Just Some Odds and Ends

Have you ever seen a six generation picture before? I've seen many five and four, but this was a first for me - imagine the excitement in this family when the great-great-great grandma lived to see this amazing occurrence. (Sorry it scanned crooked!)





For some reason I always like to keep you posted on what I'm reading - maybe because I just enjoy sharing good stuff I've found. I wish I remembered where I hear or read about these books that I then go and put on hold at the library. Often it's when I'm reading People magazine at the gym while I'm exercising.

This book, The Imam's Daughter, is autobiographical by Hannah Shah (name changed from Hannan). It is a gripping, sad, victorious story of a young woman who escaped from the horrendous life under the thumb of a vicious Muslim "leader." It is an eye opener for sure.




This is a novel set in the 60s in the midst of the racial tensions. I am about 1/3 of the way through it, but am having a hard time finding enough time to read, as I wish. It is so well written, and another eye-opener.




I was sitting and reading yesterday afternoon on the patio, as I mentioned in a previous post, and of course, I dozed off. I had to pick up the girls from early release day (which I find the most annoying, ridiculous decision the school board has ever made) at 1:50. Suddenly I realized I'd better check the time. A few minutes earlier it had been 1:00 and I had plenty of time. All of a sudden it was 1:41, the littles were napping (again) and I had to rush down, drag them out of their sweet slumber, buckle them in, and pray for green lights and moving traffic as I headed the 4 miles to the school. Got there at 1:52, before the girlies panicked. Yikes!

Earlier in the day, the littles had decided to empty one of the big tubs of stuffed toys - it's like Christmas, you know, when you find things you forgot you had. Speaking of Christmas (which someone so kindly reminded me yesterday is only 4 months away!), Emma found this in the tub and wore it around the rest of the afternoon - so cute!





Saturday evening we headed over to Walker Manufacturing for their employee picnic - it was hot, which is why they had it in the evening. The girls really enjoyed themselves. Of course I left my camera in the car. The littles had fun in the bouncy house, although Miss Emma preferred the 7-older one to the 6-under. While the other 3 were riding ponies, she headed back, in a heartbeat, to the more dangerous one - out of my sight in the blink of an eye. Scary moment!! Forty acres of grass out there that she could have gotten lost in - thank goodness she loved the big kid bouncy house and had on a very bright yellow shirt.

The last thing on the agenda was face painting - they did a great job of butterflies on their faces - here is the happy look ---



. . . and here's the look of the one whose face got all sweaty and lost most of it before she even got out of the park!



One commenter asked about the sculptures in the previous post - the one where they're singing along is called "I Would Love to Live in Loveland with a Girl Like You." You can climb up there and see the actual music and words. The one where Care Bear is curled up in the soldier's lap is called, "Departure," I think. It's quite a touching piece. I must do a photo day of all my favorites - I've been promising that for a long time.

In the spirit of keeping it real, it's been a really tough couple of weeks, with "stuff" I don't feel comfortable sharing. Suffice it to say, I've not been sleeping well, have had headaches and upset stomach, and lots of kiddo time. I have been asking the Lord for wisdom, courage, and peace. The peace - promised by Him, but hard to relax and accept.

The song, "Peace Like a River" has been playing in the car on the kids' cd about every day as we drive around. I don't really think of a river as peaceful, since so much of the time it's churning and roaring down the canyon in our part of the world. But the lake in the middle of our town - God gave me this gift yesterday morning on the way home from the school run --









The view of these little ducks paddling together out in the middle of the water, totally oblivious to the mess in the world around them, gave me such a sense of rest. Thank you, Lord.

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,

So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!

Refrain

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

Warren D. Cornell (1889)