Life Continues to Happen

I try so hard not to disappear for long periods of time, but it just seems that life just continues to happen. It has rained here off and on for the past 5 weeks it seems. That has meant that Sam has been around. It's been such a welcome surprise, but we all knew it would come to an end eventually. This weekend was the end...at least for a few days...it appears more... and maybe LOTS of rain is in the forecast. Poor farmers...they'll be dying for this rain later this summer when everything is hot and crusty!

Due to Sam's motivation to get SOMETHING done since nothing was happening at work. We have tackled lots of the projects that were started in my previous post. The basement workout room is looking great! A few tiny details yet to be finished, but overall it's looking good. I continue to say that Sam is amazing! Truly. He did a great job down there, and now I WANT to run on the treadmill! :)

Then there was the dining room...and replacing all the doors in the "old' part of the house. The dining room is definitely coming along. For once Sam and I went with a BOLD choice, and we... LOVE IT! Yep, we love it. Sam laid new hardwood floors in there...now we're waiting for some more time for Sam to hang the new doors in there, and finish one last edge. It looks like a completely different room.

Cel has continued to develop her egg business. She really loves taking care of the chickens, and it is always exciting to find out how many and what color (because now she has some chickens that lay white eggs) eggs she will have each evening. She has several loyal customers that keep her busy supplying eggs. I can't believe it, but she turns SIX this week! I honestly can't say where the time has gone. Sam picked her up from school after lunch one day last week, and they went to pick out a few (like 20!!!) chicks that will lay various different eggs in the future. She told Sam that she wanted more chicks/chickens for her birthday---so that was his birthday present to her. Then she got to spend the afternoon with him at his office/plant. She loved helping Miss Jenny (the office manager) "do" paperwork. For those of you who know Cel well---there's not much she enjoys more than ... paperwork!!! Besides counting down the days to her birthday this week---she (all of us actually) are anxiously awaiting a visit from Papa and Grandma Esther! We are not used to waiting so long between visits with Papa---over 3 months is TOO long for us! We are so glad that it appears that his most recent round of surgeries were successful, and he will hopefully be back to his "normal" (still not using the leg for another month) activities shortly. I can't believe that in just about a month, Cel will be graduating from kindergarten! When I think that it will only be 12 short years before we're facing another graduation...my heart breaks a little.

It seems I've been pretty emotional lately. Several of my friends have very serious health issues going on with family members, and for some reason praying for those friends has brought back some of the memories and sorrow in losing Mom. For those of you who have lost loved ones that were close to you---you know that time doesn't erase the longing for them. I miss Mom immensely some days. A week ago we had a rough week with Cel behavior wise. It was obvious that she was doing spiritual battle---I was at a loss. I feared that I would fail her in the most important area of motherhood---raising her in a way that she would come to the saving knowledge of Christ as HER Savior. That is a daunting task. I'm glad I don't have to "do it alone," and that I can rest on the grace and wisdom of my Heavenly Father. During that week, I missed being able to talk to my Mom. May tends to be a hard month...Mothers' Day...a struggle in itself. I'm thankful for the blessing and opportunity of being a mother, but I long for MY mother to share the day with. Then---Mom's birthday is at the end of the month. It just seems that I find myself dreading May the past couple of years. All of that combined with the fact that sick kiddos, my injured foot (oh, did you miss that story!?!?!), and family being out of town kept us from being with family on Easter Sunday. That seemed so strange to me. I miss my extended family, in general, I guess. Those of you who live away from your family know what I mean. Sometimes I just miss the hug of someone who knows you...knows your faults...and loves you...all of you. I am so thankful for my dear little family; we have so much fun together...we're storing our memories.

Well, that was a bit on the melancholy side. I'm beginning to ramble. When I am not a consistent blogger, I tend to ramble...not a quality that most people appreciate! :)

Remind me to share the story of my graceful descent that led to my foot injury---a story indeed. It seems I am full of stories such the like. Well friends, I am nearing the end of another school year, which means...you will probably not hear much of me again until the summer...yeah summer!!! :) AND when I get my camera back from Sam (he's using it for pictures of the plant for some award), I will have to share some picture updates.

I'm finding myself ever more thankful for the Friend that sticks closer than a brother---who can hold me in the Hollow of His hand---and also holds my future. No good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly.

Till another day...bye for now