jennifer, Author at Hopeful Homemaker

A Year of Habits, no. 23

June 13, 2011 jennifer Helpfulness of Habit

I’m typing this report from Newport Beach California where we’ve been for the weekend. Yesterday the memorial service was held for my remarkable grandpa who passed away a week ago today. It’s been what many funerals are: emotional ups and downs, memories shared, laughter, cousins playing together, relatives reconnecting and catching up on life’s experiences.

Naturally, we wouldn’t want to keep things too simple or run-of-the-mill, so on the first night we were here our youngest threw up all night long, with our 6th joining the party at 4 am. What does it say when you’ve exhausted the towel supply from two hotel rooms and are down at the front desk at 4 am asking for 10 clean towels to be delivered to your room? Number 6 was over it as quickly as it hit him, but our baby has been sick for 48 hours, only beginning to hold down even sips of fluids tonight… just in time for #5 to get sick. After several days of not sleeping well, we were counting on a good night’s rest tonight before tomorrow’s drive back. It looks like we’re in for an adventure.

I’ve been thinking about how sometimes when you try to do the right thing the Lord seems to whisk away the obstacles and provide a clear path to your destination. Other times it feels like he litters the way with big rocks, then helps you limp over them. Much as I wish and hope and occasionally pray for the clear path, our current stage in life seems to be way of the rocks. I guess God really isn’t interested in us being comfortable right now. I suppose he’s trying to strengthen our backs.

My Mom has always said something I believe to be wise. Life provides a lot of choices, many of which are difficult. But if you always err on the side of choosing people and not things, chances are that things will work out and you won’t regret your choices. We’ve tried to choose people this week. A lot of “things” have been disappointing, but the feeling of gathering with relatives to celebrate the life of a wonderful man (even if your baby throws up in the middle of the funeral) is great payment for all the headaches it took to get here.

And so tonight I close with a heart that is grateful for people who’ve touched my life in powerful and good ways. I am grateful to have known my Grandpa, grateful to have been here this weekend with my extended family, so grateful to belong to an awesome family.

Now we just need to get home and get back to work.

Jennifer

Garden Boxes

June 10, 2011 jennifer Gardening

We promised each of our children their own garden box. They can plant whatever they want in them. We want them to learn lessons about sowing and harvesting, about growing things and taking care of them.

The boxes are finished, filled and planted. Now we maintain and wait to see what happens.

It amused me when four of the children insisted on their own lavender plant.

My oldest daughter fell in love with some Calla lilies and planted those.

I’ve enjoyed watching them water their gardens while they wait for seeds to germinate. I took over our youngest’s garden box to plant several vegetables. I’m most excited about the tomatoes.

The experiment has begun.

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, by David McCullough

June 9, 2011 jennifer History

I have been waiting for this book to come out for more than two years. McCullough is, without doubt, my favorite contemporary historian. One of my all-time favorite biographies is his book John Adams , and his 1776 is the book I recommend to everyone who asks me where to start reading about the American Revolution. In fact, John Adams was also a favorite book with my Grandpa, who passed away this week. One of my dear memories of him is discussing that book together.

I’ve heard him speak about some of his discoveries while researching this project and can’t wait to dive in. I’ve finished one of my lavender books and have started on the other, and am two thirds of the way through another book on Lincoln, this one about the Gettysburg Address. (Why am I incapable of reading only one book at a time? I don’t know.) I think I’m going to have to insert The Greater Journey into the reading list next.

I met David McCullough briefly a couple of years ago and observing him left a lasting impression on me. I love the picture of him in Paris on the back cover:

Don’t you love it when your stack of books to read is tall?

Hopeful Homemaker