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life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

macdaddy

Sunday Grace……..

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Because I have company and am learning some great fun things from Steve’s mom (like how to make krumkake and pepper nuts and how to knit cables) and because I have graciously acquired some wonderful new readers (welcome and thank you for reading), I am reposting from my archives (September 28) about my wonderful husband. He was trained well by a mother and father who loved him and taught him many wonderful things—–and now I get to reap the benefits. Thank you Ed and Evadne. I am one lucky girl.


There are so many things to love about this guy. He’s rugged, funny, smart, loves football and fishing and good scotch, can name nearly every tree in nature, reads theology books, can water ski and snow ski like a pro, likes classical music and Pearl Jam, and occasionally loses his temper. He’s edgy like that sometimes…..in a masculine, Jesus-and-the-money-changers sort of a way. He has huge biceps and makes you feel like he’d crush anyone who tried to hurt you…….all the things that make a girl go weak in the knees.

Yesterday, he saw our children and their friends throwing small matchbox cars in the pool. It was right after the Vols got beat so he was already a little ‘frustrated’, let’s say.
He yelled……
they cried……
I was bewildered.
Today, as we pulled into the church parking lot, he put his right hand on my shoulder and gave me a little touch of affection. He asked the girls if they remembered the pool incident and they, of course, did. He told them that he was wrong to lose his temper and asked if we would forgive him. Elea said, “Yes, daddy, I forgive you.” The exchange was powerful. I can’t think of a better way to teach forgiveness to your children. The historic liturgy of the church is beautiful on this subject, and thank God we say and hear these words every Sunday;


“Lord we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean and have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways……Almighty God in His mercy has given His son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.”


Now, that is comfort. We fail. We screw up. We lose our tempers, get angry. And He stands there waiting…..to forgive. It is a powerful force in any relationship, but especially in families. To forgive and be forgiven, what a gift from God! I am thankful for a man who is passionate enough to get angry and man enough to ask for forgiveness. He also just so happens to able to identify nearly every bird flying overhead and he can wind the bobbin on my sewing machine! I’m starting to feel so inadequate!

Knit Together

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I have a strange way of grieving. Lately, I am always on the verge of tears. Today, my eyes welled up with tears at least three times and I can’t even remember why. But I don’t usually slow down or withdraw. I cry frequently and then feverishly keep my hands and my head occupied. (officially called being ‘in a tizzy’). It’s the only way I know to give my heart a break. So, in this grieving season of little birdies leaving my nest, I’m reading and knitting. Almost ravenously. Since we arrived in MN, I’ve knit and read nearly continuously. Except for the multitudinous breaks for eating. I guess I should add ‘eating’ to my list of grieving activities but it seems much less industrious than knitting and reading.

Like this beanie I made for Taylor this week, I couldn’t get Psalm 139 out of my head.

You have searched me and known me
You search out my path and my lying down
You are aquainted with all my ways
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me
‘You knit me together in my mother’s womb’
Where shall I go from your spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
He will never be alone. His Lord will be ever present. And my beloved son will be ‘hemmed in’. He will be surrounded by a hedge of protection. (And a cute little beanie hat). I know that I need not worry. But I also know that this is just one more stage in the process of letting them go. And I don’t know any other way to walk through that valley except one painful step at a time. So bear with me. My heart is heavy. My thoughts and days are bitter sweet.

I guess I should be thankful that I’ll still have this one home to make me laugh. I’ve been trying to think up a good rap name for him. Maybe S. Macdaddy Wads or better yet, all one word, Smacdaddy Wads. And just that quick I go from tears to belly laughs. Welcome to my emotional roller coaster.

~~BTW, I did NOT ask him to pose. This is his natural gangsta face. Be very afraid.
~~And thanks to Grandma Evadne for her patience with my facial contortions when she told me I was going to have FOUR knitting needles going at once. She’s a saint with my questions and mistakes.
~~ Caiti like the beanie so much, I’ve started one for her. I feel a tsunami of tears on the horizon.

Guest Post

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I’ve been begging him to do this for-EVER. So, today, without further adieu, I give you a guest-post, by none other than Macdaddy, the sole sponsor of lifeingrace, without whose support and love, this blog would cease to exist. Take it away, my dear!

$10 clipper +

Reluctant Physician +

#1 on the sides and #2 on the top+

pile on the floor still “looks” black=

HAPPY-

CAMPER!!!

I know it does not look so black on the head. Alas….

Anniversary Post

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I fiddled around all day, trying to think of something just so, to say to the this man with whom I have shared my soul’s truest longings, my mind’s most intimate questions, and my heart’s deepest sorrows—-for these past nine years. I have poured over poetry books to find just the right words and listened to legions of songs, in hopes that someone has captured before, in writing, the love and gratitude I wish to convey to him today.
But alas. I find no words.
They seem weak and inadequate.
I guess i’ll just remind him that I can’t even fathom my days without him.
That I am filled to overflowing with gratitude for his love and protection.
That I don’t take for granted the heavy burden of providing.
That I notice the tenderness with which he fathers.
and faithfulness with which he doctors.
I’ll remind him that most of all, I respect him. And the way he uses his gifts.
And confesses his faults.
He is capable and accomplished. So skilled with his hands. The perfect combination of masculinity, wisdom, and passion.
He’s all that I want.
Just what I need.
More than I deserve.
And I wish him a most Happy Anniversary.

Father’s Day Weekend

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I love holidays.   All of them.   And you can bet your bottom dollar that holidays will find us ‘hunkered down’ at the ranch (ie. suburban home on a cul de sac), cooking all manner of yummy treats, and taking full advantage of family time. Father’s Day is an especially fun one because it coincides with the US Open.   In summary, we have watched golf (ie.Tiger), consumed generous amounts of food, read some good books, and made every attempt not to leave the house.
And if you had this guy
with these particular forearms……hanging around your kitchen, you wouldn’t want to leave either.   (I admit that I share Pioneer Woman’s obsession with forearms)
My feeble attempts at family photos were met with much resistance.   
Even the dog resisted.
So I settled for a few candid shots of the backyard antics.  
 A little soccer.
A little Yoga.
And a whole
lot of
tomfoolery.
Father’s Day Menu (made by yours truly and kicken-nicken)
Grilled Filet
Corn on the Cob
Key Lime Pie (I’d tell but I’d have to kill you)
Happy Father’s Day, honey!
You are the key lime to my pie….
the HD to my TV…..
the avocado to my homeade salsa!
We love you and thank God for your presence in our lives!
We also would like to wish Grandpa Eddie a Happy Father’s Day!  We can’t wait to see you.
Reminder:  Tomorrow I hope to host a Linky Party on Painted Patio Furniture.  If it rained all weekend at your house (like it did at mine) just show us what you plan to do.  Painted planters or other garden ‘stuff’ is fair game.  I may not post the Linky party until later in the afternoon, so you’ll have plenty of time get those posts ready.