A Love Story

Tonight someone very special was proposed to... and she said, "Yes!"

The evening was one of romance and celebration. Carina's fiance' requested a candlelight dinner served privately on our side porch. Much strategizing was needed to pull this off. After all, this is a busy household. Everyone was on board to make it as special as possible.

Starting at mid-afternoon, all hands got busy with cleaning, ironing, and setting up. In no time we had transformed an ordinary side porch to a romantic niche full of flowers and candlelight (although the relatively early dinner hour -- 6:00 pm -- certainly did not allow for the full ambiance which they would have otherwise provided.)

The plan was to feed our large crew and clear the kitchen/dining area by 5:30 or so. Danica prepared egg noodles with cheese and they quickly set to consuming the casserole full of food. Soon, with precision and great command, she announced that they had three minutes left to finish, clear the table, and evacuate the area. They were banished to the family room for a viewing of Mr. Deeds. (Glad it wasn't me -- I don't like that movie at all...)

Carina and Rick were ushered into their private dining spot, Dad began grilling and Mom began serving. Salad, sparkling grape juice, marinated steak, grilled asparagus spears, marinated green beans and red peppers, and ginger-garlic rice comprised the evening's menu. It was delightful to be such a special part of their night.

At 7:30 pm they emerged, smiling and happy; he asked, she said yes. Perfect!

Within minutes a sister from down the street piled through the front door with her little family. Rick's family and friends arrived shortly after, bearing tubs of strawberries and platters of shortcakes. In short, they brought dessert. We set up the table and celebrated with this happy couple, because we were almost as happy as they! How wonderful to be sharing such a significant event, celebrating their joy, and supporting their decision. We were all blessed!

For a photo journal of tonight's Love Story, head over here! (Because it is late and I am working on this alone, it seems to be out of order on the link. Start at the bottom and work up if you want to make chronological sense of it! Sorry!)

Play Dates For the Aged

Play times have begun -- literally.

Rehearsals are underway for the CPS production of My Fair Lady. My daughter, Louissa, and I are joining in the fun. The times of choreography and choral practice have been both fun and frustrating, full of compliments and criticism, laced with good-will and grumpiness. The directors provide the latter, everyone takes turns sharing the second items on my list, and I take responsibility for the first. Got that?

The fun is obvious (if you know me, that is.) I love song and dance and acting and make-believe. In fact, I attend all of Louissa's rehearsals as well as my own just because I want to learn the dances. The frustration comes from the sure revelation that I do not learn this stuff as quickly as I once did, the realization that my voice is not as strong anymore, and experiencing first hand that this body just isn't moving as well these days. Huh. Really frustrating at times. Downright discouraging actually. But...

... my attendance at all those extra rehearsals of Louissa's paid off last night when they needed a replacement for an ensemble. Guess who was ready and knew all the staging! You got it! So now I am not only Mrs. Pearce, the stuffy old housekeeper, but I will also play an uppity-high society type as well in the Ascot Opening Race scene. This scene is fun with no frustration at all. It is slow moving and easy for even this ol' girl to keep up with!

So pardon me while I busy myself with a hobby that is an absolute favorite -- well, maybe absolute, because there are always gardening, shopping, decorating, and travel; I may be a bit absent here for days on end as the NY director arrives next week and staging rehearsals for Mrs. Pearce keep me hopping. They will run all day as well as evenings for a good long time. I will try to develop a good thought or two to share with you every now and then just to assure you that I have not been raptured (leaving all of you behind?) or died prematurely (at least prematurely in my humble estimation), nor have I run off to some distant land (are you kidding? and miss these fabulous rehearsals?!!)

I'm just inordinately busy playing these days.

Glorious Days

I am pleasantly situated in the early morning hour on my side porch. It rained throughout the night and the dampness hangs like a sheer curtain in the air, softening songs, sounds, and sensations. I breathe in the heavy air sweetened by blooms all around. This will surely be a part of heaven. (Said, of course, in my very human, very limited understanding.)

Ah! I revel in the simple, yet complex beauty of sound, sight, and fragrance. Perfection.

Suddenly there is a shift. The raucous "caw caws" of a large black bird breaks the tranquility, a reminder that perfection is not true here, in this place, in this time. The birds' songs still, the mood becomes somber in recognition of danger. The heavy air takes on an even heavier aura. Sin has touched even their simple world.

Someday we will live in perfect peace. He will reign in every place. The lion will lie down with the lamb. And even the raucous call of large black birds will bring no sense of impending danger.

O, what a glorious day that will be!

Red Roof Inn? It's Better, I Promise!

Hubby had son create a group e-mail called "1942". Who? What? Why?

"1942" is for residents, semi-residents, and fairly regular 0vernight guests. It has been created for the purpose of communicating events, meal plans, schedules, housekeeping requests, chores and projects, etc. to all who call this place home either permanently, temporarily, part-time, or now and then. How many are on the list? Sixteen at the moment. But we need to add Tanda. (Jamie, don't forget to do that.) And that doesn't include my mom and dad or my littlest guy, or Danica. (She just requested that she be added, too...)

If you want to get your name on the list, just show up here once a week with your pillow (that includes you, Lisa C., and Danica and I will handle labor...) Then you'll get your name on the group hub, too.

I think I am enjoying this season of ministry! Who would have thought that 2008 would look like this?

A Morning's Ponderings

Danica and Jameson have been hit hard with the tummy bug. Oh, well. At least we're here to help out if we can. Still, I didn't realize she had a hard night until I found them on the couch this morning with the bedroom mattress stripped bare. Must be during the night little man was sick again. This can't last much longer, since this will be day 4 for him, day 3 for her.

Against the white backdrop of the front fence, the soft blue headed delphinium, my favorite, (you will find that I reference many flowers as "my favorite" so there is an obvious misuse of the term on my part) tower above the strawberry spires of foxglove, also my favorite (see, I told you so.) Happy golden stella d'ora lilies punctuate the front, blending with the blue heads looking over the fence from behind. Oceans of lemon yellow primrose flood the back garden, with peppermint pink dianthus floating alongside. The gentler pink rose nods beyond the yellow. Purple stalks of sage, my beloved pure white Siberian iris, dusty pink blooms of dwarf bleeding heart... In case you didn't know, I enjoy my garden. Just ask my kids how many times a day I exult over the beauty of these blooms. "I love my garden!" It is a regular declaration around here, just to be sure they realize how special the garden is to me. (And maybe to make sure they learn to love it, too.)

A friend recently posted about her favorite room. I, too, have favorite spots -- places I migrate to each morning with coffee in hand, books to one side, and computer waiting on the floor before me. But these days, I may or may not find my "spot" free. Today the family room, my place when the weather is chilly, was occupied by above mentioned daughter and grandson. The floor of the side porch, my spot of choice on summer morns, was hosting a young man who spent the night. Someone else was sleeping in the loft which is open to the kitchen, so I did not opt to use the table there. Fortunately, there were still other options. I landed here, in my dining room, seated in a comfortable chair next to a window overlooking the front side garden. Life this morning is still comfortable here at my home. So I will be glad for that.

But comfortable or not, I will choose to rejoice in His purpose for me today. The work He has provided, the people I will serve, the situations which will come my way -- all these things are in His hand, to be used for His glory in my life. This is my true comfort, my constant peace, my strength and joy. No one can take that from me. How good to know and be known by such a faithful God.