The Pie Feast

Thanksgiving and pies just go hand-in-hand so why not host a celebration dedicated to this humble food?

 Years ago we attended a weekly co-op that held a Pie Feast the week before Thanksgiving.  It was simple:  bring your own lunch and a pie to share.

It was always fun to participate, and it's one of those things we've missed.  So after reading a reference to another Pie Feast last week, I decided it was time to host our own.

A simple message out to our church small group, a trip to the grocery store, and the baking began: savory (tomato pie featuring the last of our vine-ripened crop and a cottage pie) and sweet (apple, coconut cream, and chocolate whoopie pies).  Others brought chicken pot pie, pumpkin, pie and sweet potato pie.

And it was a roaring success!  Our little house was a full-to-bursting with some of our favorite people, feasting on good food and catching up on life.  Yet another time of gratitude in this Thanksgiving season!

Stephen is 11

A birthday at the beach is the best birthday of all.  Happy Birthday, sweet Stephen!

Josie is Five

photo courtesy of my neighbor

Five years ago we were surprised by this sweet girl!  She is an absolute joy and we can't wait to see what this next year holds!

Year End Bliss

The last several years we have celebrated Mother's Day by concluding our school year.  This year, we went a little farther with a trip to the beach!

Despite many, many hours of driving & riding, it was a restful and fun getaway.  More pics to follow so stay tuned.

Mother's Day 2016

The kids asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day, and without hesitation I answered, "To watch the sun rise on the beach."

Half of them were up and willing to go.

It's amazing that something so routine and predictable is anything but ordinary.

So thankful for this extraordinary adventure of motherhood and these little charges!

A New Neighbor

Two weeks ago our neighbors welcomed a newborn into their family.  Today, the first steps of the adoption were finalized and a celebration was in order.

Grilled pizza, veggies and fruit, s'more cupcakes and a bonfire.

And in a nod to their British heritage, I made this quilt as both gift and party decoration.

We prayed for nice boys to move to the neighborhood, and while a newborn wasn't what we had in mind, we are all smitten with this little guy. 

Easter 2016

"My song is the song of hope, 

The voice of spring is my voice,

All my dear friends, let us rejoice;

God gave us sunshine, God gave us rain, 

Our prayers have not been in vain. 

Gone is the cold, cheerless winter,

Here is glorious Easter again."

The Good Master by Kate Seredy

 

No bright sunshine this year, but we can still celebrate: Christ the Lord is risen today!

Signs of Spring

"...for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land...the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance."    Song of Solomon 2:11-13

It is often said that the darkest hour is just before dawn, and perhaps spring would seem slightly less glorious if it wasn't preceded by February.  Personally, I could skip the entire month (or maybe relocate to a warm, sunny location for a few weeks).  The first two months of this year have been hard: we've been blessed with good physical health, but the strain of endless rain, family togetherness, and cloudy days have taken its toll for sure.  

"Blessed be the Lord!  For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."  Psalm 28: 6-7

It's officially a week away but there are certainly signs of spring!

A Non-Winter Day

It's one of those days that just makes my heart feel like it might burst.  The blessing of sunshine in winter.  Of an afternoon with my little people with nothing on the agenda other than finding rocks.  

 

I am blessed.

December Photo Project: Day 13

"O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; 

disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight."

What a joy to witness this beautiful sunrise on this Sunday morning!

December Photo Project: Day 2

Days of rain ended in a shower of sunlight: "the weary world rejoices!"

Giving Thanks: Little Bits of Grace

"From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."  John 1:16

They call it The Witching Hour: that time when all inhabitants have reached the end of their respective ropes and dad's not home yet.  Tired, hungry, spent.

But today was different.  Our Wall of Thanks was highlighted as the sun finally broke through the clouds, once again reminding me of the grace upon grace that is faithfully poured out into my life.  Each leaf/apple/acorn a marker of thanksgiving, all bathed in the glorious light of the sun.

Giving Thanks: My Job

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." - Mark Twain

 

Although I'm continually surprised with all my job requires of me, I'm so thankful for this opportunity and the little charges that are mine, and especially for this little one who of late has been calling me "Mama Hamill."

Giving Thanks

If you don’t fight for joy, it’s your children who lose.  What do I want my children to remember — my joy in clean floors, made beds and ironed shirts — or my joy of the Lord?  You will be most remembered — by what brought you most joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength and the person of Christ is your unassailable joy – and the battle for joy is nothing less than fighting the good fight of faith. 

Ann Voskamp

 

I can think of no better way of beginning a month of Thanksgiving than to be in the midst of our church family, around the table of the King.