Here Today

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to God the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12-1;3

We are enjoying some lovely Fall days here at Hope Haven, although I have been spending lots of time in the house I still got to enjoy some of these lovely days.

I was asked by some one why my blog is called letters from Hope Haven? And I decided I might as well tell all you folks to since you might also wonder. We were married for a couple months and I always felt like our home needed a name.(what if we move and talk about this place, shouldn't it have its own personal name?) I kept spinning names @ in my head and 1 evening when the dusk was falling on our home the golden sun was setting in the West and all the Hopes and Dreams of the years to come were spinning in my head, the name Hope Haven came to mind I twirled it @ listening to it's ring and called to my husband," I found it"! "What''? he asked "the perfect name for our home, Hope Haven, what do you think"? and Hope Haven it has been from that day on.

If you would've dropped by our place a couple of days in early October you might have smelled the delicious aroma of tomatoes being cooked to make juice for the upcoming winter months to make soups on cold winter nights, or the smell of pizza sauce as it simmered on our burner stove on the front deck on a warm sunnny day. Canning deffinataly is work but so worth it. I finished my pizza sauce pretty late one evening and as I was outside taking the cans from the cold packing water millions of stars lit up the Heavens. Bright lights from inside the house made me look inside the kitchen window where I saw Matt holding Dominic at the kitchen table peace and joy engulfed me and I couldn't imagine any thing or any where I'd rather be then home with my little family.

I was also cleaning out some corners through Oct. I cleaned out our office closet and made room for a book shelf where I now keep my pantry items, my cupboards were messy and so unorganized with dishes and all my extra flours sugars condiments and just lots of things now, I have an organized closet/pantry which I am really enjoying and my kitchen cupboards are organized.

Another thing I'm kept busy with the last few weeks is preparing food for church, we are taking church at mom and dads place this Sunday, and then also serving supper in the evening for our youth. It is a lot of food to prepare but I think it is worth it having the youth sing after supper, what is a better way to spend a Sunday evening then singing and fellowship? I was making garlic rolls and frozen cheese cakes since those stay good in the freezer I wouldn't have to worry about those last of the week and could maybe help my week go a little smoother. I'm also gonna be serving white chicken chili, cheeseburger soup, salad and sheet cakes.

Dominic keeps growing and smiles a lot now it is so exciting when daddy comes home he smiles and coos like he's really trying to tell Matt some thing, not only does it do Matt good to see Dominic respond to him like that but it makes me so glad to see the excitement Dominic shows when he see's daddy. Having your very own baby that knows you and needs you is humbling and the greatest gift God could give you a child to love and cuddle, and yet people say there is no God.

Dominic also giggled a few times but giggling doesn't come easy, he has to be in just right mood or no way you can't get it out of him, another first happened just today, I had him lying on our bed on his back I stepped into the bathroom to put some thing away and when I came out he lay on his stomach. Oh boy no more lying him on the kitchen counter when I work in the kitchen.

It is so sad seeing the trees losing their beautiful colors and stand stripped from their bright eye catching splendor, they always remind me of sad cold people who are counting the days till spring waiting for joy to comes again.

Our big maple tree in the backyard is finally changing color I wondered if it was going to? Most of the trees have colored and are not as pretty any more, but yes finally it has decided to dress up and our back yard shines a beautiful shade of yellow. It amazes me when I think about nature who but a loving God could create and care for such beauty and majesty? Birds migrating south, animals storing food for winter, bears going into hibernation and the marvelous sunsets setting over golden fields of corn! the beauty of each day is a gift and although some days beauty and joy are hard to find just remind yourself, what's here today could be gone tomorrow each day is a gift and today will never come again choose joy and keep choosing it.

- Kristine-