Being frustrated is disagreeable, but the

real disasters in life begin when you get

what you want.

- Irving Kristo

Summertime by the pool.

The girls and I on the pool deck in the backyard..last summer...This was before the pool deck weathered over the winter and peeled! :( The baby is my nephew Silas.

This was my devotional today...this guy thinks like me.... I wonder about all those little things that most people don't even think of. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

July 26 , 2006 'The Great Coffee Scandal' by John Fischer I'm sitting here this morning drinking my Starbucks French Roast and thinking about what seems so remarkable and complicated about how coffee came to be. I can just see some South American farmer sitting next to a coffea plant one day and suddenly seeing visions of shelling its red berries to get to the little bean inside. And once he saw that little bean, he would immediately know to dry it, roast it, grind it up, and pour hot water over it through a filter in order to get one of the most popular beverages in the world. I'm sure that's how it happened! Don't you ever wonder about stuff like this or am I the only one? And doesn't it make you wonder how many other drinks or potions are still out there undiscovered? Why did we find the ones we found? Were we wired a certain way? Is it just random that we landed on coffee? Could it just as easily have gone another way and suddenly we are all drinking hot baba from the babao plant? (Don't go looking; I just made those up.) All this tells me that we are not alone in not being an accident. That little bean inside the coffea berry is no accident either. God has built all sorts of beneficial secrets into his creation and then left us to discover them and use them. And this comes with responsibility as well because some of these secrets are harmful. That's all a part of the good and evil around us that makes life such a challenge. All of this makes me stop dead in my tracks and go, “God, you are so awesome! To have plants, animals, natural resources, and an environment in which they can all thrive together is one thing. The brains to make something out of all these resources, and the potential to use what we make for good or for evil are even more incredible gifts you have given your creatures. Who could have thought up a God like you? Certainly none of us.” So enjoying my coffee today has turned into an unplanned act of worship. It's amazing how you can access thoughts of God through the simplest channels. It's really not that hard once you start thinking down this road. That we can go about our work and never give a thought to what's behind the world we deal with every day is the real scandal.

Weaver Mom's meme...and before that Susan the Penless one....

Weaver Mom tagged me to do this meme... so here goes...


INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

Still See A Spark In You
walking through doors
Susie’s Space
Penless Writer
Learning to Weave

Next select five people to tag:

Leigh Ann
Heather in Canada
Jeanine at Roots
dcrmom
Devildogwife

Anyone else who wants to play is, of course, welcome!! (and no obligation if you don't feel like doing this either!)

Now ~ the questions:
"What were you doing 10 years ago?" Well...I would have been just getting ready to start homeschooling my oldest. As well as having a 4 yr. old and a 2 1/2 yr old... and pregnant with the fourth.

"What were you doing 1 year ago?"At this time last year I was just getting unpacked in our new home...

Five snacks you enjoy: cheese and crackers. cold pizza (veggie w/feta!), caramel popcorn(rarely), this is a tough one for me because I'm a lazy eater...I'd rather go all day without eating than be bothered to make something....actually I usually drink black tea with cream and sugar instead of bothering to make something(since I don't buy ready-made snack food).

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics: Create in me a clean heart, Seek ye first, Amazing Grace, O Lord you're beautiful, and a lullaby that I still sing to Janelle once in awhile. Lullaby and goodnight, with rosy bed light.....I don't listen to alot of music so these are the ones that Mrs. Weaver listed...and they are also ones that I remember from my childhood.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:I too would hire a financial planner so that I'd know how to handle the $$. Somehow I would want to help children of Africa and/or China..adoption or maybe something bigger than that. I'd dig a bunch of wells in Africa. I'd help out my family members in some way or other....ummmmm not sure what I'd do for us....pay the house off...

Five bad habits: procrastinating..which is probably at the root of all my bad habits. Letting things slide with the kids. reacting instead of responding...Not eating all day....drinking coffee and tea...forgetting to take my vitamins then crashing from lack of energy(duh!)...allowing clutter to accumulate...is that enough??

Five things you like doing: I love to read. I enjoy photography. I like singing with a couple of friends, but we rarely do it anymore. Spending time with the girls...Enjoying a quiet cup of tea on the pool deck early morning before anyone gets up.

Five things you would never wear again:I can with full confidence say that I will never wear those stretchies we wore in the '90s with the long sloppy t shirt over top!! Stirrup pants. 6 inch heels (ouch)!! costume jewellery that matches the outfit's colour, as well as the shoes of the same colour. High top running shoes...is that 5 yet?

Five Favorite toys:I don't really have any toys...hmmmm I guess the swimming pool out back....well this computer would definitely be one thing. A camera( which I don't have but will have as soon as I save up for it!!((: ) can't think of any other toys....I'll add them later if I come up with any.

I'm not tagging anyone specifically... If you want to do this though, I'd love to hear about it!! Have fun!

Sitting Here Thinking about all the Work I Have to Get Done!!!

Today is July 17....That means it's 8 days until my company starts arriving!!! My 88 yr. old Grandma- whom you all prayed for-is coming on the 25th of July. She is doing really well. (Thank you for praying!) A few months back we weren't sure that she was gonna make it after a fall where she broke her hip. She now has to use a walker but that's not all that bad, after all, she IS 88 years old!! ☺ My brother, his fiance and their 4 kids arrive on the night of the 31st. They drop the kids off and come back on the night of the 3rd, then stay for the long weekend. Then after the weekend, another brother and his family stop in on their way home and drop off a daughter who'll stay for awhile. Then somewhere in there, my Mom and possibly Dad are coming for awhile..I'm never sure how long they'll stay. We're all so excited to be getting company!! My brother is renting a big ski boat while they are here, so I should have some water skiing pictures to put up the first or second week of August. :))
BUT.... NOW the work begins!
-I need to go through everyone's clothes and get rid of all the too small stuff.
-Finish painting livingroom and get blinds back up.
-paint kitchen.
-sort out boxes and junk in downstairs family room so cousins have somewhere to sleep!
-get carpets cleaned.
-sweep and wash deck. wash white railing.
-finish sanding wood pool deck.
-stain pool deck.
-clean carport and take trip to the dump.
I'm sure I could go on but I'm getting depressed just looking at these!!! :D Well not really but.. yeah.. it's alot!
So today... I think I'll start with sorting the clothes. Well I see that it's getting late... time to go call the girls and get everyone moving! Hope you're all having a good week.

Quote for the Day.

Of those who say nothing,

Few are silent.

-Thomas Neill

I love this quote...it's very good.

Summer meals---Ideas Anyone??

Ever since summer started I've been at a loss for meals during the day. Normally of course, the kids eat at school. I don't know why I'm having trouble coming up with creative meals?! Maybe it's the heat!!
Anyway if you have any ideas for some yummy (and NUTRITIOUS!!) and economical summer breakfasts and lunches, please leave your ideas for me!! The kids will eat almost anything too, so that makes it easier. One thing that seems to happen is that we eat junk we wouldn't normally eat... so this isn't a healthy way to be doing things!
We try not to eat a lot of dairy...but some is okay.

It's been really hot here this past week. Today it's up to about 34*C--that's about 93 or 94*F -for my Americans blogging buddies that are reading this. By Friday we're supposed to be up to 40*C or 104*F!!


Thank goodness for the pool! I hope you're all having a great week. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you all with some good ideas!!!
thx!
☺