Busy Summer Days

I haven't blogged since Saturday because our lives have been very hectic, running from activity to activity...

Sunday, Mark and I gave talks at church, plus I also taught a class. Monday was Sarah's birthday slumber party with lots of girls. Tuesday was Project Wild at the park and sleepovers. Today, I spent the balance of the day taking care of homemaking responsibilities which were badly neglected.


Tomorrow and Friday will be busy, but I will have more time to write. I have much to say and a recipe to share (whole grain!). Check back with me then.

For anyone interested in what we did at Project Wild, check Teri's blog, Joyful Liberation. Teri teaches these hands-on science classes. They are fun!
Love,
Elizabeth

A New Member of the Family

I thought that you might like to see my new grandchild. This is Pansy, adopted by Sarah with some birthday money she received.
As you know, I am crazy about all living things both great and small. So, this cutie stole my heart right away.

Now, to keep kitty paws away!
Love,
Elizabeth

A Few Words on Robert

>A few family members have commented recently on the fact that I don't put a lot on my blog about my sweet son, Robert. He is easily embarrassed and I like to respect his feelinhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gifgs. I have written one post on him in July and he has promised that I may post a picture of him wearing his football uniform when he gets his new jersey in a couple of weeks.

Sarah and I share a love of blogging. Robert is not into it at all. So, this has kind of been a "girl pursuit" in our house.

Please rest assured that I adore my precious boy. Please also be assured that my posting this will embarress him to death.
Love,
Elizabeth

The Birthday Girl's New Look

For my daughter, Sarah's 13th birthday, this past Thursday, I took her to Fantastic Sams to have her hair cut and styled...Below is her new do!

Rest is not idleness;
and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water,
or watching the clouds float across the sky,
is hardly a waste of time.
–John Lubbock

Bird Rescue

I saved a little sparrow today, which was a very unexpected blessing.

I had been gone all morning and, on my return home, I went out back to turn the sprinkler on for my vegetable garden. Right as I poked my head outside of our sliding glass door, I realized there was a rukus going on over at the fence where I have my bird feeder. As soon as I was outside all the birds flew away, but I saw what appeared to be the body of a bird upside down on the fence by the feeder. I thought that the bird was dead. On closer inspection I saw that its foot was caught in between two boards of my fence. He was exhausted from trying to get away, poor thing. That's why he was hanging upside down. As soon as I tried to free him, he began flapping his wings, trying to get away from me. I was afraid I'd hurt him, but I tried to get him free. Nothing worked until I got the idea to get a kitchen knife and try to use it in between the boards to wedge his foot out. It worked!

The little sparrow did not stop to thank me, but burst into a flutter and flew away.

Whew! What a feeling of exhilaration to save that little bird. I'm so grateful that I came home in time, before the heat of the sun did it's work.

Anyway, this made my whole day!
Love,
Elizabeth

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

I just saw a wonderful movie that I'd like to tell you about. It's called, "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" and stars Julianne Moore. This is the true life story of Evelyn Ryan, "who raised 10 children on 25 words or less". Her husband, Kelly Ryan, a one-time singer turned machinist (a terrible automobile accident robbed him of his singing voice), hated his job and drowned his bitterness with the bottle. Unfortunately, his drinking habit decimated the family income, so his wife, Evelyn, used her unique way with words, writing advertising jingles for contests, to win prizes which ended up supporting her family.

What I loved most about this movie is this woman's indominatable spirit, her faith in God and belief that everything happens for a reason, as well as the positive spin she was able to put on all the rotten, disappointing sitatuations that happened to her. Her behavior obviously inspired her children so much that one of them wrote the book about her upon which this movie is based.

"Prize Winner" is rated PG-13. It has no sexual content, some brief violence when the father has a drunken tirade and there is one scene with language. When you get to the part where the father is standing in the kitchen, listening to a ball game. Watch out when his team loses! He uses several swear words (they are a bit muffled by his slurred speech), including the so-called R-rated swear word. After that, there is no more language.

This movie has inspired me to want to be of a more positive mind, to model an even better example for my children and to believe that the Lord wants to bless us.
Love,
Elizabeth

Our Baby Dove is a Teenager!

I was returning home from running errands this morning and was about to turn into our driveway, when who should swoop down, but our sweet baby dove (see our Midsummer's Eve post, June 21st). He is now a teenager and looks just like the other doves, only smaller. He was attracted to a puddle at the end of our driveway, where he lighted, took a drink and then proceeded to give himself an entire bath.

What did I do?

Well, I sat in my car, in the middle of the road, and waited patiently for my little friend to complete his toilette! I couldn't interrupt him. He was much too precious.

When he was through, he flew to the top of our house and I was able to park.

Aren't they a wonder, our little feathered friends? They lift my heart and make my whole day!
Blessings,
Elizabeth