Joy.... as we make our first spring sojourn to our favorite park.

Under the leaning tree...

relaxing in the sun...

feeding the ducks is fun...

a bouquet from weekend company.....

Our weekends are so full around here that it's difficult to capture them,but here's a snippet!

So much learning happening around these parts !

What kinds of learning are happening at your house?

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

Aaaaand-he blogs!!

Announcing the newly created Promised Land Family blog (http://www.promisedlandfamily.blogspot.com by the papa of the home. That guy of mine is now a fellow blogger and writer.Hopefully we'll enjoy some good pieces from his perspective.
Hop on over and pay him a visit!
In His Love,
Marcella

warming up

The children's first dandelion bouquet of the year. (I remember living in Central America and getting so nostalgic when I found a little dandelion plant once in a while.) Here,they abound as they did in my childhood also.

Eating popsicles and playing handheld soccer...

The daisy's I lugged home from the community center's annual plant sale...

A wee one of mine standing in a sunpatch....

May you have a lovely spring day too!

In His Love,

Marcella

bread and cabbage

Yesterday,I made Cinnamon Quick bread inspired by the Vanilla Icing blog (http://www.vanillaicing.typepad.com) and this afternoon it's history. Maybe some other bread fans will enjoy this with tea as we did!

the bread right before it went in the oven-I might double the topping next time

Squirrelgirl ate a good portion...

And a new favorite. Sauted cabbage with curry powder sprinkled over it liberally.This is good with bread. Or chicken. And it's so good and so inexpensive. ..

Speaking of food,I just burned the rice I had on the stove. Silly blogging...

In Him,

Marcella

ready at any moment

"Live in your traveling clothes-ready at any moment for when God calls,for the Rapture. This is how we should live each day,thinking that at any moment we might have to leave."

Zac Poonen,paraphrased slightly.

This is the heart of this blog,Pilgrims Passing Through. But I find so much need for revelation on how to live this out,day by day, in my life. I want to live this way. And so this is my prayer today. How do you wish me to live, Father? Please install a proper attitude in my heart. Please show me what needs to be crucified in my life so I can have clarity and direction on how to make this reality every and all day. May I be obedient to Your Voice.

In His Love,

Marcella

vinegar and paper clips

tray of equipment for this paper clip craft-link down below. Materials: large paper clips,airdrying paper clay(I think any kind of air drying clay would probably work) small rubber stamps.Paints for use when craft is complete.

A finished specimen..

A box of wooden stamps I found while yardsaling. Best of all, they were thrown in free:) The small stamps work perfectly.

The backs claim these stamps were made in India-well,at least some of them say so.

A random shot Jess took.

My morning tea....look under the vinegar notes for the paper clip craft link. My post got scrambled!

Random notes-there was ice on the van this morning. And I have an unusual stiff neck.Blah!

There is a must read list of ways to use vinegar up at the Simple Green Frugal blog! Here-http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/04/20-household-uses-for-vinegar.html.

And here's the paper clip craft link to go with today's pictures-http://itsacreativeworld.typepad.com/its_a_creative_world/clay/

Happy crafting! I think these would make nice gifts if they were put in a little tin and given along with a book as bookmarks.

In Him,

Marcella

all in a homeschooling day

eat pancakes for breakfast...

follow the morning chore list...

bring mama her vitamins in an Easter egg..

read and nurse as needed..

strewn projects of interest...

try out sister's hair things...

Here's a link that I am quite pleased with also-http://www.mixingbowlkids.typepad.com

It could boost your healthy,child-friendly recipe collection nicely!

quote for the day"God has to break you,

to make you,

into what He wants you to be."

Zac Poonen

In His Love,

Marcella

spring's a long time coming..

Spring seems to be coming in in a painfully slow way this year:) So, I take pictures of signs of spring. I pull out the dried evergreen pieces from the front door wreath and poke plastic flowers in. I buy popsicles and store them in the freezer. I prep the children's summer wardrobes.

Spring,please come now! I will welcome you with song. I will celebrate you with bare feet. I will prepare lemonade in your honor!

"April showers Bring May flowers." ????? Oh,sigh. Alright. How many weeks are left in April?
Actually, I'm ok with the rain. It's this cold air that is wearing on me. And recently we even had flurries of snow if my eyes didn't fool me. Quite the April!
In His Love,
Marcella

He is Risen!

"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost,but now I'm found,

Was blind, but now I see."

It was sweet to sing this newly loved by me,song, on top of a high hill this morning as the sun touched us with the power of it's newly risen rays,a golden ball that had ever so surely climbed up above the mountain it seemed hidden behind. Darkness was behind. Light was triumphant.

I think I need to watch more sunrises. I want to feel in awe of my Creator and just worship Him like that more. In the beginning. Of my days.

I have not managed to capture in photos the beauty of this weekend.So I'll leave myself a few words for when my memory grows dim.

Blessings for our mortal bodies, honesty, our children's first sunrise service followed with breakfast and fellowship with new friends, a beautiful lunch with new friends and old and more sharing of hearts, wholesome friends and gardening in friends backyards for our children, books, a late night pancake supper and sharing into the wee hours of the morning with a young brother in Christ, flowers and so much more. Bless you God. Thank-you,Abba!

In His Love,

Marcella

the bookshelf and a peek at the contents

Bookshelves are a staple piece of furniture,aren't they? Well,at least to certain odd people such as myself... As a child I organized my books along a wide beam near the ceiling of my bedroom. I also had a more conventional shelf in one corner of it. As a child I also thought being a prisoner in a bathroom size room wouldn't be so bad as long as that room was filled with books.So,maybe it is no surprise that I still like to have a bookshelf wherever my pilgrim feet wander. It can get hard to be a pilgrim that totes heavy boxes and suitcases full of books over land and sea. Could it be that pilgrims weren't meant to collect books? I'm still pondering that one and actually the whole relation of books to the Christian pilgrim.
In my defense,I have gotten rid of many books over two international moves. This last time I didn't stress about rebuilding my collection. I figured the library has them to borrow for free! So could someone please tell me how that can be be my patially loaded bookshelf above?
And isn't it sweet that with all Lee has suffered at my hands over books, that he built me this large bookshelf complete with a section for a miniature nature museum? (That's what that shelf is with all the sections.) Longsuffering personified would be my dear husband crafting this shelf....!

And here's a close-up of three new books, which are a giveaway prize from the acclaimed Scribbit's http://www.scribbit.blogspot.com/ blog! This was a win from the week of giveaways last December, I think. There was a glitch in its arriving but Scribbit was ever so helpful and we finally received the happy package. Scribbit was even so humble as to help a lowly blogger as myself with her thoughts on certain aspects of blogging. And since,Lee would like to visit Alaska,maybe I'll even meet her one day... or at least her most interesting state!

A close-up of the Worst case Scenario handbook which Jess thinks is super interesting.And since super reader to him is me I can now give you advice on many strange things. Feel free to write and ask away.I am now well informed.(Stroking helps when you've been cornered by a gorilla.He'll probably take it as a submissive gesture.)

In Him,

Marcella

a curbside find

Living near a wealthier neighborhood has an unusual perk for curbside trashpickers:)

We spotted this rocking chair at the end of an evening cruise and became its new owners.

It has some peeling paint and I have been pondering whether I should call it distressed and leave it alone..... Maybe a coat of sage green or chocolate brown paint would be better.

I also find myself pondering the fact that I spend little time in this chair.If there is ever a question of going on vacation I may send Lee and the tribe and sit and read in this chair.It seems like all the vacation a mother could want.....

In His Love,

Marcella

To Wean or Not?

Her's is the small,squeaky voice in the dark of night-"me,yummy". And I oblige.Afterall,they're only small enough to nurse once. So,I may speak very threateningly about weaning,but in truth that squeaky voice will most likely continue doing me in...
Marcella