My Lumberjack!

Psalm 90:14-17

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,

your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us—

yes, establish the work of our hands.

Today was kind of fun - I can't believe it's already early evening! It's been SO beautiful here, and I'm just feeling SO blessed. Dad's increased the tulip bulb count to over 400 - partly because I love tulips so much. :) It's GLORIOUS around here - but that's not today's post. Today is about my lumberjack, Kenn.



There is a tree out in the "wheel" that is most of our back yard. It was planted before Mom & Dad decided on the wheel design, and it throws too much shade, gets leaves everywhere, and the roots are beginning to cause problems. So Dad wanted it down.

Guess who volunteered to at least try! So, first he cut off the bottom limbs....

Then higher up, on top of the ladder. He only used a Sawzall and a hand saw!










(That's my dad, assisting.... :D )









And finally, the tree trunk in three pieces. The sunglasses are mine; they couldn't find the safety goggles. :D I figure any glasses were better than an eye in trouble!
















LOTS of sawdust and sweat later, he has the tree down as far as the parents wanted. He's gonna be SORE, for sure, but what a great thing for him to do!

How was YOUR day? Did you do something fun, or get to watch an event like I did?? :D Tell me about it!!!!!!!!!! I want to HEAR!!

Pleasant Monday Afternoon to You!

Good afternoon! Boy, this day is FLYING by!!! (I'm really hoping this picture is bigger when I publish this blog....)

I'm sorry it was raining outside your windows, girls. :D Actually, I'm not. We haven't had rain in weeks again, so you're getting blessed! :D And I bet it's even nice. I remember New York State, Ginny. :) The rain still makes me feel so glad to have a cozy home!!! :)

ANYWAY. We had an incredibly busy weekend, and I needed most of yesterday afternoon and evening to get my brain back. Phew, I felt braindead yesterday! Today, Kenn had to take off quickly when they called and told him he'd had an early-morning assignment no one bothered to tell him about; he'll be gone all day. So, I've been working, blogging, and trying to make home a pleasant place to be again. I've got a long way to go, but every little bit helps!

Think about this: if pleasant words are a balm to the soul, I think there's something as great about our environments that affects our well-being. Of course, it's usually easier to control our homes than our TONGUES.... :D But I think that's why women really respond to calm places, to colors, and why one of our heart's desires (usually, it's not always true!) is to create a HOME. Not just a house, not just someplace to eat and sleep, but someplace that is a refuge. Someplace that is what a tired soul needs after fighting the fight.

I don't do a good job with following through a lot of times, but I DO have that desire. I've done pretty good about fighting my packrat tendencies, but I have to fight Kenn's, too, and sometimes it overwhelms me. But Mom and Dad have provided us with SUCH a wonderful place to live, I'm determined to continue to fight! :D

OK. I'm off to do some design work, and to work on my home a little. I'd love to hear from you! What are you doing? How do you feel about what I wrote? How was church? (I'll try to remember to post about our services yesterday; I just run out of words to tell you BLESSED we are, every time we go!!!)

Count your blessings, dear one. I know some of you are going through an INCREDIBLE struggle right now. My heart hurts for you. Please know I care, and I'm praying for you. And God loves you. He can take all your disappointment, anger, frustration, lost dreams, and LOVE you.

Until next post! :) YOU ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honor Thy Father & Mother

Good morning, everyone. I'm SO sorry I haven't posted in a while; I have all these thoughts buzzing in my head, and they won't stand still long enough to sort and get down into writing! ::::::::sigh:::::::::::: I hope you'll forgive me! :)

Today I want to honor my mom and dad. This is them!

Actually, this picture's almost 2 years old. They don't seem to hold still long enough to take a picture of the two of them TOGETHER very often. :)

My mom and dad are REALLY giving. They offered us a place to live when we didn't know what God was doing in our lives - we still share a house with them! They are ALWAYS there when I need them, for anything. When a crisis arises - as they seem to, often, in Kenn & my lives!!! - they are always there, even if we only get a sympathetic ear and good, Godly advice. :)

Mom takes care of me a LOT. She purchases most of my prescriptions; she gives me money to get used clothing and books. She puts up with my mood shifts and a-political attitudes. :D She's been one of my best friends for the last ten years, and I am so grateful for her!!!

Dad is so looking forward to retirement that I think he has trouble seeing straight sometimes. :D He's become much more light-hearted when he gets to stay home, with a ready laugh and a conversation with Kenn coming easily. This week, he blessed both Rhonda and me with a ticket for her to come for Thanksgiving - the first holiday her ex-husband will have the kids - so she doesn't have to be by herself. I haven't seen her since my wedding. :) Thank you, Dad.

I don't tell them often enough how much I love them, how blessed I am by them, how grateful I am for everything they do for me. God teaches me how to love so many times by their examples. I am SO blessed to have Godly parents.

I just wanted to honor them today, in a special way. :)