Together on Tuesdays - Week 10

Welcome to our last week of Together on Tuesdays!  Annette and I started this link-up as a way to get to know others in the blog-o-sphere better. Though the participation was not large in number most weeks, I know I have been greatly blessed in the connections I have made and am happy to have done this summertime link-up.

Today, for our final week of Together on Tuesdays, we are sharing our summer wrap-ups or fall plans.

For the most part, we have enjoyed our summertime activities and adventures.  And, though we have started school, we are still enjoying time at the pool, trips to the beach, and cooking out.  We cherish these final days of summertime fun, but look forward to fall activities. I've pieced together a fall preview.  (OK, so I couldn't resist the play on words with the picture.)

Autumn Adventures:

picking apples

camping

hiking

campfires and bonfires

corn mazes

Fall Fun:

seeing beautiful fall foliage

raking leaves and jumping into leaf piles

football season

painting pumpkins

fall baking

A dozen pics from last autumn... 

Embracing the summertime of today, but looking forward to the autumn days ahead!

~ Dorie

Today, if you would like to share a summer wrap-up or fall preview, then just write a post, or link to a past one. Please add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then add your post to the link-up below.

Not able to link up? Feel free to add your favorite summertime memory or something you are looking forward to this fall in the comments.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 9

A person of influence...

who do you pick?

So many people have left an imprint on my life, my experiences,

my character, my personality, my talents... 

Honestly, I struggled to name one.

My husband...

who's life is intertwined with mine,

shares day to day happenings, long term joys and struggles,

holds my hand,

cherishes my heart,

upholds me in prayer,

and loves me,

encourages me everyday.

My children...

who are each a unique blessing,

have taught me much about the Father's love,

guidance, and presence.

They have helped change me.

My parents...

who raised me and my siblings,

greatly influenced my childhood,

my growth and development,

and my launch into adulthood,

have shaped my life.

My siblings...

who shared growing up awkward years

and now our adulthood endeavors,

effect my life.

My teachers...

who taught me academics and

showed me some of my talents,

   have inspired me.

My friends...

who walk beside me,

spend their free time with me,

offer counsel when needed,

laugh and cry with me,

have made a difference in my life.

Each individual I have been blessed to know,

has influenced my life.

Yet, not by their doing or being alone.

No, there was, and is, always someone else,

Someone greater,

who has and is the greatest influence in my life.

~ Dorie

"And He [God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,"

Acts 17:26

"...the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world,

so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God

but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation four our sins."

1 John 4:9-10

Next Week {Our last Together on Tuesdays for this summer}: Share your summer wrap-up or fall plans.

Today, if you would like to share about your home, just write a post, or link to a past one. Please add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then add your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page.

Not able to link up? Feel free to add your experience of a person who influenced you in the comments.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 8

Welcome back for another week of Together on Tuesdays! Today, we are sharing about some fun backyard, or neighborhood, summertime activities. 

Our home is situated on a corner lot, with two cul-de-sacs close by.  The development is large, but this area of it feels like its own little neighborhood of homes. 

Over the years, we have gotten to know quite a few of our neighbors. Though people tend to keep to themselves, there is still a sense of community. Our children have shoveled snow for our elderly neighbors. My husband has helped our neighbors with house projects and even a boat repair (though we don't have one ourselves). I have babysat, hosted play groups, provided transportation to VBS, and handed out Bibles. Probably more importantly, we've prayed for our neighbors' prayer requests. On the other hand, when our neighbors have extras to share, they do! We have received, among other things, twenty pounds of ground meat {seriously, twenty pounds}, usable girl clothing for our daughters, and a weed whacker. More importantly, we have been blessed with a sense of belonging in a neighborhood community.

Even though we are on good terms with most of our neighbors {There's always one, isn't there?}, we do enjoy a bit of private outdoor space.  To create privacy in an area where 8 houses can see your backyard, the Drummer built a privacy fence.  It does nothing to help block second floor, curious onlookers, but it offers the sense of privacy we desire on occasion.  Select plantings, trees, and a newly built shed help offset the most intent onlookers.

Some of our favorite backyard summertime activities are croquet, roasting marshmallows on the fire pit, gardening, reading/resting in the hammock, eating dinner or dessert on the patio, playing with the children, and throwing a ball for Moe, our dog.

~ Dorie

{Next Week: Tell us about a person who influenced your life}

Today, if you have a new or old post about backyard or neighborhood fun which you would like to share, just add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then enter your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page. This makes it much easier to find your post for the link-up.

Not able to link up? Feel free to add your favorite backyard or neighborhood fun in the comments.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 7

Welcome back for another week of Together on Tuesdays! I can't believe it is almost August?! Wow, this summer is flying by...who knew relaxing months could slip away so quickly?  Today, we are sharing about our homes or the area where we live.


{Before you read about my home, I feel compelled to tell the hard, ugly truth first.  Recently, a wonderful friend of mine was blessed with what can only be described as having some of the elements of my husband and I's dream home.  Her home is a beautiful old farm house, reminiscent of the one which I spent many childhood years.  There are trees with swings, barns and out buildings to explore, cool porches to spend the evening hours, and land, plenty of land.  Oh, how I must hang my head low and reveal that yes, while I see that she is ever so grateful and knows how God directed this in her life, I struggled with my own contentment.  Isn't this horrible?  Especially considering how I know the Lord really did move us to our home, and has placed us here in a fine home, for His purposes.  So as you read the following words full of praise and gratitude, please remember that there are times when I don't always remember how blessed I truly am.  I forget.  This frail human flesh I wear does falter.  I just don't always share those moments, because for me I like to need to concentrate on the good.  Otherwise, I find myself in a pit of discontentment and discouragement.}


Our home was a blessing God handed to us on a silver platter.  OK, maybe not a silver platter, but it sure felt that way at the time. 

Over seven years ago, we were remodeling a less than 1,000 square foot Cape Cod style house, almost all entirely on our own with lots of free help from family and friends.  When seemingly out of no where, the Lord orchestrated a move.  Our intention was to finish the remodel and live there for five years.  However, the Lord had other plans.  He directed our steps to purchase another home, which was owned by an older couple we knew.  We literally finished the renovations on our small home one week, and put it up for sale the next.  It sold in two days.  We proceeded with the purchase of this home and have enjoyed its blessing for many years now.

One of my favorite rooms here is the dining room.  We love to invite people {family members, friends, or acquaintances} over for a meal.  Our dining room has served well for hosting.  While this in itself is a great attribute, what makes it a favorite room for me is the sunlight which pours through the windows and the cool spring/autumn breezes which billow through the white sheers.

Another favorite spot in my home, for me, is the kitchen sink.  It overlooks our backyard which has lovely perennial flowers. 

Now that we moved our vegetable garden I can view it from this window, too.  This is the inside view while doing dishes...

Our home is close to scenic parks where we hike, fish, and play.

It was a beautiful, sunny day at the park on our Father's Day fishing trip.

~ Dorie

Next Week: Tell about your summertime backyard or neighborhood fun

Today, if you would like to share about your home, just write a post, or link to a past one. Please add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then add your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page.

Ready to link up? We'd love to get to get to know you better during these relaxing summer months.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 6

Welcome back for another week of Together on Tuesdays!  Today, we are sharing about our families, immediate or extended.  It is an open ended question which one can interpret anyway they like.  Really, all the topics are, which is something I really enjoy about link-ups.  Each person adds a bit of their own interpretation to the theme.  Which means sometimes I do something a bit different then the expected response as well.  I wrote this post a month or more ago, but when Annette and I set the themes for this link-up, I decided to save this post for today. 

{Since this post is just about our children and does not include my husband, I'd like to include a link to one introducing him.  He is my better half!  So, if you'd like to learn a little about him, click here.  I should also mention our pooch.  We have a whippet.  If you'd like to read a post about my dog, click here.}

 

My Childhood verses Their Childhood

I went to a public school.
My children have never been to a school, not even preschool.

I rode a school bus for 45 minutes each way.
My children have never been on a bus.

I lived near woods and farmland.
My children have lived in neighborhoods.

I never walked on a sidewalk unless we visited the city.
My children have a sidewalk right in front of our house.

I wore no helmet to ride a bike or skates.
My children have always worn a helmet.

I never paid for the fruit I picked. It was always a relatives tree or bush we picked from.
My children have only picked fruit at orchards.

I went to church sporadically growing up, but Sunday was always a day of rest.
My children know no other way to spend a Sunday then worshiping the Lord.

~ Dorie

Next Week: Share about your home, or the area where you live

Today, if you have a post about your family, that you would like to share just add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then enter your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page. This makes it much easier to find your post for the link-up.

Ready to link up? We'd love to get to get to know you better during these relaxing summer months.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 5

Welcome to another Together on Tuesday!  Thank you to all who have been participating by sharing your posts and/or thoughts in comments/emails. 

My sincere apologies for last week's limited responses from me.  We have been away, and the internet connection was intermittent at best.  Alas, we are now home, and I am wading through piles of laundry and mail. 

Meanwhile, another Tuesday has quickly appeared, and this week, Annette and I are sharing some of our summer plans, activities, and traditions.  Wanna join us?  Just add your link below.

Summertime has always been a time of relaxation, outdoor fun, and travel for our family.  Each May, we talk about our summertime plans.  Sometimes, we plan a few new things, but often it is the same list.  We have a few traditional favorites, which include: visiting the beach, going swimming, fishing, and attending VBS.  Other regular summertime activities include biking, hiking, and gardening. 

Each of our children are blessed to visit my parents for individual overnight visits, two of our older children spend a week away at camp, and our whole family spends a day with extended family at an amusement park.  

We aren't always able to take a family vacation during the summer.  However, for the past three years, we have spent a week at a Bible conference center being refreshed in God's Word and spending time with families from our church and elsewhere.  

When we learn about something new, we consider adding it to our summer days. So far, this year, we saw some beautiful lights in the public gardens and traveled to Washington, D.C. 

In the remaining days of summer, we hope to watch some of the Olympic games, travel to a water park, view the Dead Sea Scrolls, and watch some monster trucks.

Next Week: We will be sharing about our families.

Today, if you have any summer plans, activities, or traditions that you would like to share just write a post, or link to a past one. Please add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then add your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page. This makes it much easier to find your post for the link-up.

Ready to link up? We'd love to get to get to know you better during these relaxing summer months.

Together on Tuesdays - Week 4

Welcome back for another week of Together on Tuesdays!  Does anyone else think summer is going by too quickly? This is already our fourth week of this summertime link-up. Today, we are sharing some of our favorite places, either local or vacation.

Truly, our family is blessed to live in an area that is close to several major cities, tree covered mountains, a large bay, sandy ocean beaches, and farm dotted countryside.  We can hop in the car and make it to one of these areas for the day.  Although some trips will be a bit longer than others, they can still be done in one day.

One of our favorite places to go for a day trip is a nearby public garden.  The flowers are always gorgeous, and quite often there are unusual events.  Most importantly, it is definitely a great place to visit with family and friends!

Recently, we went toward evening time.  We didn't go for the beautiful blossoms, though we saw a bunch.

Instead, we went for the lights.  We have never seen anything like it!  Walking through the gardens at night, viewing amazing light displays of many hues, was something none of us will ever forget.  I'll let the pictures tell some of the story.  Though, I should add here that I was trying out a "Night Vision" setting on my camera, and all the pictures are in black and white.  {If I knew more about photography and my camera, I probably could tell you what that means.  However, I do not. Sincere apologies to anyone wondering what it all means.  All I can share is the pictures!}

Truly, it was spectacular!  Hopefully, you can see why it is one of my favorite places.  Another of our favorite places which I have shared in the past is found here. I won't ruin the surprise within the post, but the memory of it keeps my husband and I laughing. {Incidentally, it was the very first post I ever wrote!}

Next Week: Share your summer plans, activities, and/or traditions

Today, if you have a favorite place, local or vacation, that you would like to share just write a post, or link to a past one.  Please add a text link to either This Simple Home or These Grace Filled Days, and then add your post to the link-up below. Be sure to link your post and not your home page. This makes it much easier to find your post for the link-up.

Ready to link up? We'd love to get to get to know you better during these relaxing summer months.