Farmer's Market

I was present at the Farmer's Market today, but did not really have a stellar display.  Things are getting beat up and we need some fresh new ideas to bring forth to market.  I did have some business though, which was a huge blessing.  I was able to sell two individual horseshoe hooks.  I broke even with the cost for the spot at the market.  For then next market, I want to bring some new things to spice it up a bit.  The sky is the limit with what Heath can do with his welding.  He is so awesome at it!

After helping me load the car, Heath stayed home to work on the barn.  It sure is coming along with all his efforts to improve it.

Photoshoot, ATV Races, and Mud Boggin'

After finishing up with the kids at WNCC, I headed back to TLC to finish up my work for the week.  Then, I headed to my third job, photography!  I met up with Keenan for his second round of senior photos.  Above are his family and senior shots from the other day.  Today, we hit his wrestling, his weightlifting, his faith in God, and of course, his truck.  I had a great time with him and his photos turned out great!  Thank you for the opportunity!  :)

Now, off to the RaCES!  The Mitchell Fairgrounds was swarming with people all excited about the ATV and Mud Boggin' races!  Start time 7 pm!  Justin raced his ATV and Andrew went with Pa in the old Dodge through the mud.  Proud Mama and Papa sitting and cheering on the sidelines!  Both had two rounds to compete.  Great time had by all.

Beautiful Sunset!

Close of O.S.H.A. Class

This was a really fun, interactive, real-life lecture that I think the kids really enjoyed.  It was all the in's and out's of real-life challenges that you do not think of when you are sitting in a classroom.

http://www.misafetylaw.com

What a great opportunity this gave me to sit through a 30 hour O.S.H.A. course and learn right along with the kids.  I often think that this would have been really helpful before I began my safety career at Stateline.  Nonetheless, it was great training that I can take with me in my next stage of life.  How exciting to see what God has in store for us next.

~Bountiful Harvest~

Wow, what a beautiful garden God has provided us this year.  Early on in the season, Heath and I decided to triple it's size from last year.  With alot of work, we have been blessed with tons of food to both keep and give away.  It is so fun sharing what we have.  Other people do the same with us, allow for us to try all kinds of new things.  What a blessing!

Thank you Bill and Alicia for the Food-Saver!

Fellowship

Tonight, we got to go to Bible study and fellowship with those we love.  It was a great break from the busy hustle and bustle of the weekend.  This is the night our boys go to their other grandparents for supper, allowing us time to spend together in our marriage and attend our Bible study without missing time with them.

Yet Another Crazy Evening

At the very end of the day, I got a call from Heath at work, so I answered it.  He just wanted to tell me that there were alot of people at the house, just so I would know before I got home.  I am glad he called to let me know, however, it really stressed me out because I did not have anything planned for supper.  When I got home there were tons of people at the house trying to get Shayne's pickup to work.  It was absolute chaos when I arrived.  They needed someone to run to town and get parts, so as soon as I got home, I turned around and went back to town with Heath for parts.  We got to chat while we went to town, which was fun.  The first place didn't have the part we needed, so we went to another place.  Finally, we were able to track down something of the sort for this older-than-me-pickup.  $17 and we were headed home.  Still nervous about dinner, I started getting grumpy.

When we got home, my mother-in-law had already picked the sweet corn from the garden, Andrew had shucked it, and Fuzz had done my dishes.  Such nice teamwork.  Come to find out, while we were gone, some things happened that really upset me.  This put me in a tizzy the rest of the evening as I felt that I had been totally violated and that I have absolutely no control over my family, my home, and what happens in it.

Linda, my pastor's wife, has been working with me over the last nine months, teaching me some wonderful principals of how to be a woman after God's own heart.  This study, teaches about Godly responsibilities as a wife and mom.  I know very well, that my attitude this evening was wrong and I upset alot of people, for which I had to apologize several times.  While in the infant stages of marriage and adopting two teenage boys, I am doing the very best I can to provide what is needed of me as a wife and as a mom.  Reading books, seeking wise counsel, and attending professional counseling should show my dedication to my choice to be more than just another person in their lives, but someone who deeply loves and cares about my family.

I know I fall short, way short.  I am not perfect, none of us are, but with God, we will get through this transition.  At the end of the day, we had a very nice garden meal and with everyone's help we got the dishes done quickly and the pickup fixed!  God, once again in control, proved to us that he is ever present with his promise in this beautiful rainbow over our home!

Two Broken Pickups at the Lake

When I got home from class tonight, the kids were not home yet.  Come to find out, both Shayne and Justin's pickups were both broken down at the lake.  So, Heath and I loaded up in his pickup with some supplies and headed back to the Lake in Bridgeport.  When I left the lake this morning, I asked the boys to make sure they picked up their camp before they left.  I was totally appalled when we got there and saw the lack of effort put forth by his friends to help clean up.  While Justin, Heath, and Shayne were working on the vehicles, I asked the rest of the people (just standing around) to simply help clean up their trash that they left all over their camp.  They all just looked at me and most of them went to sit on the picnic table down by the lake, totally ignoring me like I didn't even exist.  One of the friends did help a little.

I must pose the question:  where have good role models gone in today's society?  Where are these children's parents to help teach them basics of everyday living, respect, and integrity?

They got Justin's pickup running so Heath and I led the way while Justin and Andrew towed Shayne's pickup back to our house.  The light was slowly dimming as we were chugging along down the highway with our convoy of broken pieces.   Our long evening was coming to a close.

By default, we had two extra teenagers for dinner tonight since their mode of transportation had just been hauled back.  Right when we began to pray for our dinner, three more teenagers showed up and gathered around our table.   It worked out well that I had put on a Crockpot meal this morning!  Turns out they didn't want to eat, just wish Justin a Happy Birthday.  So, as soon as we finished eating and the boys began clearing their plates, the second round of kids sat down.  Two girls and a boy.  One of the girls had been gone all summer and wanted to catch up with me.  After we ate, I began cleaning up  the kitchen and all the kids went to hang out in the barn.

I am a planner and I have always been taught, out of respect, always call before you stop by someone's house.  With all these kids at the house, it makes me wonder if their parents even know where they are....

Happy Birthday Justin!

We went to church as a family yesterday and then we headed out to the Bridgeport Lake for Justin's 17th birthday party.  For his birthday celebration, we gave him the option of either Water World in Denver or the spending the night at the lake.  After a few days of the plan being Water World, he decided that the Lake would be more fun.  :)  So, after church Heath and I finished up some packing and met Justin and Shayne at the lake.  On our drive to the lake, I got to have a good chat with Andrew.

Justin and Shayne already had their camp all established, so Heath and I headed down the beach a little ways and set up our little, yellow two man tent.  It was within 5 feet of the water by a cove.  So beautiful!

We hung out with the kids and played in the water and then made brats and hot dogs and s'mores over the campfire.  Once the sun started going down, we headed for our campsite with our dogs.  The dogs had a blast!  They just absolutely love water!  Since they had been swimming all day, we decided the two man tent wasn't enough room for both of us plus another 150 pounds of wet, sandy, stinky dog.  They 'slept' outside our tent on the beach.  I do not know how much sleep they actually got because they were fishing all night, mainly Briggs.

The water looked like glass beneath the glow of the summer moon.  With this, Briggs used it to his advantage.  He could see all the small schools of minnows swimming underneath the water and he would then proceed to pounce on them.  I think he had a hard time containing his enthusiasm as we could hear him splash in the water every 5 minutes or so.  Easy entertainment!  Oh, the life of a dog, privileged dogs as Dad calls them!