were in the morning before we were even dressed for the day. Wonderfully, she is still at the stage that the word "no" is shocking. She will be set to tears even if the word is aimed at someone else. Oh, to keep that innocence. Her favorite mischief musings are the garbage can - I mean really how many treasures do we throw away, right! - the kleenex box, and the picture frames. A house full of toys, but oh the unexplored is so much more intriguing...

update...simply to reiterate...

See what I mean...time to get off the ol' computer, eh?

A second trip...

Ah, the first day of school. Such excitement and anticipation. Everything was prepared and ready, and she quickly flew through her morning tasks and was out the door in record time. FAST FORWARD to this week...

"Do I have to get up? I barely fell asleep." Calla, eat your breakfast. Calla, get your clothes on. Calla, brush your hair and teeth. Calla, get your coat on. Calla, grab your bags. Calla, did you grab your lunch? No, I forgot...three times this week! Could you please drop it off before snack time?

What to do?

I took one morning last week and told her it was completely her responsibility to do everything without being told. She did wonderfully. But the next morning the novelty had worn off and it was back to poking and prodding for each step. I don't make her do everything. I choose her outfit and lay it out. On slow mornings, I actually aide her in getting dressed like an Indian aya. I make her breakfast and pack her lunch. Lately I have even been brushing her hair and pulling out her toothbrush for her. So why is it so hard to grab your stuff?

Once was a complete surprise. I received an email from her teacher and didn't see it until after lunch. She survived on her compassionate classmates offerings. Then two more times in a row. The meanie in me says, "Too bad! You'll have to not eat lunch today." Then the momma in me grabs the lunch and takes it to school. Grace. God gives me grace.

But He also desires me to be responsible. So there will be a small discussion when she gets home that the "meanie" will win out next time. An empty tummy may be a much better teacher...

wishing...

I am learning in the recent months to be thankful for the little things. My grandmother use to say, "Don't wish your life away." Enjoy what is happening now instead of wishing time would speed up to that one event you are waiting for. I have always been one to look forward to something special and hone in on that single event until it happened. I am realizing the error of that mindset. How much do I miss in the daily happenings when I am waiting for something else? How often do I put things off because I they aren't as important as that one thing I'm waiting for.

Time is flying by me. November already! I would love to revel in this month. Each day. This holiday season will be busy enough. I want to be sure to hit the slow motion button daily to enjoy God's blessings. Every day moments become life's most precious memories...

flexibility...

Yesterday, early morning, I received a phone call that Calla's teacher was sick. Could I help out in the classroom? I would love to! My mother-in-law graciously watched the other two girls so that I could practice being the teacher. I miss the classroom every once in a while. I was able to assist the aide for the late morning and afternoon. I have intentionally blocked out all of the memories of the preparation involved in keeping a classroom running smoothly. Miss Brill has mastered the art of preparation. She puts me to shame. Everything was already written on the board, papers were pulled and in the proper folders, desks were straightened and set for Monday morning. It made a substitute's job easy-peasy-lemon squeezie! I enjoyed spending time in the classroom...for one day at least!

His protection...

Tonight I had one of the scariest moments as a mother I could have ever imagined. For a moment my whole world stopped. Nora was gone. In a store. For several minutes. I had naively assumed she was right behind me as I sat with my back to the doorway. "Calla, where is Nora?" No one had seen her exit the room. As panic set in, my heart shut down. The room was spinning and I was praying.

Lord, protect my little one.

Please keep her safe.

Let her be around the next rack of clothes.

Those 90 seconds will forever be burned into my memory. Her little laughter as she realized we were looking for her. Calling her. How thankful I am that she responded to our calls. There are so many lessons I learned from those 5 minutes this evening. So many. But after the emotional storm raged and settled, I rested on thankfulness to a God who loves my little one more than I do. A God who protects His sheep. I am truly thankful...

my prerogative...

A stay-at-home mom can not call in sick to work. She can, however, have the situation that all of her kiddos are sick at the same time she is. Yep. That's our house today. Nora Kate claimed the cold first. By today, Amelia and I were stuffy nosed right along with her. So, even though I can't call in a sick day, I can lounge around in the warm house. Early naptime. Light lunch. Maybe some yummy pumpkin bread baking in the oven just to make the house smell delish. I'm a stay-at-home mom. I can do with my sick day whatever I please. Well, at least whatever the sick-but-don't-act-sick daughters allow me to do...

A year has come and gone. It is always enlightening to gauge a full year when you celebrate another child's birthday. I enjoyed the hooplah. I enjoyed the guests, thoroughly. And now, on the eve of the true birth-day, I contemplate what I have done with the last year. Nora is on the verge of walking when last year I had not even held her in my arms. Calla and Amelia are learning by leaps and bounds. Bible verses. Spelling lists. Everyday life lessons. A year! God has blessed in so many ways. I have failed in so many more. A full year of our lives is over. But as I look backward and think of all the things that have come and gone, I only look for a moment. For tomorrow, I have a new year to begin. What will it hold? It will undoubtedly speed by even faster than the years before it. So am I going to use it wisely? Starting tomorrow. Yes...

a pain...

So, I have a pain. In my side. A real one, not the beginning of a pun or funny joke-joke. It's hung around for over a day now, so I called in dial-a nurse for advice. All she did was give me an anxiety attack. "My advice to you is to hang up with me and dial 9-1-1 and head to the emergency room. Ma'am, is this what you plan to do?" Umm. No. I'll wait for my husband and then head to the urgent care building down the street.

Bloodwork. A thorough question and answer session. Nothing deeming an emergency appendectomy or anything else super scary. So I get to take some strong pain meds and rest until my family doc can see me tomorrow. Maybe the pain will go away. Maybe I'm just being a wimp. Maybe I'll just take advantage of some seriously peaceful sleep that I feel coming on...

a season of change...

Sometimes I have to take a step away from my emotions and realize that God has a purpose. My emotions, as well as Satan, want me to get all wrapped up in sadness or confusion or depression. But change is a part of life.

I have two very close friends. The "kindred spirit" type of friends. We share the same stage of life. We share similar personalities. We share the same morals and spiritual standards. Through these similarities, we have also shared countless late nights laughing, mornings chatting, and evenings crying our burdens to each other. The best of friends. God saw fit to move one of my dear friends away to another ministry. I cried. And I still cry when I miss her. Distance cannot change the fact that we will always be friends, but it does change the level of friendship. Gone are the days of stopping in unannounced or a trip to Target just to get away.

I was told last week that my other friend is moving, too. Her hubby has been offered a job that will allow them to fulfill several desires for their lives.

I am excited for them, but sad for myself. I can have full confidence that God will help her flourish. They are just where God wants them to be. And then I get sad or angry or confused. And I could stay in that emotion. It's easiest to allow my emotions to run wild. I am, after all, a woman. But I am also a child of God. I have a joy unspeakable...full of glory. I should be able to have a peace in the midst of life's storms. And I do. I know I am in the exact place God would have me to be. He has a purpose for me right here. I have always been the one who moves. It is exciting to see somewhere new. To meet new people. To see where God is leading. I have never been the one who stays. It is different, but God is still leading. He is still in control. We sang this song last night in service.

My life I give to you, O Lord, use me I pray.

May I glorify your precious name

In all I do and say.

Let me trust you in the valley dark

As well as in the light.

Knowing you will always lead me,

Your will is always right.

I know God makes no mistakes.

He leads in every path I take.

Along the way that's leading me to home

Though at times my heart would break,

There's a purpose to every change He makes.

So that others may see my life and know

That God makes no mistakes.

And when someday in heaven above,

I see His dear face.

May I then be counted faithful

as a runner in this race.

Now I'm trusting in the Savior

To show me the way.

In His righteousness He guides me,

As I seek to please Him day by day.

I know God makes no mistakes.

He leads in every path I take.

Along the way that's leading me to home.

Though at times my heart would break,

There's a purpose in every change He makes.

So that others may see my life and know

That God makes no mistakes.

So I will still be sad. I will still miss my friends. But I will glory in a God who loves me and knows the path that lies ahead of me.

the craft sale numero uno...

We had a great turn out, some amazing compliments, and a profit. Not to mention, my dear friend and I were able to sit and chat and laugh. We have already put our fee in for sitting the sale again next year. Although, I do want to let my nerves settle a bit and let my burned knuckles heal before I make too many more bows in the near future...