Our Last Summer @ The Old Place...

I just wanted to share some of our favorite summer memories from our last summer here.

Welcome to our front/side porch. This is our favorite place late spring, early summer. Before the mosquitoes and bugs get too bad, we really enjoy the sights and sounds this porch has to offer. I love more than anything, to get out here as early as possible, when the sun is rising, and sip on coffee while reading my Bible.

Summer began with a freshly tilled garden spot,
a bigger one than what we usually have.

We all helped plan, plant, hoe, weed, and tend to the garden.

It has been so rewarding,
especially when we see how eager our girls are,
to get outthere and help, anytime we've needed them to.

Not to mention all the fresh produce
we've enjoyed due to the bountiful rainfall, 

and almost perfect growing season that God blessed us with.

Gardening was much easier this year than it has been in the past.

This kale is such a beautiful plant, and so hardy!
It has been growing great since early spring, and is still producing.
These cool nights are just begging for a pot of Kale Soup,
a recipe a dear friend shared with me.
I think I'll put that on the menu for tomorrow night.

Just another shot of the garden, earlier this summer.

This is our screened-in back porch, with the porch swing.

Hummingbirds visit these flowers all through the day.

With these cooler temperatures, that we've been so blessed with this year, we've been able to enjoy this porch more this summer than ever before. And even though last night was downright chilly, sitting there listening to the crickets chirping, while gazing at the almost,

full moon, was so extremely pleasant.

Our pita bread! It was fun learning how to make pita

bread for the first time this summer.

Everyone loved it, and it went great with

Ms. W's famous chipotle hummus (her own recipe).

The hummus disappeared so fast that

I didn't get a picture of it.

All of these things came from right here in our own yard- grape juice
from our grapes- to make jelly with, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers,
okra and tomatoes. I didn't get any pictures of our corn
when we harvested it, or our fresh lettuce greens.


Our sunflower forest!
The beautiful Goldfinches that visit here are such a delight.

They perch themselves upon the blooms that have already died,

and somehow hang upside down and feed on the seeds.

It's pretty amazing to watch!

Just one of the many bouquets we have enjoyed from the variety

of flowers we have planted all around the house.

Pepper buffet- banana, habanero, and jalapeno.
We are also growing cayenne, but we gave those away
before I took this picture.

Our oldest daughter is convinced if she had a big enough place,
she could grow tonsof okra and become a wealthy woman.
It really is very easy to grow, and has produced an amazing amount!
We've been able to share our bounty with neighbors and friends,
and still have plenty to freeze for ourselves.


These beauties are going to be canned!
The large number of plants we planted
this year, have really payed off.
We've been blessed with huge bowls of
fresh salsa all summer long, thanks to these gorgeous babies!



I had to include a photo of our old dog Farley. We've had him since the spring of 2000, he's 10 yrs old, which is 70 in dog years.

And last, but certainly not least, is our only cat- Blue.
.

He's pretty special, Mr. Blue, he's my gardening buddy. He follows me to the garden every time I'm out there, he stays right at my feet, loving on me, rubbing his head on my calves and ankles. And all the while, meowing at me incessantly- I'm not sure what he's telling me, but he seems to have a lot on his mind. Anytime I have to discard a vegetable, he's right there to inspect it to make sure I made the right decision.

We've experienced so many great things here at this house.

It has been such a special place to live.

I certainly hope the summer memories, that I've shared, have been
as enjoyable for you all, just as they have been for us.

Change

As I write this morning, I realize this is a year of change.

This is our last year to home school. Our youngest daughter is a senior, and this is it. Where did the time go? When I thought of how long it would take to home school our two girls, years ago, when we first began, it seemed like it would be eons before we'd ever see the end of the tunnel. But. . . not so. The years have flown by, and since that has been the case, I can't help but think, maybe I should start praying for direction for the soon to come "non-home school" years. Which will start at the end of this very, last school year. Spring 2010 is much closer than I think.

Not only that, but we are also in the process of selling our home, looking to move closer to my husband's place of employment. We've been living in this blessed home for the past 13 years.

This home has been an amazing place to live. We live in such a quiet, secluded area, and are so blessed with days upon days of beautiful sights and sounds.

The home we are looking at, to buy, is in a small town, not as secluded at all, and in an area we aren't that familiar with. I think we're all just a little nervous, wondering what it will be like to live somewhere else? This is going to be a BIG change for us.

As I sit here this morning, with our front door open, the cool air filtering in, listening to the crickets chirping, the birds occasionally singing, and beyond that, just quiet, I can't help but think how much I am going to miss this place.

This past weekend was simply amazing, the weather here has not at all been normal for August. We spent as much time outside working in the yard, sprucing things up for the coming appraisal/inspection and each evening and morning, we've been out on the back porch together. Talking and laughing. This place has been the foundation for so many good memories, and some of our most favorite memories are of all of us out on the back porch, sitting in our porch swing & chairs, talking, laughing and sharing with one another.

I know wherever we end up, whatever house God leads us to, we will be fine. We'll all still be together, loving and laughing together. But I know we will miss this place. Just as I'll miss my comfortable schedule of knowing that each year, we will be doing "school". This is my last year for that, and the next few weeks could be my last here in this house.

I'm reminded of an old hymn my mother sang often as she worked in the kitchen. "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!" I know God has His eye upon us, and He knows our future. We can trust His guidance in these small changes, for our lives.

Soon we'll be saying goodbye to Collins Corner. Who knows where we will hang our hat next? We're not 100% certain, but we do know that God will be with us, and His love will keep us close together, and He'll show us, that it's His love that makes our home what it is. Not the location, not the type of home, but who dwells in the hearts of the occupants, that is what makes our home what it is. In that, I do find comfort!

Pondering This Quote...

A famous line from one of our favorite movies, comes from William Shakespeare. It's one that lately I have pondered and turned over in my mind. It took me a bit, just to break it down and understand the meaning. I had heard it numerous times in "Sense and Sensibility" before completely understanding it's meaning, and how it was used to tell the story of MaryAnn, one of the sisters in the movie.

"Love is not love- that alters-when it- alteration finds."

As I have thought on this, I find that it applies to our daily lives as Christians, just as well, and if we see in ourselves, that once we find out that another human being isn't as "good" as we first believed and our feelings for them change, once we see their faults, then we truly do not love that person.

The love of Christ does not rule in our hearts when we with-hold our love just because someone doesn't live up to our standards, or hurts us, or uses us. We are to love at all times. And so this simple quote is such a good reminder to me, to not let myself be deceived into thinking I can only love others just as long as there are no imperfections revealed. I must always love, through the misunderstandings, through the hurts, through the surprises. For who am I? Nothing but an imperfect, sinful person, who needs to experience the love of Christ within the boundaries of the body of Christ, in his family, with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Our hearts knit together in His perfect love for us.

Love is not love- that alters- when it- alteration finds.
by William Shakespeare