Monday, January 31, 2011

January's End

Thankful this week, for - 


- yet another snow day (4th in 3 weeks!)
- Bananagram Tournament
- community love
- waking up to bacon, eggs and hash browns AND the whole driveway shoveled on our snow day (Thanks, brother Chris!)
- Sufjan's new album
- a good meeting
- hot chocolate made with milk
- surprise briskets
- Evie's new baby boy
- craft day with the girls
- cinnamon rolls
- Bjork time with Enchiladas
- a place to stay warm in the bitter cold

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Brisket Surprise

My Mom and Dad in law have been re-doing their bathroom, so they've been seeking shelter and warm showers in Sea Kettle this week.  On Monday, we came home to the most beautiful and sweet-smelling brisket and vegetables meal simmering in the crock-pot.  It just so happened to be the coldest day in New England in 7 years, so it was an especially welcome surprise!  


Thanks, Mom James. It was de.lic.ous!

Friday, January 28, 2011

This Moment: Snow Day Scrabble

Ok, I mean Snow Day Bananagrams 
Yesterday we had our 4th snow day in 3 weeks.  
Best. winter. ever.(at least for us teachers and students!)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual
 Joining with SouleMama

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Little Brown Scarf

I'm afraid this has been quite a baby week on the blog so far. 
I hope you don't mind a plain old knitting post! :)
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Remember Katie's birthday scarf?
This is what I was initially *trying* to make...
My friend, Emma, just learned to knit and this pattern was one of the first things she knit.  She brought it to small group one day and I thought it was so cute and a perfect warm accessory for cold-blooded gals, such as myself.  They work up quickly, so I'm sure I'll knit more to give away.  

The pattern is simple. Knit a scarf until it reaches around your neck and folds over on top of the other side. Sew the sides together and then sew the button wherever you like. I wore it all day and it's so warm and cozy!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Jasmine's Hope Blanket

(May I share yet another example of love shown me over the past couple of months? I'm just so thankful...)

So there are these girls...

We met and became bosom friends while our families lived in Yemen. During our middle school years, we were the best of friends and we've continued this friendship through high school, college, weddings and babies.

Although we write often, I only get to see them every few years (we have reunions at each others weddings). They are some of my very dearest friends and some of the first people I told when I found out about this pregnancy.  I knew that they would be people that I would need if anything went wrong.  

As soon as I told them about our baby, Jasmine began knitting a blanket of hope and prayer.  This labor of love meant the world to me, especially during those first few months of worry. I was so comforted at her tangible commitment to pray.

She continues to knit and hope and pray and send along pictures of the progress. This act of love will be treasured forever, and it challenges me to find more ways to use my hands and creativity to love others in such powerful ways.  

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What best friends are for...

The week before last, I made it to the second trimester.  Those months were some of the longest of my life.  Some days I felt full of hope and peace, but many days were marked by anxiety and worry.  


Ariel has walked with me through the ups and downs of all of my pregnancies and miscarriages.  She has been a friend that has listened, loved, celebrated and comforted.  A girl really needs a friend like that, and I'm so thankful I have one. 
On the day I reached 12 weeks, I was surprised with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.  My heart was full and overflowing seeing such a beautiful celebration of a tiny life, only the size of a plum, but already so important to her, to me, to God. 


Thank you, Ariel, for celebrating this milestone. It meant the world to me.  

Monday, January 24, 2011

Winter Blessings - A Baby Edition

I was listing my blessings this week and quickly realized they seemed to have a bit of a "theme". I just went with it. :)


- finally sharing the news
- my baby's "Brian" button nose
- my Dad, calling just to make sure I had a good dinner and to remind me that I'm eating for two. 
- watching the little one squirm
- Mom, with her grand-baby's picture in her pocket
- feeling better
- miracles
-celebrating 3 months
- promised prayers

Sunday, January 23, 2011

When I rise....

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, 
give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus, 
You can have all this world, 
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, 
Give me Jesus, 
You can have all this world, 
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus, 
Give me Jesus, 
You can have all this world, 
You can have all this world, 
You can have all this world, 
But give me Jesus 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Pizookie!

Wowza. I was just introduced to the most amazing dessert.  Our friends, Jesse and Mara, came over for dinner the other night and brought the fixings for a "Pizookie".  It's a freshly baked cookie "pizza" (I'm talking RIGHT out of the oven) covered with scoops of vanilla ice cream.  Apparently tradition says you must eat it all together out of the pan.  Now how much fun is that?  And how have I gotten through 26 years of life without experiencing this heavenly dessert? 

P.S. Those of you with kids...you must surprise them with this sometime.  I'm sure they'll flip. 

Friday, January 21, 2011

This Moment: Please meet...

our sweet little baby due to meet us at the end of July! 
On Wednesday, we had an ultrasound and got to see him or her squirming all over the place. Amazing. In these three months, this baby has been so loved and so prayed for already.  We feel so blessed. Due to the health concerns we found out about after our last miscarriage (thyroid disease), both the baby and I are being monitored very closely. Brian and I covet your prayers, that this little one will continue to grow healthy and strong. 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Field Trip to the New England Aquarium...

(can I just say how much I love this photo? If I didn't have an even better "moment" for you tomorrow, this would certainly be it!)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Ode to Small Group

This week I've felt especially thankful for our small group. No reason in particular, just really thankful for everything that comes with sharing life with this special group of people.  


I'm thankful for how we love each other, how we respect each other's views and opinions, how we challenge each other, how we play together, how we read and chew on God's word together.  I love how we encourage each other, how we cry with each other, and rejoice we each other, how we pray, pray, pray for each other.  I love how we laugh with each other, craft with each other, cook for each other; I love how we share secrets and give spontaneous gifts. I love how we bear with each other, forgive one another and how we share with each other. I love how we are bound together, not by human blood, but by Jesus' blood...


Do you have brothers and sisters in the Lord such as these? If not, you must find some. They have been one my life's greatest blessings. 

Monday, January 17, 2011

January Thanks

Thankful this week, for:

- nor'easters and snow days
-brothers
- soft strumming
- shovelers
- good meetings
- plans
- wednesday
- Kix
- successful wedding photography
- Karen's worry antidote song
-hearty laughs with the in laws
- country dances

Sunday, January 16, 2011

White as snow

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. 
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
 though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

-Isaiah 1:18

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Winter Wedding Photography

Well, my sister-in-law and I are off to photograph our first winter wedding! It should be a fun challenge. Stay tuned for the highlights!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Snow Day

I initially thought this day might be a bit more romantic, full of sleeping, baking, knitting, painting-

Instead, I nearly drowned myself in paperwork, frameworks and textbooks. But, I'm happy to report that I have a couple more months of curriculum planning DONE!
*UPDATE: Today turns out to be snow day #2! Looks like I'll get to that knitting, painting, baking after all!*

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

A quick birthday knit...

I wanted to make something special for my sister's 22nd birthday this year.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to it until the day before her party.  Luckily, my day was pretty open, so I started a couple of things, ripped them out, tried again...repeat.  I had this idea of a tight cowl-type scarf, but I couldn't find a pattern that I liked.  So, for better or for worse, I made one up myself. 
Here's what I cooked up...  
Basically, I just crocheted a short scarf, sewed the ends together, then crocheted some flowers for a little pizazz.  I can't decide what I think of it.  It was much looser than I wanted and it doesn't sit quite right. 
Anyway, Katie insisted that she still wanted it, so I gave it to her the other day.  Luckily, she loved it.  That girl can pull off anything, though. :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Counting my blessings...

Thank you, Lord, for...

- getting through the first week back after vacation
-patience
- a new baby cousin!
- Italian dinner with the Bjorks
-Brian's show at Barnes and Noble
-Settlers and Pad Thai with new friends
-watching Brian and Chris relive the days of Nintendo
- my heated blanket
- new knitting projects
- my students, even on the hard days
- kindness
- my coworkers
-snowy walks
- coffee shop time
-Brian's graciousness, selflessness, love
- God's love

Sunday, January 9, 2011

so that everyone he has made may know his work...

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth', and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work... Job 37:5-7


Saturday, January 8, 2011

we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming...

Well, I didn't have anything scheduled for today.  And I feel too tired to come up with anything even mildy interesting.  So, I thought "I can either not post tomorrow or let my husband have free reign over my blog for a day."  The latter sounded way more fun.  There you have it. Enjoy. 
____________________________________________________________________

Greetings. How strange it must be for you regulars to see the airwaves taken over like this. It's like that moment in a conspiracy movie where all the TV sets go fuzzy, and then all the channels refocus on a masked villain in his control room. Or perhaps it's like visiting your favorite coffee shop from your hometown, the one with the swirly acrylic paintings and the pleasant hippie waitress, only to find that it's been bought by a wild-eyed book seller who stacks dog-eared paperbacks from floor to ceiling. Don't worry. The remodel's only temporary.

What have I to offer you? A handy crafting tip? Sure. If you want to create the effect of a fireplace in your classroom, just cut out some flame-shaped tissue paper, glue the tops and bottoms only to a poster board, fasten that poster board to the back legs of a tall, thin, brown table (flames facing in), place a red bulb or lamp in front of the flames, and blow a fan from the side, toward the flames, keeping the fan on low. Turn off the overhead lights, and tell a good story to the kids.

Would you also like a spiritual insight? Certainly. Today I took a moment to look at my hands. I thought of how the body is a metaphor for the soul (of course, a body is also just a body, which is fabulous in and of itself). Your body is a free gift. Think on it. No measure of human concentration or will could conjure it. Whatever little beauties and peculiarities grace your frame, these were yours before you could ask for them. God endowed infinitesimal grace on every one of your atoms.

But we can diminish our bodies through self-abuse and misuse. God's given me a mighty frame, so tall and broad, and in this I boast Christ's work, for I didn't choose my measurements. But what have I done with that frame? I've filled it with junk food. I've neglected it. God gave me, and everyone of us, a masterpiece to dwell within, and offered us the work of finishing touches, and look how I've muddled my little task! I'm turning a mighty temple into a soul-sack.

The soul is like the body in this way. God endowed you with a soul in his image before you could desire it. It is broad and beautiful by design. It is probably the greatest work of his creation. What have you done with the finishing touches? Have you fed it with the choicest grain? Have you exercised it well? It is God's to fill the void with glory, and it is ours to tend to one little patch of glory. Have you tended it well?

Thanks for listening to me for a little while. Now back to all the lovely and meaningful things my Kerrie offers.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Art Book

{this moment} - A Friday ritual
 Joining with SouleMama

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A Gift

On Christmas Eve we were surprised to receive this sweet gift from our next door neighbor.   His family has lived here for many years and apparently one of his relatives painted this picture of our house along with all of the people who lived in our neighborhood.  It is a charming painting and its fun thinking of those people who used to live in and around our little Sea Kettle. (And what a blessing it is to have such thoughtful neighbors!)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Grandpa's Slideshow

Every few years, Grandpa sets up the old projector and takes out the boxes of family slides. Last week he and Grandma invited the family over for a viewing along with some strawberry shortcake, popcorn and Grandma's homemade cookies. 

We huddled in the living room, surrounded by those we loved and toasted warm by Grandpa's always-perfect fire. We relived Grandma and Grandpa's wedding, met new relatives, saw old houses and cars, laughed at Mom and Aunt Wendy's always matching outfits, heard new stories, were amazed at family resemblances. It was such a special time of learning and remembering more about our family and our past.  

Monday, January 3, 2011

Thanks

Giving thanks this week, for:


- warmth in the cold
- a restful week
- tea and catching up with Kristin
- the third service
- George and Chad 
- slideshow night at Grandma and Grandpa's
- 2 bags of crunchies from Ariel
- lots of QT with Brian
- taking Mom out for her birthday with the girls
- listening to Chris and Brian recording downstairs
- the love of family and friends
- new warm sweaters
- grace reminders


Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Prayer for this New Year


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

--St. Francis of Assisi