let us press on. . .

This afternoon I pulled into my driveway and Ralph was standing in the flatbed of his pickup truck;
  he grinned at me, "Sister, did you come to take me to the airport so I can fly off somewhere too?"
 Mine is a globe trotting family. . .  the airport taxies think I'm one too.

Mercy's been in and out the past few weeks-around for tea time. . .

 Yesterday morning at 5 a.m.  I dropped her off on the airport curb; she's going to New York-to stay.  I'm excited for her to see spring daffodils in New York, to have an adventure-I assure her that Texas will welcome her home anytime.

I sat on Mercy's bed in the wee hours of the morning while we riffled  through clothes and memories, shoes, scarfs and memories, closet stuff with memories.
She packed a big suitcase and I added a small purple journal wrapped around twice with blue ribbon-
Mercy, be passionate for Jesus and his Gospel, I wrote on the first page.

And this morning I walked into her room to view the remains; the left behind shirts and sweaters smelled like her--so good.
"So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord, His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." (Hosea 6:3)

guayabas in the window

I love guayabas. . .

 I know, I know, the seeds are bothersome-I just ignore the seeds and savor the exquisite aroma and taste;

in English we call them guavas-but I like to say guayabas.

So, I bought a bag of guayabas in the Cuautempan market and lined them up in the window to ripen.

My grandchildren love guayabas too-

after a few days they each ate one, leaving the 2 biggest and tastiest for me. . .

accomplished. . .

So, I'm terrible at keeping suprises-I'm amazed that my family trusted me with this one. . .
But this time I kept my mouth shut and it was very very hard.
Abigail and little Florence came from New York last week to suprise Mercy at her graduation.
I kept the secret for almost 2 months; really, I'm proud of myself . . .

And it was worth it, to see Mercy's face and watch the hugging.

I stepped off the train in Fort Worth and spotted this little lady trotting down the platform -train travel is one of the pleasures of this season of my life.
There's something old world about the train. . .spacious seats, rumbling monotony, the observation car, scenery flying past, the other passengers traveling slowly- like me, and the conductor, McGregor. . .McGregor, Texas! he calls. Some day I might eat in the dining car just to experience a meal served on little tables covered with white cloths, and the train speeds on. . .
Noah and Jamey invited me to spend the week. We laughed and talked a lot and every night I bathed the girls.
People: I met neighbors, heard about their lives. I met young moms at the park, over lunch, at library story hour; I got a little jolt, remembering what it's like to parent 2 under 2 years.
Pastries: Jamey and I laugh that if she ever opens a bakery, I'll work for her! So we baked, gave away, stored. . .banana bread, muffins with lemon glaze, blueberry scones.
One thin slice of a morning the girls slept- and over coffee and pastry we discussed life, how self talk affects our responses, our life perspective, our emotions.
"If I'm not talking truth to my heart, I have to change the talk- and move on." she said.

hmmm, a good week, all the way around. . .

At bedtime on Thanksgiving I read to Julia, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (Louisa May Alcott).
. . .Down among the embers, saucepans simmered, suggestive of an approaching feast.
"That's what we had today-a feast!" she exclaimed.
I'm not suprised, since Julia was the girl narrating dinner, "Oh, the turkey is so good, the mashed potatoes so good . . ."
Sometimes you plan a feast-plan, invite, shop, prepare; then maybe everything and everybody is ready but the turkey is undercooked-
Tilly, whatever made you put wormwood and catnip in your stuffing? asked Ma.
-the stuffing, overcooked, sticks to the pan-
The pudding was an utter failure-as hard and heavy as one of the stone balls on a great gate.
And the pies, so lovely to look at, aren't so perfect afterall. . .
but the guests are gracious, grateful--and it's still a feast.

brother banter

Yesterday I arrived in New York- I'm visiting Nathaniel, Abigail, and sweet Florence; tomorrow we'll drive to Vermont for a family wedding and I'll see autumn in the Northeast-for the first time!
But I'll miss the 24 hour bicycle race in Texas next weekend- my boys are competing in the race. (sometimes it seems like my children perform their lives on revolving stages. . .)
Think about it, mountain biking for 24 hours, in the dark-it's crazy, but they love it.

Recently John and I spent the weekend with these 2 -they're hungry to win. I overheard them talking about the other brother,

"Tell him to eat more meat- he better bring his A-game to the team or we'll replace. . ."
Then I remembered years of loving exhortation - Boys, encourage each other, don't cut your brother down, no sarcasm, don't choke your brother, love each other. . . (back then was my voice sweet?)
And now they're grown men- still brothers, still a team. . .
I"m glad-

from house to house. . .

We spent the last weeks of our summer road trip traveling house to house, visiting our own children. We walked the older neighborhood where Josiah and Lindsey live in Memphis.
And we craddled our newest grandaughter, sweet Gwyneth.

I watch and listen to all these children of mine . . . and their unique and varied lives. They've lived in places I couldn't have imagined 10 years ago-California, Colorado, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Spain, England-this summer one couple moved to Mexico City (mega-city!) and another to Ohio (college town!) . . . And not only the places, but the pursuits-Ah, so this is what God was preparing her for. . .I had no idea! (Mother's think like that)

I remind myself that God has a good plan-mostly I pray that each would follow Jesus, especially in hard places. . .and sometimes I'm grateful that they are young, and I am old, just watching, cheering them on. Dear Ones-Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. (Ps 37)

dear aunts and uncles. . .

Saturday morning these children came for breakfast-7 sweet cousins, imagine that? So, we snapped a few pictures, then the food. . .
We ate and talked, and the littlest boy, the one with the roundest blue eyes, ate his blueberries. . .well, a few blueberries inside, lots on the floor and table, but really-mostly he sat on his blueberries.

Buddie, look at you! exclaimed one uncle.
then the aunts and uncles converged-mopping, wiping, scrubbing (the little shorts will never be the same).
-good thing a boy has aunts and uncles around when his mother is busy serving everybody and his grandmother is just standing there, amused. . .

they grow up. . .what to do?

We're spending a few days with our north Texas family-playing, working, talking a lot . . .
I have 8 children, all grown up-
And sometimes I wonder, How do I show them love-now?
I haven't discovered a formula, a do this, don't do that manual -
Be available-that's good. . .drive the extra mile, lend a hand, listen, give cheer, pray really hard for them.
love is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, is not rude, does not seek it's own. . .bears, endures all things. . .(1 cor 13)
I'll keep learning how to do this- and I'm grateful that they keep coming over, keep inviting us back-and keep trusting us with their children. Imagine that?

Florence and her family

Curious, isn't it. . .how it takes 2 grown women to dress an infant girl-gently guiding the ever-moving appendages into the garment holes.
We're opening boxes and Florence is wearing cousin clothes.
Aunt Rachel knit the pink ballet sweater, passed from Selma to Florence.
I snuggled her today, smooth baby skin against wrinkled grandmother skin, "Little girl, you have family. . .the sweetest mom and dad, 2 sets of grandparents, 30 aunts and uncles and 32 cousins -with more on the way!"
Ah, you are blessed.

from 0 to 24. . .

Uncle Jeremiah is Awesome!

0-24 years in the blink of an eye. . .way to fast. I'm in New York and Jeremiah is celebrating his birthday in Texas-he's not the baby of the family, but almost.

This morning Nathaniel and Abi took little Florence to her first check up; I puttered and worked around, listening to a message on Psalm 119. . .How can a young man keep himself pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander. . .(vs 9,10)

hmm. . .these sons of mine, these young men-now I rarely cook them breakfast or fold their clothes (make a birthday cake)-but certainly, I can pray. . .

(thanks, Miah, for the bicycle gloves-I'm wearing them in New York in 2 degrees. . . )

travel one day. . . baby the next

I love my Dansko clogs. . .easy on and off, comfortable (stylish), great for 12 hours of plane travel and 4 airports, Texas to New York-in a day. And everything was snowy darkness when Abigail picked me up. . .Me, standing in my Danskos on the icy curb ( act like a New Yorker when in New York in January, right?)

How sweet to be here with Nathaniel, Abi and baby. . .I emailed John, " I'm here, but no signs of baby arriving soon- pray!"
Next morning I got up ready, washed my face, slipped on jeans, sweater, Danskos-and then I discovered that it was the baby's big day afterall, imagine that!
So Abi was doing the hardest work a woman ever does-like running a marathon- Mom, I wish I could push the pause button on this-hmmm, I vaguely remember.
Perhaps I encouraged endurance, trust-but I don't know. . .I was feeling so reflective, to think. . .I labored like this with her, and now 28 years later. . .oddly, I felt like I was doing part of the work- and with the final push there was sweet baby girl, born with dark hair just like her mother 28 years ago.
Feels like I just ran a 2 day marathon in my Dansko clogs ( in my 6th decade).
God is good and He gives endurance to the weak and faint. . .

to the snow. . .

So, I'm getting on another plane (with a small book in my bag) -this time I'm heading East, to New York and snow. . .me, a California/Texas girl in New York in January, imagine that?

I can't wait-Abigail and Nathaniel are there-and baby.

I'm packing some gender neutral things for him? or her?

And I wonder. . .brown eyes and rosey cheeks like Abi? or blue eyes and freckles like Nathaniel?

Ahh-this little one, created in the image of the Great Creator.

Wonderful.

honor and a lavender rose. . .

Rejoicing with Mr. and Mrs. Brett Tippey

October 23, 2010

"Today Darcie carries a single lavender rose in honor of Brett's mother, LaVerne, who sadly could not celebrate with us today due to her ongoing struggle with Alzheimer's. Brett and Rachel are thankful that after 38 years the marriages of John and Darcie (february 12, 1972) and David and LaVerne (June 17, 1972) continue to be living examples of Christ's undying love for and commitment to his Church."

Soli Deo Gloria. . .

random reminders

Certainly- the week of a girl's wedding, her mother's thoughts and actions should be deliberate, purposeful-not random.
I'm reminding myself today, purposeful not random. . .Darcie, don't get distracted!
Good-since yesterday I punctuated a thought with a random gesture which sent my hot tea flying off the table, splattering the wall and floor at Starbucks, Sigh. . .
Still there are random thoughts and some are nice. . .
Clean bathrooms-hmmm, the sweet girl who came home and did the scrubbing because she noticed and wanted to. . .
White pumpkins-grouped beside the sewing table- a white dress on the table, white pumpkins beside it (both for the wedding)- lovely. . .and Julia (in her silver shoes) lugging white pumpkins-part of the team.
Red soccer shoes- Julia marched in, "Why are Uncle Nathaniel's shoes here?" Ah, yes, Nathaniel's red soccer shoes, left behind in July, on purpose, the shoes and the ball didn't fit in the suitcase. Julia remembered and she's waiting for her uncle. . .
And tonight, late, we'll pick up Abi and Nathaniel at the airport-the last of our children to arrive for the occasion.
Ahh. . .random reminders of a memorable week.

birthdays and a blue sweater

Luke, Noah, and Josiah were all born in September.
I do love celebrating their birthdays. . .however, I'm not one of those creative, energetic birthday party moms-no theme parties, scavenger hunts, mystery dinners, clowns, magicians. . .and sometimes just thinking about September makes me tired (Aye, what a mother!)
so, the birthdays came and went (sigh) and the boys grew up-now all have wives to help celebrate; wouldn't you know it-we've added 3 more September birthdays to the family talley. this weekend we celebrated 3 around the dinner table at Luke and Gabrielle's house with some homemade stuff: pesto for Luke, rhubarb pie for Brett, and a tri-colored sweater for our little Landis-sweet 1 year old boy.
hmmm, it's nice to remember birthdays. . . and to knit for grandchildren.

an occasion for cookies

I was in Dallas last week with Noah, Jamey, and sweet Adalyn Grace. Jamey expected friends to visit us-mainly to hold Adalyn, you know. . . so, we decided to make cookies and a sour cream coffee cake; I planned to whip up the cookies, but Jamey beat me too it. So-she mixed, measured, baked while I held our newborne.

In our family, Jamey gets the prize for the best chocolate chip cookies ever- here's the Cook's Illustrated-Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, but we simply call them:

Jamey's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups +2 T unbleached flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted & cooled

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg + 1 egg yolk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

coarse salt for sprinkling

So-mix together the dry ingredients; next mix sugar and butter together; beat in egg, yolk, vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed until combined. Stir in chips.

Roll golf ball size dough and place 2 inches apart. Cook 12-15 minutes @ 325 degrees

Pull the cookies out of the oven and sprinkle tops with any coarse salt. Salt on cookies? Jamey says that's the way Noah likes them-and we all agree!

As expected, Jamey and I hosted visitors every afternoon that week, women who came to cuddle Adalyn-and talk. . .

I got to serve the cookies!

Preparations

We're getting ready for a wedding. . . Brett and Rachel's!

11 years ago I was preparing for Naomi's marriage to Joshua and I remember my struggle with wedding distraction!
Then and now (and the 4 weddings in between) I've been encouraged by Nancy Wilson's perspective on weddings. . .
So, a wedding is like a beautifully decorated doorway into a house, however the doorway is not the house!
The doorway is the entrance. . .the substance is found beyond the doorway in the house- the marriage relationship; keeping this distinction protects me from being distracted or mezmerized by the doorway.
here's to decorating the doorway-beautifully!

Testing the fabric swish

Awesome. . .

As my children grew up. . . I talked to them about words.

Awesome, I would say, is no bland, insipid word-Awesome describes our mighty creator God-and not much else.

"But boys. . .one day as your bride walks down the aisle, you will think,"Wow, Awesome!"

Appropriate word usage, I would say.

And last Saturday I could read Josiah's face. . .Awesome!

Congratulations

Josiah and Lindsey Newton

July 24, 2010

overwhelming

Lindsey and Josiah will be married in one month-and thus the reason for a summer full of Newton family. The first time Lindsey came to visit us, John asked, "Lindsey, does our family overwhelm you?"
Lindsey was gracious-however, I admit, we are many- noisey-intense-loquacious (I love my growing family so much!)
after a recent day of family comings and goings, after a bit of confused plans, my sweet girls were out for an evening coffee together. And later, at home, one of them said to me, "Sometmes we overwhelm people and sometimes we even overwhelm ourselves!"
hmmmm-kind of humorous. . .
organization is not my tip top strength-really I'd rather be having conversation over coffee with you-but I can't bless others if I don't commit to some planning. . .doing what I'd rather not inorder to prefer others, to love others-the Savior's model, right?
So- I'm the older woman in this growing family. . . Lord, make me humble, teachable, and more committed to planning this summer.
Already seeing the need and loving me- my girls are making a master list of family arrivals, departures, housing, transportation, outings, meals (maybe 1/2 price Sonic on Tuesdays, yikes!) and the rest-so, that's my wonderful family.

little Josu blowing bubbles at our house in Texas