Redeem The Time

I was at my sweet cousin's house in Northern Michigan last night, and taped to the windowsill above the kitchen sink was a note that read:

"The days are long
The years are short
Redeem the time"

She is a wonderful mom to five beautiful children and after I read that I thought, what a great reminder to enjoy every moment and use every moment for the glory of God! I started thinking about moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and the godly influences we can all have on a child's life. It is so true that the years are short, they seem to pass by quickly.

This reminder also applies to every season of life, not just raising, disciplining and loving children. It applies to the college years, young married years and even years spent working a job and building a career. We must use every moment fully and to the glory of a great and mighty God.

Lord, redeem the time!

"There is always enough time, to do the will of God. For that we can never say, 'I don't have time.'"³ - Elisabeth Elliot

If God gives us something to do He will also give us the time necessary to complete the task. He will not frustrate us. Though everyone is given the same daily allotment -24 hours- God is very creative with the 1,440 minutes within.

 This morning a dear friend mentioned this very thing on her facebook status, stating:

"The Lord lovingly reminds me that it isn't about the amount of hours in a day or what we get done in a day BUT instead Whom we serve and how we love. Lord redeem the time... that it would be Your day and not ours alone!"                       -- Rhonda Phegley

 

 I believe the Lord is trying to tell me something here! The Lord is sovereign and it is no coincidence that this has been brought to my attention.


3. Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell, 1982), p. 103

Labor Day Weekend: in Review

I have said it before, and I'll always say it again...

There is nothing quite like getting behind the wheel for a road trip!

Those that know me, know that I love to drive! (And if you didn't know that, you do now!!) Some of my best thoughts and revelations have come to me behind the wheel of the various cars I have driven over the years. Tears can be shed, songs can be sung, heart to heart talks can be had, prayers can be said, new roads can be explored....Ah! and freedom can be had on the open road.

So, needless to say, I was a bit excited to say the least when my mom and I planned a road trip for the long Labor day weekend with my two beautiful nieces!


Destinations: Chattanooga, TN and Cleveland, GA (to visit the fabulous Babyland General, birthplace of the Cabbage Patch Kids!)


If I made the time, I could scan the picture of me and my first visit to Babyland General. I was eight or nine and had some mondo-thick glasses on my face. But I was the hap-happ-happiest girl alive!!

Am I the only one that LOVES the new cabbage patch doll smell?? And I chuckle as I type this, because without an appropriate caption, the photo above just looks REALLY creepy!


So the drive to Cleveland, Georgia from Chattanooga follows the B-E-A-U-TIFUL Ocoee River. On the drive there, I was doing the best I could on those winding mountain roads to slow down so my nieces could see blessed individuals that had placed their lives in the hands of river guides while they went white water rafting. I'm sure the girls' eyes were just as starry as mine were. I adore being out on the water, well I don't even have to be on the water, being near it brings me just as much joy. I have been white water rafting once in my life, last year while I was in Alaska visiting a dear friend. It was beyond amazing! Moving through the gorgeous scenery with a beautiful blue sky above and the mountains of Denali National Park all around. The rushing frigid glacial waters lapping against me and the peaceful quietness of God's creation!

Yeah, I can't wait to do it again!

So I had another wonderful moment by the river's edge with two sweet girls who bring our family such joy. I think the three of us could have spent all day climbing on the rocks, running the trails and dipping our feet in the refreshingly cool waters of the Ocoee. At one point we sat on the rocks, chatted about life, watched kayakers and rafters go by and picked some pretty wild flowers for Nana who stayed in the car to take a nap while us girls ventured out to play.


That weekend getaway was just the break I needed to unwind, refresh and take in some of God's beautiful creation. And to spend some wonderful quality time with some really great gals!

And She Stabs Herself In The Heart...

So, in cleaning out my office and condensing two bookcases down to one (that's the goal anyway!) I came across my little green-velvet covered journal from 1989. The entries are sparse and my handwriting and spelling was atrocious but the words in the one entry I read, all four sentences, were nothing more than a dull jagged knife straight to my heart!

12-10-1989

It is my mother's birthday. She will be 35. She is getting pretty much over the hill. She has almost made it.

Love,
Amber

Oh! OUCH! How the words of my nine-year-old self have turned against me!!!! To think that at age 9 I thought that 35 was over the hill! One foot in the grave. Lifting the foot to kick the bucket. And here I am today, a mere 5 years from 35.

Sigh.

I will let it be known that I refuse to read anymore from that little journal. My 9-year-old self has kicked me enough for one day!

: )

Summer Fun: Camping

Unfortunately, this camping trip is not a recent one. This dates back to summer 2009. A weekend trip with my brother, sister-in-law, two nieces and of course, a very, very excited Daisy Lou.


It is a favorite thing of mine to pitch a tent, hang the hammock, start a fire and lay or sit beneath the canopy of trees.


And a camping trip with any one from my family proves to be a fun adventure! We always know how to make things interesting. On this particular trip my brother Eric waged a contest to see who could get a fire going first. From the start, he didn't lay out any rules or mention items we couldn't use, therefore, I made my way to my hiking pack and pulled out the following items: My survival knife, fire starter sticks, and a lighter.

If my memory serves me correct, I do believe he gave me a hard time about the lighter and fire starter sticks once he saw them, and I politely reminded him that he never said what we could and couldn't use. His method involved tree sap and striking flint. (which I'll get to the tree sap in a bit.)


So guess who got a fire started first!? Yep. I was never a boy scout (for obvious reasons) but when it comes to the outdoors, I'm always prepared.

My brother had success with the tree sap, and Punkin sure enjoyed burning and charring things just because she could! But before long, with the combined efforts of all our flames and charred kindling, we had a blazing fire just perfect to start dinner with!


Another fantastic thing about camping in this family, is that you're sure to eat well! I can remember dad cooking up fried potatoes, eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast and roasts with carrots and potatoes for dinner, or pork chops...it was and is always a culinary delight!

My brother made a delicious Low Country Boil, minus the shrimp this time but chock full of cajun seasoning!

The picture above is proof of how much of a weenie I truly am...I must confess that although I speak highly of the outdoors and praise a Mighty God for His beautiful creation, the one thing that can send me running and screaming like the girl I am is a spider. Go ahead and laugh or chuckle or shake your head in disbelief, but before I can even get one foot in my hammock I spray the perimeter with bug spray. If not, I have these visions of laying quite comfortably in my hammock, swinging ever so slightly and watching the tree tops dance in the wind and it all being brought to a halt by eight legs and two beady eyes. So yes, I am a weenie. But I'm okay with that.

Okay, so now for the educational portion of this post. My brother taught me something, that my other brother taught him. Tree sap makes a great fire starter! Above is a picture of Punkin scraping sap from a pine tree. When lit, sap will burn for quite a while, and in the process will also ignite small kindling and leaves. Below is a shot of some sap burning.





And to continue on with the fun educational portion of this post, I also had to get a little inventive on this trip. I've reached the age where I can no longer sleep on the ground when camping, I (and my joints) prefer an air mattress these days. I had let a friend borrow mine so I searched my house for the next best thing. I have a self-inflating mattress, but it doesn't do the trick for me, but I found a pool float in my laundry room and figured I would give it a try.


I ended up sliding the pool float down into my sleeping bag to keep it contained and from shifting out from under me. I had a quilt with me to cover up with so it all worked out perfectly! I slept so well that night, that the pool float is now and always will be a permanent fixture in my hiking pack. Much lighter than an air mattress and takes less time to inflate too!

All this talk of camping really has me wanting to make haste to the great outdoors, but alas the school and work schedule will not allow it most likely until next summer. Reminiscing is the next best thing : )

The New Toothless Grin

Oh the sweetness of the six-year old grin!

And the sweetness of the six-year-old face in general : )

I walked into my mom's house where Little Lauren Bug scurried into my arms. We talked for a second and then I saw it. The square hole in her mouth where a front tooth once resided. With an award-winning dramatic flair, I dropped her to her feet, raised my hands in the air and asked, "What happened to your tooth?!?" "Where did it go!?" She giggled and then immediately realized she forgot to show her Nana her new toothless grin! As fast as lightning she was off to the other room calling for Nana.


Aunt Amby had to celebrate the occasion with an impromptu photo shoot of her precious smile. Because before too long she'll be sportin' braces and running with her middle school friends and no longer scurrying to jump into our arms.

I told my sister-in-law I wasn't sure where they got her, but she sure is fun! She is a character for sure.

Going to the Dogs...

It has been a perfect July day in my book. The windows are open on the house, it's hovering around 80 degrees with little humidity and a breeze that causes me to pause and be thankful each time it makes it's way through the quiet house.

I have been quite entertained by my little dog Daisy Lou these past couple of days. And of course today is no exception. And while most bloggers are posting pictures of their adorable kiddos enjoying this hot summer weather, I will post some pictures of my little pooch. Seeing as I don't have any kiddos yet, and Daisy has yet to make her official blog debut!

In a recent trip to visit my brother and sister-in-law, to Daisy's delight she got to come along too! You see, Daisy has two cousins Bentley and Crumb that she has come to adore! The relationship used to be that she merely tolerated their presence, but she has now come to accept that she is not "top dog" and must learn to share her human and environment with 3 other Douthit dogs.

Here you see Louisa (one of Daisy's numerous nicknames) with her new little hedgehog buddy. He was a gracious gift from Aunt Amy, but Daisy, acting as if she were a two-year-old, latched on to this little critter and claimed him as her own the entire weekend!


Aunt Amy, just so you know, she is EVER so grateful for your generous gift! ^^I believe it was love at first sight between the hedgehog and Daisy!

A little siesta with the hedgehog....

A little roughhousing followed by some cuddling....


still more cuddling the next day...


and a thank you to Aunt Amy, Uncle Jason and her cousins Bentley and Crumb....


My little Daisy Lou is the greatest little pooch. We have enjoyed a lazy summer day and I have found great enjoyment in bursting into fits of singing "My buddy and Me" as Daisy carries her little buddy all around the house.

Highways and biways...

Saturday morning, my little gray car was all gassed up to head northwest, then east then west again! First stop, Flora, Illinois to visit with my grandpa and great-aunt, both of whom have had their share of health struggles lately. Both are on the mend, thankfully!

Driving along highway 45 always brings back such fun and good memories. There's the little white Methodist church that we stopped at when dad got pulled over for speeding. It was in the dead of summer, we were in a black car (possibly with no air conditioning - my memory fails me) but I remember the windows being rolled down. My dad, ever the considerate one, pulled the car forward enough before stopping so the police officer could park in the shade of the tree rather than us. We teased him about that ticket for years!

And then, perhaps 6-8 years later, my cousin and I were traversing that same highway when I too peaked the interest of an Illinois police officer. He gave me a warning as he saw I was from out of town, and I remember him remarking, "It's easy to speed when you're not from around here." Rookie. Sadly, I totally knew I was in the wrong. We giggled as I drove away - a great start to a summer stay with the family in Illinois!

And so it was Highway 45 (and later Hwys 50 and 41) that led me to another great adventure. I picked up my two Aunts and the three of us hit the road again - destination: Indiana. Purpose: the Noel Christmas train.


I was a gal on a mission. I had called ahead, and the shop owner graciously pulled my little train from amongst the goods for sale and wrote my name on it. I was on my way to claim an item from my childhood : )


And claim it I did! A mere $7.44 has brought back a fun little piece of Amber history. This little piece of Christmas decor, made in Taiwan and in mint condition will become a family heirloom if I have anything to say about it : ) After all, I drove a total of 8 hours in one day to get it! Totally worth it though.

My Aunt Kayla found some items for herself too. And my Aunt Gina added to her Peyton Manning/Colts memorabilia with a P. Manning bobblehead.


I haven't been able to spend time with my aunts in years. The older I get, the more hectic and busy life seems to be. Saturday was a wonderful time of slowing down. Enjoying the company, laughing, good conversations, good food and leaving responsibilities and the day-to-day life behind, just for a few hours. Once we were back at Aunt Kayla's we took some time to pick blueberries.


There is something so nice, relaxing and simple about gathering berries. The "bob-whites" were out and singing in the fields. My great-uncle Joe taught me about "Bob-whites" during one of my week-long stays one summer. They are a kind of bird that when they chirp and sing it sounds like they're saying "Bob white." I hadn't heard one in years. While I was picking the blueberries all the memories of playing basketball and snapping beans and playing in the rain came flooding back to my mind. For a few years, each summer I would go and spend a week at my Great-aunt and uncle's house. Aunt Treva taught me about making her famous blackberry cobbler and doughnuts from canned biscuit dough. We would play skip-bo well into the night and she would graciously let us make up our own rules. Her house was one where our imaginations could run wild, and she was right there with us, imagining right along.

As I was driving home on the gravel road, the moon was full and bright and a deer casually walked along the side of the road before disappearing in the tall corn. It was in that moment I realized how much I miss those times in Illinois. But I realized too what a blessing it is to hold such sweet memories. The Lord is so kind to have blessed me with wonderful family and a rich childhood.

And speaking of childhood....here it is! The NOEL Christmas train. Christmas in June at the homestead!

A friend dared to call it tacky after seeing the picture in my previous post. Haha! Tacky or not, it will forever be a fixture in my household at Christmas time!

For now, it is perched on the shelf in my livingroom. Right alongside "Joy" and "Peace" I now have "Noel." My "tacky" and out-of-season reminder of sweet times from long ago.

And for 'ole times sake....


And for a little bit of cuteness, we found this little guy nestled by the garage at my aunt's house.

I really wanted to catch him and love him and call him my own...but the adult voice in my head said "No." Which oddly enough, that adult voice sounded like my parents all those times I would bring home birds, turtles and geese and stray cats.

"LEON," Antiques and Regret

"LEON"

Which spelled backwards is "Noel." Sit tight with me whilst I take you back to the early Amber years and get a little sentimental...

Picture it, Sicily 1942...

Heehee, just kidding. But go with me, Christmas, early to mid-eighties. You know, leg warmers, huge earrings and stir-up pants.

I was a kid. An excited kid...I LOVE Christmas time. The whole decor of the house changes. The air is filled with warm smells like cinnamon sticks and evergreen. And the fun Christmas decorations are brought down from the attic and sprinkled through the livingroom. And every year a little white train was placed on the wall unit. The cars, white with green holly painted on them, spelled out "NOEL" once they're linked together. I loved that little train. I remember that my brother and I would rearrange the cars to spell different things. Which really the only thing that made sense was LEON.

This picture (thanks to a google image search) shows you the exact train. Ahhh...sweet memories.

Now fast forward to Sat. June 19th. My mom and I went to visit my brother and sister-in-law, and on our way home we stopped at an antique store along Hwy 41.

Shining like a bright beacon from the shores in a storm, I saw it. Laying on a counter, still tucked in it's box, mint condition, the NOEL train. The little kid in me came squealing to the surface as I made my way to it, scooped it up in my hands and drew in air loudly in what I'm sure was not an indoor voice. But there it was!! Like Ralphie staring down his Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle! It was the Noel train!

And at this point kids is where the story should end happily with me making my purchase, gingerly carrying the precious little token from my past to my car and then setting it up in the livingroom upon my arrival despite it only being June. But no. I had to go and get all adult and responsible and practical on myself. I exercised self-control. I placed it back on the counter, and continued looking throughout the store, all the while weighing the purchase against my mental budget. "You need to be a good steward," I told myself. "You've already made two purchases this trip, that should be enough," I continued.

In the end, I passed the threshold of the door emptyhanded.

As soon as my four tires pulled onto the highway I was racked with regret. And yet, I continued on, southbound.

It is now day 2, post train discovery and I can't take it anymore. I must get the little train! In my desperation I managed to find one on Ebay mixed in with a cache of vintage ornaments, but it is tattered and a wheel is broken. Not like the one in Indiana. What is a girl to do?? What was the name of that store? Was it north or south of Vincennes? Why can I not be more observant?

Cue google. My little train is sitting on the counter of Colonial Antiques in Farmersburg, IN. The number is saved in my phone and I have already made my plans. I will call that sweet lady that works the register, have her hold it for me..no wait..not just hold it for me but write my name on it in big red letters! I'm working in Illinois on a photo shoot this week and as soon as I'm done, my little gray car will be headed northeast to Farmersburg! And yes, I realize how pathetic my life must seem to all of humanity right now, but I'm so close to having the exact train I did as a kid.

----------------------------------------- (intermission...go ahead, grab yourself a glass of lemonade..)
------------------------------------------------

Antiques parte dos.

Okay, so for pictures, since I didn't have any childhood pictures of our little train and all I had was a poor quality, teeney tiny little image of the train, I decided to share the items I did bring home with me from the antique stores in Indy.

First up: Every girl needs a steel trap, right?!? Hahhahaa! I'll explain.


In my adoration of all things outdoors/mountains/cabins/nature related, I decided to go with a "feminine log cabin" theme for my
bedroom. Don't laugh, as others have done, it can be accomplished! : )

I saw this little steel trap for four bucks and knew it had a place in my room. My mom joked that perhaps I'm sending a message that I'm not to be messed with. So we'll go with that. Yeah, don't mess with me, I have a steel trap on my nightstand! Ha.


Anywho, the trap, coupled with the rabbit fur I brought back from Alaska and the old wooden canoe paddle I found in Nashville, my room is slowly coming together. And one of these days, as soon as I decide on what kind of window treatments I'm going to do, I will post pics of my finished bedroom. It takes me a while to finish a decorating/remodeling project but that is the subject of another post that is in the pipes.

But finally, I found a book that presents fodder for blog posts to come. It is titled, The Housekeeper's Handy Book: Domestic Science Cyclopedia of Valuable Information. Copyright MDCCCCXV (1915 for us modern day readers.)





The inside cover details a list titled "Average time required for cooking and digestion of food." You read that right, digestion of food. Did you know it takes 10-15 minutes to boil or fry a quail and 2 1/2 hours to digest it? Fascinating!

Other "Household Departments" treated in this book include:

Successful Marketing, Good Housekeeping, Economic Home Cooking and Baking, Carving and Serving, First Aid Relief in Accidents, Injuries, Poisons and Sickness, Preserving, Canning and Pickling, Home Made and French Candies (Ooh la la!), Bills of fare for every day (Huh?), Housecleaning, paperhanging (NOT in this house!) and Calcimining (again, Huh?), Laundrying and Dyeing, Invalid Cookery (For those who have taken to the sick bed...keep healthy mom!) and finally....Health Hints and Toilet Preparations!

Oh! I can't wait to dive into this one!!!

So I will pass along any interesting tidbits of cookery or calcimining wisdom in future posts...yay rah! right!? : )

"Sperry Dogs" and Monkeys

Wow! So, my poor little blog has been neglected since January. It has been quite the busy hiatus, though, so don’t worry all, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth or been eaten by the pigmies of Canoe Creek. I have successfully completed the first semester of the nursing program and needed the time to direct my little pea brain towards endless hours of studying. It paid off : )

Okay, so on to the real reason for this sudden and long overdue post.

I have revived a tradition with the little people that had fallen by the wayside (the little people meaning my two sweet little nieces.) When Punkin was little (she is now 12) we used to lay on a blanket under the stars and watch for shooting stars and just talk. This started at age 2 and has continued on through the years. So in those times I realized just how fast she was growing up. And I also realized, being the aunt, how disconnected I can get from her life and the things that goes on in her little heart and mind. So I started playing 20 questions and to my delight, the two of us have passed many hours under the stars laughing and being silly and most importantly keeping connected.

So tonight, little Bugs got to spend the night at Aunt Amby’s house! We were laying in the hammock swinging and cacklin’ when I realized that I had never taken the time with her to ask her the all important questions of “who is your best friend?” and “what is your most favoritist thing in the world??”

We took turns, I would ask a question then she would ask a question. I love, love, love how her little mind works! In the course of two hours we had discussed everything from school busses to “sperry dogs” (prairie dogs) to cupcakes to marriage to why the moon is “only a half.”

In the middle of this, she asked a question that at first made me think and then when she answered, it made my heart smile. Here’s the conversation: (and make note, the question is maybe a bit morbid to some but we just had a death in our family.)

Bugs: “Do you want to die?”

Me: “Well, not right this minute, but some day. Why, do you?”

Bugs: “Yes, because I want to go to Heaven and see what God looks like.”

I think I was speechless for a few seconds at her honesty and her heart. I pray she grows up to love the Lord and to want to glorify Him through her life. She has such a sweet and tender heart and I know the Lord could use that in mighty ways. It was a sweet time of sharing and laughing.

So if you’re looking for a way to spend some great quality time with your son, daughter, niece, nephew or friend’s kiddo, this fun version of 20 questions is a good way to take a peek into the heart and mind of a child. And also a great way to pave the road to more meaningful conversations.

Here are a few questions to get you started, of course the possibilities are endless so this by no means is an exhaustive list, but just some questions we’ve shared through the years! =)

- If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?

- If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

- What makes you happy?

- What is your favorite Bible story?

- What do you think love is?

- If you could change anything, what would you change?

- If you could have any animal for a pet, what animal would it be?

- Do you wish you could be a kid again? (This one is always directed at me of course!)

- What is your favorite food?

- What is your favorite dessert?

- Who is God?

- If you could write a book, what would it be about?

- What is your most favoritist, favoritist thing in the whole wide world?

- What is your favorite color?

- What is your second favorite color?

- What is your least favorite color?

- If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

- If you could name your own star, what name would you give it?

- How many stars do you think are in the sky?

- What do you think make lightning bugs light up?

Okay, so I’ll end there. But you get an idea of the scope of things we can cover in just a short amount of time.

And furthermore, regarding future posts of past goings-ons (yes it’s a word in my head!) I have pictures to share along with some pretty fun stories, but alas, the treacherous tar ball laden waters of the gulf coast has rendered my *ahem* waterproof camera useless, so until I can find a tiny cardreader or another way to retrieve my images, I am a photographer without supporting art (insert defeated sad face here). Until then, I’m off to snuggle with the little snuggle bug before my short time with her is up.