What's So Scary About Aunt Connie, Anyway?

So it's the first of March, and with it comes the hope of Spring.  Surging within the veins of nearly every woman comes the nature-inspired energy to clean; clean; clean; spruce it up and clean!  The early Jewish women often did this Spring cleaning as a ceremonial-type of washing out the old and bringing in the new year.  (March/April mark the new year by God's calendar.)

So, not entirely alone in my attempts to make everything look better, smell better and get all involved to live better, I began my journey into The Cleaning Venture.  The Cleaning Venture brought with it memories of The Great Clean, which I do not refer to often; especially on here.  (Not because I am afraid to, but merely because it is such a long endeavor: all that typing.  See what Facebook and short 450-word count stats have done to us?)

All The Little People appreciate these mothering attempts to make life swell.  (Remember Leave It To Beaver?)  By little, I mean the people you tend to think about last, but should think of first:  your family; the ones who live there; dwell there; the ones who root you on.  Anyhow, those are the people who are the most important when it comes to any kind of self-improvement, and they are also the most involved.

Yesterday, my husband and I worked on the garage.  (Partially inspired by my little brother and his wife who gladly allowed us to load up their entire almost entire garage contents into the trailer and lend it to the city landfill:  such freedom!)  We threw things out and he swept because, well, it looked like some gross things were on the floor and let's just face it:  I'm not as brave as I often think I am!  Girly-girl One cleaned her room and packed away most of her knickknacks for storage.  I washed my kitchen.  (You may be wondering how someone can wash their kitchen.  It's like this:  you take a soapy sponge and-- literally--wash the mini blinds, the window sill, the counters, the sink, the dish drainer, etc.  You get the idea.)  We had such fun!  Yes, we, the entire family.  I'm speaking for everybody here.  Even My Fourth Child became involved when she dared to walk accross the street and join Girly-girl One, General Two and Mr. Three in their attempts to appease the mother.  Ah, life is good.

So this morning I awake to fond memories of falling to sleep with my kitchen sink all shiny and I'm thinking, "Like, everybody is going to be stoked to pick up where we left off."  After a delish breakfast, I holler (that's what us hick-folk women do:  holler.) for the broom.  Girly-girl One brings it to me and I begin to point out the disaster of the once-civilized living room.  I wanted the children to think about how embarrassing and rude it would be if someone were to come for a visit and would have to move toys and things off of the cushion before they could sit down.  I attempted to entice the dear people to join me.  It went something like this, "Fair children, let us now place our strung-about items back into our bedrooms.  Just imagine and suppose that your dear aunt, Connie, were to come by for a visit."  Where would she sit?  My children are all standing around me thinking; thinking.  At long last, my youngest, Mr. Three states:  "I just don't see what's so scary about Aunt Connie coming over anyway."  Thumping my hand against my forehead I make a mental note:  Needing lessons on hospitality.

Good "Morning"!

My sleepy garden covered with love from above!

This weather sure does leave one feeling as though the morning has extended far and beyond it's normal eight hours!  Despite everything my mothering mentor, Marla has taught me, my feet are bare, being toasted by the wonderful electric heater beside my computer chair, and I am in my pajama bottoms.  (Too cold to merely stay in my pajama top, though.  Have a hoodie on over that.  ;D)  I dare say I have become a bit too "comfortable" in this type of weather, which tends to be a habit around here.  Indeed, it is only on days such as this that I tell the children to forgo their morning routine of washing their face because the water is extra, extra cold.  (The hot water froze again.)  The children are a bit more disciplined than I and were rather insistant that they complete their morning routine in it's entirety:  washing up, brushing up and dressing to shoes.  I would say I have taught them well.  Now where is my coach who will line me out and help me straighten up my act?  It seems to me, that after these past several years in a row of working out of doors during extreme cold and covered head to toes with coveralls, coats, beanie caps, leather working gloves and tennis shoes, I have become a bit lax.  Be not discouraged, brave one!  The day will come again when the weather is fine, the grass is green, the roses dandy, the skies blue, the clouds as puffy cotton candy.  <--- My godmother, whom I have learned holds within her a delightsome romance with the sweet stuff would approve.  :D

My doggie leaves his footprints in the snow.  :)

The Alive and Active Spirit of Christmas Revisited

     It's Christmas time around these parts, and I know that a lot of people are out there shopping for that perfect gift for that imperfect someone.  I am not one of them. 

     Am I a grinch?  Am I just one of those very relaxed persons who would much rather receive than give?  Nope. 

     Years ago, when my husband left his job to seek a better life, we learned what it was to be in serious lack.  We didn't have any money for anything.  We struggled to keep our head above water.  I mean, beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner was a blessing! 

     One year, we had absolutely no gifts under our tree (didn't even have a tree until late Christmas Eve when they went on sale for $5).  We couldn't give gifts to anyone that year - couldn't bring anything at all.  Now in previous years, I was out there searching for the perfect gifts.  But when we had absolutely no money at all, all we could do was sit still and watch all the stuff going on around us. 

     At first, it was absolutely depressing.  But then- it became quite liberating!  We didn't have to deal with all the shopping lines.  We didn't know what it was to stay up late wrapping gifts for all the parties and get-togethers we were going to.  We couldn't.  But we did became closer as a family.  We celebrated the little (and I do mean little!) things.  The children showed us what the true meaning of Christmas was.  They were happy and so were we. 

     Each year, we've increased more and more.  (Last year, we were unable to get the shopping done before the ice storm and all we had under the tree for each of the children was a NIrV Bible.  The children have used those more this year than any toy they have!)  Each year gets a little better than before.  We've learned not to feel guilty for not having something to give Susan's uncle's ex.  We don't feel stressed when we think about the family gatherings.  Why?  Because in our lack, we've discovered the real, true meaning of Christmas and the spirit of loving each other and respecting one another and being gracious with people even when they don't deserve it.

     So I still don't have the ability to buy for everyone I would like to, but I am increasing more and more every day.  I am rich in other things as well.  I am rich in love and rich in grace and rich in faith.  So I apologize for not partaking in the season's rushing, hustling and bustling, but I assure you, my heart is at rest in the Lord Jesus.  I encourage you to do the same.

J is Right; He's Always Right!

I have to stop being afraid of everything! I have to just charge in there and do what it is that I have to do! I have to let go of fear of people and what they think of me; how they respond to me!
I received this lecture from my husband this morning ... Again. I know I should know it by heart by now. And I think my heart really does know it; it's me and my thinker that's having such a difficult time with it! I'm so fussy inside my head! One thought says "Run this way!", but my heart says "Go! Move forward! Plunge ahead straight into victory!" Then my thoughts say to me again, "RUN!"
I guess the end to this confusion would be to shut up the mouth of the loudest one; that horrid one that tells me to be afraid and hide and stick my head in the sand (SHEESH). GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD - Don't I know it by now? Indeed. I do know it and most assuredly, I will live it!





All content this blog Copyright 2010

The Person in The Mirror

Tell me, person in the mirror, how brave you feel today.
Do you suppose that one so insignificant could possibly make a difference anyhow; any way?
I'm willing to give a bet that you're ready to step in faith
But tell me, person in that mirror, how brave do you feel today?

Are you feeling sophisticated and sure; ready to make the first move?
Or are you waiting on someone else to take that giant leap for you?
Do you have plans for the future; goals for today?
Or are you hiding in the corner; alone and afraid?

Tell me, person in the mirror, how strong are you today?
Do you know your place in Jesus or are you walking alone along the way?
Do you care to know the truth; the truth that will set you free?
Or are you waiting for someone else to come along; someone like ... me.

Person in the mirror, I have you to blame!
You drag me down when you won't move and refuse Him all the same!
Why must you be such a mule; stubborn in every way!
Tell me, Person in the mirror, why not move today?




Copyright ã 2010; Nauni Con Queso/Planting Seeds In The Noon Time

Good Morning, Fish-Friends & Water

TRUE CONTENT-"Be content with your surroundings but not with yourself till you have made the most of them."

This morning has been a humorous one! At least it has been to me. I see things a little differently than some.

Tabby Cat was mewing at the window again this morning. Insisting to go out, and then come in, what a cat she is! My eldest child went to retrieve her and so came back to report the dining room was "all wet"!

The Man I live with was quick to run and check it out. I lie there in bed questioning all the possibilities, but calm enough to lie there still.

Again, my daughter came to report the live action in dramatic headlines: THE FISH TANK IS LEAKING! EVERYTHING’S WET! IT’S UNDER THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR!

I saw my husband pass through the hallway and gather some towels from the linen closet and bathroom. This must be seriously wet, I’m thinking. Finally my thoughts somehow gathered around to complete the following: I must help my husband.

I hopped out of bed, grabbed my shoes and tied them.

I walked in to see the action of flowing rivers and floating towels with my husband and daughter upon them. No such sight. Instead, however, I found about 1/3 of the dining room covered in water and as was said by my daughter, under the living room flooring! Oh my. My husband says to me, "Dearest love of my life, I cannot possibly dry anymore. We are out of towels and must needs do something!" Okay he didn’t quite say it like that, BUT THAT’S HOW I CHOSE TO HEAR IT.

Silly me, I’d just thrown my mop away and keep forgetting to fetch a new one! (This is okay because I used to towel mop and dry my floors for the first five years of our marriage. What can I say, I’m a survivor!) I retrieved last night’s laundry basket and fished out a few clean towels. I said, "Husband: fetch me the mop bucket rather quickly. We simply must wring out these towels so we can reuse them." My husband went to the garage and retrieved the mopping bucket. (Oh, it’s a fine one! It has two compartments, one for clean water and one for dirty water! )

I began to dry up the floor with my few clean towels and he began wringing out the ones he had just thrown onto the floor. They were sopping wet!

I lifted a few items to make sure it was dry beneath (this section of my dining room is also my office and work area. I keep file boxes, printer and computer there). After all dramatic work was complete; I stood back and marveled at the goodness of God. Nothing of importance was wet or damaged. Only one leg of my sewing table was dampened; nothing else. Even the walls were untouched!

The tank was not broken. My husband fiddled with a few things in the tank after I’d gone to bed last night. Somehow a hose disconnected itself and began ciphering the water out of the tank onto the floor. I’d heard a horrible story once of a woman who had one of those hoses spray water in her face and electrocute her so I’m delighted no one was hurt in this instance.

All of the drama had me laughing and skipping back to bed in the wee twilight hours for ‘just a few more minutes of rest’. (I already told you: I tend to see things a bit differently …)

Today’s to-do:

I have been going through my old data CDs this morning. They are perhaps six or seven years old. But that is what I will continue to do a bit this afternoon as well. In between jobs and visits to the hospital, that is. I am guessing this will take all day and maybe tomorrow considering I will be interrupted quite a bit for jobs and cooking. (And, of course, smoothies will have to be made. Who could possibly forget the smoothies?)

But what a job it is! Why didn’t I mark these? What was my problem? What would have been so difficult about marking and labeling CDs? Those are questions left unanswered this morning.

Happy Trailing!

Him bought me some wonderful flowers for my herb garden today!



This year I am growing my favorite herbs in containers! Him made me a raised flower bed that curves along the outside of our vegetable garden. This is a "shelf" for my flower pots containing the herbs!



I wanted something pretty to grow in the bed all around my containers. We found the perfect trailing perennials for that and we purchased them today!


Him bought me (pardon the english) 8 flowering plants in all:


3 Blue Emerald Creeping Phlox (the light purplish ones on the right and center)


2 Drummond's Pink Phlox (the larger pinkish ones bottom left)


2 Fort Hill Creeping Phlox (the smaller pinkish ones top left)


1 Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox (the bright pink at the top center)



Mr Him also purchased three Herb Rosemary plants for my containers! I am so happy!

This has been a lot of fun for us-- working on this project. My husband is my best friend. I am so thankful that God has put us together. Like my phlox-delights-- we're just trailin' along beautifully!


"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22


This project would be nothing without the LORD. He leads us and guides us every step of the way. He is what brings these beautiful and good things to pass. He is so good to us!


"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
Proverbs 16:3

Information, Please

**This entry was first published without pictures on April 19, 2008 in our home school journal.**

The Lord laid it upon my heart to clear out the school shelf. I began working on it with a right heart - I had to have the mind of Jesus to do this. I'm a Keeper. I don't mean that I am a very special individual, I mean that I like to keep things that are good.

But then the LORD began showing me how to become selective and how to become focused - not all sprayed out.

I searched the book shelf and began tossing old text books we didn't use and any material I felt was contrary to the Standard Book, that is, God's Word.

I realized that I was in need of a new encylopedia set. So I asked God if He would send me one that was no more than ten years old (the areas we study right now are not extremely dated materials), was new, would fit on my living room bookshelf, and that would be beautifully bound like my small poetry books.

The shelf size is important to me. Most encyclopedias are very large - like a dictionary - and my living room bookshelf (built into the wall beside the fireplace) has shelves closer together; only books no larger than 10" tall can fit.

The week before last, our friends S and S called us to come pick up some discarded items for them. When we arrived, they asked me if I'd be interested in any encyclopedias. (They know we home school.) Naturally, I was very excited to see the books! They took me into a back bedroom and there were stacks of beautiful, large 1996 encyclopedias. They were not brand new, but I sure was grateful.

Then they showed me the other set. The box (the very box the set came in) was opened and there inside was a beautiful, brand new set of 1998 Funk & Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia. Ten years old. All but one book were still shrink-wrapped. The very first book had been opened, I suppose for previewing the set. The cover was a plush soft hardcover (if that makes sense); beautiful burgundy-brown. The tops of the pages are gold.

My God shall supply ALL your need ... And He will withhold NO good thing. I love my God!

**But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11**

NIV Life Application Study Bible

Not long ago, a friend of mine truly dedicated her life to the Lord. She had been saved for a while, but now came the time for her to live what she professed to believe.

Not being too familiar with the Bible, my friend asked the Lord for a Bible that she could understand easily and that would explain things to her simply.

A few days later, the Lord graciously blessed her through a friend of hers. That friend, led by God, gave my friend the NLT version of the Life Application Study Bible. She was thrilled and enjoyed it immensely! We were so happy for her.

Being students of the Word ourselves, I asked God for my own Life Application Study Bible, specifically a New International Version. I wanted a blue Bible because I think they are so pretty. Regular price for my request is anywhere from $60-$80.




Not long after the simple prayer, we were in one of our favorite shops. They have several used books there. Up on one of the book shelves was a near-new NIV Life Application Study Bible, navy blue. It had only a few small markings outlining a few verses. The price tag? $6.00--10% or less of the original price. :)

"...yet ye have not, because ye ask not."
James 4:2

"Maiden" Mothering

Try explaining to a chip-devouring, Dr Pepper-consuming, book-engulfing 14-year old girl (Sounds a lot like someone you used to know, huh?) that NOW is the training period for domestic skills needed in marriage. That was my job this morning as I discipled my young student in the ways of HOUSEHOLD DUTIES.

There were a few gasps and attempts of explanation as to WHY starting at home (of all places!) was a bad idea. But I held out and am almost certain to have scored a few points in the domestic department.

I gave her a take-home quiz to test her (late?) blooming domestic abilities. She had no good reasons that I haven't heard or lived through myself to NOT do (more than?) her share of keeping house. But it made me smile to hear them coming from someone else, nonetheless.

While I am thankful to God that He has given me a position of discipling the younger women, I cannot help but smile at the irony of it. It wasn't many years ago, that I was the younger woman, desperately needing the counsel and guidance of wise and godly mothers. Being that I am still very young, and also youthful (which is very different from being young *wink, wink*), I am in a wonderful position of gaining the trust of girls who are neglected in teaching at home.

My own daughter is also learning the beauty in domestic support here at home! I've watched her mature-- from that unorganized child that we all started out as-- and develop into a most beautiful young lady who faithfully "keeps" her spot in the home clean and free of clutter.

She is now learning to bake and takes joy in serving others. And what a joy she is to me!

My own "maiden" years, comical as they may have been, began with a rough & awkward start; quite painful in many ways!

At age 13, my (much) younger cousin had to show me how to boil water and make Ramen noodles. This is about the time I had to learn how to "cook" tasteless eggs in a plastic bowl in the microwave (because I was afraid of the stove-fire, no less). I was doing a bit better by the time I was 14, except I didn't know there was a difference between ground pork and ground beef. This was quite traumatizing when I and my little brother dived into a huge plate of eggs n' sausage to find out, it wasn't quite. "It just doesn't taste like when Mom makes it." Go figure.

I still remember a phone conversation with a friend and coworker of my mom's: "Is my mom there?" "No, she's out right now. What do you need?" "Um. How do you know when the egg is boiled all the way?" Silence. "I'm not sure-- Isn't it supposed to float or something? Did you try tapping it to see if it cracks?"

When Mom took on school AND work to learn a career and have some money at the same time, I took on the "mother" role--trying to help in all ways possible (for a thirteen/fourteenish girl, that is).

Every morning (more often than not), after a shower and a quick clean-up of my own room, I headed to the master bedroom to make her bed, open her curtains and clear her dresser. (That always gets messed up when you're dressing in a hurry.)

I'd get in her closet where she kept baskets of clean clothes from last night's laundry and began the long process of ironing each individual piece and hanging them up. I aquired many burns! [All this came back to memory last summer as I was teaching a few 13-year olds how to iron. At first I was surprised they had never ironed before, but enjoyed the process of showing them all the right ways to NOT burn your fingers, hands, arms, ect.]

I can still remember the first few successes of cooking! Brilliant! One was a spaghetti I made for Mom. --Both parents tried it and stated that it was "pretty good", but I think that was out of politeness.

The other was a few years later, at age 16, when I cooked my first meal for my boyfriend. Nothing like greasy homemade tacos! I maintain to this day that this is why he married me.