Berry Picking, Jam, and Wine

Well, it's another Monday!  I hope that you had a blessed one as well and you were able to see mysterious ways in which the Lord provided perfectly for you.

For me personally, I am fed with the fullness of time well spent.  This past weekend my sister in law, Danae, came down for a long weekend and what a joyous time we had together.  We spent severa moments berry picking with Tirzah, for the blackberries and raspberries are just turning and they are oh so delicious!  We watched a lightning show from the front porch with mugs of steaming coffee in hand.  We went for several walks, along DuPont's trails and also to the water.  We had a full night in the kitchen on Saturday, first making a Currant Cordial, then canning strawberry jam, and finally making homemade popsicles!  We both needed to put our feet up after all that time, and once again over mugs of coffee we had a great night of girl time.  Last night, we stayed up until 1 am watching North and South (which I would highly, highly recommend!  The book, Danae says, is even better!  Written by Elizabeth Gaskell).  When Tirzah was awake we found ourselves mostly outside, trying to see the world through the eyes of sweet Tirzah.  When she was sleeping, we found ourselves delighting in God's variety of delicious food, strong coffee and tea, and good books.  Danae would nestle into the corner of the couch and I would perch myself on the window seat.  There wasn't conversation to fill each moment of togetherness, but that was one aspect, I think, that made the time so beautiful.  We girls were just together and it simply felt right and good.

I am also filled, in this moment, as I reflect upon the day, with great thankfulness as the day went much differently than I had anticipated.  I signed up last minute as a volunteer for our church's VBS this week.  It is from 9 am til noon each day and Tirzah hangs out with all the other babies of the church over at the pastor's house.  I was a little anxious about the whole timing thing, just with her naps (you know me and her sleep!), and since she is transitioning to one nap these days and we have had a harder time finding that window where she can maximize that one nap, I felt even more anxious.  On top of that, she woke at 6 am which meant Mama had but 5 hours of sleep.  Before a day running around with children in the morning and then somehow surviving an afternoon with an over tired toddler, I simply felt a little apprehensive and tense.  But He provided as always and why is it that I ever think I have cause to worry?  She slept a little rest during her morning's play date and then she slept a long nap in the afternoon after sweet and wonderful moments of togetherness outside.  And miraculously, I felt so strengthened the whole day and didn't even need to rest!  Thank you Lord.

How did you see Him meet a need today in a way which was unexpected?




Blessings to you this night, dear friends!