Essays in Life

Time marches on

And so does my life!! Is it July already? On the one hand, I really would love to stop the clock sometimes, but on the other hand, as quick as it is marching, I know that it won't be long before my husband comes come!!!

                 

                            Look how big my baby is!!! Tobias, 3 1/2 months

                

My sister-in-law gave me this great bouncy seat for him. He loves to stand and watch his siblings...he is so ready to join them!!

                 

Check out the fat on those legs, and notice the hands stuffed in his mouth?! This boy could live off the fat of the land for awhile, I think!!

                 

Don't you just love that chubby, squishy body?! I am so thankful that I get to eat him up everyday!!

We are in the full swing of things here with homeschooling, and really getting settled in the place. Just so you know, cause I know you were wondering, I am back to my pre-pregnancy self again, & feeling so good. I have so much energy, I am bouncing off the walls. I am back to running again (pure pleasure, Renee, pure pleasure), and looking forward to getting into the best shape ever while Tim is gone. I know you can't wait, huh, Tim?! Timothy & I are gonna race in a 1/2 marathon when Tim gets home, and Ms. Competitive will win, and certainly won't go down without a fight....so, let the training begin, Sir. :-)

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July, and remembers those many men who sacrificed so much to birth this great country!!! We stand on the shoulders of those who went before us!!!

Scenes from the homestead

So, life continues to push ahead, and I continue to miss my husband!!! But, I have a few things to occupy my time, and already almost a month has passed!!! Here are some of the 1, 453 snapshots that Gabrielle took around the old homestead yesterday, just for you Timothy :-)

            

                           Kyra, 10, working diligently on her studies!! 

           

                Elijah, 7, doing his P.T. while chewing on a cinammon stick!

          

Isaiah, 8, mowing his portion of the 3 acres---love the 3 acres so the kids have some work to do!!

          

                                           The garden is growing!!! 

         

                   Samuel Holser, 21 months, Grandma, LOTS of months, Asher 2 yr

Grandma, Aunt Michelle, and Samuel stopped over yesterday for a visit. Always a nice time with company.

          

            Gabrielle, 9, clearly a self-portrait. My kids aren't really very humble :-)

  

     

Our sweet baby Tobias

              

                is now 3 months old!!! He is a constant source of joy, laughter, & love.

               

I can't imagine our family without him, & thank God that He gave me this sweet baby to keep me company during the absense of my husband.

            

So, how cute is our son, Tim?! He is growing like a weed, and just starting that ever so cute stage of smiling, cooing, and laughing!! And I'm sure you know, I am giving him extra kisses from you!! For the record, we really miss you!!

Visit this Blog

now to see God working, & to be able to play a part in this incredible family via your prayers.... my awesome friends Wendy & Kevin . Then pray.

Here we are

Here is a great math problem for you:

10 kids + 20 laying chickens + 8 meat chickens (that the kids and I will be slaughtering in 6 weeks--that will be an adventure) + 9 fish + 2 cats + 2 dogs + 3 ducks + 1 garden - 1 very incredible & handy husband = One Busy Woman!!!!

             

Kyra's dog Ranger. She loves dogs, and has been wanting one for 2 years. Now that we have some land, she got one. A heinz 57 if there ever was one!!!

               

Originally Gabrielle's puppy Daisy May, Gabrielle isn't quite the dog lover that Kyra is. So, Kyra quickly took possession of this adorable golden retriever/shepherd mix. She is responsible for all feedings, walking, and training. She does a great job!!!

             

My garden, that is g-r-o-w-i-n-g. I am sooooo excited!!! I also have 21 tomatoe plants in another area.

          

Our 3 male Muscovy ducks waddling around (we have a pond). They are good for ticks and mosquitoes, so I am all about that. We picked up all of our animals from Craigslist, except the chickens. Now, we are looking for some female companship for these lovely gentlemen.

          

One of our cats...I don't know which one, & no offense, but I don't care. Picked up a mother-daughter duo from Craigslist to keep the mice away!! They, Ruth & Naomi, are earning their keep---& that is all I care abought. Ciara is my resident cat lover, so they are hers.

          

Some of our Rhode Island reds. Just got 8 of these last week. They should be ready to lay in a week or two. Woohoo, I can't wait for fresh eggs right out of our own front yard!!! As the good Lord intended it, my friends :-)

             

Some of our black chickens. I don't remember their actual breed...I am lucky to even know they are chickens, okay?! got them from my wonderful farming friend, Jennifer, who is mentoring me. I am soooo clueless about this, it is hilarious!!

        

And the only animals allowed in my house!!! Another freebie from Craigslist, these 9 fish are some low-maintanence, quiet pets. Almost as low-maintanence & quiet as my 10 children!!! HAH!!!

So, is it any wonder I have no time to blog?! We are having tons of fun around here, and finally getting settled. Having a baby was one thing, moving one thing, my husband deploying another, adding Old McDonalds Farm another...but all at about the same time?? It has been fun, hasn't it?

Oh, I forgot to photograph the newest 8 meat chickens!!! You get those bad boys at a day old, and they are ready for the chopping block at 8 weeks. That is going to be a riot, I can tell you that. I can't even cut my own meat on my plate without being grossed out. Not that I have a problem eating it...I have no problem eating animals. It is just that whole process from life to death to my plate~~the blood, guts, etc...that has always caused me to go white. But, it is time to be a woman. It is time to yield the ax. I love the idea of having my own organic, natural chicken raised right here, stocked in my freezer!! Stay tuned for that posting in a few weeks :-)

So, here I am, sacrificing my husband for you people, and your freedom!! Can I get some love? I sure hope so. Nah...it is an honor and privilige, cause I love this country...falling apart at the seams though it may be. Regardless, it is great, & I pray for it daily, & am grateful to be here!!!

Memorial Day...sending off my soldier!!

How fitting that today, Memorial Day, Timothy left us to serve this country!! He left around 5am, and needless to say, he is already missed.                      

I am forever thankful for everyone who has ever served on our behalf since this great country's birth, up until this very day!!!

We love you & miss you, Tim!!!!!!

P.S. Zane said to come home today.

Brothers & Books

I love walking into a room, always wondering, yet never knowing, what I will find. And I have learned by now, and with this many, it is anybody's guess. Sometimes I come upon  things that I don't photograph, or even mention, like the time last week when I found Asher in the family room, with his soiled diaper OFF, and the poop OUT. Which he had decided to spread around, for reasons I do not want to ever understand. Aren't you glad I don't mention all those moments? But, other times, I come upon scenes that make all those moments but a distant memory (almost, anyway)!! Scenes like this:

                                   Asher 2, Jude 13, Tobias 2 months

And what kind of book could possibly enthrall them all?

                      

Well, if you are a Jackson boy, the only books worthing reading, of course!! How blessed these two are to have such a delightful older brother.

My newest "baby"

Meet my newest baby~~ I love this little plot of land that is my first real garden!! I am so excited...I love digging in the dirt, holding my little seeds, figuring out just what will go where. Such a sweet baby, and hopefully, will give back in spades!!

             

We have been working like eager beavers--when it isn't flooding--getting this garden in.   Once again, I politely demanded asked Mom to come join the festivities, & she was more than happy to---as long as Tim bought her a 44oz Dr. Pepper from Sonic!!

            

I had some great topsoil/compost blend brought in to make my lovely raised bed garden. Look at Big Momma (as Daniel affectionately calls her) shoveling...she earned that 44 ouncer, let me tell you. Pretty cheap labor when you think about it. Although she did take several unapproved breaks, I let it slide...she is an official senior citizen, after all!!! I best be nice, cause not every woman with 10 kids--whose husband is about to leave the country for 6 months--has such a great mom to come over and help, and I have to compete for her time with my 2 brothers as it is!!!

          

Doesn't that look nice....a little straw down for the walkways. I have 12 rows, and I have all but the last row done. We keep getting torrential downpours every few days, so things have taken a little longer than I wanted. But, if any one thing grows, I will be one happy gardener.....Oh Lord, let my black thumb turn green!!

         

And this is what "chunky-monkey" was doing during our hard labor...getting chunkier on the sofa. Many people are starting to comment on his size, and frankly, he is getting offended. He feels that he is taking good care of his physique and can't be blamed that he can't even walk. He told me to ask everyone, just how slim would you be if you could barely move? And so he is politely asking that all people just admire his cuteness, and politely ignore the fact that he isn't getting any slimmer anytime soon!!! Well, for the record, Momma loves your chunkiness, sweet Tobias, so just keep on getting chunky!!

One week until Tim leaves....whatever will we do without a good man around? Well, I guess we will see now, won't we??!!!

         

Brainquest for Brothers

When I walked in the family room the other day, here is what I found~

         

      Zane 4, and Asher 2....they did a great job of setting up the game, didn't they?       

         

              At this age, there is no need to read...one can still have a great time. 

        

Making up the rules as they went, Zane said they both won!! Sounds like a great way to enjoy a game, huh?!

It's Strawberry Season

It's Strawberry Season in these parts, and we were there for the first fruits...nothing means spring (& summer comin') like those farm fresh strawberries, picked right off the vine!! It probably isn't a vine, is it? Oh well, that sounds good to me.

          

I called & demanded asked Mom to join us, which thrilled her to no end...actually, she really did want strawberries. Off we went, all of my eager beavers. And remember how I wanted to be someone's migrant workers, living on their land in exchange for picking crops? Well, someone lost a good bunch of migrant workers, cause we got 94 lbs. picked in 30 minutes!!! A sudden storm moved in, cutting our time short.

           

Now, with Jude picking, I had to watch the patch owner mighty closely...they were eyeing his potential up since he does look like the typical migrant worker. He and I joke about that sort of stuff all time....it is such fun. Don't you all love his brown skin? I am sooo jealous.

          

Zane, eagerly at his father's side!! He was so excited when Tim came home, & is not looking forward to saying good-bye. 

           

After picking a few strawberries, Asher decided these migrants needed some direction, so he nominated himself as foreman, & told everyone where to pick. While he sat & ate; smart boy, huh?!

         

And I didn't do any picking 'cause of little man....here are Tobias's thoughts about being thrown in the stroller. 

We plan to get 100 lbs. every week until we have pillaged the patch!! While we are enjoying fresh strawberries, muffins, smoothies, mousse, jelly, and roll-ups, we are freezing quite a bit for the winter.