Clover Lane

"I used to feel guilty about idle moments.  Time spent splayed out in the lawn chair, staring at the sky, was time "wasted". A walk in the woods with a friend and her dog meant that I wouldn't get my aerobic workout for the day.  When Henry, at three, wanted to hear the same story every day for a month and have the same conversation about it every time, I could not help thinking about the stack of unread library books that was gathering dust in the meantime.

But I have come to believe that all of these activities are essential.  They are what is meant by "nurturing".  

Our children do not need any more possessions to be happy; they need only to feel sure that they possess our hearts, our attention, our acceptance of who they are."

Katrina Kenison

Mitten Strings For God

"Set your eyes on things that are above, 

not on things that are on earth." 

Colossians 3:2

We must not drift away from the

humble works, because these are

the works nobody will do.  They are

never too small.  We are so small

we look at things in a small way.

Even if we do a small thing for

somebody, God, being almighty,

sees everything as great.

For there are many people who can 
do big things.  But there

are very few people who

will do the small things.

Mother Theresa

I bought a few new but basic art supplies for Janey and Patrick to keep then busy-I know the northern kids across the continent are going stir-crazy.

 

All-Media Paint Set -$28.44

Really nice art supplies in a sturdy box.  It comes with directions for all the different types of paints, crayons and pencils.

Roll of White Paper

Construction Paper Packs

Large White Drawing Paper

Coolest Paint Markers-we love these!  If you aren't in the mood for paint clean-up or have littles ones that make it too difficult these are the answer.

Can you believe it?  My fourth child I get to teach to drive.  Actually my husband gets to teach to drive-I just can't do it. 

 I remember trying with Abbey-I think I was pregnant, but after about 10 minutes I felt so so car sick with the starts and stops.  I can laugh about it now but I think I was pretty impatient.  We all have our strengths and that's just not one of mine, although I can honestly say I've chilled immensely as the years go on.  The gift of aging I guess, along with wrinkles. :)

Thank your for your prayers-my beautiful, holy, Saint-like friend Kate went to heaven (straight there I know it) on February 12 after a short battle with ovarian cancer.  Kate was the kind of person everyone walked away feeling like they just met someone special.  I met her years ago at a soccer game and we reconnected when we were both diagnosed with cancer and she supported me through all of chemo.  She was the first person I hugged after my last treatment, which was a cry-fest for me.  I could call her and say "I need you" and she would be anywhere I was in a minute.  She was going through her own chemo at the time, and we cried together but she was a never-ending well of hope and strength to me.  She is the one who shaved my head, she is the one who gave me the strength to take off my itchy hat and be bald in public.  (She could pull it off, she was strikingly beautiful.)  She has raised or was in the process of raising (she has 8, with far apart ages like me, that's how we connected) incredible children along with her husband-just one of those amazing families, that humbly set a beautiful example of a Christian family.  I will miss her but I feel her presence always.  I know she is joyful,  I know she sees the plan in it's entirety and is at peace with it all.  The feeling that I 'know' this is so strong I never doubt it.   I think of the quote from one of my favorite people who passed last year- "How lucky we are to feel this way."  How lucky, blessed, filled with gratitude I am that Kate has touched my life for all of our eternity.  I am sure every single person who knew her is saying the same and her life will serve as an inspiration to us all.

Patrick and I are reading Island of the Blue Dolphins.