Hearing Heart Blog

Just thought I'd give you a heads up about my progress here. This may or may not interest you, but I want to make you as comfortable as I can while you're here. I trust God to take care of the rest in his kindness to us. BED: Nakita explained that the mattress they had was the one they decided to replace because it made them roll to the center somewhat, so I thought it probably wouldn't fit our needs here. Coincidentally, I inflated our airbed and took a nap on it on the floor. It had lost its air under Kayli, so Jerry had patched it. It was far more comfortable than the mattress on the hide-a-bed, so I think we will use it on the frame with plywood under it. It's kind of cold when you first get in it and I don't know how to warm "air" except with body heat, but I think this will work fine with all our big warm blankets. CAR: Janell offered her car for your use the entire time you are here. She said it's a hybrid SUV-type. What a sweet gift! Amy photog

I read the most fascinating account of Anabaptist and Mennonite history and now I’m grieved that I can’t find it again. In simple terms I was lead through European church history. I learned about the birth of faith that differed from the mainstream in the 1500s, saw pictures of current Mennonite believers without head coverings (I didn't know that could be!), read excerpts of the book Martyr’s Mirror, and devoured the history of the church in the U.S. Then I decided to do some housekeeping in my computer and cleaned out my cookies and browsing history. I can’t find that informative site now. Rats. I’ve always been intrigued by early church history. One of my favorite courses in high school was Renaissance and Reformation, where I learned about the corrupt politics of the ruling “church.” In my Jr. High years my Sunday School teacher gave me a book entitled Not Regina, by Christmas Carol Kaufman. It was a tale about a young Anabaptist convert and her escape from persecuti

I received a quick response from my request for Mennonite friends from a woman named Tami. My problem: I don't know how to respond to her any way except THIS WAY! Helllooo, Tami! I think that the best way for us to communicate would be for you to once again leave a comment here on my blog and include your email address. Instead of publishing it and making it public, I'll delete it and respond to you privately. Does that sound good to you? Tami said she would respond to my questions, so here are a few that I ponder: 1. Are all Mennonites farmers? 2. Do they hear that question often? 3. Is there a network where I might be able to trace the Mennonite family I met in Mexico last winter? I don't know if I would follow through with trying to find them, it's just my curiosity at work. They were visiting a Mennonite community and school in the Yuma, AZ area, but their home was somewhere on the east coast. God bless the Mennonites! ^+^+^+^+^+^+^+^+^+^+^

The Mennonites I encountered growing up always aroused my curiosity. My observations made me sure they must be a humorless, fearful people. Being a bit shy myself (which probably means I thought too much of myself), I didn’t try to initiate conversations with them. In the Bi-Mart on River Road they would catch me watching them. I would smile, they would smile back. Their facial expressions seemed so serious, even fearful, and I presumed anxious to get back to their safe little communities. At least, that’s how I perceived them. I liked it that the girls were always in dresses, but I thought it odd that they wore sneakers with skirts. I suppose I would have ignored that if they had acted like they were more comfortable standing next to us in the check-out line. I knew their clothing was related to their faith, and I admired them for that. But I wondered, if they know God, why do they seem so depressed? Now I’m wondering, did something change? A year or so ago a home school mom

Outside My Window...the bright moon won't let my animals sleep! I am thinking...and praying for my Facebook friends who have the flu. I am thankful for...my husband for filling up our woodshed last weekend. From the kitchen...the smell of fried catfish and peppermint tea. I am wearing...a hefty plaid fleece shirt. I am creating...a big smile on my cousin Jeanne's face. I sent her a package today with a swatch of patchwork from our Grandma Kocher's box. I am going...to leave the dishes on the counter tonight. I am reading...more from Foxe's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe. I am hoping...that my appointment to complete my training for my transcription job isn't canceled (again) on Wednesday. I am hearing...sounds of hope after a few days of battling depression. I am so sensitive when I alter my progesterone cream prescription, even slightly, that it can throw me for a loop! Around the house...I'm thanking God that this is my home for now. One of my favorite things

Originally submitted at Chadwick's Denim Riding Skirt 6,6,6,6,8,8,8,8,14,14,14,12,12,12,12,16,16,16,16,14,18,18,18,18,4,4,4,10,10,10 DARK DENIM,DARK DENIM,LIGHT DENIM,LIGHT DENIM Long denim riding skirt sits at the natural waist. Imported. Sweeping hem for a great flattering shape Back zip and button close Misses 35''... Denim Riding Skirt Just what I was looking for! By Kathy D. from Eugene area, Oregon on 10/26/2009   4 out of 5 Fit: Feels true to size Waist: Feels true to size Length: Feels true to length Pros: Comfortable, Flattering, Nice Color, Nice Fabric Best Uses: Casual Wear Describe Yourself: Casual Dresser Comfort vs Style: Comfort Driven I should have trusted my own instincts when I read reviews that stated this skirt should be ordered in a size bigger than usual. My mistake was that I thought the comments meant bigger than the measurements posted! So I ended up with a wonderful garment far too big for me. However, I alter mo

Outside My Window...the evergreens are waving in the wind and the clouds are promising rain. (OK, here it is!) I am thinking...selling our home will be hard, but an exciting adventure as well. I am thankful for...our many years of laughter here, including the antics of my grandsons wrestling their dad and grandpa last night. From the kitchen...we're still cleaning up dried pumpkin guts tracked around by Noah. I am wearing...my most comfortable clothes to fully enjoy my day of rest. I am creating...a plan to trust God better - letting go of my grip to allow Him to lead me into new things. I am going...to stay home and catch up on housework before I start my work with Oregon Medical Group. I am reading... Seed From the East, by Bertha Holt, and Foxe's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe. I am hoping...I will not forget God's promises to me again - promises of freedom and peace. I am hearing...His sweet reminders of those promises. Staying up late last night, I read journal entrie

My third son was not like me much. He thrived on constant companionship, where I was definitely a person who relished solitude. He would talk to anybody in the store, where I would usually try to avoid excessive contact. If I would turn the shopping cart down an uninhabited aisle and involve myself in choosing the best jam, he would talk to the cans of corn. His self-confidence was more than I had ever seen in a human being, and trying to follow his train of thought made me to wear a question mark on my face every day. I imagine that he thought that was my normal expression, his clueless Mom! He was more than ready to start kindergarten, since his brothers had been in school for 3 years, after all! His first day he spent more than his normal 10 seconds in the bathroom and came out with his largest self-satisfied grin. He had his Sunday shirt on with his clip-on tie. His hair was slicked down; I should say it was mashed down, and his belted pants were pulled up high over his tummy expos

No house payments. No debt. It looks like a possibility this week, and it floors me! Literally! I'm laying on the floor! OK, I'm up again. While I was there I did some leg raises, because I'm very efficient, you know. We've talked about selling our home periodically, but since Jerry's gone on a hunting trip this week research has become my primary project. In my prayers and meditations I've wondered if we should sell and just plan on living in a trailer for awhile. The idea of financial freedom is intoxicating! Jerry and I have worked so hard to live simply and spend carefully in order to keep me at home and take care of our greater treasure - our children. Now it looks like there's a bend in our road. FREEEDOMM!!! This scripture has been on my refrigerator for about 4 weeks now, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose

In the eyes of my 4-year-old little girl Amy, an airplane was an amazing thing. We walked down the long, wide hallway at Mahlon Sweet Airport with our friend (also named Amy) and her luggage. We sat on a hard seat in the waiting area and tried real hard not to be boisterous. She hid behind my leg when a stranger looked too long at her over his magazine. Running down the walk outside, we tried to get to a spot in the parking lot where we could see our friend's plane climbing into the sky. I managed to direct Amy's eyes toward the right cloud. Then she saw it! The plane got farther away. She kept getting distracted with a bug on the pavement, so I made her look again. Then farther. I got her to look again. I pointed out that the plane was getting harder to see, and I reminded her that Miss Amy was inside it. After a while we couldn't detect the plane any longer. I love asking young children thoughtful questions, so I asked her what happened to Miss Amy. My daughter searched t

My oldest grandchild, Ayden Paul, turned 6 last month! Happy Birthday again, Ayden! He lives more than 2000 miles away and I don't get to see him very often, so we need to come up with some long-distance fun! Six years old is a great age for silly stuff, so I found some knock-knock jokes for him. I usually don't care for knock-knock jokes because they can be "in your face" rude, but here are two that I think are ok: me: knock knock you: who's there? me: vitamin you: vitamin who? me: vitamin in, it's time to party! Here's another one: you: knock knock me: who's there? you: cow - go me: cow - go who? you: no, silly, cow go MOO! So grab a kid, share some chewing gum (not already chewed, of course), and have some silly, jokin', lovin' time! Grandma's orders! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Grunt, groan, strain, wobble. That's me, lying on my back on the floor, working to lift my leg at just the right angle to stretch a muscle in my thigh (I can't remember the name of it right now).* I keep hearing the portion of scripture in my mind "strengthen the feeble knees" as I'm working, but I don't think this is exactly what it means. Does it? While I hold my leg aloft, I'm counting seconds and pumping my arms with lightweight hand weights strapped to my wrists. And so I won't put it off, I'm doing all this as soon as I crawl out of bed in the morning! The purpose of all this? A wind of change. My former foster daughter is here this week. (I've got to find a better label for her than "former" - it just doesn't describe how important she is to us.) We're enjoying our chores and shopping trips together. I'm going through a season of fasting from one meal a day, and taking more time for prayer. Closets and files are ge

It's amazing what you can find for almost free these days. I found a step for our tent-trailer at Goodwill – $1.99. With my tentative knees, this was a welcome addition to our camping equipment. No more “falling out” of the doorway! And a pretty red cotton sweater – $6.99. A rooster for my hens – free. A couch on Craigslist – free. Tomato plants are blooming on my back deck. I found them late in the season – half price. Chicken feed can be expensive, but since my birds roam about and eat more than half of what they need in my yard (including weeds!) – almost free (well, kinda). More eggs are coming than I need - can't determine cost yet, but almost free! At least the entertainment value of keeping chickens is – free! They continually amuse me. Far healthier for my mind than watching TV. Red Bartlett pears are growing on my tree – free. Dragging hoses to water the yard and pear tree gives me a workout – free. Our well pumps clean water – almost free! A 2- and 3-lb set of hand w

Since I'm currently between projects, I have employed myself in the useful endeavor of saving money! Shopping for an ergonomic keyboard and a new mouse followed this plan: 1. Go to Office Max and play with the display models, taking them off the shelf and tapping lightly on each one, grabbing the mouse and clicking the buttons repeatedly until I am satisfied that somehow I have learned something from these actions. 2. Go home and research the customer reviews on each model (nearly 220 of them) at Amazon.com. 3. Carefully decide my favorites and go back to Office Max to rule out the ones I don't want. 4. Write down prices to compare. 5. Go back home and put in my order at Amazon.com. I followed this very scientific procedure this week and bought a Logitech keyboard set for $44.95, including shipping. (The list price at Office Max was $129.00.) I don't think Jerry would exactly call my method scientific, but that's ok--I'm on the warpath now to find him some mossy oa

I google searched for exercises to help my tendinitis this week (elbow and wrist pain) and started right in with stretching and gingerly working the tendons that hurt. Yea, it’s helping! It’s been about 6 weeks since I left my transcription job in the LCC Health Clinic. I had basically worked myself too hard, wanting so badly to do well that I wasn’t listening to the complaints from my joints. Gripping the mouse, almost strangling the poor guy, and pounding on the keyboard to get a few more lines done before the deadline only caused more self-induced stress. Now the wrist braces are off, the elbow strap is gone, and I’ve restarted my workouts in the pool. I am so thankful for movement, thankful that I can be well again, thankful to Jesus for progress. My “word for the day” is unwind. Just like I open up my fingers and straighten them against their stiffness, I need to unwind my mind from the concerns of life. I imagine our bodies and our minds are more connected than we know. On a Sab

A bulky black wrist brace adorns each arm and an elbow strap hugs my sore right elbow. Rising out of the car is difficult until I get my legs under me, and I move about a bit stiffly at first. My knees are unsteady from a sports injury, and my wrists and elbow hurt from typing too much. But believe it or not, after my 4-year-old granddaughter Alyssa looked me over briefly the other day, she asked, "Grandma, where's your skateboard?"

Make a Smilebox greeting All that I accomplished this morning from 7:30 to 10:30 was creating this work of art - my grandson's birthday card (click on PLAY above) and cleaning up a pile of doggy poo. Guess which was more fun! (you've got to be kidding...) Thank you, Lord, for giving me children and grandchildren. Thank you for their wives who love You and are wonderful mommies! Grandma gets to celebrate, too! (doin' a silly little happy grandma dance!)

Offer a child a bucket and a cherry tree, and you've got a special day! Throw in an old friend (I found her on Facebook) and offer her daughter some chickens to supplement her existing flock. Then take the bold step to invite the whole family over to pick them up. This was the recipe I'd proposed, and they bravely took me up on my invitation, not knowing if I'd be pleasant company or not! (Her daughter had never met me, for we had parted ways shortly after her birth.) What a fun day! Tummies and cheeks full of cherries, popsicles on a stick, chickens in our Coop da Ville, a wobbly ladder, two grandmas enjoying non-stop "visitin'." My daughter Amy remarked how nice it was to have children around again. She, who had prayed and asked God for a sister when she was 5 years old but wanted to change her mind when we started collecting foster children! Ya know, we both enjoyed giving ourselves away that day. A good reminder to "live for others" instead of f

On our last field trip to Salem I overheard a young “mother of many” sighing. With managing her tribe, homeschooling, housekeeping, afternoon sports and all, she lived in constant activity. Of course she wondered how life would be when the children were grown and she’d have hours of quiet to herself. You know, the kind of quiet where you aren’t concerned about what they’re up to since they’re so quiet! I just smiled. “It’s pretty nice.” I don’t hear my foster daughters’ giggles any more, but the memories are sweet. I don’t wonder if nail polish was just spilled on the carpet or if the youngest made it to the toilet in time (and remembered to close the door). The laundry gets all the way done, folded, and put away now. And meals are what Jerry and I like. I can call my mother and arrange to spend the afternoon shopping for my niece’s bridal shower gift with her – and spend as much time as we need. I can linger with my arms around my Dad and tell him how important he is to me. They get m

The junior high school librarian saw me steal quietly up to the counter gripping a large white book. She knew its name. She knew my name. This was the ninth week I had come in to have her stamp the check-out card “RENEWED.” Nervous and shaking like some sort of addict, I closed it quickly and covered its title with my jacket, hoping to draw no attention to it or to me. A New You. How I desperately wanted a new me! I devoured its advice, practiced its exercises, studied the hair-do and make-up techniques, even traced some of the drawings to file away in my notebook. But nothing really changed. The length of borrowed time on the book was renewed, but I wasn't! Week after week of studying A New You, I was still the old me. I began to worry that someone might find out that I wasn’t perfect by now, or at least a bit improved. What a hopeless race to nothing! I'M SO GLAD I'M NOT IN JUNIOR HIGH ANY MORE, but I still struggle with being content in my present state. I should know

It's been knocked around a few too many years, I suppose. The box fan that sits on my bedroom windowsill looses a piece of its plastic every time I bump it with the sliding window. It's easy to stick my fingers into its mouth to retrieve the pieces and toss them. But the bottom line is - it keeps doing its job! Why throw some old things away? It's in my bedroom on a high windowsill, so my grandkids won't be sticking their fingers into it and injuring themselves. We have a lot of windows and a lot of fans to help us stay cool in the summer, so I could make do without it; but why should I? Sure, it's dusty and grimy, and broken in many places, but for now I find that charming. It smiles its jagged smile at me when I'm laying in bed enjoying its breezes. It reminds me that my surroundings don't necessarily need to have the appearance of perfection in order to be appreciated (and perfect). This week I am wearing two wrist braces to promote healing in my wrists a

My mirror image tells me I'm mad about something, or tired, or ornery. Can you believe that I was just whistling a little tune and thinking about some happy times? My face betrays me! It has happened to every woman before me, and yet it surprises me. The muscles in my face just aren't holding it up the same way they always did. Though it's nice they are relaxing (I guess), it makes me look mean! People look at me differently now when I drive down the highway. I thought it was just because I'm not as interesting to look at with gray in my hair. That's mostly true, but when I glance in my rear view mirror and see a crotchety face glaring back, I know I wouldn't want to spend too much time looking at that expression either! I will be more careful to not judge an older person's outward expression too harshly. The Simple Woman FOR TODAY May 14, 2009 Outside My Window...my dog stares back from the pasture - not believing I would DARE to put her out there alone tod

The shiny brown pews in the church were solid wood, and too temptingly slippery for any wiggly little boy to stay still on. Little girls didn't wiggle as much, 'cause if they did the skin on their bare legs would screech like fingernails on a chalkboard! My young mother patiently taught us to sit still and listen to the sermon. Sitting quietly was a tall order for sure, but she was patient and wise. Once in awhile she brought something in her purse to help; like a jar of bugs for my brother to gawk at, or a pad of paper for me to doodle on. I was keenly aware of my father's gaze from the choir, so I worked hard to impress him with my quiet reverence. I remember my mother's hands folded in her lap, and how the veins on them would stand out as she rested them there. To entertain myself I would trace the veins and push on them under her skin. This would irritate her, and she'd draw them back. As she grew older I watched her hands change. And when her mother, my dear gr

I think it's spring fever that caused me to start too many tomato, zucchini, and red poppy plants on my windowsill. I have ten pullets (immature hens) in my hen house, which should bring far more eggs than a family of three would need. Maybe I'm just living out my determination to never back down from starting new projects just because I might die (or something) before I complete them. Is there such a thing as an "overachiever" hormone in an over-50 woman? We adopted Annie from the animal shelter last week. Why not start another project? I've never allowed an "indoor" dog before, so now I'm learning another new thing. Training her will be fun, though we've got to be patient with her timidness. Perhaps I will sell eggs, or chickens, or vegetable starts. They're all intertwined, you see. The chickens can help eat the garden (so will the deer and rabbits), the dog's scent will deter critter-predators to some degree, and eggs from the farm a

I remember my father singing in our church's Easter cantata (a musical story). Usually it was a repeat performance - where he'd sing the voice of Satan the tempter harassing Jesus. I used to hate it that he sang it every year (it seemed), but he had the deep, rich baritone voice the part called for! In our Christian school it was my sons who were chosen for the part of Satan or of vices like the character of "drugs and alcohol." Our drama staff explained that because my boys were so well grounded, it was felt my boys wouldn't relish the part in an unhealthy way. My oldest son is one of our worship leaders and playwrights. Well, this Easter Sunday he hung on a cross for the third time. But this time he was the thief that repented and I got to see him walk off into paradise with Jesus. Whew! Glad he finally made it! 8=8=8=8=8=8=8=8=8=8=

I just found out today that I will start work in the clinic as a Medical Transcriptionist on Thursday! I'm hired! I get to work with a's and b's and c's and d's... and get paid for it! This excitement is voiced from an old girl who falls asleep with her nose in a dictionary - one of her favorite books! Besides that, I finally enrolled in the math class that I knew I would need to take thirty-five years ago. This definitely illustrates a turn in my life. I waited for the right time to strengthen my numbers-handling (and procrastinated), and here I am! In the clinic I will be supporting the care providers by helping create and maintain health records. I feel that I fit the role of "supporter of others" very well. Right now I need to run and support my husband's desire for warm cookies tonight. @*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*

I wasn't going to do it, but I registered for classes again today. This is an example of jumping on an opportunity that presents itself--that could possibly change the course of my life. It's not black or white, right or wrong. It's just an opportunity! I was offered a paying position in the campus health clinic as a medical transcriptionist! I could only accept it though, if I were a current student. Three days ago I was searching for our next dog from animal shelters, planning to transplant my windowsill tomatoes, and rewriting recipes in my homemade cookbook. Now I'm a student again, just like that! So maybe my whining about not being able to be a strong professional in both fields was just air leaking from my brain. I'm not whining now! I am a solid medical transcriptionist for health documents, and a good copyeditor for book publishing. The manuals and guides are different; but I have, and can learn them. I finished proofreading the manuscript just last week

I've heard Dr. Laura Schlessinger ask ladies that call in to her radio talk show this excellent question. "Are you your husband's girlfriend?" I sincerely appreciate what she is saying, though at first it catches me off guard--I don't want to think about my husband having a girlfriend. And when I look at the silver streaks in my hair (the natural kind) it's hard to talk to that face in the mirror and say "girlfriend." But it's true! My personal happiness is not my husband's responsibility, and I need to be reminded of that sometimes. I need to remember that it really is quite nice being his girlfriend and thinking along those lines again. Loving him, listening to him, acknowledging who he is and what is important to him. I should know by now what makes him smile; we've been married 31 years! This man of mine likes me to bring up his favorite subjects: deer and elk hunting, football scores, pizza toppings. He likes walking in the front doo

It means: a person given to butting in; a troublesome meddler. Yes, it's in the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary that I use for my proofreading and copyediting! I wonder what my mother would have done if she'd heard me call my little sister a buttinski!

In the garden at sunrise, I shoved my buckets along the dirt path picking every green bean in sight. It was a mad race with time. They were growing like crazy, and would soon be too fat for my liking. And the sun! Not only did direct sunlight annoy me, it slowed me down; and I was on a mission. I was determined to bring in a good harvest and not waste my beans! Dump the beans in the sink, wash the beans, pick out the best beans, chop the beans, pack the hot jars, pour salted water in the jars, seal the jars, lower them into the boiling pot, screw the lid on the pot, set the timer... I labored all day long picking, cleaning, chopping, packing, removing, and wiping up the mess. The sun burned hot outside and my face burned in my kitchen. Peanut butter sandwiches for lunch with the kids, and I was back at it. My satisfaction was real when I surveyed the 24 pints of beans lined up on the counter at the end of my day. After a simple dinner (who had time to cook?), I made a quick run to the

FOR TODAY (March 16, 2009)... Outside My Window...the fir trees are quietly waving at me, stretching their fingers in the warm sun after the drenching morning rains. I am thinking...God is allowed to change my schedule! I am thankful for...deepening friendships: Nina from Junction City, Musonda from Zambia, and Pam and Laurie from Eugene. From the kitchen...no husband, no daughter to make dinner for tonight, so I think I'll make rice. I am wearing...my hair down on my shoulders. I am creating...more excuses not to be working on the manuscript. I am going...to change that plan. A good swim work-out will do the trick! I am reading...too many posts on Facebook. I am hoping...my husband and son make it home from Florida tomorrow. I am hearing...the same songs over and over on Christian radio. Around the house...it's time to clean the carpet. One of my favorite things...ten noisy, hungry 4-week-old chicks in my shed. I may have ten too many layers! Maybe I'll sell some when they

Which way to go? Back to college or work on my proofreading/copyediting business? I received a call from the "Learn and Earn" office at LCC yesterday asking why I hadn't registered for spring term yet. She told me that I was eligible for up to $1400 in work hours to help me pay for school. So, I spent the last 24 hours re-evaluating, weighing, worrying, fussing, vacillating. And yes, praying. It's very tempting... After my husband built an all-nighter fire and closed down the stove, we made our way to bed. As I snuggled down and began to contemplate my choices, I just knew. I didn't "hear the voice of God", I just knew. My heart is in my home. This spring I am home. I have a garden to plant, chickens to raise, recipes to perfect and a business to build. I have a husband to love, children to encourage, friends to enjoy, and grandchildren to play with. I learned so much during fall term, then took a break winter term; now it's time to work on what I

If you've never tried gardening and would like to give it a go, here is a simple step-by-step to getting started! WEEK 1: Look on the back of your seed packet for planting season suggestions. Plan on allowing 4-6 weeks for the plants to grow indoors before placing them outside in your garden. An inexpensive planting mix can be bought at Walmart for around $3. I like to start my plants in my ice-cube trays to see how well they germinate. Stir water into the mix and fill the trays loosely. Use a toothpick or small stick to make a shallow hole to put 2-3 seeds in and cover with a thin layer of the mix. If you like, you can make little flags with toothpicks and sticky notes so that you don't forget which seeds are which! Wait several days to water again so that you don't drown the seeds. Don't let the soil become bone dry, but since the ice-cube trays are quite shallow you may need to water every other day. WEEK 2-3: You should see little sprouts come up after the first wee

Meet the birds! Now you know I'm off my rocker, if you'd ever doubted it. I can think of nothing profound to say to explain why there are chickens on my blog. I just like them. Ten little pullets are growing, scratching, screeching, and messing in a warm box behind my office chair. They always seem to have something to say - kinda like Woodstock in the Peanuts cartoon. The one on the below right is probably a Silver-Laced Wyandotte. I'm pretty sure the golden one is a Buff Orpington.

FOR TODAY February 23, 2009... Outside My Window...the trees are sloughing rain off their drowning branches. I am thinking...why drive 20 miles to get in a swimming pool when there's all this water around me? I am thankful for...my old "car that gets me thar." It has 236,000 miles on it and rarely needs shop time-- and we haven't had a car payment for 10 years! From the kitchen...a chunk of salmon is thawing. I am wearing...smears of chocolate on my front teeth. I am creating...a slowly growing but satisfying savings account. I am going...to get a drink of water - I guess the sound of the rain is making me thirsty! I am reading...the book of Ephesians. I am hoping...I can demonstrate to my husband how thankful I am for him! I am hearing...the rain. And more rain. Around the house...I have vacuuming to do and a huge cardboard box to set up for the new arrivals. One of my favorite things...The chickens are coming! The chickens are coming! A Few Plans For The Rest Of The

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:28 NIV This was the scripture that I used as my excuse for not speaking. Can you imagine, a teenager with nothing to say? The problem was, I had too much to say! I just couldn't decide which of my thoughts to speak. I was overwhelmed with word and subject choices. And as I was worrying over the decision, the fast-talkers would yabber away and leave me "deciding" in their dust! When I DID say something, I'd often go to that place of FEAR! What if I said the wrong thing? What if I was misunderstood? What if I appeared foolish? What if...? My grandfather had teased my grandmother forty years ago about her "what if" worries. Now here I was, carrying on in her place! My silent times became more frequent, until I noticed that I was only getting quieter. The longer "I held my peace," the harder it became to speak. The less I practiced communicating, the mor

I guess I took January off from blogging. When I returned, it just looked tired and old--past its prime. Are there too many chickens here? Do I need an overhaul? Amy, help me! Maybe I have metamorphosed into something other than a "hearing heart". I dunno. Hey, that's what I get for trying to write when it's bedtime. Anyway, it's true that I have been considering building a new place to keep my notes. Change is in the wind. I found this picture in a National Geographic magazine (November 08) while sitting in a dentist's office in Mexico. If you are a bow hunter like my husband, you recognize right away what's going on here. I guess you've got to put your arrows somewhere!

I have spent the last 14 days in the company of retirees in the warm climates of Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. Today I hopped and stretched, jogged and danced, kick-boxed and dove, and generally enjoyed the water in the warm pools of Desert Hot Springs. I definitely don't "fit in" here - with the older babes that seem to move in slow motion, not disturbing the surface of the water (or mussing their hair-dos). But then, I don't fit in with the high school swim team crowd that uses the pool back in Oregon either. They buzz around me in the shower room, texting and discussing important issues (like the "he likes me, he doesn't like me" debates). The old gals talk about their favorite doctor or restaurant. The young ones are concerned with homework. An observation here: I think all women are concerned about their body shapes and hair arrangements. That sure seems to be universal - at any age! Where do I fit? The lingering thought I've been

SIMPLE WORDS FROM MY HUSBAND: I am thinking...how you enjoy the quiet of the night, and I enjoy the quiet of the morning. I am thankful for...31 years with the woman I love. From the kitchen...hot coffee. I am wearing...old jeans and a long sleeve T shirt. I am creating...this comment in hopes that it will bless you. I am going...to finish some projects and then watch the Duck bowl game. I am reading...the Gospel of Luke. I am hoping...that hope and revelation will reach a young man who desperately needs both right now. I am hearing...the ticking of the clock, the whir of my computer and the song in my head, "I'm Tradin' My Sorrows". Around the house...all is quiet and at rest. One of my favorite things...the sound of your laughter and the thought of growing old with you (well two of my favorite things). I love you Kathleen, Jerry `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'