Experiencing Disappointment

Published today on the THE IDD BLOG


Disappointment is one of the worst emotions in the world. I've been experiencing it lately.
But, I came across this quote by Oswald Chambers at the perfect time the other morning. I wrote it on a Post-It and stuck it in my pocket so I could pull it out and read it all day.

"If your hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope and dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses of life is the stress of waiting for God."

I know the feeling of waiting all too well. I'm experiencing the purification of my hopes. My noble hopes and dreams WILL be fulfilled. But, they will be better than I can imagine in my finite mind.

On Coffee

A friend of mine once said that the "Smell of coffee brewing in the morning means everything is right in my world."
I agree. 

Life may be a mystery.

But, coffee puts things in perspective. 

What Have I Been Up TO?

Good question!

I've had several people ask me lately what I've been up to and why my blog has been neglected. 

Well, I'm sorry to say, there's no real answer to the question.  I don't have big news to share or a huge project to unveil. 

To be honest I think I'm going through a "no-bloggy" phase.  I seem to have no inspiration for posts.  Not that things haven't been happening in my life and they aren't plenty of things to talk about....  I really can't explain it. 

But, anyway, here's the rundown on "what I've been up to"

• Preparing for Camp.  Youth Camp is the 3rd week of July this year.  We're already deep into preparations for it.  Mainly, at this point, writing the skits.  My personal skit is proving way more difficult than anything I've run into before.  Lots of agonizing over this.
• I've been working on some other writing.  I'll talk more about that later.
• My sister Lydia graduated from high school and we spent one crazy weekend getting ready for and hosting an open house in her honor.  Unfortunately, I have a limited amount of pictures from the actual event, due to Steph and I both ending up working in the kitchen for most of the party.  (Evidently Lyds has more friends than any of us realized... :)
• Graduation Parties.  'Tis the season.
  
• Working in the yard.  I did WAY more yard work/planting of flowers/gardening than I've ever done in my life.  It takes a lot of time, but I'm so excited about the results!  It doesn't look like much yet, but I'm greatly encouraged at the gladiolus that are getting taller every day.  I'll post pictures once they bloom!
• TRYING to keep the house clean.  Like, even though I'd RATHER be outside working in the yard, I still need to clean my bathroom, you know?
• Feeling discombobulated...  It's the change of seasons, you know?  Last winter I would come home from work, and snuggle in for the night.  I didn't go back outside... why would I?  It was -25 degrees!  I watched movies and gobbled up books.  Summer time is completely different.  I come home from work and meet a list of things to do a mile long.  I haven't been reading much, people.  This is sad...
• Also, I had a slight health issue for a couple of weeks (on top of a stomach bug earlier last month), and it's amazing how many things can work together to take up ALL OF YOUR TIME!  And completely push blogging to the back of your brain.

Anyway, I hope to be back up to normal blogging speed very very soon.  Stay tuned!  And thanks for sticking around!

On The Schedule For Tonight

• Dinner
• Chat with a friend (I now have to SCHEDULE these things...)
  
• Laundry (boo)
• MOVIE!
• Hanging out with my sisters!
  

Luke Plays Baseball

Next year he'd like to play for the REAL Cardinals...

This year, it's just little league.

 

Playing Shortstop

 

Waiting for a fabulous play

At 1st base, waiting to run to 2nd

Running to 2nd.

June 4th...

And it doesn't feel like it people.  Well, actually it's beautiful out today... and it was yesterday too, but on Tuesday the weather was dismal and cold and rainy... yuck.  And the forecast for Saturday is similar.  Which is not good, BECAUSE....  Lydia's Grad Party is that day!  Hopefully people bring sweatshirts.

Is it really supposed to be this cold in JUNE?  I don't remember June ever being like this... 

Yes, I'm rambling and complaing about the weather..  :)

I really don't know what else to say...

After work I'm hoping to run by Lukey's Baseball game (maybe get an autograph) :) and say hi to Grandma and Grandpa before heading out to do some recording.  (Have to warm up my voice... la la la la)

My life has been even crazier than usual lately.  That's why I haven't been blogging as much.  I'm sorry for that.

But!  Exciting weekend planned so hopefully that means lots of picture to share with you all on Monday!

And if I don't see you tomorrow, have a WONDERFUL weekend! 

May Book List

 Sadly... this is a very short list. 



57.  Goose Girl by Shannon Hale- (****)  I really liked this book.  I had never before heard the fairy tale of the Goose Girl so it was all new to me.  But, like I said I enjoyed it very much.  I was sad when the book ended... so that's a good sign.  :)  Thankfully, there is a sequel!

58.  The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket- (*****)

59.  Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix - (****)  First in the new series "The Missing" by Haddix.  I had heard a few people say they liked it so I ordered it from the library.  Possibly my first ever sci-fi.... :)  Very gripping.  Fast moving, starting with the very beginning and not slowing down at all until the end which ends... in a cliffhanger.  When's the next book coming out?

60.  Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers - (*****)  Pretty Good :)

61.  The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club- (****)  I liked this one.  Not my favorite probably, but it wasn't as "edge of your seat" as some other mysteries I've read. 

62.  Enna Burning - (***)  This is the sequel to the Goose Girl but, as is the case with many sequels, I didn't like it as well.  Shannon Hale is an incredibly gifted author, though (which I think I've already said) and it's a pleasure to read her writing.  Awesome title. 

63.  Strong Poison- (*****) Very good.  I love Lord Peter.  Add Harriet Vane and it's even better!

I'M SORRY!

I took a sudden, unexpected and completely unplanned Blogger break this past week. 

I've got a thousand and one things on my mind right now and sorry to say blogging isn't one of them. 

I'll be back tomorrow with my May book list, which sadly is kind of short :(

My Garden or What I Did Memorial Day Weekend

I spent most of Saturday and Sunday working in my yard.  It felt so good!

Here's some of what we got accomplished

Raised beds, or the vegetable garden.  Steph and Katie built the beds on Saturday and then Steph and I filled them in with dirt and went greenhouse shopping on Sunday for all the veggies and herbs.  So fun!

Yes, there are 12 tomato plants.  No, I don't know what we'll do with all of them. 
Also, some onions, bell peppers, jalepeno, peas (we still have to get a trellis for the peas), lettuce, and various herbs.
This basil smells AMAZING.  I wish you could smell it. 

Here's the planters I made up for the front of the house.  The gorgeous Celosia. 

I also pulled all my house plants outside.  They'll do much better outside.  Mostly because I will probably actually remember to water them.  :)


And here are my lily of the valley.  I've heard they're hard to grow.... but I wouldn't have the first clue.  They were growing wild when I moved in.  I know this isn't a fabulous picture, but I wanted you all to see how HUGE this patch is!

There are a ton of other things we got planted, and seeds in the ground, but nothing is really showing up yet.  So, no pictures of that. 
I'm so proud of my garden so far.  I hope it lives!!!!

In Memory

Of all the men and women that gave their lives for this country.

Because they believed in freedom for their families

And for all the people they would never know who would walk this land after them

For their courage under fire

For their sacrifice, because sacrifice means hurt

For their willingness to die for something they would never see

 

For their families and friends who are privileged to live in the freedom they earned

Who carry the burden of a grief that will never die

And know the names of the unsung heroes.

Thank You. 

*sigh*

Somehow or Somewhere...
I picked up a stomach bug. I hate these things.
Stayed home from work today.
Laid on the couch for a LONG time not doing anything....
Then decided on my personal all time best cure for anything.
Reading.
I don't care if it makes my headache worse. I don't care if my vision goes blurry.
It helps.
Ok, so when my vision gets TOO blurry... I take a break to watch a movie.
The Pursuit of Happyness.

Oh dear. Why do we have only one kleenex? I love this movie.
My sister arrived home right in the middle of one of my sobs,
looks at me strangely and then says
"Why do you ALWAYS watch this movie when you're sick?!"
I don't know...It's probably not a good idea...

Mom came over to bring me a Coke and some soup.
Moms are good at this sort of thing. :)
Joe mowed my lawn.
Luke and Sarah played outside to avoid being infected.
They did risk coming inside to bring me "presents" though.
To help me feel better.
I now have a lovely pile of grass, sticks and tree bark on my coffee table.
OH yes.
And lilacs.

I have progressed off the couch far enough to wash the dishes.

Back to Lord Peter and Harriet Vane.

Tomorrow looks better.

Brussels Begonia Masterpiece

Every summer, Brussels weaves a giant carpet of begonia blooms that covers almost the entire Grande Place.

The flower carpet does not last long: just three days and four nights. And the amount of work is immense, with hundreds of volunteers arranging some 700,000 begonias (knot count of 300 flowers per square meter) into a meticulously planned pattern.

*WHEW*

What a weekend!
To recap:
Saturday:
-Breakfast
-Gave Mom and Dad their anniversary gift
-Picked up Luke and Sarah
-Went greenhousing at Menards with Luke, Sarah and Katie
-Hauled home our purchases
-Lunch
-Got Luke and Sarah spiffed up
-Lydia's GRADUATION CEREMONY! (AHHHH!!!!!)
-Reception
-Back to Mom and Dad's to chat about life and the graduation
-Grocery shopping (quickly, running through the store)
-Home
-Frantically and Madly I start planting the perrennials I bought (with help from Susie), Katie starts working on a dessert for the church picnic on Sunday and Steph throws pizzas in the oven and starts downloading the graduation pictures
-Scarf down some pizza
-Back to planting
-Wash up and drive to my Uncle's concert
-Arrive early, so... COFFEE!!!
-Concert
-Home again. 
-Bed!

Sunday:
-Ironing, general running around craziness
-Church
-Leave Church at 12:45 with Mom, Joe and Lydia to drive them home (we go to church about 30 minutes from where we live) so Joe and Lydia can go to some graduation parties.
-Pick up things we forgot at home. :)
-Back to the city we go to church in
-Picnic at the park
-Monitor 15-20 kids climbing on the playground equipment.  Sarah B especially :)
-Skit meeting!
-Drive home
-Stephanie starts hauling our garbage out to the curb (it's "Big Trash" day tomorrow)
-I frantically try to finish planting my bulbs and get distracted pulling weeds
-I dig in the dirt some more
-Help Steph move some big stuff
-More digging in the dirt
-Wash up
-Pick up some pies
-Go to Mom and Dad's
-Happy Birthday Mom!
-Presents (Sarah walks around the house finding things to give Mom)
-Pie
-Talk
-Plan Lyd's grad party
-Home
-Reading, Chatting, Falling asleep....

Greenhouse Haul

Yesterday afternoon I went greenhousing with my friend Sarah are her two little munchkins. :) I didn't get much, mostly because I had no idea what I wanted. Mostly I just browsed and was in general awe of everything. But, I think I have a pretty good idea what all they have now, so I'll go back in a week or so and pick up some more perennials.

For now, I just got a couple of things for my two planters that sit in front of the house.

As soon as you see these, you'll know why I got them. :)

Celosia

This is actually a picture I swiped off the internet, and not the actual plants I got. But, the picture I took with my phone wasn't such good quality. These are the exact colors I got though. Won't they be awesom in front of my house? :)

Here's the camera phone picture. We had to move our plants indoors last night because the weather is forecasting "Severe storms" all day today. :( Maybe even hail? Yeah. Not so good for baby plants. Also pictured is some Lobelia I picked up for the planters and a hosta Steph got at Farmer's Market on Saturday. The Hosta will probably go in our "Perennial Garden" in front of the house... :) We are VERY slowly working on landscaping our yard... It's not much to look at yet, but give us some time... :)

Also picked up...

Columbine

Again, this is not the exact plant that I picked up, but the picture is better, so...

Mine is a red-ish purple color, and Sarah and I oohed and ahhed over the exquisiteness of these blossoms for a few minutes and then promptly placed two of them in our box. :) It's a perennial, and I'm thinking it will live on the far right side of my yard where there is the most sun. Probably somewhere next to the hydrangea bush I planted last year that is ever-so-slowly starting to look like it might be alive.

So, that's it. I drooled over the delphinium and liatrice and LILIES(!!!!! I desperately want some orange Asiatic Lilies!!!! unfortunately my yard is mostly shaded in the front. Maybe I'll put some somewhere in the back?)

This whole yard landscaping thing is all new to me, so I'm very excited and very nervous. I'll be sure to share pictures once I get everything planted and it starts looking decent. (If it does...)

Top Ten

Top Ten Things You Should Never to Say to a Single Woman
*Author's Note:
This is purely for comic relief purposes only.  While I have certainly had all of these things said to me at one time or another I'm not trying to be mean or demeaning to anyone who might have said them.  I'm posting them merely for humor's sake.  I'm sure if you've been single for any length of time you'll identify with some if not all of these questions.   

• So, when are you going to tie the knot?
• It's YOUR turn next!
• Can you babysit while we go to the couple's barbecue?
  
• Have you tried E-Harmony?
• Have you been looking?
• So, why aren't you married yet?
• Have you prayed about it?
• Maybe you should get out more.
• You need to meet a really nice young man who loves the Lord.  
• Being married isn't all it's cracked up to be
  

Top Ten Things You SHOULD Say to a Single Woman

• Here, have a chocolate bar.
• GIRLS NIGHT!
• You look nice!
• Here, have a dark chocolate bar.
• Let's go shopping!
• Let's watch a Jane Austen movie
• Here, have a white chocolate bar.
• I've been praying for you!
• You're such a blessing!
• Here, have another chocolate bar. 
  

I love chocolate

I even have a t-shirt dedicated to my love of chocolate.  I'm wearing it right now.  My brother thinks I wear this shirt so that people will give me chocolate.  But, so far it hasn't really worked that way. 

In other news...

• My boss's dad is having heart surgery today.  Pray for him if you think of it.
• My little sister is GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL on Saturday....  *faints*
• My anxiousness to get to the greenhouse and start working on my yard knows no bounds.  
• I have succumbed and am again reading Lord Peter.  
• I deny any responsibility of causing anyone else to become addicted to Lord Peter.  It's Lord Peter.  Not me.  
• Didn't I just graduate from high school 3 or 4 years ago?  What?  10 years ago?  No.  Way.
• WE GOT A NEW COUCH!!!!  Steph picked it up (ok, not literally) at a garage sale on Saturday.  $10, people!  And even though it's vintage 1990's the colors actually don't look horrible with the rest of our decor.  May have something to do with our carpet also being vintage 1990's...  But, the important thing is we now have a decent place to sit (my back is happier already) and our house is looking less and less college-dormish all the time.  Now to fix the leak in the ceiling...
• Have a happy Monday everyone!

How was your weekend?  Do anything fun with your mom??

(By the way last year I did a shoutout to all the moms that I knew of the read my blog.  But, I forgot a few.  *blush* *hide*.  So, if you're a mom who reads my blog.... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Operation: Mother's Day

Mother's Day is one of my favorite flower shop holidays.  Christmas is fun, too, but Mother's Day is just such a lovely time of year. 
We get all our hanging baskets in and I love to water them and carry them around and sell them.  I just love to sell them. 
Me: "We have some lovely hanging baskets right over here."
Customer: "OOOOOOOOO, Those ARE pretty!"
Me:  *smile*

I love the smell of spring in the air.  I love that people are acknowledging all the wonderful things that our mothers do.  I love all the extra people that come to work at the shop.  (Who, by the way are ALL mothers who choose to spend their special time with ME.  LOL.  Ok, they choose to spend their special time with the FLOWERS.)  I'm the only one there that isn't a Mom.  So, I get fussed over.  :)

And most of all.  I just love MY mom!

Does anyone have any special plans for Mother's Day?  Any good gift ideas? 
How about a hanging basket?

Tuesday Musings

With Mother's Day right around the corner I feel a little glum.  I never feel like I really do enough for my mom.  She's great... 

Ordinarily, Tuesday would be my day off, but with Mother's Day this weekend my schedule is different at the shop.  Basically, I'm working until I reach 40 hours (overtime is strictly forbidden!!!)  or fall over dead.  :)  Just kidding of course.  40 hours is totally do-able.  Even in a crazy, insane week.  Minimum staffing is a nightmare. 

So...  I am resisting reading more Lord Peter books.  One more Non-Sayer book and I'll be back to Lord Peter.  You other Lord Peter fans out there will know what I mean... :)

Well, I've got to run back to work. 
Have a great Tuesday!

More Sarah B.-isms.

In conversation to the guy installing the new floor at Mom and Dad's: "This is my dolly Diamond.  My sister works at a flower shop.  And Daddy and Stephanie and Katie and Joe all work at Dairy Queen.  The rest of us just stay home..... I'm almost big!"  

After she talked this man's ear off all day...  I asked her if he was done and if she told him how to install the floor.  She said "No.  His Mommy told him."


To me: "Do I have too many sisters?"

April Book List

46.  Party Shoes by Noel Streatfeild- (*****) Very sweet.  It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, but once I did, WHAT a ride!  The story makes me very nostalgic of my growing up years when my sisters and I used to put on plays.  It couldn't be a little production.  Oh no.  It must be huge.  It must be colossal.  We must out-do ourselves everytime.  We must impress.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Ingenuity is key.  Noel Streatfeild is fast turning into one of my favorite children's authors.  I'm sad that so many of her books are out of print. 

47.  'Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis- (*****)  I really liked this book.  It was very interesting and gripping.  Of course, it's a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, so, it's fantastical and mythical.  Like I say, I really liked it and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a heavier read.  This isn't a light fluffy read.  I have to say that I didn't totally understand some of the it.  It's very deep, and I think it's one of those books that needs to be re-read a few times (or more) before you can really understand all of the aspects of the story.  Conversations with friends and reading some reviews makes me realize that other people feel the same way regarding this book.  It's definitely thought provoking, that's for sure!  I did some deep thinking and soul searching at several points throughout the story.  I'm definitely not ready to do a deep-scale review on it, or engage in debate regarding the spiritual aspects, though.  I'll have to read it a few more times, first.  :)

48.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick- (*****)  Awesome.  You need to check this book out.  It's ground-breaking in style and format.  Almost as many pages of pictures as pages of words.  Captivating and genius.  I love that I learned things about early film-making and people I never knew existed.  The story is fiction, but it incorporates the works of real people, and I love that.  It won the Caldecott Medal in 2008. 

49.  Dead on Arrival by Carolyn Keene- (***)  Yep.  Nancy Drew.  No wisecracks, please.  :)

50.  The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket -(*****)  More of the loveable Baudelaire siblings.

51.  Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy Sayers- (*****) I really don't read enough Dorothy Sayers.  I love her mysteries.  This was a collection of short stories about (obviously) Lord Peter.  I think I have a crush on Lord Peter :D

52.  Dear Enemy by Jean Webster- (*****)  The absolutely adorable sequel to the absolutely adorable book Daddy Long Les which I read last month.  I don't think I was real descriptive of the writing style of Daddy Long Legs but I will now.  It basically a series of letters written from Judy (who is an orphan, just out of the orphanage and attending college) to her anonymous sponsor who she nicknames "Daddy Long Legs" on account of having once glimpsed his shadow and finding that his legs seemed unusually long.  In the sequel Judy's friend Sallie has become the new Superintendent of the John Grier Home for orphans (Judy's former and despised home) Judy and Sallie have ambitious plans for reforming the institution.  I loved this book even more than it's prequel.  The 113 orphans had my sympathy and attention of course, as soon as they were mentioned.  Who wouldn't love to be mother to 113 children? 

53.  The Magic Summer by Noel Streatfeild- (*****)  I am becoming a huge Noel Streatfeild fan.  I love her books.  I love the way she portrays families and sibling relations, I love her storylines and characters.  So fun and sweet and inspiring. 

54.  The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket- (*****)

55.  Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers- (*****)  Like I said.  I love Lord Peter. 

56.  Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers- (****)  I should maybe mention that there is some mild swearing and a couple of other objectionable things.  Other than that, I liked this one.  Not as good as the last but I'm gobbling up Dorothy Sayers right now. I must slow down. :)