Night with friends...

It was special to have our friends, Michael & Tammy, along with their cute kiddos, stop in last night on their way to AZ. Our kids remember them from 2 years ago & have heard plenty of stories & prayers for their family. We are blessed to count them as friends & had a great evening talking, laughing, sharing, and just being with them! We made home-made ice cream. The neighbor girl even showed up in time for the fun. ;) The best part is cleaning off the paddle. It's hard work, but someone's got to do it!


Phil & I have come to realize that our "baby" isn't a baby anymore. He'll be in Kindergarten this year & we miss (aspects of...) the toddler years. I would have loved to keep this cute lil' thing around & Abbie fell in love with him! She even took his picture & captured his silly smile...

Grace remembers Joanna from a couple of years ago. She is pen pals with an Amish girl & asked today how long it takes for letters to get to China. :)

Not there yet...

Anyone who has taken a trip with kids expects the familiar question, "Are we there yet?" It's the one question that is never satisfied. Until we arrive at our destination, there is discontent...because we're not there yet. As parents, we plan & pack activities, snacks, DVDs...anything to distract from the length of the trip or inconvenience in the traveling.

I realize that in my anticipation of the arrival, I often forget to enjoy the journey. It's true that being cooped up or confined by a seat belt isn't very fun, but we've made a lot memories as a family when we take the side road & enjoy a moment to stop to look around.

I've been thinking a lot lately about this journey of life. Sometimes I think the road I'm traveling is filled with pits & potholes. I don't enjoy the journey. I don't understand why there need to be detours or maintenance. Some days it isn't fun & I feel trapped. I want to escape & allow myself to be distracted by other things. I don't know where I'm going & why I'm even on this crazy trip in the first place. I just want to hurry up, get it over with, & get there all ready.

Unfortunately...I'm not the one driving. Though I'd like to think I am sometimes. But I'm in the passenger seat, and as much as I protest & try to fight it...my driver knows where He's going, and He is in control...not me. He knows the road ahead, and there's a reason we're going this way. Yes, it may take a while, and the road doesn't promise to be a smooth one, but He is there with me on the journey. He has promised to be with me always & to give me the grace to endure the journey ahead. Even better, He throws in some sight-seeing. A chance to see His greatness in action, an opportunity to revel in His love & mercy.

So, here I am. I don't really know what lies ahead, but I'm trusting the One who does. Now it's time to release my fingernails from the dashboard & enjoy the ride.

The "N" word?

There's a new family that moved in across the street. A dad & his two sons. My boys have loved playing baseball, riding bikes, and getting to know their new friends. Daniel was very serious last night when he came in for supper. "Mom, one of the boys does something that starts with an "N"...but I can't tell you." Um...yes, you need to tell me. He was quiet for a long time & it took some convincing, but he finally divulged. "That one boy doesn't ever wear his shirt!" So I asked the logical question, "Okay...but what is the "N" word that he says...or does?" With a look like "Duh, Mom!", Daniel replied, "I told you....he doesN't wear his shirt!"

Too much work to talk...

Lately Daniel has taken to abbreviating words. Who knows why? Maybe it takes too much effort or too much time to get those long words out, for a little boy who is constantly on the go. But what's more concerning is that we actually understand what he's saying, which only encourages him further! ;)

The other day he asked Phil, "Dad, can you put up the alum?"
Translation: "Dad, can you put up the aluminum ladder...so I can climb up to the tree house?"

And last night he asked, "Who made the zoo?"
Translation: "Who made the zucchini? I want more!"

Sweet labor...bad timing

I know I come up with my share of wild ideas, but believe it or not, this time it wasn't me who said, "the sand plums are looking really good this year...we should make jelly."

But it was me who loaded up my kids & laughed with my friend as we braved barbed wire, mosquitoes, & thorns to harvest these sweet little plums.
I have no idea how many pounds of fruit we brought home, but when we were done (after a full days work), we had 44 pints & 24 jelly jars to show for our labor. We stood back & took a moment to appreciate how beautiful & plentiful it all looked. And as we finished the final batch, we anticipated relaxing on the couch for a while...

...until my dear husband walked through my front door with this...

Don't ask me how many pounds are there; I don't care. Don't tell me how wonderful apricot jam tastes; I don't care. Don't remind me that these sweet things are being saved from a certain fate as compost; I really don't care. And don't tell me I'm having a bad attitude, because...I don't care.

I think my husband sensed my distain...and my grouchiness. He enlisted the help of all the kids to pit them & get them ready for cooking.

And truth be told, because I care about my husband...I will help him make apricot jelly.

Busy bees...

It's been a busy Saturday at our house. My m-i-l brought blackberries from her garden & we turned something nutritious & tart......into something completely unhealthy, but totally delicious! Abbie helped me make this recipe. I have to keep a close eye on her though.....she can get a little distracted & you never know what you might end up with! ;) But she's learning & is becoming a great cook already!


My little "worker bee" has been busy helping her daddy extract honey & has graduated to the position of "cutter". She cuts the cappings off both sides of the frame with a hot knife, before they are spun in the extractor. It doesn't seem that long ago that my sweet girl with her cute chubby cheeks was our "bucket watcher". How quickly time flies....

Sometimes my worker bees decide they'd rather be the "queen bee". This one got to bossing her brothers around so much & was telling everyone what to do...I thought she could use a does of "mothering". You may have the "right" to tell others what needs to happen, but there are plenty of other things (like ironing) that come along with that position! Aside from getting a little job training, it has helped to lessen the bossiness...for now! :)