the essentials

Every backyard needs the essentials for play: lots of grass,
some water to cool off in,
a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes,
a cool treat
and an awesome dad to play with.

We spent all of last summer (really, the whole stinking summer) getting the yard usable. Lots of dirt, lots of sod, lots of sprinklers, and much more sweat and time than we cared to expend.

Now we are enjoying the rewards of hard work well done. We spend lots of time outside now playing and resting and getting dirty. We love every minute of it.

Now, if I could get those kids to pull weeds...

everyday's like a vacation

Okay, to be perfectly honest, I left the house a bit grumbly.

It is really, really challenging to leave the house on an adventure with three kids. There's lunch to pack, snacks to pack, sunscreen to pack; then you gotta make sure not to forget hats, sunglasses, extra clothes, diapers, wipes, snacks, fishing stuff, water bottles, snacks, baby backpack, snacks, coffee for mom, camera, snacks, and more snacks just in case.

And the kids, can't forget the kids.

But all the grumbling stopped once we got here.


Doesn't this look like a great vacation spot Dad? Right on the Metolius River-beautiful Camp Sherman, Oregon. They were hosting a free fishing day for kids at Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery.

We loaded 'em up and headed out to join lots of other kiddos with their parents. It was awesome. Crowded, but awesome.

The kids had so much fun-we started in the little pool (super easy fishing here). Cayden got one right off the bat, Levi took a bit longer but took advantage of the time to work on casting and reeling in.


It didn't take long for him to feel ready to move to where the big kids were-there they had great success.

(okay, does anyone else think she looks her cousin Hayden here?)

This little gal wasn't too interested; I think she was snuggling in hoping I would hold her, not teach her how to fish.


So then we headed out (I mean hiked out) to the van. We all were very glad to get there, and stinking hungry too.



We headed into Camp Sherman.

We had lunch not to far from this spot.

Then we drove home, tired and happy.

It was a good, good day. So grateful we are living here, so close to all of this-that we can spend a day out playing and be home for dinner. Makes everyday feel like a vacation.

growth

Continuing to find peace and hope here in the garden. It never ceases to amaze me that you can put a tiny seed in the ground and watch it grow. There's not really much I can do to make the growth happen, just provide the right conditions, then God does the rest.

Kind of like our life in Christ. He brings the growth when we place ourselves in the right places-when we position ourselves next to him, under his wing, in his care.

He is the one who does it all. He provides, he cares, he loves. We're continuing to see that in our lives, in our business and with our kids. That's why it's so encouraging to be out in this place, it's a visible reminder of the new things God will do in my life, if I let him.

How do I let him? Well, just by placing myself at his feet. There I will find the perfect conditions for my growth.

Lovely lettuce.


Sweet strawberries (lots on our other plants too).



Beautiful beans.



Terrific tomato (even if it is a bit smallish now).

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"I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Tuesday in Pictures

Early morning run.


Morning coffee.


The hustle of getting ready to head out the door for grocery shopping; getting snacks, answering the phone, finding shoes. Silly me had the crazy idea of trying a new store to save money. So off we went, and by the end of the day we had been to three-count them, three-grocery stores. Thank goodness Mammie met us at the first stop, made things so much easier.


Then, later-after lunch and sorta, kinda naps (really, a nap for the baby until big sister woke her up-the joy of room sharing) off to the library. There we were happy to run into a few friends and catch up with them-and get some cool new books of course.


Then home again for dinner, baths, some time playing Wii, then an early bedtime for the kids.

When it was all said and done, I spent more money and more time shopping. One store didn't have everything we needed, one wasn't even that much cheaper; our old standby was the one that got it done for us. They had the cookies and play land for the kids, and yummy cherries for us all.


How do you spend your days lately?