Centerpiece

A few days ago I found this Swallowtail caterpillar on a walk. I placed it in a jar with some parsley and dill, a Swallowtail larva's favorite food.The next day I looked in on my caterpillar and was disappointed to see it curled dead at the bottom of the jar.

"Oh well," I thought. "It must have been too late in the year for this little guy to make it." For some reason, though, I left the caterpillar, lifeless, at the center of the table. Imagine my surprise a few days later to see a perfectly formed chrysalis at the bottom of the jar!

I was so excited, I began shouting to the children, to anyone who could hear, that "The caterpillar isn't dead after all! It formed a chrysalis!!! " Oliver said, "Well, Mom, you must have been expecting something to happen; otherwise, why would you have left a dead caterpillar as the centerpiece of our dining room table?"

Why? Was I hoping? Do I dare to think that I had hope, that I hadn't given up on life?
Why would I leave death to look upon? How could something dry and dead inspire? But that is the mystery for the Christian: death enfolds life. Just when life seems the most bleak, just when you're ready to curl up like that caterpillar at the bottom of the jar...there is victory in the wings.

You may be ready to call it quits. You may be wondering what it's all for. You may not know the reason for even your own existence. But God's plans for you and for your life are as alive as the caterpillar, lying limp and motionless, awaiting the miracle. Sometimes life breathes fullest in a grave of quiet, lungs heaving in solitude. All seems lost, but with each deep and painful breath God  works an amazing transformation that restores life.

Will you let Him do that? Will you have faith? Can you let what seems dead in your life remain the centerpiece, knowing that He is going to work a miracle far surpassing your expectations?

"However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'--" (1Corinthians 2:9)

"I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. " (Jeremiah 29:11)

Here and There

Look carefully...Do you see anything Hiding?


Do you remember our little friend from a few weeks back? I had brought him into the house, and he formed a chrysalis on the wall. Today he hatched and was released into the breezes of a mellow summer morning!


The lovely lady in the straw hat is my beautiful mother! She is a true lady; we all went to the lake for the day and Mom packed a tea party complete with scones and cucumber sandwiches. Yum!

And now, a little about the Children. Will was reading The Large and Growly Bear with his dinner tonight. He said "It might as well be me on this page because I know just how that bear feels!" I have a hard time believing that, considering Will never seems at a loss for something to do! Today he and a friend fixed one of our cars and changed the oil in it! Yesterday he was looking at the washing machine for me! Last night he drove by our house on the way to take a friend home. I happened to be outside and heard him honk the car horn as he passed by. I was touched. He was thinking of us! I can't believe he turned seventeen this month. Where has the time gone?

And here he is helping to load the hay on the wagon....

Here is John Paul showing off the delicious chicken he grilled on "Archie" (our new grill- we have a tradition, started by my brother-in-law, of naming our grills! )
John Paul is truly enjoying summer vacation. One of the boys' favorite pastimes is playing backyard baseball. They also swim at the river or the neighbor's pool almost every day! Here is John Paul, getting ready to make a home run!

Ben caught some big fish down at the river. Now he just has to learn how to clean and gut them...

Ben is almost done the baseball season!

Emily had the opportunity to see what it would have been like to have had to haul the water every day. She decided indoor plumbing is definitely a good thing! (and that folding laundry isn't so bad)...

Here is Emily with her cousin, Ella...

Mom and Dad came over this week and played poker with the kids. Oliver is definitely a poker player! Here is the gang playing...

Sam plays with Anna onthe slide. Sam is always ready to help with the little ones...
He and I have been reading a great book together, called Adrift. It is the true and harrowing account of a man stuck out at sea in a life raft for seventy-six days!

Mary Margaret gets lots of practice being a loving Momma!

She has been having a lot of fun this summer at the library programs.

Tommy had a great time at the Pioneer Village. Here he is on the ladder to the loft in the cabin.

Anna hiked all the way up the mountain!

And like a true mountain girl, she prefers bare feet!