Happenings Around Here...

The pace is picking up again
in Southern Lancaster County.

I am so thankful for that blizzard
that forced a rest and time together.

Now we are on that treadmill which is
steadily increasing in speed and noise.

With the boys preparing for their graduation
in May we have much to do.



Choosing photos for their video collage
was kind of fun.



Seeing them as children
again brings so back so many memories.
Those photos were hard copy, not
electronic but some of these will also
be in the collage.



A photo of Jonathan which
reminds me soooo much of my
Dad. He definitely looks like
my side of the family.



Then there was taking Jonathan to the Mall
to choose a suit for the Formal. Now that
was fun...kind of! He has interesting and
definite ideas of what he wants. He found
most of it. No "off the rack" suit for him!
I won't give up the details here but there
will be photos to come...let's just say that
in this he reminds us so much of Warren's
Grandpa who loved to make people smile with
his unique sense of style.

Mikey has an interview at Longwood Gardens
today. This is another step in his quest
to be a student in their
Professional Gardener's Program.

We met Georgia at the Lancaster Airport last
evening. She has been in cold Florida for
the past two weeks. It is finally warming
up down there, just in time for her
to return to the
"lovely" weather here.

Warren, Mom and I went a bit early and had
dinner at one of our favorite places which
is very close to the airport.

We then ran to the Graduation Meeting and signed the
boys up for the Formal and approved their
Bio's as well as invitation spellings.
Then back to the airport to meet Georgia
who flew in on the very tiniest
of commercial
planes.

Details.....so many details!

Then there is the fact that I picked up
yet another fund raiser yesterday and had
to deliver supplies for that to the person
in charge. Fun, fun, fun!
Thankfully she was at the grad meeting so
that could be conveniently included in our
evening's plans.

Let's see....
My financial services business remains active
with existing clients and new ones.
This is important as I need to keep
current to maintain my licenses.
So...no slouching there.
Soon I will be back at the computer
for more continuing ed.
The satisfaction that comes from
helping people reach goals is
immense. I am so hooked!
Have been for fourteen years now!

Homeschool co-op is going well
this semester. I have great helpers
in both of the classes I teach.
This is such a blessing.
The high school drama class is preparing two
skits for a small production on
March 12th. 4th-6th grade music
is making a "TV Show" much like PBS's
From the Top.
It has been so much fun to have student
camera people, interviewers and performers.
They have taken it quite seriously and
are so amazing! So far we have had performances
on the piano, bass guitar, cello and violin.

In our own homeschool we are having a wonderful
time with the anatomy and literature that we are
focusing on now. Oh my, I wish I had been so
interested in my high school years. Learning
about DNA and such things is amazing!
Our Creator
definitely shows Himself in these things.

So...as you can see it is getting a bit
crazy with activity, but we are having fun.

I did find a window treatment for the living
room and can't wait to show it to you on
Thursday.

I hope you are making the most of the time
you have been given. I am overdoing it,
most likely, but it comes in waves.
Just a few more weeks and co-op is
finished until September.
Time flies.

I have to tell you that I went to a Memorial
Service for a dear neighbor recently.
Her wish was that her pastor share
from Proverbs 31. It was such a wonderful
service. So uplifting and encouraging!
It is a challenge set before us...
Thanks Janet!
Such a quest to redeem the time.
Proverbs 31 is a great one to
review and strive to live up to.
I know, I certainly will be pleased
if my children ever call me "blessed".

How about you?

Are you working intentionally or are you
drifting through life just surviving?

Check out this fabulous
Proverb...
It's better than most
self help books on the
market...truly!

I've done it both ways and intentionally
is better. Now, if only I can achieve it.
Only with God's help!!!!

They are Beautiful!

A Beautiful Life Post hosted by
the lovely Melissa Michaels at
The Inspired Room.
This post was written Thursday
evening...so all references to
"today" should be taken as
having happened
on Thursday.


I was surprised to hear the door
open and close, as I was busily
writing a letter to a Senator who
seems to need a little
bit of advice...
unsolicited of course.
((insert innocent smile))

Nonetheless, there he was.
Our middle son, Mikey.
Done with one more day at his
internship.
We are all in amazement that
next week will complete his much looked
forward to eight weeks at
the famous Longwood Gardens!

It seems only yesterday we had fingers and
toes crossed as we sent out a portfolio and
application for consideration.

Since that day Mikey has dead-headed a
whole bunch of flowers, pruned,
planted, picked veggies, learned about design,
worked in greenhouses, attended several
field trips, passed his driver's
test, taught more than one person
that homeschoolers really are pretty normal.
A little intense,apparently, as the other
students wish he wouldn't be such a high achiever.
Most of them seem to view the internship as a nice
summer job. Mikey is intent on getting into
their two year program after graduation and wants
to learn absolutely everything he can.
He has taken some fun teasing for that.

Anyway, when Mikey came home today he brought
a treat...wait... make that two treats with him.

They learned about flower arranging today and
got to make two arrangements. He carefully
buckled them into his car and brought them home.

Yay!

Take a peek!





This is an Oasis Style arrangement.







And then the more traditional style in
a purple vase.
So many types of plants and flowers.
The fragrance is amazing!






























Would you not totally love to have the
flowers at your disposal that the workers
at Longwood Gardens enjoy?

What a total priviledge it has been to
learn more about this organization over
the summer.
I am more impressed than ever.

Everyone is so friendly, open and willing
to share what they know or are learning.

I do hope if you get to our area that you
will visit these lovely gardens.

It does not matter what season, there
are things to love on those many acres.

Thanks Mikey, for sharing your lovely
flower creations. You make us proud!

To You, dear reader, I appreciate the
opportunity to share our experiences
with you. I might write if no one ever
came, but it wouldn't be half as much
fun, I am sure of that!
And of course, you know I am totally Hooked On Flowers
so I am linking in to Julia's "Hooked On" Party.
I hope you might check out other fun links there.

The Beauty of Humility

First, I must let you know that
all photos in this post were
taken by Kelly, at Cozy Comforts.

I did not take my camera to the
event shown here...thanks Kelly,
for sharing!

Last Sunday evening our Church
had a Seder Meal.
It was so moving.

The one part that moved me to
tears, however, was the handwashing.



First the Mother of the Family washes
the hands of the Father.


Here my friend Sue washes her husband's hands while Pastor Mike looks on.

Then the Father washes the hands of everyone at the table.
Warren and Tim (Creekside Cottage) are able to be seen in this photo.

Warren is serving Pastor Jack, by washing his hands.

Tim washes the hands of his Father-in-law.
Love it!


It may seem strange that this part of the Seder
Meal would be my favorite, but it is simply
one of the most beautiful things I have
ever witnessed.

During this Holy Week when we remember our Savior,
how He humbled Himself and washed the feet of His
Disciples...then gave up His very life for us...

Powerful!

Serving others goes very far, indeed, to making
one very beautiful life!!!!

Have a very Blessed Easter.
♥♥Becky K.♥♥


This post is a part of The Inspired Room's
Beautiful Life Series.
For more posts on living beautifully visit Melissa's
Links here...

Making Time to Enjoy the Beauty

For the past few weeks I have
focused on action to bring a
more beautiful life.

That is my style.

Those that know me well
know that I have a very
difficult time relaxing.

I multitask at just about
every opportunity.

But, it has been a recent goal
to take more time to just relax
and enjoy time with our Mothers,
or to take the camera and play with
photos of nature.

To kick off this intentional
time Chelsea, Mom, Georgia(Warren's Mom),
our dogs, and I took a walk to a local
pond early one morning.








The geese have been very
active this week. Every pond we
pass has been so full of geese that
you wonder how they have room to swim.
I was just itching to
spend some time capturing them
in photo.



As a newbie at this relaxation
thing, however, it didn't cross
my mind that in taking the dogs
we might have a smaller chance
of enjoying geese at play.





Duh!

So these geese headed out
thanks to our boisterous
arrival...




A few brave ones remained.









This duck pair was
totally in
their own world.

In love, I think!






On the walk back we found more
things to love.











In the next few weeks all of this brown will
turn a soft green and then over time a deep
green.

Each phase is beautiful in its own way.
It will be so fun to meander down this
country road and capture those changes.

This seemed like a very nice way to purposely take
some time to exercise, relax, spend time with family
and celebrate the beauty in the world around us...

Oops! Multitasking again...but in a good way.




For more Beautiful Life Posts
check out The Inspired Room.

Next week...organization is on the agenda!
I made a fun find!
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Living Beautifully

This has been a challenging
week. Getting back home from
two weeks of fun and sun.

First thing?
A Nor'Easter on Sunday into
Monday with temperatures near
zero. There was beauty in the
snow, though.
It helps to know
that it may have been the last
big one for this year.

It was also wonderful to have
the offer of help from two
neighbors as it related to getting
Mikey to work and clearing driveways.

One neighbor, Jim, cleared Georgia's
driveway...That was way cool.
Saved Warren nearly an hour I would
think! It was done in no time while
Warren cleared our's and Mom's.

We once again enjoyed dinner on
Wednesday evening with our Moms.
This time Georgia was the hostess.
It was a lovely meal and I was able
to add...



my freshly baked French Sweet Bread!

I did it!
Made my first ever from scratch bread.
Karen, from Blue Barn Bulletin, blessed me
with a handful of recipes to try...
Thanks Karen!
Right now if you go to Karen's blog
you will find a recipe for lemon poppyseed
scones that sound delightful!

I have used the bread machine and boxed
recipes, frozen dough, banana breads and
things like that but I have always been
afraid to try yeast bread from scratch.

Other bloggers examples and encouragement
made this an important milestone for me.
Both loaves were gone that same evening.

Baby steps...

In other Beautiful Life news.
My students at our homeschool co-op
seemed happy to see me yesterday.
I loved the hugs and the huge smiles.
Blesses this "old" heart.

In the elementary music class
we are watching "The Music Man".
What a creative use of music in that
film. I think the class will get a real
kick out of it.

I made up a madlib about a music
class whose teacher had gone on
a trip and used the beach, sandcastle,
rollercoasters and animals we saw.

They filled in most of the adjectives
and verbs for the story.
It turned out quite funny.
These children very much enjoy madlibs.

Well, today is a new adventure...
who knows what it will bring.
But I am ever thankful for my
Lord, my family and very precious friends.

I am thankful for YOU!
Have a truly Beautiful Day!
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

For more Beautiful Life Posts
check out this link at Melissa's
Inspired Room Blog.

On Living a Beautiful Life...Every Day....

Easy for me to say...
If you are reading this on
Friday the 27th of February
we are returning from two glorious
weeks of vacation.

We have enjoyed sand,
beach,
sun,


theme parks,
family,


friends,
new geography,
historical sites,
and good books.

We are an interesting blend of tired and
invigorated. Ready to return to those
things so precious and familiar...

Such as...
our two dogs


and two cats.





We have especially missed the people
who have cared for our beloved pets...
our Mothers.
Thank you, Moms!

We are ready to take our positions
of responsibility back at work, church,
in our homeschool co-op and in our home.

Our secret to living a Beautiful Life?
Knowing the One
who created beauty.



We see it in nature.

He made us in His own image...
try that on to boost
a sagging self image!

Our family returns enthusiastically to our
regular lives renewed and recharged.

Making each day beautiful in its own
right by staying connected with
our Creator,
purposefully caring for
each other
and taking the time
to do those things
that bring joy into the
lives of those around us.

Being willing to take the time
to be healthy and whole, in order
to be able to serve well.
This is admittedly my largest
struggle when it comes to enjoying
the beauty in life.

I look forward to accomplishing
some of my new goals this week.
I'll document them and be thankful
for being held accountable each week.

Enjoy your beautiful life...
It is so precious!

To see more posts about Beautiful Lives
see The Inspired Room Mr. Linky
by clicking here.

♥♥Becky K.♥♥