Down Mulberry Lane

...More Kitties...

Dh came home this morning and my little one comes to find me with Daddy trailing behind.  She says, Look Mommy, More Kitties.  There stands my husband, Steve, holding two kittens.  He went over to get some feeders from a friend and brought home two kittens. 

They are cute.  I made the mistake a couple weeks ago when we took in a sick, injured kitten to say that I like gray cats.  (the sick kitten was an orange tabby).  Dh brought home a long haired black kitten with gray underfur, and a gray shorthair kitten with orangish-yellow  underhair.  Both are females which I was distressed over, but Dh says to get them fixed and they'll be fine.  I'm really not sure I wanted more cats, now we have 3 new ones. 

Roscoe, the injured one, is a male who is growing quite well and if we could figure out what is up with his eye, we'd be doing good, but in talking to the vet, it likely isn't just the normal gooping of the eyes.  We found him cowering in a corner of our chicken cook and wonder if he wandered in and the chickens got a few good pecks at the one eye as it is not healing, it almost looks as if the eyeball had popped.  His inner eyelids do not work correctly and are often closed when he has his eyes opened.  We don't have a budget to take him to the vet for surgery.  The vet offered some advice, but basically was with us on the worth of fixing it.  We're hoping that as he grows he will be able to clean and care for his own eye.  It appears the infection is gone, now, but his eye is constantly running due to his eye having damage to it.  Sad, but when he is cleaned up, you'd hardly notice it affects him at all.  He runs around and plays like any other kitten and loves to eat! 

I will try to get pictures up of the kittens in a short while. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Digital Camera...

Please share with me your favorite camera.  I am planning to purchase a small one that will fit in my purse.  I want one that takes good pictures.  I am not concerned with the video, although, it could come in handy???  My main hopes is to find a small camera that takes very nice close-up photos.  Our current camera is a large canon and it used to take nice close-ups, but recently in the past 6 months, all the close-up photos have been blurry, it will not focus on items closer than about 2 feet and if I am further, will not zoom in to get a nice close-up...like getting a picture of a caterpillar or a flower.   

I was looking at a samsung S860 and it had good reviews, but when I went to the store last night to get it (I got a raincheck)... I tried it out and I would take pictures of the sale tags and it wouldn't focus on the text (details).   I then got to trying different cameras and I realize I need to know how to set the camera up and this may affect some of the photo details, but on the portrait setting (close up), I only got a handful of cameras to work for showing details.  One was a Sanyo for $139.   I really liked the $79.99 price tag of the raincheck samsung, but now I am not so sure I want to spend that and still not be able to take those up close shots.  

Please share any cameras that are small, take nice close-up photos with all the details you want to see!, and are fairly affordable.  I would like to know if you have had luck with any cameras and are really happy with them. 

Thanks, ~Melissa

Starting over...

Well, I thank Jocelyn so much for her help with my template!  As you may notice, I went back to a starter template so that I might take some time to learn how to make my own template.  I have Jocelyn's beautiful template saved for the time when I will likely again use it.  For now, I will be switching templates, trying to figure out how these starter templates differ and see what it is that I like about each one and then hopefully I can begin to start tinkering and making a template that I can modify with some sort of comfort.  *grin* 

I am excited to do it on my own, yet I know that I can easily get carried away when learning a new skill.  I can often times become so absorbed that I forget all the other things that need doing as well.  So, I will be limiting myself to how much I do each day in working on the template.  You all may not notice much going on at all, because it likely won't change much at first.  I also will be allowing myself time to work on my template only after completing a goal at home.  Meaning, that applesauce is going to get made, as is the grape jelly and the pepper jelly. 

I will also be sifting through old posts and deleting some to help clean things up.  All in time.  I figure this is a good winter project. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Camping, College and School Starting...

We've been gone camping and I am about settled into home (about...still much to do, but I am getting into a routine).  We took a spur of the moment trip to camp at Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin.  It is a quiet place, huge campground and a very large state park.   We enjoyed some lazy summer relaxation before heading back home to meet what is there to get done. 

Back home, Kate started college this week.  She is learning her schedule.  Unfortunately we can't get her into ONE more class and she isn't sure she is happy or sad about that.  One more class would give her official full-time status according to the college.  They told us that she was full-time, but this seminar class the financial aid office tells us, does not qualify her for full time.  So, I am researching having her take a correspondence course that will transfer to her 4 year college in religion (which our local college doesn't carry).  She is really struggling with the amount of work with the 3 classes currently and tells me she is not sure another class is a good idea.  She was up until 12:58 am last night (with me by her side for the last hour and a half) doing her chemistry assignment.  An entire chapter in one day and gobs of questions... lots of math problems and formulas...  But she got it done and this morning looked ready to tackle another day.  She will be working after classes today, which will bring her home straight to do homework until bed again. 

We also started gearing up with our homeschool.  Getting out some of those books and beginning a few classes.  I am not totally organized, but this week was a week of organizing and cleaning up from camping and still cleaning out from the kitchen fire.  Our first day of "school" the two older girls painted their baby sister's room.  New to them and they did a great job.  They've watched us paint through the years, now it was time for them.  We also in doing this were moving her into this room, which was previously the "tv room" and in doing it, it has in effect decreased some tv watching time. 

Today the girls are picking some pears from our pear tree.  They are near ripe and need to be picked before they drop and "splat" on the ground.  I wasn't expecting any pears as we didn't get hardly a dozen last year even having bees to pollinate them... but this year... no bees and a full tree. 

The girls already have a mindset of completing their school year on time... which means every time I break off for school to do something constructive, I am finding a not so welcome front from the girls.  They pestered me about picking pears and really needing to do some "book work".  My 13 yo isn't like that so much, she's been homeschooled from the start, but I fought this mentality all the way through with my oldest and my second (still) likely because they went to school and consider school just that... book work.  While we have followed the Moore Formula and tried alternate forms of teaching, the two older girls have always come back to school meaning "text books".  And with not having many other than math and occasionally an English textbook, they have really struggled with feeling like they have accomplished something.  It  took my oldest getting a good score on her ACT to realize she actually learned something without the regimented school routine.  She has always felt behind her classmates who remained in school.  Just because she was different.  Not every day was a struggle though, she enjoyed homeschooling, but every so often the "oh, no, Mom's not a real teacher... thought would creep in and we'd be in for a rough day or two until they worked through that again".  (Usually spurred on my an educational event at her previous school.)  Anyways, I don't mean to make it sound like we don't accomplish things, it just doesn't seem that way when we don't school traditionally to the kids at times.  I think that means I need to put in some more praise days for completing a project or unit study. 

Organizing is going more quickly since the girls are back to help watch their sister.  I have to remind myself to break away and spend time with little Paige doing "Nothing" so that she will have her Mommy time.  WHile I'd love to have the house put together in a week or so... it likely won't be that quick.  But happy kids are worth more than a Martha Stewart House. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

God is good...

God is working in our lives everyday.  I just love to see the work.  I'm sure I don't recognize it all, but when I do recognize something... it is just a big smiley in my heart! 

Today Kate's first class of college went very well.  She came home and said that it wasn't painful, nor was it mortifying.  I suggested she take this "free" one hour credit course that basically introduces her to college life and what to expect.  It helps her learn how to study, take notes, how to read a teacher, how to plan her schedule based on hours of school, how much homework time to expect, etc.  She seemed to rather enjoy the class.  She won a prize for being the smartest student in class.  She won a NIACC lunch bag.  I said, they hope she faithfully brings it each day to school...she just laughed.  It was a silly test... like what place are you in when you pass the person in second place?  Just basic logic type/trick questions.  She said she made everyone laugh when she made her introductions.  Our last name is a short simple name and is similar to an animal.  She made that reference to the animal and it gave everyone a chuckle.   She has two more days of this class and then she is done.  A short simple class that I hope will help her with her other classes. 

Steve called me this evening and thinks he has a good plan to make use of this short countertop without shortening the cupboards.  He says he is just afraid he will damage the cupboards by trying to remove them and shorten them up.  He plans to make a step of a sort behind the backsplash.  It will be like having a shelf just behind the backsplash to which I can set spices or knick knacks or whatever.  We had planned on doing this behind the stove because where my stove sits it has to stick out from the wall because of some pipes behind it.  If he does it all along this wall, it will make up for the short countertop and it will blend that blank area behind the stove and it will bring the countertop out more even with the front of the stove.  Seems like a good plan.  He plans on testing his theory tomorrow when he is home and he will lay down the countertop and be sure this will work.  God is good!  He fixes two problems with one solution.  Silly us for worrying!  *sigh*

As I was cleaning out some items today, the girls posed to me that they want separate bedrooms.  We have 3 bedrooms for the kids and 4 girls.  Our little 3yo has her own room due to no one wanting to go to bed early with her and having to deal with night time wakings, etc.  That will soon change, but I am unsure what to do with the 3yo, now.    Having such large age spans between the 3 olders and the little one has made it challenging.  I have one in college, one in 11th grade, one in 8th grade and a 3yo.  The two olders were together, but with college schedules it would be best for her to have her own space by the time college officially starts.  She would then have a quiet place to migrate to complete homework without alot of interruptions.   I am contemplating having the second two room together... but beds are an issue.  ARGH!  The two olders share similar styled twin beds which can bunk together, but not the third child.   I am assuming I am going to need to just get tough and say... bunks go in this room, it is what will work.  I will not be well liked at all.  I know motherhood is not a popularity contest, but still.... I'm already taking tv's out of the bedrooms... how much meaner can I get???  LOL. 

(the girls had tv's in their bedrooms cuz grandpa gave them each a tv... they were small and old, but they still work!  And at the time, I didn't say anything, but it became an issue as time went on and I decided I no longer am going to fight these tv's in the bedrooms.  I see no reason for having tv's in the bedroom, just seems silly to me.  I want to sleep when I go to bed!  I went to a sleep seminar and they said that having tv's in the bedroom can disturb a good nights sleep.... not because it is on, but because it takes away the aurora of the bedroom being a restful place and our minds can get excited just knowing a tv is in there... Crazy isn't it?  We are wired so that we respond without even thinking at times.  I can see good in that response, but negative influences can and do have negative responses in our lives.  So, final answer... Mom says no more TV's in the bedrooms.  The girls didn't argue.  My older two had already taken theirs out of their room on their own, so it was just one daughter that needed to take hers out and she is not fighting me, but accepting the verdict.)  

I guess that is good, right?  I expected a bit of a fight, but didn't get one.  I wish the bedroom switch-a-roo would be as easy to tackle.  It is keeping me up late this night.  I am drawing up ideas.  I should just pray about it and go to bed.  God already knows the answers and will likely let me know in good time. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

A Full House...a trying day...

A full house is a busy house!  My house is full again and I am finding that keeping everyone back on track is a job that needs to be done again! Not that I am complaining.  It is so nice to have a home filled with commotion again. 

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for my wrist.  I had fallen about 2 months ago and I am still having pain in the area.  My range of motion is decreased from the other wrist, but better than it was when I made the appointment a month ago!  So, the doctor called it a sprained wrist and said that if in two more months I still have pain and decreased range of motion to let her know and she will refer me to an orthopedic doctor. 

I went to the bank and had to argue a charge.  Someone had bounced a check on us and they took the money out of our account in June.  Then I got a notice they again took the money out in August for the same check.  It was bad enough we had to deal with the bounced check, but to again have it bounce on us... It was like giving our sheep away and giving the bank some money to have just cuz we like them.  Anyways, our bank tracked down the error.  They said it was the fault of the other bank.  Which may be true, but my bank took money out of my account twice for ONE single deposit... that was their error, but I wasn't supposed to catch that... they were happy to get it all corrected and let me know it was the other bank's fault.  :p   When I return the slips, they will refund the money.  Another trip to town ... I should ask for $5 in gas as well.  I won't.... I'm not that bold!  LOL 

After I got home, Dh wanted to work on the kitchen.  He took the upper cupboards off the walls and I painted while he ran to town to pick up the countertop.  We then wallpapered and found out we had two different run numbers so the second roll we grabbed was more yellowey... so we had to pull that down and start over.  Nothing like throwing $20 away just cuz I forgot to check run numbers!  Once done, then we had to put the cupboards up and the trim boards.  The trim boards got put up in the wrong order and in the shoving to get them in... scuffed the paint.  So, I will have to spot paint and hope it blends well.... (It's hard to blend a two color paint job... you think it wouldn't be noticable, but it is often more noticable).  Then we put the cupboards back up and scuffed the wall paper real good, we took it back down, rewallpapered that strip and then put the cupboard up again and it barely tore when it got cinched up against the wall.  Dh was about fit to be tied.  Nothing was going right.  Then we set the countertop on top of the current countertop to check the overhang... it was going to be different, but livable... however when we put the one countertop up, we found that Dh had ordered it 3 inches too short.  It actually had a 3 inch overhang and he gave the measurement needed to cover the cabinet assuming the 3 inch overhang was in addition to that, but it wasn't... so, now he is trying to figure out how to redo the bottom cupboard and shorten it by 3 inches.  It ultimately means tearing it completely apart to remove the boards that this one is screwed to on the floor and in tearing anything apart... it is likely to crack a board or two, so he is not happy at all.  If he can remove it and not crack any wood, we will be okay, I just have a shorter counter/cupboard area by 3 inches.  I can deal with that.  BUT if it cracks, then it ends up costing more to replace the bottom cupboard than it would have if we would have just reordered the countertop in the right length.  Steve was having a real hard day, because everything that ultimately went wrong was his fault, or he felt it that way.  I mean the wallpaper was definately my fault (having different run numbers).  But all the scuffs of the paint and the torn wallpaper and then the countertop and then he bent the filter of the hood... he set the new stove fan above and was going to put it up without help and set it on his head and now the filter is the shape of his head!  LOL.  Add to that the scratched handle on the fridge that we just got that he scratched coming in the door he was just adding this to his list of "i'm no good".   He felt so bad and was getting so upset... more by the minute.  As I was redoing the wallpaper (alone, as he was about ready to strangle something... he had actually stabbed a screwdriver into the old countertop (which we are still using), he says to me... that black sink is on sale this week, I could go pick it up and you'd have a real nice sink.  And I realized how crushed he was. 

He wanted the kitchen to look nice for me, but every thing he is trying to do is somehow getting messed up.  I can't begin to tell you all the little things, but you've heard some of the bigger things, but a couple other trials to this kitchen is that he stained new wood and polyeurothaned it only to find out that he used glossy finish with the original and the new is satin and it definately shows... BIG difference in how the lighting hits it and the color looks darker because of the different finish.  Since he redid a couple of the burnt doors, you can really see a difference when it is set on the glossy base of the cupboards.  (So, we will have to refinish ALL the Cupboards now).   Also, the wood has variations and in one cupboard that was to be a gift to me... 3 sets of doors are one color, the last set looks about 2-3 shades darker.  It is the same wood, but wow... it stained alot darker.  So it looks a bit out of place.  Daytime lighting doesn't show it horribly, but come afternoon/evening it looks rather dark.  And another goof is that he cut his plywood wrong... at $45 a sheet... that's a spendy goof.  

I realized that all this was going through his head.  So, I stopped wallpapering and gave him a hug and said I love you more than perfect paint, perfect wallpaper, or perfect cupboards!  I realized he took my silence over his anger outbursts as rejection of him and his ability to do the kitchen, not just trying to keep the calm of the house cuz he can fly off the handle quite  quickly if I do not remain extra reserved.  I figured that out years ago, that my own response to him can set him off when he is a bit irritated.  The mother's/wife's attitude can set the entire tone for the home.  Sometimes I would love to yell back, but it wouldn't help either of us with the situation and I would have ended up miserable and he would have been even more miserable.  I tell you that I prayed for patience and prayed for calmness and that God would give me a reserve of love that would cover this trial... because quite honestly my own self was rising up... I had painted the soffit with two coats, three on one spot because the burn was bad enough not to cover and it blended very well and to have it scuffed just because he didn't want to take the other board down that needed to go up after the current board instead of before... well... I was tried!  My perfectionism was tested beyond belief.  But, even though I I have the patience to redo and redo to gain perfect results, Dh does not.  I realized it was more important to make do with the imperfections... Dh will have enough on his plate in refinishing all the cupboards and resizing the cupboards... adding expected perfectionism on everything else he touches was just asking too much.  It's a kitchen... And perhaps that is a fun excuse to gather my creative efforts to draw one's attention to something else in the kitchen rather than the imperfections.  Like HOMEMADE bread, homemade granola, a pretty green salad. 

As for the countertop, we picked a speckled brown and I think I will really like it in this kitchen.  Dh was tired of the Christmas colors (red and green) and going brown was a nice contrast with the reddish paint and the black appliances.  

Back to the cleaning.  Pantry cupboards are next on my list to unsoot.  I hope to send my girls on laundry duty to clean the softer toys that were sooted up.  They are actually unpacking the camper.  We wanted to take one more short camp before the girls start school and it is full of fire items packed in boxes or bags needing some cleaning up.  So, two tasks in one job...

Warmly, ~Melissa

My girls are home!

Last night we sat down for supper and the table was full.  That was such a wonderful but strange sensation.  It had been nearly 8 weeks since it was last full.  My heart felt so full.  The girls talked of camp, shared pictures, but I found awe in just watching them, seeing their expressions, hearing what they have learned. 

Kate, the oldest at 18yo, was doing most of the talking.  Megan who had been home had soooo many questions and kept the conversations full of details.  We talked until almost 11pm until we all headed off for bed.  They were tired and so was I. 

We found that no one had a good night sleep!  Isn't that odd?  I awoke and have been dealing with a migraine for much of the day.  The others had similar sleep complaints.  I imagine being back home with different night noises, different beds than they had become accustomed to, an exhausting day saying sad good-byes to friends and a long ride home... all gave way to their poor sleeping. 

Today we went to my inlaws for lunch after church.  Gramma went all out for favorite treats for the girls... homemade ice cream sandwiches and  caramel chocolate bars, not to mention always having ice cream in the fridge and their favorite soda.  I found out today that my oldest had finally found a taste for salad!  I am soooo excited!  She just couldn't get over the texture of lettuce and she said that she finally made herself eat salads every day and by doing that, soon eating a salad at every meal was a habit.  Woo Hoo for summer camp!  She also ventured into territories of trying unfamiliar fruits and she found she liked them.  I am so happy because I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies and salads... and to hear that they will be a welcome addition... well... my heart is smiling!  (In the past, I and Megan (my 13yo) were the only ones who really ate salads.  Dh will eat them occasionally, but not every time I make them.   Of course, I could have made her, but I never forced it because she did eat fairly healthy for the most part.  

Chelsea, my 16 yo was very quiet.  She let Kate do most of the talking, but opened up towards bedtime.  A vespers and movie night was planned at the Pastor's house for our girls arriving home from camp.  Chelsea however bowed out and wanted to stay home.  She just wanted to be home... I think being at camp for so long and having one of the hardest jobs at camp (working in the kitchen)... well, she was tired.  But it was a long time for her... she wanted to volunteer, but didn't expect to stay on so long.  She did enjoy it, she won't say she didn't, but she did miss home.  She is enjoying a quiet evening at home with Mom and Paige while the other two joined the Pastor and his wife and the other two girls at church for an evening of fun.  (Steve got an offshift and is on duty until Midnight). 

Chelsea has always been my bubbly outspoken child and this summer I have seen a big  change in he demeanor.  Whether it was being away or just part of growing up, I have seen a more serious side and a quiet pondering heart that she carries.  When the room empties, she quietly shares something on her heart and I am so grateful for that.  I love each of my children dearly and found that Chelsea had always found ways to avoid talking with Mom.   She preferred talking to friends, to her sisters, but only sharing what "had" to be shared with Mom because life demanded that your Mother know certain things, but to share what was on her heart... that was a rare occasion.  With being away, I got calls one to two times a week from her and she opened up and shared and talked and even "asked" for advice!  I had been looking forward to this with her being home and her older sister being gone that perhaps we would have time to catch up and get closer.  I never would have imagined that having her GONE would have the result I had hoped for happening when we knew her sister had a job at camp.  When I found out she was accepted to help volunteer because they had an opening half way through the summer... well, my heart just sank... an opportunity gone.  A great opportunity for her, but when would I get time with her in the "oldest" at home position?  I never imagined in my wildest dreams that having her leave would open up communication like never before.  It is a treasure in this mother's heart.  And now tonight she is home... and relaxing just being home... she is content and quietly happy. 

Many full days ahead are planned for the coming week.  No slowing down for this family.  Next week, Kate has an introductory class for college and she will decide whether to change her classes before they officially start.   Her plans for college are still undetermined, as offical anyways... that is ok, but we want her classes to be useful for whatever she might choose... so we will evaluate that over the next couple days.  

My home is full and life is full.  Amid all the trials of summer, my heart is full.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

Girls are coming home!

Today, my husband drove to get my girls from summer camp.  At this point in time, they have been picked up and they stopped somewhere to eat.  I am soooo excited to know they are on their way home.  Steve was delayed in getting there... they were to get out around noon and he didn't make it there until after 1:30 pm because of road delays and an accident that he had to go around.  So our poor girls had  to wait... hungry, I imagine because they were to be all gone and no one would be cooking! 

Paige and I are waiting at home.  I got some laundry hung outside.  I cleaned up the living room, laundry room, dining room and my bedroom since this morning.  I moved some items to new locations because the new fridge meant the buffet had to move, the buffet meant a dresser needed to be moved, the dresser meant the school drawers had to be moved...  So that was what I last did.  At this moment, I have the kitchen and front room to finish up this afternoon.  And then some supper to make when everyone arrives home.  I also need to run to town to deliver eggs to the local health food shop, pick up some chicken flavor stuff for gravy, perhaps get some more potatoes and pick up sweet corn for tomorrow's lunch.  My time will be crunched, so I best be off, so I am ready for the girls to arrive home. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Tired...

This describes me today!  I am so tired.  Tired of preparing sweet corn for the freezer, but we are done... we have this year's harvest in.  Now, I can focus on something else.  I went to check the garden to see what might be next and I could hardly find it!  In living our life being driven by circumstances, I have had no time to tend to the garden and it is really showing. 

In late June, just before the fire, the sweet corn was weeded as were the peas and the broccoli and squash and onions and beans and tomatoes and peppers... The squash was already lost in weeds and about the time we got to the squash to weed we had the kitchen fire.  That is where our garden adventures stopped. 

My garden is filling with weeds taller than I.  Both Dh and I are discouraged about it, but are so exhausted from trying to tread water with everything else that we figured it is simply not something to cry over.  God is blessing us in ways that will make up for this year's garden harvest. 

I will likely get some onions out of the garden... If I can find them!  LOL.  I think they are about ready, so I imagine that is why I am not seeing the tops any longer... they likely have started to fall over.  At least I hope that is the case.  

I found some broccoli growing in the garden.  That is Just amazing to me... if you would see the leaves on my plants... they look like lace.  Hardly a trace of the leaf left... mostly holes.  But deep within the plant, I can see some broccoli coming on 4 of my 6 plants.  Now, if I can keep the cabbage worms from devouring the broccoli, I will get some broccoli to add to my stir frys. 

My tomatoes and peppers are doing well, despite the lack of care.  A couple plants have gotten heavy for the cages and fallen over.  I have some peppers coming along, some yellow, some green and some salsa and a few reds.  Lots of flowers yet on the peppers so we will see what comes of them.  And tomatoes... are sprawling all over the place and I see tomatoes getting bigger, so we will get a few of those. 

So overall, we will get some food from our garden, just not what we imagined.  My lettuce beds never produced much... I still have tiny leaves just starter leaves really, they never grew... I think it got too hot.  

Some day we will have a nice garden... just not this year.  

I'm glad the corn is in.  I can rest with that done.  I can turn my mind to something else. 

Warmly, ~Melissa 

Blessings...

Our summer has been full of blessings.  It is easy for one to get down and sometimes simply taking note of those blessings will be enough to lift you up for one more day on this tiresome old earth.  I thought I would share some of our blessings with you...

We went to campmeeting as a family and had a wonderful week together.  No horrible weather while we camped.  It was a nice spiritual retreat. 

We had a fire... Blessings... the house is getting cleaned from top to bottom and everywhere in between!   No one was hurt!  Fire went out by itself!

The stove/oven was burned up... Blessings, a new one was put in it's place.  

The hours of fire clean-up have been long... Blessings... the insurance company paid us for cleaning, which afforded us a new refrigerator which we really needed. 

Fire damage.  Caused some problems in our plans, but Dh has been talking of wanting to update the kitchen and this fire has allowed Dh the ability to make changes which feel like updates...even if they are repairs.   

My daughter sent in her application to volunteer at camp late... really late.  Someone was let go and a replacement was needed.  The late application wasn't tossed out, but instead, it was a blessing to the Camp Director who needed more staff.   She was taken on half way through the summer to finish out the camp season as a volunteer.

We had heavy and continual rains this spring which caused havoc on some of our crop.  Our corn was coming, but not the crop we had hoped for.  Blessings... God only could have done it... we are to get 30 Dozen ears of corn to replace our corn that may or may not come up.  Since seed corn is planted next to our land, the seed company wanted our corn out ASAP... the farmer put up an account for us at a local sweet corn farm to make up for what we may have lost.  The farmer just detassled our crop and says we might still get some corn from the one variety which was already tassled out.  He said, keep that for a bonus.  While many would have been upset at the inconvenience, it was a blessing for us as we were sure we lost 50% of our own sweet corn. 

Sweet Corn day one...5 dozen blanched, cut and frozen... Put away 13 quarts.  The 5 dozen I picked up was prebagged and was over 7 dozen ears of corn.  Only 4 ears were horribly bad, but the chickens and horses loved them.  The tally... 5 dozen perfectly good ears (no worm damage at all) and 2 + dozen with the top 1/2-1 inch bugged up... easy to cut off and still a whole lot of corn left. 

This year, students in our county are getting a $75 walmart card for each student in school.  Homeschoolers included.  First to be used for school supplies, second for clothing or shoes.  Very timely for two of my girls. 

Dad's surgery went well.  He seems to be sore, but recovery is good.  The pain in his legs is almost completely gone after surgery, just a few occasional spasms which are likely due to swelling in the area.  He says the only pain he has is right at the incision... where it should hurt! 

Family and friends nearby are able to care for the horses while my Dad recovers.  At the moment all seems taken care of, which is a blessing since I need to be home working with the sweet corn and a few garden items of my own to harvest. 

Growth at camp... My girls each had their own experiences this summer where God touched them personally. 

*My Megan loved some u-tubes shared at camp over several evenings talking about the skies, stars and planets.  She had recently studied the solar system the year before in science, so this was just adding to her knowledge base, yet the spiritual application was Huge on her and she is sharing it with friends and grandparents and has even got her Dad out on the telescope gazing the skies again. 

*Chelsea at campmeeting was taught about relationships during her week of youth meetings.  That always makes me nervous since I try to teach more courtship concepts than dating concepts and I was pleasantly surprised that this year dating wasn't encouraged, but rather waiting for when you are ready to marry and in the meantime... (other ideas to help them cope with not dating during their teen years).  Volunteering at camp she has been presented with three different situations in which she has had to make a vocal stand on her convictions of dating/courtship.  I was praying for her, but she stood up and said... I'm not ready.  Chelsea is my social bug and it is wonderful to see her stand on her convictions rather than being controlled by her peers.  Her peers and even the boys asking her... are impressed with her ability to not cave and just join the crowd. 

*Kate is working at camp and is having a spiritual high.  She says Jesus is so real to her right now.  She is loving sharing Jesus with the kids at camp, with other staff and just loving the realness of Jesus.  She is a hard worker... all my girls are and their ability to keep going when they are tired shows.  Kate has gotten compliments that she is one that the other staff looks up to because she just keeps going and never complains.  She can see how her raising up has made her to be someone out of the ordinary... She has been so thankful for that, not so that she can receive compliments, but that she is able to shine for Jesus in a unique way... she has always wondered why God has asked Mom and Dad to pull her out of school and homeschool her.  She is now beginning to understand that God is using her in unique ways to reach out to her peers that she might not otherwise have been able to do had she continued through school with them.  She is seeing the blessings of having been raised and schooled at home.  

NO zucchini in our garden... Blessings... Mom gave me  two large zucchini a couple days ago.  

Went to thrift shop and found an ice shaver with two motors and several ice cups for $2.50.  My Mom had a half price coupon with her, so I was able to get this special treat for Megan for just $1.25.  

Went to visit my Mother and Dad.  Gas at home was $3.92 per gallon.  Gas was only $3.64 (in their area) to refill my tank for the ride home... every little bit helps! (still 3.92 here at home!)

My mother is lonely.  She just got a new dog to keep her company.  She seemed very happy with her new companion.  Little Sophie seems to like Mom just as much.  

Paige stuck a bead up her nose.  Blessing... she was fine.  The emergency room doctor was so kind and removed it without any trauma to Paige.  She actually enjoyed meeting this doctor and stated he was now her favorite doctor.  She assured us she will never stick another bead up her nose again! 

Oh there have been many more blessings, but these are the few that I recall so late at night!  God is good to us.  I can see how Satan is working hard to break my spirit and those around us, but I see friends and family rising above that pain and heart ache.  When Satan takes away, God has replaced or given above and beyond what we ever imagined.  I sit back and smile.  I read the book of Job a few days ago and I stand in awe and wonder of his greatness.  God is truly in control! 

Warmly, ~Melissa