Where have I been?!?

Really! Just wanderin' around, I guess, lol. Not even caring to check in with my buds. I have been reading your posts, though I'm sure I have a little catching up to do.

Well, I haven't been up to anything particularly earthshaking. It seems like the days just fly by and I'm not sure what became of them.

I've spent one Wednesday afternoon helping package up craft supplies for VBS. We probably have another couple of days worth of work to get that all done. Today was my second time to practice with my fellow singers for leading worship. Worship is a very unpolished thing at this little church, but they do welcome anyone who wants to participate in leading. We had a mixture of adults and kids. We use YouTube videos with lyrics on the contemporary songs (2) and then the rest is hymns. In recent years I've been used to churches with "worship bands" who took care of all of this. This little church has a pianist and an organist, so in an attempt to please some of the younger members we've added some contemporary songs. Like I say, unpolished, but everyone is enthusiastic! I still have a way to go as far as "rehabilitating" my vocal cords which have suffered from lack of use, lol.

In Sunday School we're working on scripture memorization and I decided to incorporate a little artwork with my memorization. I had a  journal sitting empty and I decided I would write my verses in it as I memorized them, and draw a little illustration. No reference photos allowed; just a doodle out of my head.  Isaiah 26:3 is next in line.

I've been doing a lot of reading. I just finished The Oath by Frank Peretti, and am still working on The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis.

 While reading The Oath, I came across a tiny little folded bit of paper which appeared to have been tucked in the book for many years. (The is a library book sale find.) So, I unfolded it and what should appear but this...A drawing of some guy! He now resides with my collage bits. I may just glue him into a collage someday. I couldn't bring myself to throw him in the trash!

I have a hankering to begin reading The Works of Josephus, but the printing is so tiny. Maybe... I certainly have no shortage of books to choose from! Also making steady progress in my Bible. What a blessing!

My little grandson Nathan, who's eight years old, is back at the residential treatment place. He just got out of there a couple of weeks ago. He's been having problems again with episodes of anger and it's kind of reached scary levels. Please send up a
prayer for him and my dear son and daughter-in-law. I contacted a cousin in Texas who I know is a prayer warrior and he told me he and his wife had gone through exactly the same thing with their daughter many years back. He invited Josh and Jess to contact him for support. That in itself is a gift from God! As my cousin said, it's such a relief just to talk to someone who's gone through what you're experiencing.

I've unearthed the notes for a YA (or is it a 'tween?) novel I've been making notes on for about 10 years (LOL) and scribbled a few more. I keep talking myself out of even attempting a book. Does the world need another book? I ask. We shall see.

I've begun drying some of my violas for use in collages. 

 I see so many pretty wildflowers when walking on the trail, but I'm sure there's probably a law against picking them. I did see what I figure must be the last columbine of the season and I quickly snatched it up and stuffed it in my pocket! (It was in an area that had been mowed, so I figure it's fair game! It's not our state flower or anything.)

 Lastly, I made this little kingfisher card for an ATC buddy.

Everyone have a safe 4th!
Shalom and love to all!

It's a grey Friday here...

We have low hanging clouds and perhaps some drizzle forecast for the day. It's 8:30 a.m. and I already need a nap! It seems like no matter what time I go to bed (9:30 last night) I wake up at about 4:30. It's already getting light and the birds are waking up by that time. Theoretically that looks like enough hours of sleep, but I don't sleep soundly. Anyway, not complaining. A nap will do the trick. Just not quite yet! 

On Wednesday Micah took her crew into town for a park play date with some other moms from her MOPS group. (Mothers of Preschoolers) They don't meet officially in the summer, so the moms decided to get together every week or two for a Bible study at the park while the kids play. There are a couple of older girls (12 or 13 years old) who keep an eye on the smaller kids. While they were gone I dropped by Micah's house (my future trailer home) and did some housework. By the way, Micah doesn't expect me to help with housework. I'm pushy. With all of her kids, and one on the way, life can get pretty exhausting. Besides, it's fun for me! After I finished I sat down and watched a movie, (they have Netflix!) and then I took a few pictures outside. I know I've shown similar pics in the past, but I just love my future yard! The sun glinting off of the green leaves and the breeze fluttering through the branches...well, I never tire of looking at it. I'm so looking forward to living out here!

A 180* of the front yard...

And the back yard...

 The grass in the back yard is long because Adam doesn't have a small lawnmower that works at the moment and he can't get in there with the rider. But it's just as well, because the kids find a lot of butterflies and caterpillars and other nature in there when the grass is long. I tried to avoid the toy clutter, swing set and trampoline in my shots, lol.

They have a cute little barn with a heated floor that the dogs can get in and out of in winter. And the outdoor wood stove is to the right of that little wood stack, hidden by the trees.

I've just noticed recently that the comments aren't showing up in my email. They have been in the past, but something must have changed. Anyone else having that happen?

I had a little meeting with the lady who's in charge of VBS at church. Pastor Dawn works part-time at our church and also travels to work at some other area churches. She's in charge of children's ministries such as VBS and release time during the school year. Probably also Junior Worship, as we call Sunday School. It looks like I'll be helping to get craft supplies organized for an expected 75 kids and I'll also help with registration. I also got a tour of the church, so now I know where everything is located. Good to know!

I just finished Mere Christianity. Yay! I loved it and will read it again. Now for some fluff! Yes, I've become quite the Julie Klassen fan. :)

It's now 11:30. Yeah, uploading photos is taking forever again! So, I'm ready for lunch. Just one more photo of a recent ATC.  This is for a swap called Weird Country Music Song Titles. I'm working on a few more that I'll show later.

Happy weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Shalom.

Glorious weekend!

The main event yesterday was walking on the trail. I took a two mile walk, then made a trip to Walmart for some things, and then upon my return I decided to get my camera and return to the trail. As usual, I forgot to take my camera with me the first time, and since I had seen so many pretty flowers, I decided to go back and take some pictures. I only walked a mile the second time; just hitting the high points. I'd like to make a painting of the wild roses, so I tried to get some close-ups.

A lovely wild rose. This one would be a good model for my painting!

 

There were also lots of nice columbines.

Of course, poison ivy is always abundant. Leaves of three; let it be!

Looking down from the bike trail to the horse trail.

That way to the resort.

That country road parallels the trail for a few miles and you can see Lake Belletaine beyond it.

A shortcut to someone's lake home.

Purple vetch?

Well, that's a little proof that I actually took a walk!
Today was a full day. First was church. Our pastor left on a 3 week road trip (his vacation) right after church. He's traveling west to visit some national parks and he's traveling in his mini-van which he's converted into an RV! His wife didn't want to go. Too rustic for her, I think. So, he went solo. Sounds like fun to me!

After church I wandered around Nevis for our annual Nevis Bites 'n' Sites Day. There were lots of booths, rummage, crafts, fun activities for kids and adults. There was also live music from two stages. It lasted from noon-six, but I left before the end.

The high point of the Bites 'n' Sites was a community painting. They set up two easels and canvases, a selection of craft paints and brushes and told everyone to feel free to paint something. They had penciled in an outline of Minnesota, and we each added a little painting. You guessed it. I painted the loon. What else?

The lady in charge brought out that framed loon painting for me to use as a reference. I ended up just doing my own version. I was the first one to paint on the canvas, so I hogged the middle, lol.

The adult painting...

...and the kids' version.

 They were auctioned off and brought $30 each. The proceeds from all of the festival activities went to benefit the local food shelf. Oh, and I won a $20 certificate from the Iron Horse Bar and Grill! I think I'll pick up a box of chicken strips or something to share with Micah's crew.

This band of youngsters was fun to watch. I left when the older, more polished, performers took the stage.

 So, that was my weekend! Tomorrow morning is our monthly deli gal get-together and sometime later in the day I'm joining the other vacation Bible school volunteers to get things rolling. I think I'm going to need a planner from here on out! The pace of life is picking up, but that's a good thing!

Before I forget, this is a hoopoe I painted for one of my ATC friends. For you trivia buffs, the hoopoe is the national bird of Israel! :)

God bless you all! A little Bible reading and I'm off to bed.
Shalom!

Howdy!

Yay! A photo loaded! This is a painting I made for the monthly RAK (Random Act of Kindness) for a gal who had a surgery last month. These galaxy paintings are fun and pretty easy to make. If you want to give it a shot just type "galaxy painting" into the search box on YouTube. ;)

I've just been doing a lot of hanging out with Micah and the kids since last I visited. Babysitting and helping with housework. I'm blessed to have her nearby!

First and last day of Pre-K for Hazel.

Last day of 1st grade for Audrey!

Sully, sampling the ice cream.

I don't have a more recent photo of Adele, but this is cute, right? Grocery shopping at Walmart. :)

Adele just started a month of summer gymnastics, so I should have new photos of her soon.
The girls all have gymnastics and swimming lessons this summer, so Micah will be busy shuttling kiddos around. She loves to keep them involved! (They're blessed to have such a great mom!)

Did I show you this photo Micah made to announce her "expectancy" on Facebook?

She captioned it, "One of these things is not like the others."

Jordan and Brooke are traveling to Colorado at the end of the month to celebrate their first anniversary. Wow! That year went fast! They will stay at an AirB&B near Denver and will get in a visit with Jordan's older brother, Bob, who lives in Longmont. They're looking forward to just being tourists and seeing some of the places they've heard of from us older folks who used to live there.

Josh, Jess, Nathan and Starry seem to be doing well. Nathan was having some problems at school because of his bipolar/ADHD issues, so they are doing some summer homeschooling. If that goes well they may continue homeschooling in the fall. Josh and Jess are doing the Goodreads challenge along with me, and they just decided to read some classics such as Tom Sawyer. They're sounding positive, praise God!

Some ATCs I've finished lately...

This one was for the "House Shaped ATC" swap, so the card has to be shaped like a house, but otherwise you can do just about anything.

 Here are a few more house-shaped ATCs.

Yeah, I'm really into the galaxies lately, lol.

The gal I talked about in my last post, who wanted to minister to widows, never called and didn't show up this Sunday. SO, I decided to be a big girl and strike out on my own. I stayed for the business meeting after the service. That was a great way to learn in-depth just what the church is involved in and where they need help. I'm really glad I went. Afterwards I visited with some of the ladies and volunteered to help with vacation Bible school and with the ladies' missions group. I'm especially excited about the ladies' missions. It sounds like they are very active all year long with lots of projects that I would love to be a part of. This is such a hands-on church. A majority of the congregation seem to be very involved in helping. I learned that the pastor and his wife are trying to retire. Aw! But the Lord can bring someone else along who will carry on. Something to pray about! His retirement is contingent on selling their house. They will then move 15 miles down the road to live closer to their children. Can't blame them for wanting to do that! And maybe they'll be around for a while yet.

I think that's all the news for now. I did laundry and took a 30 minute walk down the trail while the clothes were washing. I've got to get better at doing that. Too much sitting! The weather was beautiful. We're having a nice summer so far.

You all enjoy your summer weather! I'm off to read blogs. ;)

Shalom and love!