Friday, July 29, 2011

My Priceless Art Collection

I have a priceless art collection. Each piece was eagerly carried home in a backpack. A few never survived the trip. Those that managed to arrive safely were greeted with appreciation and safely tucked away.

Until last week...









when I decided it was time to display my priceless collection.

This corner of my home brings a smile to my face every time I pass by.


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A smack up the side of my head...


For the past two days I have been running around in a self-imposed tizzy. The "to-do" list that seemed so do-able in June, now seems impossible and frustrating. So many things to do before school starts.

For the record...my "tizzy fit" happens every summer.

This morning after rushing to Walmart, going through the crazy mental check list, and feeling overwhelmed, the Holy Spirit said to me.....

"Did you walk 3 miles to get water for your family?"

"Did you wash your family's laundry in a river yesterday?"

"Hmmm....someone really needs to get over herself."

My mental smack up the side of the head was well timed and deserved.



Monday, July 25, 2011

44 Trips around the Sun

Today I'm thinking about all the blessings that have filled my 44 years.


My family. I was fortunate to be born into a family of believers...good people who love the Lord and serve Him in their own humble way.

Bob. I prayed for a godly man and God answered.

Clay, Zach, Adam....my three blessings. I simply love being a mom.



Grace. Oh, the mistakes I have made and how thankful I am for second chances.

Forgiveness. Finally accepting true forgiveness and learning to let go of the shackles of fear, worry, and shame.

Peace. Sweet contentment. In good and bad times. Knowing that He holds me under His wing.


Today my heart is full. I am a child of God.

I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart,
I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
Psalm 9: 1-2
(The Message)




The Front Porch


My front porch... a place for family treasures, hand-me-downs, and thrift store bargains.


The rocking chairs were given to me as a college graduation gift. Bob bought one and our landlord bought the other one. The table is a hand-me-down from my mom. The cushions were a Goodwill find and then later covered with a thrifted fabric. I saw the bolt of fabric and left the store without it. Later that evening I regretted not buying the fabric. I gave my mom a call and she went back to the store for me. I think the entire bolt was $5.



The ladder is all that is left of a bunk bed Bob made for the boys. The gray birdhouse was made by Bob's Uncle Wayne. It has a Kansas car tag for a roof.

My mother-in-law made this mosaic ball. She used glass tiles to cover a bowling ball. It is gorgeous.
My $2.50 thrifted side table. It was in sad shape but a coat of apple green spray paint was all it needed.
The purple petunia was a Mother's Day gift from Adam.


This year I used flowers for my hanging baskets. I usually buy ferns. Ferns are much easier to grow. While I like the flowers, I do not like the baskets I used. I'm a lazy gardener and I need something that can handle not being watered every day. I'm going to have to rethink the flowers next year.

Now if the mosquitoes would just go away... I might be able to sit outside and enjoy the porch :)





Friday, July 22, 2011

Note to self....



Next year.....plant more zinnias :)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Dusting off the canner

It's that time of year when my trusty Ball Blue Books and hardworking pressure canner make an appearance.
Notice the bookmarked pages

On the agenda this week..... green beans (thanks to my local farmer's market).

2nd round of green beans on the stove

Chicken soup...hmmm....and maybe a round of taco soup. (Thanks to my Facebook canning group)

I'll make extra for the college boy to enjoy at his apartment. To help break up the monotony of ramen noodles...

And to finish up the week, our favorite applesauce. A little taste of summer on a cold winter's day is all the encouragement I need to break out the canner and get to work.



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Desoto Falls

Cooler temperatures visited us this weekend. For three days, we turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows.

A sweet and rare gift in the middle of July.

We took advantage of the weather and visited Desoto Falls.

It was a beautiful afternoon.


Monday, July 18, 2011

Making a difference or a point?

Sunday morning I listened to a message by Andy Stanley. The title of the message was The Separation of Church and Hate.

Pastor Stanley asks the question....

Am I making a difference or am I making a point?

My question to myself...

Have I deceived myself into believing the "differences" I am making are really just "points"?

Pastor Andy challenges a lot of stuff this Southern-Baptist gal grew up believing and for the past several years... has questioned.

Do I make a difference?

If I don't...

then...

what's the point?



Monday, July 11, 2011

Grow Baby Grow

Last year's garden was a complete failure. I had a few spindly tomato plants and a handful of green beans. Literally...a handful. There wasn't enough for one meal. I fed them to the chickens.

This year we built raised beds and filled them with soil conditioner. One load even had a horseshoe in it.

What a difference! These tomato plants are around 6 ft tall. It's a veritable jungle inside the fence.


This is ONE watermelon plant. It has spread all over the place and is now climbing the fence.


I have two melons that are this size and a ton of blooms. If they all mature before the first frost, I'll have enough melons to supply the entire neighborhood.

I did not take a picture of my green beans. For some reason, they will not grow in this garden. Just my luck....the one green vegetable that everyone in my family will actually eat and I can't grow it.

I guess the green beans are keeping me humble this year....






Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Celebrate!





This is how we celebrated 25 years together......

I don't think the pictures require any words...the smiles on our faces say it all.

Looking forward to the next 25 years.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July


Celebrate!

Enjoy the day.