when you can’t see the path

I was sitting up late.

Later than I ought to have been.

Praying and thinking, wondering and dreaming.

Where will the next years take me?

Where will I work?

What about college?

What could I do to further the Kingdom?

How can I glorify God in everything?

The questions weighed down, so I prayed them, and asked God to show me the path that I should take.

Prayed, closed the Bible and blue journal and went to bed.

The next night, two days ago now,

I sat on that same barstool at the kitchen counter,

later than I should’ve been,

and prayed.

First I read Matthew 5-7,

which got me thinking about Psalm 119,

the verse where it says

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By walking according to your word.”

So I started to turn the pages in that direction and was almost there when I saw, starred, highlighted, circled.

That verse I learned in preschool.

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.”

And then it all clicked for me-

how could I have missed this, this verse I have known since a young age?

God’s word- the holy, infallible Word, inspired by God and totally true-

This Word gives the answers.

For the Word, CHRIST, was with God, in Him is LIGHT,

light unto my path.

loads of blessings (and fun)

329. Lifting the canoe

(we transferred it into the garage, and had fun doing it!)

crazy girls!

330. cooking in our new aprons!

331. the boy shoveling… and loving it! Watching him was so much fun!

just like daddy… hat and all!

332. His red shovel… :)

333. walking in the field/road/flopped-subdivision-plot across the road

334. quilts

335. The Resurrection Garden

Well, that’s my week!

Blessings!

Kaye

check it out…

Hello friends!

I’ve been trying to update my blog and add some new features to it, and here it is!

I have added a few things:

- Music List page with songs you can listen to

- merged the Verses and Quotes Page

- updated the Bookshelves (and still am… there is always more books to add! :) )

- added and organized the Link List

feel free to check them out by following the links!

Blessings!

Kaye

weekends are for…

Celebrating

2 Months

in the new house!

May your weekend be filled with joy!

Kaye

In our woods

joyful, peaceful, blessings abound~

Kaye

Flying Fabric and Slicing Scissors

My goodness how the time flies!

I had planned on writing about this last week, but completely forgot!

A few weeks ago, Mamo, our grandma from up north, came down to visit us in our new house. We asked if she would help us make aprons, and she said of course!

So with her help, our living room and kitchen became the Sewing Center of the Universe.

Three sewing machines,

two tables,

and an ironing board.

Plus the kitchen table with the cutting board and fabric laid out.

And let’s not forget the snack bar!

We started off good and strong at 9 am. Scissors flew and rotary cutters smoked we worked them so hard.

Papa called to check in, and seeing it was him on the caller ID, I picked up with a voice as cheery and store-like I could manage,

“Northern Sewing Center! Kaye speaking! How can I help you?”

I totally caught him off guard, and we both got laughing so hard we couldn’t talk!

R and Mom went to story hour and we cruised through the pattern, pieces slowly coming together…

After a funny reversing situation and a few machine malfunctions, we were ready for some good tunes and snacks, so L cranked up the Narnia Soundtrack and I opened the pretzels.

By about noon we were hungry so stopped for a brief lunch. We couldn’t help but be happy and smile at the piles of fabric that were slowly becoming adorable reversible aprons.

By 3, we had them all finished and paused for a photo shoot by the fireplace, boy and dog included.

Later that week, me, Mamo, and Miranda were home while L and R went with Mom to a class. During that time, we both had time to make aprons for friend’s of ours whose birthdays were coming up.

M made hers for Z, her ‘other half’ whom we all adore and count as one of the family.

When Z came over for dinner, I grabbed the girls and snapped this picture of them in their aprons…

Too cute!

Thank you so much Mamo for helping us with those aprons! We LOVE you!

Kaye

(and the rest of the crew too :) )

blessings discovered

Out of order blessings discovered throughout the week…

313. heat washing over my face from an open oven

314. the first smell of rain of the season

315. the wreath on our table

306. playing baseball until dark- just the giggles I got watching the boy and M smack balls across the field… too funny!

308. Bonnie helping me to start building my library by bringing books!

309. the dozens of patterns scattered across the floor of my room for quilt blocks all finding a spot in a binder…organized!

325. digging dirt with my fingers, and having dirt stuck under my nails… SPRING!

Weekends are for Rest

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Under a blanket,

under the clouds,

in front of a really cool story,

or out in the woods,

may you answer His call to come and rest this weekend~

joyful blessings abound in Him-

Kaye

What Life Is

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son…”  1 john 5:12

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life…” john 6:35

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…” john 14:6

(to see the video, click here…)

may you love and know and find more joy in Him each day~

Kaye

All Glory

“No day must pass, though ever so busy a day, though ever so sorrowful a day, without praising God. God is every day blessing us, doing well for us; there is, therefore, good reason that we should bless Him every day, speaking well of Him…

What we must give God glory of are His greatness and His great works. We must declare, “Great is the Lord,” and if great, then “greatly to be praised!” with all that is within us, to the utmost of our power.
His greatness indeed cannot be comprehended. When we cannot, by searching, find the bottom,

we must sit down at the brink and adore the depth.”
-Matthew Henry, "Complete Commentary on the Bible"

(just a quote I found in my devotional... enjoy the warm weather today! Joyful Blessings Abound- Kaye)

7 Gifts Today

photo courtesy of Ann Voskamp

(To read Ann’s blog today and learn more about the above photo, click here.)

7 gifts for each day.

Starting today and up until Resurrection Morning…

1. white clouds painted against a blue spring sky

2. colorful window clings catching the light

3. warm sunshine through the windows warming toes on wood floors

4. pasta and rolls warm out of the oven

5. learning letters with R

6. one month left of my junior year

7. quilt pieces scattered across the floor, promising a colorful blanket in a few weeks

Blessings and joy on this sunshiney afternoon….

Kaye

30 Fictional Characters

Jasmine Baucham had a cool challenge on her blog, and I decided to give it a try!
It’s simple-
Without thinking too much, list 30 fictional characters- 15 from books and 15 from films- that

• you really liked, or
• identified with, or
• who you think influenced you, or
• whom you simply will never forget!

Literature:

1. Ralph Moody- a farm boy who is honest, hardworking, and funny! I have loved reading about his adventures in all of his books.
2. Scout Finch- what a sweet, smart, and funny character! I loved learning as she did about the times in the book To Kill A Mockingbird.
3. Jem Finch- Scout’s big brother who witnesses how his dad tries to help everyone, no matter their skin color. Awesome big brother and great personality. From To Kill A Mockingbird.
4. Mary Alice- this Chicago gal gets a shock when she goes to live with her Grandma Dowdel in rural Illinois in the book A Year Down Yonder. In that year, she is involved in many of her grandma’s crazy but thoughtful schemes.
5. Grandma Dowdel- a hysterically funny, inventive, and smart Grandma who knows how to hold her own.
6. Maude March- this cowgirl’s spunk and ability to find trouble never cease to amaze me. Her two books are Maude March  and Maude March on the Run!
7. Hollis Woods- a young girl in the foster care system who finds her forever family… makes me cry every time I read it… Pictures of Hollis Woods.
8. Sir Kendrick- a knight ready to defend the Kingdom at all cost with a heart full of courage and chivalry. Amazing story… Sir Kendrick and the Castle at Bel Lione.
9. Astrid Bjorklund- spunky, crazy, funny, and wise- this farmgirl doctor follows the Lord with all her heart and can quote scripture like you wouldn’t believe- Love her!
10. Moss Trawnley- a young boy with the smarts to survive the depression. He ends up in the Civilian Conservation Corps and finds that what they are doing is what he is meant for. Powerful, funny, and will leave you heaving a happy sigh- Hitch.
11. Ranger Logan- a young ranger fleeing his past and finding joy in working the mountains in the Couer d’Alene forests. That is, until wildfires threaten to consume them… one of my favorites!!! The Big Burn by J. Ingold.
12. Hope Yancey- fiesty and fast, Hope works with her aunt at the Welcome Stairway Diner, serving food with more laughs and smiles than anyone. From Hope Was Here.
13. Holling Hoodhood- hysterical. Simply put, you will laugh so hard your stomach hurts when you read The Wednesday Wars.
14. Stargirl- beautiful, original, and her own person. She turns a stereo-type school upside-down with her ukelele, pet rat, and prairie skirts.
15. Bird Mallon- certain of her future, Bird finds that sometimes life can throw you uncertainties and finds friendship in the unlikeliest of places. I would love to step into her shoes for the day… from Water Street.

(Okay, I went over a little… smile)
16. Christian- from a Pilgrim’s Progress. His walk is one that is traveled by all Christians.
17. Mrs. Gladstone- a fiery, smart, short, fiesty, funny lady who is determined to save her shoe business from her grown son Elden, and takes us with her for the ride in Rules of the Road. She reminds me a lot of my Mamo.
Film:

1. Kathleen Kelly- this charming bookstore owner from You’ve Got Mail has the cutest house, style, and I just love her sweet character.
2. Emma Woodhouse- her quick wit is one I admire
3. Elinor Dashwood- simple and quiet. Love her. I’ve watched Sense and Sensibility too many times…
4. Claire Huxtable- the mom from the Cosby show… classy, intelligent, and constantly laughing at her family’s predicaments.
5. Aslan- Liam Neison plays him perfectly in the Narnia Movies… a great allegory of Christ.
6. Larry Daley- “I’m the night guard.” Love those movies (Night at the Museum) and think he is hilarious!
7. Bert- “Mary Poppins!” The chalk man, one-man-band, chimney sweep.
8. Barney Fife- the bumbling deputy from Andy Griffith Show. HIs mistakes and adventures have had me and my sisters rolling.
9. Opal- from Because of Winn-Dixie. Her charm, sweet quiet and abililty to make friends anywhere inspires me… love her.
10. Gloria- Opal’s blind friend who teaches her about friendship, life, and gardens. My favorite character from that movie/book.
11. Gru- rough vilian turned daddy. I absolutely adored “Despicable Me.” Too cute!
12. Maria Von Trapp- I just love Julie Andrews, and this is my favorite of her roles.
13. Madeline- I watched this movie a lot when I was young, and still love to! Poor Ms. Clavelle had her hands full with this little girl!
14. Samwise Gamgee- Frodo’s gardener/companion/body guard (smile). His simple temperament is one I love to watch.
15. Aragorn- the future king, the great ranger, and awesome guy. My all time favorite from Lord of the Rings.

Now I challenge you, reader-
tell me about some characters you love, remember, won’t forget.
Can’t wait to hear from you,
Kaye