O Lord, Let Me Not Be Merely Decorative!

Today I've found myself joking about a topic, on which I am a bit sore.

For those who know our family and have spent any amount of time with us recently (you know who you are), you'll know that we are soon to be a home of, not five, but eleven!

The Hoods are a dear family (that you've seen before) and we have treasured the times that we have fellowshipped with them over the past few years. As we start this new season it has been interesting to look back and see how the Lord has prepared us for this time; each of us in the Marques family have grown just be preparing for them to live with us. I love the familiarity we have with them and the joy that we have in our relationship!

Well, in addition to all of this we have much on our "To-Do" lists! Over the last few months there has been so much organizing, packing, purging, and cleaning in the house

(Why do we have so many bottles of nasal spray?? And how did all that stuff get in the wardrobe?? Who left all of these half done projects in the sewing room??

Oh, right...it was probably me).

At any rate, it's brought out each of our industrious sides in a new way--and particularly, it's shown me two things (that I will share here):

First, it's shown me my lazy side (Oh, yes, there is such a thing!).

Not the lay-on-the-couch-reading-an-Anthro-catalogue, but rather the sort that says,

"How did I end up sorting buttons when I started off organizing the closet??" and, "Why did it take me so long to clear out this room??"

These frequent sights of my many shortcomings have served as a push for me to strive for diligence and structure to my hopelessly helter-skelter mind (I like to call it creativity)!

Secondly, this time has shown me the quiet help of a cheerfully, willing spirit.

A few weeks ago a nameless sister (Yes, she will go completely nameless during this post--only I and the rest of my family will know the answer!) went to my Mom, let her know that she had completely cleared her schedule, and wanted to know how she could help my Mom check of her to-do list. At first this slightly baffled me. I thought it was assumed that we would all help with the checking off of lists? Wasn't that why we were all working?

What I didn't realize was the greater help that a cheerfully, willing spirit brings.

It was so much more helpful for my nameless sister to let my Mom know that she had dedicated the final few weeks to helping with the transition, that if she had simply assumed that my Mom knew it already. It's the same as when you tell or show a member of your family that you love them. Hopefully, they should already know that without you having to tell them verbally, but it reinforces it and magnifies the love that you have for them. Since we're into similes, this is the same as our love for the Lord; naturally He knows that we-His children-love Him, but that doesn't and shouldn't stop us from showing Him. The knowledge that someone knows that we love them shouldn't hinder our reminding them and reinforcing that love.

Tonight my prayer is that I will not merely accessorize or decorate our family; I want to be a diligent and cheerful worker, who isn't lazy, and who does everything as unto the Lord! Not the one cutting out little trinkets all day, but someone who is industrious and brings the joy of the Lord to those whom she meets. By His grace I will be refined day by day (however painful that may feel like sometimes!).

These are two more reasons that I am grateful for the Hoods sharing our home. These a re a few of the sweet lessons that I've learned as a result of them coming, and I'm so looking forward to the future and what the Lord will do with our families as we join together!

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Dear Nameless Sister (you know who you are),

I'm very sorry that you must remain nameless.

Reason: I wanted to post this tonight and as I am typing this,

I'm pretty sure you're sleeping.

So, for the sake of your beauty rest, and in the interest of preserving your privacy,

you will be nameless (for this post at least).

I'm still grateful for the example you have shown me of cheerful willingness,

this act of hiding your identity entirely and only reflects my desire to sustain

our good relationship through the night.

We can talk in the morning.

Sweet dreams!

E

Rainy Days...

Rainy Days

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

To Be A Pilgrim

"These all [Abel, Abraham, Sarah, Enoch etc...] died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is,

they desire a better country,

that is, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,

for he has prepared for them a city."

Hebrews 11

Paired with losing my life and seeing death as gain,

this "Pilgrim" mentality-if you will- is something that I've been pondering on lately.

Is "a heavenly country" what I desire?

Or am I too caught up in the cares (both good and bad) of this life?

It's so easy for me to keep my head down and wind myself up in the day to day details, the ever important "need of the moment"! This passage has been an inspiring reminder to me that this life is not all that there is, and that there is such an unimaginable city already prepared. That is part of what makes death truly a gain.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the blessings and pleasures here! The joys of family and the fellowship of believers is such a dear and sweet thing to me!

However, I do find myself in need of reminders that this is not all there is.

There are some more thoughts I have on this, but they will have to keep for now--

at least until I can get them better organized!

Dominic's Song....

Here is a video of Dominic playing a part in " his song", well, it's hardly a song, it's more like...you better just see it.
Enjoy (we sure did)! :)

Egg, Bacon, and Spinach Pie

My sweet sister gave a beautiful seasonal cookbook a few weeks ago. It features recipes using typical seasonal fruits and veggies. And let me tell you, they ALL look delicious! And this is the recipe in particular that I have been eyeballing. I love spinach and pie so this is the perfect combination of the two. :)
It came out perfect! I used my aunt's recipe for the pastry crust instead of the recipe in the book. It was flaky and cheesy with just enough bacon to keep you shovelling it in. Perfection!

What Happened To Our Ceiling???

Any guesses?

And for those who were present (hint to John Pedersen and Dad), you are not allowed to guess :).

Sweet Times at Sweet Berry Farms

Last weekend, we were persuaded to go to Marble Falls to Sweet Berry Farms. We managed to get the Burdell family to join us on our adventure. We had a blast. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, strawberry popsicles, a maze, and pumpkin painting. Emily, Sophie, and Mia painting their pumpkins.

(Mia ended up splattered in paint)

My lil man ridin' his tractor

Nathan having his turn too. :)

Girls showing us their modelling skills

After we made it out of the maze.....
Webb and Burdell kids

We had soooooo much fun!

Fall Camping 2010

My family spent last weekend camping at Huntsville State Park. We were joined by about 120 people, most of them from church. The Webbs were able to join us this time which we were all so excited about. Here is a brief glance into our weekend. And it has to be brief because I forgot to take pictures most of the time :).

Before camping

Sleepy Peter

The girls :)

We are doing a writing class with the Naquins and in this picture we're going over our homework assignment.

Ryle, Sophia, and Mia

As you can plainly see, Dominic is having a tough time accepting the fact that he must take a nap. But he was just so cute that I had to get a picture.

On our way to hike!

Caro and Ryle

Gathered for the hike.

Amanda, Caro, Ryle, and Ashlee

Ashlee and I

If you look very closely, there is a woodpecker on the tree.

About to play games

Us and the Webbs!