Be Home

a bit of fall

Just when I was feeling the need for us to experience more of the outdoor as a family, our opportunity arrived. A group of families in the church collectively ventured forth into nature and a good old-fashion barnyard. The purpose was to take an adventure upon horseback but the day turned out to be so much more.

Nicholas did venture to ride a horse which I was very proud of his spirit at trying something completely out of his box. And he did say he enjoyed it quite a lot. Much different then the ponies going round and round at the petting zoo! We took a hayride that wound around beautiful rolling fields. I had a picture of a land before me similar to Anne of Green Gables hillside and for a moment could have lingered quite awhile drinking in its peacefulness.

We also trekked through the wooded areas as my boys collected autumn's gifts of goodies in a small brown paper bag. I found myself reminiscing of such times as a child in my cousin's woods. And I was wishing that my boys could  have such joys on a more regular basis than what affords them in the suburban lifestyle. A bond-fire made the whole day seem to climax as we found fellowship around its fragrant offerings. Of course the roasted marshmallows completed such an endeavor.

the pink teddy bear

Why would a little knit pink teddy bear make it into our very full home of all boys? Well, you might think that it was for our future daughter. But not this time. You see, I have a niece and as many of you know it was her first birthday this September. Not only is she absolutely adorable we also share the same birthday month. In my family she's the first even close to my birthday. So we're September babies. Kinda fun.

I had a whim to knit her this cuddly teddy bear in pink because I remember my sister's first pink bear and O, how she loved it! (Hannah was kinda a teddy bear fanatic there for awhile) What I never expected was how attached my boys got to this cute and cuddly knit friend - pink and all! They all kept saying how much they liked that I was knitting again?! And then they had the keenest curiosity as to how much I had gotten finished on any particular day.

Truly it was so very fun to finally be knitting something that was for someone right now. Amazingly more fulfilling. But of course I can't resist the beautiful sweaters for little girls. So no sooner was the teddy bear sent off to it's new owner, when I found myself starting on a new pale green bolero for a little girl 18-24 months old. (Yes, this time for our daughter - she has quite the small drawer full of knit items) However, the sweater might have to take sabbatical for George will simply not stop asking when he gets HIS teddy bear!

nature's God

Lately I have been enthralled with one of my favorite blogs SouleMama. I really can't put my finger on what is so very intriguing about her or her family. And believe me when I say that my mind has been putting in over time trying to figure out just that. 

There is a certain sense in me that some of the things that I love dearest are dedicated to the wrong camp. Let me explain. For example, I really could be a very good fanatic about food. Organic food. Whole food. Farmer's Market food. My own garden food. But it seems that that field is totally saturated with a liberal mindset of an almost outcast departure to anything based in Christianity. All things priding themselves of "natural" origin seem to be thus. From food to toys. Creativity to birthing.

I find a great wrestle within me. How can I be so very inspired down to the core of myself by people whom I have such deep seeded convictions that run contrary? Wrestle. Wrestle. Wrestle.

The beauty of Christianity is the very essence of why I love it so... it is founded upon a real person's love for me. Jesus loves me. It's not a phrase just for kindergartners. I rely on Him whispering these same words over and over to my spirit. But love allows for mistakes because it's really not based on my striving to a law.

I say all that to say, in love we get it wrong sometimes. We miss the camp we really should have embraced instead of ignored. But truth is still truth, fit for all areas of real life. And what connects me to inspiration is the same connection that is in all humanity. Whether we are in the world or of it we are still bonded by our humanity. Made like the Creator. Some of Christian culture has ostracized the thoughts of nature and its cultivation and a entirely different camp took up the slack. Moreover, most are under the belief that nature in and of itself is the beauty worth preserving. I say, O how much more amazing and inspiring to love nature under the umbrella of nature's God.

I love Jesus. The man. God. The One. Whoever inspires me, nature still flourishes in my heart because it was created out of love for me - the earth.