I wish that I would use this yarn to get knittin a blankey for my white haired, red bearded son...

I wish I had a jean jacket to put this grandma jewelry on...
I wish this was a real yellow canary singing me it's beautiful bird song...

I wish the back of this broach wasn't broken...
This was my grandma's bowl and vase. I wish she was still around...
I found this purse in a box under my bed, forgot it was there. I wish that when I opened it up wads and scads of cash were stuffed in it...
I wish that I had more of this soup, and that when I made it I had written how I made it down...
I wish you good night...

Here's what's on my mind today...

That I will no longer have to use film!

That's right I'm now the proud owner of a digital camera!

To say that I'm super excited about it is an understatement to say the least. Good bye film! I will not miss you, I'm not even sorry that I won't miss you, I'm moving on, I'm breaking up with you, forever! Not like last time we broke up and then my camera broke and I had to come back to you, no this time I'm truly, really moving on. And Film, just to drive the point home "I've been using you, yes, using you, it's not a healthy relationship, I hope you can see this." I know if not now, someday you will.

Both of these things are on my mind, Chickens and Organic Gardening! Since January 2010 I've been eating mostly organic food. Someday in the not to distant future I hope to have an organic garden, so I decided that I could be learning about it now and when I get to a place where I can actually have a garden I'll know what I'm doing, sort of, kind of. Because I want to learn about it I recently subscribed to "Organic Gardening" and this is my first issue. I'm excited to get reading it, so far I've just taken a photo of it...I'll get there, to the reading part, don't worry. I like that it's going to tell me about Organic Gardening and Hens! Hen's are also on my mind. So really, could it get any better...I'll let you know. I also want to have a couple of chickens someday, just a couple of hens, no roosters (sorry guys) so I can have some fresh eggs. Side note: in my high school days I could do a great imitation of a chicken clucking, I will not, I repeat, I will not attempt it now!

This last photo isn't really about what's on my mind...I just like the colors.

Have a very Happy Day!

I love these people, each and everyone of them. I'm thinking about them today and missing a couple of them badly because they live in Portland, Oregon (the land where bohemian is the style, practically everyone is vegan, or some form of it and most are 420 friendly). They'll be here soon for a visit, oh the excitement, oh the joy, I'm so looking forward to it. Since this photo we've added two more beautiful baby girls to the mix, two dogs and a cat.... We're growing, expanding, we're a work in progress, we're not done yet!

What a bunch we are!

Just trying to get a handle on somethings...

So many choices...
It's a process of prayer, waiting, listening...
Over time the right choice becomes evident. It may not be what you want, but it will be good.
Because God is good and always faithful to give the help and wisdom we need to make the right choice, to get a handle on the things we need to get a handle on, if we'll ask Him...He is good and His choice for us is always the best!

Mother's Day is tomorrow. There's nothing like being a mother, life comes to you and through you...it's a beautiful thing.

This tea cup/coffee mug is from my middle son...I love it. He gave it to for my birthday in 2009. He knows me and knew I would like it, I don't like it...I love it. I cherish it, because it's beautiful and he gave it to me and I love him.

May I admit that as a young woman I did not want children? I have always loved kids, their energy, unconditional love and joy. But, I didn't want kids, for very selfish reasons. I have four kids, each one was not planned, because if I had to plan them I would have said "No thank you." I know it's sounds very harsh, but I was immature and like I said selfish. I'm not proud of this...just being honest.
But...being a mom happened, to me, against what I wanted and love took hold. I remember holding my first born in my arms, rocking him, looking at him and praying "God I'll have as many of these as You want." That was the first of four babies! When you hold a baby you're looking at a part of creation that came from the heart of God. It really is a beautiful thing...that God would allow life to come to you and through you! I will say being a mom has been the hardest thing in my life, but by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done or been a part of. I'm thankful that God in His infinite wisdom granted me the ability to be a mom and has helped me with my kids. They're each one different, creative, beautiful, and I celebrate their adulthood. So, as a young woman motherhood looked like a freakishly impossible thing...but on closer inspection it's pretty from the inside out...just like my cup! Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers that are reading this. Motherhood is a special gift from God! Embrace it, enjoy it!

My fascination with trees continues...

Looking up....I see signs of life

Life that's been laying in wait for it's time to spring forth, life that's on the edge of busting out,

pushing out, growing out, stronger, taller, higher...such is life!

Look at her, lovely snugly Emma....sleeping so soundly

or is she?

These faces happened in a matter of seconds...I happened to be on hand because I heard her wiggle about and trotted over to see if she was awake, she wasn't just stretching and making some funny faces and then back to sleeping soundly...

Hey you, in the camera... I have ruffles on my butt, you can't see them very well but they're there.

Meet the newest addition to our family...the lovely & snugly Emma! She arrived in our world in her own time, slow pokey style. I have a feeling she's going to be a go at your own pace kind of girl, which I think is a great quality. She was born on her other Grandma's birthday which is very special. We're gonna keep :)

Spring has sprung! It's a delight to see all the flowering trees and plants in all their glory... Lilac's will be blooming pretty soon, until then here's a couple of photos taken on Mackinac Island a couple of springs ago.

The Lilac bushes there are so old, some of the oldest in the nation and not really bushes at all but full blown trees. It's worth a look see, if you've never been go towards the end of May to mid June when the Lilac's are stunning. You step off the Ferry and onto the Main Street and the fragrance of Lilac's run out to meet you!

Just got done exercising. Had to gear myself up mentally to push through to even doing it. Part of pushing through is remembering how great I'll feel after I'm done. Yes, I'm weaving exercise into my life, making it an integral part of who I am.

Weaving it into my life...how's that for a segway into photos of baskets :)

The first two photos are of a basket that belonged to my Grandma Smith...another important component to weave into your life, people! I admit sometimes I have to push myself to be with people, just like I have to with exercise. Which is very interesting because my main love language is quality time. Spending saturated time with those I love leaves me feeling very satisfied and happy! I thrive on independent solitude and quality time...what a weave!


Weaving God into the fabric of my life was and still is the most important decision I've ever made. I shutter to think where or what I'd be if He wasn't in my life...I can guarantee it wouldn't be pretty. My life isn't perfect now, but perfection isn't the goal...His love woven into my life and loving the people He's put in my life and on in my pathway is an important part of my life's weave...

My your day be tightly and beautifully woven with God's love, friends, family and EXERCISE!!!

I mentioned in my last entry that I got to spend some Lizzie and Grandma time last week. I took a ton of photos...here's one of my favorites.

This is my absolute favorite one...I love this girl, she's such a character, funny, fun and super cute!

Last Wednesday I went to my grand daughters pre-school for Grand Parents Day. You can see photos of our day by clicking on my flickr link. We had a great day enjoying the festivities at the pre-school, then brunch at the Rainbow Grill, and then the most fun of all, the park! These are photos of two trees from the park. If you've read my earlier blog you know that I love trees...if you haven't read my earlier blogs, I love trees :)

One of my favorite movies "Lord of the Rings" has walking, talking trees, they're friendly trees that help the main characters and keep them safe and lifted up far above evil. I love those walking talking trees!

Here's one of my favorite "tree" memories: One Fall I went on personal retreat in Wisconsin. While there I went on a walk and came upon a grove of tall, mature Oak Trees, I spent a long time there just listening to their brown leaves rustling in the dry fall wind. Under my feet were crisp beautiful fallen leaves and acorns. Squirrels had the freedom in this place to come and claim ownership of the acorns in security, even though I was there they knew it was their domain and scampered about. It's such a vivid memory of mine walking slowly through this grove, sometime spent sitting just taking it in, the sights, the sounds, the dry earthy smell.

With trees to take them in you have to look up...they're a reminder of God and how "BIG" He is and the reminder to look up, look for Him always.

On this eve of Easter, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection from the dead let's call to remembrance that He hung on a tree and died so that we could live and be with Him! In essence Jesus is like the walking talking trees from "Lord of the Rings" lifting me up above the evil and keeping me safe, talking to me, walking with me.

I love trees, and I love Jesus who hung on a cross/tree for me!

I like doors...

I have hauled five of them with me in my last three moves...

currently they create a wall in my apartment.

They are a reminder that God is with me.

What is it about doors that remind me of God is that God is big enough

to open them and big enough to close them...I trust Him to do that in my life.

I trust Him to know what doors to open specifically for me...

and I trust Him to close the doors that He chooses...which isn't always fun...but I trust Him.

He's with me and I trust Him...He's at work, inspite of it not looking like it! He's looking at me and His hand is open

and He's opening doors for me that I don't expect.

Red, red, red, red...I like it a lot!

Red...it's vibrant, it's exciting, bull's like it, it's the color of passion and love!

It's emotionally intense and literally makes hearts beat faster, and raises blood pressure.

In interior decorating it's usually used as an accent color because it draws attention

and is why stop signs and traffic lights are red. It's the color of fire, blood and danger.

Yes, I really, truly like red! You could even say I love it!!

But, my favorite color combination is red and pink...

Pink is the color of romance, innocence and tranquility :)

It makes me feel happy and I like it!

So sweet, so cute...

So drooly!

I took a bunch of photos of Ruby, they're all cute.

But this one, this one right here,

this is my FAVORITE!

A Ruby update...Here's proof she just keeps getting cuter!

She's discovered her feet and Grandma Julie with a camera

She's a punk-in! I love her...

Stuff, I've got a lot of stuff,

but not nearly as much stuff as I used to have.

6 years ago I moved from northern Michigan

to the Grand Rapids area and I had to downsize.

I sold a home and moved into a town home, then came

phase two of the downsizing I moved from the town home

to an apartment in downtown Grand Rapids.

I let go of a lot of stuff and it felt good, so good!

I gave away and sold some of my favorite things.

Truthfully it was hard to let go of some of my stuff

but what I realized is that my stuff isn't me

and I'm not a better person because of

the stuff I have, I'm me with or without stuff.

It was actually freeing to let go and leave

stuff behind and not to drag it forward!

These are some random things I have in a jar; old marbles,

crystal chandelier pieces, jewelry and rocks.

I like it, I don't know why I just do. Stuff!

I don't remember where I got this

old suitcase but I love it.

Currently it's used as an end table in my living room.

What I really want to do is pack it up and take a trip!

Until that can happen I'll just take photos of it.

The plan for now is to use the photos to make cards.

Feeling fun & festive!