"Substantial"

I got a note in the mail the other day reminding me that our family is racking up daily fines for two library books that are overdue. I went by the library to pay the fines and tell them that the books are NOT lost, just hiding somewhere in my house. I hoped the books could be renewed to buy myself a little more time to search. Instead I got a grouchy clerk who would not renew them, and also pointed out that even though I paid the fines to date, fines would "continue to accrue." I left in shame, but was determined to find We Love Fruit! and Thomas' Railway Word Adventure and return to hand them in to that grouchy librarian in person.

One week later the minivan was cleaned to the point of vacuuming (a semi-annual event), the closet floors uncovered, every bookshelf sorted, each backpack searched, and every desk cleared. Lo and behold, we found the fruit book! Oh the joy! I raced to return it but the grouchy librarian wasn't there. So, I inserted it triumphantly into the return slot.

Meanwhile, slacker mom got another notice in the mail. It was apparently from that grouchy librarian. It no longer shows how much I owe, but instead states ominously that the Thomas book is so overdue that my "fines are substantial." What in the world does that mean? Just how substantial do library fines get? I don't really want to know.

Now, where in the world would two 5 year old boys stash a book? I obviously have no idea, but I'm off to check the freezer.

First Breath of Spring

Several years ago, my dear in-laws (Granny and Grandpa) dug up a sapling from beneath their beautiful old red bud tree for me. It grew into one of our favorites.

It thrives here in our front yard,

the first breath of spring every year~

a delicate mist of luscious lavender to herald a sea of green.

Beautiful book

An all-time favorite in our home is God's Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George.

My daughter and I have enjoyed reading it together for years, since she was very small. Now that she is ten years old and becoming a young lady, we still like to snuggle up with it and read it together. What could be better?

The rich paintings by Judy Luenebrink sweetly illustrate the rhyming text and help the book capture the essence of Proverbs 31. Inspiring us both to the lovely virtues of a Godly woman as we grow in the Lord, this book is truly a treasure!

Make A Difference

While walking along a beach,

a man saw someone in the distance leaning down,

picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he came closer, he saw thousands of starfish

the tide had thrown onto the beach.

Unable to return to the ocean during low tide,

the starfish were dying.

He observed a young man picking up the starfish one by one

 and throwing them back into the water.

After watching the seemingly futile effort, the observer said,

 "There must be thousands of starfish on this beach.

It would be impossible for you to get to all of them.

There are simply too many.

You can't possibly save enough to make a difference."

The young man smiled as he continue to pick up

another starfish and toss it back into the ocean. 

"It made a difference to that one," he replied.

Author Unkown

As each one has received a special gift,

 employ it in serving one another

 as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 1 Peter 4:10

Sweets for the Sweet

Serene will be our days and bright

And happy will our nature be,

When love is an unerring light,

And joy its own security.

by William Wordsworth

We enjoyed a treat at the Colorado City Drug Store last week during our spring break trip out west. It was like stepping back in time.

Eldest ordered a huge vanilla shake at the counter and enjoyed every sip!

Miracle

I stood back and watched my miracle boy as he crossed the creek in front of me. We'd picked a shallow spot , but it was still too wide to jump all the way across. He stepped quickly and confidently over slippery rocks, without even looking down or getting his boots wet. Then he was off, scrambling up the other bank after his brother and sister, leaving me to slosh across with much less grace.

My mind wandered back to those confusing days after he came home to us from Korea as a toddler. The doctors did tests to find out why the muscle tone was so poor in his neck and upper body. The MRI explained the muscle weakness, but it also discovered some surprising brain abnormalities. Big ones. With sad faces they gave us the grim prognosis:

He will likely never walk. He will have terrible balance. He may never speak. His intelligence will be very low. He will be autistic.

But praise be to the Lord God, they were wrong. Really, really wrong. And there is no medical explanation for it.

Our 5 year old dynamo talks so much we wish he came with a mute button. He can jump off the couch, onto the mini tramp, then onto the floor where he sticks the landing like an Olympic gymnast. He taught himself to read at age 2, and now he is so far ahead in math and reading and geography skills that I just stopped keeping track. He is joyful and loving. He laughs and jokes and tickles and snuggles and writes funny notes and digs in the sand. He is a normal five-year-old, and then some.

Our very own miracle. 

Gratitude

My daughter walked into the living room and found my 5-year-old son closely studying the giant wall map.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked.

"I'm gonna write a letter to China," he replied, "to thank them for the crayons."

Welcome!

Welcome to Pecan Bluff. 

We can't wait to share some of our blessings with you. We are amazed that God is taking our family on another exciting adventure, so stay tuned. 

You won't want to miss it!