Leaping Today

Today we are "leaping" as we have an extra day this year!

We started off "leaping" to our chores and piano practice.  Then Katy "leaped" to mail a thank you letter that we all wanted to send.

We "leaped" to clean off a table that we had covered with clutter and complete some school.

We "leaped" to have our lunch.

After lunch the kids "leaped" to clean up the game room and then they "leaped" back downstairs to listen to a story.

In the middle of the afternoon we went "leaping" to take our paper recycling to the library's recycling bins.

Then we "leaped" to Grammy's house to drop off a folding table and some dishes and letters for her and Dad-Dad.  While we were there Riley leaped at all the kids and licked their faces if he could.

Then we "leaped" back home where Felicity "leaped" for joy at getting to play outside.  Katy and Kaomi "leaped" outside, too.  Kent grudgingly "leaped" as he thought it was too hot and he might get all sweaty.

They all "leaped" to see what a rutabaga looked like before I prepared it for super.  I hope everyone's taste-buds "leap" with enjoyment when they eat it tonight.  I'm sure they will be almost "leaping" out of their chairs when I serve chocolate ice cream for dessert!

The Hidden Art of Homemaking - Music

This week I read about what Edith Schaeffer had to say about letting your music or creative side loose.

She said, "Stifling or squashing a natural expression detracts from one's personality.".

I've seen this first hand in my own life.  I like music and I like to play the piano.  I know that my piano playing isn't the best.  My husband has a better ear for tune than I do so it's been hard for me to play in his presence because of the criticism I know he will often give.  (Sometimes I need it.)  So for a while I refused to play at all thinking I wasn't good enough to play the piano that sat in my home.  I realized I was making myself miserable, so now I often play when I know that criticism won't be forthcoming.  Sometimes I have played when he is listening and when Jeff has said it sounded good or he came to sing with the hymns I was playing I found it encouraging.  When I can sit down and play for fun, to relax, or help vent some frustration I am no longer stifled.

I'm also teaching Kent and Katy to play the piano and I enjoy hearing them when they realize that something they thought was hard is no longer hard for them.  Jeff likes to play the guitar and we sing praises to God as a family.  I enjoy listening to his practicing as well, knowing that he is enjoying the talent God has given him.


"Whether in music, or other things, one never knows what surprisingly satisfying things God has in His plan for the developed talent which is literally 'given' to Him to use or lay aside."

Is God using the music talent he has given me to serve him?

The Psalmist used the talent God gave him in penning the words of Psalm 45.  Psalm 45:1 says, "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."


I'm linking up with:



These Five of Mine (plus two)

The Modest Mom

Tea with Mommy

A chapter to read

One of the ways we encourage our children to do good jobs for whatever they are doing is by "paying" them.  We give them a gold coin for anything that we think they deserve one for.  They keep them in their "bank" until I set up my store on Saturday evenings.  Then they can buy things from my store with their coins.

Recently Katy bought a coupon to have a tea party with Mommy, she redeemed it this past Tuesday.  We had fun and she invited Kent and Kaomi to join us.  We had Sweet Coconut Thai Chai Tea.

Blueberry Bread

A few more friends

Linking up with:

Raising Arrows

The Modest Mom

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Reading the Mail

When my Great Uncle Phil sends us mail it usually includes several jokes, fun stories and comics.  This week everyone has been reading them and enjoying them.  I couldn't resist capturing Felicity reading the mail and having a snack, too.  The snack was her leftover breakfast and it was getting close to lunchtime, so I guess when she saw it sitting there she thought it was time to eat.

This is really interesting!

I'm caught.

Project Party - Cleaning My Room

     I've been wanting to get this corner of my room straightened up for a while.  It became rather urgent last week when Clark discovered that he could nose dive out of his car seat.  He's been sleeping in his car seat pretty much since he was born.  We used the pack and play that is to be his bed several months ago when we were traveling and though the pack and play made it back to this corner it was never reassembled.  Then a few other things got set here around Christmas time.  Yes, I could use the swing where it was and have been using it when Clark needs a change of scenery.

     I decided to tackle this corner and get the pack and play set up for Clark so I didn't have to worry about him nose diving in the middle of the night and then getting stepped on by me in the dark because I wouldn't have seen him there.  (Disclaimer:  I have not stepped on him.)


     It took a little while to sort though the stuff, but about half of the pile belonged in various places upstairs, there were 3 mostly empty boxes that got removed to the recycling place in the garage and there wasn't much left to tackle after that.  I put the Christmas quilt in the chest at the end of our bed and vacuumed the area I had just emptied.  I moved the swing and set up the pack and play.  I even organized my night stand cabinet and straightened the top of my nightstand.  Now to get Clark to want to sleep there is another project, but he'll figure it out soon.

The Hidden Art of Homemaking - What is Hidden Art?

In Chapter 2 of The Hidden Art of Homemaking talks about the "art" that you may find in your everyday life.  I like the following statement "All art involves conscious discipline.".  In order to get much done I have to consciously make an effort to do the things I know I need to do first.  So the above statement makes complete sense to me.  I have also found that when I am making time to do certain things it seems like they take not much time at all.  This chapter also talks about priorities.  I like that it gives permission to not feel guilty when you accomplish a needed task to the neglect of another task when you need to, with the knowledge that you will still complete the neglected task.

What can I do today to show appreciation to my Creator for creating me His image by being aware of the beauty He has created around me?   I can focus on making sure my priorities are in the right order and thank him for the creativity he has given me to think and decide what should be a priority.  I can ask Him for guidance that I would focus on God's will instead of my will.

What can you do today to show appreciation to God our creator?

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