Pumpkin Cottage: December 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

January Opens with Possibilities

^{Proverbs 16:16}

¹⁶How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

The world's largest tree.

Mr. Lee received grave news this weekend,
his cousin, Peter,
unexpectedly passed away.
It is the second time this month someone
of our own generation unexpectedly passes away.


The bark looks like a velvet painting.

At first it feels like a punch to the chest,
taking our breath away, dropping us to our
knees, and then in the
stillness there is quiet reflection.

Are we making the best use of
our God given talents?
Are we honoring and serving Him with
gratitude? What do we want our
children to remember? Is there anything
we have left unsaid, to each other or our
loved ones?

Majestic

As a couple, we already live each day
as if it were our last. Mr. Lee has
outlived most of his close friends. For me,
losing a sibling changed everything.

If you ever wonder how we find the
energy and time to do everything; it is
because we are running. Running to squeeze every
blessing out of each day. Attempting to ensure
no regrets, loving to the depth and heights of possibility.
We didn't plan it this way.

Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Best Friends Forever

In 2013, we made a concerted effort to slow
life down. Thank you for visiting, delighting us
with your comments, and sharing the joy.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas Eve Eve

The tree only has garland on it.
Our personalized Christmas cards arrive
tomorrow.
There are presents to mail to loved ones.

Pumpkin Cottage is dark this year without
twinkling lights and the banner still
has a basket of apples.

No matter it will come together.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Roadtrip Traditions

Renegade San Francisco, new venue still too small.
The Get Along could only muster walking one side
of the venue.

Packed in like sardines. Specksandkeepings
This booth had clothes to my liking Rebe by Debra Weiss
but I am too chubby and hunched.

Had to try anyway.

Lee's high school friends' band.

Best part was seeing Jessica and Todd.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Star Gazing

There are people who have money

and people who are rich. Coco Chanel

Sunday night's moon was a cinematographer's
dream. Bright with the floating clouds drifting.
Mr. Lee and I relish the night skies.
Filled with peace, wonder and gratitude.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Laguna Beach Winter Festival

The weather was crisp so close to the coast. Glowing rosy
cheeks and sparkles in the eyes of children. The coolness of the
ocean and the warmth of hot coco.
The flowing creative vibe was electric.
So much good will and contentment.

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Monday, December 16, 2013

Next Road Trip

December is my absolute favorite month.
It has everything: people are a bit nicer,
it's cool enough to bake (although it was 96 degrees in
Los Angeles yesterday), gifts to wrap, and sparkling
lights all over. A special dinner and memories of those
we love.

God gave us memories so we might have roses in December
and mothers forever.

James M. Barrie

My mother's roses continue to bloom in my garden.
The roses take my breath away with memories.
This is the first year since my mother's passing
where I feel a want to celebrate.

Christmas Tree Lane
Fresno, California

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco

Saturday, December 14, 2013

My Two Front Teeth

Don't drink and drive EVER.
Way back in the time machine.

Treasures from Vintage Marketplace

My very good friend, his girlfriend
and I met up to go to a party.
I had just finished my evening waitress shift.

We headed out, he drove his little
truck and I drove my first nearly
new car. Seventeen with the
world ahead of me.

What I didn't know was he
was under the influence.
He thought it might be funny
to play chicken on the road.
I didn't see the humor and
tried to slow down and then
speed up to get away.

He tapped my vehicle's front end,
I swerved into the center divider,
and totaled my vehicle.
Trauma to my face and chest.
At seventeen, I didn't understand
it good enough to have my life spared.

Fast forward, eventually my
jaw bone would deteriorate from
the trauma. Over the last two years,
I have had donor bone graphs,
three surgeries and finally implants.

Just received the final dental invoice.
Feeling guilty for spending so much
money when there were more important
things we needed.

For my birthday I am
going to try to let it go and feel
only gratitude for the bone donor and for
the amazing team who gave me my smile
back. Yes, all I wanted was my two front teeth.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Nightmare Feminist

The whole swirl (what I refer to
something needing flushing)
surrounding our First Lady
as a nightmare feminist.
Really, she seems like a woman with
her feet firmly planted in authenticity
with children and a husband.
With haters all around, she is dignified and brilliant.
The First couple is a reflection of their generation,
my generation.
May she, and her precious family, continually be blessed.

I am a feminist and come from a long line of strong women.

A parental grandmother widowed at 27 who started working
in the late 1920s to support her three small sons, all under the
age of 7. A maternal grandmother who survived a physically
abuse husband, single handedly raised 13 children to adulthood,
and raised, not less than, five grandchildren.

A mother who managed her household with an iron fist,
taught us to pray and attend church, held her head high in all
circumstances, and didn't take her husband's surname until
we immigrated to America.

In my mother's day only the rich women could
afford to pay the legal fees associated with changing their names.
These strong women probably didn't call themselves
feminist but they were. Feminism isn't about
being man-like but about having equal opportunity.

It isn't about working in or outside the home
but having choices. Feminist is about not
being beholden to any aggressor. It is about
building strong partnerships with our
spouses, and supporting families instead
of giving the importance of family lip service.

Feminism is about being able to hold property,
to vote, to drive, and to have control over our bodies.

This feminist is a wife and mother of four.
Working in and outside of the home. Serving
others, providing an example to young women.

I am the kind of women who DID not
cheat with other women's husbands, because
its wrong, because I love women and
would never hurt
another woman or her family.

I am domestic, partial to domestic arts of
all kinds.
As a feminist, I
love being a homemaker.
The neighborhood kids used
called me the fruit punch mom.
My full-time at home time was an
affordable blessing at the time but now
is a luxury.

I am the kind of woman who
reads the Bible and has
a personal relationship with
Jesus. I believe marriage is
a blessed institution for any two
consenting adults.

Feminist don't become spinsters
and may be happily single or married.

I am the feminist who
returned to work outside the
home and held two jobs
when my executive husband lost his job.

I am the kind of woman who
married an unemployed man
because he was wonderful
and not because of what he
could provide for me but for
what we could build together.

The First Lady is a dream
role model.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

In Gratitude

John 3:15

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life.

One of our childhood friends suffered
the passing of her brother
yesterday. It's never anyone awful
passing too soon or unexpectedly.
It's always the sweethearts
who probably felt too much, worked
too hard and died with their feelings buried
deep in their souls as not to burden others.

Uncle Joe and I always sit in awe of the families where both
parents and all the siblings are still alive. Maybe it's because
we sustained losses of a parent and a sibling too soon.
We are older and wiser and know the blessing of siblings
and parents.

We understand the loss and
mourn, not only this special man, but for his family,

Today, find gratitude for all the small things.
Call your mom and dad.
Mend fences with your siblings.
Tell them you love them.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Second Sunday in Advent

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters are seared with
scars.
Kahil Gibran

Outside of the Bible, Kahil Gibran
is where I turn when I am trying
to stretch my understanding.

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
Kahil Gibran

The Lord has blessed me beyond anything I deserve.
With the love of a life partner, four beautiful healthy
children, a roof over our heads, family and friends as
close as family, and jobs to provide. And yes, a chronic
painful disease, a disease which slows me down and
has filled me with compassion and gratitude.
Every day is a triumph. My children have grown up
putting on my socks, lifting things from the floor,
and walked slowly by my side.

During this holiday season let us focus on our
many blessings. Let us be reminded to lower
ourselves to our knees when the burden to
stand is too great. Reach out to the less
fortune among us who have not known
righteous loving parents, enough to eat,
are persecuted or alone, and those
who are sick.

In the second half of Job's life he
was blessed more than the former.

Job 42:15 NIV

Nowhere in all the land were there found women
as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father
granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

I often reflect on and feel comforted
by Job's suffering.
How things turned around and how
his suffering stretched his understanding.
How he was blessed with the most
beautiful (fine) daughters.

Khalil Gibran

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Khalil Gibran

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Khalil Gibran

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Khalil Gibran

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Khalil Gibran

Sunday, December 1, 2013

First Sunday in Advent

The tradition of counting down to Christmas.
Only 25 more days.

Our little advent calendar, finished last night
just in a Nick of time.
This was another assignment from
Amy Powers' Craft Happy,
online Big Picture Classes.