The Beauty of Quiet

I've had an empty nest for 8 years and I think I'm finally becoming accustomed to the quiet.  It's funny how this works, though.  While the children were little, quiet time was so precious because it was rare.  It didn't seem to matter how early I would get up in the morning, a little person somehow sensed that Mommy was up, therefore, let the day begin!  And by the time the kids were in bed at night, I was so exhausted that all I wanted to do was fall into bed myself.  In those days, quiet time seemed like such an unattainable dream, a fantasy.  But as the kids grew older and relationships developed, time spent with them was more enjoyable and conversations were enriching and interesting.  So I got used to having them around, until in just a blip of time on the radar screen, they were gone. 

It's very strange to be all alone in the house, wandering around, wondering what to do with myself.  There are lots of holes in time with nobody to talk to and nothing to do.  But as to everything, there are advantages to the quiet.  I've been noticing lately a lot of Bible verses that speak to this very topic and they have encouraged me to use these quiet years to deepen my relationship with the Lord.

One of my favorites is Zephaniah 3:17:  The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

God often speaks to his children in a still, quiet voice (1 Kings 19:12).  He does not push himself on us but it's his kindness that draws us to repentance (Romans 2:4).  It's difficult to hear God's voice when we're rushing here and there and distracted by the hurry, flurry and blurriness of life.  Jesus commended Mary for the choice she made to sit at Jesus' feet instead of worrying about preparing for company.  He told Martha:  "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." I wish I could remember those words when I am worried and upset about circumstances:  only one thing is needed - to sit at Jesus' feet.  Be still in his presence (Psalm 46:10), quiet myself like a weaned child (Psalm 131:2), rest in his presence, drink of his peace- beautiful pictures of peace that is available through knowing Him. 

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 116:7:  "Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."  Part of being at rest and having a peaceful heart is a result of being content with where I am in life.  My life is blessed and I have all I need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:2)

So now that I'm enjoying the peace and quiet of my life, how about spending 2 weeks of vacation with 5 grandchildren!  Oh yes, bring it on!  I'm ready for some fun and frivolity!

Please Touch & Chick-Fil-A

It seems like most of my blogging is about the grandkids, but other than going to work and working at home, which aren't necessarily interesting topics, what else is there?

This past Tuesday, Dawn and Kira drove with Andy and me over to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, meeting Amy and her 3 kids there.  What fun.  I had never been there.  It's a glorified play area for young children.

There's an area with water, a pretend hospital, a pretend grocery store, with lots of toys and ways to use the imagination.

Let's make music by walking on the piano.

 

 

After 2 hours of play, we ate lunch together.

PopPop making Katy laugh

Carousel rides and posing at the cut-outs.

What fun on our day off, then back to work the rest of the week.  On Friday, Chick-Fil-A was giving away dinners to people who dressed up as cows.  Andy and I were going to do it (after all, it was for a free meal), but we "chickened out."  However, we met Dawn, Tommy and Kira there and had dinner together.  Tommy and Dawn rode their tandem bike there and Kira was dressed in her cow costume.  She got a free dinner and so did Dawn who had taped black spots to her shirt, black ears to her own ears and a cow nose onto her nose.  It was pretty funny.  Unfortunately, she undid all the cow spots before I got my camera out.  But Kira was hamming it up, yelling out "moo" and enjoying the party.

So ends another exciting week in the life of Grammy, Poppop and grandkids.

Summer Time

I don't know how easy the livin' is, but summer brings all kinds of interesting activities.  It is a nice change from the routine of the rest of the year.  The 4th of July, for our family, usually means a picnic with my side of the family in Pennsylvania.  This year was no exception.  So on Wednesday, Andy and I made the 2 hour drive with a salad I had made to join all our kids and grandkids and all my brothers and sisters and their spouses, as well as my mother.  My aunt and one of my cousins also joined us.  We don't see each other very often so what a nice treat to all be together again.

There was lots of good food, scores of little kids, fun time with family members.

 
Three sisters

brothers-in-law

cousins and second cousins

 
daughters, moms, cousins, in-laws

Thanks to my brother, Sam and his wife, Julie for hosting the picnic every year.  And we're all happy to be there because they have a pool, especially when it's so hot as it was this year.  The pool is a big hit with everyone.

 

 Traditionally, we set off fireworks every year that Kerby buys for the enjoyment of all.  They are always a huge hit causing lots of ooh's and ahh's along with the booms and bangs!  I didn't attempt to take pictures of the fireworks show, but it lives on in my memory!

Of course, the fireworks can't be started till after dark, so by the time they were over and we were on our way home, it was quite late.  We didn't get to bed until midnight, then up the next day for work.  Needless to say, I was pretty tired the rest of the week.  But it was worth it.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little sleep in order to have a good time and make memories.

I invited Tommy and Dawn to come over for dinner on Friday evening.  They had bought a tandem bike and wanted an excuse to ride it to our house.  So I made barbeque chicken pizza - a favorite of everyone's.  Unfortunately, on their way over, they got a flat tire and Andy had to go pick them and the bike up in his truck.  After dinner, Dawn, Kira and I played outside on the swing set and the neighbors' trampoline while Andy and Tommy fixed the flat tire.

All fixed and ready to bike on home.

It's been soooo hot all week, but the forecast is calling for a break tomorrow.  I have been hibernating inside and will be glad to get out again.  As thankful as I am for air conditioning, I do long for the great outdoors to enjoy the summer, which in my mind is 80's weather with no humidity.  So far, although our grass is burning up, our flowers and bushes are still alive and seemingly thriving.  Andy and I are religiously watering them every day.  We're hoping to get rain soon, and as soon as it does, we'll need to mow the lawn to cut down all the weeds.  Somehow they keep growing even though the grass shrivels up.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.  Isaiah 40:8  The Word of God is as refreshing to our souls as the rain is to grass.  Let it rain, let it pour!  May we not wither and fall, but be fruitful in our walk with the Lord.