Status report, some book logs

It has been a loooonnnnggg time since I posted anything!  This winter and spring has been crazy busy - mostly good busy, though.  Lots of fun stuff with the kids, our science co-op, all kinds of fellowships with friends, and the cabinet shop has been inundated with orders!  We also got to host a little guy from Safe Families for almost a month.  He is coming back out today for a few days to visit.  So excited!  In the meantime, though, here is a bit of status, hopefully I can update some reading logs, and maybe get a few pictures in as well.

Stole the questions for the Status Update from Kim at The Upward Call

Sitting:  in my big recliner, where I do most of my reading and studying.

Glad: that I got a bunch of cabinets ordered last night so I can chill this morning.

Thankful: to have a beautiful day, since we are driving over an hour each way to pick up our little Safe Families guy for a visit.

Re-evaluating: my plans for school this fall.

Looking ahead to: time on Saturday that I am going to make some jewelry.  The guys will all be gone at a Mens' Breakfast at church and I am going to sort my goodies and string some beads.  It has been way too long.

Feeling bad: for some of my friends who are going through some really tough times.  I know prayer is the most important thing we can do, but I wish there were some physical things I could do as well.  Sometimes there are, but most of the time it is too big.

Relieved: that Joe, who was droopy all yesterday and not feeling good last night, is up and back to his normal self today!

Happy: to be working on a new Bible study from Cruciform Press titled "Joy! A Bible Study On Philippians for Women" by Keri Folmer and reading "Ties That Bind" by one of my favorite authors, C.J. Darlington

Curious: about so many things.

Thinking: about how to mesh sports and homeschooling.

Proud: of my husband.  

Wondering: if it is too soon to start stressing out about our biology co-op next year.

Praising God: for this gorgeous day that I get to enjoy.

And now, onto some books....I really wish I could just cut and paste my logs from Goodreads...here is a link to my shelf of books I have read so far this year which I have creatively titled "2013 Log".  All my current reads are over to the right.  I have pretty much gotten away from writing reviews, just doing stars.  I know, I know.....

Other than that, not much to tell.  But, I will anyway, with just a few from the family album!

Ben at his 13th birthday party.  He had a dodgeball party.  The cake is Rubik's Cube themed.  He does not like having his picture taken, can you tell?

Joe, performing a science experiment

My Nevin.  

Henry showing us some Darth Maul moves with the double light saber his dad made for him.

Me and my mom at a ladies dinner at her church.  Yes, we are wearing paper hats.  Don't ask.

Group photo from our last airsoft war.  We usually do one in the fall and one in the spring.  

And the latest family portrait, from Mother's Day.  I think Nevin and I are starting to resemble Phil and Miss Kay, what do you think?  With our four boys, we could be some Robertsons in the making.  Tony especially plans to have a beard, as soon as physically possible.  

Tony's 15th birthday.  Me and my four men, plus Tony's buddy Caleb.  Caleb seems to show up in a lot of our pictures. 

And that is it!  Hopefully I won't wait four months to write again.  I need to update the pictures on the sidebar as well.  But not today.  Today I am going to go get the little guy!

Status Report, Book Log for November, etc.

Sitting…in my big recliner.

Drinking…coffee. Stevia in the Raw sweetener, and a touch of Coffeemate Caramel Machiatto.

Complaining…mentally about not complaining.  I had a big, silly, self-centered day of shopping planned.  I had gotten money for my birthday, and was going to just go and have a day of it.  Then one of my kids began throwing up last night.  So, I realize that scrapping my silly, self-centered plans for the day is not a big deal.  And I am not complaining.  But I would like to.  Does that make sense?

Realizing…that complaining about anything is a useless waste of time, and more importantly, is not pleasing to the Lord.

Convicted…that I should really be quiet and get over myself.  

Reading…nothing right now - though I have A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch on the table next to me.  I will probably start it today.  I get all excited when I am trying out a new author for the first time.  

Anticipating…going on a family road trip soon, as long as no one else starts barfing.

Listening…to the dryer on "fluff" now, as it is full of throw pillows from the sofa.  Where the barfer was sitting last night.  Just saying, you fill in the blanks.

Almost ready…for my science co-op tomorrow, which is a shame, because if the barfer is not 100% better in a few hours (and no one else is sick) I will be cancelling.

Wondering…if I am going to get sick, too.

Thankful…that my life is such that we can re-arrange for sickness, etc.  Thankful that we homeschool, and that our business is in our home, so I don't have the stress of having to be somewhere else.  Also thankful that as I get older I am learning to "go with the flow" more.  

Ready…for whatever the Lord brings my way today!

And now, since I read so few books last month, I might as well just pile these posts together!

November

A Duty to the Dead - Charles Todd - 4 (out of 5) - first in the Bess Crawford mystery series.  Bess is an English nurse serving in World War I.  While home recuperating from an injury, she takes a deathbed message from one of her patients to his family.  There she finds a mystery, an family secret surrounding a murder, and a few more suspicious deaths.  I would say that if you like the Laurie R. King "Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes" books you will probably enjoy this one as well. 

A Shilling For Candles - Josephine Tey -3 - this is only the second Tey that I have read. She wrote in the same time period as Agatha Christie, so her books have that sort of feel to them.  Lots of characters, at some points it was hard for me to keep track of who the minor players were.  

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis - 4 - a read aloud with my younger boys.  Always like Narnia, this is one of my favorites.

And that is it!  I picked up and put down lots of books, and really just had a hard time finishing anything.  I am blaming it on too much social media.

Saturday on the Homestead

It has been a very nice, very relaxed week.  Nevin has spent the last two weekends deer hunting.  This is the last weekend of rifle season, so he is gone for a few more days.  So far Ben got one during youth season, and Nevin got three last weekend.  Our freezers are filling up!  We did some processing this week, and for those who don't get all squeamish over fresh meat, here are picks from our activities!

Nevin and Ben, hard at work.  They cut up the meat out here, I package and label it inside.

Everyone gets in on the project.

I love having a full freezer, and I especially love that we have done it all ourselves.  Looking forward to some good eating this winter!

Can You Be Grateful All Month Long?

November is always the Thanksgiving month, the gratitude, the thankful month.  A whole month of gratitude?  We should certainly be grateful every single day for our blessings. But (always that "but") - how often do I find myself ungrateful, or grumbling, or complaining?  Any is too often.  Whatever is in the Believer's life is there because the Lord has allowed it.  All the Lord does is good.  He is sovereign, He is all-knowing.  For me, sinful and with extremely limited knowledge to complain or grumble about what he has given me is..well, it is ludicrous!

I just looked in my concordance for verses on thanks, thanksgiving, and all forms of blessings.  Way too many to list - that can be your project for today - look up a few of those verses and meditate on them!  It is going to be mine.

If we are to give thanks always, maybe focusing on it every day -through this little blog- could be a way to start.  To get in practice, as it were.

And I am already three days behind!

I can start off with gratitude to my Lord, Jesus Christ, for my salvation.  Here is a section of Psalm I read a few weeks ago that has plastered itself to my heart:
Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man.
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Psalm 107:17-22

That was me, dying and miserable in my sin, and the Lord reached down and softened this hard heart of stone, gave me a heart of flesh that I could have faith in Him.  He saved me, plain and simple.  Through no works of mine (so I can't boast!) but strictly by His mercy.

Day 2, for my wonderful family - Nevin and the guys.  I never dreamed of the life I would have, and some days I just wake up amazed at what the Lord has done.  This life is not perfect in the sense that the world uses - often the work is hard, the money is tight, and sometimes people just plain get on my nerves.  But, this is where God has put me, and even on days where I am struggling, I stop and realize that this blessing, this family, is so much more than I ever thought possible.


Monday was our 18th anniversary. Some years have been harder than others, but it has always been an adventure.  When I married Nevin I was one who never thought "outside the box".  I would have bought a newer house, with the income from my 8-5 job (where you got a regular paycheck with benefits), had 1.6 children, and done all the things you are just supposed to do.  Nevin not only thinks outside the box, I don't know if he'd recognize a box if he met it.  He was self-employed when I met him, and except for a brief foray into regular employment (because he knew I really wanted him to get a regular job, I think) he has always been.  He has gutted a very old house and made it our home, then he built this house in the middle of a forest.  He built a business, and then convinced me to leave my regular job and work with him.  Live in the forest, own a business, homeschool the kids, raise chickens, process your own deer meat....crazy, I know.  But here we are.  Anything is possible, and there are opportunities everywhere.  

He is deer hunting this weekend, so maybe absence makes the heart fonder!  But truly, I am so grateful for the husband God gave me, how he follows the Lord and leads us.

And for today.....grateful that I am almost done grading lab reports for my science co-op!  And so very grateful to see that they seem to be getting it, in spite of the somewhat haphazard instruction they are getting.

So, today, start practicing daily gratitude - let's do it together!  After a month, hopefully it will be instant and automatic!

Status Report for October

Copied from: Kim, at The Upward Call

Sitting:  at the coffee table with my laptop.

Thinking:  the boys better get up if they want breakfast before Bible study.

Sensing:  that I will have to get off the computer and go pull them out of bed.

Wondering:  if I can just mentally will them to get out of bed.

Debating:  whether to make Chicken Enchilada Casserole of Alice Springs Chicken for dinner tonight.  Both recipes come from Pinterest (note, below on your right, you can follow me there).  

Wishing:  someone would magically show up with dinner tonight.

Asking myself:  why I moved to the country where no one delivers.

Oh, yeah, this is why we moved.

Deciding:  to go with Alice Springs tonight, and make the casserole tonight for dinner tomorrow.  Glad that is settled.

Telling anyone who wants to know:  that I woke up this morning and did my individual Bible study and did (most of) my wii fit exercise, and I am ready to face the day.

Glad:  that my dvd of Richard Simmons Sweatin' to Disco (something like that) is supposed to arrive from Amazon today..

Perplexed: at why everyone doesn't like Richard Simmons.

Hoping: that the weather will be good this weekend for Rockport Baptist Church's Family Camp!

Counting on:  a good time of fellowship, no matter what the weather may bring.

Thanking God: for my husband and sons, our home, the beautiful weather outside my window today, plenty of food and overall good health, the opportunity to share in my sons' education today.

Looking forward:  to Family Camp!

Tasting:  my freshly brewed coffee, and already considering my breakfast options!

Field Trip!

Not that anyone but me gets excited about this stuff, but I thought I'd share some pics from our field trip yesterday.  We went to The St. Louis Zoo for the day.  We hadn't been in a few years.  The St. Louis Zoo is world-class, and did you know it is FREE????  That is right.  You can park somewhere in Forest Park and walk on in.  You can pay for extras, like food, the train, some of the shows....but you don't have to.  You can even pay $15 to park, but I wonder why anyone would.  We parked about 1/4 mile away, if that, in the Art Museum parking lot.

As it was getting warm, I did suggest we go to the (air-conditioned!) Art Museum instead, but was loudly voted down.

I did not take many pictures of the kids - actually, only a few of Joe and Henry.  Mainly, I photographed the Zoo residents.

Henry really enjoyed watching the sea lions being fed.

There is a cool insect museum, and a small butterfly house you walk through.  Imagine being in an overgrown garden, with butterflies all around.

Look, it is Capyboppy!

I don't recall this fellows' name, Cotton Top something or other.  He is only about 8" tall.  Joe was fascinated by him.

Seal at lunch

Seal and sea lions at lunch

Hippo

Joe posing by the Childrens' Zoo

Some sort of Lemur

Lion.  Note the females on the rocks to the right.  Usually I don't get to see the lions, they tend to be inside when we are there.

Meerkat showing off.

Probably my favorite is the Penguin Exhibit.  Besides it being very chilly (nice, when it is 92 degrees outside) you can get up close to them.  If no one had been looking, I bet I could have touched a few.

Don't the Zebras sort of look like an optical illusion?

Next week school starts back up here - I wanted one more day of just fun before we got back to our routines.  And I am logging it as science!

Sunday Morning on the Homestead

Only 6:30, so everyone else is still asleep.  I think this qualifies as a "stream of consciousness" post.

Last week was very productive - spent a couple of days cleaning out and organizing the office/schoolroom.  We don't actually do much of our schoolwork in there, but it is where everything is stored, and we have desks and a nice big island top.  It is good for the older boys to have a place that is quiet to do some of their work.  When we built the shop here it also became the office, so a big chunk of the space is devoted to desk area for Nevin, room for job files and bid files, office supplies, etc.  Last year it was sort of a mess.  This year, I think we can do better, now that I have an idea of what our needs are.

Last year was a "finding our way" year - with Nevin working from home, us having the huge commitment of the science co-op here, having joined a new church and getting involved in the lives of people there, and Nevin becoming involved in ministry there.  Now, I feel like we have a good idea of what the "flow" of our day can be, and we have eliminated a lot of outside activities and "running".

Simplify, simplify!  We had already been looking at ways to be more intentional and focused on our family and on God's calling to raise these boys.  And then this diabetes thing shows up and now I really do HAVE to stop and take the time and care for myself.  I HAVE to fit in time to exercise, to check my blood, to plan meals, to get pedicures.....okay, no one told me that specifically, but foot problems is a HUGE issue for diabetics.  Diabetics should check their feet every day, any dark spots or cuts with pus are a trip to the doctor, and pronto.

I am not a diva about this stuff, I checked with the cosmetology school in town.  The students do the work, under supervision, and you can get a pedicure for $10, and toss in a manicure for another $5.  Cannot pass that up!

While I am on the topic of being frugal, I found another great deal.  At St. Louis Community College at Forest Park there is a dental hygienist program 

that needs teeth to clean.  We have not had dental insurance since I left my office job in 1999.  Consequently, for me to take the boys and myself for a basic checkup, cleaning and x-rays once a year is in the neighborhood of $700.  That was not a typo, for those of you who have insurance and no idea of what things really cost!  Still, the $700 is cheaper than any dental insurance we can find.  But, if we have the dental hygiene students do the work, all five of us can get it done for.......maximum $115.  Total.  For all five.  An added benefit is that it is next door to the St. Louis Zoo. So, this Thursday we are going to the Zoo, and then I go for the consultation.  A drawback is that we do have to make two trips, once to meet with the student who will plan our work.  The student will then get a "team" of other students together to take care of us and schedule an appointment.  So, we get to make two trips to the City, but I will plan some other outing for the day we go back.  I was explaining the process to Nevin and grumbled a little about having to use gas for two trips to St. Louis (it is about a 45 minute drive to the College) and he noted that I won't be using $600 worth of gas, so it is well worth it.

I met with my Educator from Kick Diabetes St. Louis again yesterday.  Joan is great, I am learning so much. When dealing with any kind of  "chronic condition" - knowledge is power!  Yesterday we talked about food,    reading nutrition labels, making good choices, what were some of my pitfalls (church fellowships!).  I have been humbled in this.  I always think I know so much, and having had gestational diabetes three times AND having been in Weight Watchers I just know all about it.  Not so, and I learned more about how fiber plays into counting carbs, how to deal with the "food police" who want to watch what you eat (and comment on it!) in a kind way (educated them, don't berate them!).  Here is a Diabetes Etiquette Card for those who don't have diabetes - very nice!  I remember reading something like this in college, when working on a paper about the Americans With Disabilities Act, on how to treat someone in a wheelchair.  It was very eye-opening.

Well, lots more going on here, more decisions about simplifying our life, just celebrated "my baby" Henry's 8th birthday Friday night (of course there are pictures!) but it is time to get moving and get breakfast going.  Have to get everyone out of bed and ready for church and then off to our annual church picnic!

You have a wonderful day, out there!

Thankful Thursday

A little late in the day, but that just gives me more to be thankful for.

Last night we went to our small group - we call them "C-groups" for "community".  I am thankful for the time of praise, of sharing what the Lord has showed us in His word this week, of study (Proverbs 9), and of prayer and singing.

Today I am also thankful for this tasty recipe I found on Pinterest.  Yummy treats, no sugar added!

I am thankful that I got to go to the grocery store, that I have access to all kinds of good food.  Sooo thankful we have an Aldi, too!  I buy the bulk of my groceries there, but needed a few things from Wal-Mart today, too.

Thankful for a windowsill full of tomatoes ripening (if I leave them on the vine too long the critters get them), for plenty of work for our shop, for all my school curriculum bought for the upcoming year, and for a day at home to FINALLY get some real work done around here!

I am thankful my glucose numbers are going down, down, down - a whole week of not going out to eat, counting carbs and exercising each day is starting to pay off.  Thankful that I get to meet with the diabetes educator this Saturday.

Thankful all my guys are healthy, everyone is doing well....thankful for all the Lord has blessed us with, and thankful beyond measure that He saved me, my husband and my two older boys, and praying for His mercy that my two younger boys will also be saved.

Thankful watching my 14 year old, 6'1" son eating pizza and watching ESPN and knowing that he turned out normal EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HOMESCHOOLED.

Yeah Buddy!

Tuesday Morning on the Homestead

It is so nice - two days in a row I could get up and open the doors to the breeze- and have there actually BE a breeze, not just rolls of heat like an oven full of biscuits!  Praising God for the cooler weather, and especially for the rain we got over the weekend.  My poor, dead yard is starting to come to life again.

Today is (hopefully!) going to be a quiet day at home.  I have laundry to do, things to clean, and need to scoot out and vote this afternoon.  If you have elections in your area, don't forget to vote!  It is a great privilege, one not to be taken for granted.

Yesterday I allowed myself to "stress" - I gave the doctor until 1:30, then I called to check on my test results.  The nurse said that they had them, and that the doctor would call me that afternoon.

Guess who did not get a phone call......and my doctor is leaving today and will be gone (out of the country, I believe) for the rest of this week and all next week.  Hopefully, the other doctor in his practice is picking up the slack and will call me.  On top of just wanting to KNOW, and wanting to PLAN the next stage of my "life with diabetes" (meds, no meds, diet, what???) I need a diagnosis and some of the test results to get scheduled with the KICK Diabetes program. So, basically, I am waiting.....and I hate waiting.  I want to get information, form a plan, and proceed with said plan in a timely fashion- usually in the form of a checklist.

Yesterday I was texting all this angst to my friend Faith.  Here her response to my cries of agony,
"Be still and know that He is GOD, He works all things in His time, trust.  I love you!"

To which I responded,
"I am trying.  I hate having to depend on other people.:

And her sage words,
"You don't.  Just Christ teaching you patience and contentment."

Be still, be patient, be content, wait upon the Lord's timing......I was praying on the treadmill today for God to give me peace.  This is not that big of a deal.  Lots of people have MUCH bigger issues going on right now.  But what I managed to do to myself yesterday was eat a little extra snack and a little less veggie and stress, which raises blood sugars.  So this morning I hop off the treadmill and see that my fasting number is 11 higher than yesterday, and I weigh .2 lbs more (I know I should not weigh every day, but watching the number go down the past two weeks has been nice).  Physical response to spiritual malady.

So....to take my mind off it, I will keep busy, and share a few pictures from our vacation last week.  We were so busy this whole trip that I didn't have time to take many pics.  My inlaws took us, and my sister-in-law and niece to Kansas City on the train last Monday.  We went up Monday morning and got there around 1.  They rented two cars for us (there were ten of us) and we drove to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun.  We got to stay in cabins in the park (really nice, little modulars made up to look like log cabins) and just hung out.  Monday night we spent 6 (count'em 6) hours at Worlds of Fun theme park, then spent all day Tuesday at Oceans of Fun waterpark.  Wednesday evening we took the train home, but not before spending time in the new Lego Discovery Center in Kansas City.  And it was there that my few pics were taken.  I have better ones....somewhere, but here is what my phone can share with you:

Henry and Joe make a new friend

Joe, Henry and Ben building Lego racers.  Ben was easily the tallest person there.  Tony  declined  a visit to Lego-ville, and went to the aquarium with the rest of the family.

This is our souvenir picture.  Okay, this was fun.  We rode through a Lego adventure, and shot  lazer guns.  I did not do so well.  It appears Henry's gun was not activated.

Here is a cute one - Henry and Nora playing in the train station.  A  photographer from the Kansas City Star took this picture while we were waiting to board our train - I copied it off the paper's website.

I wanted to add this close-up, so you could see the focus, the  intensity in our eyes.  Oh yes, we will save the Princess, we will find the jewels, we will shoot the bad guys!!

And that is it for today - enjoy your day, look me up on Pinterest (I will eventually figure out how to put the link on the blog), and don't forget to vote!

Saturday Afternoon on the Homestead

So far, a lovely day.  I was blessed to attend a wedding this morning.  It was just beautiful.  It was held in the bride family's backyard.  Not a fancy yard, a country yard, like mine, really.  Except more country.  You could hear the chickens during the service.  She is one of nine homeschooled siblings, marrying one of eight homeschooled siblings.  Everything was done simply, and inexpensively, and it was just absolutely wonderful.  The groom's father is a pastor and he performed the ceremony.  It was only in the 80s, plenty of shade and the Lord sent a nice breeze.

As long as I was fancied up, I had one of my sons take a new profile pic of me - sans the messy bedroom background:

Nothing much else going on.  Went to Breadco for lunch with my dear friend Betty, then ran a few errands.  Everyone is home again, waiting for Nevin to get back.  He is on a retreat with the other deacons, will be home sometime this evening.  I am glad he got to go, he has had a busy week:

He has spent a whole lot of time and energy shooting squirrels this week.  We have also taken out rabbits and possums who have attempted to eat our tomatoes!

The skunk we just let walk away.

And that is it!  The boys are quiet, I am continuing to check my blood regularly, eagerly anticipating (?) going to the doctor next week.  Actually, I am.  I like to have a course of action, a plan to follow.  Right now I have the one I made up, seems to be going okay so far.  Interesting discovery - just thirty minutes on the treadmill will really drop the glucose.  Yesterday afternoon it was 203 - high!  I jumped on the treadmill for 30 minutes, did a little over a mile uphill, and it came down to 134, which is within the acceptable range.  Yep, going to have to carve out time each day, at least once, plus some other exercise. 

Just keep thinking about the toes...

and the kidneys, eyes, etc.  It's all going to be okay, the Lord is in control.  I am reading Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Horger Alsup (link to her blog over in my blogroll) and she referenced this verse, which really spoke to me:

So we do not lose heart.  Though the outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

That's right.  I need to be a good steward of this body the Lord has given me, but it is wasting away.  It is fragile.  One day I will have a resurrected body, but in the meantime - this is it!  But I must continue seeking the Lord, renewing my mind daily.  

The treadmill is a really good place to work on this!

A Little More Thankfulness Never Hurt

Here are just a few more things the Lord showed me this morning...

Nevin at work in the cabinet shop.  It is going to be 105 today.  The shop is not air conditioned, though he does have huge fans.  However, it is going to be HOT.  I am so thankful for a man who works hard for his family and built this business from nothing, with only his own brains and back.

And, by the way...

WE built this business, Mr. President!

Tony feeding the chickens

My beautiful Vivien.  How does she manage to stay on that rail???

Two things I am very thankful for - cats and fresh tomatoes!

They all find places in the various gardens to get out of the sun during the day.  Good for keeping away varmints, too!

Saturday Morning on the Homestead

A quiet day today.  Nevin and the big guys are at church this morning for the monthly Mens' breakfast.  I am not completely certain what goes on there.  Nevin is speaking this morning, but he did not tell me what about.  I made sure he had three dozen eggs to take and the boys had their teeth brushed, that is pretty much the end of my involvement.

I really like that when Nevin takes on a commitment it does not automatically become MY commitment.  I had always thought that anything he did would be more work for me, but it has not turned out that way.  If he needs help, he will ask.  But he does not assume that if he is going to a breakfast that I am preparing the french toast casserole.  He actually does not WANT me to - because then it was my project, not his.  He would much rather show up with a couple dozen donuts from the shop that he picked up himself, than a fancy dish that I got up and made.  Good man.  Of course, if he wanted me to I would certainly make whatever he wanted.


I think I am going to putter about the house this morning, maybe pull a few weeds.  The garden began producing red, ripe tomatoes this week.

These are Early Girls. They ripen, on average, ten days before the others.  

With the tomatoes came.....squirrels.  Squirrels have descended on our garden.  Nevin has shot several in the last few days.  The cats are funny, because when he shoots Esther (my old lady that we rescued last year) runs for the hills when she hears the gun, but the rest just sit there, because they know they are about to get a fresh squirrel treat. 


(Side note here - I have a picture of A.J. munching a squirrel, but decided not to include it.  I thought it was cute, others might get all queasy inside.)


Henry was very upset that Nevin gave them to the cats, instead of dressing them for us (ug, they like fried squirrel, I am not a fan).  But Nevin said they had ticks on them, he didn't want to mess with them.  I heartily concurred. 

Going to dinner at some friends' this evening, looking forward to that.  One of the things I really like about our church is that it is a younger congregation.  We have a lot of young people in the twenties, just starting their families.  Young enough to be our kids...!  Anyway, one such young couple with two small children has invited us old folks and our four kids to their home this evening, and I am really looking forward to it.  It is interesting, moving into this "older" stage of life.  On one hand, I don't really feel older (except my feet really hurt alot). I think getting started on our family later (32) has kept us in a younger state of mind.  Most of our friends in their mid-forties have grandchildren, or at least have launched a few young adult children into the world.  Our oldest is 14, youngest is 7, so we are just-entering-high-school-still-firmly-in-elementary-school with this crew.  Many of my closest girlfriends are 10-12 years younger than me.  It is how I get away with being kind of bossy.

Much of this week has been consumed with re-evaluating the use of my time, making plans and final (I really mean it!) purchases for school this year, and doing busywork.  Yesterday I started on a website for our business, hopefully will have that up soon.  Sometime this week I hope to get our school plans more "together" and able to post them.  We shall see.  This week is shaping up busy: dinner tonight, then church tomorrow and an ordination service tomorrow night (did I mention Nevin was ordained as a deacon a few weeks back?) for two of the men in our church; park day with the homeschool group; a health fair (getting my bloodwork and mammogram for free!); c-group Wednesday evening; a friend and her children coming to lunch Thursday and a birthday/pool party to attend Friday, and baby shower on Saturday (I am bringing quiche).  The FOLLOWING week, though, I have STAY HOME written all over the calendar!  The shop has gotten busy, I need to have free time to be home, be there to help Nevin as needed, and just keep things running smoothly.  When I get out-of-the-house busy things tend to fall into chaos here.

It is past time to feed the chickens, cats and guinea pig.  Thank goodness the kids fed themselves today!  I shall go pull those weeds, and spend some time in the Word, while it is nice and quiet here.  Have a great weekend!

This Means War

This morning I went outside.  I fed all the cats.  I set the sprinkler on some flowers.  And then I walked over to the henhouse.  I let the chickens out, and then approached the huge Rubbermaid trashcans that we (used to) keep their food in.

This is the lid.  Note the big rock I put on the lid, to keep the raccoons from getting it off and eating the chicken food (did I mention that chicken food is really expensive?).  Not only did they tear open the lid, completely destroying it, but that stuff all over it is, yes, it is

RACCOON POOP.

Which was not my first choice of words, but this is a family site.

Be prepared.  The onslaught is about to begin.

The Rescue

Today Nevin had a hummingbird in the shop.  He opened the doors, chased it with long poles, shoo'ed it, trying to get it out, but it never looked down.  It just flew around near the ceiling for hours.

Finally, it was so exhausted it fell to the ground.  He brought it down to the house and we made up some sugar water for it.

Poor little thing was just laying there, eyes closed, not moving.

He had to dip its' beak into the water.  After a few tries, its' little forked tongue started flicking out to drink the water.

Once it started drinking, its' eyes opened and it began to move on its' own.

Look at the little guy - all perked up!  It really only took about 5 minutes.  After that it took off and flew up into a tree.

Sunday Afternoon on the Homestead

Okay, so I am a little late this weekend!  I was gone all day, what can I say.  It was a really nice day, too.

I made three dozen baked ham and cheese sandwiches for a baby shower.  The shower was wonderful, lovely decorations, wonderful food (besides the ham sandwiches, I mean, not tooting my own horn).  Our church does a big shower for first time mamas, and then we do a smaller shower for each subsequent baby.  We have a fellowship meal the first Sunday of the month, so we combine the shower with that.  Generally, it is just adding a cake and gifts to the fellowship meal.  There are around 225 people in our church, and we seem to have six pregnant at a time.  No sooner does one deliver than another announces!  Yes, it gets a little noisy during the service, but it is a joyful noise!  Our church is very pro-family and pro-baby.

Then, I got my very first pedicure.  I now have sparkly red toes, with a black/white/silver flower design.  I can't believe how much nicer my feet look and feel.  I don't know that I would spend the time/money too often, but maybe once a month or so would be okay.....


Nevin has been working very hard landscaping -  we have lots more flowers blooming, and the tomatoes are going crazy.

Purple Coneflowers, a native Missouri wildflower

 And......he put up a clothesline for me!!!

I probably should have taken the picture BEFORE I hung beach towels on it.

I have wanted a clothesline for...well, since we got married!  Almost 18 years now.  So now I have a heavy-duty industrial one, mounted in concrete.  My backyard gets full sun most of the day, so this will be perfect!

Had a lovely morning worshipping at Rockport Baptist Church, then home to barbecue some pork steaks for Father's Day.  I suggested Chinese carry-out, but Nevin wanted pork steaks and baked beans.  I added sliced Arkansas tomatoes and corn on the cob.  He and most of the guys went to visit his dad this afternoon.  I am just hanging and chilling at home.  Tonight is the season premiere of Falling Skies.  We have been on pins and needles since last August, waiting.  It is so good to find a show we all enjoy and can watch together.

Other than that, not much going on.  I am reading homeschool books, re-evaluating my philosophies, etc.  Like I do every summer!  Pretty soon I hope to have my plans formulated well enough to post.

In the meantime - lots of household projects this week, plus a park day and getting a group together to go bowling.

And laundry, planning to do lots and lots of laundry!

Saturday Morning on the Homestead

Before I do anything else, let me share our new family portraits with you!  Nevin traded work with a friend of ours, who does incredible photography.  The top picture is now framed and ready for our living room wall.  When we held the beautiful new portrait against the wall.....we knew it was time to paint again!  So, the living room is getting painted, then the picture can go up.  The two others are the "also-rans".

It is very hard to get six people to all look the same way at one time.

Now, on to the rest of life.  Well, it has been busy.  This time of year the garden is going in, lots of new plants are in the ground, and the lawn it getting some care.  We completely re-did our front yard.  Nevin scraped a couple inches off the top, the boys and I picked up a good ton of rocks, then we put down new soil and seed.  I will get some pictures this weekend, with all the new plantings, it is really a sight to behold!  I don't much care for yard work, but I do love living in the country.

Last weekend we went camping with a few friends....actually, we ended up with 23 people, counting the baby and two toddlers.  It was wonderful, I ate my weight in s'mores.

Tony outlining the rules of engagement for our camp-out airsoft war.  We were so blessed - our campsite backed up to a wooded area and a creek, so we had that pretty much to ourselves, plus a big open area for capture the flag.  Not counting the babies and toddlers (and some young-at-heart adults), we had twelve kids there.

The kids spent a lot of time hanging out around the fire.

I don't know why Joe does "peace" at everyone.

Tired little man

All the weaponry, being prepared on our picnic table

Nevin just chillin' at the campfire

Coming back from the war.  That is my Ben in the striped jacket.

Check out these two lady ninjas!

After recuperating from the camping trip, we are just wrapping up the end-of-the-schoolyear stuff; Family Night in our homeschool group, Ben's guitar concert, that sort of thing.  Lots of fellowship planned for this weekend, then soon we are camping again...I know it sounds busy, but I am actually in the process of eliminating "busy" from our lives (more on that later) and cutting back on activities.  I want to have lots of time for family fun, so we are having to re-arrange some of our individual activities.

Did I mention that my mom won a COW in a raffle, and split it with us?  Yesterday I got to drive to a meat processors' and pick up half a cow, all neatly cut and wrapped and in boxes.  Huge, huge, HUGE blessing for our family!  We are down to the last few packages of venison from last fall, and the freezer was getting bare.  Next I plan to order half a pig from a local butcher and this some there will be some bbq pork steaks and grilled t-bones, yum,yum, yum!  Sorry, just couldn't help it!

Oh well, it will all work out.

Anyway, today I am enjoying being at home, getting ready to do some housework, spend some time being quiet, reflecting on the goodness of the Lord.  

You have a wonderful Saturday, too!