I Want To Go Back!

My babies at Cocoa Beach in May...

Big Boy Underwear

This is my Momma with the kids at her house... the kids were playing in the sandbox over there today. Cub is showing me (and the camera, so I will take a picture!) his big boy underwear, and is very proud of them... can't you see?! I have been trying to potty train Cub for awhile now... not seriously, but I am trying to get him interested.

Now, I am serious! He has gone naked a lot this summer while we are outside, and that has payed off. And, don't worry, we live so far away from "civilization" that no one sees him but me, EJ, Momma and whatever animal is in the yard. He's now much more aware of his bodily functions, and is adamantly wanting to wear big boy underwear... so, off came the pull ups, and on went the Spider Man underwear.


Anyone know where I can get Buzz Lightyear ones? He has told me a thousand times that is what he wants...

Anyway - I'll see how this goes for now. I am sure I'll have a few good stories from this experience to write about!

Grumps and Ferocious

Buzz and Jesse are now about 9 weeks old, and bouncing off the walls. Whew! The other night one of them chewed through a power cord that is part of Geoff's Mac laptop, and also ate one of EJ's most favorite pink crystal embellished flip flops. (And, no, I haven't told her yet... I'll cross that bridge when we get there...)

I am just glad that they weren't electrocuted or choked... but believe you me, before leaving the room we now make doubly sure that there isn't anything of value in their area. The crate works great, but if we are leaving for any stretch of time, I now put them in a bigger pen that my Great Aunt is letting us borrow... they have more room to play around, but they are still contained. This also helps with any "messes" I might have to clean up when we return, but for the most part they will not "mess" in either the crate or the pen... and I love the puppy pads! What a wonderful invention...

This is Buzz... his ears are too cute, and he reminds me of a bunny at this age. His ears stand as tall as he does, and he is our "grump". When you pick him up he never fails to start that low growl, like he is trying to say something, or as if he is grumpy... but he loves it when you rub his belly! He sleeps on his back usually - and the opportunity to love on him then is just too great!


Now, Jesse has a ferocious growl for such a little ball of black hair and eyes, but he's the cuddly one really... he will let you pick him up and hold him more, and he likes us to turn him on his back in your arms, and rock/pet him. The ferocious bark thing is just when he is playing and is really into it - he wants us to think he is bad, but even the kids know better!


Their personalities make them all the more lovable and cute... they have been here 3 weeks now and fit right in our little family!

New Beginnings

Lots of things are happening here! Our church is in a flurry of activity as our Pastor of over 27 years, Dr. Mills, retired last Sunday. Dr. Wallace, our new Pastor, joins us this week.

Dr. Mills is like family and will be missed greatly... he is now on a trip that will take him through many foreign countries, and will be gone about a month. When he returns we all hope he will come back to visit regularly and soon!

About a year ago, I was asked to be on the search committee, and was involved in the daunting task of finding a new Pastor for our church family. We all prayed very hard for His guidance, and everyone's patience as we began that search when Dr. Mills announced his retirement plans. After hundreds of resumes, visits to listen to other preachers, and watching DVD's from folks far and wide, we were surprised to find ourselves listening to a man we all thought might be that person. Our committee was diverse in many ways, but we were all intrigued, and after interviewing him were all in agreement to present him to our Deacon Board.

The church family got to know him through a series of Sunday morning sermons, Wednesday night suppers, and a church wide picnic... he was later voted in, and Sunday is his first official day as our Pastor.

I am excited about this new beginning for our church - our community is growing daily here in what used to be such a sleepy little place, and our church is in position to help bring the word of God and his love to many people. We are a small church (150 -200 regulars), but we have a big heart, continuing to share God's grace with our community.

Bible School is also in full swing this week, headed up by Pastor Drew, our associate preacher. We have an awesome group of kids there learning more about God and his word. Our pre-school children are also involved, and it's exciting to see all the children as they grow in his love.

On Monday the lesson dealt with Thankfulness, and as the littlest ones had snack, we went around the table and asked them what they were thankful for.

As you might imagine, the answers were all very cute, but one 3 year old boy said, very sweetly, "For Jesus!".

Amen!

Mark 10: 14-16
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
And he took the children into his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

Standing Tall

The sunflowers are beginning to bloom! They will be short again this year, due to the drought, but still beautiful when the fields are full of them at their peak.


This one is the talk of our family... it stands tall and proud, way above any of the other plants.
Everyone notices it, and so I decided to share it with yall too. I took this last night as I was coming home from VBS with the kids, so maybe I will get a better shot of it today... there will be many more sunflower pictures to come!

The Cat Food Bandit

Meet Bandit, our cat food napper. He steals up to our porch most every night, lights on or not (he's very brave, this raccoon!) and opens the cat food bin. He's also very smart.

The cats don't mess with him really... they must have some pact about when he can go get into their food, and he's safe?

The other night Geoff grabbed the camera, and went out to get his picture. We both thought as soon as he opened the door, "Bandit" would run away.

Nope! That raccoon kept eating, only pausing briefly to check out my husband and the contraption that kept flashing every time he took a picture.

We aren't strangers to wild animals here... living out in the middle of nowhere (well, it used to be nowhere, but now somewhere is getting closer...) we see deer and wild turkey like we see our cats. Coyotes are all around these days too, as well as many other creatures big and small. More snakes than I care to think about, I am sure... But rarely do these animals allow us to get that close... they are still wild, of course.


But then there was Jasmine, the squirrel.

Geoff found this little guy watching him while cutting grass, and when he called us over to show the kids, that squirrel went right up to him, ran up his pants leg, all the way to sit on his shoulder! Jasmine was so friendly, we considered keeping her as a pet, but with all our cats we thought better of that idea. We ended up taking her to the closest wild life preserve, where they could take the best care of such a trusting little animal.

I am not sure if I know what is going on around here, but we love animals, and so they are coming to the right house. With two new puppies, two country cats and two children under 5, we aren't really in the "need any more pets" mode right now... but I can sure find them a great home.

Except for Bandit... he can stay. He is obviously able to take care of himself without us interfering, and I love watching him during his nightly visit to our back porch.

Besides, he is just plain adorable!

My Little Garden

When I was a little girl we always had a garden during the summertime. I can remember sitting on Diddy's lap as he drove the tractor through the rows of our backyard garden, and watching daily as the tomatoes, squash, okra and other veggies would grow.

My Grandmother Banks had a huge garden, and she tended to it like it was her baby. One of my fondest memories of her is out in the garden, straw hat on her head and a sleeveless summer dress. I was standing by her pink crepe myrtle tree, and I watched her as she went up and down every single row. I was supposed to be helping I am sure, but somehow I had taken a rest there in the shade, just watching my Grandmomma.

She would love these pictures, and boy, would she love these babies.


The garden in my parents backyard has long ago been covered in grass, and a new family one was planted up the road at my Aunt and Uncle's house years ago. I admit I rarely help much up there, but have been enjoying the veggies from that garden for years as well. (Thanks Diddy!)

My Grandmother passed away the summer Geoff and I got married, but in her later years she was unable to take care of a garden. She still enjoyed a good tomato, cut in half and doused in salt and pepper up until she went to heaven to be with Jesus. Oh, and she could make the best veggie soup ever... I do mean ever! I am sure she is up there helping God with his summer garden right now.

Reynie, BB's wife, began a garden a couple of years ago back at their house, and I have tried many of the veggies (and some peppers) that they grow. Grandmomma would be proud! And they can cook, those two...

So, I have dallied many years about planting a small one in our backyard, and when this spring rolled around I decided I really wanted to try my hand at it again. Somehow I forgot that it takes time to tend to it, and with two kids under 5 that becomes more difficult, so you will see more weeds in my version of gardening than most. But, we have 4 tomato plants, some sunflowers (yes, I know... why, when we have fields planted around us? Well, I wanted some in my backyard silly!), 3 cucumber plants and a squash plant. We had more in the ground, but when the new sprouts were first coming up, something ate them all up! Varmits!


It warmed my heart yesterday when the kids ran inside to tell me that we had a red tomato! They were so excited, it was beautiful to see... the excitement on their faces was so sweet. I love that they are experiencing so many of the same things that Geoff and I did as children, and it makes me smile to know that Grandmother is up in heaven, smiling down on my babies as they get excited about a red tomato. Soon we will cut it up to eat, and douse it in salt and pepper, just for her.