Random updates

The youngest children and I had a great time at the beach with Renee and her two youngest girls. She has really encouraged me by listening to a lot of things I needed to get off my chest, and has been a great example to me in wanting to give 100% to the Lord in all things. Thanks, Renee, for listening, encouraging and sharing a great time! The children had a blast boogie boarding, swimming, catching tiny fish in nets, playing in the sand, and lots and lots of laughing!

M and J are in Rome today, halfway through their tour of Europe. I cannot wait to see pictures and hear all the stories of their trip! Here's a picture M took on his last trip (Dec. 2004 - click on pic to get full view):

Gardening is still keeping me busy and I spent several hours this morning pulling beans, peas, butter beans, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and corn. Needless to say most of the rest of the day I have been shelling and fixing veggies (in between loads of laundry getting hung on the line to catch up from our trip!).

While we were gone D worked long hours but also managed to do some clean-up in and around the orchard. The blueberries and blackberries are about all finished, most of the peaches are done, the plums have been gone for some time but muscadine grapes and apples are still to come! I will be spending lots of time this week canning, freezing and getting caught up in the garden department but am very thankful for two tiny rains we had while I was away that kept things growing.

Here it is - the TRUTH!!

The truth? I'm a phony. Yep. Some of my friends think I am really good at gardening (they haven't seen my squash dying before I knew what a squash bug was). Some of them think I'm a really good Mom (they haven't seen me lose my temper with my children). Some think I am smart (I think they missed me falling in the tub because I forgot the suds were slippery?!!) or organized (don't dare to open the garden shed door!) or a good wife (see me typing on the computer instead of snuggling with hubby?). Well, the one thing I seem to be good at is hiding the truth from my friends! I try to be, want to be, long to be, good at many things but the fact is that I'm not really good at anything. I keep trying and learning but the more I learn the more I realize how little I know and the one thing I do know is that there is only one good person. And what did He get for being good? Crucified. So in some ways I guess it's good that I'm not good. Yes, I've learned things over the years, have some knowledge about some parenting and gardening and books and marriage, but who wouldn't after all these years? And the fact that I have wasted so many moments, hours, days and even years chasing after "fluff" of this world is certainly nothing of which to be proud. I'm like Martha when I know I need to be Mary. But like an alcoholic who finally admits that he has no control over his drinking, I think the fact that I know I am (and always will be) a phony is somehow good in itself. It doesn't mean that I will stop learning about how to be a better wife or mother or teacher or... whatever. It just means that maybe most days I'll start in the right place - at the feet of the One who created me, loves me no matter what, died for me, lives for me, forgives me, teaches me, loves me some more, talks to me, listens to me, and is the best friend anyone can have, even though He knows my true heart. And I praise Him for the friends I have here on earth who love me in spite of my ways, too, and always look for the good in me, no matter what. They help me to keep on striving. Thanks, ladies!!
And thank you, JESUS for such amazing truth and love and comfort and everything else this phony needs to make it through this phony world. He is the unbelievably amazing truth.

'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." '
2 Cor. 12:9

The last few days....

Hope each of you had a wonderful Fourth - we sure did!! On the third we went to White Lake for the day (just D, Gran, and the two youngest since the others were working) and it was perfect weather and loads of fun. Then although several families had to cancel coming on the 4th, we were still blessed with all 5 of our children plus Gran and several young adults that we count as family, too! The Broglis were here and we were so very glad since we probably won't see them as often after they move. Matt B. will be a Youth Pastor, and although we will miss them we are very glad that the Lord has opened a door for them and we know He will bless them greatly in their new adventures! After we ate (and ate - esp. D's homemade salsa from veggies from the garden - I am so glad I grew that cilantro!) we drove over to a baseball stadium to watch some fireworks. My Matt "practiced" taking firework pictures (like he needs practice - I've not seen a bad one yet!) so that when he and J are in Paris this weekend for Bastille Day he will have some practice with them (although I'm sure the French would not compare their fireworks with those of the Mudcats :) !!)

Anyway, it was a wonderful holiday here (except for a while mid-day when I got the "Martha syndrome"and was ill-tempered with my dear hubby - who is loving and gracious enough to forgive this middle-aged whacky woman) and I pray that each of yours was great, too. On Saturday I gathered the first purple hull peas and green beans from the garden and we ate them and some of the salsa and leftover grilled chicken and burgers for supper. Yummy! Purple hulls are probably my favorite veggie. Lindsey had left some of her watermelon here so all weekend I pigged out on watermelon, too!

Service Sunday was very special with a beautiful tribute to the armed forces, with the veterans standing when their military anthem was played. I couldn't help but get teary-eyed thinking of my father and many of his WWII generation that have passed on as well as the many young men and women who have/are serving and the ones who have paid that ultimate sacrifice. May we not be foolish in living, voting, praying in a way that will help to carry on their memory.

As we get ready to send two off to Europe, do gardening, canning and housework, keep two extra children part of the week, get ready to have relatives from Kansas visit this weekend, and try to squeeze in some time to enjoy the summer, I probably won't be back at the computer long enough to blog but will try to keep up reading yours. Hope you have a wonderful summer week!

Truly Amazing Story

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too. For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island . Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at.....

NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO: