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life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

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What a beautiful foggy morning……I love chilly foggy mornings.
I talked this one (Caiti-16) into typing my Wednesday prayer this morning in exchange for bacon…..which she said tasted like dog treats…..I love turkey bacon.     And I love how fast she types….and I love foggy mornings.
And I love the Lutheran prayer book:

Wednesday morning prayer from the Lutheran prayer book.   Typed by Caiti.    Originally penned by Luther.    On a wonderful foggy morning.    While eating turkey bacon.    That tastes like dog treats.    Did I mention she’s wearing my jeans?   And my sweater.
 Our Father who art in heaven, give us this day our daily bread. Dear Lord, God and Father, grant us Your blessing in our temporal and physical life. Graciously grant us peace. Protect us against war and disorder. Grant to our president success against our enemies. Grant him wisdom and understanding to administer his duties and office in peace and happiness.
Grant to all elected and appointed leaders good counsel and the will and ability to preserve this land and this good people in tranquility and justice. Especially aid and guide the governor of this state, under whose protection you have sheltered us, so being protected against all harm, the administration may be blessed and we can live free from evil and disloyal people. Grant grace to all people to serve our leaders loyally and obediently. Grant to all of us diligence in our vocation and charity in our dealings with one another. Grant us favorable weather and good harvest. I commend to you my house and home, spouse and children.  Help me to manage my household well and support and educate my children as a Christian should. Defend us from the destroyer and his wicked angels, who work against us, looking for every opportunity to harm us and cause mischief in this life. Amen.

https://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2008/10/93/

Through the years…….

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It has always been challenging to unite our family together under one roof for any length of time….then to get us all dressed and maybe even smiling for a picture…..now that’s a miracle. Since I’m already mentally gearing up for the holidays….making menus,  thinking about placecards,  seating, decorations and the like,  I thought I’d show you some of our family photos through the years.   Can we do it this year?   It seems unlikely given all the schedules of all the children (some of whom are adults with real jobs who are just learning about PDO’s),  but we do always long for the brief moments we’re all together.    It’s funny how after gathering at the table with 10 people,  a few days later when there’s only 6 or 7 of us,  it can feel so lonesome and quiet.

                                              Summer 2002
                                             Christmas 2004
                                                   Summer 2005
                                      Summer 2006
                                      Christmas 2007

So,   there we are….our unique little blended family of  Malachi (25),  Savannah (24),  Marcus (21),  Nicholas (18),   Taylor (18),   Caiti(16),  Emaleigh (8),  Elea Grace (6)……and Steve and Edie who will remain ageless and timeless.    Just kidding.  I wish.     Given the ages of our children,  can you guess how old we are?  And for those who don’t know us…..the first four children listed  are Steve’s,  the next two mine,   and the two little ones “ours”.   It’s hard to believe the changes that life brings from year to year.   It also might be hard to believe that we often speak of adopting.   Maybe some people were just meant for big families!   Maybe certain people think it’s just as easy to make four loaves of bread as two or two pans of lasagna as one. We are both just ‘those’ kind of people who will never quite fit the mold….who will choose to be home over almost everything else and who will choose the road less traveled.   Nearly every time.

Sunday lunch with friends….

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I woke up very early this morning for a Sunday…..sometime before 5a and decided to make Sunday lunch.   That makes for a busy morning when you figure that we’re usually struggling to get out the door dressed and fed by 9a.    But we’ve tried the whole eat-out thing….and it’s highly overrated.   And overpriced.    There’s nothing so disappointing as eating a mediocre meal at Ruby Tuesday’s and then paying $65 for it…and complaining all the way home how we would’ve rather had a sandwich and eaten it at our own table with our own diet pepsi and our own chips and salsa.     So,  I put on my monogrammed apron and  Eddie Vedder’s “Into the Wild” movie soundtrack,  opened up all the doors and windows and let the October breeze wash through the house and went to work.
I set the table with my fall wreath that the girls and I made with plenty of  handprinted construction paper.   I added  painted pumpkins and my favorite plum colored wine glasses.
Then I made chicken florentine…..my version at least with roasted red peppers, spinach, linguine, plenty of garlic and parmesan reggiano cheese.   Okay and a few more items which maybe I’ll pen down later into a recipe.   But you get the jist.
And homeade peach-blueberry pie, the recipe which I got from here and then added 1/4 cup more sugar(’cause I’m southern) and lemon zest(’cause I watch of lot of Foodtv).   Oh, and salad and good bread.   It was shaping up to be quite a feast.    That’s when it occurred to me that I should invite our neighbors over to share it with us.  So, we gathered after church and ate and talked and inspected the plates of various children who actually all seemed to like it.
It’s such a blessing to have good neighbors and good friends who you can call for an impromtu lunch and just enjoy each others’ company.    Now Leigh Anne’s off to spray painting stuff,  Tony’s off to Lowe’s,   Stevie’s off to football,  and I’m……contemplating a short power nap…..before I tackle Madame Bovary again.    Here’s wishing you good friends,  good food, and a good Sunday!

Ramblings on rain, bread, forgiveness, books and dancing…..

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Things I hate:
1.  driving on the interstate     
2.  in the rain
3.  with little ones in the car  
4.  at night   
5.  or driving on the interstate 
6.  at night 
7.  by myself
8.  without the rain      
9.  my children getting hurt.    
10.  to the point that suturing will be necessary
11.  while making lifesize sling shots out of old frames       
12.  which have sharp metal edges
13. while I google ‘Letters of Abigail Adams‘ in the next room.
14.  which  leads me to why I missed my teenagers’ cross country meet last night      
15.  which I hate to miss
Things I love……
1.  Making homeade french bread
2.  with the best recipe ever which you can find here.
3.  and serving it to my life’s love,  warm 
4.  with butter on top.
5.  and wine.
6.  which are to us life’s most complete meal
7.  bread and wine…..like The Lord’s Supper
8.  which we will be served on Sunday
9.  at the Lord’s table
10.  for the forgiveness of sins
11.  which we don’t deserve
12.   and could never earn.
Things I am undecided about:
1.  Not who I will vote for in November
2.  What new item shall be included in my Thanksgiving feast
3.  Shall it be maple glazed turnips
4.  Or maple glazed brussel sprouts
5.  Or both
6.  Will I train for a half marathon
7.   or make another loaf of chocolate chip banana bread
8.  or both
9.  Should I paint my armoire red
10.  and my kitchen cabinets a delightful hue of blue
11.  or neither
12. Should I  read every letter that Abigail wrote to John (Adams)
13. Or is 1100 letters too huge an undertaking in a weekend
14. Should I cry til my heart’s content every time I think of Taylor leaving
15. or should I bake more banana bread
16. or french bread
17.  or all of the above?
18. Who will win ‘Dancing With the Stars’?
19. Will I ever be able to dance
20. at all?
21. without embarassing my children?
22. Should I dress up for Halloween?
23. a witch again?
24. Maybe con macdaddy into a little Sonny and Cher?
25.  sing “I got you babe” to him anyway,  even after he refuses?
26. while I sling my hair and sway?
27. and promise him unlimited loaves of french bread for one year?
28. if he would humor me.  just.  this.   once?
29. Should I read Madame Bovary this weekend?
30. Or John Adams?
31. Or Abigail’s letters?
32. Or New Moon?
33. Or What’s so Amazing About Grace?
34. Or forgo sleep and general hygeine and read them all?
35.  Or just make bread and dance?
36.  Should I listen to Lifehouse’s Learn You Inside and Out
37.  or Eddie Vedders’ Rise
38. or this on worry?
39.  What would you do?
I clearly have more questions than answers.   Have a great weekend! 

Scooter teaches……..

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It was 1:00 in the afternoon and time to do memory work.   They whined and scratched and cried and fell to the floor and complained that this was the worst day of school.   Ever.   So,  I did what any self-respecting teacher would do…..I solicited the help of the dog.     And in no time at all,  we were all laughing so hard that I was thankful I hadn’t taken the time to put on any makeup.  These particular  verses of scripture are now forever burned in their memory, but I don’t know if they’ll ever be able to say them without laughing.   Enjoy!


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What brand of whine/wine do you prefer?

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Our day began like this……writing sentences about not whining……all the while whining about it…

Writing is good practice…..and any writing that gets us the chance of less whining is worth a try…….
And because I’m such a good teacher,  I demonstrated for the class by writing some sentences of my own……
without whining,  of course.   There’s only one kind of whine/wine I like.    Those are homonyms,  just in case you wondered.  I’m teacherly like that.