A cross stitch beyond time

April 16, 2012- on your birthday

My dear Mother,

It is a beautiful day today- the fourth birthday I think of you in eternity and yet celebrate your birth

here, born to be so many things to so many; to be my Mother and friend.

Today I want to tell you that I am learning a lesson you taught me years ago. I am learning to cross stitch, finishing the piece you began, carrying on your colors of green, pink and red.  I was not always so willing as a girl- impatient with the patience you showed me was needed to create such beauty, and so for years I did not sew. I did not cross stitch. But as the days and months to this date in 2012 have gathered and bloomed I see that your lesson of cross stitch is a lesson of love I will sew on all my life.  Cross stitch was to you a picture of the patient walk of faith, the trust that the colors jumbled on the back of the cloth would come out beautiful on the other side.  You showed me the lesson of the needle and thread every day of your beautiful life, but only now do I truly see and rejoice! You began this work during your illness and I was afraid to pick it up, to learn without you how to put the needle in, make an x and pull it out.  As you can see, I have a long way to go. But I am busy about it Mom, trusting as you did in a perfect Savior to create beauty that is this gift of life from the twisted threads on the back.  

Happy Birthday. I will love you forever, my dearest Mother and friend. 

Fun times

We've had some fun times around our house lately: Clara spends the majority of her time up on the bookshelf, inspecting the rafters (trying to catch the footprints she hears upstairs).

Silly cat

A new friend - the daughter of old friends- yeah for re-connection! 

Meredith had a special 2 Year Birthday Party on Saturday and we had so much
fun spending time with her and her parents!

Springtime

A small and timid visitor

Our cherry tree blooms 

The pansies are cheery this year!

Samuel having his Easter lunch in his Easter best

A Kleeman Family Portrait

The cook is tired out

We tried to squeeze Sam in this picture but he was too wiggly

An idea I want to make! Isn't it fun?

He is Risen!

He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed! 


John 20:18  "Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord".


1 Peter 3  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."


Romans 8: 8, 38


"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."




Praise His name!!!

A few happy pictures

We've been enjoying the beautiful weather around here, getting our porch up and 

running, planting some flowers and trying out our sunglasses. 

Fun times with Sammy

Sam prepares for summer

Freshly painted chairs and table and some pansies and ranunculus to
brighten the porch

This is the finished project! Yeah for a new chair!

Double Birthday Bash

March has been a whirl of birthdays so far- unfortunately we forgot to

take pictures of our Lebanon birthday celebration of Dad D and Adam's birthday bash last Sunday! It was a fun time all around! 

This past Sunday we celebrated again: Dad and Adam

Mark, Bec and Sammy had a splendid birthday meal

The birthday boy

The birthday cake - Sammy kept saying "More birthday"

He liked his cake

Present time

Supper by the Fire

This has been one of our favorite Wintertime traditions- supper by the fire. As
spring begins to make subtle appearances we've been savoring the end of winter
with lots of fires. 

Our new favorite salad: Orange Salad with Avocado and Shallot Vinaigrette


1 TB chopped shallot
3 TB olive oil
1 TB fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
fresh pepper to taste
2 large oranges
1 avocado
2 TB thinly sliced red onion (optional)
1 TB chopped italian parsley

Combine the first five ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk together, taste, and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Cut the peel away from the orange then slice in 1/4 '' rounds.  Arrange on two separate
plates, top with sliced avocado and onion (if using) Spoon a bit of the dressing on each plate. Top with fresh parsley
and serve immediately.