Home Again

Ten years. That's a long time to make memories. Collin was sad that we wouldn't be living as close to him anymore. After all, we just got back to town. Mac perfectly understood why we wanted to downsize a bit and move. Autumn is the furthest away, and I was feeling especially sad that she wouldn't get to come home and see the inside of the house one last time. She felt sad about it, too. 

Moving weekend came, and I was worried that Verne would be in agony after such intense work. Thankfully, a great group of young men from the homeschool athletic association that Verne started several years back came to the rescue. They carried heavy boxes and furniture for several hours on Friday evening, lightening Verne's load immensely. Mac arrived later that night to help the next day, and Collin showed up on Saturday as well. 

We just crawled into bed on Friday when fear struck Verne. He had borrowed a delivery truck from work to transport our things. It was bigger than anything he had ever driven. While he felt confident on the interstate, he was fretting over how in the world he was going to get it into the crowded streets of the city neighborhood where we would be renting for the next five weeks. But God! 

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, Verne sprang up. "Tracy! Nathan!"

What about him? Verne had only met Nathan the month before when he started his subbing rotation in the children's Sunday School class on Thy Will be Done. Nathan and his fiancé had been assigned as classroom helpers to Verne. 

Verne went on to say that Nathan was a city firefighter and would likely know how to maneuver the large truck in tight spaces. Providentially, Nathan had offered to help unload the truck once we arrived in our new city. He sent Nathan a message, and Nathan said he would be happy to drive the truck into the neighborhood. What a relief, and a blessing! God provides! Verne drove the truck to within two miles of the house where he met Nathan in a large parking lot, and Nathan took it from there. 

Closing day came, (we moved out a week early because they took immediate possession), and we walked through the house one last time, stopping to take pictures on the porch steps. I was sad, but also excited to start a new chapter in our lives. 

After five weeks in the rental on the opposite side of town from where we had house sat in the first half of the year and where we now live, we learned even more about the city-new shortcuts, things to do, places to eat. I'm thankful for our time there, but I was more than ready to live in our own home. 

The men at the church rallied once more and helped move us a final time. As the men were unloading the truck a neighbor came to meet us. The next evening a group of neighborhood children knocked on the door, their bikes neatly lined up on the sidewalk, and helmets in hand. They wanted to welcome us. Various neighbors have stopped by to say hello. Children ride their bikes, scooters, and run the streets with superhero capes. Yes, God brought us to just the right place, and took care of every detail getting us here. 

Red Letter Day

Today was NOT a Red Letter Day. We've been trying to sell our house for a year with hopes of moving 90 minutes away. We got an offer about 10 days ago, and accepted it. We then made an offer on a home in the town we want to move to. Yesterday afternoon we found out that our buyers couldn't get financing, and both deals fell apart. 

It's difficult to wait, and even more difficult when you think your wait is nearly over only to have those dreams dashed. We'll continue to trust in the Lord. 

In happier news, I recently finished a quilt for Verne. The pattern is by Camille Roskelley, and it's called Red Letter Day. The fabric requirements were wrong, so if you make it, read through the directions before purchasing your background fabric and do the math yourself. I did let Camille know  about the error, so maybe she has fixed the pattern. Camille's quilt used red for the center block, but I chose gold. Gold stars are a good thing, right?

The finished quilt measures 67.5" x 67.5".  It's the perfect size for snuggling under on the couch. Abigail's wingspan wasn't quite long enough to hold the quilt taut in the photos.

Verne loves it, and that makes me very happy. 

Rosemary Sea Salt Pretzels

I've made these pretzels from  Two Peas & Their Pod several times now, and they are a favorite. Each time I've made them, mine get this beautifully dark color, but are perfectly soft and delicious inside. Perhaps it's because I swap out olive oil for the butter and canola oil the recipe calls for? In any case, they're delicious!

Running

Some days I sit in front of my computer, click over to this blog and start to type.  And then I feel paralyzed. I wonder, does anyone care what I have to say; do they really want to see what I've sewn, or what I cooked for dinner? Does anyone have to care, or can I journal it just for me? The minutes, hours, days, and years are slipping by and I do enjoy having a record of them.

Sometimes, people email me and ask me questions, and I still feel paralyzed. I'm not an expert on anything, to be sure. I dabble in LOTS of things! When it comes to running I feel especially under-qualified to answer questions, and yet, I've been asked... by several people. And then it occurred to me. Maybe I'm being asked because I'm not an expert... maybe I'm being asked because it's less intimidating  than approaching someone who seems to have it all together. So, finally, here we are. To those of you whom have been anticipating this post, please accept my apology in delaying for such a long time.

I've been often asked how I got started running. Or more importantly, how someone else should start. My answer? Start slowly. Really slowly. As a matter of fact, if you're new to exercise I'd start with walking. That's exactly what I did. But a word of advice? Build your mileage much slower than I did. The first month I walked I covered 203 miles. That's way too much. Aim for 60-90 miles at a brisk pace. I know even that can seem daunting to a beginner, but it's doable. And it does get easier pretty quickly.

You can read more about the start of my walking career here.

Once I'd been walking for 4 months I set out for my first run. Because I'd been so diligent about my daily walks, and because I'd pushed myself to walk briskly, I was able to transition to running with no problems. Depending on your age, I'd say the same would happen for most people. You can read a little more about my transition from walking to running here.

 Us, at 5:30 am, after we've already run 6 miles. 

Another question I've been asked- do I follow a plan, or listen to my body? Well, I've done both. Personally, I think listening to your body is the best way to go, but you have to really listen. In the beginning of my running career I definitely listened to my body. If I really felt too tired, and didn't just feel like being lazy, I'd take the day off. If I went out for a run and felt great I'd go farther than I intended. If I set out to do a longer run but grew too tired or wasn't feeling well I'd cut my run short. I trained for my first half marathon this way, and ran the full distance that the race would cover seven times before the actual race. I didn't wear myself out, or become injured. It's important to note here that I wasn't afraid to take a day off during those weeks, or to run just two or three miles on some days.

Verne and I began training for a full marathon last January, and when I started following the schedule more strictly, and switched to a different surface, I did injure myself. We put the marathon aside and I had to stop running for eight weeks. Now you might see why I think listening to your body is so important.

How have I gotten faster? Well, fast is a relative term. I'm faster than I was when I first started, to be sure, but I'm slower than I was at this time last year.

After my first half marathon, the days grew warmer and I decided to try speed work one day a week. I figured the faster running would make up for the fewer miles I was running when I was too hot to be comfortable on a long run. It worked. My times got faster last summer despite the heat and shorter runs. I searched out hills, and would sprint up them. I'd often do fartleks on shorter runs. These strategies all led to faster miles. 

Oh! And I raced. Competition is great for increasing your time if you're competitive. I raced a lot last year. Competition isn't just about beating the person in front of you, it's about beating yourself. This year, because of my injury, I've only raced twice. 

Our 24th anniversary- we ran several miles together early that morning. 

To be honest, the injury isn't the only thing that's kept me from competing this year. Last summer, running was new to me. I loved growing faster, and pushing my body to see what I could do. This year, my goals are a bit different.

After I recovered from my injury and picked my mileage back up, Verne and I started to discuss a marathon again. He's wanted to run a marathon for years, and put his dreams on hold when I became injured so that we could run together. Though it would be hard to train through the hot summer months, we picked a race in the fall to aim for.

We're back to following a schedule, and we're 12 weeks in to an 18 week training plan. There's no speed work on my calendar. No races. When I'm running 40+ miles a week in the heat I find I'm too drained to add those things in.

Rain or shine, light or dark, we're out there, day after day. The blessing is that we're in this together. We encourage one another when one of us is having a hard time carrying on.

I've never seen so many beautiful sunrises in my entire life as I have this summer.

I'm so thankful for all of these miles with my husband.

This training has been tough. Some days are easier than others, to be sure, but some days I just pray silently that the LORD would give me His strength to get through the run.

As I run up the hills I recite Psalm 121 in my mind. And once I reach the top, Philippians 4:13 fills my thoughts. Praying for others fills the moments that I find difficult, and takes my mind off of myself. 

We may have to postpone again, this time because Verne is feeling some pain. We're allowing him to listen to his body, which is by far the better way to train. It's never good to become a slave to a program.

I'll leave you with a little motivation. What if, by heading out the door each morning you could take in sights like this. They're there for the viewing. What are you waiting for?


If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer in the comments. Ask away!

Tie your Dogs

First, you should know that I'm a dog lover, and I firmly believe that most dogs are very sweet. I also believe that there are many, many bad dog owners. I think our society has gotten way out of control in the fact that we care more about animals than humans.

This morning while I was running, I encountered three dogs that I've encountered quite a few times in the past. They've barked before, but that's been the extent of it. Until today.

I was surrounded by the pack, and bitten twice. Once on the leg, and once on the backside. And believe me , it HURTS!

Thankfully, I called home, and Verne was able to come and get me. I called Animal Control, and they went out to get the dogs. The owners pled innocence, and Animal Control was only able to take one dog, as the other two were "missing". I think they were inside the residence.

Unbelievably, after a ten day quarantine, the dog will be returned to the owner and it will be able to torment passersby once again.

PLEASE, I implore you, tie your dogs. I feel very blessed to have gotten away with just two bites. It could have been much worse, but it shouldn't have happened at all.

In Like a Lamb

Yesterday we had rain and wind, but today was as mild as it could have been. Temperatures in the low 70's, and warm breezes were welcomed on this first day of March.

This evening, Autumn asked me if I had tried to stand our broom up today. After I looked at her quizzically, she explained that only on a Leap Year, on March 1st, you can stand your broom up. And indeed, you can! Quick! Try it! It takes no effort at all. Ours has been standing for quite some time, smack dab in the middle of the dining room floor.

Happy March!

Portable Oven

Quite a few years back, my mom gave me her 18 quart electric roaster, and I've used it many occasions, but I was never happier to have it than when my oven caught on fire Christmas Eve. We always have a ham dinner for Christmas, without fail. This Christmas, though, was different.

Earlier in the week, as I was menu planning, I gathered my family and asked them how they would feel about pot roast, complete with potatoes and carrots for our holiday meal. Everyone was quick to agree that it would be a nice change of pace, and I was thankful that it was something I could throw into the roaster before church on Sunday morning, and have ready and waiting when we returned home. Personally, I don't think this was a coincidence, but rather, God's providence. He knows every detail of our lives, and I was able to carry out my plans for dinner without a hitch. What a blessing!

Since then, we've been eating meals that I've been able to prepare without an oven. Soups, stews, and meals cooked in the electric skillet or on the griddle have been our mainstays. (Our grill died in the fall, and we have yet to replace that.)

While Rosie was here over the weekend, we were discussing the oven dilemma, and I mentioned the roaster. Her ears immediately perked up, and she asked, "What kind of roaster?" When I showed it to her, she shared that their oven had gone out, and some friends gave them an electric roaster and she baked everything from cakes, to bread, to biscuits and cookies in it.

Yesterday afternoon, I looked at the large bunch of over-ripe bananas on the counter, and decided to pull the roaster out and give it a try. I baked the bread about 30 minutes longer than normal, per Rosie's instructions, and it turned out beautifully!

And today I made enough granola to fill up my jars. I'm so glad for that little conversation over the weekend. My family thinks Rosie is a genius!

Comments

Several of you have mentioned that you are having difficulty leaving comments. I've made a change that I hope enables each of you to comment whenever you want to. Try it out, and let's see! If not, please comment anonymously and just leave me your name. I sure miss hearing from you!

Q, R, S, T, U, V

Q is for...

Quarrelsome - Unfortunately, I do have a bit of a fighting streak. This is another area, though, that I have greatly improved upon in the past several years.

Quixotic - Remember when I said I was a perfectionist? Mmm Hmm.

R is for...

Redundant - My friend Rebecca makes fun of me because I say, " a wee, tiny bit" pretty often.

Reflective - I'm a pretty deep thinker, and I'm constantly looking back to things that I've said, or did and asking myself how I could have handled the situation better or differently.

Rich - Not in the monetary sense, but I'm abundantly blessed with good gifts from God, and I'm very thankful for it.

Romantic - I love private moments with my husband, the way he flirts with me even after 22 years of marriage, and thinking of ways to make him feel loved.

Real - What you see is what you get!

S is for...

Salty - I enjoy sweet foods, but almost always need to chase them with just a bite of something salty.

Shivering - I've been cold most of my life.

Simple - In the way I dress, decorate, and live my life.

T is for...

Tender - I'm very sensitive to other people's feelings.

Testy - I'm pretty easily irritated. another thing to work on!

Tidy - I'm neat by nature. Please don't hate me!

U is for...

Unbiased - I'm very good at remaining impartial and listening to both sides of a story without jumping to conclusions, even when it involves one of my children and someone outside of our family.

Uptight - I get tense pretty easily. Sometimes I don't even know why.

V is for...

Victorious - At least sometimes! If I weren't, I think I'd lose my competitiveness.

L, M, N, O, P

I haven't fallen off the earth, I've just been busy living life. Collin started college classes locally, and I'm playing chauffeur between home, the college, and his work most days. Verne painted Abigail's room and I've been working on the trim here and there as I find the time. I've been sitting each evening to quilt, even if only for 30 minutes, and I'm still walking each morning, though I've shaved about a mile off per day, leaving me with an average of just shy of 6 miles per day. That's where I've been, now, how are you?

L is for ...

Little - I'm not even five foot tall.

Loquacious- It's difficult to know who talks more, Verne or me. Communication is not a problem for us; we talk about everything!

Lopsided- I have one leg that's just the slightest bit longer than the other- you'd never notice, but it sure makes my walking shoes wear out fast.

Low-maintenance - I can be showered and ready to go in no longer than 45 minutes.

M is for ...

Married - 22 years and counting!

Mom - to four wonderful children. Each one is unique and holds a special place in my heart.

Mysterious - just when you think you really know me, you learn something that makes you think maybe you don't!

N is for...

Natural - I prefer things in their natural state. I don't color my hair. I adore wood and other outdoor surfaces to have a nice, weathered patina as opposed to constantly painting them.

Nervous - I get nervous speaking directly to groups of people unless the group is children. I'm working on expanding my horizons, and recently auditioned for a play. So far, so good at practices, but I'll let you know how the actual performance goes!

Nutritious - I love healthy foods from vegetables, to fruits, to healthy grains. But, I love sweets, too!

O is for ...

Observant - I notice everything going on around me.

Old-fashioned - Cooking from scratch, canning, soap-making, quilting, and dressing modestly, though not frumpily, have all led up to me being called old-fashioned. I don't mind a bit!

P is for...

Practical - I'm constantly thinking about what's best for all involved, and I prefer practical gifts over indulgent ones. My husband is very good at balancing this, however, and I never feel overlooked.

Perfectionist - I'm definitely my own worst critic. I tend to get upset if the end result isn't what I hoped for even if I've truly tried my best. Another area that needs working on!

Photography- I love having a camera in my hand and capturing images. I don't like being on the other side of the lens. I'm working on that, too. Losing someone makes you realize that if you were to leave this world abruptly, your loved ones would want photos of you to cherish no matter how poorly you thought you looked in them.

Care to share any words that describe yourself?

K is for ________

Kind - I try to be kind to everyone I meet. You never know how your smile is going to affect someone else who may be having a bad day.

Knowledgeable - About quite a few things, but there's so much more I want to learn!

Do any "k" words describe you?

J is for ____________

Jam maker. Yes, I make lots and lots of jam.

I is for _______

Imaginative - Creating things comes naturally to me, whether it's a story for children or a new recipe. I loved to play pretend when I was younger, and I still think about how much fun it would be to play somewhere when I see unique places.

Imperfect - I'm far from perfect, just ask anyone who knows me. Thankfully, I know that He who started a new work in me will bring it to completion in His own time. (Philippians 1:6)

Industrious - You can almost always find me working on something.

Inexpensive - It doesn't take much to make me happy, and I'm happy making do with what we have.

Inquisitive - I'm curious about so many things, how they work, and if I can find a way to make them. I'm constantly learning.

Instinctive - I've learned over the years to trust my instincts, especially when it comes to my children. I think God gave mothers a sense about things, and we need to listen to that inner voice.

What "I" words best describe you?

H is for _______

Canning, canning, canning is what I've been busy doing. There's such a feeling of satisfaction with each jar that's placed on the shelf at the end of the day.

God is gracious, and has brought in some cooler temperatures so the canning seems a little more bearable. The windows are open, the breezes are blowing, and it feels wonderful, especially early in the morning.

I'm enjoying reflecting on words that describe me, good and bad. It's given me a chance to ask myself how others view me, too. I want to be pleasant to be around, though I know I'm often not. Last night, after I compiled my list, I asked Abigail to make one describing me as well. Our lists were exactly the same, with one exception.

On to the letter H!

Huggable - Abigail's addition, and I think she's accurate. I love to give hugs. Good hugs. Do you know the kind I mean? The kind that make you feel warm, and loved, and special? Yes, that kind!

Homemaker - There's no place I'd rather be than home, and I love making it warm and inviting. Good food, a clean place to rest, and laughter are important to me, but feeling like you are loved and cherished here are my main goals. I want others to feel God's love as soon as they walk through the door.

Helpful - I enjoy helping others, and working alongside others.

Happy - I really don't have much to complain about, and I usually don't. I thoroughly enjoy my life.

Honest - I give my honest opinion when asked, and I'm very fair to others. I've corrected clerks when given too much money back more times than I can count, and I'm always surprised when they are surprised that I was honest.

Handy - There isn't much that I can't do, and I attribute that to my dad. I grew up in a do-it-yourself family, and Verne and I are carrying on that tradition. We've run electric, plumbed, drywalled, painted, repaired, built fireplaces, and decks, finished basements, etc. I also bake a great loaf of bread, make my own soap, can produce, and sew.

Healthy - I eat right, exercise, and take care about what I put into and onto my body. I want to glorify God in all I do, and I'm careful not to make this an idol, knowing that I'm free to enjoy all things in moderation, and I do.

Hospitable - Our entire family enjoys entertaining others in our home, and I find it sad that more people don't practice hospitality these days. I love it when others feel comfortable enough to jump in and help and make themselves at home.

What "H" words best describe you?

G is for ________

Generous - I love giving to others; it makes me extremely happy.

Goofy - I can be very goofy, especially with my kids, but not in front of too many others. If you've seen me that way, I feel very comfortable around you.

Grouchy - I can be very grouchy, though I've been working on getting over it for years, and I think I've definitely made progress.

Grateful - I count my blessings each and every day, and they are many!

Gray - Not only is my hair graying, but I can't seem to get enough of the color gray recently. I find myself drawn to it, especially for decorating.

F is for ______

Faithful - I know what it means to be constant in a relationship, whether it's with my husband, or my friends. This is a trait that I admire in others as well. I love fiercely, and completely.

Forgetful - There are certain things that I never forget: birthdays, anniversaries, and phone numbers to name a few, but please don't ask me to remind you to do something, because I won't remember no matter how hard I try.

Fresh - I love fresh food and fresh flowers, fresh smells, and colors.

Friendly - I try to make everyone feel like they belong, and I'm quick to talk to newcomers.

Flowers - I enjoy them in all settings, and only wish I were better with them.

Fruitful - Not only do I have four children, but I get quite a bit accomplished from canning to keeping the house, to running the children everywhere they need to be.

Frugal - Verne makes the money, and I work hard to make sure that it goes as far as possible.

Don't forget to describe yourself in the comments!

E is for ________

Earthy , Envious - especially of those with musical ability because I have none! Enthusiastic, Efficient.

What "E" words describe you?

D is for ________

Daughter - and I was thrilled that my mom (and mother in law) recently paid us a visit, which doesn't happen very often since we live so far from one another.

Deaf - I'm getting very hard of hearing. I find conversation especially difficult to hear.

Determined - I don't accept limitations easily, and if I set my mind to something, I'll almost always find a way to make it happen.

Diligent - Any job worth doing is worth doing right!

Dog - I love dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, most any dog!

What "D" words describe you?

C is for ________

Candid - I'm truthful to a fault. Make sure you want the truth before you ask me my opinion!

Cooking - LOVE being in the kitchen, although I prefer someone else to clean up. ;-)

Chester - I'm not much of a cat person, with the exception of Chester. He's quite the cat!

Cinderella - Didn't you know that I'm her mother? Abigail has the lead role in Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the local theater this weekend. Last night was opening night, with another show tonight, and two more tomorrow. Local? She'd love for you to come watch! And Collin plays the chef!

Creative - From crochet, to decorating cakes, to sewing and quilting, I love to create things.

Clean - It doesn't have to be perfect, but I tend to get depressed if my house isn't tidy.

Curious - I have lots of questions, and I love learning the answers. I believe that learning should be lifelong.

Comfortable - Autumn and Verne are forever telling me how comfortable I am. Autumn once told me that she'd rather ride roller coasters with me than Verne because he's hard like steel, and I'm squishy like a teddy bear. OH-kay, then!

Cuddly - See above. Babies tend to fall asleep easily on me. I guess Autumn is right.

Curvy - No explanation necessary.

Celebratory - Today, especially. Verne and I are celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary!

What "C" words describe you?

B is for _______________

Continuing on with the Alphabet in August, we're on the letter B. I'd love it if you'd play along- if not on your own blog, then in the comments. Let me know what describes you!

Babies - I love them! I loved being pregnant, I loved nursing, and I wish I could have had many more than four.

Baker - Baking is fun! From pies, to cakes, to cookies, to scones, I simply enjoy being in the kitchen and coming up with new concoctions.

Barefoot - I very rarely have socks or shoes on, and am most comfortable in my bare feet.

Belligerent - I think it runs in my family, and you'd only have to ask my mother to find out this is true about me.

Berries - Yum! I eat them each and every day, year round, on my morning yogurt. I enjoy strawberries fresh, and I particularly like frozen blueberries and raspberries. They are refreshing on these hot summer mornings after my long walks.

Brown - Brown eyes, brown hair (with LOTS of salt sprinkled in), and one of my favorite colors. Brown skin, too, in the summer!

Books - I adore books, and can't imagine a world without them.

Bustling - As I said yesterday, I don't sit still very well. I love bustling about my home, accomplishing things as I go.

Your turn. What "B" words describe you?