Country Life...photos I've taken that represent what country life is...simple!

Nature Walk... these are the favorite photos I've taken of God's great bounty...Simple pleasures of life!

Little Ball of Sweetness...

So...walking through my kitchen yesterday I stumbled upon a small watermelon.  I thought it extremely funny since that same watermelon had been purchase 4 or 5 days earlier.  There it sat, waiting and watching and wondering if anyone would pay it any attention.  It watched as we entered the garage for our painting and crafting, as we came in from long bike rides, went to and fro from the refrigerator and even sat each evening for dinner and as scattered rabbits at breakfast.  It wondered and waited for an invitation to that table of ours, that refrigerator so cool and refreshing, but alas...no.  There it sat!  I was amazed that in all our hurried adventures we hadn't even paid so much as a smidge of attention to this little ten pound ball of red sweetness.

As I noticed it yesterday, on the floor, off the beaten path, sort of.  I grimaced at the fact that kids will be kids, as not one of them completed the task of loading it into the fridge as I had so kindly instructed.  In the hurry of the day or days for this sweet thang, we finally realized the joy and sweetness our ten pound ball of plenty had to offer...at the dinner table of my oldest son's 21st birthday.  This baby melon was sweet, drip out of your mouth juicy and firm not mushy like the yucky melons.  This melon finally realized the full extent of it's creation, to bless the table of a family coming together in celebration of life and love and laughter...
How often to we forget or forego those countless little blessings because we're not paying attention...to the small stuff?
What I've learned from all of this...
Pay attention to that little ball of sweetness waiting to bless your lives...and table!  And Please...don't forget the watermelon!

Family Quilts...

I am so grateful for my family.  We have our up's and down's, our good days and bad, but we're family.  There isn't any person in my family, extended or immediate that I'd trade for anything.  I love them!  Each member reminds me of the patches in a well-worn quilt.  The kind that has perfect patches in the beginning, but over time some of the patches seem to come apart at the seam, get a little frayed at the edges, fade with time and even get a little itchy from time to time because the stuffing is coming through...

These kinds of families are the best!  They're warm, cozy and are always right there to pull around you when you're having a bad day, or just want to cuddle.  And though the patches may lose their color, their place in our family never changes.  We might use some thread to fix those frayed edges and tuck the stuffing back in, and we may need to make some repairs from time to time...but, the quilt of our family will continually renew itself through one another.  It's own unique patterns and prints will be the legacy of our family.  And it is this quilt of ours that will leave a legacy for every generation to enjoy and learn from.   Remember that each family is held together with the thread of genuine, forgiving and unconditional LOVE!

Christmas projects...fun fun fun!!!

My most favorite memories of Christmas aren't just on that day, but of the family memories of all the projects leading up to Christmas Eve.  I love the time spent on the floor quilting with my girls, painting with my boys, or watching the creative mind at work as my girls place each bead gently on the wire as they make gifts for their friends and unsuspecting family members.  The giggles, the sighs, the look of contentment once a finished project is realized in all its glory.  Aaaah!  It's those cozy nights of licking the colored frosting off the spoon, smelling the sweet cocoa scent of chocolate chips from the oven, and just being together.  That is what I love about these moments in life...and Christmas best of all.

Christmas Already???

Can you believe it's here again so soon? That day of day's, much anticipated and prepared for... will soon be here and gone. I often think of ways in which I can keep that nostalgic feeling in my home. You know the one. Family, home, warmth, togetherness, laughter and all the good feelings of love and cherished memories. We decided this year would be different. Of course, all the aforementioned characteristics, but less of the green from my husbands back pocket. Besides the fact that we, like many of our friends are stone broke and have used our share of plastic over paper in years past. We have opted for homemade gifts for one another. Yes, a leap...of faith, frugality and fortitude. However, it looks to be one of those Christmases we'll not soon forget. I'll keep you posted on my portion of the gift making for my children. As for the rest of my family, depending on who drew whose name, will determine the length and width of their creativity or lack thereof. Who knows, maybe my kids will surprise me with their hidden gift making abilities. After all...if you can believe it and conceive it...you can achieve it! Righteyoh!

Riding the wave...

Is it not funny how we often create that single set of circumstances that set in motion the outcome of which we complain, worry over and stress. We would do well to remember the benefits of "riding the wave." You know those times you walk on the shore, too afraid to get your feet wet...whatever the reason. We finally make the plunge into unknown waters. We're comforted by the fact that the lifeguard is visible to us, and there are others also in the water, who might aid us in the unfortunate event we lose our strength or travel too far from shore. We relish in the fun of the water, splashing, swimming and dodging those abundant foamy waves.

Every now and again we get thrown back with the surge of a wave and have to re-establish our stroke. We're doing well now and we have a system down. We feel confident in our abilities to handle what the "ocean" dishes out and occasionally we take a peek towards the shore. In the rush of the moment, we don't realize that we've traveled so far from shore, so far off course that we've put ourselves in grave danger...

We ask ourselves how is it possible to get back to shore, to safety... We pray. We try not to panic. Then we notice there is a wave, we swim towards it, hoping it will carry us closer to the safety of the shore. We catch one, however small, and drift a bit closer. Another, larger comes and ever closer we swim... With all our mights we use everything we have to swim closer to that safety that is the shore. We think, how is it that I drifted so far? We forget about the current, more treacherous than the wave and with an almost invisible strength, we never see it coming until it's too late.

We often create the circumstances that lead us to that inevitable prayer for help. That the Lord will save us from ourselves and our poor choices. But, do we listen? When He sends us that wave, do we say, it's too small and forgo the opportunity to get back?

Ride the wave, let it carry you home...to safety!