Weekend

 

It was a beautiful weekend. The weather was fine, and Saturday was a day to celebrate a baby on it's way!

My dear friend Jen, who so many of you prayed for last fall, is going to be a grandma again! One of her daughters, whom I've known since her girlhood is due in late spring. Her family and church friends gave her an amazing shower!

I was honored to be invited and brought my gift of a homemade quilt. 

Sunday we went to lunch with two grands, Kyle, and some friends who had one of their grands with them. It was fun.

This week has been busy. I finished knitting a baby blanket, (for one of our daughters who is expecting their first baby this summer) and I have been working to finish up our school year. 

My five year old local grand told me yesterday, "I'm the only one who can't read." I told her, "I can teach you!" and we started with short a and put a few sounds together. 

I never rush to teach a child to read. I want them to be ready, physiologically as well as desire. One of my own girls had the desire but just needed more time. We waited about six months and started again and she took right off! Rather than discourage her, we gave her mind and body time to be ready and when we did she had success!

But it always thrills my heart to hear a young one wanting to learn to read. It is my opinion that if a child can learn to read well, they can learn anything!

I hope you had a great weekend. I'd love to hear what you did! We are having a mini heat wave here in Mid April, but we know we can also still have a late freeze! Such is spring!

Information Friday

 Hello friends! I'm working on some changes to my blog, and while I've been MIA on the blog, I have been actively working behind the scenes.

The doomers, shills, fake maga, never trumpers have been screeching so much, besides the left, that their is a ton of noise out there.

BioClandestine has some good info and written in a way to explain what's going on!

Did you see that Trump ally Larry Ellison just bought CNN? He and his son outbid Netflix.

Be encouraged, friends. Don't listen to those who say Trump is insane, that he's going to commit genocide, etc. That is not who he is. He's a master negotiator. He applies strong pressure. Reminds nations of why they don't want to cross the US.

Pray for clarity in the noise and for the safety of Trump's administration. The enemy is fighting hard, but they are losing and that makes them even more dangerous.

Good Friday

 

source

I hate that my sin sent Jesus to the cross, but I'm so grateful to God for his plan for redemption. I am a recipient of His grace and mercy.

I pray you know Him as savior as well.

Friends and Family

Our dear friends are packing readying their trailer for the road as I write.  They've been hooked up to our electric and we've been having a wonderful time.  

What a blessing longtime friends are.  They KNOW you and LOVE you anyway!  {smile}

So thankful for them.  We'll see them in the late autumn likely, as we will be visiting Tim's mom and they live in the same town.

Back tomorrow with a recipe!

Just A Few Photos

These are unedited, but I thought I'd show you just a few photos from the kids' photo shoot with Lindsay.

Our goal with the photos was to show a bit of their personalities and their interests at this stage in each of their lives.  Can you tell what those interests are?

What We Did On Saturday

We now are at 6 days and counting until the wedding!  

Emma and Vinnie have arrived, and the projects are getting knocked off the list.  Of course, not all the projects are necessary for the wedding, but it is a good motivator to get projects done that we've wanted to do for some time.

This play gym had seen better days.  Rachel and Sarah dismantled it!

 I trimmed a lot of tree branches that were hanging down too low, and or were dead.  Kyle loaded them all into the back of the truck, then the play gym wood was loaded and taken to our burn pile.  It'll get burned in a week or so.

 This other play gym is in fine shape.  It's nearly 30 years old, made by our neighbor for his own son and given to us nearly 10 years ago.  The play house was here when we moved in and we've always wanted to do something with it.  It was just low on the priority list. See that weird roof overhang in front?  That's gone!

Tim and I leveled it and then he and Sarah tore the shingles off. 

 Tim put some rubberized belting on instead.  It's white and looks good.  I'm going to paint it this week with some leftover outdoor paint and then I'll take some 'after' photos!

This guy worked hard with being our gopher, hauling tree branches, and other 10 year old boy work.  

I mowed the property, we'll do it one more time before Friday.  Kyle will mow the riding arena this week, as that is where we are going to park the cars.

I also finished the table centerpieces yesterday!  Now to just finish beading Kay's veil, buy the desserts for the reception, and put together the bridal flowers.  

It'll be Saturday before we know it!

Photo Shoot

Lindsay is doing a photo shoot for me today.  I asked her to take the kids pictures as this was the big birthday year!  They are 16, 13, and 10!  This is also Rachel's senior year.  Lindsay will take her photos tomorrow.

Today is all about Sarah and Kyle.  

 They have moved outside and the lighting will be really great today.

Can't wait to see them all and of course, I'll be sure to share!

To The Rescue!

The last two days, I have been busy doing school, running the household, driving Rachel to work and picking her up (late - 11:30pm), visiting with my parents, Oh, and rescuing Tim!

Monday afternoon, just as Rachel and I were pulling back into the driveway from a quick trip to the gas station for fuel for the riding mower, I got a call asking how soon could I get to a certain location.  This place is about 40 minutes away and it was around 2:30, and Tim had a 3:00 inspection.  And he had locked the keys in the van.  "We'll leave right away!"

This meant a quick change out of my mowing clothes, Rachel grabbing her uniform for work and we ran out the door!  On the way, Tim called to say that his 3:00 appointment cancelled for the day, so there was no hurry.  That was nice but we did have to hurry because I had to get Rachel to work at 5:00.  

Everything worked out perfectly, I got her there with time to spare!

Yesterday, I got a similar call in the afternoon.  This time the van wouldn't start!  But he was at his third inspection site for the day, but could I come and give him a jump? He wasn't certain it was the battery - he was leaning toward it being the starter, but we'd start there.

Now, as nothing is ever just straightforward here, my Mom was here for the day and was waiting for my dad.  She agreed to take Kyle and Sarah to her house (as I didn't know when Tim and I would be done) and I would pick them up on my way home.  Rachel changed into her uniform quickly, and I was going to take her to Lindsay, who was going to take her to work for me.  

Oh, and did I mention that the jumper cables were in Tim's truck (not work vehicle) and that he had loaned it to his friend who is preparing to auction his home and move to a retirement community?  He'd had the truck for a week, no problem because I was driving his VW Jetta in exchange.  But Tim needed me to bring the truck, so Rachel and I again headed out to get the truck, drop her at Lindsay's and then I'd be on my way.  

Rachel drove and I checked the map app to see where I was headed to meet Tim.  Turns out I'd be going past Rachel's workplace, so we stopped and exchanged vehicles, stopped quickly to tell Lindsay that I'd just take Rachel, dropped Rachel at work, and headed out to meet Tim.

Are you still with me?  Are you on the edge of your seat with excitement yet?

Anyway, it was a lovely day, and I was reminded again of how beautiful Pennsylvania is.  I arrived and as he was finishing his last inspection for the day.  We tried to jump the vehicle but that wasn't it, so we headed out to borrow a jack and lifts from our friends who live in the area.  Then went by the auto parts store for a starter, back to the job site to replace the starter.

Several things I am thankful for.  

1. Tim has the knowledge and skill to work on our vehicles.

2. He had all the tools he needed with him.

3.  The seller of the home, owned a pizza and sub shop, and brought Tim a giant hoagie!  We split it for our dinner!

4. The house is unoccupied.

5.  The realtor that showed up to show the house to clients mentioned a unique property just down the street, and said we had to see it!

Its like a Disney castle at the end of the road!  This wasn't the best angle to see it from but the best I could do.

I hope he doesn't need to be rescued today, because I have to take Rachel to cello, then I really must finish beading Kay's veil, I have some ribbon and beads to add to the flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow, some silk flowers to buy, school to do.

 I'm grateful for family that helps out.  The kids had fun playing wii at my parents house, and hanging out.  Tim and I visited for a while, I cleaned up the kitchen (my mom had fed the kids dinner), then Tim took the kids home and I stayed a few more hours before picking Rachel up from work at 11:30.  I certainly hope she won't be on this closing schedule for ever!  

I am so thankful though that I am available to help Tim as needed, as well.