Simple solution

"In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, 'HOLY TO THE LORD.' And the cooking pots in the Lord's house will be like the bowls before the altar." Zechariah 14:20
OK...here's the scenario. Three kids who can't go outside because the house is getting a new roof + chocolate chips & sugars & oatmeal that need to be used + cookie sheets that are already packed = using the skillet to make cookies! It worked perfectly!! The kids thought it was a novel idea and kept calling it a cookie cake. Plus, it added just a bit more seasoning to the skillet.

PS - The three kids belong to a friend helping my brother re-roof the house, 1 yr/3 yrs/8 yrs. Quite a handful since I only had one child of my own and he will be 21 this year. They really behaved very well, but I'm just not used to it. When they left last night, I stayed awake two more hours just to enjoy the peace & quiet!

Dancing, dancing, and more dancing!

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness." Psalm 30:11
Even though the girls are gone now, this photo is perfect to describe how God is working throughout our move. Every time we come up against a dilemma, He gives us the kind of answer that takes our breath away! Solutions we would have never imagined come to fruition so quickly!!

I know I said I was going to share realtor-suggested changes, but phooey on that idea. You've all been through a move so there won't be any surprises. Instead, I'm going to share the incredible solutions God has brought our way.

One being the previous post. We knew the goats needed a new home, but really hadn't thought too much about it yet. Then, this man from Boeing needed a remedy for all the brambles on his property. God put the two of us together and - voile! A perfect match!! His children absolutely love playing with the goats and the goats are having the time of their lives. Now, who could have put that together so quickly? Only Him!!

Stay tuned for the next unimaginable solution!

Good Night, Ladies!

"And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field..." Genesis 2:20a

Alpha

Bravo

This afternoon we said good-bye to these sweet ladies. A man Eric worked with thought they could conquer 2 1/2 acres infested with brambles. Since the goats love berries, it was a perfect match. But what made it even better is that this man has two children (2 yrs & 4 yrs). How perfect is that? All four kids will have an excellent time!!

Note: As long as we've had these ladies, I've tried to get a good close-up. Wouldn't you know they'd wait until the day they leave to stand still. :-)

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.