What Summer Days Look Like

Summer days look like:

Reminding a Blossom to water the garden (again).

Overseeing creative 4-H projects and posters and brainstorming and ideas.

Weeding the kitchen sink garden that makes me smile, while admiring the grand Lupine that is reaching to the sky.

Picking up more modeling clay for Blossom3's latest creative endeavor for the Fair.

Saying yes to meeting friends at the pool for sunshine and splashes.

Picking out smooth river rocks from a small business for a 4-H club activity and chuckling over one more odd thing that a mama does in a day.  Who stops by a business and loads their minivan with ROCKS?

Hanging clothes on the line.  Again and again and again.

Planning vintage parade rides with grinning, supportive neighbors.

Admiring the dame's rockets, my favorite wildflowers that crown the roadways around here lately.

Teaching kids' church and praying for young people to learn to hear the voice of God.  Then, trotting out the door, eating Sheetz chicken strips and sipping a milkshake on the way to another Fair Queen obligation for Blossom1.

Scheming and researching for Blossom2's fall semester.

Sliding into a favorite coffee shop with seven minutes til closing time so the Queen can have a superbly delectable iced chai tea latte.

Helping answer Blossom2's questions on what would be the most appropriate, workable, and professional attire for the State Poultry Judging competition in a day or two... and digging through the clothing bins for just the right thing.

Sipping iced ginger lemon tea whilst planning the next thing.

Tearing up poolside while another mama revels in the joys of motherhood with me.

Driving an hour to meet a cheerful nephew to do a massive cupcake handoff, then delightedly perusing a favorite HUGE thrift store... and finding new cowboy boots for ONE DOLLAR, then, contentedly eating frosties in the air conditioning on the way home.

Saying goodbye to special friends with long squeezes and hidden tears.

Sleeping in the tent, looking at the stars.

Crappie Fishing under azure skies.

Planning yet another Fair Queen social media promotion post.

Helping the Little Blossoms learn how to work independently on their 4-H books.

Watching fireworks in the summer darkness with good friends all around and then, laughing at the glow bracelets floating through the air during their yard games.

Savoring s'mores on Oatmeal Lace cookies.

Taking a walk down an "ole country road," while the Older Blossoms jog ahead.

Picking up ingredients for Blossom2's extensive cupcake recipe testing.

Swaying on the swing on the back porch, where "My Mason Jar Runneth Over."

Because my mason jar runneth over.

On Green Hills

A few weeks ago, the younger Blossoms got to experience a special treat ~ an invitation to a birthday party at a horse farm & ministry.  

It was an hour's drive from here to there, a drive with friends and gorgeous backwoods Pennsylvania scenery. Glorious puffy clouds, shyly greening hills, and delicately adorned blossoming trees.  The wholesome and encouraging mama to mama conversation was like manna to me.  Twas a morning drive that filled my soul!

We arrived to a farm, perched atop another newly greened hill.  We met up at the Barn and were given basic informative riding instruction.  Then, we saddled up.  

Some of the girls are new to riding, so first they were led around the huge ring.  Eventually, ALL the girls rode independently.  

I was so proud of each girl, grinning and concentrating on their handsome steeds! 

Blossom4 might just have the Rugged Mountain Man's horsemanship skills.  I was astonished at her independence and nonchalance on her horse!  At only ten years old!!!

I sat on wooden steps with blue skies outside and sunshine streaming in.  A friendly collie acted as official greeter.

We moms chatted and fellowshipped and marveled at the beautiful weather.  The makings of a most memorable day stirred in my soul.

After a delicious picnic lunch and delectable cupcakes, all of the girls ventured out into the blue skies and onto green hills.

The giggles and grins and chatter and chipper comments made me smile.  

When life is busy, it matters so much when we soak up the beauties and blessings in it.

 What an incredibly special day!

Sometimes I Prayed Because...

Is there a thought, a nugget of wisdom, a lesson to share,

in the end of school year finish line pace that we're sprinting through right now?  

I'm thinking... I'm really not blankly staring off into space, I promise.

One thing does come to mind:

I sat in my chair this morning, sipping tea and writing in my journal... and I prayed.

I weeded the garden today... and I prayed.  

I sat on the porch swing in the darkness tonight... and I prayed.

Sometimes I prayed out of frustration.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was afraid.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was worrying.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was confused.  

Sometimes I prayed because I was thankful.  

Sometimes I prayed because I didn't know what else to do. 

Sometimes I prayed because I so desperately just want to do God wants me to do.

Keep on praying, dear friend!  

In each and every moment, let's pray! 

Let us truly pray without stopping.
 

Grace

Life seems always busy these days.  I plan to the best of my ability.  I say no.  I get sucked in.  I say yes.  I balance.  I pray.  I think.  I plan.  I work harder.  I work smarter.  I delegate.  I wake up and do it all over again.  Again and again and again.  

I'm just trying to be faithful with what the Lord has given us 

and where He has led us.  

Sometimes, the grace I need to keep going comes from soaking up beauty in the Lowe's parking lot.  

It was just me, the Rugged Mountain Man, and Binney... because a Golden Retriever is an essential part of choosing a new grill.  

And time just with the Rugged Mountain Man chatting in the truck on the way so we can finish a sentence or two.

We just finished up the Fine Arts season at the Network Fine Arts Festival last week.  It was earth-shatteringly AMAZING.  To see the culmination of months of hard work!  

To watch our young people S T R E T C H outside their comfort zones.  It's so so so good.  

When Blossom1 went to the State Fair Queen competition, she didn't want to me to be burdened by all that needed to be done, especially the parts that had to be handled by me and not her.  

I was happy to do it!  

Until you have your own children, can you really understand what I mean when I say, 

"Baby, when you shine, I shine."  

This sums up a lot of what I do on a daily basis.  Things like making a dragon costume when I feel like reading a book.  Or hunting down Fairy Godmother glasses in the basement for a Fine Arts costume.  Or giving feedback on a dramatized quoting when I just want to go to bed.  Or listening to ANOTHER piano solo.  Or coaching Blossom3 through her worship dance, just one more time.

"Baby, when you shine, I shine."  

It makes me so happy to watch them shine.  It's all my dreams coming true.  

Sometimes the grace for another day comes, gazing out over a beautiful vista while we pose the Fine Arts team for pics.  

Sometimes the grace for another day comes when I lounge on my parents' back porch, stuffed full of ham, mac and cheese, and my mom's best homemade rolls, whilst the small fry perfect the redneck holiday celebration with Ranger rides and mud... and blue skies and breezes.  

May you grasp grace for demonstrating faithfulness another day, friend!

What Showing Love Looks Like

The Blossoms and I were loaded up in the van, driving down the driveway and headed to our next obligation.  The Rugged Mountain Man was out working on the driveway and trying to right the wrongs that winter does.  I drove away, musing, "Boy, that driveway looks good."  

The Blossoms were amused that I seemed to find the Rugged Mountain Man's work attractive.  

"Are you admiring his tractor work?" 

"That must be what happens when you've been married twenty years."  

Various comments wafted my direction from the back of the van.  

"Yep, I'm grateful he's taking care of it.  It makes me feel loved, so yes, fixing the driveway is attractive to me."

At church on Sunday, I walked up to a friend of mine and noticed she and her husband holding hands.  Of course, I teased a little about PDA.  They laughed because he was actually warming her hands up for her.  What a simple way to show love!  

Another friend sat behind me, and I heard her express confusion and frustration because she couldn't figure out where she'd left her Bible.  She realized she'd left it in the car.  Next thing I knew, I see her husband rejoining her in the pew, with her Bible in hand.  It was such a simple thing.  There are Bibles in front of us for everyone to use, but he took an extra minute and went and retrieved hers from the car.  

I've been really blessed observing these moments over the past few days and I'm encouraged to love my husband with and through the simple things.  Even if it means stopping at Tractor Supply when I don't feel like it.