Nature

I went outside today to mail a few things & came a cross a beautiful spider web draped between my rose bushes. I called the kids outside & got my camera to take a picture & just when I was ready to snap the picture one of our kittens walked through it. So... the kids & I went outside to the backyard (still in our PJ's) to find another spider web. We found tons of them, but we also found much more. We found beauty that is overlooked because some days we are to busy to see it. We saw the handiwork of a creative God that never slumbers who created this world to be beautiful & to be enjoyed. These photos were all taken this morning & I find them just breathtaking! I LOVE this God I serve. :-)

Revelation 4:11
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being."

July 2009

This month we have...

played with blocks

& animals

& enjoyed God's creation.

The kids held farm animals

and Cameron balanced them on his shoulders

& cuddled adorable yellow ducks

and held the cutest baby goats.

Dressed up as Super heroes... I think he is Spider Jones.

Took naps

Celebrated July 4th

Played in the water

& more water

& more water...what feels better than cold refreshing water on a dry, hot day?

Cameron also took his first swimming lessons & now swims like a little fish. :-)

It's been a busy month... I am ready for the homeschooling year to begin so hopefully we can

S L O W down. :-)

Plums

Beautiful & delicious plums!

I love this jar....so cute!!

A man that my husband knows let a dear friend & me come to his house and pick all the plums we wanted for FREE! We didn't really know what to expect...if there would be a few dozen or tons of them. When we got there he told us we could pick from 2 of the trees that were the fullest...and we loaded up. We both came back with HUNDREDS of delicious plums and have been up to our eyeballs in work trying to preserve these things the past 2 days. So far I have put up about 32 cups of plums for pies, made 40 oz of freezer jam, about 3 quarts of regular jam, a large container of juice & a plum pie! I gave some away & I still have a large bowl left that I am trying to decide what to do with .He also gave us a sack of peaches each and I am looking forward to making some tasty jam from those! Thank-you Lord for giving me such a delicious blessing!

My anniversary

Today is my 10th wedding anniversary!

I am so thankful for the man I married...he is my love, my friend the one I can share anything with and trust him with it. He is so hardworking, a wonderful father and very smart. He is a blessing to me and I thank the Lord for our marriage!

My Daddy & me waiting to go in the church.

I can't decide if it looks like they are pushing us or holding on to us in this picture. I think Todd's mom is pushing him and my mom is holding on to me. lol

My mom made my cake, isn't it beautiful!

It got a little rough when I threw my bouquet! lol

I can't believe it has been 10 years... in one way it feels like forever ago and in another way it feels like only yesterday! These past 10 years we have been through a lot, but through every hardship we have grown closer together! Thank you Lord for this time in my life!

I'm home! I have been sicker than I have ever been in my life this past week. We finally found out that in addition to tonsillitis that I had pneumonia and was getting dehydrated. I was not able to sleep from the coughing and the 2 days before they put me in the hospital I had about 5 hours of sleep total for 2 days. I was put in the hospital on Wed. and stayed through Friday. After being on fluids, and antibiotics through IV ( and some good ole sleeping pills & breathing treatments)I finally started getting better. I am serious when I say I didn't think I was going to pull through it, but the good Lord showed me otherwise. Anyway, just thought I would let you know what I've been up to this week! Leanne

Being a Mother

"If mothers could learn to do for themselves

what they do for their children when these are overdone,

we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play!

If she would have the courage to let everything go

when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields,

or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well

at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children,

life would go on far more happily for both children and parents.

The mother would then be able to hold herself in "wise passiveness’

and would not fret her children by continual interference

even of hand or eye - she would let them be."

~Charlotte Mason~

I LOVE this quote...as a mother I feel the need to constantly "work". I feel guilty when I get away with a book to devour for a few moments because there is always something else I should be working on. I believe this quote really hits home... the children and home will be better off when we take the time to renew our spirit. I need to let the housework slide and enjoy the moment with my children or a moment alone when I am stressed. I know I should do this more often than I do and coming across this quote was a great reminder. Bye for now, I am going to have a hot cup of tea and read a book to my kiddos! Leanne