The Path to My Woods--my Xanga

In case you haven't checked it out, I have made following my blogging life a little more complicated for you ( : If you haven't walked on the path to my woods, you might enjoy following the posts over there too. Just click here:
http://www.xanga.com/thinkerbel

The Amazing Dish Machine

For my entire married life I have washed dishes by hand, taking, as I see it, valuable time at the sink that I could be spending with my family. (Besides, does anyone really enjoy this tedious task?) Many times I have used the dishes as a way of burning off steam and having some time to think through some frustrations or just bang around a few cups and bowls. But I am in no way attached to this sort of anger management therapy. So a few months ago, my husband bought me a cute little countertop dishwasher as a birthday present.

During the days we waited for our new servant to be delivered, I talked to the kids about how wonderful it would be to put the dishes in the machine and let it do the work so I would have more time to spend with them. My son came home from school on the day of the delivery and upon seeing the dishwasher exclaimed excitedly, with sparkling eyes, "Your dishwasher is here??!! Yay!, now you have more time to spend with us!"

But today I had to take a minute to jot down my older daughter's take on the wonderful new machine, after overhearing a conversation with a friend playing at our house:
Peach: "Sometimes I help my mom with work around the house."
Friend: "Yeah, sometimes I help my mom with the dishes."
Peach: "I don't because my mom doesn't do the work. She has an Amazing Dish Machine who does the work for her! So she has time to spend with us!"

What a refreshing thought. A little reminder not to take forgranted our Amazing Machines that do so much work for us! So, may we take joy in the few short minutes it takes to load the washing machine or empty the dishwasher or toss a few ingredients in the slow-cooker. (Now I just need an automatic sock folder!) ( :

Good Friends

If you have read much of what I post you know already that I am a bit sentimental. I have good reason to be, because I have been blessed time and again with the dearest of friends and a precious family.

I recieved an email yesterday from my college roommate, Kristi, announcing her recent engagement. It is amazing how a flood of warm feelings and smiles can overwhelm you from just a few written words and a picture of a good friend's smiling face. I just want to take a minute to say this young lady is one of the sweetest and most gentle souls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. And I am thankful for the time we shared as roommates. I remember the night of my first date with Luke, the man who would eventually be my husband. I returned to our dorm room all filled up with a gush of excitement and feelings, plopped down on her bed and poured out my heart to her. Throughout those months she was a patient ear to my "gushing," in the whirlwind of falling
in love. I think that's one reason I enjoyed reading her email so much. Hmmmn. Life is so much sweeter with dear friends who can celebrate with us and cry with us and laugh with us. Today I'm celebrating! Congratulations, Kri!

Peach and Daisy

Just had to post these pictures of my gals! Several months ago, my oldest daughter began calling herself Peach and her little sister Daisy. It's always fun to hear them playing and seeing little sister responding to her new nickname almost as quickly as her given name.

Lesson 2: Listen More, Talk Less

As a zealous, somewhat long-winded 19-year-old, I was given the unexpected opportunity to be camp counselor to a cabin full of teenage girls at a district church camp. Being my enthusiastic self, I was very excited to be well recieved and liked by the girls in my cabin and took every opportunity given to pour out my words of wisdom gained by my few years of life experience. Looking back, I'm guessing that I gained more from my orations than the girls. In fact, I'm willing to bet that I really did take away a greater life lesson than any one of those gals who sat figiting, counting ceiling tiles waiting for me to finish talking.
One young lady in my cabin stood out from among the rest and made a lasting impression on me as a person. One evening as I was out walking by myself she came up to me and asked if she could talk with me. Of course, I was expecting her to ask me advise or something like that. Well, I was surprised when she said to me in a very gentle way, " Ruth, I really like you, but you talk too much. You need to learn when you've said enough." Those may not be her exact words but they were her exact sentiments. Constructive critism is a tough pill to swallow. Having someone point out your faults really hurts. But this young lady, in her boldness and honesty, endeared herself to me forever because of her wisdom and gentleness. Her words opened up a whole new area of growth in me....learning to embrace a gentle and quiet spirit, learning to listen, to think and be wise about my words and to say more by saying less. Thanks, Jill. Your kindness has left an imprint on my life and I can never forget you!

"Our 24 Family Ways"

Yesterday my six -year-old son asked me, "Mom, do you think you could make me a list of my jobs so I could do them without having to be asked?" What more need I say? It is really a blessing to see such signs of maturity in our children.

For anyone interested in some great reading on the topic of parenting, may I suggest anything written by Sally and Clay Clarkson? I have been encouraged and equipped by their books. My children and I are particularly enjoying their Our 24 Family Ways color book right now. We are reading and discussing each "family way" and corresponding picture, working on memorizing each and applying them to our daily lives. I have seen some great results in all of us!

Lesson 1: Make Your Bed

After graduating from high school I attended a one-year Bible Institute before moving on to college. I have many great memories from that year: good friends, fun times and some heartbreakers too. But I have to admit that the one item of advice that left the deepest impression on me that year was given by an elderly lady named Eldine Shaw. Her words still come to mind nearly every morning when I rise and have taught me diligence in everyday menial tasks and to take pride in my home. She repeated the mantra to us insistently, printing it into our subconscious: "Make your bed everyday out of self-respect." I admit that occasionally a day goes by that I fail in this minute detail. The lesson, however, remains: diligence, self-discipline and self-respect begin with small things.

Invaluable Lessons for an Interesting Journey

Life is an interesting journey. Along the way many experiences and people leave indelible impressions on our character, challenging us to grow, changing us forever. I have been blessed in my time to have known a few people who, most unwittingly I think, made that sort of lasting mark on me. I mean those sort of individuals who come into your life, even for a very short time (usually so) and leave knowing little of the remarkable imprint they have left behind. It is amazing to me how a life is molded by these experiences, a kind word, a thoughtful act, a bit of wisdom, a little constructive criticism...yikes! I am thankful for the experiences and the people who have helped to shape my life. So the next few posts will be dedicated to reminising some highlights that I consider noteworthy.

Honor and Wisdom

A nice visit over a few hot cups of tea with good friends last night left me refreshed and encouraged: My thoughts turned towards noble ideals and the priviledge of leading our little ones along the path of wisdom and instilling in them a love for truth. There are three words that seem to define our persuit as a family: truth, wisdom and honor.
I am always speaking to my children of my desire to see them grow in wisdom. Our simple definition of wisdom: knowing what is right and doing what is right. Giving children the desire to grow in wisdom empowers them to make good and thoughtful choices.

"Who among you is wise and understanding?

Let him show by his good behavior his deeds

in the gentleness of wisdom...

The wisdom from above is first pure,

then peacable, gentle, reasonable,

full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace

by those who make peace."

James 3:13,17-18

As a mother, it is one of my highest priorities is to teach my children the virtue of honoring one another. The word honor encapsules the ideas of respecting, esteeming, cherishing, prizing one another. This is the critical foundation of family life. Children need to know that God has given them their parents to care for, protect and teach them and given them siblings to love, protect, play with, learn with, work with.

These are just a few thoughts that I've been dwelling on. Now I need to build a block fortress with my daughter who is diligently repeating, "It's taking you a long time. Please. Por favor. Please. Por favor." (thank you, Dora for the Spanish lessons.)

And her name is...

Ella Rose....lovely.

Congratulations Seth and Olivia

Joel, Gracie, and Chloe!

She is beautiful!