Halloween

Like I said, the days are running together these days. Life has been a blur, and trying to squeeze in a nap or 2 here and there. Lance has traveled to Yosemite and Haiti in recent weeks, and I have a growing STACK of papers that I need to attend to on my kitchen counter. Some days, I want to add a few more hours to the day, and then I think..."WHAT? That would be crazy...I'm ready for bed." So, enough of the chit chat. I might post pictures of some of the other things I'm in the midst of. But right now, here are a few pictures from our church's trunk-or-treat.

Our church small group, pictured below. Dr. Brock, Bumblebee Girl and Iron Man!

CSA 2011, October 30

I can't even keep my days straight anymore, so I've lost count of what week of CSA we're on. But here's a picture of today's harvest. About this time of year, I'm ready for the CSA to be OVER. I think a few more weeks!

Jewell is ONE!

Our little sweetie had a birthday! Time flies...And pretty soon we will be welcoming baby #4!

On Motherhood

Perhaps it’s just part of the growing up process, but I had a lot of complaints growing up. My parents were old. We didn’t have a tv. There was never any food in the house. And I never got the toys I wanted. My mother was always so religious. Sure, that’s a simplification. And some of these thoughts weren't that accurate either. But it’s the way I saw it. But in retrospect, those are some of my favorite parts of my upbringing.

Yes, my parents were older than some other parents. But that gave me a perspective that others didn’t have. My mom taught me how to conserve water, how to think about other uses for things before they hit the trash can, she taught me about manners, how to look for the little rocks that show up sometimes in bags of dried beans, and other things that I considered “old fashioned.”

Not knowing what happened on the latest “Full House” or “Blossom” was torture on this preteen, but I was forced to be creative. I played with Fimo, I made up games, I played captured princess outside.

My Easter basket had carob bunnies in it. I brought a avocado & sprout sandwich for school lunch. For dinner, I ate lettuce wedges topped with Nan’s Homemade Ranch (anyone jealous that I know the recipe?). I did like the food, but completely rebelled while not at home. I raided my friends’ pantries when I visited their homes. But I learned what foods were good fuel for my body, and returned to my mother’s way of eating.

I so badly wanted that Easy Bake Oven, but things were simple around our house. I had toys, but I honestly don’t remember many.

My mother knows the Bible like the back of her hand. She spends hours soaking it in. As a kid, I felt the “lessons” would go on far too long. But now, I find myself hoping that one day God’s word so effortlessly flows from my tongue as it does hers.

Now as a parent, I hope I can be the kind of mother that my mom was. So often we hear, “You are just like your mother,” in a voice that’s condescending and insulting. But I strive to be the type of mother she was for me. I love you mom!

What’s your favorite thing about your mom...especially things you failed to appreciate when you were younger?

Gentry Farm

Another wonderful year at Gentry's Farm! I love this place. If you have young kids, and live in the area, you must check it out!!!

CSA 2011, Fall

Well, blogging has taken a back seat to...life. I still do enjoy blogging, but it has been on the backburner in recent days. So, here is ONE of the weeks from this fall. We have been eating lots of stuffed acorn squash these days. And when I don't get around to it, they make great fall table decor!