The bounty of summer and approaching fall stirs up the taste buds for canning and my nephew in Atlanta, GA and his wife have inspired me get the jars, lids and spices out for dill pickles. Laura and I scrubbed, and sorted cucumbers, prepared jars, and mixed vinegar, garlic and dill into an aromatic brew. The memories of canning with my mother and with my kids come flooding back in fits of laughter spurts of reflection. The recipe for for these "Lilly's Dillys" has been passed down through the generations and still produces and variety of delighted expressions and requests for the secret ingredients.
The morning was not without some frustration as as half of the 14 plus jars did not seal, but in the end we had created a promise of good things ahead.

Children are a gift from the Lord and Otis Hamilton Laney is truly a beautiful illustration of that truth. After 30 hours of labor Otis was presented to the world and his adoring parents. John said, "Debbie was a champ." He weighed 7lbs 10 oz and was 18 inches long. Grandparents Ron and Carolyn and Aunt Anita agreed that he was the cutest and smartest baby born at the Naval Hospital that day. Otis home now bringing new sounds to the home on Wells Parkway and a delightful new playmate for Pabu. Well may not a playmate yet.

The sun was up on what promised to be a perfect fall day. I prayed this morning for our youngest son. David is a runner and has thrilled at the wind in his face and the burn in his lungs since elementary school. He loves the camaraderie of the team and the individual challenge of a personal best. My prayer this morning was not unlike many prayers I had prayed for him before on race day. I prayed for protection over the uneven terrain of a cross country course, for endurance to keep the pace and for wings on his feet at the finish. I prayed God would reward David's hard work and discipline, and his desire to honor God with his running. Now in college, David continues to be dedicated to God and his running. Hebrews 12:1 ". . .since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." has been his favorite verse since those early days.
On this day, the crowds are gathering at a beautiful park in Corvallis, Oregon. The runners are outfitted in their colorful team warm-ups and the fans are trying to keep warm and scouting the best places to view the race from. I continue to pray for David and his team as they line up at the start. I am bundled up in layers with a hat and mittens, the boys are stripping to shorts and singlet's. Every encumbrance must be laid aside, anything that entangles must be put off. "Lord, I pray, may David be sensitive to any sin in his life and confess it whenever and wherever it appears." The gun sounds and they are off. In the mass of runners it is hard to find David, but there he is in the lead pack. This is a new position for our son. We are used to cheering for him in the mid pack position, but today Lord you have enabled him to run stronger than before. You have honored his discipline. David not only holds on to that position, but consistently advances to second place over the grueling 8K course. Spectators are watching, cheering, aware of the pace of these front two athletes. I am praying for endurance, and screaming at the same time. The two are lost behind the trees for what seems like an eternity, then reappearing, we see only David, but the competition is not giving up yet. both boys pushing with every last ounce of strength.
Thank you Lord for this great day. Thank you for hearing and answering in this way today. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you that David has given you the honor and glory for this win.

I have just flown home after a wonderful week in Philadelphia. Arnon has grown from 6 lbs 9 oz to whopping 11 lbs in 7 weeks. He almost qualifies for the "Budah" or "Bubba" class.
Arnon and I had some wonderful time together. I had him all to myself for the crack of dawn shift from 5:00 until 7:00 give or take a half hour. The first days activities included a long walk to Germantown Road where we shopped and ate lunch. The next couple of days we did laundry and some cleaning as it was pouring rain. Sunday we drove to the Jersey shore and played in the sand and surf.
Arnon is featured here on the quilt that I made for him.

A New Star is Rising

Psalm 139:14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfull made. Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows well.

Arnon Tobia Peterson

Friday July 24, 2009

6lbs 9oz

19 1/2 inches long

all boy all beautiful

A gift from God

Elisabeth called home at 5:30 Friday morning concerned because her doctor did not feel Arnon should stay in his comfy home any longer. He was breach (an understatement as it turns out) and that all important amniotic fluid was quickly disappearing. After a brief trip home for essentials and to get one load of laundry started, Elisabeth was admitted and then waited for breakfast to digest. Arnon was born by c-section at 4:57 on Friday with daddy present and skilled physicians attending.

I, grandma, arrived about 11:00 pm Friday evening and there were some, due to the speed of the Internet and Face Book, that heard the news while I was still in the air.

The next three days were spent at the hospital (where Jed is a resident) totally absorbed in baby Arnon. Jed and arrived about 9:00 am and stayed until after 10:00 pm. He is a happy content baby, feeding well, alert and sleeping a little.

Elisabeth came home on Monday tired and happy. Sister Laura arrived on Monday afternoon as I was leaving.

Now comes the adjustment.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

For the last 4 days, Carl and I have been in San Antonio, Texas at Bible Study Fellowship Headquarters. Carl has been teaching the Gospel of John to about 90 teaching leaders who will be teaching their classes in the fall. What a great week it has been. We have seen Jesus, we have walked with Jesus. We have given Him our praise and thanksgiving and He has blessed us. My passion to know Him better and serve him more fully in the power of the Holy Spirit and for His glory has been ignited. I have been encouraged through His word, through prayer, and through quiet times of meditation.

More of this later.

A wonderful time was had by all as we celebrated Elisabeth's graduation from Temple Law School.

Randie and Mark Peterson, grandma Charlotte, and John and Debbie Laney along with Carl and I enjoyed four wonderful, full days in Philadelphia. We visited the world renown Longwood Gardens -- one of Pierre DuPont's Estates, as well as Eastern State Penitentiary, and Einstein Hospital where Jed works. We had lots of yummy food, including Elisabeth's home grown strawberries, and leisure conversations.