always feeling behind.

gotta love farmer's markets. and beets.

• I slept in this morning. The day is off to a very slow start.
• The girl kitten is now living at her forever home. We miss her.
• The boy kitten will stay with us. We named him Bear.
• Summer is passing far too quickly. School starts in less than 3 weeks.
• If I could do it all over again, I would homeschool.
• I made a list of things I wanted to do this summer. I've not done a single one.
• My oldest will be 17 in a few days. I'm in denial.
• My youngest will be going to the high school this year. I'm in denial.
• I'm looking forward to church tomorrow. It feels good to anticipate again.

It's Saturday...enjoy your day.

I'm about to enjoy mine!

roots.

'Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.'

 

 

 

 

 

it was time.

We went to church yesterday. It was good. It was needed. It was time.

We finally decided to attend the biggest church in town. I fought it. I didn't want to go to a big church. Don't get me wrong. It's a great church. We've been to many confereneces and worship sessions there and have always enjoyed them. It's a great church. It's just...big.

But honestly, it didn't feel big. It felt good. And comfortable. And like it's where we are supposed to be right now.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper  

you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you

will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back 

  from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where

I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back

to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

{like rain}

source



where does the time go?

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times.

But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is

what to do with the time that is given us.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

And now it's almost a week since I was last here, spilling my thoughts here at Give a Girl a Fig.

The trip to Donner Lake was very nice...girl time with my mom and my aunt. We cooked and ate and shopped and walked and hiked and laughed and talked and sang and danced and cried and rested and played and breathed in deep...and took it all in...and appreciated family...and time.

Time...it seems almost elusive to me lately. It just goes so fast each day...next thing I know tomorrow is almost here. The fact that the day is almost over and tomorrow is coming can sometimes be overwhelming. If you deal with anxiety, then you know what I am talking about. 

Reminding myself to live for today is a constant thing...fighting off anxiety is a constant thing. I thank God for the tools He has given me to fight the battle.

And even though it doesn't always feel like it, I am winning.

When I said, “My foot is slipping, ”
your love, O Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Psalm 94:18-19

living.

The weekend has been full...

...getting the boys ready for camp.
...getting myself ready to spend a couple of days with my mom and my aunt at my aunt's cabin.
...packing coolers full of cold drinks for Chris and the boys to take on early morning canoe rides.
...cleaning the garage.
...watching Redbox movies. (Have you seen The Road? If you haven't, don't. It was awful.)
...reading library books.
...staying up too late.
...getting up too early.
...taking lots of pictures.
...feeding sweet baby kittens.
...snuggling sweet baby kittens.
...enjoying delicious local peaches.
...harvesting vegetables from our own backyard.
...eating fresh salsa.

I hope you had a good weekend, too...xo

{good}



the neighbor's rose at dusk

• The weather is beaufitul today. After several days of stifling heat this cool breeze is such a relief.
• The kittens are eating more kitten food and fewer bottles...almost ready for their forever homes.
• Fresh tomatoes means fresh salsa, BLT's and fresh tomato, basil and turkey sandwiches.
• Fresh zucchini means fried zucchini cakes...have you tried them yet? What are you waiting for?
• I've been buying delicious peaches from a local ranch...they're so stinkin' good.
• I've actually utilized a few "pins" from my Pinterest files...a few cleaning tips, a few creative tips...it makes me feel more productive and less like a Pinterest stalker.
• I have been reading The Quarter-Acre Farm by Spring Warren. I'm only a few chapters in but I am loving it. It's a realistic look at making the switch to growing your own food.
• I've been taking lots of photos at dusk...I love the light, or lack of, and the moody color. I also love the soft blur of the slow shutter speed.

It's Friday...the weekend is here...enjoy.

Wednesday in the Word

lettuce...we need to eat it soon.

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your

great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

Jeremiah 32:17

Note to self: Nothing is too hard for God.

Why do I forget this...over and over and over?

Why do I let the worry creep in and steal my days?

It all boils down to trust...

Do I trust You, God? Do I believe You? Do I?

Yes. I do.

But then I get going...I run in circles...I bumble through my life...and I lose focus. I begin to think on troubles and not on You. I fret. I worry. I let it take over.

Then I remember to pray. (Why do I wait?)

And I hear You whisper, 'Do you trust me?"

I do trust You. You are trustworthy.

I trust You and I believe You even if I forget sometimes. The best part is that when I forget You are right there to remind me that You have it all under control...that I, and my family, are in the palm of Your mighty hand.

You promised. And I believe You.

Nothing is too hard for You.



Sunday afternoon...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Gentle reminders...taking it slow...staying quiet...focusing on goodness and truth.



all in all...

It's been a good couple of days...

• The kittens are doing great...getting big and strong and more adorable every day.
• We had no plans for the 4th other than meeting family for fireworks. Then at the last minute my brother called and next thing we knew we were headed to an impromptu barbecue with family and friends. It was awesome.
• I spent the morning with friends. She invited me for breakfast...he was off unbeknownst to her...she made delicious omelettes made with fresh eggs and garden tomatoes. Add a little goat milk to fresh brewed coffee and the meal was complete. We talked about life and kids and God...we prayed and encouraged each other. God was with us...we felt Him...it was good.
• I brought them some photo notecards as a "thank you"...she said she would frame them. That always makes me happy...
• Mom made carrot cake cupcakes for last night's dessert. She sent extras home with us. Carrot cake is my favorite...and hers is the best.
• On the way home from my friends house I stopped at a local ranch for fresh peaches and apricots. The peaches won't last. I will dry some of the apricots for snacking.
• My boy will be home from camp tomorrow...I miss him like crazy.
• Fresh zucchini and green beans from the garden with dinner tonight. I love "shopping" the backyard.
• Just made plans to go to a prayer meeting tonight with a friend.
• A breeze is blowing...it's a beautiful day.

here and there.

On Sunday my amazing friend and fellow blogger, Mavis featured a tour of our garden on her blog, One Hundred Dollars a Month. Thanks, Mavis! That was fun!

The kittens are doing great...eating a lot, sleeping a lot and...well, you get the idea...doing a lot of what baby beings do, if ya know what I mean. Fostering them has been interesting, and easier than I thought it would be. (I have been getting a TON of help from Chris and Ian, too...they are total animal lovers.)

What is going to be difficult is sending them off to their real homes. Can you tell I've become a bit attached?

...and pulled out a plum.

We have a plum tree in our backyard. It was here when we moved in. But it wasn't until last summer that we actually gave the tree some attention. We trimmed it a bit (they can grow pretty crazy!) and made sure it got some water.

The other day Ian climbed the tree and harvested a bowl full of plums. All but one have been eaten. They aren't the tastiest, but they are definitely edible. (And very pretty to photograph...;)

Do any of you grow plums?

Do you have any advice for ways to make the fruit sweeter?

Anything I need to add to the soil?

I know nothing about plums, or fruit trees in general, really.

So any advice would be greatly appreciated.