update

Yesterday was so so busy. Cleaned like a mad woman in the morning...busy afternoon with errands and then a great time of fellowship at a Psalm Sing/ Goodbye party for some dear friends at church. This morning I am wiped out! But busy day ahead...Keepers at Home class this am (tennis this month, dh is teaching it) then a trip to Kings Mountain this afternoon Revolutionary War battlefield. More later....

help with layout

working in my layout again...can anyone tell me why I cannot put my archives and other things on the right side of my posts like I used to? I took down my backround from cutestblogontheblock thinking that was hindering, but cannot figure it out...any help would be appreciated!

I can choose my view

Anne has done it again...I love this article...She bought it for the view.

Moving to town was hard for Mama; everyone who’s lived in places where you witness the sun rising and setting over earth’s rim knows. You ache to watch sky come close to land and breathe green life into her. You still listen for gravel’s crackle under tires going down the lane.

Mama needed to still reach out and feel a bit of that country when she drove down her long lane, drove away in a dust cloud to town. So she bought on town’s hem, where the stitch of asphalt falls way to a long skirt of green grasses swaying.



Screws hold street numbers to the bricks over the garage door now and the mail slot next to the front door clangs open, shut, every day around two, but Mama still got to wash dishes overlooking Herefords grazing in the dappled shade of the willows, clumped close there where the river bends. Cars drove down her street, and sometimes she hears sirens blaring, but she eats mashed potatoes, meat and gravy, looking out at a singular white mare chewing slowly by the willows, tailing swatting flies, the woods fringing a field of leafy soybeans. Mama still felt the land, felt close to us, felt those soiled roots where she came from.

She hadn’t heard of the building permit till she had washed three weeks of meals at that sink. I was there the day the man who applied for the permit walked by, met her on the driveway, mentioned that he was going to build a shed behind her, cutting off that green skirt.

I stood in the doorway, leaned hard against the wall. Mama managed words, something about living 30 years on the farm and that view making the move to town manageable. Choked out that she wasn't sure she would have come if it weren’t for those fields comforting, calling.

“Money can’t buy a view.” Mr. Perkin shrugged his shoulders, turned toward the neighbor’s door and the next breaking of the news.

Wasn’t long before the neighbors passed a petition. Mama decided instead to bring cookies, flowers, to the elderly Mr.Perkin and his wife, offering her best wishes. She stayed while they showed her the plans, nodding, smiling.

She sat through the hearings at town council, and the appeal to the provincial level, the briefings of how Mr. Perkin could build in three other locations on his land at the other end of the street without interfering the view of any of the neighbors, how no other property owners had implement sheds for RVs on their lots, how Mr. Perkin had sold these lots twenty years ago with the promise he would never build behind the owners. Things change, and so does a man’s word.

The next door neighbors went west for weeks, right after the hammering began. Watching those stud walls slowly go up in front of the windows and brick up over land and trees and sky smothered. They beat a (temporary) escape.

I wasn’t expecting what I saw when I drove in sometime last week, came directly around the back of Mama’s house, wanting to see if any frayed green still clung.

Within steps of the property line, an eight foot grey fabric vapor barrier sheared off 30 feet of verdant life that just last week rolled from here down to the river and away the other side. The asphalt roof poked another 15 feet into the blue. I raised a hand, wanting to brush it all way, shake out leaves and blade and emeralds growing. I grieved for Mama.



I found her in the kitchen, at the sink. I don't have words, really. “Well, Mama...” She turns. “I’m sorry… I saw it, and I’m sorry. ” I’m searching her eyes.

Mama smiles, grabs my hand, and pulls me towards her and the kitchen window.

“See?” She’s beaming. I look out the window, confused. From in here, looking out the kitchen window, I don’t see a barricade clipping off life. The only view’s out on a blooming profusion of pink fuchsias.

She's giddy. “I can’t take away the shed. But I can choose my view!”



I lean in over the sink, closer to the glass, and try to figure this. “You stood on top of the deck railing? And leaned all the way over there to hang a hook? How did you get it into the overhang?” I crane trying to see better. “And then you balanced up there to hang that flower basket?” I can’t quite envision it.

Mama happily nods. Affirmative.

“Why look at a wall when I can choose flowers?” She laughs, radiant.

She’s right. And I’ve chosen walls. Do I count the times I have chosen to stare out at obstacles, chosen obstructions as my spiritual landscape? I have to ask: Why ? Why choose that soul view?

· Do I like fuming over things I can’t change?
· Do I like being sad, distraught?
· Do I like ugly vistas?

What if I went home and hung the true vine, the bright morning star, the radiance of God’s glory, in front of some unsightly walls I’ve been looking out on?

Looking out at Mama's profusion of blooms, I realize I have forgotten: I choose my own view.

The fuchsia erupts close to Mama’s window pane, little sparks of pink falling, lighting, and I remember.

I choose joy.

I choose Jesus.



For when I choose to “look full in his wonderful face… the things of this earth grow strangely dim in light of his glory and grace.”


Lord, remind me, that I choose my view. And cause me to choose You. "But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD..." Psalm 141:8

Photos: Mama's old view, new view, and the view she's chosen

A repost from the archives, July 2008

Forgiven Much-Loves Much

This sermon was so blessed by the Lord yesterday that I just had to post it here. I would encourage everyone that is able to listen to it. How thankful we should be to have the truth given to us.

beautiful music video

Slideshow of S's bday

I finished up a movie of S's birthday that was the beginning of June. Enjoy!

Wedding Video

A young couple in our church recently were married. Our Pastor officiated and many of our church members were present. My dad was the videographer. It was a blessed time indeed! Enjoy!

Sarah & Sam's Wedding from Mark Cochran on Vimeo.

cardboard post

My latest project this summer has to do with boxes. Yes, I dealt with a lot of boxes just a little over a year ago. Here they are again. No, we are not moving. Ground hasn’t even been broken over at SpringMeadows yet. But, I am conquering something that has needed to be conquered for awhile. The.School.Boxes.From.The.Attic.

A little history is in order here. As most of you know, I have a rich heritage of having been homeschooled. My mom’s homeschool career goes back..well, lest I date myself here, let’s just say…years. My parents were the pioneers in the covered wagons heading west. Well ok, I am exaggerating a bit. But, they truly were the pioneers in homeschooling, venturing out where very few had ventured before. My parents began teaching me when there was very little curriculum available. Then as time wore on, more and more possibilities and curriculum opened up.

Fast forward many years and my little brother came on the scene. My dear parents desired to give him the best classical education possible. So, in light of that, my mom collected item after item, book after book, resource after resource of materials. Fast forward many more years and many of these things have been bequeathed to me. Much of it is already being put to use in our home library, giving birth to hours of rich learning. But much has still remained in.the.attic. Yes folks, nearly 20 boxes worth of items. So, this brings us to the present. Yours truly ventured into the sauna of the attic last week and brought down (with the help of her two manly sons) box after box to be gone through.

So there you have it, folks. My current project. End of story.

Christ's Kisses

I listened to this sermon this afternoon by David Murray. By the end of the sermon tears were streaming down my face. This sermon will wash over you with the beauty of the kisses of our Jesus. I would encourage everyone that can to listen to it. He is altogether lovely...this IS my Beloved and this IS my Friend.

Meow!

Today was one of those days where the Lord has bends in the road that you did not know were in store for you. The day began similar to the last few mornings. I have boxes and boxes of homeschool books that I got down out of the attic that I need to eventually begin to work through. I also have a sewing project my neighbor asked me to do that I was going to work on at naptime. But, when my day got going I just felt like “doing something”—do you have those days? So, we decided to leave all the morning mess, load up the bikes and head over to SpringMeadows. We stopped on the way to pick up Stefanie and see if she wanted to come along. I threw food in a laundry basket with a quilt to have a picnic at our property. As I went to pick up Stef she had baby kittens that they were trying to get rid of, I asked if we could take 3 along to play with out at the land. Needless to say, they were a hit with the children and they had the best fun playing with them out at SpringMeadows. They played and played, we picnicked and took a walk to the creek down at the back of the property. We finally decided to make our way towards leaving by going over to see Randy over at their land. He is building their house as many of you know. The older four were delighted that I let them bike over there single file, with me driving the van behind. We then headed back to Stef’s. After much pleading Daddy consented by phone to getting 2 male kittens (no baby kittens in the future that way!). Stef came back home here for the afternoon with us with the intention of Joshua coming for dinner and picking her up. Well, the 8 of us (10 when you include our new kitten family members) arrived home to a house with NO electricity. We waited and waited and played with kittens (the two littles napped). Still no electricity. Daddy arrived home to find two little kittens dressed in doll clothes. We decided to take all our food and head back over to Stef’s place to have dinner over there instead. Right as we were driving out of the driveway…the power came back on! By now everyone is geared up to go to Josh and Stef’s so we headed over there anyways…with the Kitty’s again because we can’t just leave them at home alone. After a nice meal, fun time with our friends and the baby kittens again taking their leave of their siblings we piled back in the van to head home this evening. Now our two new members of the family have their little food and water bowls, some scrap t-shirts to sleep on and a litter pan in the kitchen. They get to enjoy inside life for a brief couple of days while they get used to us here…then they will begin life as outdoor kitten’s here at the E home. So there you have our day….

D's Birthday Slideshow

D's bday was in May and I am finally doing his slideshow. Enjoy!

W's bday

I am catching up a bit on slideshows with this one. This is W's 10th bday from back in March. My dad gave me a movie making lesson tonight, so I had fun playing with some special effects with this. Have fun watching!

Memorial Day 09 slideshow

Well, I finally am getting this slideshow up of our fun Memorial Day trip. We first went to Whitewater Falls then on to Rainbow Falls. It was a six mile round trip strenuous hike to get to the top of Rainbow Falls..but it was specatacular. I am sorry the pics do not even begin to do it justice. It was so huge, like Niagra Falls or something. The wind it was creating sent a large mist that blew over us in the most refreshing way. Gabe decided to get crazy and brace the elements. He climbed right down there and you will see that in the pictures. Travis and Anne Marie were with us, as well as the Avila family and my dad. It was a great day. Enjoy the slideshow. Grandma, maybe you could get over to Lou's to see it?

The Story of Ted E Bear

This is the story of Ted E Bear. Ted E Bear’s life begins way back in 1972 when his little misses was 6 months old. Yes, she were a youngin’ no bigger than a mite. But, she loved that little bear all right. From the moment that she opened that pretty wrapped gift, Ted E Bear was her beary special friend. Every night as she sucked her thumb she hugged that bear tight. He was the specialist things she had ever seen.

Fast forward a few years, that little girl now had gotten many teeth, and then lost a lot of them again. Her toothless grin still loved to suck that thumb and hug that bear as she drifted off to sleep. One of his eyes had fallen out, the music box had failed to play and worn spots were everywhere, but to her he was the specialist thing she had ever seen.

A few times over his lifetime he had gotten lost, much to the little girls dismay. Imagine the joy when TedE was found again. She would sniff him with great big whiff, loving the smell of this special friend.

Another several years have gone by. Now TedE bear is still there every night, and this girl turned woman still pulls him close as she turns out the light. But, she is dreaming of another companion that she will soon be taking trips to sleepyville with each night.

Their wedding day came and she was now given to another. Ted E Bear somehow showed up on the wedding night. “You didn’t think I’d miss your honeymoon?” was the sign that he wore. Next to a bottle of champagne. “NO COMPETITORS” said the dashing young man. And out TedE was booted where he spent the night out on the front porch. He was rescued by his maiden and packed back in with with stuff. But, now he was put on the shelf, to be kept for other children some day.

At their first anniversary, he mysteriously appeared again. But, much to his dismay the dashing young man had the same response…to the giggle of his ever loyal maiden.

Over many years the competition went on. TedE even survived and was rescued from the flood of 98. He was pulled out and placed on the shelf once again as the family made their home in SC.

Then it happened. One day just recently the ever loyal maiden took him down from the shelf and packed him in another bag. He was taken to a hotel where the couple were having a special overnight trip together…he was placed on the bed. And AGAIN “NO COMPETITORS!” This dashing (still young) man banished Ted E Bear..this time into a dark drawer of the hotel room. But, alas the next day TedE’s loyal maiden left the room to return to the family home. A week went by then two. Would this be the end? Finally one day the loyal maiden had a thought flit though her mind. She had not repacked TedE. Imagine the panic that raced through her young (yes young!) head. She called up the dashing young (yes young!) man nearly in tears. Where was TedE???

The dashing young man immediately took actions. He made the necessary calls to be told that TedE had been found! Imagine the delight of the loyal maiden when she heard that her dear TedE had been roaming the halls, swimming in the pool, enjoying the Jacuzzi and would be arriving via airmail in 2-3 days. The dashing young man had his moment when he could have banished him forever, but in that moment he brought back TedE for his loyal maiden and so she now can cry “My Hero!” In his words "TedE owes me a big one!" And when TedE arrives in the mail, he will still be ONE of the most specialist things she has ever seen.

The End

(P.S the picture is the closest I could find on the internet. Mine is actually a dark brown. I had to find this one under "vintage" ;0)

Happy Bday!

Happy Birthday to my dearest man! We watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang last night and I feel like I am married to that sweet dear lovable Caractacus Potts. We about came unglued last night when Potts came in and took the fireplace hood to use in the reconstruction of the car. That is just so S! My dear inventor husband is full of life and zest and everything the Lord brings into his life is such a joy to him! He loves his family and makes us zany funny songs to keep us feeling special. I love you, S...Happy Birthday!