On the road...again!

"Now the Lord said to Abram [Eric], 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house [Wichita KS], to the land which I will show you [Seattle WA].'...So Abram [Eric] went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot [Paula] went with him." Genesis 12:1, 4a

That was
May 2006.
We sold the house,
the farm land,
and relocated.

Let's fast forward
to December 2007.






"Then the Lord said to Jacob [Eric], 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives [Wichita KS], and I will be with you.' Then Jacob [Eric] sent and called Rachel [Paula] and Leah [yeah, right!] to his flock in the field." Genesis 31:3

Notice the
red stars
didn't change?

Exactly!

We're
moving back
to the same town and
will be closer
to my son
and our extended families!!


Eric will travel back and forth for the first 90 days, then be there permanently. I will stay until the house sells (however long that takes). Of course, we are praying for a quick sale, but the market is definitely favoring the buyer right now. It's comforting to know He already knows how it all plays out.

The blog will stay current until we move. Once settled, I plan to start a new one or change the existing. Can't exactly use the same title once we leave the NW!! Stay tuned for realtor-suggested changes on our property! One hint: all the trees are staying. :)

Hills of iron & copper

"...a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper." Deuteronomy 8:9

This is the one of the final two drains along the patio drainage system. Above you'll see the rock frame around the grate which was brought up 1-2" higher to avoid weight from other rocks. We chose rocks with irregular shapes to contour the drain pipe. Extra weight on top affects the grade of the slope; hence, defeating the purpose of even having a drain!

After a few more rocks (large and small), it's finished. Compared to the other drains, this rock area is quite a bit larger. We did this because we are not expanding the patio this far and the drain was so close to the house & retaining wall. It reminds me of a dry creek bed. Our intent is to plant grass around it.

Where did we get all the rocks? From the hills, of course! (Actually, from our front yard.) There certainly is no shortage of rocks in the soil. I am convinced you can grow rocks here!!

Dangerous Boys & Daring Girls

Welcome to Kelli's “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item. Be sure to let her know you've joined the group!!

"And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets." Zechariah 8:5
Both of these books were recently purchased at Sam's Club and quickly became favorites. Each offers a practical, well-rounded education pertaining to each sex: science, math, grammar, games, Scripture, etc. There's even a chapter in the boys' book on girls! Let me share the essential gear suggested in each book.

Boys...
Swiss army knife, compass, handkerchief, box of matches, marble shooter, needle & thread, pencil & paper, small flashlight, magnifying glass, band-aids, fishhooks.

Girls...
Swiss army knife, bandana, rope & twine, journal & pencil with a back-up pen, hair band, bungee cord, flashlight, compass, safety pins, duct tape, deck of cards & a good book, patience.

Even if you don't purchase the books, you should at least run to Sam's a read a bit of it. My bet is you'll end up brining it home! In fact, I purchase two of each: one for our library and one for my niece & nephew!!

Blogging with a purpose

"Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that your joy may be made full." 2 John 12

Congratulations to Julie @ Three Fold Cord. She has just been awarded Blogging with a Purpose! In return, she chose five other bloggers to bless with this award - and I was one of them!!

Eric Novak came out with the Christian award “Blogging with a Purpose” in late April of 2007. With so many secular awards around, Eric thought it would be a good idea to come out with a Christian award.

Rules:
1. Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.
2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.
3. In their post about the award they need to link back to this entry.
4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must remain linked to this site.

So, my picks are...

1. Petunia's Garden
This is my neighbor who introduced me to blogging. Way back when, she stated she blogs in order to keep track of her gardens from year to year. If other people enjoyed reading about it, all the better. She and her husband were also our unofficial welcoming committee when we moved to WA. They invited us to go places, told us about different sites in the area, will swap animal care during vacations, and continue to be wonderful neighbors & friends.

2. Down On the Farm
Marci is a new friend I met through blogging. Her faith is quite evident and I appreciate how she shares her heart through her posts. She never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge of practical, everyday living.

3. There's No Place Like Home
Kelli's sweet spirit is quickly realized. She shares her life while displaying His grace and mercy through everyday events. She has such a way with people - even if she's never met them!

4. Savvy City Farmer
This gal is so fun! Her blog is oozing with her energy and spunk. I appreciate her family tributes and how she brings sunshine to world-wide web. And she has a knack for decorating, too!

5. Anna's Photo of the Day
This is one blog I've checked quite often, but rarely left a comment. I was staying current with Anna more for moral support than anything else - and she didn't even know it. When we moved to the NW, I had such an awful time adjusting. Anna's perspective on His world around her was such a blessing for me. At the time, she lived in the UK which experiences weather much like the NW. She could relate to the rain (endless rain). Her photography is an incredible display of the beauty He has put around each of us.

NOTE: Julie stated she enjoys reading the Scriptures I select to compliment the activity of the post. Today's Scripture expresses my desire to keep journals/records of events, but the world-wide web is not paper and ink! Julie, thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoy the content.

Grandma Lilly

"Most blessed of women is Jael [Lilly], the wife of Heber the Kenite [Leonard the farmer]; most blessed is she of women in the tent." Judges 5:24
This is Grandma Lilly. She has been a constant in my life as long as I can remember. Born in 1920, she has seen her share of hard work on the farm, as well as in the school cafeteria. And always manages to keep her opinion to herself (why didn't I inherit that trait?).

She and my late-grandfather raised 5 children. Those 5 produced 22 grandchildren. Those 22 have multiplied to 30+ great-grandchildren (and still counting). One of the great-grandchildren even has her name. (Did I mention they also temporarily raised four of Grandpa's cousins?)

Taken during our trip back to KS in October, this photo shows her holding the most-recent great-grandchild, Leila Mae (my brother's daughter).

Grandma, thank you for being such a strong, constant, get-it-done example for me.

Leaving a trail

"Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?" Ecclesiastes 7:13
How often does one get to see the trail of a slug? The ever-so-slight layer of frost revealed this little guy's swaggering ways. Honestly, I didn't know slugs traveled so randomly.

Priorities

The Psalms and Proverbs are my two favorites. Through each psalm, the Spirit beacons to hold my heart while tenderly drawing out that which I do not yet entrust to Him. My head, on the other hand, grabs those Proverbs and slaps them up as rules.

Each one is good. For me, however, a balance of the two is best.

Lately, blogging has started to crowd out my morning study and I could see the effects in many other areas of my life. So, a blogging break needed to happen. Eric leaves around 5 am and I spend the next hour or so in His word. Seeing how He honors my time with Him is quite amazing. I actually enjoy cleaning the house now! And the extra time I have - all of a sudden!! Where were those minutes/hours before? When you feel rushed, stressed, or strung-out, seek Him. You will find Him. I promise.

To where does the Spirit lead when you search His written Word?