"Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable."
~David Augsburger

"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.  The best way to understand people is to listen to them."
~Ralph G. Nichols

We attended a lovely Saturday wedding of a dear lifelong friend of our youngest daughter.  As we watched the young couple glide across the dance floor, I watched as the groom stared lovingly at his beautiful new bride.  I thought to myself at the time, if he would ever ask me for some helpful advice on marriage, I would tell him to listen to his wife with his heart first, then his ears.  To listen, really listen to what she says.  I can't tell you what a gift it is to have a husband that listens in this way.  It is a special gift in my life.

"There is a lot of difference between listening and hearing."
~G.K. Chesterton

Jumping right in.  Facing the schedule of another new week, but...

 

 

... treasuring the memories of a very special set of weekend memoires.

 

The Pinewood Derby car, he built, with the skilled and patient help from his dad and paw paw.  Together they worked to build, paint, and decorate his car.

 

He won one some first prize finishes, and he was thrilled.

 

 

We tackled an easy (to me) task.  Tiny chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream in the middle, and then rolled in pink and yellow decorative sugars or sprinkles.

 

Serena, at the ... http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/ shared some cute ideas for ice cream and sprinkles.  You may want to visit her creative and interesting blog.

Our youngest granddaughter was thrilled to help with the "fun project".
And even happier to taste test it.  But, for her the best part was serving the platter of ice cream creations to her family after dinner.

For this growing little guy, he was so happy to be introduced to his first taste of mashed potatoes.

And yes, the pizza restaurant did welcome all of us, parents included, for an enjoyable, rare family time.

 

Nothing earthshattering from my part of the world.

Just some warm, fuzzy memories created by some extra special people.

 

Hope you hold some treasured weekend memories in your heart, too.

 

(the first picture was captured recently by my uncle)

 

 

"The future is not yet ours, perhaps it never may be.

 

  If it comes, it may come wholly different from what we have foreseen.

 

Let us shut our eyes, then, to that which God hides from us, and keeps

 

 in reserve in the treasure of His deep counsels.

Let us worship without seeing, let us be silent,

 

let us abide in His peace."

 

~Francois Fenelon

In the stillness and the beauty of this present moment...I will trust in my

God.

Wishing you peace this evening.

A few little jelly beans surrounding a softly lit pink candle, on an old crystal dish, sit on my kitchen counter this evening.

Two older tins that I pulled from my kitchen cupboard, and was ready to get rid of them.  But, I got an idea from a few pastel drawer pulls that I found in the dollar bins of the Michael's Store last week.

I asked my husband to drill two holes in the lids of the two tins.  He did use two shorter screws than the ones included in the packaged pulls, for these tins.

I spray painted the two colorful tins and lids, white.  Then I put the drawer pulls in the drilled hole and turned the screw tight.  I added two tags.  I did not spray the inside of the tins, as I will put a celephone bag in each one, and fill with cookies or mini muffins.  A fun and inexpensive way to give a hostess or anytime gift. 

I did see in this enlarged picture, that I need to touch up some of the paint on the tin.   When pictures are enlarged like these are, they certainly show every imperfection.

In cleaning out cupboards, I also found this picture of our three daughters at Easter, many years ago.

An old dish and jelly beans, recycled old tins, and  a treasured old picture...are just a little something from me tonight.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Wednesday's wonders...

...how it is possible to make the homemade strawberry rhubarb pie look like a work of art, at last night's "Girl's Night Out" dinner?

...how one can make a small thing like a carrot cake cupcake, look so irresistable, that one wants to eat every single one on the pretty plate?

...how God could have possibly created two little girls at one table, in such an adorable and heartwarming fashion?

 

...how one simple, gifted, colorful bouquet of fresh flowers, can so brighted my moments spent at my kitchen sink?

 

...how one deals with the deep disappointment found in seeing a rain storm this morning, instead of the much anticipated snowstorm?

...and how one plate on my kitchen shelf had the ability to remind me that it is okay that we didn't get snow, because Spring will soon be bringing it's own beauty?

Just a few things I wonder about today.

Thank you for stopping by.

Dear Mother,
I pulled out the crock filled with the jello molds this weekend.
I have not touched them for many years, in fact, I don't know if I ever used them since you bequeathed them to me.  As I lifted each one out of the crock, memories come flooding back, of how you used to make so many family dinners extra special with the bright colored jello molds you made and served on a big platter to your family, on holidays.  Since I had five little ones staying with us this weekend, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to attempt to copy what you did so often.  Afterall, what could be so difficult about making jello molds:)?

Bravely, I tackled the task.

Each child was given a bowl, and allowed to chose a flavor/color of jello. I carefully supervised each child as they followed the instructions. So far so good. I don't think a trip to Disney World would have excited them more:)

 

 

 Notice his older sister's hand gently guiding his.

I love seeing that!

 

 

The little blond tackled her job, taking it quite seriously. 

 

 

Then we poured the colored jello into each one of the molds.  Never mind that we added Christmas and Valentine molds to our mix.   Oh, and never mind that some spilled over into the tray.  We didn't care about that either.  Believe me, you have no idea the amount of patience and perseverance this took on my part.

Then, since there was more liquid jello than we had molds, I pulled out my fancy ice cube trays, and carefully these cavities were filled, with me stressing the importance of keeping each color separate.

 

 

Since outside temperatures were cold enough, we set the filled trays on the screened-in porch table.  Several times I would walk into my kitchen and this is the scene I would find...a chair pulled up to the window, watching through the mini-blings, waiting for the jello to get firm.  So cute!  Reminded me of watching and waiting for water to boil.

Interestingly, since this was her first jello making experience, she had no idea what she was watching for, she just knew it would happen and she did not want to miss it:) 

 

 

 

 

Here we placed all the ice cube trays filled with jello into one pretty glass bowl.

They were thrilled with the deigns they had created. 

 

 

Finally, we emptied each and every tin.  They were delighted with each "unmolding", even though I kept thinking, why didn't they look as pretty and firm as I remember mom's looking?

Somehow, she just made everything that came from her kitchen, look easy. 

 

It has been one day since our jello making episode, and with five little appetites, the jello is now only a memory.  To each of my sisters and sister-in-laws, you may borrow mom's tin molds whenever you wish.  Maybe you too, will be able to give your grands some bright colored memories.  As for me, I am tired.  I have a renewed appreciation for all the work that young parents put into the parenting role.  It is a huge, selfless job, and yet I would not trade the memories for anything.

Thank you for stopping by.

 

Can you guess what we will be doing this weekend? 

Their parents are celebrating their anniversary and well deserved time alone together.

Not a chance we will ever be the Von Trapp family,  but we do have fun...

...especially when he discovered that sound can be produced when one blows into the side of the harmonica:)

Concerts and then on to baking cake pops.  There was no problem finding eager volunteers to do some tasting when the chore was completed.  If you lived close by, we would  have shared some with you:

Wishing you an enjoyable weekend, with perhaps a little music and a cake pop for you too!