Wordless Wednesday - First Fruit

7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 10

We have our first edible fruit!  That's always so exciting to me!  There are lots more on their way, too!  It's been a rough summer - lots of high, high heat and little rain.  Some days we've had to water the plants twice a day!  But it looks as if the work is paying off!

And, we have a baby watermelon!!

A few weeks ago we went swimming at a lake.  When I grew up, I lived in New Hampshire, where no one had a pool - if we wanted to go swimming, we either hiked through the woods to find a swimming hole, or swam at a few nearby lakes or quarries.  It was so much fun, and most of my fondest teenage memories center around those times.  Where we live now, though, most swimming is done in concrete pits with chlorine! So it was nice to leave suburbia with the kids and take them swimming in something natural!

Despite the concrete chlorine pits, I actually love where I live.  We're in an older subdivision, so we have a decent-sized yard, and we're on a cul-de-sac, so it's nice and quiet.  However, everything I need is soooo close.  Dentist?  3 minutes.  Pediatrician? 2 minutes.  Any and all types of shopping?  Within 15 minutes or so.  And, we recently found out that there's a proposal to put a small grocery store on the main road at the top of our subdivision.  We're going and voting YES! to that - I think it's awesome!  I could actually *walk* to the store!  How quaint! ;-)

I know lots of people dream of country life, and while I do believe in it's benefits, I think I love being a suburbanite!

I mentioned in my scheduling post that Michael is the one in charge of going over the big kids' work in the evenings.  He uses those nifty assignment sheets I posted about a while ago (they're working out great, by the way).  One night, after he had finished with the boys, I went to tidy up, and this is what I came across:

Click to see the writing around the border a little better!

Is there more proof needed that he's smitten?  It reminded me of a love-struck kid!  I love how much he loves her.

In order to try to carve out more time for eachother in our busy lives, Michael and I have agreed to have three nights a week with NO technology on once the kids go to bed.  No computer, no iPhone, no movies...  It has been

WONDERFUL!!!!

I am seriously loving it.  We're able to catch up with eachother, spend some time in the Word and in prayer, play a game or two, and connect in... other ways...  all things that are really beneficial to our relationship.  They're like having mini-date nights right at home!  It is one of the best things we've done for our relationship, and I am so glad we agreed to give it a try.

Judah continues to be my music-lover.  One day I was putting him into his carseat, and he said "I love this song!  It's my favorite!".  I hadn't turned on the car yet, so I was confused about what he was talking about.  I asked him "What song?" and he said "The bird's song!"

It melted my heart!

This upcoming week is a bittersweet one for us, as we say goodbye to some of our closest friends.  God is taking them on a journey of which they can't see the outcome, but their faith through it all has been such an inspiration and a blessing!  We're excited to see where He's leading them, but a little sad for ourselves, too, because we'll miss them so much!  Good friends are such a gift!

Nathan and their girls

7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 9

I thought I'd start off with a little exercise update.  It's been exactly a month this week since I started exercising regularly again. I've been alternating strength training days with running days, 5-6 times a week.  It's going well - making the commitment and sticking with it has been really good for me for more than just the physical fitness aspect.  I have not lost any weight, but I can definitely tell that my body shape is changing!  That's really encouraging!  And I am feeling *so* much healthier in general.  It's incredible the difference a little activity can make!

The Lord has been working on me a lot lately. Which is always good, but can get a bit... uncomfortable, too! The big theme for me recently is my habit of being a "people-pleaser".  I have realized a few things about being a people-pleaser - first, that the title is way too "nice" sounding.  Really, what people-pleasing is all about are two things - pride, and the fear of man.  Ouch!  Both of those things are talked about pretty strongly in God's Word, and not in "nice" ways.  Also, the habit of people-pleasing has caused me to chase after the wrong things, and even allow those closest to me to be put in situations that were not the best for them, all because I've wanted to "fit in" or not "rock the boat" at times.  What the Lord has shown me has been very, very humbling - but in a good way.  I want to be true to Him, and not worried about trying to jump through hoops to win other's approval, or worried what others will think of me.  I've allowed those fears to control my life for far, far too long.  My faith and worship must be in God alone, not my own ego!  I'm so thankful for His faithfulness!

I thought I might mention a program I ran across  - The Daily Home Planner from Organized Mom.  I actually don't have any kind of Household Managment Binder or Homsechool Planner that I've found works for me... but this one just might be what I've been missing!  For one, it is digital, rather than physical - not taking up space somewhere other than the computer's hard drive, or internet land somewhere.  Second, I am in love with the meal planning feature.  Really - that alone is enough to make me want to try it, even if I never use any other aspect of it.  Long ago I asked my husband if there were some way to create an automated menu/grocery list system, and he said "Of course!" but neither of us actually knew how.  Thankfully, others have thought of the same thing and are generous to offer that service to others!  Of course, the other aspects are useful, to.  And as opposed to print planners and management systems, I wouldn't feel as if I were wasting something if I didn't use it.  Does that make sense?  I hate staring at blank pages and not knowing what to do with them!  Or having sections of a binder that are empty!  I'm just weird like that!  Anywho, I'm considering looking more into this Planner.  Has anyone reading this tried it?  I'd love to hear others' thoughts, whether you've tried it or not!

We have a miracle plant growing!  Others who know more about gardening might not be so impressed by this, but we all are very excited about our special plant. (I am excited about the fact that anything grows under my care to begin with - that alone is a practical miracle!) A few weeks back, there was a storm that came through with some really strong wind.  One of the branches of one of our tomato plants got partially snapped during that storm.  I kept an eye on it, and it looked like the stalk was just going to scar over and be OK.  But the weight of the branch was just too much, and it soon showed signs that the branch was dying.  However, when I looked closely at the branch, I noticed these little nubs appearing along it:

The rest of the tomato plant didn't have these nubs, only the broken branch.  Then it sort of crossed my mind that those nubs looked like little baby roots trying to grow!  It was as if the dying branch was trying to get it's own water, since it was effectively separated from the main stalk and root source.  So I had an idea - I figured, why not just cut the branch off, and replant it in a different pot?  It's going to die anyway, but maybe, just maybe... it will grow it's own roots and live!?  So I took the plunge and cut the branch and replanted it in a different pot.  The first week and a half the poor branch was definitely looking dead.  It's leaves were wilted and withered, and it just looked really pathetic.  But then... one day I noticed that it didn't look so wilted anymore!  After a few more days, I was certain - the branch was going to live!

And the best, most exciting part?  Not only is it alive.. but...

It's growing fruit!!!  Does that make you think of anything?  It's such a cool little example of what God does for us - takes us, when we are dead in our sins, gives us new life... and then bears fruit in that newly restored life!  So awesome!

The boys are doing  fun new Bible Study, from Quiet Times for Kids.  It's a 6-week study on the Armor of God, and - get this - it incorporates Legos!  How cool is that?  Each week they are to make a diorama using legos (and other props) to depict a verse they liked from that week's study.  And, there's a contest, too!  The boys are so excited about it!  And let me just say, the Bible Study is not a "fill-in-the-blank" simple little study.  It's a very in-depth study, and it asks great questions for the kids to be thinking about how to apply the verses they're reading to their own lives.  I've been impressed by how thought-provoking the questions are, and the discussions the study has generated!

I am needing some opinions - care to share yours with me?  Here's the deal - the kids range in age from 10.5 on down to 5 months.  We have three different sized blocks in the house - Mega Blocks, Duplo Blocks, and (of course) Legos.  The littler ones of my crew spend most of the time with the Duplos, and the rest of the crew loves their Legos.  When I only had littles, the Mega Blocks were all the rage!  But as we've transitioned to Legos... the Mega Blocks have fallen to the wayside. So I'm wondering if I should just find a new home for the massive amount of Mega Blocks we have.  Or, should I hold on to them, just in case?  Can babies play with Duplo blocks as easily as Mega Blocks?  Does the Mega Blocks size matter in, like, child development and hand coordination or anything?  I guess what I'm asking is - is there any good reason to keep the Mega Blocks around for Rachel and any other possible littles we might be blessed with?  Thoughts anyone? 

Earlier this week, I had a slight dilemma. I had to nurse Rachel and I knew she was needing a nap.  Unfortunately, my three oldest children, who usually help keep law and order while I'm nursing Rachel to sleep in her room, were outside playing.  Only the two youngest were in the house.  The two youngest also happen to be the two loudest and two neediest of the bunch (it comes with the "youngest" title).  I told them before going into her room "Guys, I'm going to put Rachel to bed, I need you to be good and quiet while I'm in there!" but had little hopes of that actually coming to pass.  However, as the minutes went by and Rachel successfully fell asleep... there was peace and quiet.  Which made me nervous!  However, when I came out of her room, this is what I came upon, and just had to capture it!

To add to the miracle, there were no pencil marks outside of the paper! ;-D  I love when I catch my boys being so "brotherly"!

I don't know if this week's Quick Takes actually qualify as being "quick" - apparently I had more to say than I first expected!  Thanks for taking the time to come by and stay a while! Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 8

We've had a fun visitor to the avocado plant we've got growing on our deck... it's been there for the whole week, just hanging out!  Can you see it?  Look closely!

 Here's a close-up!

Judah has a new skill that he recently mastered, and loves to show off whenever prompted.  It is the funniest thing to watch him try to figure out how to coordinate his little fingers!

When teeth start getting this crazy, you know they're ready to pop out!

Sure enough, the very next day...

When we were picking out which seeds to plant in our container garden this year, Ezra picked Cantaloupe, which I figured was benign enough. Apparently, I was a bit mistaken... let me tell you, I am learning a few things about Cantaloupe!

First thing being, it's not the best pick for container gardening:

Second, they attract these horrendous bugs, called Tile Horned Prionus Beetles.  I'll spare you the pictures in case you are squeamish, but if you're really interested, just click the link.  I've warned you!  They're anywhere from 1-4 inches long, and basically resemble giant cockroaches with approximately mile-long antenna coming out of their heads.  In fact, it's hard to tell whether they're antennae, feathers, or huge pinchers, which adds a whole new dimension of freakishness to them. They were swarming our porch every night! Oh, and did I mention they FLY?!  Thankfully, they don't live long in their adult life stage, so they disappeared reasonably fast.  But, oooh, I get the heebie-geebies just writing about them!  (Note to all future Cantaloupe farmers - don't plant them anywhere near where people might possibly want to be, due to this strange bug attraction).

Anyway, we are at least seeing some exciting progression!

This is the biggest one, and there are a few more starting to develop!  It will be so fun to eat some homegrown Cantaloupe!  Unless I  have more surprises to come before we get to harvest time...

Two words:  Pure Heaven

Here's a little comic relief from Isaac:

Lovely, Isaac.  Thank you for that.

These pictures, to me, perfectly capture the joy and blessing of babies!  There's nothing better than cuddling up with a sleeping little one.  Not even peanut butter mixed with chocolate ice cream!

I hope your weekend is as blessed as our week has been!