Thursday, April 30, 2009

Home and Well

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts today! They were felt! The place is still here and the dermatologist seems to think it just needs to be watched and we will let it be for now. So, that's that and I trust him.

I am so tired. It has been a long time since I have traveled that far by myself and then I had to go up to the church this afternoon (another 30 minutes, one way).

Hope all had a great and very blessed day!

Heather, please let me know what you find out! I will be praying. I had no idea.

Blessings!!!

A Little Place

As most of you know melanoma runs in my family and when you are active like we are outside for many months of the year you do your very best to protect yourself. After my sister-in-law had stage 3 melanoma removed from her upper lip and praise the Lord it was Not in her lymph nodes I really keep an eye on things. My Daddy having several, yes several removed from his face over the last two years and his Father dying of the very same thing.........I am paranoid.

So, if you would please send a little prayer up this morning (my appointment is at 8:15am) in Birmingham with the dermatologist. I have a little place that seems to have grown even more lately. It is under my left breast on my abdomen. It is one of those suspicious kind of places and will be removed. I will be going by myself and my Mom will keep the boys. It's about an hour drive and I am nervous. God can handle this and me, but prayers please.......

Blessings on you today!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Butter Pecan Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

A couple of you asked for this recipe. It really is simple and easy as well as delicious......................















LOL!!!!!! I know, lazy I am! Enjoy and blessings!!!!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Stranger

Everything started out normally (well as normal as it gets with 3 year old twins), yesterday morning. We have a solid glass storm door that has a deadbolt lock on it, that is currently broken. We have a new lock kit but hubby has neglected it, until last night. I always open all of the blinds and the front door to let the morning sun in.

I had hung out clothes on the front porch and went back inside to the master bedroom to get the dirty clothes. While walking back by the front door and windows there I noticed a man walking on our side of the road in front of the garden. You have to understand that we live on a major, very busy 2 lane United States highway and it is unusual for someone to be walking. He was coming from my Mom and Dad's way. It was about 9am and I knew that Daddy and Mike (my brother) were on the lower farm thinning peaches.

So, I decided to watch the guy. As soon as he turned to walk up my driveway I called Mike and asked if we had anyone coming to work (as we do, sometimes) on this farm. As I was talking to him, I locked the main door on the front, locked my car with the key less remote and started closing blinds. The guy was walking quickly and was up the driveway in no time, even though our driveway is over 600 feet long. Mike told me no, there was none suppose to be around and not to answer the door. DUH!!!! By the way I do not EVER answer the door for strangers.

This guy was so quiet coming up the steps to the porch, I never heard a footstep. I took the boys to Mason's room and told them to lay down in Mason's bed and pretend they were asleep. The door bell started ringing and I was trying to get my Mom on her home phone and I was trying her cell too. I couldn't get her to answer. I was already scared, then he started banging on the storm door. Then he opened storm door and started banging on the actual door. The boys were getting frightened and I was trying to calm them down. Mike called backed to check on me and the boys. This went on for 5 minutes or so.

I could see the guys feet on the porch the way I had the blinds closed and I saw him walking the other way. Still never heard him..........spooky! I then heard my door handle on my Durango pop, like someone had tried to open a locked car. I saw him going back down the driveway, but still kept the blinds and door closed. I continued to watch him and by then the boys were okay and by my side.

I watched in complete shock as what happened next. He went back to my parents place and walked around and walked around and finally went up on their back porch. As I am the one phone with my brother and calling my Mom on the other phone, I decided to call 911. Mike even told me to, which is strange. He is the calm, laid back type that thinks if you have to go to the ER you are over reacting or some something like that. Anyhow, back to the story.....the guy is jiggling the door handle and then goes to the end of the house where the door is and starts jiggling that handle. I am on the phone with 911 and watch the guy go into one of the buildings and he comes back out. I would too......there is an albino German Shepard in there with all of the tools and things.

Then he walks all the way around the house and gets out of my line of sight for a few minutes. By now I am off the phone with 911 and my brother is calling here and there and there to check on the situation. I also am STILL trying to get my Mom on either phone. No luck. This goes on for15 minutes are so. Still no cops. I call back. We don't have anyone (police)working our town this morning and they had to get a county deputy to come out.......he was in route.I was getting very upset. We all could killed by then!

The guy then gets on the Gator just sits there for a few minutes. Then he goes and starts to sit down at the picnic table beside the roadside market (that is CLOSED until summer!). No sooner does he sit down than he jumps up and starts flailing his arms. By then he is acting really weird. Still no sign of the police. Then he starts walking back down the road, toward my house. I still cannot get my Mom on the phone. I am really scared by then and I am praying . What do I do? The guy is very agitated by the way he has acted and he is walking very fast now. I decide to call our neighbor who has a business (used car lot) close by. After all, he has always told me if I needed anything call him. So I do call. He sees the guy and I tell him a quick version of the story. He tells me he will not let the guy come back up my driveway.

Thankfully the guy goes past my drive as my neighbor sits in his car and stares him down. He wanted to make sure the stranger saw him. My brother is still calling and checking on things, I am still calling my Mom and cannot get her and there still is no sign of the police. The neighbor watches the guy so the police will know where he is if they EVER arrive.

When the neighbor calls me back and says the police are questioning him I decide to get the boys and head over to my parents. Not smart on my part. I realize this now but I wasn't sure of my other choices at the time. I unlocked the door and let myself in. I hear the tv in my Mom's bedroom and open the door. She is laying in bed watching tv withOUT a phone. She had misplaced her cell and the house phone was in the living room. Their house is THAT big and she IS hard of hearing.

That is when I loose it. I was so glad to see that she was okay! I tell her what has happened and she says I thought I heard someone on the back porch........

I call 911 back to find out the status of the situation and they say that the guy lives in the area, he is not wanted and he has been let go. I then am ticked! I tell them I would like to speak to the officer. He is there is a matter of minutes. He tells me the guy is an illegal immigrant and was looking for work. I tell him that was a strange way to look for work! I then find out that the call was dispatched as a shed being broke into. Crap no!!!! Excuse my language. I was worried about my Mom, boys and me! I even told the dispatcher that, most ALL of what I wrote above.

He then tells me he has the guys info and he told him not to be wandering around people's property. Yeah! That make me feel all better! NOT! Then the officer tells me he believes him, cause he questioned him for 10 minutes and he knows about these things. He also said he could not blame him for looking for work! I then asked the officer why he was trying to open doors and was acting so weird. He said he had no explanations for his behavior other than their customs are different in Mexico then here. The officer also said the guy told him he stuck his head in the building looking for someone. The stranger also said his friend sent him here, that we were looking for hands to work on the farm.

In case you are wondering it took the police 29 minutes to get to the guy from the first time I called 911. There are only 3 deputies on duty during the day. He was 35 minutes away on another call.

So, everyone is safe, the new deadbolt is part of the way back on and I will keep my doors locked all of the time!

Mike chose not to upset our Daddy and he did not find out until they came in from the orchard yesterday. He and Mike wanted to go and talk to the guy but the officer would not give out his information.

I hope the guy does not come back, needless to say THERE IS NOT A JOB WAITING FOR HIM, but there is a 38 Special loaded and ready!

Blessings!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Praise the Lord!

I will post tomorrow. It has been a long and exhausting day. I sit here in tears praising the Lord for his goodness and keeping us all safe today. We had quite a scare with someone trying to get into our house and my parents' home too (while I was home with the boys by myself). We all are okay but we were absolutely terrified....... Please send a praise or a few up tonight to the good Lord above!

I'll post tomorrow........blessings and good night.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Off Duty!

Yesterday I had a full days with the boys and we all three exhausted. We had "school", dis art, had music, went to the library and then went to the garden and visited with my parents. We came home and cooked supper and Daddy was still not home from work. We went ahead and ate supper. While I am super glad he has gotten to work the last two days, he is leaving at 3:30am and last night it was 8pm before he made it home. By the way, he does NOT get paid by the hour. He gets a percentage of the haul.

I had given bathes and done the majority of the bedtime routines by the time he walked in. He had to shower before he came in contact with us because of the type of hazardous waste he had to haul. While he read the boys a book and did devotion I got a bath and then prepared the boys rooms for the night.

We got them in bed about 9pm and I crashed on the couch while John ate supper sitting beside me. As I caught up on my blog reading I came across this post (Waiting) by JMOM over at
Lots of Scotts. It made me think..... at 8pm I am exhausted! I need MY time! I get in the mind set that I am off duty when the boys go to bed. They are usually in the bed by 8pm, when they are not it interferes with me........how selfish is that!

Our heavenly Father thankfully does NOT have that mindset. He is with us at a ll times and hears ours pleas and cries at all times of the day and night. Don't get me wrong, if my boys wake up and need something or they are sick I take care of them and love being able to do so. I just need that time right after they go to bed to connect with hubby and veg out.

So today i am going to be more diligent in trying to have more patience and be a better Mommy to my boys. I love them so very much and they are growing up so quickly. I intend to cherish all of the moments there are little sprinkles of teetee that misses the potty, every little bit of food that I clean up and all of the moments in between when I hear......."I lubbbbb you Momma! So precious are the blessings that God has bestowed me with to raise as his!

I am so blessed! Thank you Lord for all of my blessings, especially my little miracle boys!

Blessings to you today!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Feeding Three Families Supper For Cheap

It occured to me that you might be wondering how we can feed two extra families when we are so strapped for funds these days. While it has been tough, we have quite a stockpile and my heart is led by my maker to be a servant to others and help whenI can.

So here is a break down of last night's meal for three families and might I add that there is enough leftovers for all 3 families for lunch or supper tonight.

Spaghetti- 2pks. Bought fo $.50 per pack and had a $.50 coupon= FREE
Meatballs - $1 from Angel Food
Ground chuck 1/2 cup - $.75
Spaghetti sauce - 1 can and 2 jars $2.00 (with sale and coupons)

Total $3.75

Bagged salad $1.25
2 cans peas $.66
mayo $.35
onion $.33
bell pepper $.68
celery FREE (borrowed from my Mom )
cheese (1/2 bag) $1

Total $4.37

Cake mix $.49 on sale
Icing $1- $.50 coupon doubled = FREE
3 eggs $.15 (got a dozen reducedto $.50)
oil $.10

Total $.74

Bisquick $1.50
milk $.35
cheese$.75
butter $.15
garlic powder $.05
This made 21 biscuits

Total: $2.80

Grand total $11.64. That comes out to $3.88 per family. I thought that was a pretty good deal for anybody!

It doesn't take a lot to do for others, especially those in need! I love to cook and do for others, so what better combination?!

Blessings!!!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

It Feels Like A Full Day

and it's only 1:07p.m.! Here's what I have done today..........

3:30 am hubby off to work, back to bed
6am up ready for day, checked email, prayed, did devotion
6:45am boys up, breakfast, brushed teeth, dressed
Then it went into a whirlwind...............

Post office, grocery store, unloaded and reloaded dw, 4 loads laundry, 3 meals of spaghetti, 7 layer salad for 3 families, filled in two cards, made a german chocolate cake, iced it, emptied all trash cans, cleaned both bathrooms, fed lunch and vacuumed around dining room twice (once at b'fast and once at lunch), cleaned off coffee table in retreat, started pink eye pea soup, made calls, marinated chicken for tonight's supper and finally sitting down to post. WHEW!!!!!!

I bought 12 # of cheap ($1#) chicken breasts this morning, as well as some cheap pre cut salad (also, $1 #). My beloved Vidallia onions are back in season. They are so sweet you could eat them out of hand and I do, like an apple!

My Aunt that has cancer (and my uncle) will get the german chocolate cake, a dish of spaghetti and a dish of the 7 layer salad for supper. My parents will get a dish of spaghetti and a dish of the salad as well for tonight's supper. We will have the same and tomorrow night will be grilled chicken and I will cook up the excess chick chick (as the boys call it) for later.

Speaking of the boys. We are using many , many LESS (that could also be said as fewer!) pull-ups. Mason is almost fully potty trained except at night. He has only had 2 accidents in over 2 weeks. John is close behind, but still poops in his pants.........BUT that is till progress! Yay boys!!!

Hubby has gotten to work 2 out of 3 days this week! Yay for that!

We are having a birthday party for my father-in-law Saturday night here. I've got to start getting things in order for that.

We are (me mainly) in the process of still cutting back the wood line along our drive. It is over 700 feet long! I think I have gotten maybe 45 feet done. It is hard work and time consuming when your kiddos are under foot. I am a very outdoorsy kind of girl and I can handle it. The last time it was done I did it while expecting the boys. Tough as nails........just don't tell (big)John! LOL!

I gave him a haircut last week and had been just trimming the boys along but it was finally time or the barber to intervene and he did a really good job!

Te roof is finished but insurance has not paid us the full amount as of yet, maybe tomorrow or Friday for sure! The roofer is a wonderful family friend and told us to just call when we had the check...........wow!!! Praise the Lord! How many would have his crew here the next day, on a Saturday (and finished on Monday) to make sure that the rain didn't leave water damage and then wait (knowingly) on his pay........$4800.00 to be exact! PTL!

The boys are down for a nap, when they get up we have food deliveries to make. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

The weather is gorgeous here and we hope to play outside for awhile today as well!

Have a blessed day and Praise the Lord for our Earth! Happy Earth Day too!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Five Days

Wow! It has been awhile. Life seems to take president over blogging here lately.

Well, the spring cleaning is done. I have almost all of the curtains ironed and over 3/4 of them hung back up.

My parents ha their house and drive pressure washed and the guys threw ours in for just a little more. Thank you Mother and Daddy!

The yard needs mowed badly but is on hold. Remember how I told about the winds Easter night? Well, they ripped so many shingles off that wood was actually exposed on the roof. The adjuster came out and the roofers did the front part of the house on Saturday. They will be back today to do the back half. They normally do NOT work on Saturday's! Thank goodness for good friends!

We had storms again last night and we would have had water damage if it had been left undone for awhile. Thank you Father for wonderful friends.This same roofer has written over 200 estimates alone this past week.

Insurance is paying all except the deductible ($500). Thank you Lord! $500 will come out of savings since our emergency fund was depleted the end of last month for medical things and unforeseen prescriptions.

Hubby is working very little at his regular job. As a matter of fact we are trying NOT to touch our savings. To be frank, we are living on less than $1000 a month right now and that is a stretch some weeks. He is working on the farm with my Daddy and brother bu that pays little. some is better than none though. God is good and will provide!

We had pictures done for our church directory Saturday and then went for a visit with my father-in-law and John's sister and her family. The boys had the best time and it was a nice change of pace. The bad thing was that Mason had another allergy attack after we left. He still had one eye swollen last night even after 24 hours of prescription eye drops and allergy meds. Bless his little heart.

Today I am going to my Aunt's to take her birthday card, finish ironing and hanging curtains, strip beds, laundry, clean toilets, unload the dw and reload, bake something yummy (I have NO idea what, just yet), make sweet tea, clean out the medicine cabinet, go for a walk, do "school" with the boys, exercise, cook supper and I guess that is all.

This week we are having:
  • Pancakes, bacon and strawberries
  • chili w/ Jim and Nick cheese biscuits
  • candied park chops w apples, green beans and rice
  • fried fajita chicken, refried beans and spanish rice
  • soup night (whatever is in the pantry)
  • Saturday night a little birthday party for my fil. We will have bbq, baked beans, potato salad, slaw, cheese biscuits, hm pickles, strawberry ice cream and butter pecan cake with cream cheese icing.

Well, I had better get a move on, the roofers will be here in 35 minutes or so. Have a great week and blessings!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Awards!

I am so NOT good at accepting awards. I have this thing with compliments...... Any how in the last couple of weeks I have been given the two awards below.


This award is from Nicola over at smilernpb.
Thanks you Nicola! I am going to pass this on to some very special friends. I love all of my blogging buddies BUT there are a couple that we all started our blogs about the same time and we go way back, even beyond the blogging world.

1. Nicole over at nicostuff.
2. Mimi over at Palm Trees and Blue Skies.
3. Amy over The Mother Load.




This award was given to me by Mimi over at Palm Trees and Blue Skies.
Thank you so very Mimi!

I am going to award this to:
1.mykidsmom
She has become a dear friend and I love here wisdom. She always comments on my blog and is so sweet and encouraging!

2.Nikki's Notes
Nikki has young children and understands where I am coming from. She is also a regular commenter and has a great sense of humor!

3. Problem Solvin' Mom
I also met Stephanie over at momadvice and she is a dear friend. She is expecting her second little one late this summer. She is full of tips and advice that only an engineer could give. I love her dearly as well!


Thank you both for the awards and many blessings to you all! You all are near and dear to my heart and I hold our friendships close to my heart!

Blessings!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Bits and Pieces

Monday morning at 2am we were awoke to winds, gravity force winds and the scared the howdy doodies out of us. We had winds at my house over 60 mph. Needless to say, we have roof damage , the boys pool was cracked, there were shutters gone and my nephews' trampoline was demolished. We were without cable and internet for some time as well. Thankfully, we had no trees down, but many neighbors did and power poles were snapped in half. The winds lasted for over 2 hours. It was very frightening. Many were still without power last tonight.

Yesterday we had a full day of Spring cleaning. I am behind in that area. Our spring break ran late this time and my helper has to wait until that week to help me. With 3 year old twins, I need an extra hand or two to help on that BIG day. We stripped all curtains, bedding and decorative towels and washed. I am still ironing and rehanging. All ceilings, walls, baseboards, crown molding, decorative trees, flowers and wall art were cleaned. Furniture was moved and nothing was left untouched.

This morning I am taking the twins and my 10 year old nephew to the zoo, while the carpet is being shampooed at the house. We will be out most of the day and end it with a stop at the ice cream shop and the grocery store. What a day that'll be!

Hubby has been off for a few days due to no work to do. Thankfully there is work today!

I hope to finish my ironing and rehanging curtains tomorrow. I also have a ham to cook and eggs to pickle.

I got every one's goodies off last week. Let me know when you get them. Thanks for the linky love Nikki!

What is on your Tuesday planner? Blessings!!!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Pictures

Here are the pictures I promised from Easter.

Here are the boys hunting their Easter eggs. They had a fun time. As a matter of fact we hid them again today.
Little egg hunters!

Mommy (slightly frazzled), holding Mason and John sitting beside me.
There were no less than 30 people in the next two rooms eating Easter lunch.


My love and our sweet boys.


Here are the boys right before church Easter Sunday.


BLESSINGS!!!!!



Sunday, April 12, 2009

Reflections

The first reflection I want to share is that 3 years ago this Easter we were visiting our sweet boys in the NICU and our hearts were scared and in such pain that we might never get to take them home. Their monitors kept alarming and they were having A's and B's left and right. We could not even hold them until late that night. When we left that morning to go to my in-law's, the nurses finally got them calm enough to take their pictures with their bunnies and Easter baskets. Then the biggest surprise was a huge card stock collage with the boys tiny footprints and pictures of them together in a huge basket with their Easter bunnies. That was the most touching thing anyone could have done at that point.


Praise the Lord we are far from that point and this morning on the way to church (at 8am) the boys were just carrying on the cutest conversation. WOW!!! Just a few short months ago they were only signing and now just to listen to them!!! Blessings abound!!!


There are memories and scars, lots of scars (physical and mental) from the NICU, but praise the Lord for where we have come!


We have had a wonderful weekend! The boys and I are feeling some better and all are still on antibiotics. John was off from work Friday due to not enough work to go around and we got to spend the day together. We had thunderstorms and crazy hail storms. We had a tree to fall on the pasture fence that evening and then later that night our company from North Carolina arrived.


Saturday held visiting with the relatives that morning, grocery buying, more visits, a singing, dying Easter eggs and cooking up a storm. I also got all of our duds (clothes, for you non-southerners) ready for early church service. My parents had everyone over to their house after supper for visiting. Bedtime arrives about 2am.


This morning we went to early service and then home to cook lots of green beans and cream corn and some fast slaw for the Easter meal. The boys loved their Easter baskets that I made for them. They also hunted ball themed plastic eggs (filled with coins)in the house with their Daddy while I did the cookin'. We got to my parents about 11:30am and ate lunch about 12:30pm. We hunted eggs there and there was plenty of folks to visit with again. We finally made it home about 2:30pm and got the boys down for a nap . When they got up from their nap we hunted eggs outside again. They had a blast! Then we did bathes and dressed in pj's and headed back to my parents for supper. Home at last and kiddos in bed! We have been doing laundry and getting ready for another day of hubby being home tomorrow and storms on their way.


What a wonderful day! What a wonderful Easter! And, what wonderful friends you all are to share it with! Easter blessings and thank you Lord for all of them! Pictures tomorrow.......

Easter Blessings!

I hope each and every one of you have a blessed day, full of memories and fun!

Thank you sweet Jesus for coming and dying and rising for us!

Easter Blessings Today and Always!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter Menu

We have a large celebration planned this year. We will be going to early service at church and then home to prepare the remaining parts of the Easter lunch. We have family from North Carolina coming and some other family members as well. There should be about 20 of us all total.

That morning for our out of town guests (who are not use to much "homecooking") there will be homemade blueberry pancakes, maple sauasage links and hot coffee.

Lunch will be a spiral ham with orange juice and brown sugar glaze. green beans, cream corn, potato salad, homemade rolls, deviled eggs, apple cake and fresh strawberry pie.

We will feast on leftovers for supper, after a big egg hunt.

What is on your menu for Easter?

Friday, April 10, 2009

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

Deb and Alexis asked for this recipe.........
This was one of those happen upon recipes......in a crunch! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

1# ground chuck
1 med. onion, finely chopped
1 sm. green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 box hamburger helper (Philly cheese steak)
6 slices swiss cheese

Brown ground chuck with onion and pepper and drain grease off. Prepare hamburger helper from directions on box (using ground chuck mixture).

Put in a 13x9 baking dish, cover with slices of swiss cheese. Top with french fried onions (from helper box) and bake on 300* until cheese is melted.

I serve this with green beans and cream corn. ENJOY!!!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Bulletin Post

Here are some updates.....in a quick, bulletin format.
  • I am sick, as are Little John and Mason
  • 2 of the 3 of us are on antibiotics, the other later today.
  • It is sinus infections, lots of fever, hurting ears, sore throats, snot, sneezing and coughing.
  • Hubby still is not working much.
  • Planting season is here. Put out a few THOUSAND plants put out yesterday.
  • Plowing, Pulling beds and laying plastic today.
  • All of the plums were killed
  • Peaches are all fine
  • Still accessing the pears, early apples, figs, blackberries, blueberries, ect. Should know about all later this week.
  • Will start hand fertilizing the peaches today.......A HUGE job in itself.
  • The recipe for philly cheese steak casserole some of you requested will be up this week......some time.
  • We will have company from North Carolina this weekend, thankfully they are staying with my Mom and my aunt.
  • I am hoping to feel better tomorrow, as I am suppose to be doing most of the cooking.

Hope all is well with yours today and thank you for the prayers. We were well covered and that is so appreciated! God is so good and we are all still praising HIM!!!

Blessings!

Cake Mix Cookies

I love this recipe. It seems I always have cake mixes in the pantry and it is SO easy! You can use any kind of cake mix. My favorites are chocolate and lemon.

1 - 18.25 oz. cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. veg.oil
Preheat oven to 350*. Mix the three above ingredients (you DO NOT need ANYTHING else), in a large bowl until blended. Drop by spoonfuls about two inches apart onto a baking sheet (I spray mine with nonstick spray). Bake on the middle rack for 8-10 minutes. Cool and start sampling!

ENJOY!!!!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Homemade Fabric Softener

This is my very favorite recipe for homemade fabric softener. I make my own as much as I buy premade, but am going to make this more often to help the pocketbook! My aunt gave this recipe to me 10 years ago when John and I married. I love the fact of the ease of making it.

2 c. baking soda
2 c. white vinegar
4 c. water

Mix well. Store in plastic container.

To use: Shake well. Add 1/4 cup to rinse cycle for large load or 1/8 of cup for small load.
If you have hard water use 1/3 cup per large load.

Blessings!!!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Waiting Watching Wondering

As a farmer's daughter I have been here many a time in my short 32 years. It does not get any easier. The mood is quite somber right now, all of our hearts are heavy right now. There is nothing more we can do but pray. It is in God's hands.

The crops were spared last night. Tonight, well, it will take a true miracle (heavenly intervention) tonight. The peaches are in such a vulnerable state right now that they cannot stand hardly anything below freezing. If you have been reading long you know this is what my parents do for a living. They but back enough income from the summer for the winter and the winter is gone. God always provides, I know that.

Our main orchard is in higher elevation than we are here at home. That is a definite plus. My Daddy has been growing peaches since 1954. He has seen it all.

This is just one of the many times we have to depend on the Lord.

Please pray tonight not just for us, but for all of the farmers facing a crop loss tonight. Prayer is all we have and I know I have some awesome friends here. My spirits need a lift, if you would please leave me a comment just to say you are praying I would really appreciate it.

I'll update tomorrow. We will know the low temp and all but it will take a couple of days to access (actually for the signs to show) any damage.

Thank you for your prayers, for all of us farmers. Blessings on you and yours!

April's Menu Plan

I am running a little late getting this posted, due to computer problems.
Well the April showers are upon us. I cannot believe Easter is just around the corner! I am so ready for planting, warm weather and sunny days!

1 Chicken burritos, chips & salsa, strawberry dessert cups
2 Chicken fingers, special sauce, oven baked fries
3 Out-pizza and wings with parents
4 Out- O So Good BBQ
5 Philly cheese steak casserole, creamed corn, green beans, corn muffins, pear salad
6 Spaghetti from freezer, garlic cheese biscuits, Snicker doodles & Oatmeal Raisin cookies
7 Kraut & wieners, fried potatoes, pintos, mac & cheese, corn on ob
8 BBQ pork chops, potato salad, leftover corn on cob, baked beans from freezer, lemonade
9 Tuna salad sandwiches, chips & dip, mini peach turnovers
10 Brunswick stew, J&N cheese biscuits
11 Taco & Nacho Bar, Salad, fresh strawberry pies (save one for Easter)
12 BB pancakes and sausage for breakfast , traditional Easter lunch and leftovers for supper
13 Ole farm breakfast casserole, strawberries from freezer over toast
14 Enchiladas, spanish rice, refried beans, corn on cob
15 Chef salad w/ ham, boiled eggs and the works, honey apple cake
16 hm potato soup, J&N's cheese biscuits
17 Gravy n biscuits, cantaloupe and sliced tomatoes w/ venison cubed steak
18 Steaks on the grill, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, tossed salad, strawberry ice cream
19 Chili, leftover J&N cheese biscuits
20 Pancakes, bacon and strawberries from freezer
21 Chicken fingers, fried okra, cream corn, jello w. fruit
22 Candied pork chops w / apples, green beans, rice
23 Fried fajita chicken, refried beans, salad
24 Soup night (whatever is in pantry), hoop cheese, saltines
25 OUT
26 Santa fe soup, chips, shredded cheese and sour cream
27 Cheeseburgers, oven fries, corn on cob, Butter pecan cake w/ cheese cream icing
28 Bacon, eggs, hash browns, gravy, biscuits, apple butter and fresh fruit
29 Beef stew, corn muffins
30 Chicken fingers, mac & cheese, peas, cream corn

Well, that wraps up April! What's on your menu for this month?

Blessings!!!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Computer Update

My wireless is working now. Thank you Aaron! The computer guy walked me through getting the router going over the phone. So, I don't have to take the laptop back! YAY!

Blessings!

HELLO!!!!

Good morning y'all! The laptop problem was some viruses and other small issues. I got it back ate Friday afternoon. Noe, I cannot get my router reinstalled. I will be without it again for a few days. I hope to drop it off this afternoon. They were really nice and said to just bring it back in.

The boys have been learning their ABC's, some new songs and getting ready for preschool again in a few weeks.

Hubby has been working a little more. They actual had4 days work for him this past week! Yahoo!

Friday and Saturday we had a gigantic yard sale with other family members at my parents. Between 7 of us we sold $971. I thought that was great! We made over $300 off of our stuff. Hubby stayed home with the boys both days and I got some time off! I think he appreciates me a little more now. He did really well with the boys and kept things up too!

We are working on cutting the brush from the side of our driveway. There is a LOT of it since it has not been done since I was expecting the boys. Our driveway is 626 feet LONG to boot! We worked Saturday evening on that.

Saturday night hubby took me to eat at O So Good BBQ. It was absolutely delicious! Then we went to the rodeo. MY fil had gotten us free tickets. He met us there and we had a blast. The boys came home with cowboy hats and thought that was grand. They are just like hubby's hat.

Church was a no go yesterday. Mason was running a low grade temp with his allergies and we've had to start the eye drops once again. Bless his little heart! He and Lil' John are both taking oral allergy meds as well.

I still have a little sinus stuff but hoping it is on the mend.

This will be a busy week, since Easter is upon us and we have out of state company coming in as well. I will have some scheduled posts coming this week and maybe some spur of the moment too.

I do have a couple of prayer request though. First, one of my 16 year olds classmates was found dead at his home Thursday night. It was very devastating for his school and especially his classmates. They are not sure what happened, hopefully the autopsy results will be back today.

Also, the late cold snap is here. Tonight and tomorrow night it is suppose to be in the high 20's. We have a wonderful crop set this year, so we are praying the Lord will spare it. Specifically, we need it to stay 28* at above and we need winds to keep the frost at bay.

For all of you involved in the handmade thing, I will get your things mailed this week. Nikki, I will get your winnings out this week too. Thank you for your patience. Sometimes life takes hold and you don't know which way to go! LOL!

I hope to catch up on your blogs when I get the laptop back. I usually do my reading and commenting at night after the boys are asleep. While spending time with John. I can't take my laptop in there since the router won't connect......so I chose my husband.

Hope you all have a great Monday! Blessings!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Calling the Doctor

My laptop is on the brink. I have got to get it an appointment at the computer doctor soon. Is has been getting slower the last few weeks and nothing I have done has seen to help. There has been weird things happening and I have had nothing to do with them. There is NO one else on my laptop. This morning some of the security settings were changed and that really freaked me out. So, I will be calling the doctor for my sweet baby the laptop this morning and see if we can get worked in.

I may be offline for a few days.

My Dad is doing much better. Thank you for your prayers. He went to to the regular eye doctor yesterday and she was very happy with his progress! He will be going back to light work today! YAY!

The hail has showed little to no damage so far! Thank you Lord!

Have a great week! Blessings!