"My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." - Isaiah 32:18

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Home Sweet Home from Washington D.C.

Our family just returned home from a spring trip to Washington DC.

🌷🌷🌷

I do enjoy touring new places, but I am unashamedly a homebody, so arranging for a trip feels bittersweet to me.

It's fun to think about waking up in a new city, yet I don't want to leave my home.

The daily rhythms I am accustomed to provide so much comfort for me.

The hum of the dryer, the smell of the coffee ...

The sound of the furnace clicking on, and my children playing their piano pieces ...


Home sweet home is my respite from the world and a good friend to me.

But I packed some springtime clothes and said goodbye.

Before we left I Googled, What people wear to tour Washington DC, and found this adorable young lady in a pink skirt with a trench style coat.


This is not my photo, and I don't know who this is, but she looks like she's living her best life, breathing in the fragrance of the cherry blossoms around her.

I hadn't thought about packing my trench coat, but she inspired me, as you can see...



The cherry blossoms, daffodils, and tulips were in full bloom!





What a joy it was to walk around such a historic and fun city!


I was worried about how my hip would do with so much walking, but with public transportation and trolley tours, we managed just fine.

While there, we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.


I was glad to have the kids along to help us celebrate, and also to provide them with a cultural experience.

Having lived in the countryside all their lives, it was educational for them to learn how to navigate a large city and comfortably use the Metro system.

Yes, comfortably is the key word, haha... They became so accustomed to it they'd goof off!


What a memorable week it was.

 I plan to add more photos in another post, but for tonight I am reestablishing my home rhythms that I've missed.

It feels wonderful to be settling back in -

listening to the hum of the dryer and the piano playing...


~ Ahhhh ~

Home sweet home.


💐


~ Courtney 



Saturday, March 9, 2024

A Productive Saturday

 Micah took the kids to go visit a relative, and I decided to stay back to catch up on a few things at home.

I got all my errands in town done yesterday so I could enjoy an entire Saturday home alone with no where to go.

I put the day to good use!

I began with my typical Saturday chores, ticking them off my to-do list as I went...

Water houseplants  ✔

Dust and mop ✔

Clean bathrooms ✔

etc...

I felt inspired to do a few extra chores like wash all my pillowcases and bleach my kitchen sink.


Hip surgery has sure changed my perspective on things like housework.

I spent so many weeks in pain, unable to walk, bend, and work, that now I figure, hey! if I can do something comfortably, I will happily do it.

I thought about this as I pushed the vacuum over my living room carpet, grateful for a strong body again.


With my house clean and smelling fresh, I decided to tackle an Easter centerpiece next.

My vision was to highlight the birth, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is what I came up with...


I may switch out the tulips for Easter lilies, if I can find some closer to Easter. But these tulips are lovely here. They are actually the most realistic fakes I've ever seen. We have a very nice home decor shop close by that sells good quality pieces. I splurged on these beautiful, faux tulips.

The Mary, Jospeh, and baby Jesus sculpture is from my Christmas Nativity. I dug it out of its box in the attic with this centerpiece in mind. But I purchased the wooden cross and risen Christ figurine.

As I stood in the decorative crosses aisle at the store, contemplating all my options, I noticed that most of them were artsy and cute. But the cross wasn't pretty! It was an, "Old rugged cross," as the hymn says.

I was happy to have found this one. 

I propped it up in a little base that Roman had made a few years ago for his iPad to sit in while it charged. It holds this tall, heavy cross quite nicely.

An old family hymnal, opened to Easter songs like, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," completes my little project, and I am happy to leave it like this. 

Simple but meaningful.


Another project I was determined to complete this weekend was reorganizing my clothes closet.

In preparation for my recovery last fall, I stocked my closet with sweatpants, joggers, and fleece pullovers.

It was the perfect wardrobe to recover from surgery and go to physical therapy in, but now that I'm doing so much better and getting out and about more, I can't find anything to wear!

I packed away about 80% of the comfy attire, and pulled from storage my blouses, jeans, and a few skirts.


If you ever need ideas and inspiration for your clothes closet, I would recommend the book, The Chic Closet by Fiona Ferris. This easy, fun read always gets me in the mood to up my style game.


I feel good about my productive Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I love all your "likes" and comments. They motivate me to keep writing!


💐

~ Courtney 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Keeping Busy This Winter

 I'm still energized from a late night "out on the town" last night.

Roman and I went to see Les Miserables at a local theater with friends.

The teenagers sat together, and we mamas sat in the row behind them.


It was a little... ahem... expressive in spots. When the house lights came on at intermission we looked at each other, wide-eyed, and one mama said, "Racy!" Another said, "Do you think the kids caught on to any of that?" We all reassured each other that we were certain any suggestive implication went right over their heads. *wink 

I was nervous beforehand about how my hip would do, but was thrilled when the night was over and I realized I was comfortable the entire evening.

Getting back into these normal, pre-surgery activities comfortably is a huge relief for me!

It was a great night and a great show!


Back at home today we were too entranced with the bright sunshine and warmer air to be cooped up inside. So we finished our schoolwork quickly and drove down to our lovely, nearby park.

I've been wondering lately about the little stream that flows at the park. I hadn't been down there since last fall.

With this milder than normal winter, was it thawed and flowing? Was the water level low due to the small amount of snow we've received this season? Would there still be ice chunks and stagnant water in places?

We decided today was a good day to found out.

😎

I was looking forward to a peaceful amble along the water. As much as I am attached to my route on our own trails, sometimes I crave a change of scenery.


I was curious if the smell of earth could be detected in the air. You know, that glorious early spring smell of earth that smells like fresh, clean soil? I also wanted to listen to the birds. Unfortunately, the birdsong at the park was faint, and there was no fragrance. That was wishful thinking on my part. It is still technically winter. 


But on days like this the hope of spring can be sensed in the air, so I am grateful for that.


This past weekend was quite different - very windy and cold. Nola told me she was bored. She had used up her allotted "screen time," and the beads for a project she was working on had run out. I thought about the activities I busied myself with as a child on boring winter afternoons. I told both my girls that sometimes for fun I would look through my mother's magazines for a beautiful and inspiring photo,  then try to recreate it on a separate piece of paper. 

If my mother was throwing away old, used magazines, I would also like to sit by the fire with a scissors and cut out images to use later for various crafts. 

This seemed to appease them for a while. Elsa looked through an old magazine of mine; animals being the chosen theme. She tore a few pages out, then attempted to draw them all on a piece of sketch paper to make a zoo.

One thing led to another, as things like this tend to do, and the next thing we knew we were at Hobby Lobby looking at craft and art materials to keep the girls occupied for the rest of winter.

Thankfully, places like Hobby Lobby are inexpensive enough that the girls could each pick something out.

One selected a paint by numbers kit. The other a How-to-Draw notebook. A bracelet making kit was 50% off so we grabbed one of those, too, for them to share.

It's nice to have supplies on hand for down time in the winter months. They've been happily busy with these quiet, creative pursuits, and I'm happy they have something productive to turn to instead of screens.



💐


~ Courtney 



Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Cupid is Coming and a Nature Walk

 

I walked all the way to my swing for the first time since surgery!

We've been experiencing unseasonably mild temperatures lately and lost our snow, leaving a drab landscape. But the bright blue skies and warmer weather have been a delight!



My physical therapist recently gave me the green light to begin walking on my trails again, as long as I'm careful.

He advised me to not worry about walking fast or walking for too long, but to focus on walking well, going just a little farther each time.

Which is how I ended up comfortably at my swing.

Micah came with me to help me watch out for divots that might make me trip, and also to keep me company.

I have my range of motion back, and most of my strength has returned. The focus now is returning to my natural gait as I walk. It's important to me that I don't develop a limp as I heal, so with the help of PT and family members, (who will point out if I'm walking with a hitch) my current state in recovery is forcing myself to walk straight, balanced, and well. 

We went through the meadow on our way back to the house.



And while we're on the topic of walking, I'd like to provide updated information on something I recommended in a previous post... The virtual walking I watch on YouTube is a channel called Out and About Walking. 

I had just mentioned one of the episodes, but there are many to watch. I find them so uplifting and relaxing. 

💘💘💘

But the current project around here is preparing for our family's traditional Red Dinner in honor of St. Valentine.


Elsa helped me set the table, and Nola is making sugar heart cookies.





On the menu for our romantic dinner for six: 

Lasagna
Fresh salad with bright red tomato slices
Garlic toast
Fruit salad
Nola's cookies
Red fruit punch



The house cat fulfilling his duty as the family's gargoyle. 

(Or maybe he's just watching me hang a string of heart garland.) 

Either way, he amuses me.

😉



"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is how to love and be loved in return."



Cupid is coming! I'm off to get ready....

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

💐

~ Courtney 

Friday, February 9, 2024

Homeschooling in Hard Times

 Some have asked me how homeschooling has been during my recovery.


Of course, I started the school year as any homeschool mother does - with hope, a strong plan, and no thought of surgery on the horizon. 

But when recovery became difficult, I had to let good enough be good enough.


Years ago, when I first embarked on the homeschooling journey, I asked God to push me aside, to dwell in our home daily, and do a work in our family. I seemed to know I'd mess everything up if done in my own strength.

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." Philippians 1:6

With my measly efforts out of the way, I couldn't do much to hinder my children this school year. God has always been in control.

"In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them."  Exodus 15:13

With that being said, I still realize my role in it, aiming for excellence and faithfulness to the curriculum each day.

"Live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1

So when I had to back off to focus on recovery, I accepted offers from extended family to help keep the academic ball rolling, and trusted my children to step up.


I certainly felt as though we were hanging on by a thread some days, but now looking back I see that it was always more than good enough.

I am back in the saddle again, and am thankful to realize, as I sit with my children each day to guide them in their studies, that they are not behind. They were trucking right along throughout my recovery.

(Although, the homeschooling lifestyle does teach you that there's no such thing as ahead or behind.)

God knew last fall that I'd be getting this surgery, throwing a wrench in my well-crafted school plans for a short time. So I trust we are right where we are supposed to be.

I suspect, as rough as my recovery was some days, that it wasn't actually a hard time after all.

Just a brief season where God was doing something different than what we're used to.

" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8


💐


~ Courtney 


Please note: To keep the creative juices flowing, and to keep journaling a record for my family, I will be experimenting with shorter, more frequent posts on this blog.


Saturday, February 3, 2024

Getting Back to Normal Routines

 It's a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon here, and I just sat down for a "calculated rest." 


That's a term I just learned from my physical therapist recently, and I'm getting a lot of milage out of it. 

😉

He doesn't want me on my feet being too active just yet. Although I've been given the green light to slowly work back into my household routine.

My chores are getting easier, and I can feel my strength returning.

I am now 9 weeks post-op from my hip surgery and am doing quite well, as long as I'm careful.

I spent the morning doing some light housework, like catching up on laundry and watering houseplants. As I moved throughout the house with my watering can, I was struck by the look of disrepair in my front room.


At the start of each winter it always seems like a good idea to cover the couch with my electric blanket so it's ready to go for early morning Bible readings, afternoon rests, and for watching PBS specials in the evenings. 

It is cozy, but I'm tired of how messy it looks.

We're experiencing mild temperatures at the moment anyway. So I decided to put it away and tidy up.

I am so thankful I am physically able to do a task like this! Just as recent as a few weeks ago I wouldn't have attempted it.

It did open a small can of worms, however, and I found myself pleasantly distracted looking through some books.

I forgot I had a picture book of early American architecture...


And a book on William Morris' designs...


(Some of these "vintage" looks are coming back into fashion, you know, and I am here for it!)

After some dusting and straightening up, order to my front room has been restored.


Earlier this week I went for a short walk on the trails. A daily habit I had to give up since surgery, and I really missed it! I can't wait to build up the endurance to get back to my pre-surgery route.

For my first time back, I only walked through the orchard and to this spot behind the barn. 


I stood for a few minutes to listen to the birds, breathe the fresh air, and feel the sun on my face before turning back for home.

When I can't get out to walk, I enjoy taking a virtual walk by watching An Ethereal Morning Walk in a Dreamlike Cotswold Village on YouTube.

This always makes me want to move to England. It is just so charming and storybook-like.


Some wholesome soul... some hero of humanity decided to take it upon himself to video record the most pleasant walk.

He shows you all the enchanting cottages and gardens, takes you past the church, and even down into a little ravine with a stream of water.

I prop my phone up to watch as I go about my morning routine of getting dressed and making my bed. 

                 It's medicinal, I tell ya!


  Hoping you can enjoy some calculated rest this weekend.


              ~ Courtney 










Saturday, January 13, 2024

A Gentle Winter

 As I open my computer to begin a new post on this poorly neglected blog, Roman and Nola are in the kitchen engaged in a pancake-making competition.

They're taking turns at the stove, making batches to share with the family, while teasingly putting down each other's attempts.

Hot, delicious pancakes are being enjoyed by all, as a well-earned lunch, after spending the morning outside plowing and shoveling our way out of the snow.

We went to bed last night to a howling blizzard. But upon waking this morning I immediately noticed a serene silence had fallen around us.

I realized I hadn't heard the plow trucks out my bedroom window. A noise I am accustomed to waking up to on dark, winter mornings. 

I shuffled to the kitchen for my coffee, then settled down on the front room couch for my daily morning readings. The scene outside was still and quiet. The blizzard had left a deep covering of snow, even up over our picket fence in some spots. Are the plow trucks not running today? I couldn't help but wonder. That familiar sound of their long, hard scrape across the icy road had been missing.

But then I saw one pass by. Completely silent. Ah, I remembered. Snow creates silence. Sound waves get absorbed and trapped by fresh snow, making a tranquil winter atmosphere.


After a furious storm, that silence is just so enchanting.

The kids slowly awoke, and one by one made their way down the stairs. One of them pointed to a snow covered window and remarked, "Jack Frost paid us a visit! Look at his artwork." 

It's endearing to me that even as the kids grow older, they still seem to remember some of the whimsy and folklore I taught them when they were little.

But the cat couldn't engage in his morning bird-watching routine, so the frosty artwork wasn't appreciated by everyone.


On beautiful and gentle winter mornings like this I wish I could get outside for an invigorating nature walk, like I used to do. But I still am not well enough to trudge through hills and ice on our trails. I am only just recently and somewhat comfortably walking around the house.

 6 weeks post-op from my hip arthroscopy surgery (that I had on December 1st) has found me doing well enough to be at home performing small, short tasks, but I still cannot partake in much above or beyond that. Activities such as driving and shopping, for instance, I still cannot do.

But I am thankful that I am recovering, even if it seems to be at a snail's pace.

The first four weeks were the roughest, and quite frankly an experience I hope to never repeat. But I feel as though I turned the corner around the four-week mark. Part of what contributed to that, I believe, was the start of physical therapy. 

I'm fortunate to have been assigned an excellent therapist. He is knowledgable and encouraging. He pushes me but never hurts me. The exercises he's given me to do at home I take very seriously and perform them as best as I can. They make me feel great! Like all the soreness and stiffness from surgery is being stretched and worked out of my body.

There is an element of recovery that nobody talks about and I didn't know to expect... and that is the fact that surgery completely erases all strength and stamina. Even if my hip's not hurting, but I'm on my feet trying to work, I only have a few minutes before I am out of breath and need to sit down.

So not only do we have the surgical pain to heal from, there's also the endurance aspect that needs time to come back.

My therapist has been talking me through how to discern between good pain that will push me to recover, and bad pain that will injure me.

Making myself stand, walk, and do a little work here and there is good therapy, and I'm already noticing my strength returning.

Last night I actually set the table and cooked a nice dinner, just like I used to be able to do! And it felt like a great accomplishment! 


In between these bursts of movement and activity, I take plenty of breaks. I rest with good books and interesting documentaries. A lifestyle that would seem overly indulgent to a person who was 100%. But hip arthroscopy recovery is 3-6 months. I am dreaming and hoping to be digging around in my garden at full strength this spring, but until then I've accepted, and my family has as well, that this will have to be gentle winter for me.


Why does the cat always manage to find his way into my photos? Maybe it's because cats are connoisseurs of comfort and experts at the slow, gentle life.

😉


"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29


💐


~ Courtney