An afternoon at Memaw's...

Potato Bugs

There may be rocks turned over in my back yard, dirt smeared hands and faces in my bath tub, a bucket full of piles upon piles of treasured potato bugs right outside my door, and jars of those starchy tuberous labeled bugs(although some may prefer to call them "pill" bugs) on my kitchen counter...




But this I KNOW : there are 6 incredibly happy hunters under my roof, enjoying their newfound "pets"(until mommy orders them to put them back in their home... the dirty outdoors).

Random Rambling Thoughts Thursday

What a week, what a week, what a week, what a week... if I keep typing that, will it make the week go by faster?
Life is good. God is awesome. My husband is a-working HARD. We are half way through this week and a half of him being gone every night to guard fireworks. It's been fun, tiring and overall stressful, but thanks to the joy and strength of our Lord, we have been handling it just fine!
One downside, our lawn is starting to resemble a rain forest.
Watered my flower gardens and pots tonight.
Must, must remember to buy organic corn chips for a going away party tomorrow night for friends who are moving out of town. Sadness! Oh, and drinks, and anything else I can come up with...
If you are interested in going organic, here is a list to get you started:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods
The kids and I spent the whole day today, riding horses, swimming at Memaw's with their cousins and eating sugar. WHAT a joyous memorable day. I enjoyed spending time with my sis and mother-in-law, visiting, cooking, baking, cleaning and feeding the bottomless tummied children. Outside my husband's parent's front door is an eye-catching huge flowering tree. It's beautiful and it smells AMAZING right now as it is just beginning to bloom. I would love to capture smells and post them on this blog to share with you all. It is the sweetest tangy smell on earth and smells so strongly, you can almost feel the thickness of it. Thousands of bees are buzzing around those blooms collecting of their sweet delicacy!
Speaking of bees, my poor son was stung on the bottom of his foot today while playing outside. He also has a fat lip, a stubbed big toe a mosquito bite. Tough day.
We we're fortunate to be in audience of my second in commands water show in the pool. Have I ever mentioned my kids LOVE to put on random "shows" all of the time? Daddy and I think it is the greatest thing.
My kid's start swimming lessons next Monday, all four of my oldest are going to be involved this year. It will be good for them. They are so excited!
Took a ton of outdoor pics of my baby today. I can't wait to find time to edit them.
This past Sunday my sis-in-laws and I tried on our dresses and we're fitted. The bridal gown is gorgeous. My bridesmaid dress is beautiful. I can't wait to wear it and for my dear sister to be married and near to her man. September come quickly! Invitations tomorrow.
I am excited for our 1 mile fun run this Sunday morning AM (very early, eeek!). My mom, my two eldest girls and I are going to run together. My girls have been "training" for it for a few weeks now. They are ready with their new running shoes and shorts. Is it worth getting up at 6:30am for on Sunday on the fourth of July? Probably not but hey, it's just for fun(and I'll do it for my girls)!!
Sunday I am going to play softball again after not having played for 6 years. Your prayers would be appreciated. (I'm excited!!!!!!!!!)
I love getting adoring texts from my husband at 11 pm or "I miss you" midnight phone calls... reminds me of the old days. {sigh} Never want to go through them again but wouldn't trade them for the world.
My throat is sore, my eyes are burning and I am planning to get up and run tomorrow morning so goodnight, farewell, so long until beautiful tomorrow---Mommy

Wordless Wednesday

(any guesses as to what this is a picture of?)

Gaze Heavenward

to the designer, maker and sustainer of ALL things.

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked,'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

"You said,'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." -Job, to the Lord, Job 42:2-6

We get caught up in everyday earthly treasures and plans, and we forget who we are living for. We forget that we are mortal, will have an end to our life on this earth and know near to nothing of life after death. I find myself walking around, feeling empowered, in control or even at times, just enjoying life without so much as a nod in God's direction. His grace keeps my being intact, and brings me back to my knees in repentance, re-focusing my gaze outward and up to heaven's wondrous gates.

How amazing His knowledge and endless His wisdom!! He has intricately designed our universe's vast finite existence. He's fashioned each of us personally, individually and for a purpose, that only He can guide us in fulfilling.

Keeping a grasp on reality, being confronted with physical death and the dying, marvelling at how fragile our frame, how brief our existence, remembering WHO we live for and consulting with our Creator God; that is the only way to walk through this breath of a life, direct our few nonsensical footsteps and live each moment of every precious day.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. -Ecclesiastes 7:2