Our Faith, Our Family, & Our Friendships.

Some friends of ours recently had a pet die,    It may seem silly,   but it was a pet of 19 years and they were heartbroken.   Knowing how attached we've gotten to our Daily in just a year,  I knew the attachment must be great after 19 years! So we decided to make them a simple dinner to let them know we cared,   Homemade bread with a cheesy lasagna.      It was my first time giving a loaf of homemade bread away, I've always been a little self-conscience, about that,   but I figure this was as good a time as any.    This family knows we love Jesus,   and we talk to them regularly about our faith,    So I hoped our kind gesture would show them Jesus even more.     He is the reason we do what we do,   and our motivation in all things,   I just pray he is glorified as we love one another.    

NOT my thing,  at ALL. I am a prepper.   I have to mentally prepare,   BUT I also struggle with commitment to things.    It's a big flaw of mine.    It actually causes me anxiety to be presented with something I have to commit to in the future,   but last-minute things make me overthink too.    It's rough,  let me tell you.   So when Ben was talking to a friend and suddenly they came up with this plan to try and get together THAT SAME AFTERNOON- I was like whoa!!   Hold up boy.... But the more he talked to his friend,  the more they got excited about these plans, and the further they proceeded,    Ben came to ask if they could please just come over for a few hours to hang out.   My first mental response was "I need a week to prepare for this BEN!"    but instead,   in my hopes to learn to be more spontaneous I responded with sure,   Tell them to come over this afternoon after chores ...

So It's Been a minute since I've logged in here,  but our lives have been busy with gardening, canning,  church functions,  meetings, and more!   But no worries, I've got lots to share! VBS night #4 was super fun!    The theme was fruit and veggies day which was right up Brooklies ally!   She put on a cute dress and matching scarf from Gigi and filled her little basket with all her little play foods.     One of our little friends was able to join us again also! Brooklynn won one of the best "dressed" prize too!  she was so happy!  Look at that smile! Brooklynn having so much fun running around with her group,   She Appsolutely loved it! The boys got to play slip and slide soccer,  they had a blast!     It was wet soapy fun!     

 This time we invited several friends to join us and shockingly they were all available  to join!     We offered to drive everyone and have a good time,  one friend we even invited to join us for dinner before hand! This night's theme was creepy crawlies!    So everyone brought a toy bug!     Both my kids are truly enjoying this vbs!   They are in great spirits,   doing all the "homework" and are excited each night.   This church is doing a great job!   

  Its crazy hat and hair day!       Luckily this one was easy for us as we own a photo booth and have tons of fun hats.     The Kids choose matching Jester hats with little bells at the ends of each flap.       They turned in all their finished assignments ,  said their memory verses and got points towards possible prizes at the end of the week!     Ben is even going the extra mile and saying all the books of the Bible,  new testament and old,   and quoting the 10 commandments!         Oh this kid.....

 Do you ever just read a Bible verse and it instantly becomes a favorite?      It hits deep in your heart and it brings either immense comfort and peace or true conviction?  This happens on a regular basis during my morning devotions time,      and I fall in Love with my bible all over again.     and today,  this verse is one I need to share.    I think it could be a precious gift to you as well.     Its found in the book of the second Chronicles,   and It reads   "For the eyes of the Lord run to a fro throughout the whole earth,  to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to him"    Wow.   What words of peace, and protection!    He's not asking us to be perfect,    or sinless.    He knows we'll mess up huge at times.      But,  if our hearts are Loyal to him,    He is there for us.   He ...

 Both kids attended,  they loved the  snacks,  crafts,  bible stories,  games,  and outdoor fun!   Brooklynn was a bit unsure at first so she asked me to stay with her and she was Not in bens groups with it bring split up by grade,  so momma got to hang out too!   Each night the kids are sent away with a bible verse to memorize for the next night and a bible sheet to complete.   It's so refreshing to have my children hear about and be encouraged in the Lord.   And yes.  No shoes.   Sheesh.  She kicked them off so fast.  Lol

Grilled chicken salad with fresh hard-boiled duck eggs, green onions, and olives.    Trying new ways to eat duck eggs.    They are a different taste ya'll.    so strong and gamey.   Goona stick to just baking with them from here on out.   lol        

The other day,  While Matt and Ben were busy doing "guys stuff",  Brooklynn and I stopped by the inlaws to grab some extra canning jars and while there they took us out to their garden and shared with us some fresh produce!    We came home with many Goodies,  one being fresh picked zucchini!        Now I won't lie.   No one in my family is a fan of zucchini,   As a matter of fact,  I usually have to sneak it into recipes,   and hide its evidence.      It's almost funny.    But one way they'll eat it is in bread!   They actually request it and eat every last bite.   So when we plant our garden, we always plant a few zucchini plants just with the intention of bread!   Sadly our plants are NOT doing well this year and it looks like we may not get any of our produce.  So when Matt's parents were willing to share their bounty,   we did not turn it down!.      I lo...

  Currently, during my morning time with Jesus, I am going through the book of 1 Chronicle,    and I won't lie, It's been a rough book.     Not a lot of exciting stuff happening,     and there are days I'm really looking forward to being done.     But it's amazing how the Lord,   takes even the toughest,  most uninteresting books,  and still helps me grow in him,  convicts me,  and shapes me into who he wants me to be.      This morning in my readings,   I had the verse,   "As for you my son Solomon,   know the God of your Fathers,  and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind,  for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the Thoughts,    If you seek Him,  He will be found by you"   This whole verse was precious to me,      but a few areas really stood out and made me really stop and think hard. ...

 It was a busy weekend for us.     Matt had 4 days off work and we decided to just concentrate on getting stuff down around the yard and getting caught up on things we are always having to put on the back burner.     Matt reinforced the bridge that runs across the pond,   and I got into my studio and did some deep cleaning and organizing.     It felt good to get some much-needed projects done.    The normal house cleaning, laundry, and dinners never end,  but sometimes you have to get out and take care of things beyond everyday stuff.     We made simple meals and even bought hot dog buns (gasp!) to get me out of the kitchen and use my time for other needed areas.     We were so tired every night but felt accomplished.       We also took time with the kids, relaxing around the pond,  swimming,   and also went to see the local fireworks, and treated them to elephant ears from the food truck...

I shared in a recent post,  that while visiting the inlaws one afternoon, they gave us all kinds of fresh goodies from their garden.     Along with the zucchini, and lettuce they also gave us a few stalks of rhubarb!    I was so excited!   We've not had rhubarb in years but it's always something we enjoy.  It's not something "normal" and you can't just run to the grocery store and buy it so it's a special treat! I looked up some recipes and found one that used fresh strawberries and diced rhubarb.    It was super simple but came out great,  We had a family treat of warm crisp over vanilla ice cream!    Ben thought he was the luckiest boy in the world!  lol.   

 I wont lie,  Some times I get behind ,  or distracted, and fall behind on every day things.    Sometimes its almost Dinner time and I forgot to our meat out of the freezer,  or forgot to start a loaf of fresh bread as a side.       And That happened recently, lol (shocker)  I didn't have anything done and had to spring into action with dinner time being in just an hour or two.     I quickly looked up 1 hour dinner rolls.     Literally,   that's what I searched.  I didn't have time for loads of rising time or anything super fancy,  I just needed something fresh,  quick, and easy to feed my peoples.     So I found a recipe,   I had all the ingredients and it had a promise of being done in time,  so I gave it a shot.    It did NOT disappoint!       They were delicious!   Like 4 ingrediants, very little kneading,...

 Vbs went from Thursday to Saturday evening,  and ended with a Sunday morning service,  where parents were invited to come listen to their kids sing during church.  It was a blessing to have my kids participate!      Afterwards they had everyone come to the dining area and fed us a full meal!   It was a refreshing time of fellowship with other believers.    I loved when the Lord let's me meet my family in Christ!