20 years!

 

Friday, November 27, 1992 ~ A very famous Black Friday for us <3

 

                  

 

 

Happy Anniversary to my very own Mr. Right!  Love you!

not funny

 

 

almost forgotten

… photos from Tim’s phone…

while still at the State Fair in August {top picture in display is of my cousin Nick & family amongst the turkeys}




Luci ~ Queen of the Hay {in September}

The Popper in the combine with Tim




Tim’s birthday bonfire




Zip line at Jack’s! {October 20}

four weeks via the camera

 

Canning pears four weeks ago…

            

We spent that evening (Oct. 12) at a wedding near Des Moines.  I had some dreamy idea about sitting with my hubby for the ceremony, but I had agreed to help in the kitchen – and we barely got it ready before the service was over and folks were coming into the reception hall!  I did sit down long enough by Tim later - to enjoy a delicious piece of cheese cake.  Oh yum.  And then we helped our friends out even more by bringing some of the leftovers home…  ; )  Should have put a piece in the freezer for Kate to sample at Christmas – ooops.

 

The next week we celebrated big at home in anticipation of Tim’s birthday… grilled steak, burgers, Abby’s Cajun chicken, gyros, lasagna…

{You’ll have to use your imagination for most of that…}

The Popper’s loaded burger was a bit too big, but she got the job done 

 

On Thursday, the Cowgirl made symphony tier bars so that Tim could take a plate to work…

Friday evening {his birthday} the kids loaded the rest of the dish with 48 candles…

      

                             

The kids said next year we could just have a bonfire  ; )

 

{should be a recipe here somewhere for the dessert – probably need to add a search widget}

 

Outdoor Project of the Month:  a sidewalk and real step out front!

 

                  

          

      

    

 

The pets, of course, needed to stay out of the wet cement…

  

c-A-t was not happy about being on a leash.

 

Abby helped wish finishing – scoring.

    

                     

Sorry, I thought I had a picture of the new walk – with dry concrete and no forms/mess/etc.  Next time…

 

I made another batch of elderberry syrup for Kate…

    

I was able to send it to her via Special Delivery – her Uncle Neil & Aunt Colleen came through here last week.  Abby made lots of cookies to send along too.

 

Tim has been busy inside the house too… adding thresholds between rooms and at the top of the stairway {requiring some trimming of laminate pieces already laid}

   

The Popper finished the curtain for her closet – yay!  {thanks to the Cowgirl getting the machine loaded with green thread}

      

Soooo I followed with the curtains for their window – turned out sorta cute for my first attempt at a ruffled curtain.

           

 

The sunshine was strong last evening – made for strong shadows and colors!

 

… a little too strong perhaps for a good view of our new closet door in the front hall – yay, Tim!  It’s amazing how different it looks with the door in place!

 

I finally hung up my newest plates – above the messy desk area {don’t look!}

      

 

Next week we will set up tables for an early Thanksgiving/Christmas Feast with my family.. something like this perhaps?  We will be 20+  …but I don’t have to cook a turkey or peel/mash any potatoes, so it should be ‘easy’ and fun. ;-)

marvel not

 

…if the world hate you.  1 John 3:13

We are reading through the epistles of John this month {1-3 John} along with Proverbs.

John wrote to his fellow believers …For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 2 John 2

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 4

Do we … have we… have I demonstrated that the Truth lives in me?  People in our world need the Truth so desperately.  Are we walking in truth?

“It's also increasingly apparent to me that our real problems are not political, but spiritual. Both parties have failed to acknowledge that. Democrats have not wanted to even acknowledge the need for God in our public institutions, but sadly, many of the Republican leadership will acknowledge God, but not because they believe we should be humble before Him, but to use God in our speeches and platforms. We wear our love of Israel like a badge of courage but on the issues of life and marriage too many of our leaders are more like lambs than Lions of Judah.” ~ Mike Huckabee {via facebook}

Lots of random thoughts going through my head since last night when my hubby informed me that President Obama appeared to be winning this election….

Wondering if this is how God will show His mercy? I have never liked Mitt Romney, but I voted for Paul Ryan – and his running mate – yesterday.  In hopes of defeating Obama.  Four years ago, I couldn’t bring myself to vote for McCain.  This time I voted for the slower track to our nation’s demise. 

With the idea of God’s mercy (along with a caveat), the song “Blessings” also comes to mind this morning…

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise…

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise.

 

Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” -1 Timothy 2:1-2

 

Do our comfortable lives need stirring up?  Is persecution the only way to strengthen our commitment to Christ?

 

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. ~ John 9:4

 

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.

 

[graphic from Ann Voskamp via a facebook friend]

 

Another hymn that came to mind this morning  ~

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

 

 

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

focus

Courtesy of Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom...

For 99 cents I bought an e-book today:  21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine.  It's on sale through Friday.  If you want, you can read the original series of posts at her blog that became the content of the e-book.

Now, which rabbit?