Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Friday, July 29, 2011

Ordering Water

It doesn't rain here often.  Living where we do, we must order our irrigation water from the local irrigation company.    We order the amount we need and specify the duration over which we need it.  We have a small irrigation "creek" running a portion of our property where water is funneled from a larger ditch.  This is the way we "water" our pastures and gardens.
  Recently, upon visiting my parents (living across the state) my son was astounded at their standing water.  My parents get much more rain than do we and also live near a river.  They have little need to irrigate as we do.  Upon seeing all the water in puddles, in a pond and the river, my son just stared.  "Grandpa", my son asks my dad.  "How did you order all this water?"  "What do you mean?", my dad asks.  "Well, how did you order all this water, grandpa?"  Still not understanding the question, grandpa again asked Hap to clarify.  "I am not sure what you mean, Hap."  To this Hap replies, "whenever we want water, grandpa, my dad's gotta order it!"  "And this is a lot!"    Grandpa smiled.
  It occurred to me just how small my son's little world is.  And.......how dry our area is.  My sweet boy knows where milk and eggs come from, but is certain water comes from the irrigation company.   This year I plan on reviewing "rain" in our science curriculum..... Bless his heart!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Ice Cream

  There's something about ice cream and a hot summers day.  Something magical.....wonderful.....and something so yummy!  The hot summer sun.....ice cream drips running down the cone.....to catch them all before they run down your wrist.


Freckles reflecting the sun.  Furrowed brow....deep in concentration.....not to lose one drip drop!
Summer memories.
  Two of her favorite things.....ice cream and her baby......cat that is....Mittens.  Sweet melting cream in one hand and Mittens in the other.  A wonderful summer day....life is good!


  For the little one that cares about the drips.....and concerns more about messy hands....her towel.... Life is good.
  Summer is short....but it is so sweet.  Soon will come the bustling of school....schedules and routine.   The weather will cool down and only memories will be left of the carefree, sweet summer days.   Ice Cream.....sprinklers......family.....fun!
  Living in the moment and making the most of it!!! 











Sunday, July 24, 2011

I Will Lift My Eyes

  I couldn't sleep this morning.....so I decided to get up early.  My mornings seem to "go" a little better when I do this anyway.  A song kept running through my mind so I decided to listen to it.  With the morning sun shining and the quiet peacefulness of my "early-morning" home, I couldn't help but praise God.  I love mornings when I can Lift my Eyes and feel embraced by my Creator.  God, I praise you!


 (Scroll down and click <pause> on my side bar music box to stop the "over head" music)

                                                                    Luv you!        ~Candis

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Fences:

  You enter the gate and now you've arrived....you're "in"......you're included....
Fences are boundaries......They hold things near and provide security, as well as keeping things out.  Fences divide and separate....
 Correctly placed fences are imperative....Poorly placed fences hold back and isolate and can slowly destroy.....BUT, fences can be taken down and replaced.
 Where are your fences?  Where are your gates?

  Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6
  
  You hem me in-behind and before......  Psalm 139:5


Saturday, July 16, 2011

Asthma

I have a lot to be thankful for.  I am so blessed with the family God's given me.  My children....the one's I prayed for.  I am thankful God.....so thankful.
  I need to find the blessings in everything....because there are blessings in everything....in everything.  It's hard sometimes to find blessings in asthma though.  My sweet little boy sometimes struggles to breathe.  It's something he was born with.....from the moment of delivery my little man seem to struggle.  A short NICU stay because he couldn't catch his breath.
  As he approached a year old his breathing problems got worse.  Enough that it landed him in the doctor's office frequently, the specialist office and the emergency room.  Why God?  Why does my baby struggle to breath?  Why can't he run and play without coughing?  Why can't he smell flowers like everyone else?  Why is he allergic to so many things?  His sisters sleep through the night peacefully.....he can't.   I am frustrated God.....
  Those thoughts still cross my mind sometimes.  Especially at 3 am during nebulizer treatments when sleep evades him for coughing.  God, will he be able to play football when he grows up......like he so wants to?  Will he have to carry an Epi-pen?  Will he always be on medication?
  I do have to say he is improving. Things aren't as bad as they used to be.   Each asthma attack...though sometimes scary does seem to decrease in intensity.  That is a blessing!  Maybe at some point he will even out grow it.....there is always hope!  And....there are other asthmatics in my extended family....there are others that feel this also.
  In counting my blessing I do love the cuddle time I get with him.  The 3 am nebulizer treatments have given us many hours of cuddle time.  No one else awake....just he and I.  Snuggle time on the cozy couch with a blanket and his nebulizer.... I am thankful for that.  I have an extra bond with him that asthma has facilitated.  I will count that as a blessing! 
  I also thank God for modern medicine.  Truly a blessing.  I know God doesn't require medication to heal....He is the Almighty Healer.   He has a plan and He is in control.  For that I am truly thankful.
  Because I am tired....I will sign off.  My son is peacefully sleeping and I should close my eyes as well.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Random Curiosities

There are somethings in life that just grab a person's attention.  Whether it's certain colors, textures, sounds, feelings, or smells.  There are those things that draw a person in....beckoning them
I know mine....the color red, green grass contrasting with freshly tilled soil.....the smells of fresh bread baking.....the beauty of homegrown cut flowers in a canning jar......barn wood.....the word "antiques".....vintage anything......home school curriculum.....and so goes the list.  I guess these make me who I am.  Going through my home photography archives I found some random curiosities that have peeked my interest.  Places and moments in time.....that hold my thoughts captive, moments that make me linger.....to think.....remembrances that inspire me.  I will share them with you:


Vintage Silver and Petals
Sweet Chili's

"What was that Dear Cousin?"
The Colors of Childhood

Contemplation
Across the Fence

In Her Mommy's Shoes......
Fresh Salsa

The Twinkle of Orneriness
Sticky Buns Anyone?

Her Day to Shine.
The Bakers Favorite Cupboard.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Cherry Pickin' Time


  Wouldn't you know it.....an opportunity to photograph the most photogenic fruit in its native environment...and I forgot my camera!  Well....that's okay I took pictures once it hit my counter top.
  Cherry pickin' time!!!  My family loves cherries.  I am not a $3.00/lb for cherries kinda girl....rather a pick em myself for free.  Its' better on the budget as well as satisfying and kinda therapeutic.  The pickin' makes em sweeter.

  Cherries from an old farmstead.....very old trees that have no doubt seen many eager fingers.  Farm wives and children, as well as many birds, have enjoyed their fruit.  With the help of a wonderful friend we each salvaged more than our share.  The kids even helped.  I think the ladder enticed them more than the cherries themselves.  Though the cherries came in a close second.
   A wonderful day.....harvest has begun.....my most favorite season of the year.

Cherries are so beautiful.  Thank you Lord!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Sounds in the Night

  Alright....about the "elk" night sounds.  I guess I'll tell you.  I am a country bumpkin....raised in the Idaho mountains.  Both of my parents are veteran hunters.  And as kids my sister, brother and I helped trail elk, pack them out and butcher them.....  I don't fear elk...I find them fascinating.  I guess living around elk was a part of life.  I like the elk smell.  Mix it with the sound of birds, sunshine on my face, being surrounded by pine trees, and I really am at home.  I love it.
  This weekend as we camped we were immediately met with that fragrance.  We've run into elk at our "favorite" camp spot before...nothing new (in fact we awoke one morning a few years ago with elk IN our camp).  Kind of thrilling. 
  Well, our third night this trip proved to be "the night".  My husband volunteered to take our son to the truck for his asthma meds.  Tim knows I have a small fear of the dark.  I lay awake in my sleeping bag thanking God for my husband. 
  A minute or so later, I heard it....quiet at first and then louder...cow elk talking.  I listened intently....there's something so homey about that sound.  I heard it again.....and then the sound of branches breaking.  Laying in a tent and hearing those sounds used to scare me...in fact I remember laying awake an entire night as elk grazed near our tent a few years ago.  But now.....not so much (or so I thought).
  I lay in the peace and quiet; listening.  Then it hit me.....I needed to use the restroomArgh!....(using the restroom at night while camping is not fun).   I reluctantly crawled out of my warm sleeping bag....and tried feeling around for the flashlight.  No avail...I then remembered Tim had it, so I was out of luck.  Without my flashlight I couldn't find my shoes.  We have a big tent and it houses our three children as well as Tim and I.  So finding anything in our tent at night, without a flashlight, is impossible. 
  Well, as the call of nature became more urgent I decided to go barefoot...yikes!  Barefoot AND without a flashlight.  I have never done this before and DO NOT recommend it....but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  So I unzipped the tent, still listening to the elk talk and branches break in the darkness.  Branches breaking.....branches breaking...and more branches breaking... I was pretty sure elk had night vision, so I wasn't worried about getting stepped on.....BUT STILL....  Being outside at night.....barefoot....without a flashlight and listening to branches breaking  is  hair raising
  Well, I rejoined my sleeping bag in record time....thanking the Lord that I didn't die while attending the necessary.....what a horrifying death that would be?!!!!!    Okay....sometimes my thoughts run away with me.  But, just as my heart slowed, my sweet husband opened the tent door with our contentedly sleeping son.  "Did you know there are elk down by the truck?", he asks.  "Uh.......ya, I did sweetie!", I quietly replied.  
With all three kids snuggly tucked in and Tim by my side I listened to the night noises for awhile.  They again became comforting and I eventually fell asleep.  
I guess in reality I'm not as brave as I'd like to think.  Night noises don't bother me when I know their source.  But the vulnerability of bare feet and blindness do change things........a little. 

Wilderness Camping

Black Lake.  A wonderful place.  Trees....berry bushes....wildflowers.....serenity....blue sky.....clouds....elk.....and quite a ways off the beaten path.  A favorite place for my family.   A place to get away....from the busyness of life....from demands....and a place to come together.  Peace....song birds....a slight breeze in the trees.....elk sounds in the night. 
We have a favorite spot to pitch our tent near Black Lake.  We've gone there every summer for awhile now....to spend time doing what really needs doing....

Taking Walks and Enjoying God's Creations:
Four of My Favorite People

Exploring:







Glassin' the Hillside
Wild Flowers Everywhere!


A Meadow Near Camp


Down the Old Dirt Road

Smells SO good!

Meals Together Over the Fire:
 When you forget a table ya make due.

Campin' Pancakes

The Dutch Oven

Then More Time Exploring:
Down at the Creek


Dry Shoes for Wet Toes

A fun way to spend the 4th!
But I'll have to tell you a little more about the elk sounds at night....maybe next time.  :)

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