Community

I had not planned to write about this (I have my posts usually planned days, often weeks in advance) but I feel it is worth taking time to mention. Remember my beautiful friend Spring who recently released a CD?

Well I just got word that her family is trying to adopt a son from Haiti. It's amazing how much happened in the 3 days we were gone winter camping! Spring is using the money from her CD sales to fund that effort. You can read more here about their journey of faith and hope and you can contact her about buying a (wonderful) CD to support their efforts.

I am so humbled and encouraged by friends who endeavor to practice true religion which, according to James of the New Testament, is expressed as "pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress..."

Wow, that's some serious stuff.

One of my strategies for enjoying the rest of winter and getting more weekly exercise is to go for a walk with the kids 2 days a week. This is working with mixed success. We are getting more exercise and I am definitely feeling better. But the kids don't particularly enjoy these outings. Walking on sidewalks is not really their thing. Hiking for hours in the mountains is more their style. I don't blame them. I like that better also. So to motivate ourselves to get out the door we are walking places we need or want to go (I am driving less errands). One of the huge benefits of living in a urban neighborhood.

Recently I had to take Celine to an orthodontist consultation (trust me you don't want to know the estimate of services) which we couldn't walk to. But instead we took a walk from the orthodontist to the library and around the downtown neighborhood of our twin city across the river. Our last and unexpected stop, "can we go in mom, please??", on this walk was Orphan Annies, a well known local antique store.

We ventured in and after reminding the kids to walk carefully and not to touch we lost ourself in glass for the next 1/2 hour.

My art appreciative kids ohhed and ahhed over, well, everything. I was constantly coming to see all the treasures they found.

We hadn't intended to buy anything and certainly most items in that store are priced way out of our reach. But shortly before we left the kiddos found the marble jar, 5 for $1.00. So they each bought a few marbles, one of their favorite toys.

That day's walk had been very pleasant. If only all of our urban walks could be so mutually enjoyable.

*You might notice on some of my recent posts and in future ones that I am experimenting with a processed photo look, like the last photo in this set. No worries, I still like most of my photos to look true to life but I am having fun with the cross processing preset in the new version of Bibble 5, the photo software I use.

Brienne has a new friend, from her dance class, who has a lovely mother who can knit. We've had some playdates with Brienne's friend and her mother, enjoying a couple winter Friday afternoons together. When we met last week, R. (the friend's mother) gave Brienne a wonderful gift. A merino wool sweater she knit for her daughter but which her daughter couldn't wear because it wasn't comfortable on her skin. When our friends arrived at our house we were asked, "Would we like this sweater?"

Um, yes. We would love that sweater, thank you very much. Handknit and slightly felted it has a wonderfully warm and cozy tight knit and is perfectly purple, green and blue. I wish it fit me.

Having friends who knit and share is a real treat. And I have another surprise coming from this new friend of mine. Something I am bartering for soap. A little bit of blue and green for myself. To help keep my wrists warm. Can't wait to show you all.