A Few Weeks Makes a Big Difference

Here in NH a few weeks can bring VASTLY different weather.

This entire week we've seen temperatures in the mid to high 70's and even flirting with 80.  The big flower garden has been thoroughly mulched for the first time since we've moved here (in an attempt to keep down at least some of the weeds) and lots of things are poking through and the daffodils are blooming out happily.  I've dug out a bunch of thistles - which I've decided are the garden equivalent of ticks in the bug world - just evil and nasty looking!
The chickens are getting lots of outside run-around-pecking-things-madly time and are laying bountifully. The garden seedlings I've started are all mostly sprouted and Steve is plotting to build me a few raised garden boxes along the fence line.  So much activity in springtime!

Blessings on the journey~

Still Not Really Spring

A little of this and a little of that sort of post.

Such is life where we live... winter comes and just stays and stays.  April 1st and this is the view from the back door.  Lots of snow piled up still and a plank bridge out to the chicken coop for those warm/wet/muddy days when the yard turns into a bog.

Now to be fair, we've had tremendous amounts of melting and the dirt road we live on is a rutted mess on a good day and a quagmire on a warmer day.  This is also known as 'mud season' where we live, so it is all to be expected.

We are plodding along (sometimes literally!), Steve and I have begun our almost daily walks again - which is so lovely! There is a nice loop about 3 miles long that we do together and chat about everything and anything. It is time I cherish with the man I love.

The kids are entering the home stretch of our school year and as this is now officially the end of Jess' Jr. year (we have re-shuffled things due to a change of heart on her part), we are also making plans to meet with a college adviser, attend a few college fairs and looking towards some campus visits in the coming weeks.

Ben has begun learning to drive so I'm spending lots of time in the passenger seat again.  We are also contemplating the purchase of a new vehicle and that is producing not-a-little-bit of anxiety for me as I try to sort through models and trim lines, needs vs. nice-to-haves, do test drives, research pricing and financing options, etc.  Not my most favorite thing, but a necessary evil in the world of car buying.

This coming Sunday is Easter (Resurrection Sunday) and we will be officially accepted into membership at our church (MCC) and I'm feeling rather happy about that fact.

Blessings on the journey all~

New background because...

Desperate times call for desperate measures!

We've had two days in a row where temperatures have reached into the 40's, but the forecast is saying it won't last... and that makes me a little bit sad.
SO I thought I'd force some springlike stuff here instead.

gratuitous spring flowers from years past

We also - in a fit of cabin fever - booked a vacation!  Our first in two years.  Nothing huge, but it will be nice to get away and do some fun things with the kids for a bit.

Blessings on the journey~

Once a month blogging?

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ~Psalm 25:5

Are you supposed to have guilt when you don't do something that you normally do just for yourself?
Nah!


I blog for me... mostly.... so I refuse to feel guilty that I haven't had much to say in the last few weeks.  Actually, I've had lots to say... I just haven't had much to type or maybe it is more true to say I'm not sure what I want to type.  Putting your life in words on a screen is sometimes a tremendous challenge.

We've been busy. Life is happening at regular intervals and we are praying desperately that the glimpse of spring we saw yesterday will return for several days in a row to convince us that God really does intend to send Spring to New Hampshire this year.  The jury is still out on that one.

But we are moving forward as God provides each new day and the grace to walk through it.  We are close to 140 line items on our grateful/thankful/joy list.  We are all not as good about jotting things down as we would like to be.  I don't think that means we are not thankful for the gifts God provides (large & small), I just think that we are not yet in the habit of actually putting them on paper and sometimes it is hard to express things in just a line or two on a page. I'm anticipating the day I can write about my lilacs in the yard... I love my lilacs!  That photo at the top is a tease... Steve took that one in another...warmer... time.

We are close to wrapping up our school year.  A dear friend, who does our annual evaluations, will be here this afternoon to sift through the notebooks & binders to determine if we pass muster. I am sure we will, God is good and the kids have worked hard and learned a lot this year.  Much growth; physical, emotional, and (prayerfully) spiritual has occurred this year.  Challenges have been presented, some have been overcome and some still in progress. God has poured out grace and as we seek Him, he will continue to do so.  He has promised it and for this... I am thankful. 

Blessings on the journey~