Random Thoughts

I am in Des Moines this evening, for the Iowa Diocesan convention - where all of the clergy, and selected lay people of the Episcopal church gather once a year to fellowship and decide the future for the church for the next year. Or so I'm told. Something like that, anyway... It's nice to be back in central Iowa, since we spent 8 wonderful years here. The kids are in bed, and we're in a bar, drinking beer. And thus, is my 7th NaBloPoMo post is born...

My random thoughts for the evening...

• The absolute *worst* weather on the planet is 33 degrees and raining.  Which we drove through from Davenport to Des Moines, and had to walk through to the cathedral.  Not fun...
• Babysitting for dinner would have been nice, this evening.  Fortunately, I have a 10-year old, who was able to watch the younger 3 while we ate, and I had to go back to the room only 3 times...
• Iowans are friendly people.  I really *do* love the midwest.
• I am looking forward to going to the new mall tomorrow, which is walking distance from the house we lived in before Brian was called to the priesthood.  I miss that house...  And the mall...
• It's good that we moved.  being within walking distance from the Cheesecake Factory would not have been good for my figure...
  

So, is that random enough for you????  And now, if you don't mind, I'll go and enjoy the rest of my beer... or two... *grin*

Thankful Thursday

I did, in fact, have this wonderful, sweet post planned out, and then my day went haywire. I'd use other language to describe it, but there are kids around... *sigh* So I'm not in the same frame of mind that I was when I began this post, oh, 12 hours ago... *sigh*

But I do want to start a tradition of expressing my gratitude for the blessings that have been given to me, and I thought that Thursdays would be a good place to start. Several of my blogging friends are doing similar exercises, for an entire month. I'll try to get there, but my life is so random that I really better just start small.

I am thankful, today, that we have food on our table. There are so many around me that don't. I see them every time that I go into church to see Brian - all the Angel Food people, all those we serve at the Community Meal... The people lined up outside the free lunch cafe downtown... Those invisible people that you hear about, but never really see... But by the grace of God, we are able to eat. And we eat well. And when you've got a family of 8, that's no small thing. There are days when I am glad that the kids actually *like* ramen noodles, and that they do, in fact, request pasta at least once a week. And occasionally, we get to enjoy more exotic fare, like Chicken Tikka Masala, chicken enchiladas, all kinds of Chinese food... And let's not forget fondue - cheese, or chocolate...

Yes, I am blessed, not only with the food that is provided for us, but also with a gift to prepare it. To be able to take the slimmest of pantry fodder and make a meal that the majority of the kids will eat. And to take the most exotic ingredients, and craft them into a delicious feast. Cooking is, for me, like therapy. It clears my head, calms me down. I am thankful that I am able do bless my family with the fruits of my labors. I hope to post some of my recipes in the future - you know, if I ever get time to type them out... *grin*

So there you have it. Kind of mundane, but then again, not so much. I am truly thankful that we can eat, and eat abundantly. And what a wonderful thing that is...

Wordless Wednesday -Fall Fun

Pics taken by Nathan, age 10
I think he might have a future, here...

Hannah, in the leaves


David, in the circle


The artist...



The tree out front of our house


Hannah, again


Robbie

I voted.

So I did it.  Did my civic duty.  Took David and Hannah, picked Brian up at church, and cast our ballots.  And guess what?  There were no lines - no waiting - although that may have been due to the fact that we went at 10 AM - missed the breakfast and lunch rushes, and beat the after-work crowds.   And I am proudly sporting my cute "I voted" sticker.  I hear that you can get a bunch of free stuff merely by showing off that sticker!  Might have to look into that...

And how are we spending the rest of our day?  We are grilling hamburgers on the deck - how much more patriotic can you get??? Come to think of it, maybe I ought to make brownies, too...   I love this country!

And if you haven't already, go get yourself one of those cute little stickers, too!

Indian Summer

Today was a beautiful day.  Mid 70s, sunny... *sigh*  Darn near perfect.  One of the last such days we will enjoy until May, I dare say.  And because one night last week we had a killing frost, this is true Indian Summer.  I have been enjoying the fragrance of fall wafting in through the open windows, and I even got outside for a bit to try to capture some of the last vestiges of color that will inhabit my yard until spring.  Now, I am decidedly *not* a professional photographer. Not even close...   But I thought it was worth shooting...

The burning bush out back. LOVE the color...

Hedge apples in the lawn. These are supposed to keep spiders away, but the kids have decided that they make better speed bumps for the cars that fly by on the street behind our house...

The very last flowers in bloom in my yard. I am trusting that these are actual flowers, and *not* weeds. I am gardening impaired... *sigh*

The last of the apples on the tree. These were sooooo yummy...

And last but not least... A gratuitous kitty pic... Guinevere, enjoying life, in her bed on the porch.

We are all soaking up these last few wisps of fall, because before we know it, winter will be upon us, with its icy blasts, grey days, and salt trucks.

They are predicting snow by the end of the week...

I Sing a Song of the Saints of God...

Yes, I know that yesterday was technically All Saints Day, but today is All Saints SUNDAY - the day when we Episcopalians gather to celebrate the Feast of All Saints.  Which means we get to sing some wonderful traditional songs as part of the liturgy and worship.  The processional was For All the Saints - a requisite part of any self-respecting Anglican service, and which, this year, brought me to tears, as I remembered my grandmother, who passed away last March.  Surely she was singing with me, her voice far brighter than mine...

But my very favorite part of today's service every year is this song...

I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true,

Who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, 

And one was a shepherdess on the green;
They were all of them saints of God and I mean, God helping, to be one too.

They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and his love made them strong.
And they followed the right for Jesus’ sake the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, 

And one was slain by a fierce wild beast,
And there’s not any reason, no not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too.

They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints, who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, 

In church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea,
For the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

I remember singing this when I was young, and thinking how very proper, and how very British it sounded.  I have always been an Anglophile, after spending several years just south of London as a child, and all things British , well,  just make me happy.

I do love this hymn, though.  We used to have it in book form, for the kids, but we lost it in the fire 10 years ago, and haven't replaced it yet.  It is a great story for the little ones.  I like how it explains how we all are saints - it's the little things in the way you live your life - not just those BIG, DRAMATIC moments (although those *do* count, too...) that speak to our love for Jesus.  We are called to sainthood in the everyday-edness of our lives - in the way we greet people, how we speak with them, how we honor Christ in them, and His image,  in ourselves.

So go out and be a Saint today.  And I mean to be one, too...

Well, Here Goes Nothing...

So.  Today is the first of November.  And I'm beginning two very ambitious projects.  NaBloPoMo, which I've already mentioned, which will be a feat in and of itself, if I make it.  But that's not all.  I'm also, once again, participating in Diaper Decision's Great Cloth Diaper Hunt.  Which all means that I will be spending an inordinate amount of time on my computer.  When I mentioned this to Brian, you know... in passing... he reminded me that he has World of Warcraft, and a laptop, and there's an expansion due out mid-month.  So he'll survive just fine without me...*grins and rolls eyes*  I did, however, tell him to expect that the house would not receive its usual attention... *insert hysterical laughter here*  At least my computer is now in the family room, so I can keep an eye on small children whilst I am otherwise engaged...

I am looking forward to both the writing, and the hunting.  And I'll be awaiting a visit from those elusive cleaning fairies...

And Happy All Saints Day, everyone!!!!!