So, today I had planned on us going to the park after dinner to play for awhile. Then the kids asked if we could eat at the park, and I was planning on salad, so I figured, why not? So I got the greens ready for the salad, threw on the fixings (sunflower seeds, feta, dressing, dried cranberries) and realized we were out of mandarin oranges. We know how to clean a pantry out of mandarin oranges in this family, let me tell you! :) Okay, no biggie- let me just get the chicken out of the fridge... wait... why is there a chicken carcass where there once was a barely touched fully roasted bird there before? My beloved had assumed that it since it was leftovers, it was fair game- not knowing I was saving it for something. Since he is such a great guy, I decided to forgive him (hee hee!), and set about trying to find an alternative protein source in addition to the cheese and sunflower seeds. Fruit salad! I make a mean fruit salad with yogurt (homemade- yum!)sauce. So I threw that together also, packed up the picnic basket, and we headed out.
Now, here's where it got really interesting... we arrived at the park and got everything out. I remarked to Nate that at least there was a breeze (it was over 90 degrees out), so that made it feel tolerable. Then we tried to set everything up. Tried being the operative word. Apparently the wind had decided to make it's presence known right then and there... as soon as I got something out of the basket, the wind tried to whip it away. Then we realized someone had put the cups in the wrong bag. So we had a big container of ice water with no way to drink it in 90+ heat. Well, I'll just dish up the fruit salad first- that will hold the plates down- right? Trying to dish up the green salad seemed dicey to me in the wind, so I was going to have everyone sit so they were blocking the wind before I did that. So I dished up the fruit salad and had the girls bring the plates to the table. Then a big gust came out of nowhere and flipped 2 of the plates over onto the table and seat. Then Hannah sat in one of the messes. Then another plate flipped as everyone scrambled to get the 2 plates that were flying away and got Katy and I spattered with fruit salad all over our legs. We're tough- we can take it, right? That was just a gust, let's get everyone situated and... a plate flipped right into poor Bekah Boo's face. Not only that, but as Nate and Katy were cleaning her up and I was packing everything up because we decided we were DONE with the wind, a certain young lady put down the last plate of fruit salad... guess where? Yep, right in front of Bekah and guess what happened? Needless to say, Bekah was on the receiving end of a wonderful, amazing, super bubbly bath right after we got home. I bet pineapple is good for your hair if you're blond, right? I know yogurt is... so she received spa treatment at the park and at home today. :)
Now I'm going to go to sleep...
Monday, June 18, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wild times here...
So, we have some exciting news... we are starting the process to adopt a young lady this summer, Lord willing. It needs to happen very quickly for her sake, so we are starting a special adoption blog where you can get updates. We are already seeing God work in amazing ways (we started praying about it last Saturday, and we already have so much support from our friends and family- we are grateful to you!!!) that I can't talk about yet. We have our first visit with our social worker on Tuesday, and we'll be able to give you more information after we've been able to get an official commitment to her from the agency we're working with.
In other news, we've also seen an amazing number of what could be considered negative things happen since we decided to pursue adoption. Our vacuum and riding mower have broken, and a few hours before we were going to tell our church about the adoption our barn caught fire and was destroyed (we had everyone over anyway and told them!), and the day before that the adorable and friendly kitten that had adopted us last fall was hit by a truck. We try to be sober minded and are not sensational in our beliefs, but we know we have an enemy and we know he does not want these children to be in Christian homes where they will be loved and cared for... and we have seen God repeatedly show His goodness and mercy to us.
Case in point: the fire. It was a "fluke" fire... Nate had burned some of the branches from the tree that had fallen on our car, and they were burnt down to embers- they weren't smoking anymore, and there wasn't any wind, just a breeze now and then. So he went to mow the lawn. Almost 2 hours later, the mower quit. It just stopped. He was on the opposite side of the house from the barn. He took off his ear protectors and walked around to the front of the house and heard crackling. Knowing that the fire was almost out the last time he saw it, he ran up to the barn in time to see flames start in the roof over the hayloft on the opposite side of the barn from the bonfire pit (bizarre!)! He ran in to call 911, the kids stayed in the house while we tried to get as much out as we could from the barn. After 5 minutes, 2 policemen showed up and started clearing things out with us. Within the next few minutes the flames and smoke were so bad we had to stop- and the fire trucks showed up! Praise God!!! The entire barn was engulfed in flames by that point, so I ran to get the kids and we went to the magnolia tree to wait it out. Thankfully, they were able to control it and get it out, in time for most of our guests to arrive! :) Everyone kept asking me if I was okay, and I really was! I know God had shut off the tractor just at the right time so Nate would catch the fire. If it had consumed the barn, it would have gotten the shed and then the house in 20 minutes or less, because Nate wouldn't have heard it and I was too busy running around to get things ready for our guests. When I took the kids to the magnolia tree, the first thing I prayed was for the fire not to burn the house. Not because I treasure the house (I do love it, but it's just a house), not because we wouldn't have anywhere to live (I've been in similar situations and God has always provided something for us), but because I knew that if the house burned down we would not be able to adopt this sweet young girl. And she has no one else. So I prayed fervently with the children as we watched the smoke rising into the air turn from black to grey to white and as those colors changed my prayers turned from pleas to protect the firefighters and the house to prayers of thankfulness and praise. He defeated the fire, and she will have a home!
In other news, we've also seen an amazing number of what could be considered negative things happen since we decided to pursue adoption. Our vacuum and riding mower have broken, and a few hours before we were going to tell our church about the adoption our barn caught fire and was destroyed (we had everyone over anyway and told them!), and the day before that the adorable and friendly kitten that had adopted us last fall was hit by a truck. We try to be sober minded and are not sensational in our beliefs, but we know we have an enemy and we know he does not want these children to be in Christian homes where they will be loved and cared for... and we have seen God repeatedly show His goodness and mercy to us.
Case in point: the fire. It was a "fluke" fire... Nate had burned some of the branches from the tree that had fallen on our car, and they were burnt down to embers- they weren't smoking anymore, and there wasn't any wind, just a breeze now and then. So he went to mow the lawn. Almost 2 hours later, the mower quit. It just stopped. He was on the opposite side of the house from the barn. He took off his ear protectors and walked around to the front of the house and heard crackling. Knowing that the fire was almost out the last time he saw it, he ran up to the barn in time to see flames start in the roof over the hayloft on the opposite side of the barn from the bonfire pit (bizarre!)! He ran in to call 911, the kids stayed in the house while we tried to get as much out as we could from the barn. After 5 minutes, 2 policemen showed up and started clearing things out with us. Within the next few minutes the flames and smoke were so bad we had to stop- and the fire trucks showed up! Praise God!!! The entire barn was engulfed in flames by that point, so I ran to get the kids and we went to the magnolia tree to wait it out. Thankfully, they were able to control it and get it out, in time for most of our guests to arrive! :) Everyone kept asking me if I was okay, and I really was! I know God had shut off the tractor just at the right time so Nate would catch the fire. If it had consumed the barn, it would have gotten the shed and then the house in 20 minutes or less, because Nate wouldn't have heard it and I was too busy running around to get things ready for our guests. When I took the kids to the magnolia tree, the first thing I prayed was for the fire not to burn the house. Not because I treasure the house (I do love it, but it's just a house), not because we wouldn't have anywhere to live (I've been in similar situations and God has always provided something for us), but because I knew that if the house burned down we would not be able to adopt this sweet young girl. And she has no one else. So I prayed fervently with the children as we watched the smoke rising into the air turn from black to grey to white and as those colors changed my prayers turned from pleas to protect the firefighters and the house to prayers of thankfulness and praise. He defeated the fire, and she will have a home!
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| The side of the barn that is still intact (ironically, the side that the burn pile is on...) |
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| Castor is buried under the apple and pear trees, where he always hung out with the kids |
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| Bleeding Hearts from our garden |
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| The south side of the barn- most of the plastic stuff we threw out of the way was melted by the heat (it was over 10 feet away!) |
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| The front of the barn looking into the side that caught fire (the barn was two stories tall) |
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| The heat melted the awning right off the camper, and all of the plastic parts on that side melted, too |
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| I found this while cleaning up- it survived! |
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Save an orphan and win big!!!
You can't go wrong with this amazing giveaway... there are some incredible prizes, but also the chance to help bring this sweet girl home to her forever family!!!! Go check it out now!!!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Multitude Mondays
Nothing amazing happening here... just the average everyday miracles :)
Lord, I don't deserve any of this- but I'm incredibly thankful for all of it!
44. raspberries blown by chubby cheeked babies
45. twitterpated birds everywhere
46. new ideas and beginnings
47. a hug from a friend
48. that 5 seconds before the room gets messy again
49. children that make the room messy
50. toddler ballerina dancing
51. four year old playing with trains while dressed in his Thomas conductor overalls
52. older girls to laugh and talk with
53. green everywhere
54. bulbs that I planted when Emily was 3 weeks old blossoming by our entry
55. enjoying the fellowship of the saints at church during our meal yesterday.
56. the consignment sale coming up on Saturday... I'm looking forward to a fun time with our oldest while we wait in line in the wee hours of the morning
57. getting the spring clothes out
58. experiencing new things with my best friend
59. clarification that brings understanding and acceptance
60. leftovers on a busy day
Lord, I don't deserve any of this- but I'm incredibly thankful for all of it!
44. raspberries blown by chubby cheeked babies
45. twitterpated birds everywhere
46. new ideas and beginnings
47. a hug from a friend
48. that 5 seconds before the room gets messy again
49. children that make the room messy
50. toddler ballerina dancing
51. four year old playing with trains while dressed in his Thomas conductor overalls
52. older girls to laugh and talk with
53. green everywhere
54. bulbs that I planted when Emily was 3 weeks old blossoming by our entry
55. enjoying the fellowship of the saints at church during our meal yesterday.
56. the consignment sale coming up on Saturday... I'm looking forward to a fun time with our oldest while we wait in line in the wee hours of the morning
57. getting the spring clothes out
58. experiencing new things with my best friend
59. clarification that brings understanding and acceptance
60. leftovers on a busy day
Come join us over at Ann's site- and if you haven't read her book yet, please do.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A little peace...
I was so blessed yesterday to have all day to get out in the beautiful weather (it's been 80+ here for the last few days!) and be amazed at what God has given us... we have a lot of work to do on the house and property, but we hope to be here for the rest of our lives, Lord willing. So we finally do not have to feel like we're rushing from one thing to the next... we're actually able to have long term goals for our home and just enjoy it as is for the time being while working towards them. I cannot tell you how much it impacts our stress level after working for 4 years to have our old house ready to sell (at all times!) to suddenly only having ourselves to please. I think there hasn't been a day yet where we don't say a prayer of thanks to the Lord for our home, and I still cannot even believe that we live here! Seeing the girls playing horses and ponies outside in the sun while Stephen is busy helping Nate with hauling wood (adorable!) and while I'm rocking Emily on the front porch swing after doing landscaping work... amazing!!!
These photos are actually from last month when we had springlike weather. I now have a computer (that I completely adore and am so thankful for!!!)... a gracious family from church had a couple of extra computers and gave me a Macbook that is so much more than I ever could have hoped for... God bless them! So now I hope to be able to update more often for you guys so you can see the house and children!
These photos are actually from last month when we had springlike weather. I now have a computer (that I completely adore and am so thankful for!!!)... a gracious family from church had a couple of extra computers and gave me a Macbook that is so much more than I ever could have hoped for... God bless them! So now I hope to be able to update more often for you guys so you can see the house and children!
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| Look at those cheeks! |
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| I didn't get any shots of Hannah outside because she was too busy running around playing horses on the other side of the house... so here she is inside! :) |
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| Castor likes to wind his way around and around your legs until you trip |
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| Poor Einstein! Her hair is so fluffy they were able to put a bow on her! :) |
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| All done! |
Monday, February 27, 2012
Multitude Mondays
From a thankful heart that deserves none of this...
29. blue skies after a gray day
30. Infant's Tyenol
31. napping toddlers
32. reading through Understood Betsy again with the children... will I ever make it through that story without tears?
33. beans and rice
34. a working van
35. pink cheeks after playing for hours outside
36. being reminded again by my 7 year old that God even knows when a sparrow falls
37. rainbow painted fingernails
38. buds on the trees
39. the unknown of what perennials/bulbs will come up in the spring (we moved here in July, so we have no idea!)
40. playful barn cats that make us giggle every day
41. a movie night with our 10 year old... and realizing that she has the same sense of humor that I do!
42. the Amish bulk store that recently opened near us- although I admit I'll miss the scenic half hour drive to my old favorite bulk stores, this is much nicer on the gas tank!
43. an amazing house to live/pray/love/laugh/talk/sing/teach/eat/play/dance/read in.
Come join us over at Ann's site- and if you haven't read her book yet, please do.
29. blue skies after a gray day
30. Infant's Tyenol
31. napping toddlers
32. reading through Understood Betsy again with the children... will I ever make it through that story without tears?
33. beans and rice
34. a working van
35. pink cheeks after playing for hours outside
36. being reminded again by my 7 year old that God even knows when a sparrow falls
37. rainbow painted fingernails
38. buds on the trees
39. the unknown of what perennials/bulbs will come up in the spring (we moved here in July, so we have no idea!)
40. playful barn cats that make us giggle every day
41. a movie night with our 10 year old... and realizing that she has the same sense of humor that I do!
42. the Amish bulk store that recently opened near us- although I admit I'll miss the scenic half hour drive to my old favorite bulk stores, this is much nicer on the gas tank!
43. an amazing house to live/pray/love/laugh/talk/sing/teach/eat/play/dance/read in.
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| Part of our school area in the addition |
Come join us over at Ann's site- and if you haven't read her book yet, please do.
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