Blessings

This past week has been full of blessings. Not that other weeks are not but I guess it just felt like one of those really blessed weeks, ya know? A friend and her daughter came for a visit. Now that doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary except that we are the best of friends and haven’t seen each other for over 8 years!!! That’s a long time to “visit” on the phone weekly! We had the opportunity to hang out downtown, take in a movie, play some games, start a few hikes (don’t ask), shop a bit, make some crafts and laugh together. It was nice for us each to get to know the other’s girls a little better. Of course, we know the kids through what we tell each other but nothing beats meeting them in person and enjoying their company. I must admit that I’m a little disappointed in the lack of photos since none of our girls were really into it and everything went so fast that we didn’t have much time to plan a photo shoot. All in all it was a fast but great week!

We also have finished everything that needed to be finished around here and as of today our house is officially on the market! I’m excited, nervous and relieved all at once. My hope is that it would sell quick but I know that it’s not my plan that determines things in life so I’ll try my hardest to be patient. Patience is a virtue (so I hear).

I ended up with another art class. I wasn’t sure as of the end of last week but found out the day before that I had a preschool art class. Preschoolers are great They’re so hard to judge. You never know if they’ll take an hour on a project or 5 minutes, whether they’ll love it or dismiss it. I love the honesty that comes from small children and the excitement they have for life an new things!

And last but not least J got hire for a job yesterday. He starts next week. We are very thankful for him to find something so quick. It is currently a temp job but he was told that after a few months they typically hire people on full time. Ultimately, it’s whatever God has in store so we’ll just wait and see where we’re led from here.

# 355 – 367

visits with old friends – in person

watching happy girls laugh together

getting things crossed off the to-do list

nice weather

hugging friends for the first time in years

enjoying a little nature together

art projects to hold memories of special times with friends

making new friends – this always seems to happen right before we move, we seem to make several friends quickly before a move. I have no idea why this is but it’s a pattern I’ve seen over the years.

a friend giving birth to a healthy 8lb 12oz baby girl just this morning

pain I feel for someone who is sick- I know this may seem like a strange praise but I’m thankful we’re in touch because we weren’t on speaking terms for years. I’m not thankful she’s in pain. My heart aches and cries out to the Lord for her – for her health to improve, for her to come to know the Lord, for her to survive this terrible disease!! But I’m thankful I can cry out to God for her. For anyone. That God gives us that one on one with Him to be honest and talk.

being able to give to someone in need

having groups that I can be honest on without feeling that I will be judged – there aren’t that many groups I’m in that I feel this.

girls eating chicken for breakfast – another strange praise but I see myself in this as I’ve never liked breakfast foods for breakfast

Greenhouse Gardening

Spring has sprung and today as I walked through the greenhouse I was so excited to see what was blooming and what was ready for harvest. I picked a large handful of strawberries and also a small bowl of snow peas. Below are a few pics from the greenhouse. The first one is asparagus peaking through the soil the bottom two are strawberries in bloom. Enjoy your day and be blessed, Tina

Giving Thanks

No matter what is going on in our lives there’s always the bigger picture. God is always there and always working. I think sometimes we get our biggest blessings by giving thanks even when our hearts are breaking. I know for me it helps me to see beyond my circumstances and realize that things are better than they appear and I’m still being blessed in so many ways. Today I count those blessings, big and small, and give thanks to the One from whom all blessings flow.

332 – 346

dew drops on plants in the morning

the colors of spring (even if it isn’t officially spring yet)

for being the lucky guinnea pig when my daughter has made something new – this time shampoo bars!!

preschoolers painting themselves, giggling helplessly

making new friends

girls with etsy shop excitedly making and offering

for dandelions, those flowers that everyone should love but most consider a pest

a husband that gives all he can and then some

God’s provisions and guidance, even when we don’t know what the future holds or where He’ll lead us from here

my daughter being blessed with a free course that isn’t in the budget for us right now

nice weather

getting our hands dirty

snapping photos

a happy home

bugs dancing their jigg on flowers while they do their thing

Spring is in the Air

It’s such a beautiful day out today. We have windows open, we’ve pulled weeds, cleaned up the shelter, I picked some nice snow peas from the greenhouse, the birds have been chirping and J’s been putting up siding. It’s just been a wonderful day around our house! After picking these gorgeous snow peas I thought I really should take a few photos of these green beauties before I eat them. So I’ll leave you with a few pics. Enjoy and I hope you’re also having a wonderful day!

Random Happenings (and Monday’s blessings)

Through all life’s trials and troubles God is there to see us through. Lately life has been crazy and busy and fun and artsy and chaotic and fast. We’ve been lovin’ it, hatin’ it, enjoyin’ it, and really just goin’ with it. It’s been warm and then cold and then warm and back to cold again. You can check out a bit of what I’ve been up to here.

322 – 331

seedlings sprouting – peppers, tomatoes, cumin, artichokes, lettuces (I’m sure there’s something I’m forgetting)

paint on our clothes, in our hair, on our face

sisters laughing together

riding on the back of Little A’s scooter

homemade chocolate bars

bouquet from a little one

lasagna right out of the oven

knowing we’re not alone

chatting with friends

writing with my sister

watching Big A develop her talents (of which she has many)

First Post of the New Year

This is my first post since we rang in the new year. I have a few goals in mind for the blog this year but I’ll keep them to myself. For some reason when I tell my goals, I have a harder time accomplishing them! Somehow it feels refreshing to be starting another year.

Ponce de Leon lighthouse

My seeds are ordered and I’m looking forward to another year of gardening. Am starting to read up on how to improve my soil and J is planning on getting shade cloth for the greenhouse. With the heat of our summers there are just things that won’t grow here in the summer but they would make great additions to salsa, etc. J also helped me build a neat two bin compost system using pallets and an old sliding glass door. I like the idea of keeping it a bit more contained. It’s not beautiful to look at but it’ll get the job done!

I have been getting that crafty bug again and have so many projects I’d like to make that I feel like I won’t have time! I made my first thing over the weekend. It’s a magazine rack that I made from the leftover pallets we used for our compost bin. I’m posting a picture but it doesn’t show the copper glaze that I applied over it very well. I also decided having a few craft get togethers would be fun so I’m working on planning that too. I’ll post pictures of some of the finished projects.

We also took the past few days and rearranged some furniture. We seem to always be doing this around here and most people who stop by on a somewhat regular basis cannot believe how much we change things around.

In November we went on a little organizing streak and closed up the windows of the sunroom and made it into a nice sized pantry. J also redid the girls’ closet as well as ours. It has made a huge difference! I wish we would’ve taken pictures to show before and after. Our closet seemed packed full before but after we can’t even fill it up!

inside lighthouse

The last week of December we took a trip to Daytona. It was really nice. Our first time in Florida. The water was a bit chilly for my taste but everyone else got in and I enjoyed sitting on the beach taking it all in.

Daytona Beach

Have a nice weekend and I’ll be writing more soon! ~Tina

I’m still reading through the book of Job.  I thought I’d share the verse that seems to have stuck with me this week is this.

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.  Job 9:20

# 201 – 210

Laughter coming from the kitchen

Decaf green tea with lemongrass

A clean, organized kitchen

Phone calls from Gramma

Surgeries that went well

Long car rides with my family

Books finished

Trying new things – even if they didn’t work out (just an FYI, tie-dying with Koolaid washes out even if you do heat set it and you may end up with a very disappointed child!)

Keeping in touch

Much needed rain

Counting my blessings

As I come in from our quick little errand run I start to put things away.  I go searching for a jug to make the orange juice I had a hankering for and decided to grab at the store.  My mind starts to wander.  I probably smell like smoke after riding the short trip in that car.  Where is that jug?  Be thankful you have that car to drive Tina.  You’ve went so long without a dependable car, be thankful for what you were given.  Didn’t I just find a new place to put all those containers that would be easier to get to and to find?  Why can I not find it now, when I need it?    Finally finding what I was looking for, in the same place it’s always been, I look over and see his boots. 

What would I do without his dirty old steel-toed boots?,  I think to myself.  I’m thankful for those boots.  For the man that wears them faithfully to an unforgiving, physical job daily.  So that I can stay home and grumble about the container to make my orange juice in?!  I should be more thankful my mind tells me. 

I remember the clouds we watched yesterday and him coming in sweating from putting in a water line to make life easier for me – so I wouldn’t have to carry buckets to the grapevine to water but could just pull a hose from plant to plant.  Easier for me.  I start to wonder do I make things easier for him?  This man that loves me so much that he’d do everything he can to make my life easier.  Shouldn’t I be more grateful?  I have a lot to be thankful for and I’m gonna use this week to thank God for all those blessings, big and small, He’s given me.

#169 – 182

dirty old work boots sitting in the middle of the floor

little girls with snorkels and the scream she puts out through it under water

beautiful rolling clouds

a brother who is safe at home

hand me downs

the reminders to stop and appreciate what I have and how lucky I truly am

friends who give and then teach

the promises His people are given

a waterline right down among the grapevines

comfrey that has held on through all my neglect

cleaning out and giving away

the talents I’ve be blessed with

a friend’s boy who thought a fork may be one of the weapons used in the game of Clue, someone might come up and stab you in the back, and the laughter that followed

fresh produce

The weeks seem to get busier around here.  We all seem to be restless.  For what, I’m not entirely sure.  We rearrange rooms on the weekends.  The girls and I finish putting books back on bookshelves when the week begins.  I pick and can or freeze during the week.  We swim when everyone’s in the mood. 

Last week we had the opportunity to go pick blueberries with some friends. It. Was. Hot. And all the kids, well all except my oldest, complained the whole time. We did end up getting two gallons which was my goal since we were hitting the very end of blueberry season. While leaving (and with my hands full of buckets) one of the kids spotted a bird’s nest. Even though I only had one free hand and couldn’t steady the camera well, I had to take the shots.

 

#159-168

picking blueberries on hot summer morning

a borrowed tortilla maker – I should admit I made chocolate tortillas with it!  They were good too!

baby birds with eyes still shut

fresh canned salsa

a husband who organizes well, especially since it’s out of my element

the first watermelon out of our own garden

people who accept you just as you are

the 1/2 price table at the Goodwill

giving

beautiful clouds on a summer afternoon

Blessings

 

As I walk through the grass I feel the dew on my feet.  It must’ve rained last night, I think, but in the garden beds I see that the earth is dry.  I turn on my rain machine – the garden hose – and spray generously where I recently seeded. 

Walking through the greenhouse, I admire the tall, bushy asparagus.  I turn to look at the green apple cucumbers and think what I read was definitely right when they said they’re slow to start but take off once they do.  I hear the bees buzzing all around.  It’s like music to my ears. 

I pick what’s ready, dropping it into my bucket and walk down to the garden beds.  As I stand down there admiring the beauty of God’s nature around me I watch bees buzzing around down here too.  Picking the bright yellow cucumber, a bee follows my hand straight down into the bucket.  Trod lightly little bee the beans have been planted, I think to myself. 

I walk over to the tomatoes and start to pick.  Right in front of me are black cherry tomatoes ripe for the picking.  They look like a bunch of grapes and I admire them first before plucking them.  The black cherries have come to be one of my favorites. 

I fall into a deep thought.  The garden is where I spend time talking to God -pleading, crying out, praising Him.  As I stand there entranced in my own thoughts I’m interrupted by the youngest girl child asking if it’s time to swim.  "Yeah" I say, "go ahead and start getting ready.  I’ll be up."

 

#145 – 158

watermelon on a hot summer day

early phone calls

books finished

friends visited

 

my own lens

“weeds” with brilliant flowers

giving up (in this case coffee)

waterparks

fresh vegetables

story on tape

paper crafts

His hands

organizing together

making movies to share with friends