The Fruit of Our Labor... Yum.

Yesterday was a very yummy day. My parents recently discovered that they have blackberry bushes growing over the hedgerow that lines their property. Mom had already spent one afternoon picking and I went and helped her pick some more yesterday. Our hands show the wounds we earned while picking in such nasty brambles, but our dinner table last night also showed the reward of such labor. A delicious pie was enough to make up for getting thorns caught in my pant legs, in my hair and in my hands. While I was picking I was reminded of how hard the Lord has worked for us. The scratches in my hands will heal, but the scars He has in His will be there forever. I was willing to get scratches up in order to taste the goodness of those berries or have a pie. The Lord Jesus was willing to die so that we could taste of His goodness and be with Him in glory. Makes all my effort seem rather puny if I think of it from that perspective. Perhaps I should've been a little more willing to share the fruit of my labor with the man that I love...

Any Ideas?? Please?

I need help. I'm not one to typically complain, but this time I will. I am suffering from hives. I have broken out with hives every evening for the past four days. Except today, I broke out around 2:30. I am doing nothing out of the ordinary and the only thing I possibly have been doing different is using a lotion on my face. But I have no hives on my face and the hives didn't show up until a week or so after I started using the lotion, so I don't think that is it. The hives go up and down my legs, around my waist and last night were also seen on my arms. I am not stressed, it is not poison ivy, and they appear whether I am at home or am out. They are driving me crazy. Any ideas as to what may be causing them? It is so odd because they will be gone in the morning, but will be back by evening. Someone suggested that maybe I was pregnant, but I tested negative, so that's not it. If it keeps happening, I'll call my doctor on Monday to see what he thinks, but in the mean time any suggestions??

A Beach Day for All

Last Saturday Adam and I met with some friends and went to Fairhaven Beach. It was supposed to be a girls "beach day", but one friend of ours had to work, so the two of us remaining girls took our husbands instead. I guess they work if you're in a pickle. :) Josh tagged along and we couldn't leave Molly behind either. Elisabeth and I packed lunches for our group and we ate when we got there. Then it was beach time. Adam threw sticks for Molly to catch. Joshua ate sand. I pulled rocks out of Josh's mouth. Elisabeth's hubby got yelled at by one of the lifegaurds for swimming outside of the designated area. And Elisabeth lay on her sandy towel. All in all, it was a fun day. Someday we may do it again. We'll see. I did get some cute photos of Josh, but none of the rest of us. We'll leave that up to your imagination.

Ain't He Cute When He's Asleep?

Another Castle Photo

This is another picture from the castle retreat. I didn't get very many photos of the actual castle, but this should give you a slightly better idea of it. The rooms in the background make up the main section. There are actually four different wings extending off this main part. It really is grand. Next time I go, I'll have to remember to take a picture from a better angle. Oh, and the kids are "praying" over me in this photo :)

Vacation Bible School

It was another busy week. There was nonstop action every morning with VBS at church. I helped teach the 1st and 2nd graders this year. We had crafts, games, Bible lessons and songs. The theme was airplanes and taking flight with Jesus. We talked about stalling during flight, the drag that sin creates in our lives and how to take off with Jesus. At the end of the week all the kids received their very own set of wings, which they wore proudly during the closing picinic. Next year, I think I'd like to help more. There are so many ideas and things I'd like to do... We'll have to wait and see. It was pretty fun.

The Castle

Well, I made it home :) On Monday, I left with the Junior High group from my church and went to the "Castle" in Pennsylvania. It really is a castle, with towers and everything and the stone building sits high atop a mountain. Our church groups have been going there for a long time and this was my third trip down. Going to the castle never gets boring. We go with great expectations and hopes of what the Lord will reveal to us, and He is always faithful. This year was the first time the Junior High group got to go and they loved the experience. It was fun to watch them interact with my older brother Dave and my sister-in-law Leta, the group leaders. We had some really good studies and the last night there, we had a special prayer time which included songs, tears and a whole box of tissues. God is good. Dave and Leta also prepared some really cool games which the kids loved. He took us out into the woods and each team (there were 3) had to build a little house from anything we could find in the woods. The houses were scrutinized for durability, order and style. We also played a relay game where each team had to put a body together piece by piece and learn scripture verses that went along with that particular appendage. Dave is good at making up kid games, cause he is still a kid himself :) I am so glad I was able to go along with the group of them and I hope to keep up with the kids a little better than I had been. What fun, what fun.