Cool. August. Lake.

That may not be everyone's idea of a great time, but my heart sings over the combination.

Sleeping in. Knitting. Reading.

If I wasn't smiling before, I am now.

Listening to loons. Watching the changing colors in the evening sky. Hearing God's voice more clearly.

Now I'm really onto something.

Add on top of all this, a bit of kitchen fun.

Yes, this is refreshing.

I love preparing meals in this bare-bones kitchen.

Menu -

Kendra's Market Sandwich

Melon

Chips & Salsa

The makings of Kendra's Market Sandwich: Chewy sourdough bread, sliced tomato, pesto, smoked turkey. Other optional additions: Lettuce, cheese...

Now realize, this isn't made with any go-to-the-store-and-dump-things-in-your-cart ingredients. These ingredients are plain good. I'm not just talking about my sourdough bread, either, though I do confess to be a little partial there. Look at that tomato - bright red, juicy, fresh from the garden. For a zippy spread, "Deb's Corner Products" jalapeno pesto can't be beat. And smoked turkey - no paper thin pressed muck here! (I admit it. I am a bit of a fanatic over quality food.)

Hungry yet?

Help yourself.

Thank you, Kendra, for giving me the idea for this sandwich... and letting me have a nibble of your noon lunch.

Last week a three pound box of granola made its way from my small town post office in MN to Hope, ND. I was grateful that Maren had already laid the footwork for this endeavor by calculating postage to see what would be the best mode of shipment. What we learned: prepaid boxes aren't the best deal - unless you load them with something heavy and melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious. I'm thinking brownies might do the trick.

Fingerprints

I lay on the couch sandwiched between pillows and a quilt. A Kleenex box, hand sanitizer pump, books, and a tall glass of water are by my side. "Lord, you know best," I pray silently.

As I look at the circumstances that surround this cold, I see the fingerprints of God. These are not cruel fingerprints, but rather the loving pat of a Father's hand. Some of the pats are soft and gentle. Take the provision of time, for example. My plan had been to be baking full swing last week when I was starting to feel the drain of my cold. That is until, prior to any cold symptoms, I made the decision to stop my farmers' market season one week early. God's direction.

Another pat, this time a bit harder, is having a forced break. My body is in need of time to heal after an intense summer of baking, but there is no time for that right now. Or so I thought. God knew better and is showing me otherwise.

Now for the hardest, most firm pat. "I direct my life. I go where I want to go. I am invincible." Such statements would bring a scoffing laugh to my lips if I uttered them out loud. I know they are not true. Yet there are times I unconsciously believe them. That is when God stops me in my tracks.

Some will say, "You were worn down. You were exposed to a germ. You got sick. It is all very natural." Yes, that is true. But where did nature come from? I believe it came from God and is even now being directed by Him. Evidence? There is plenty of it, but in the end it comes down to faith. Isn't it also faith to believe there is no God? Doesn't it take an overwhelming amount of faith to believe this complex world just happened by random chance? I believe so.

"God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"

Acts 17:27-28

August 13, 2010 -- Pouring the main floor walls
Our cement crew returns.

The gravel road in front of our place became parking lot to the cement trucks waiting for their turn. Flashing thunderheads had us all a bit nervous. My sisters and I kept the cement crew up to date on what the radar showed while they worked as quickly as they could. Success!

One mishap - the foam blocks gave way in one spot causing a waterfall of cement to escape onto the floor. Once the wall was fixed the guys had a workout returning runaway cement to its proper home inside the wall.

August 19, 2010 -- Our first meal in the addition

September 3, 2010 -- Rafters!
Matt, our carpenter friend, at work.

Dad enjoying the view from his "captain's chair."

September 11, 2010 -- Shingles
Dad enjoyed helping the carpenters where he could.

September 15-17, 2010 -- Windows and interior walls
The carpenters return. Kay, Matt's wife, gave him a hand with the studs. In this picture: oven room (left), storage room (middle), coat closet (middle, back), basement stair (right).

Closing it in and sealing it up.

The monster window being assembled...

... and heaved into place.

We have a room!