{a peek}

 I have a lot of important things to blog about, but, I wanted to start with one

I didn't have to "think" or get emotional about.  Of course, the chickens and

the garden.  I only wish the boys were here as they spend time with the 

chicks every evening.  They are getting used to E's loving! ha!  This is their

temporary run.  They will need a bigger space before long, but for now, this one

was quick and easy.  Notice I still have to paint and finish up the coop.  Is anything

ever completed around here??? 

They have grown!!! 

Everytime  they see me coming, they go nuts.  They know now that I typically

have the outgoings of the garden in hand.  A huge supplement to their feed.  And, 

because I refuse to use pesticides, still keeping it all organic. 

They LOVE radishes!  Cheap and easy!  

 Here is my favorite banny rooster.  So sweet! And, I love to hear him crow.  He is

doing better with it! ha! 

 Yes, I have very talented chickens.   

 The little white/gray one is E's favorite....Small Fry.  I am shocked that she made it!  She was so tiny and lifeless in her early days!  She is very shy.  It's sweet.

The garden is coming slowly, but surely.  Weeds and all. :)  If this rain would just stop for a bit. 



{flagged}

HUGE God Moment today {as Rae would say}

I'll definitely post it, but still need to wrap my own brain

around it a bit more..........

Wow!

{review mirror}

where o' where has my weekend disappeared to?

i had big plans?

but, few of my have-to-finish-projects got finished for one

reason or another, but the reasons were basically out of my control.

but, today, i want to remember a few tidbits.

*exhausted this morning, slept a little later than i should have, but

scott was up and around, so i planned on help from him to get

us all out the door.

*migraine hit, very late getting out the door.

*BUT, the boys  were kind enough that as soon as they were ready

they loaded themselves in the car and patiently waited for me.

*stopped by wal-mart for cash.  yes, no debit card on me, so my

next best bank is wally-world.  i did have to pick up a bd card as well.

*i gasped when I saw E exit the car at walmart.  remember:  they had loaded

themselves.  he had also dressed himself.  BIG striped, multi-colored polo with 

a huge hole in it with brown plaid shorts, mismatched socks and muddy play shoes.

remember, on our way to church.  as we ran to get a card and cash i zipped through

the boys section and got a new shirt.  dressed in the car.

*to church a tad late.

*WONDERFUL service.

*late service, exited the church in a mad dash as the clock glared 12:08 at me.

i was to have N to the carpool parking lot across town to meet the boys. 

*gathered boys and ran.  sat with my reverse lights on for SIX minutes as no

one would let me out.  traffic jam in GW in the resturant sections. dads were

nice enough to wait on us.  i think they know it will always be me.

*could not make my car go home although i needed to.  to pick up some

things for hospital and on to hospital to see our sweet friends. 

*groceries in heels.  with , E.

*gallon on milk spilled in the back on the vehicle on the way home.

*so, i am trying to figure out what to do next.  

*i'm thinking yoga pants are in order.

*awaiting call to  pick up N in GW, and then we will be swinging to 

a car wash that houses a wet/dry vac. 

*then, I will start working.  

*oh, and, I've gone without carbs today. 

that in and of itself....well, you can imagine......

my white flag is raised.

{yay!}

I got this from the wedding planner:

"Great news! I already had someone from The Wedding Post (Arkansas's daily wedding blog) contact me wanting to feature Anna & Michael's wedding! I told them I'd send pictures as soon as I had them. I also want to submit to at least one wedding magazine (Arkansas Bride or Southern Weddings or Southern Bride) and I'm also planning on submitting the images to Style Me Pretty. Just wanted to keep you posted on the plans! "

Fun!



{radical, no, but.....}

Here goes.....

Well, since Bro. Ronnie led  the awesome study on Radical, I think

a lot of us have really examined what we are trulydoing with our lives. 
In the things that matter.  The eternal things.

Maybe that, in combination with it being a big year for me {I turn 40!}, I can personally say
 that I have been searching and examining in a big way. 

I know I don't have to travel to Africa to reach people.   I think if I 

would make certain I had a smile on my face everyday I could

actually reach more people than I do!  And, although we clearly do

not live in a 'neighborhood' I love the idea of neighborhood.   We

live on an amazing farm.   Could the two be combined?  

This will likely sound absolutely crazy to many, but, it is something that 

has been on my heart and as crazy as it may be, I think it could be a great

outreach.   So, after much praying and many conversations with Scott, we

are ready to take the small plunge.  Radical?  No.  But I am hoping it will

be something that can be enjoyed by families, provide a great fellowship

for friends and the "community" outside our comfort zone as

well as be inspirational in content.

Maybe it's because I do love community so much?  I'm not sure? I do LOVE

to be fluttering in the midst of friends and family.  I love opening our home to 

family and friends.  However, with my schedule over the last several years, it's 

honestly been quite the struggle.  It is always floating in the back of my mind, but

something else seems to always pop up and overshadow my great idea. {total

sarcasm there!}  We are hoping as quirky as it may sound at first, that it

will actually be an avenue for evangelism.  

I'll get to it....

deep breath!

Scott and I will be investing in an outdoor HD projector/screen and 

are hoping to host several Family Movie Nights in an area {a mowed area} 

here at the farm.   The movie choices will be inspirational and family oriented.

   The set-up: simple.

Basically just encouraging families to have a night under the stars together

bringing their blankets, quilts, lawn chairs and snacks.  Maybe it's because

I LOVE outdoor 'anything' under the stars....movies, concerts, whatever.  It's

just pretty impossible to ignore the wonders of creation when you are snuggled

up to your sweet spouse and kids {in their pj's} surrounded by great friends.   Maybe it's because I am always in search of 'Mayberry Moments' when times were just simpler and

community was a HUGE part of our daily lives.  We rush and we hurry and

sometimes it just takes simple things to refresh us.    

And, we'll have popcorn and snocones! :)  

So, yes, you may think we are crazy and yes, I am perspiring profusely as I type this and

make it "public".   For a while I struggled with people thinking we were 

crazy {well, the jury may still be out on that}, it being a flop, etc, etc. etc.

But, we've decided to be obedient and see where this leads.

I also do not think that it was by chance that when I walked back in

from the office just a bit ago, Facing the Giants was randomly playing

on our television. 

Open your homes to each other, {in our case, our fields}, without complaining.

1 Peter 4:9

So what do you think?

{because}

I have so much to do.

And, I emotionally drained from all that was involved

in the heartbreak of the day for my friends.

I came home and dug.in.the.dirt.

When I say it's therapeutic, it is really therapeutic.

So, although I have a file that has to be at the law firm as soon

as I drop of the boys, edits and orders.  My brain cannot think. 

So, I'll post some garden pictures I took yesterday.  And,

it's amazing because it has already changed SO much.  It is really

beginning to take shape.   And, then, what happens?  More rain! ha! 

My little pea tendrils. 

Happy to have the plow below.  Very sentimental.

Hmmm.... the picture below is tweaked just a bit now.  Imagine

24 new grape, blueberry, muscadine and blackberry bushes.

More zinna's and shasta daises transplanted.  2 rows of corn

planted.  Bamboo tomato cages being constructed.  {I didn't want

to use the metal cages, so yes, I go the time consuming route.  But

so cute! and, yes, I had the idea before Ree made her post, promise!}

Sugar peas planted.  I think that is about it.  Will try to update the

picture soon as it is changing so quick!

If you look in the far upper right corner of the picture below, you will see

my garden companion, Molly girl.  She stays out there out there in the 

morning attached to a peach tree stump.  She's as happy as a lark!  

The new plot to the right of the big garden we've made into pretty much all raised beds. 

That one alone is much smaller than the big one at a mere 1200 sq feet??  I

think I may be sitting down on the corner with a vegetable stand in a month or so??

All I can say, it is super hard work, but is probably what is keeping me sane

at this point! :)  My hands look horrible.  My feet even worse.  But, I'm

still loving digging in the dirt

. 

Evan finally got his collard greens with supper last night.  And, even

I must say they were YUMMY!  I picked 3/4 of a bushel for the meal.   

{perspective}

It's been a VERY difficult week.

In the midst of it, things look very different.

A lot of things more appreciated.

An immense sense of love.

And, loss.

A broken heart.

A thankful heart.

Pain that only a mother can comprehend.

Pain for friends that rip me apart.

An out of control incident of bullying.

Sweet words from friends.

Why did I take the above picture?

It's back to the bullying issue that wrecked havoc this week.

Those were actually happy tears above. 

I conveyed  sweet words to him that a long time friend had said

about the situation.  

Words can destroy.  Or, restore.

Even I need to remember that as often as I open my mouth.

But, for now, I am going to continue to pray.  And, then pray some more.

And, if you think of it....PLEASE pray for my sweet friends, the Pickles.

Roy was placed on Hospice today.  It has been such a long road.

He has fought such a hard fight.  It is painful to watch this family being

forced to say goodbye.  I think I had rather have been anywhere but

there today.  But, at the same time, there was no other place I would

have rather been.   Praying for peace and comfort. 

BTW, one phone call to the school and our issue was handled
swiftly and appropriately.  I am very thankful for a school district
that has zero tolerance for such a painful issue.   N has bounced back very well!