Table of Love

When my man and I got married, he was serving as the interim pastor of the church I was raised in. Needless to say, the congregation LOVED on us like it was nobody's business! One couple in our church offered to GIVE us their dining room table and hutch. We had no furniture and and no money, so we gladly accepted their gracious gift.

They had such a wonderful testimony about this table. How they had had it for 15 years and how often it had been surrounded by bible studies and prayer meetings. How it had hosted meals for those in need as well as celebrations. It was a wonderful testimony and one that we wanted to continue with our family. 

Looking about over the 12 1/2 years that we've had this table, it has taken a beating. It has changed colors 3 times. Some of the chair rails are getting a bit loose and we've had to tighten some screws.

But this table has born witness to many wonderful times in our home.

Many, many, MANY meals. good food (most of the time!!) good laughs, reproofs, and training. Working on table manners and learning what NOT to talk about at the table. 

 

Celebrations. SO. Many. Celebrations!  Dying Easter eggs and decorating Christmas cookies! Blowing our candles and singing happy birthday!  Thanksgiving meals and Christmas Eve brunches with friends and family.  Honoring special milestones like the loss of a first tooth or getting POTTY TRAINED!!(that my friends is a milestone worth celebrating!!)

Work and play. This table has been our primary place of homeschool. My kids have learned to write their letters here, how to count money, seen science in action and memorized bible verses.  

It's the official LeGO table. Hours are spent searching for pieces and building some amazing creations.  Play-do is rolled out and mashed into the cracks. Masterpieces are painted. Even music is made!

Minds are filled with facts and truth. Songs are sung of grace and goodness. Prayers are prayed of hope and forgiveness. Books are read that give Light and Life. 

All of these pictures were taken within the last 6 months. They only give a tiny glimpse of all that has happened around this table. Of how our prayers are being answered. That this table be a place of fellowship and celebration. 

One of our favorite verses is this

"Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house

and your sons will be like olive shoots

around your table.

Thus the man is blessed who fears the Lord

Ps. 128:1,3-4

This table continues to survive multiple moves and the hazards of young children! It bears the marks and scars of bumps along the way. And yet, it continues to lend itself to us as a place of gathering  together. Of wholeness and family. 

Where all are welcome to come and dine.

Grace and Peace,

going around

Since the last time I posted, we've had Christmas, started a New Year, and loads of other stuff. The main reason I've not been posting is because I usually sit down at our desktop and type and upload pictures, edit pictures, dig into my bible for inspiration, etc. But the desktop is on our bottom floor. Our bottom floor is FREEZING. There is really no way to get it warm down there and have it comfortable upstairs on the third floor or spend a fortune of heating, which the cheapskates in this home are loathe to do! I could sit down there wrapped in a comforter, which I have done before ;), but it's just not fun! 

So I'm taking advantage of the laptop that's actually in my lap and jotting down a few words. 

We have a  "D.C" bucketlist. And my "we" I mean my "plan ahead, always prepared" husband. We will Lord willing, only be here until the end of this year, so that doesn't leave us a TON of time to get through our list! We've been checking things off one by one and really loving it!

We've hit "Fords Theatre" and the "Peterson House." 

The Marine Corp Museum, which was fascinating and HUGE. We came across two different pieces of debris from 9/11. One from the Pentagon and one from the World Trade Centers. I was overcome. Tears filled my eyes and I went back to that moment when it happened. How that moment lead us to where we are today. Not just as a country, but our family. I know that those events played a huge part in our coming into the military. 

We've been living life.

Working hard, playing hard, teaching hard.

We're working on Love. 

Loving each other. And we know that its not always easy. 

Sometimes it's even really hard. 

But it's a command.

We can't escape it. 

"O  Lord, help us!"

Between school, church life, and family life, we've been going strong. Trying to balance all of these so that we are honoring the Lord and each other. 

Grace and peace to you and yours!

Libby is 9!!!

Libby had her 9th birthday just a few days ago.

We had a fantastic day!

Egg's-n-a-basket for breakfast.

A trip to Mount Vernon with Grammy.

Lunch at the Pentagon with Daddy (no pictures are allowed there!)

Birthday cake and presents.

 (loves her caboodle!!! She couldn't believe I had one too!)

 Then a trip to Chuck-e-cheese!


Crazy girl. Fills our home with joy!

Happy Birthday!!!

Insta-Friday: Long time, no see!

Ticking time. Speeding by. Especially this week.

Grammy is in town.

Weather in the 70's then back in the 40's.

Libby turned 9. (post coming later!)

Here's our last couple of weeks in instagrams!

1.) Crazy morning at the breakfast table! Eating a bit of jello! 2.) mini chicken pot pies! Can't go wrong with those! 3.) Libby and I doing a little Tar-jayy shopping. 4.) some venison my man got for us! 5.)  blurry little picture taken by Baur of me and Light-light. 6.)  My boys sipping their frappy treats! 7.) Post Thanksgiving daze. 8.) Always wanting to help in the kitchen. I need to make sure I'm willing to share the space! 9.) Studying by the Christmas Tree. She's so studious!!!

1.) Libby and I on her 9th birthday!!! Can't believe it! 2.) Visiting the Christmas Camel at Mount Vernon. 3.) A "little" sweet treat after his filling.  His lips were still a tad numb and neither one of us could stop laughing at his expressions! 4.)  Gorgeous Fall day. That tree is now completely nekkie, but it was beautiful while it lasted! 5.) My  new favorite cookie found at Target! I have 4 boxes in my freezer to save for the coming months! They are limited edition, so get some if you can find some!!! 6.) My 4 cuties at the wedding where Libby was the flower girl. It was frigid outside, but 3 out of 4 smiling is pretty good! 7.) Dressed for fro-yo at Sweet Frog. 8.) My baby's little piggies. 9.) Another Sweet Froggie shot. We really do love that place!!!


Have a lovely Friday and a Wonderful Weekend!!

"Thanks-Living"

I rolled my eyes at my title, but it is TRULY how we are living right now.

Or attempting to live. With Thanks. Gratitude. Great Appreciation!

Life seems a bit crazy right now.

We attended a very special wedding two weeks. Libby was a flower girl. I botched Lightsey's hair. It was a great weekend!

We spent Thanksgiving here with some other Army Friends since Philip had to work right up until Thanksgiving Day and had to go back almost right after.

The kids are in a musical for Christmas at church. Lots of practices. The girls love it. Baur, not so much. Back when I did musicals in kids choir at church, we sang and maybe acted. NOW they dance to. All this coordination! I think it would be kinda hard to sing and dance for these 2nd-6th graders, but they don't find it hard at all. I'm VERY impressed!

We got our Christmas tree set up and the house decorated. The kids love it and I do to. We  did colored lights on the tree this year as well as last after 10 years of white. My man REALLY wanted colored. I like the colored, but it's REALLY hard to get good "Christmas tree" pics without white lights. And he won't let me combine. He said we can have white next year. I may just combine them anyway!

My mother in law is coming soon. Then my sister. Then Christmas will be upon us!

I'm having to go back and look at my pictures to see what we've been up to. My memory is shot!

Or maybe I'm just cramming too much in!

Here's to catching up!