Please Pray...Big Day Today

David sits for the auditing section of the CPA exam from 4-8:30pm EST today. 

We ask for your prayers: 

Peace for David
Ability to retain all that he has learned and studied in the past 2 months
Clarity of mind as he takes the test
A heart focused on honoring the Lord in this challenge.

Thank you so much for praying, friends!

We're Good.

Irene came in and went out kindly in our neck of the woods. We watched the rain and winds show their power, but were kept safe from any real damage.  We did lose power late morning on Sunday.  We were ready with the RV generator, so our fridge and freezer foods were safe. We even cheated and set up the computers and tv later in the day so the children could use up some energy on the Wii and have some family movie time.  Other than that, David and the children played a board game, some took naps, and we enjoyed some candlelight that evening.  We did head out for a ride on Sunday evening to asses the damages in the nearby towns. Several trees were down on the power lines nearby. Otherwise we were thankful to see that the rivers were still staying low and the damage wasn't as terrible as it has been in other places. 

Overall, I'd say our first encounter with a hurricane rated as exciting yet safe.  Just the way I'd always like a hurricane to be. ;-)

"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock."

Matthew 7:25

There's a Stawm Comin'!

That was on a local sign, posted on the wesite of our news station here. We've been getting ready to welcome Irene, which will likely be a Tropical Storm (or Stawm to the locals here) by the time she arrives. We don't expect the winds to be terribly fierce, but we do think it's likely we'll lose power.  So, we've been going through our Storm Prep list and keeping busy these last two days.

The last few things on the list will get done tonight.  Then we snuggle in for a restful night, looking forward to meeting Irene when we wake.  We're praying for those on the east coast already battling the winds and rain. Please remember the many who are in need of protection and strength for the clean up ahead.

Bushels of Blessings

We made a new friend this week. She planted 2 acres of organic sweet corn this year and the time for picking arrived.  We met her just in time and spent several days this week learning to harvest corn.

Now, 2 acres is a lot of corn, even for your larger-than-most sized family. So, we called up some of our friends.  Many hands make light work, you know!  With our friends, we were able to pick over 6000 ears of corn this week! Wowzers!

We had so much fun working with our friends, I don't think anyone felt like it was really "work".  Beautiful weather, uplifting conversation, great laughs, and helping neighbors are all counted as some of the best gifts the Lord has to give. We enjoyed them in abundance this week and they all made the sore backs and muscles worth the efforts.

Of course, the added blessing of processing close to 200 ears of corn for the freezer and giving away nearly 200 ears of corn to more friends and neighbors only enhances the blessing! We're so thankful for the Lord's abundant, varied, and deliciously sweet provisions.

You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water ; You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

Psalm 65:9

Toothy Ruthy

One itty bitty tooth. One beautiful girl who is growing up way too fast!

A Bouquet for Mommy

My Mother's Day gift has arrived!! In August, you ask?? Yes! Our children bought several bags of bulbs for planting this past spring. They are in full bloom now and are Knock-You-Off-Your-Feet Gorgeous!!

And while I'm showing off these beauties, I'll share some more blooms we are enjoying. All photos are courtesy of our "budding" family photographer, Elizabeth, age 13.

She's "developing" quite a talent, isn't she?  Okay, okay, I'll stop with the "cheesey" jokes. :-P

Funny Bunny

Ruth's Rabbit, Daisy-Snowflake, enjoyed a day out of the hutch playing with her doting fans...

meeting her next door neighbors... (those ducks have grown, haven't they?!)



...and looking for a little snack while being bothered by one curious kitty.

Such a snuggly little friend. :-)