fruit, friends and moving forward

Now that we've made it through the rainy weather this week it's about time for the new season. I just love Fall. I get out my big bins full of fall decor and begin to place it around the house and eagerly look forward to the brisk, coolness in the air ahead when I can sit out on my front porch and read in the morning. With a hot cup of tea. Mmmm...I just know we're moving into a new season in many ways.

This week the boys have been a little sick. I took them to our family doctor and they had bronchitis and a sinus infection, plus Garrett had some kind of intestinal virus...ick! But after a few days of bed rest, they are both much better now.

Since eating didn't sound like a super idea to them, I decided to get some fresh fruit to tempt them into eating a bit. So, for breakfast this week we enjoyed fruit, homemade bread and hot tea or OJ. I had the tea and they had the OJ.The watermelon was especially delicious this year. We found one at a good price and ended up eating all of it in 2 days. The cantaloupe was sweet and the apples were crisp. I think this helped the boys to feel better.

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago...Micaylah with her friend Caila. They were having pizza and enjoying a time of fun playing dolls.

Brookelyn and Micaylah are making homemade wheat bread together. I asked Micaylah if she would make some bread and Brookelyn came into the kitchen and said, "I want to make some bread too! " So they spent the afternoon baking AND eating fresh, hot bread. Friends are like flowers...they are homegrown! Silly girls, 'tricks are for kids!!!' Remember that old cereal advertisement! Austin and Nathan are having a great time slip-n-slidin'. One day a few weeks ago, Bridget came over and we canned tomatoes. She brought Nathan and he and Austin had a great afternoon. Tanner, Trevor, Jody and Garrett are having a real bad time of it, with basketball. You never know what they will grow up to become. They are great with the younger guys! Thanks!

Well, we've covered the friends and the fruit...what about the moving forward? It's a new season and we know that all things work together for the good to them who are the called according to his purpose. Sometimes things happen and we know exactly why. Isn't that a nice feeling? And thank God we don't have to live in our feeling "world". It's not always that we have good feelings. We would be in bondage! Then, at other times things happen and we have absolutely no idea why. Our feelings betray us and we have to remember that God has been where we are. We must look to him. We must move forward and press toward the mark of the high calling. Moving on, moving up and moving forward into our new season.

Seize the Moment!

>>...these boys are learning how to take aim and hit the target. They really like to practice shooting. Check out the 'authentic' looking attire..whew-hoo! These two are pretty much inseparable. You won't usually find one brother without the other. Unless they are cleaning their rooms. >>Garrett has just moved into his own room. This was a big thing for us. And for him. Now, he has his very own room and has to take good care of it and show that he is a 'good steward' of what God has given him. Austin is learning the same since he now has no one to share his room with. They both have to keep it clean and tidy. They're learning that, it wasn't the other one who made all the mess in there. Ha Ha! >>These boys really like to go outside. I think it is their favorite thing to do. Especially when it's time to do school. (not really all the time) They like to build things with wood and hammer anything they can get their hands on. They are also very good helpers around the house. They help with yard work, take out the trash, clean their own bathroom, help with laundry and the dishes too. It really doesn't take that long to help them learn to be responsible around our house. I try to motivate them by giving them opportunities to do all the fun things they like to do. That usually works good for us all, doesn't it! >>The other day when their Daddy came home, the first thing they wanted was to go outdoors and do some target practice. Here is a couple of photos of them... Since our yard is fenced, they can practice shooting toward the fence where the target is posted. They have a jug and some bull's eyes to shoot at. They can really hit that target!! I'm impressed because that target is pretty far away from them. Maybe one day they could learn archery too. I think that's a great skill for a boy to have. How 'bout that jin-ew-wine coon skin hat?! While they were practicing, they were talking. Their Daddy was telling them about how important it is to have a target to shoot at. He said it was important to have that target in your focus. And that the main target that we should have is Jesus Christ. The boys learned more than shooting practice that afternoon. They learned that they have an awesome Lord and Savior! And that they have THEE most wonderful Daddy ever!! He looked at me and said, "This is why we're doing what we're doing!" >>Carpe' Diem<<