Thinking about

:: Order and peace are really linked for me. I think this is at least a little true for all of us, but there's something especially strong in this slightly-OCD, craves-organization soul of mine that has a hard time obtaining peace when my world feels like chaos. I'm getting better at shrugging off the physical mess (good thing, since we've obviously taken up home remodeling as a permanent hobby), but I still stink at shrugging off the emotional mess. Sometimes I'm thankful for that, because the inability to just think about something else means that I find myself thinking about Jesus and His redemption a whole, whole lot. Sometimes it's not at all a good thing, because I know that even when I want to weep, I still need to be able to rejoice with others-- and that can often be the hardest thing of all.

:: Paint colors are swirling in my brain. Have I mentioned that we're repainting the kids' bedrooms while everything upstairs is torn apart? It seemed to make sense to do so, especially a few weeks ago when we first decided to go for it. And it will most definitely make sense in a few weeks when it's all finished and the dingy, 6-year-old paint job has been replaced with fresh, clean color. Right now, as we try to juggle a million different demands on our time, I'm not sure it makes a whole lot of sense to Daniel or I. That said, we both like painting so if we can just get through the prep work (why is that always the most time-consuming and unfun part???) and get to the painting, I think our present doubts will be completely forgotten.

:: The words, "Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations," have had a home on our dining room blackboard for the last several weeks. I usually change what's on there more often than this, but I just can't seem to erase these words. After all, that order and peace connection thing I mentioned earlier? Yeah. Verses like this help me to be reminded of His order, His reign, His complete and total Godness. There is incomparable peace in that.

:: Last week when I filled out IHIPs (Individualized Home Instruction Plan) for Gabriel and Bronwyn (I get one more year before I have to fill out paperwork for Jack), I went ahead and made all the final curriculum purchases for this coming school year. I also decided to reorganize every cupboard, cabinet, and bookshelf in the dining room, family room, and sitting room while I was at it. Now the materials are arriving in the mail and I have a neat place to put them all. This is the first year I've been this on the ball about the whole thing, and it's nice. That said, what I really wanted to say was that as I've been pulling book after book out of padded envelopes and boxes, I find myself freshly annoyed that we don't even get to claim these purchases as a tax deduction.

:: My vegetable garden has been yielding enough lettuce for fresh salad every night for the past week, more parsley than I know what to do with, plenty of basil, and our first zucchini and summer squash. The peas are looking awfully close to being ready and I've spotted the beginnings of eggplant, bell peppers, and jalapeno peppers. Carrots, sunflowers, mini pumpkins, cucumbers, and bush beans are all very promising. I am loving this.

:: For the first time, during the past month or so, Aubrey has seemed a bit lethargic and occasionally puffy, and her extremities are taking to looking a bit blue more often than usual. It's not severe-- she's still spunky and silly and talkative-- but we notice her hanging back from activities, laying down while others playing, sitting more than she's running, etc. We're praying lots for our girl, trusting that the One who has kept her will continue to do so, and she's on our local docs radar, for sure. We're also feeling the need for wisdom as we try to decide whether or not to seek out second opinions for her. We absolutely love the group of cardiologists she sees and we really do trust them, but it seems like it's just smart to have another set of eyes/opinions take a look at her. That said, taking a look at her isn't as simple as a one-time visit to another doctor in Boston or Philly, etc. The uniqueness of her condition would probably necessitate a series of visits and tests before another cardiologist would even want to give an opinion.

:: Enough rambling for now. I've got laundry to hang on the line, an entry way to seriously vacuum, a flower garden that needs to be weeded and watered, and grocery shopping to do.