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Well, our summer is underway and I'm already tired.  It might just be the heat.  Today it's 33 degrees Celsius.  Thankful the pool is warm as I've been swimming a bit.  I'm not complaining that's for sure because we get enough rain and cold in the winter so this is awesome weather we are having right now.

My favourite fruit is in season right now and we are enjoying an abundance of "raspberries". Yum.  I have made raspberry cheesecake...raspberry viniagrette...raspberries and cream...just plain raspberries...raspberry shortcake...you get the picture.  Plus, I put 40 pounds in the freezer to make raspberry jelly later. I am not doing much this summer...I am still working on this "tennis elbow" thing and so any amount of work causes pain...and trying to use my left hand for everything is also difficult....so I am taking it easy this summer and just sitting around doing only what absolutely needs doing...and with five kids still home, that's busy enough.

We took the kids to the ocean and for ice-cream...and now Anika says she has touched her feet in the North Atlantic Ocan and now the Pacific Ocean..it was exciting, not to mention we all had our favourite ice-cream...mine is "tiger"...delicious!  The tide was out so we were able to walk quite a ways out.

Dh and I also made our first "beer can chicken"...or others call it, "beer up the butt" chicken.  It turned out amazing.  Next time though we will leave in on the barbeque 1/2 hour longer..but the flavour was unbelievable.  I went on the internet to look up recipes and there were hundreds of them, so dh and I just came up with our own rub and everyone loved it.

The boys got the go-kart out from the garage and pumped up the tires washed it and even got it started on their own.  Last year they couldn't really touch the peddles very easily but this year well.....my boys are growing up too quickly for "this mama"....but it was fun watching them tearing around the grapes and through the long grass.  They had a blast....so did dad!!!!

We are reading Daniel Boone right now...and because the weather was so great today we took our blankets and I read to the kids under the big tree in the back yard...I sat in our wonderful Muskoka chair and the kids laid on the blankets...it was fun.  I finally got a sore throat from reading so we all laid on the blankets while the kids  talked about all kinds of things...we all told story after story until I got a whopper of a headache...so Anika decided to massage my head so I wouldn't go inside...she loves listening to my stories...she even braided my hair.  It was a fun afternoon.  Of course every once in a while the wind would blow a certain way and it was "chicken poo smell" everywhere....then thankfully the wind would shift and it was beautiful trees and grass smell.  Oh the joys of living in the country.  God is so good!

Our cherry tree is producing lots of fruit this year...but unfortunately the birds are getting more than we are. Any ideas how to keep the crows away? 

Well, that about sums up our past week....looking forward to the weekend. 

Happy "4th of July to all my US blogging friends

and

Happy Birthday to my sister!

Well today I am tired.  I have been helping our daughter move boxes from her rental suite into her new home.  Her dh is still away on business, so we have been trying hard to help her. 

Last night after Karisa's graduation from Bible school we headed over to load up the van and take it to the new place.  Today her, I and the boys took two more loads.  I was so proud of the boys as they were trying hard to lift everything.  Truth be told we sure would not have finished as quickly as we did without them.  My boys are turning into little men.  (growing too fast).  Karisa was so proud of them and when her dh phoned he too was proud of them for all their work. (She took us to Tim's and Wendy's for lunch). Dh  feels so bad about not being home for their first year anniversary...his best friends wedding today and moving into their first home together.  Tomorrow his dad and brother will help move the largest things in the dad's trailer. 

I found out I have carpal tunnel in my right hand and it's spread so now I have Tennis elbow.  I should be wearing a special band and not using my right arm...but hopefully when this move is over I can rest.  I do know for sure I will not be helping them paint...I think that would kill my arm forever.

Oh yes...now for the questions Moving?  Yes, it's true we have decided that it's probably time to move.  This is going to sound really strange considering I am on a homestead blogging group.  Everyone here is either in the country...preparing to move to the country or saving desperately to live in the country....and we are now deciding to leave the country life.

I think I am tired of the work.  My right arm has been so bad lately....all the years of pruning as taken it's toll.  And now we have chickens and I cannot stand the mess.  Stephanie takes care of the chickens for 95% of the time and she always comes into the house stinking like chicken poo!!!!  I hate that smell.  Plus she is getting tired of me always making her change her clothes....  and it's at least three time a day because the smell just lingers on her clothes.  Everyone in the house is sick of the smell that follows Stephanie around.   There is so much work to do on this property and no time.  Dh is working so much now that he is a manager, that there is no time for farming.  And our boys are still too young to use the tractor.  Our daughter that use to do all the mowing has a life of her own and working so that leaves everything to me.  And it just doesn't seem worth it anymore.  I cannot keep on top of everything...and I need to be organized and I cannot stand dirt or mess.  I think this place is just not set up properly and that is driving me crazy.

For example...we spent so much time working on our garden to have it all drown...not the proper location.  Then the year before that when the garden did do good the neighbours horses got through and destroyed the entire garden and ate all our corn....again, lousy location.  And because this is a vineyard, there really is no other place for gardening. 

I guess I'm just feeling overwhelmed with it all and decided (we decided) that there might be more important things for us right now.  Spending time with our kids in different ways.  We have become a slave to this place and we said whenever that happened it was time to go.   Now our three oldest have graduated and there is no reason holding us here.  The younger three can go to any school and it won't be as big a deal until they hit high school...so that helps alot.

I will say this place has been wonderful.  Living just a few minutes down the road from Audrey has been the best few years of my life...I'm going to miss it.  We have learned how to prune grapes, make wine from beginning to end....now raising our own chickens for meat.  We definitely have fulfilled some of our dreams out here and for that we are ever grateful to God...plus my daughter says that if we would not have moved here, she would not be married now to the best guy.

I will miss the peace and quiet but hopefully we will find a place where there is no one behind us...maybe backing onto a park or field or something like that.  We aren't just going to settle for anything.  We are not forced to move quickly, so we will take our time for just the right place. 

So this evening we are heading out with our realtor to look at six houses.  We have already looked at a few but said no to all of them....so the search continues.

Well, my daughter wants to have tea before she heads off to the wedding without her hubby....she is not very excited to go without him....so I better have tea with her.

I had someone email me and ask if my friendship with Audrey was over....NO IT IS NOT!!!!  It will never be over.  I was just sharing what is going on in MY life...my feelings.  Afterall, it's MY blog. 

I have been spending a lot of time at home....and that's a good thing.  But sometimes we a need change.  And I think country living can get a little lonely.  There can be weeks where I never speak to another female at all....have no adult conversations.  And I don't think that is how God intended our lives to be. 

Before Audrey's cancer, we did everything together....talked almost every day.  And then all of a sudden "bam"....I think it's only hitting me now, that I am feeling quite lonely for other female companionship/friendship.  I spend all day every day in these same four walls taking care of our children and especially our special needs daughter.  She is with me 24/7...and it's exhausting.  I guess I just need a break. 

Don't get me wrong...I love being a stay-at-home mom.  There is no place I'd rather be....but God created us as social beings....and up until six months ago, my life has been very social.  And sometimes just caring for a special needs child with hardly any break,  can become very tiring.  At least when I was out with Audrey even though S was with us...we had a blast.  We were always laughing or crying...or both at the same time.  We have done and said the craziest things...she keeps me young.  I haven't laughed hard like that in a long time.  And it's time for some laughter again.

So please don't take my last post as anything but my heart.  Audrey and her family are the dearest and most incredible friends one could ever ask for...there is no way I would ever give them up.  But as I'm sure Audrey understands from reading all these posts, she needs other woman who have gone through Breast cancer...she needs support and understanding in ways that I cannot possible help.  She needs to hear wisdom, encouragement from those who have gone through everything she has gone through.  She has bird friends that help her....I'm not interested in birds, so those friends fill something as well.  And I know that she feels the same way about our family as we do her's.  Love like that can never be broken.

So this is the end of this subject....just remember, blogs are for sharing our hearts, thoughts and family...basically journaling in cyberspace.  But I do thank you for caring.  It is great to have other woman to converse with through blogland.  So many of you have become very near and dear to my heart.  I remember when I couldn't get a hold of Gloria, I was so worried that the tornado had gone through and some horrible had happened....but thankfully she was just away with family.  So all of you women out there who faithfully leave comments on my blog, you have become a very important part of my life and even though we will probably never meet personally (which is too bad), know that I always enjoy checking in to see how you are doing...and pray for you when you ask.

So blessings to all my dear blogging friends.

In the past few months our lives have been so busy that we have forgotten what's important.  We have chickens that need tending too every few hours (or so).  Children in school.  A husband who is a manager and works lots (even from home).  Running here and there....and at the end of the day, too tired to do anything else but go to bed. (which in itself is one of my favourite things to do).

But this week has been especially hard...maybe PMS...who knows.  But I felt a bit insecure (as my dh put it).  We realized that our marriage and family needed a bit of an "overhaul".  We have not tended to the most important things in our lives...and that is marriage and family.

This weekend was a very profound weekend for me...kind of like a "wake up call".  Saturday started out with a Thai picnic.  That is where all the families in the area who have adopted from Thailand meet together.  We do this once a year.  Last year we missed because our daughter got married that day.  So this year I was so excited to see everyone.  We had an absolute blast...as the pictures will atest too.  The kids especially Daniel and M (Audrey's daughter)... were in their glory.  It was like they were "home" in their country.  It gave them a sense of who they are and something we will not forget.  We talked about it going home...and it was a true blessing to have all the Thai children together.  M and Daniel are such good friends and I suppose will be forever.

Then on Sunday being Father's day was another incredible day.  Dh had to work in the morning so we missed church as I didn't want to go without him...especially on that day.  So we stayed home and prepared a wonderful "late lunch" for our family.  Karisa is home right now because her husband is away on business and she hates staying by herself.   Karisa decided that all the kids needed to make Father's Day cards for dad.  So here were my six children all sitting around the dining room table with a load full of craft supplies making cards for their dad.  It brought tears to my eyes...because there are days when I feel that we are not the best parents...and dad is sometimes too busy.  But, let's just say that dad was crying reading every single card he received.  I only managed to get a few photos of them working...and some had already finished by the time I thought of the camera (as usual).

After dh got home and we had a wonderful dinner....all eight of us around the table...WOW, it was great!   DH wanted to take all the kids kite flying but it rained so we opted to watch a movie.  We set the TV room up and put all the pillows from our house on the floor with blankets.  DH made three different kinds of popcorn...Tianna and Karisa bought the kids candy and pop.  It was so much fun!  The kids were so excited.  It was a blessed day!

But then comes Monday, and the let down.  Won't go into details because it's borning....but let's just say that is when I realized what's important in life?  My family. So dh and I talked about it and decided we needed to make a few changes.  We need to spend more time as a family doing things...and not always things that cost money.

At the end of the day, family and friends are what's important.  As most of you know Audrey has been dealing with breast cancer...and Praise God she has come through it!  But not only has this been the most incredible journey of her life...it's changed me as well. 

Audrey and I use to do everything together...we were "partners in crime"...been across the country and back...been to Africa and back.  She is my children's second mother...life is boring without her.  But because she needed to focus on just surviving all the chemo and being incredibly tired...our time together has taken a back seat....and rightly so!  But it has been incredibly hard for me....it has made my life incredibly lonely at times.  But on the flip side she has reunited with her sister...made some incredible friends who have been through cancer and have survived.  Audrey needs that right now and probably forever....it's a gift from the Lord; so I don't want to take that away from her.  I cannot possibly understand the things she is going through because I have never been in that position...but support groups for her can and do. 

So up until Audrey's cancer, I really didn't need anyone else.  I had my niece Grace and her family and I had Audrey and her family.  Life was good and full.  But that has changed now....and the loneliness has set in.  Dh has been working so much and we see Grace and her family....they also have a life outside of us...so I need some "spice up" in my life.

My life will always be interwined with Audrey and her family...just for the simple fact that our children are from Thailand and will always have a bond...but Audrey is my 'sister' and nothing and no one will ever take that away.

Anyway,  I love living in the country...raising your own meat and the peace and quiet of country living....but it's changed now.  I need something more.  So dh and I have decided to take our children away a few times this summer.  We are going to do day trips until this batch of chickens are culled.  And then we are going to take a mini-holiday.  (More on that in a later post).  We are also joining a "hiking club".  And will take the kids hiking with other families...meeting new people. 

I realized that memory making with my children and husband is so very important and lacking a bit.  At the end of your life...you won't really care about much else other than family and your friends.  Our daughters sister-in-law works at a seniors home and she says that when older people there don't have family coming to visit...they are more sick and die more quickly than those who have family visiting on a regular basis.  She could not believe the difference in the lives of the seniors because of family.  She told my daughter (this past weekend) that some of the folks are so lonely and tell her that their children hardly ever visit because they didn't spend much time with their children growing up...other things were more important.  And now that they are old...they are reaping what they have sown.  How very sad....but so true.

I don't want to be one of those families where my children don't care enough to visit.   I don't want them to look back and see that mom and dad put other things in their lives that were more important then their own children....how sad and lonely that would be! 

So as I close this very, very long post....each of us must look at our lives and make sure that what's most important (and we each have to decide for ourselves what that is), not be neglected. 

Be blessed this day with your family.

(pictures have nothing to do with the post...just thought they were gorgeous--taken outside our kitchen window)

Today was one of those days where I didn't get much accomplished.  All I was doing was running around here and there.  I got 30 pounds of strawberries.  Tomorrow I will be making jam...and the rest will go in the freezer for winter.  Plus I will save some for eating fresh and I'm going to try and new fresh strawberry dessert.  Will post the recipe if it turns out okay.

Dropped dd off with her caregiver.  It's always nice to have a break from her. Drove around trying to hunt down my daughter who I couldn't get a hold of on her cell.  Like what's with that....isn't that the reason our children have cell phones so we can contact them when we need to??  Anyway, her teacher needed a signature for one of her courses as today is the FINAL day of school.

I cannot believe that our youngest bio daughter is now out of high school.  Where oh where has the time gone?  It seems only yesterday she was born and now that part of her life is over.  She hopes to be working for the summer and fall....then she will be going to Australia with YWAM and then doing her ministry part in Thailand. 

Our married daughter has moved home for a few days.  Her husband is away for a few weeks on business and she HATES sleeping in her place alone. She will go home for the weekend and her girlfriend will spend the weekend with her.  Then next week, our dd will spend a few nights.  So we are going to take advantage of her this evening....dh and I are having a "date night"...can hardly wait.  We are going to go for a Pistachio Gelato...Yummy! (I think--I've never had one before)...but dh says they are awesome.  Actually, anything will be yummy just to be out on a date with my hubby!

Well, that's all for now...I hope to be back blogging on a regular basis.  My finger is doing much better.  Still stiff in the morning, but trying to rest it throughout the day and use my left hand.

Not much to write about.  Took Stephanie to see the surgeon who did her jaw surgery.  She has been wearing braces for a long time and we have come to a stand still.  The bands that are to pull the teeth down don't seem to be working any longer.  The ortho wanted us to see the surgeon just in case there was something he could do.

We have four options...but instead of explaining all the options here...we have decided (probably) to do option one....and that is to do "nothing".  So we will finish up with the braces as right now they are just aligning the teeth so everything matches but after that we will remove the braces and leave her jaw alone.   It seems the back teeth will probably never touch, but at least now she has 12 teeth touching instead of just two. 

The forth option would have been to go and do another surgery and adjust the bottom jaw again...but that would be too traumatic for dd.

Came home and did nothing else....I was so "bagged" that I needed a nap.  Driving makes me incredibly tired.  I always want to fall asleep when I'm driving...been like that since I was small.  I guess that explains who dh doesn't like to let me drive long distances. 

Well, that's about it....told you there was nothing interesting.  Hope each of you have a wonderful evening.

USB Fixed...pictures as promised

Sorry that it's been awhile.  Life has gotten away from me  lately.  I am also having problems with my USB and therefore cannot download any pictures from my camera.  Hopefully dh will rectify this problem SOON!!

So to recap our life since my last post...  Our children are almost finished school for the summer...yahoo!  I will get a long needed break from driving every day.  The children had their track & field meet last week. 

Daniel celebrated his 11th birthday on Friday.  Cannot believe my Thai boy is 11.  We had a pool party and the kids had a blast.  Thank you Grace for all your help!.

We got another batch of 50 chickens on Saturday...one died.  It looked sick on the day they arrived and died Sunday morning.

We picked up (finally) our new van today.  I was so excited that I didn't want to drive it home. Dh drove it home and then I left it in  the driveway until I needed to pick the kids up from school.  There is something to be said for driving an older vehicle....less stress.  But I will say that I am very thankful for our new van, as the older van was holding together only by prayer. It was a hard decision because dh didn't want to buy anything used and therefore New was the only way.  We also wanted to buy Canadian and do our part for the economy, so we purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan made in Ontario.

I am roasting two of our chickens today...the first ones from our bunch.  My children want rice (as usual), so we will have rice with grilled green beans and tomato cucumber salad (my dd favourite).

Decided last minute to make a Lazy Daisy Cake...eating it with my coffee as I type.

Well, that's about it for now...pictures to follow.

Life has been so crazy this past week and I am still exhausted.  Here is why......

Yes, our youngest biological daughter has graduated.  Where has the time gone?  Brings tears to my eyes just typing this.

Then the Prom and Dry Grad....

Her and boyfriend....

Oh and did I happen to mention the "Viper"??

Yes, it's true...Tianna got to drive in her boyfriends dad's Viper.  Now that is a CAAARRRR!!!!!!

It was truly was an amazing weekend.  She has worked incredibly hard to get to this point.

We love you Tianna very, very much and are so proud of you and the young woman you are becoming.  May God bless you as your life is just beginning.

...yes, it's hard to believe I'm here.  My hand has been healing very slowly.  I try to use my left hand as much as possible.  And I think it's helping.

It's been a quiet week so far (well, it's only Tuesday)...so who knows what the rest of the week will bring.

I have been very down this week with personal issues that I am trying to come to terms with.  Nothing with the family, just within myself...and realizing that sometimes things must come to an end...but my heart doesn't want  it.  The head says one thing but the heart says something different.  Does that make sense?  If you're confused, imagine how I feel...it's seems I'm always confused about something.  Maybe it's because I take life to seriously and passionately.  I should just learn how to roll with the punches.  But unfortunately, that is hard for me becaue I wear my emotions on my sleeves and can't hide it from no one.

Anyway, here are a few photos of our week so far.

Our Daughter Tianna is becoming quite the artist.

Anika making waffles.

The finished product.  Great job my girl!

My birthday present from Karisa and her dh...can't believe it's still alive.

P.S.  Please keep Audrey in your prayers as tomorrow she goes for you final chemo appointment.

This entry will be short as I cannot use my hand too long.  A break down of my week so far.  Dh is away in the US on a business trip so we are missing me terribly.  The days go by slowly when he's not home.  But I am trying to keep busy.  I am trying to finish my housecleaning.  Finished the inside windows in the kitchen and living room...takes awhile because I have to use my left hand.

Dd and her husband bought a house this week...their first.  I'm very excited for them.  In June it will be their first anniversary.  They are moving in at the end of June.

Our chickens were done and are now in the freezer awaiting our oven.  My niece has already roasted one of hers and she couldn't believe the difference free range chickens taste compared to store bought.

Well, that pretty much sums up my week....nothing too exciting.  I am taking the kids to the wave pool after school today.  I need the exercise and it will make the evening go quicker.  I hope to start working on organizing the garage when I get back...it will give the kids something to do as well as help me.... it's amazing how slow I am just using my left hand.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful week so far.  I'm sorry that I haven't left too many comments...I am checking in though.  Actually Anika does the mouse for me so I can keep up with everyone. But I haven't had a chance to comment on very many blogs.   Hopefully that will change soon!

Sorry that it's been so long since updating....but I have been having serious problems with my index finger on my right hand.  And using the mouse is very painful.  So I have been taking a break from blogging as to try and rest that part of my hand.

I have been using my left hand for most things including the mouse, and that's very difficult.  I will be back as soon as my hand feels better.  I am going to see the Dr....so hopefully he will send me for an x-ray and then I will have a better idea what's going on.

Have a blessed week.

So thankful that all is well at Gloria's homestead.  Thanks Gloria for commenting and letting me know. 

It's been a great day here on the West Coast...the sun is shining and it's 21 degress Celsius.  One thing I will say....is getting use to the chicken smell that seems to permiate our yard when the wind blows a certain way.....I DON"T like that smell.  But there's nothing I can do about it if we want chickens. Who would have thought chickens smell so BAD??? Certainly not me.  Oh well, this too is farm life.  We will be doing one more batch and then taking a break for the summer and then do one more batch in the Fall. 

Dh is off playing Poker with a friend...it's a fundraiser for our friends hockey team...sure hope Dh wins the $1200.00 prize...but I highly doubt it, as he  only has ever played once before..heehee.

Wishing all mother's out there Happy Mother's Day

I have been concerned about Gloria over at blessed mom of 10.  Her last post talked about a storm coming and she hasn't posted since.

Does anyone on HSB know how she is doing?  Has anyone heard about the storms that went through Missouri (where she lives)???  I have been praying for them and hope everyone is fine.  Please leave a comment if anyone out there has heard from Gloria or those close to her.

 Thanks!

...... going on this week.  Just the usual...laundry, cooking, cleaning, chickens, hockey, children, homework, reading...all the things that make being a mom and wife, wonderful.

...and the winner is Hopefulheart7.  Thank you everyone for leaving wonderful comments.  I wish I could send everyone this book...but obviously it's not possible.  I would recommend that if you can, try and get a copy of Crazy Love....it will change your life forever.

Have a blessed week!

This has been a busy week....first taking care of our chickens. (who knew it was so much work?).  Each day it gets a little easier as we learn more about raising meat birds.  All 51 are still alive and growing like crazy.  It's amazing how much they eat and drink. 

Our daughter Tianna also graduates this year and we are getting all those things ready...prom dress alternations...purchasing tickets and finalizing all the details for the week of celebrations for her and the school.  Dh and friend are security for the "dry grad"...very exciting time for everyone. 

I will just be "thrilled" to see her walk across the stage...I will probably be bawling the whole time.  It has been a hard year for Tianna.  She is very dyslexic and she has to work very hard for every mark.  But this year was especially difficult because she had Chemistry 12, Biology 12, Math 12 and English 12...and not to mention that one  teacher she had...well, let's just say (he shouldn't be a teacher).  Afterall, not everyone is cut out for the job...but some think they are.  When my dh had one of many meetings with the teacher and vice principal he made a comment to the teacher about something ......and the teachers response was..."yes, my wife has been telling me that for years"......(maybe he should listen to his wife).  The other teachers are absolutely amazing.  And you can tell from Tianna's mark alone.  These teachers care about their students and wanting them to succeed.  Unfortunately, not everyone is like that.  But it has given our daughter a taste of what it is to have compassion and true caring for others who struggle..plus it shows her tenacity and perseverance through this past year.  We are very proud of her....not to mention that God was always there with her (and always will be)...walking her through each day.

Well, I'm off to prepare dinner.  I hope everyone has a wonderful evening. 

Don't forget 11/2 more days to leave a comment  and have your name entered in the giveaway

Here are some photos as promised.  We have 51 chicks.

The Coop is done. 

Our babies are here....(we were so stressed on Saturday when they arrived that we skipped church on Sunday to watch them and make sure they were okay---how pathetic is that?)

Putting the chicks in for the night

Our sunset last night...aaahhhh

And our fruit trees in blossom.

Don't forget to leave a comment and be added to the draw for this amazing book...Crazy Love!

I cannot believe where the time has gone.  Each day just rolls into the next and before you know it, the middle of the week is here again.

I have been quite busy these past weeks.  Getting the yard work done...helping with the chicken coop. It's finally finished and waiting for your chicks this weekend.  So exciting. House cleaning has begun in our home.  I can't believe that there could be so many dust bunnies...but alas, there is.  Moving children around and painting bedrooms.

I also have injured my index finger on my right hand...so blogging is hard.  I cannot use the mouse efficiently.  So my posting may be sporadic for a while as I'm trying to rest it...you should see me typing this post:-)

The weather has been beautiful so I'm enjoying the smells of spring...watching the daffodils bloom and thanks to friends who bring them to me to enjoy in my kitchen.

I have read the MOST incredible book of my life.  I cannot even describe it to you.  But as you are probably thinking..." I always say that".  Well, it's true...I have read some incredible books.  But this one is different.  There is no comparison.  It's in a class all it's own.  I received the book on a Wednesday evening and had it finished by the next morning at 5:45am.  Yes, I did get up real early because I just needed to finish it.  I am now reading to dh and re-reading it again myself and highlighting areas of importance to me...or those areas where God speaks to me.  Plus righting my thoughts on the side.

So because I love this book so much, I have decided to do a giveaway.  Leave me a comment and on April 30th, I will draw a lucky winner.  Here is a glimpse of the most unbelievable book you will read this year and many years to come (just my opinion)....

CRAZY LOVE

****I have been writing this post all week and it's now Saturday.  Our chickens are coming this afternoon.  I will post pictures later. 

****Because I was late in posting this...I will extend the draw to May 3rd (my birthday). 

Every day is a new beginning...like Anne shirley says..."without any mistakes".

I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and it felt so good to my soul. As I watched the fog lifting in the back field, listening to the birds chirping I decided that this week is going to be a special week of prayer for me...a quiet week with not many interruptions or appointments.  Tomorrow is my only day where I have to be out...but other than that, I will be home.  I need to keep out the noise and chaos of life so that I can hear from the Lord.  It's amazing how often we cannot hear God because of all the "extra's" in our lives that make it impossible to recognize His quiet voice.

There are so many needs out there...so much to pray about.  So many things to give our thanks for....and in the busyness of life we miss the opportunities of responding to God in this way.  Many aspects of our life is about to change and I need to be in tune with my heavenly Father.  I need to be focused right now on what is important....recognizing the path we are to be on....watching for signs of God's direction.

Our homestead is alive with spring...and so is my heart. 

Joy comes in the morning!

....He is risen indeed. 

Blessings to each of you as we celebrate the most incredibly day in history.  Our Lord didn't stay in the tomb....but He rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God our Father .....interceding for us and preparing a home for all those who accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.