Family Updates...It's Been A While

Sorry readers for my long absence. Our summer really has been busy and I am able to keep up with most of my family and friends on Facebook so I don't feel a need to blog as much. "There's so much I wanna say and don't" that I don't know where to start blogging about it all so for now it's just pictures of the last few months.

We went to Nashville, TN at the end of May for our family vacation. We went to the water park one day and the zoo the next. We stayed in a really nice hotel. We feel blessed to have had such a fun time . After a few days there we drove into Kentucky to stay the rest of the week with my grandparents. The kids did amazing on the 15 hour drive there. We spent the night halfway on the way back home.

We had VBS last week but sorry, no pictures of that...was too busy chasing 17 five year olds all week. We have had four birthday parties, a wedding, VBS, and two pampered chef parties all in June. Plus, I have been canning green beans, making different fruit jams, and picking other veggies from my garden. I am swamped right now. Joey is gone the Ranger's game tonight with some guys from work so that's why I am up late uploading pictures.

Hope you are having a wonderful summer. I am ready for some cooler weather although I am not complaining because I hate winter, but the heat is hard on my garden.

We are making memories every day and loving every minute of our children's lives. They grow fast so we are relishing every moment. Our sweet boy just turned one year on June 22nd. My my where has this year gone?

Joey and my mom two stepping at a wedding we attended last weekend. No one got pics of Joey and I dancing.
At the Nashville Zoo

My climbing boy eating blackberries I picked.

Joey and Libby posing at the zoo

Riding the carousel at the zoo

Libby in the bounce house at the Nashville Zoo

Judah loved the bounce house too.

At the waterpark in Nashville.

Libby and daddy building a sand castle at the Nashville Lake

Judah and I enjoying the sun and the water

Judah loves this car and loves sticking out his tongue.

Libby sleeping at night...she looks comfortable

Libby showing Joey her fish she caught.

We went in to check on Judah and he was snuggling with his pony.

Libby fishing for the first time. It was a hit.

Clotheslines

I love clotheslines. I grew up watching my mom hang out our clothes until I could hang up the clothes myself. It's been on my husband's to-do list to put one up for us, but he hasn't had the time. There's just something about clothes that smell of fresh air and sunshine. My mom sent me this poem about clotheslines and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy and smile as you read.

THE CLOTHESLINE

A clothesline was a news forecast to strangers passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link as neighbors always knew
if company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.

It's then you'd find the fancy sheets and towels on the line,
along with linen tablecloths of intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth to folks who lived inside
when brand new infant clothes were hung so carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could so readily be known.
By watching how the sizes changed you'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck as extra sheets were hung.
Then nightclothes and a bathrobe, too,haphazardly were strung.

It said Gone on vacation now!when lines hung limp and bare.
It told We're back! when full lines sagged without an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon if wash was dingy gray
as neighbors raised their brows and looked disgustedly away.

But clotheslines now are of the past for dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
when neighbors knew each other best
by what hung on the line!

-By MARILYN K. WALKER

A Bit of This and That

I wanted to share with my handful of readers my Memaw's roll recipe. It's one of the best I have ever used and so quick too. I am making them tonight to go with our supper so next time you're in the mood for super tasty, super quick homemade rolls, try this recipe.

One Hour Buttermilk Rolls

2 pkgs. yeast (4 1/2 tsp.)

3 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 c. room temp. buttermilk

1/4 c. warm water

1/2 c. oil or melted butter

4 1/2 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, sugar, and your oil or butter. Add flour. Beat until smooth and let stand ten minutes. Turn onto a floured surface and knead. Roll out 1/2 inch thick and cut with biscuit cutter or whatever you have. Dip both sides in melted butter. Place on baking sheet and let stand for 20-30 minutes. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Voila you are done!!

*Tips and Tricks*

1. You're water and buttermilk need to be warm. Cold water won't activate your yeast and hot water will kill it. Temperature in very important when working with yeast.


2. You can use milk instead of buttermilk, but I prefer buttermilk.


3. You can use honey instead of the sugar.


4. You can use any whole grain flour you like instead of the white flour. I use unbleached white flour or another grain depending on my time since I freshly grind my own grain.


5. I half the recipe sometimes for our family (I got 10 rolls halving it). Larger families will need the whole recipe. For smaller families, you can also cook half and then quick freeze the other half for a later use. (To quick freeze, go ahead and cut them out with a biscuit cutter, place uncooked on a cookie sheet and place in freezer until completely frozen and then remove and place in a freezer bag. Take out as many as you need. Thaw and then bake.)

New York and Co. (the store in the mall; at least the one here in our mall) is having an awesome store wide sale. 70% off the ENTIRE store. That also includes shoes and jewelry. We are going tomorrow to get some much needed clothing and at that price who can beat it? My friend went last week and the most she paid for anything was $12 for a pair of jeans. The sale will go through this weekend.

Joey and I have been burdened about the Cap and Trade Bill and the Health care Bill Obama is trying to pass. The C&B will raise everyone's electric bill $3000 annually and I don't have to explain the ramifications of the Health care Bill. If you know anything about socialized medicine, then you know this is not the way to go. We're going down a slippery slope is where we're going. Pray against these bills that they won't pass. If it's the Lord's will, then God help us to be ready.

Pilates Challenge

Once again, it's time for me to pick up my favorite pilates DVD by Denise Austin. I have tried several, but this one is my all time favorite. It's divided into 7 target areas and each segment is only ten minutes long so you can do as much or as little as you want. I did the Abs segment when I was pregnant with Libby until my stomach got big enough that I couldn't safely lay on my stomach to do the that particular part of the segment but otherwise it's safe during pregnancy too. When I first began my weight loss journey, this DVD helped me to lose my inches. I usually stop during the spring/summer when it's now warm enough for me to walk, although I shouldn't do that because for the first week starting back I am extremely sore and can't move, but after a while I tend to get burned out doing the same thing so it's nice to put it on the shelf for six months to begin my walking routine.

I started today and I can guarantee you I won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow without some moaning, groaning, whining, and no help from anyone since Joey would have already left for work...but I will make it. Don't all good things start out as painful?? I hope to lose some inches that I may have put on during my sabbatical. I did abs/waistline and hips this morning. I was breathing hard the whole way and my legs felt like jello when I was done, but it felt good...like I had actually done something good and exhilarating. My goal is to do it two-three times a week so we will see.

So if you're in the market for a good work out DVD that is excellent for all ages, and fitness levels, then I highly recommend this one. I hope to look like Denise Austin does, but I seriously doubt that will happen. Only a tummy tuck will help me now!! :) If anyone feels led to contribute to Jennifer's plastic surgery fund, all donations are tax deductible!!

Until then, have a wonderful Monday and try to get some exercise this week!!

Random Rambling

Highlights from my super busy week:

Babysat for a home school mom on Monday. Made the family a cake and accidentally put in 1 T. of salt instead of 1 tsp. Compensated by adding more sugar and an extra egg.

Had our first girl's night at my house on Tuesday with seven girls. We had a blast!

Wednesday morning I was up to my elbows in squash, tomatoes, okra, and peppers. The tomatoes got canned and the rest went into my already overcrowded freezer. That night we went to a small group to hear a passionate guy share about his heart and God's heart for missions.

Thursday night was the Beth Moore Bible Study at church

Friday morning I had a women's meeting at my house where we learned about identifying herbs in the wild, making tinctures, and poultices. That night we had friends over for supper and I showed her how to milk a cow. She had her husband take pictures because no one would ever believe her. It was fun!

Today, Saturday, Joey is working for Keith. This afternoon we are going to the small metropolitan city of "D" to get a few thing that our local Wal-Mart doesn't have and then it's off to a birthday party at some friend's house. Their little girl is turning two.

Tomorrow is church and then maybe some rest that afternoon. I hope!!

Things coming up:

A friend and I are going to try our hand at soap making. The old-fashioned kind made with lye. I hope it turns out.

Our first camping trip of the year in a few weeks. Hope it's not too chilly at night. Libby's first one.

I am in full swing preparing for the 4th annual (although we skipped the last two years) Fall Festival complete with a pie baking contest and chili cook off. Old fashioned games such as apple bobbing, three-legged race, sack race, tug-of-war, and the wheel barrow race are also on the list of to-do's.

We are ordering more chicks on Monday. 72 to be exact. They're not all for us. Several people went in to help make the order.

Things I have been blessed by recently:

A tub full of 12 month hand-me-downs-that-I-have-promised-to-return for Libby. Nice things too. We won't have to buy any winter clothes. Praise the Lord!

Free garden produce from a friend's garden. Mine didn't do so hot and hers did. She is passing along what she can't put up. What a blessing.

A myriad of friends that I have enjoyed fellowshiping with in the last week. Such treasures to me. I thank the Lord for them. You know who you are!!

A friend seeking the Lord's wisdom regarding her family size. She has a desire to please Him and be obedient and that blesses me. Still praying for direction for you :)

A friend's compliment that blessed my already insecure heart. Maybe I am not a failure after all.

My sweet husband that always blesses me with his kind words, servant's heart, tender sensitivity to the Spirit's leading, and a generous heart that overflows in giving to others.
I love him so much!

The Lord not giving up on me. I was beat up pretty bad, figuratively speaking of course, while doing one of my Bible Studies this week. I didn't even know how to pray for myself. I am a work in progress, but praise Jesus he loves me and chose me anyway!

I pray you all have a blessed week with your families!

Catching Up/Random Thoughts

I didn't realize it had been almost a week since I last posted. This week was a blur for me.

1. Thursday night I started a Beth Moore Bible Study at church.
2. Friday night we had dinner with friends.
3. Saturday we went shopping with friends and got Libby's one year pictures made.
4. Sunday morning was church and then Sunday afternoon we went to some other friend's house for a skeet shoot and supper.
5. Monday we had several couples over for a Labor Day cookout and then today!

Do you ever wonder if people get tired of seeing you sometimes!? Especially when you see the same ones three days within the week?! I love fellowshipping with the body of Christ and seeing where God has brought each of us and how He is using us in our own present circumstances. It's exciting to see how the "body" functions together; the eye needs the foot, and the foot needs the hand...we all need each other if we are going to survive. Don't ever get to the point that you don't think you need anyone. You might have a large circle of friends or maybe your circle is small. Either way, encourage one another, spend time together developing and strengthening your relationship, and have fun and laugh together.

As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. It's not always a pretty process. Grinding hurts and although you might not be able to see the final result when the sparks are flying, when the process is complete a relationship exists that can withstand anything. Thank you to all my friends that have "sharpened" me for I think our relationship is so much better. I hate confrontation and try to avoid it at all costs if I can, although there are issues that arise that need to be addressed at times, I try to keep my mouth shut and just mind my own business, sometimes to my own detriment. Accountability is hard. It means sticking your neck out there and confronting someone else's issues and being willingly to call them on it. It might turn out ok and then again it might not. There has to be a relationship there to be able to do that. I want others to hold me accountable if they see something in my life that isn't lining up...so friends, I give you permission to sharpen me, correct me, rebuke me if necessary...but try to make it sweet and maybe throw some encouragement in there to make it easier to swallow, lol I'm not saying I won't be slightly defensive, since that is everyone's tendency, but I'll try to receive with a smile :)

I know this has been random. I started out telling you why I haven't blogged in a week and ended up on a rabbit trail. That happens with me sometimes. I get on my soapbox and out it comes.

Until nextime.