The Night Before

I snapped this the night before Anna left. 

She had only hours left before leaving and she was reading. 

"I have to finish this book and I want to power through Pride and Prejudice" she said. 

I can see her Holy Cross tee hanging in the reflection, ready to go for the morning. Sigh.

If you're wondering, you're correct. I'm avoiding blogging moving her in. But I will, soon.  

Back-To-School Blessing

Last night we had our annual Back-To-School Blessing dinner. (written last week)

There was so much going on this week - so much to fit in as Anna was leaving for college on Saturday at the end of the week. I knew it would be a stretch to get this in but we just h a d to! So we did. Among a middle school principal trying to get ready for opening his school and a fourth grade teacher trying to have her room all set and ready to go for her first day of school and getting Abigail all set for her first day of high school -- all at the same time! Phew! 

But we did it and as soon as we sank into those chairs that peaceful feeling came and we relaxed into what is annual for us and what is certainly an anchor and tradition for our family... our Back-to-School Blessing. 

We chose a meal that is a favorite of ours. We call it Pasta Bar. The sauce and pasta is made ahead of time and all of the 'options' are ready to go.

And then one at a time we all pick what we want in our past and we grill it all up together. (we all worked together on this) So so good!

I set the table pretty with one of my favorite vintage table cloths and flowers. 

I put their start all wrapped up on their place settings. 

We decided to have the girls open their stained glass stars first so they could see them in the pretty sunset light. 

And then we took a few pictures of how pretty they are.

After dinner and after stars it was time to settle in to our new Family Theme for the year. 

Scott and I picked the our Family Theme for the year and found scriptures to guide our discussion ahead of time. We were prepared and ready for lead our daughters into a new school year last night. 

But this year, after so many, something miraculous happened. 

I do need to say first that I had been praying lately to God, "did I do enough?" "does she have enough faith in her to live in a secular, not G rated world?" "were there enough devotion times?" "enough times in the Word of God?" on and on my thoughts raced. My thoughts. Remember that part. 

But after Scott and I began to share the theme and got into just one of our verses to explain, Anna dove into the discussion. 

She brought up other verses. Movies we'd recently seen and how that relates (Lord of the Rings). She talked about her own life experiences and how God has shown her these truths throughout her own days. 

Scott and I just sat back in awe and wonder. And we let her lead. 

Our Family Theme 2021-2022

Guard your Thoughts:

• our thoughts are the forerunner for everything we do 

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he

• What does it mean to think right? 

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind;

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will 

• and so we are transformed as our mind is renewed by the Word of God
• Anna talked about the power the ring (in the Lord of the Rings) had on Froto and not on Sam and how that applies to these truths and our lives. If we're not guarding our hearts then we are like Froto. Those thoughts have the power to control us and before we know it we are not grateful for all God has done. 
• We spoke about our theme and how it leads to not complaining - even in casual conversation this year. 
• Anna spoke about her time in Solisit and how, by the end of the year even she began to take it for granted. (after working and even getting rejected through the audition process for years) and how we have to guard our thoughts and remember the big picture
• Guarding our thoughts means we need to look back at all God has done and keep the AWE and wonder in our thoughts. 

John 8:44

... there is no truth in him. He is a liar, and the father of lies and of all that is false. 

• Satan attacks us (like in battle - also back to the Lord of the Rings) 
• But where does he attack us? in our thoughts, in our minds
• he knows if he can get us to believe his lies we wont trust God. 
• Anna talked about hos we need to take pride in our work and be humbled and even take pride in our struggles. 
• When our thoughts weigh on us (like the ring weighed on Froto and not Sam) they can even leave a mark (like hos Froto wore the ring around his neck and it started to leave a mark). We have to guard our thoughts so that they don't get deep inside us and we actually give into them. (so much more to say on that in a later post) 
• We have to change our thinking before we can change anything. 

So what are "right thoughts"?

Right thoughts always come from God. Here are a few examples we talked about

Psalm 25:13

He himself shall dwell at ease and his offspring shall inherit the land 

• Anna remember the Mary and Martha story and how Martha wasn't dwelling at ease when Jesus was in their midst. We need to work hard at what we do but also dwell at ease the the place God has us. 
• We need to relinquish our tight grasp and rest in the places we find ourselves 
• This is the only way to have peace in our lives

Matthew 6:30

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? 

There is so much more but those are just a few of the conversation I want to record here. 

We talked with passion and softness late into the evening with tea and apple raspberry crisp. 

I've always wanted our girls when they grow up to be able to have deep, meaningful, faith filled conversations about God and his work in our lives. About verses and literature, music, and art that He uses to speak beauty into our lives. And last night it happened. 

I sat back and it was glorious. And beautiful. And I was an awe of what God has knit together over all of these years. 

And my heart knew, in those late, long hours, that she is ready. So ready to share her faith, her gifts, her deep intellectual thoughts with the world. 

More Goodbyes

 Last week we had the girls beloved viola teacher and his wife over for dinner. We wanted to give him a chance to say goodbye to Anna before leaving for college. 

He has been her teacher since she was five years old. 

It was a lovely visit - dinner, and talking outside. 

And the best was when they come in to watch a tape I had recorded when Anna was five and Abigail was in diapers, just two during a lesson. We watched that whole lesson and laughed and laughed. It was just the most precious. 

I am grateful for teachers that poured into Anna's life. So so grateful. 

Birthday

A little celebration for the most important daddy 

Homemade yellow birthday cake with dairy-free buttercream frosting

Homemade cards - ones that made him laugh and another that was so sweet

Presents that "felt like birthday" he said (all of the little things you don't need but but love to open)

Anna won't be home on his actual birthday so we had it a little early. 

Just as sweet. 

Memories

 I wonder what that day held, a sprinkler, I'm sure. Or maybe the kiddie pool in our backyard. 

A sandwich with the crust cut off. 

A quiet time in the afternoon (for sure she didn't nap)

Books

Daddy coming home

Snuggles

Snacks

Tickling

Holding

Memories. 

I can't remember this specific day. But I can remember all of the ordinary moments. 

And I am grateful I got to do them all. 

Let's Go Home

I love this book, Let's Go Home, The Wonderful Things About A House by Cynthia Rylant. (here a post that has a picture of that book) 

That book lives on a table in our family room. I've read it oh so many times and the illustrations are just wonderful - even looking through that book is like medicine for too many instagram house scrolls. You know that feeling, when you've scrolled for a little too long and all of a sudden you want a new mirror above your mantle, or many like that farmhouse, shiplap, or the cabinets look so much more appealing that the ones you have, on and on. 

I recently deleted instagram from my phone for the distraction that it is. Distraction from the important things I do and just for the space it frees in my mind. I still have it on my lap top but it's not constantly in front of me. 

When I'm away from other pictures of other homes I see mine in a different way. Simple things, like all of this milk glass. When I look at my things, my home, I develop my own tastes and enjoy my home more.  

I moved around some things in my dining room hutch and have a little less milk glass there. Little collections grouped together, and I like it so much more. And I do so love milk glass that I can pull for anything I need - matches everything - a classic. 

The bowl just above in the picture was my grandmothers candy dish. It was in her living room and I could open it, take a candy, and close it without anyone hearing - I was a pro at that (most of the time) Every once in a while my grandmother would say, "is someone sneaking my candy...." and then I'd know I was caught. 

"And when you come down from the attic, back into a house that is alive with smells from the kitchen and dogs barking and tubs running and doors opening and closing and opening again... you can breathe in the life of this wonderful house and be glad that for not it is yours. Happy living."  from Let's Go Home: The Wonderful Things About A House