Quick Update

 

Only and Bandit

 Oldest's puppy, Bandit, is growing all too quickly and pouts each time Oldest walks out the door without him.  We actually don't allow him on the beds, but He was "bravely" trying to escape the cat.  Sissy! 

Sleeping easy!

After 21 yrs. of sleeping on the same mattress, I got found a treasure - a brand new, Sterns and Foster 5 Star Ultra Firm Mattress.  Want to take a guess what I paid??? Lower...  Lower... Lower!  Yes, this $3,500 mattress cost us a whopping $290!!!  I was downright giddy and now happily sleeping without waking up with aches and pains, and no more sleeping in the recliner!
                     

Fried Mozzarella from Pioneer Woman

 I love reading Ree Drummond (aka Pioneer Woman)'s blog when I get the chance - always so when I bought a signed copy copy of her latest book  makes me want to dig out my worn out cowboy boots, saddle up my horse, and move to a more rural way of life. Now if you think I'm losing it, growing up I really had cowboy boots (and used t
hem), milked a cow, had a few horses, helped plant more veggies than I like (okra and squash), and scooped more poop than I care to remember.  and bookmarked several to try. Watch out Family!

Oldest  is finishing up his first year as a Biology/Zoology major - hard stuff.  He confessed that he's been thinking of switching to youth ministry, but I told him the two choices are all related.  He continues to work at a Doggy Day Care, and recently started an internship at our church working with the youth.  It will be an interesting summer to see where God leads this young warrior. 

Potatoes are just tired!

Honey was so sweet two weeks ago and pulled the massive weeds in our flower beds.  I happily replaced those weeds with tomatoes, rosemary, parsley, and basil.  Our soil has so much clay, rocks, and and junk, that our only option for planting has been raised beds.  We've used the obvious space next to our house, but when I heard about using tires, I was game.  Jury is still out on if we'll get some potatoes this fall, but we're hopeful!  I plan on doing the same thing with my blueberry plants as well. I tried to talk him out of those two NASCAR truck tires sitting in our garage, but that was a NO! 

my aching knee

Long story short - April 5 was carrying and talking to baby (she's a cutie), didn't see the dog.  Dog now banned from kitchen, baby was unharmed.  Today is first day without crutches, but feel like I've been in a car wreck. Still horribly sore.  Doctor said today still much fluid in there, and was "thrilled" to hear I have arthritis in my knee.  I suspected this as it hurts each time there is a weather change.  He also said I have a cyst in there and sent the x-ray off for evaluation.  If swelling is still there next week, I'll have an MRI.  Thankful for all of Only's help with the little ones!

Photo by Adams Photography

Only graduates from high school later this month.  Not sure where time has gone, but she's amazing, just the way she is.  Planning on attending the university this fall with a focus on Psychology/Sociology.  She's had enough practice around here!  Sheesh!   So excited to see where God is going to take here in her Beautiful Life! 

Well, I need to head off to bed before I type something I have to blame my Ambien on.  Nite all!

The Accidental Gardener

1 Kings 17:6 (New American Standard Bible) The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. This morning, as I went out to water my plants, I was reminded of Elijah again. Not because we've experienced miracles, or turned bears onto our enemies, or raised anyone from the dead, but because of the birds of the air.

We love to watch the birds and see their personalities, their habits, their babies, their songs etc. When we first started putting out food for the birds and squirrel, we thought *Look how we're helping the birds*, little did we know how God would take a simple act to reroute our thinking.

I'm not sure when it happened - probably some early morning when God was watching our family or maybe He was just watching the birds. He probably used one of those annoying black birds - the crow or gackle or perhaps the cowbird. But an astonishing thing happened as I was out walking in our yard - I discovered that God (via the birds) had planted corn and sunflowers in our yard. Granted, we've not grown corn or sunflowers here before, so that is why He probably only let them plant just 3 (two stalks of corn and 1 sunflower). I've carefully watered, protected them (from the every ready hands of "I almost chopped the weeds down" Dave), and watched them grow in wonder.

We were excited at first to discover we had TWO ears of corn, but now we're up to 5 ears. Just enough for a meal or two. It was such a humble reminder in this day - when we're so consumsed with "By my self" and "Do it MY way" mentality, that God really is the one who is taking care of us. If I were just to just let go and let Him instead of thinking that I have to be in control, how many more wonders would we discover? Would my life be easier? I'm not sure, but I would probably wonder and worry over a whole lot less than I do now! What do I need to let go of and let Him handle? My health? My kids? My Marriage? Okay, how about my Life? Yep, I think that about sums it up!

Matthew 6:26 (New American Standard Bible) 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?