It's Deliciously RED

My new journal came!  And, it's deliciously RED!!!

The Blossoms and I can't decide if it throws Lord of the Rings or Mulan vibes.  

("Yes, I'll make a man, out of YOUUUUUUUU.")

Either way, I love its beige pages of intriguingly blank lines.

I still hold tightly to "Not a day without a line."  Although, that's so much prettier in Latin ~

"Nulla dies sine linea."

If you haven't read that post, click over to it here for a some more thoughts on journaling.

These days I work especially hard to write what I'm grateful for.  The focus of my day starts out honed in on what really matters, rather than petty grievances, inconveniences, and complaints.  My heart lifts up as I look to Jesus and His many blessings.

Of late, I find myself writing out my prayers.  My heart cries out for His help in the smallest situations and with the heavy, heavy burdens I tend to worry over.  So, I write out my supplications, and if those prayers are as simple as, "Lord, I really need you to help me," in my journal, 

my journal has been the tool it's meant to be.  

Good News!!!

Dear friend,

I get it!  You're busy!  Maybe you can't always be checking this site for my latest post, but you do really like to stay in touch.  There's a new feature on the right to help you out.

You can now get new posts via email!  Just enter your email and click "subscribe."  

I'm hoping this new functionality will help you and I to stay connected!

Dominique

When the Drama Finds You

Why do I sweat the small stuff?  

I want to keep the big picture in my mind every moment of the day.  That seems like a lofty goal to attain to, but loving and living for Jesus reminds me daily that this life is about so much more.  

I hit "end" on what turned out to be a confrontational phone call.  I wasn't expecting it.  I could barely breathe.  I was struggling to keep my voice steady.  The emotional aftermath was the usual rush of tears, which I fought hard to keep in check. Because the confrontation was over a disagreement in one of my volunteer "side hustles."  

I think someone should have done something one way.  They think what they did was totally fine.  Now it means a boatload more work for me.  Time already allocated for other more important things and not for this.

The Blossoms are all around me.  I can't focus on any task.  They want to know what's wrong.  

Right now, I have friends who are battling through scary sickness.

I have family members who received horrible news from the doctor and are going through incredibly hard things.

I stepped out onto the porch, breathed deeply, and groaned aloud in frustration and anger.  The porch is sometimes my prayer closet.

And clarity crept in.

Despite my big, big feelings, this truly is a small, small thing.  

Dominique

A Trip to Hershey

I had the opportunity recently to get away for a couple of days on a sort of working mini vacation.  Since I coordinate our county's fair queen program, I got to chaperone our fair queen to the state fair queen contest.  Additionally, I attended the state fair convention.

As a mom, I was looking forward to the trip quite a bit.  I mean, a room I didn't have to clean with a perfectly made bed?  It was like serenity was just waiting for me to arrive!

I packed lots of books, whilst Blossom1 looked on and remarked, "You know you're not gonna have time to read all those, right?"  I grinned sheepishly and took out one book.  I like having options when the opportunity to relax presents itself.  Snatch those moments, I say!

Strolling past this fireplace several times a day was so cozy.  

I even found a little time to do paperwork, social media work, and sip a latte while soaking in the quintessentially winter afternoon moments.

Though my schedule was full chaperoning our fair queen to her activities, coordinating meeting times, sitting at round tables learning about coordinator policies and county fair marketing strategies, I found it odd that all the little things took substantially less time than they normally do.

I found myself able to sneak away for ten minutes to soak in the hot tub or a half hour just to relax and read.  It's totally different getting just myself ready, rather than engineering endeavors for a family of six.

On the trade show floor, there were some pretty fun sights.  I tried to convince the Rugged Mountain Man to let me bring home this baby capybara.  

I'm not sure why he was so opposed.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed petting her and letting her suck on my fingers like a young calf would.

And when she squeaked in response to my baby animal nonsense talk, I was smitten to the core!

Hershey Lodge is quite the classy place.  I mean, who else has a baby grand piano out in the hallway?  When Jacob Tolliver pounded out the ragtime during our Thursday night banquet, I was thrilled to enjoy his unique piano skills.

Remember that etiquette class a friend and I did a few years ago with our local homeschool co-op?  I was thankful for it, since I got to attend two four course dinners this past weekend.  The class helped me relax and enjoy myself.  I appreciate that Americans don't care if you mess up though.  They don't care if you dress "wrong" or you use the wrong fork.

When they brought out this Reese's pie, I almost cheered.  Where can I get a whole pie of this stuff???

My sister stayed over a few nights to soak up serenity too.  Secretly I brought her along to find me good places to eat and get me to actually leave the Lodge to get a good meal when I didn't have other things keeping me busy.

This tiny crepery ~ Au Bon Lieu ~ was DIVINE.  

He was melting a giant bar of Belgian Dark Chocolate onto my Chocolate/Coconut crepe! 

Don't worry, the crepe that preceded this dessert perfection had spinach, ham, and cheese on it, so I hit all the food groups.  I'd go back there in a heartbeat.  

I'm so glad that travel nuances are my sister's super power.

We had a lovely time chilling together.  We actually finished like 96,000 thoughts in a row.  Quite remarkable for moms that have seven, almost eight children, between us!  (My sister is expecting!!!!!!!!!!)

I know she enjoyed the rest and quiet when I was busy too.

Walking past this German shepherd cuddling with his boss made me miss my hounds.  I had to work hard to resist the urge to pet him.  Service dogs are not supposed to be petted when they are on duty.

I'm pretty sure this is what I look like after a full day at home.  Evidently, all the juggling of all my normal daily tasks by Daddy and the Blossoms made a bit of an impact.  

Blossom2 remarked, "Now I know why you're ready to chop people's heads off by the end of the day."  

Blossom1 noted, "Blossom4 is a walking tornado.  She wanders through the house leaving a trail of dirty socks, tiny pieces of paper, and a wall of destruction behind her."

I felt almost as smug as this cardinal.  

This John Deere statue actor is about to tell them all, "I told you mommin' ain't easy."

I'm thankful that my family at home missed me and realized what I do all day.  I missed them!

I am also grateful that I could spend time with our fair queen, facilitating a fun learning experience of a weekend for her.

Dominique

Growing in my Heart

After a week, Jake and Rory are back to normal.  No more messes in the house.  No more making mild and tempting canine food for upset stomachs. No more 24 hour Mom surveillance of all canine bathroom habits.  I'm thankful for that.  

The Blossoms did their craft show on Saturday.  It went well.  They almost don't even need me.  I mean, I drive them there and physically help with the set up.  That's about it though.  I sat there, knitting and reading and thinking and people-watching while they interacted with their customers and made change.  I'm thankful for that.

When we got home, everyone pitched in, tidied up the house, and put away all our dog treat gear.  They may have had an ulterior motive ~ that meant we could put up the Christmas tree.  It made supper late getting on the table Saturday night, but we put up the tree!  Now, we're enjoying basking in its Christmas beauty.  I'm thankful for that.  

After several instances of crunchy pinto beans despite following the normal directions for soaking, I bought new beans and decided to make them in the instant pot.  We had delicious, wholesome pinto beans that were NOT crunchy.  Tonight's chili was comforting and savory and NOT crunchy.  I'm thankful for that.  

Blossom4 thanked me for helping her remake her bed and bringing her a tissue and fetching her a cup of water and giving her TLC lately.  It's nice to be thanked sometimes.  I'm thankful for that.  

We've been playing the Christmas program and choir songs on repeat lately.  I love the sounds of harmony and melody I hear throughout the day and especially during supper cleanup.  Singing together makes my heart so happy.  I'm thankful for that.

A friend has taken some time lately to troubleshoot my knitting project and teach me a few things.  It saved me hours of time and research to figure out where I had gone wrong.  Instead, I was able to knit and relax when the moments have presented themselves today.  I'm thankful for that.

I saw snowflakes today.  They were exquisite.  I'm thankful for that.  

My parents are back safely from a big trip.  I'm thankful for that.

At the end of the day when I'm drained, if I dwell upon these beautiful little things, gratitude grows in my heart instead of discouragement, making it fertile soil for whatever God wants to teach me next.

Dominique

Those Dashing Stripes

"I don't care a hang for any cat that hasn't stripes."

~ Barney Snaith

The Blue Castle

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Meet our New Employees

I have a firm conviction that every good farm needs a few barn cats.

I figured our micro farm was no exception.  

The older Blossoms visited Grammie and Pappy the other week and stumbled upon a sign for kittens.  Knowing that we'd unsuccessfully pursued two other leads for kittens, they immediately sent word back home requesting permission to get one.  

Grammie promptly altered the request with her influence upon the Rugged Mountain Man to gain permission for TWO kittens.  Kitten #1 needed a buddy, after all.

The older Blossoms surprised the little Blossoms with the kittens.  There was so much crooning and cooing going on that Thursday night a week and a half ago.

We set about naming them.  Perhaps we should've gotten FOUR kittens.  Then, everyone could've named their own.  

Mommy wanted "Jace and Si" from Duck Dynasty.  

These kittens need to be tough redneck kind of cats.

Blossom1 wanted Rhoop and Rhindon after a lord and a sword from the Chronicles of Narnia.  She also lobbied for Knightley and Bingley ~ good gentleman names from Pride and Prejudice... I agreed on both of these name suggestions, until I realized that I didn't particularly need gentlemen kittens! 

Blossom2 wanted Crockett and Boone ~ famous hunters from history!  However, no one could agree or remember which kitten would be Crockett and which would be Boone.  

Blossom3 and Blossom4 alternately agreed and disagreed with the majority, just enough to add to the chaos and confusion.

My nephew, Isaac, heard that Daddy called the orange kitten "Tom" after a kitten he had in his childhood, so Isaac immediately suggested Tom and Jerry.  Henceforth, the Rugged Mountain Man was adamant that they be dubbed Tom and Jerry.

No one could agree on anything else.  

No one could remember anything else.  

After days and hours of deliberation, we fancy-naming females reluctantly assented to naming them "Tom and Jerry."  

Clearly, they've been working hard already.  

My Work and Rest

Last week, these pics hardly seemed appropriate.  With the wind, rain, and snow, they felt like snaps from another planet!

I spent last week learning to balance a to do list that rarely is completed and making time for me to be rejuvenated.

Since we often had activities in the evening, it was a natural break that helped me put aside my list and move into another part of our day/evening.

That is what I needed to relearn this week.  

There is so much to be done here, both inside and outside the walls of our home.

I took a little time the other evening to read.  I spent a little while working on a fun sign for the back porch. I took some deep breaths and gazed out in the foggy haze of the chilly weather last week.  I even spent one night making snow angles and snow people in the yard.

May the Lord always, always, ALWAYS teach me more about this life, 

that everything I do 

~ my work and my rest ~

would glorify Him.

Dominique

Photo credit to Blossom1

A Catalyst

"Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness."

~Amy Collette

Also, if you need a simple homemade mask, please contact me.  I'm happy to do my part.  

Dominique

Lately, I've Been

I've been sipping:

~ Christmas black tea and my own "half-caf" blend of an herbal Chai and black tea.

I've been reading:
~ Christmas novels by Melody Carlson.  I particularly enjoyed the Christmas Joy Ride  An elderly lady and her young neighbor traipse cross country blessing folks in a festive Christmas camper.  I found myself inspired to bless others, whilst laughing out loud.  The Christmas Pony was another good one.  It was a cheery and innocent rendition of a little girl's prayer for a pony.  Blossom1 even enjoyed it.

~ Micah, Nahum and Habakkuk
These obscure books tend to get overlooked in the Bible, but there's good stuff in them.  Nahum 1:7 says, "... He is close to those who trust in Him."  I found myself rolling this over in my mind the other day.  CLOSE matters to me.  I lean on Him, trusting His character and find that we are close.

I've been cooking:
~ in my new Instant Pot!  Everybody here was excited when I cooked rabbit and vegetables in it.  It sealed in the flavor so well.  I de-boned it, made a gravy, made a pie crust, and turned out the most flavorful Rabbit Pie I've ever made!

I've been noticing:
~ Feathery gray skies, promising cozy winter weather.

I've been wearing:
~ Vests and tall boots!  They're making up classy outfits in frigid winter weather.

I've been listening:
~ to lots of Fine Arts music.  Blossom1 and Blossom2 are preparing for a big performance in a few weeks.  They are a part of several group entries.  We've been listening to the vocal harmony parts while doing dishes and kitchen work.  I'm finding it fun to challenge myself a little to learn the part also.

I've been loving:
~ having finished 4-H presentations!  The girls gave their presentations last Tuesday in their club meeting.  I was so pleased that Blossom1, Blossom2 and Blossom3 spoke clearly, looked the audience in the eye and succinctly shared important small animal information.  It was a testament to how far they've come in their public speaking abilities.  Nights like that help me realize that education is about equipping your children with real life skills.  Blossom4 stayed home and regaled the Rugged Mountain Man on her future life plans ~ plans that include three dogs, a blue jeep, and a camper.

Dominique

Check out other "Lately" posts here.

Behold, the Sackpack!

A good friend made a great recommendation to me:

Behold, the sackpack!

Much more durable than the string backpacks that little league teams give away or you occasionally find as freebies, these babies are HARDY.

I gave several as gifts and outfitted the Blossoms with their own carefully curated versions.  

Blossom1 and Blossom2 were thrilled that their sackpacks match brand new pairs of Converse they received for Christmas this year. They love to match as much as I do.

The Adidas sackpacks are made of VERY thick, durable fabric with thicker and more comfortable cording than other sackpacks.  

They have two outside water bottle or small gear pockets, a zipper "media" pocket and large inside compartment.  They come in a plethora of colors, suitable for any personality.  (It's easier to see the all the colors, if you view from a mobile device.)

THEY ARE AFFORDABLE.  

Some days a backpack just is too much, but sackpacks allow the Blossoms to carry their own essential gear when we're on the go.  When we headed to a Teen Bible Quiz match last week, I notified the Little Blossoms that I would not be packing my usual entertainment bag.  They should pack quiet forms of entertainment and carry their own essentials.  This worked SO well.  

Just like their backpacks, we keep these in an easy to grab locations.  Add in the fact that Grandma did personalized water bottles for them for Christmas and it's been so convenient!

Dominique

Lately, I've Been

I've been sipping:
~homemade Chai lattes and exquisitely delicious loose leaf Earl Gray tea.  A friend gave it to me and it's superb!

I've been reading:
~ The Book of John
Seeing John's perspective again is enough to make me read slowly and think a lot.  I especially enjoyed the first part of John 12, thinking about how Mary, Martha and Lazarus were all honoring Jesus in different ways.

~ The Book of Jonah
We've been studying this book in Ladies' Bible Study.  It's such a great reminder of redemption!  Jonah ran from what God wanted him to do and yet, God offered him another chance to obey.  He finally took it and was able to testify of God's mercy to the people of Ninevah.  It's refreshing to think about how God uses real, regular people in His plan, people just like you and me.

~ Along The Cane River series by Mary Jane Hathaway
Since I've been snatching so little time for recreational reading lately, I've fallen back on old favorites that never disappoint. Mary Jane's writing is top quality and the content is wholesome and uplifting.  Always a good choice!

I've been cooking:
~ White Chicken Enchiladas  This is a family favorite here and the girls were practically dancing when they saw it on the menu last night.

I've been noticing:
~ The signs of Autumn. Black walnuts scattered across rural roadways. Tassled corn that's crisply drying. Farmers starting their harvest field work. Pumpkins scattered around the garden.  Longer shadows. The cadence of crickets and katydids. Fall fragrances in the air.

I've been wearing:
~ Flannels!!!

I've been listening:
~ to Here Again by Elevation Worship.  It's my current favorite, especially since it reminds of PDYM Convention this past Spring.

I've been loving:
~ The Rugged Mountain Man's good reminders.  Sometimes I need an attitude adjustment and he's been gently encouraging me in those times.  Though sometimes it's painful to hear the truth, it's good to hear it gently so I can grow.

Hope you had a lovely Fall week,

Dominique

A Pot of Tea

I love to celebrate little blessings!

When your thrifted, but beloved china is missing its teapot and a friend's mother-in-law finds a near perfect match at a thrift store for you.  

Tea, anyone?

Truly, What is Rest?

Having recently returned from a week of vacation after a jam-packed summer, I was pondering true rest.

Rarely do we have fully restful circumstances.  I do well when I remember this.  Even planning for annual vacations still require oodles of packing, countless loose ends to tie up and once you actually arrive at your destination, who knows what will go right or wrong. 

Will the weather cooperate?  Will you remember everything necessary?  Will your kids get sick?  Will things explode at work?  Will something happen in your extended family? 

Yes, many times those things just go wonky.  Does that mean I can't rest? 

Nope. 

That's what came to me.  

Circumstances don't have to be perfectly restful for me to rest.  

Rest has more to do with me trusting God. 

Rest has more to do with my attitude of not letting the everyday details of living in this world determine my level of happiness. 

Rest has more to do with choosing to be happy and content in the good that I see every day in our life. 

Rest is really more of a choice, than an experience. 

Rest is more about me walking with God and letting the things that are big to Him, be big to me and letting the things that are small to Him, be small to me. 

Rest is more about counting my blessings and letting tomorrow take care of itself. 

Yes, I had that kind of rest on vacation.

Boots on the Ground

Recently Blossom1, Blossom2 and I were privileged to serve alongside friends at a personal care home for impoverished and mentally challenged people.  

It was a day of boots-on-the-ground-Christianity.  

We did whatever the staff asked us to do.  Service is like that.  

Sometimes acting out our Christianity is washing another car.

Sometimes sharing our love for Jesus is cheerfully asking what toppings a resident wants on his pizza.

Sometimes loving people is overcoming your personal reserve and peacefully playing the piano for a resident.  

Sometimes obeying God looks like smiling while a resident precociously inspects the windowsill you just cleaned.  

Sometimes loving the Lord is pulling down cobwebs.

Sometimes pleasing Jesus is cleaning the maintenance van like Jesus is gonna be the next person that drives it.  

Christianity is practical.  It's tangible service.  It isn't flashy.  

Everybody can do something for Jesus.

Dominique

I snapped these shots of the hydrangeas that were on the property.  My friend, Carol and I, admired them in between our various tasks there.