Flower birds

House finches love to make our porch their procreating spot. Before, they chose the Christmas wreath, but now, they have moved into one of our flower pots. And it didn't take more than 5 days between the day they made the nest and actually layed eggs. Hopefully in about 1 week, we'll have 5 new babies to watch.

A trip to the mailbox

Well, I don't know whether Amanda is watching too much Law and Order or what ... but Amanda found what she perceived to be a BIG wrong.... a bag of "cocaine" found at the mailbox.

Jeffrey tried to explain to her that "cocaine" does not come in a white bag with a brown substance and a string with a rose connected to it... but he had no idea that Amanda decided that the police would be the judge of that and she had already called them. Officer McClafferty came and explained to her that it was a TEA bag but that "anyone could make that mistake". Amanda reports that he "took a statement" from her (just got her name and birthday) prior to answering another "call". She didn't even call 911 but used the regular police # which she knew by heart. (of course) And this was all after the last exam when Officer Andy let her have a ride in his police car. He even let her see what it was like to put the hand cuffs on.

Confession

I have been very emotional today....and in trying to figure it out. Several months ago, a friend asked me if I had ever prayed for Amanda to be healed. In recognizing my lack of faith, I did so. Amanda then had a bad seizure and we found out her shunt was disconnected and that the other shunt is working to drain both. After much sickness on her part over the past 2 months, what I realize is that God may have answered my prayer. And quite frankly.... I don't think I really wanted Him to... I love my daughter the way she is. I think my emotions today are really fear of what life might be like without the same disabilities. I think my life might be defined by her disabilities. I find the disability world very comfortable and I understand it and actually REALLY enjoy it. I've always been for the underdog and this gives me an outlet for that. What if my girl changes? And now I realize how incredibly selfish I am to think this way.

The other thing I know from living through the trials is that I am able to experience God in a real way when I have to be dependent on Him to get through each trial. I think I'm afraid to miss out on that as well. Of course, I'm sure God will send something else to get my attention.... but I'm not anxious for that. Laura Story came out with the song "Blessings" that I just heard on the radio over the past week. The song has a really neat message and I know several of you are experiencing your own trials and could use the encouragement. You should listen to it on I-tunes as well. Here are the lyrics:

"Blessings" by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plead
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Baby Birds

My sisters talk about this book they read from Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts about thankfulness. Well, in the week where we have experienced death in a very real way, we have also enjoyed experiencing life and I am so thankful for what might seem minor to someone else. Every year, we have finches that make a nest in our wreath on the porch. Although it stinks that it is April and we still have a Christmas wreath up on the side of the house, it is the most amazing thing to watch little birds be fed and taken care of by their parents and to grow and leave the nest all in a matter of 3 weeks. The neatest thing was that I discovered that there are actually 5 babies in that small nest. You can see 4 heads but there is one more bird in the back. I'm thankful for life... even if it means my christmas wreath is still up.

Mom's death

I have been quite overwhelmed today thinking about my mother-in-law with a new body worshipping our risen Lord face-to-face. I have a visual of this in my mind and think about the day when I will worship with the throngs of people present. Today was a rest day for the family and for dad. He seemed energized today after attending church and having so many express their sadness for his loss. I'm sure the rest helped as well. The burial and memorial service will be on Wednesday. Her obituary can be found at http://www.blackfuneralhomes.com/cgi-bin/heald-obit.cgi?Name=Lois A.Fleming

Jeff and Nichole

Jeff's christmas present was for us to fly Nichole out from Salt Lake City for a visit for a week. We love her and really enjoyed having her here! They met at Word of Life in Schroon Lake, NY about 3 1/2 years ago and dated there for 8 months. This was the first time they were reunited in 2 1/2 years. Here's hoping for many more reunions. Salt Lake City is a LLOONNGG WAY!

Scout loves the snow!

We've certainly had enough snow for her to enjoy this year. But we got 7 new inches last night and Scout can't resist new cold snow. It wakes her right up. When she goes out, she tears through the snow prancing like a deer. She also sticks her nose right in a banking and comes up with a white face.

Tim's new animal

Tim loves to "collect" animals and send them to the taxidermy so we can enjoy them longer. His latest is a beautiful river otter which we just got back today. The fish is a trout that they also did so that we could put it in its mouth. It came out BEAUTIFUL and its fur is really soft. For those of you who think this is cruel, he doesn't like to kill the animals. But if we find them on the road and he has a trapping license, well its "Waste Not- Want Not". :)

It's DONE!!!!!

I found out very quickly that it takes a long time to put the binding on a king size quilt. But I was able to finish it last night! I put it on the bed this a.m. Here is the finished product.

Matching pillowcases

I am so excited that I will get my king sized quilt back tomorrow. This quilt is for Tim and I. I figured out how to make a matching pillowcase for this quilt.

I just need to put a binding on the quilt, and make 2 more cases, and we're all set to go.

YEAH!

Amanda's conflict

Amanda is now quite confused about who to vote for in the gubernatorial race. She has started journaling and this is what she wrote at the bowling alley. It is precious. She's saying now that she doesn't know what she will do. I didn't mean to confuse her by having her meet these people. You might need to blow this up to read it. :(

Meeting Rudy

After the Special Olympics games, we headed to downtown Derry because we heard that Rudy Guiliani would be there stomping for a republican candidate. We happened to arrive around the same time he did. When we got in the building, Amanda and Kristin were able to get pictures with him. Amanda reached out and showed him her medal from Special Olympics and he said, come here and get a picture with me and the republican candidate. He helped her get it out for the pictures.
Right after this, he asked Amanda where her mother was and made it a point to come over, shake my hand, and tell me, "good job with her mom".

Special Olympics Bowling

Amanda won her first gold medal in bowling today. She still granny bowls but would you believe that her last string was a 74?

She was given her medal by one of the Windham policeman, and reached out, grabbed, and hugged him. He was quite surprised by the hug and everyone laughed at her.

Amanda's quilt

I was able to finish the quilt top for one of Amanda's quilts. One down, one to go! It is called Lava Lamps.

Jen, the "cat" is missing!

Jen,
This one is for you as you were wondering why the"possum" is in your back yard. You need to get him back home immediately! Just sayin'.

Almost done!

I have been trying to finish up my quilt so I can get it to the long arm quilter. I am so excited with the way this quilt is turning out. I have 5 more rows to add because it is a king-sized quilt but it is beautiful. And very BLUE!

Sustainance!

This was the first year that we planted melons. I didn't think the growing season would be long enough but certainly it was hot enough and long enough! We had about 20 of these cantalopes growing when all of a sudden all the vines died. We didn't think they finished the process, but I decided to pick one, let it ripen for a day or so and then cut it. I couldn't wait any longer and cut into it. I gasped and Tim came running assuming I cut my hand on a knife. (because that is my response when I cut myself) I couldn't even speak but I just held it out and started laughing. It was GORGEOUS and delicious also. We totally enjoy the garden. Every night, I go out and pick vegetables for dinner. This week, we have already had spaghetti sauce made from tomatoes from the garden, beets, broccoli, and tonight, we had stuffed peppers from the beautiful peppers that came from the garden. It doesn't cost much to plant, just time and energy. We have also been eating potatoes this week that we planted. We figured we have enough potatoes to equal six 10lb bags. And we're not even done yet. God is good to us!

Kristin's Cake

I can't believe I have 2 kids in their 20's. Kristin turned 20 on August 21st and we celebrated by eating at La Carreta and we bought her a cake from Frederick's Bakery. Kristin loves cake and she loves to eat good cake. Yes, this is the daughter who watches the Food Network all day. Anyway, the cake was beautiful, and tasted good. But since I had to go all the way to Bedford and then wait for a couple of hours, and it cost alot... I mean you would have thought it was the Cake Boss' place. But it was beautiful! It was a white almond cake with strawberry and butter cream filling. Are you jealous?

Baxter State Park

We were done traveling in PEI, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia. We decided to see a part of Maine that we've wanted to see for quite a while. We stayed overnight in Fredericton, New Brunswick and crossed the border the next morning. Baxter State Park is in Millonocket, Maine and has quite a few mountains. Mt. Katahdin is the highest and it is the beginning or terminus of the Appalacian Trail that starts in Georgia. Most people start to hike the trail in Georgia around March so they can summit 2000 miles later at Mt. Katahdin in October before the park closes.

Driving through the park takes 4-6 hours so we only did half the park and then came back out. It was raining by the time we left and we saw a beautiful rainbow that was trying to be a double rainbow coming out. We also saw another moose.

We had a great vacation and now its time to head home.

Nova Scotia

We came across the Canso causeway from Cape Breton and decided to drive the Eastern shoreline. Although it is less than 2 hours by highway to Halifax, we decided to drive along the coast which took about 6 hours. The coast winds around many harbors and coves. It is beautiful, remote, and unspoiled. The villages along the coast and harbors usually had less than 100 people. We decided to stay in the Salsman Provincial Park which was situated in a picturesque place called Country Harbor. Country Harbor is an inlet and the campground was right on the water.
We finally got to Halifax the next day. We were trying to get to Peggy's Cove but I didn't have a good map to get us through Halifax so we stopped at the highest point in the city. The highest point in Halifax is the Citadel. The Citadel was built by the Loyalists that came to Nova Scotia from America. They were afraid that the Americans were going to try to take this area as well so they built a fort on the top of a mountain in the city. It is a place that you can tour now. I stopped to look at the map and then ask for directions. When I got out, there was a Royal Mounted Police Officer there dressed like they looked in the late 1700's. I told Amanda about the police and she wanted to see him of course. When she did see him, she was quite freaked out by his feathered hat. She still says, I've never seen someone who looks like that! The citadel area has a nice overview of the city harbor.