First day

I can't believe school has started already!  This truly has been the shortest summer we have ever had!  School really starts early in Kentucky.  And since we had so many snow days this past winter, school ended later than it should have.  Can you tell my kids are not thrilled to be going back??

E was especially thrilled to be going to school.  He really doesn't like school.

Okay, maybe K was not too unhappy about going back. She is glad to finally be seeing her friends again.  Being a kid in the country has it's negative points--the biggest one being no neighbors like we had in Texas! 

I can't believe how big they are all getting.  I don't even want to go back to look at previous first day photos-even just as far back as this blog goes! 

I may not like seeing them grow up so fast, but I can't say I am sorry to see them start back! 

Canning

We have never had a garden before this year.  In Texas, K got interested in plants and we promised her once we moved we would have a garden so she could help and watch things grow.  I got kind of excited about it myself.  But when it came time for the work, the excitement faded quickly.  You know I am not an outdoor girl.  And I have a black thumb.  I am so not my mother's daughter that way. 

Luke did all the work.  Our neighbor used his tractor for us and got everything ready.  Luke did all the planting and all the work.  I weeded a little about three times.  Other than that I picked some of the veggies.  Too much heat and too many bugs for me.  I wonder if that means we will even have a garden next year.  Luke may say no way.

Since we have never had a garden, I had also never canned.  But now I can say I have.  At least a little.  I made pickles and although I do not even like to eat pickles I have really enjoyed making them!  I also pickled some peppers and made three jars of salsa.  It is a start, right? 

I have also frozen a ton of zucchini and yellow squash.  We definitely planted too much.  If we do have a garden next year, we have learned some things this year for sure!

I had to share some pictures of my work.  Yes I am proud!  :)

Kindness

I read a question on facebook today that I thought was very neat. What is the kindest thing a stranger has said to you or done for you? Hmmm... What a nice thing to try to remember.

The first thing I thought of was once when I was traveling alone with the kids from Texas to WV and we were at a gas station in Lexington KY. I had filled up the car and when I tried to start the car again, it would not start. I had no idea what to do. I finally asked a man getting gas next to me for help. I think I asked him if he knew of a garage nearby. It turned out that he worked at the car dealership next door and he offered to help. He went back to the dealer and got a battery charger and started my car and then he gave me his card and told me if I had any more trouble within a couple of hours to please call him and he would come help. I had explained where I was driving from and to and that my husband was in the military (he was in Alabama at some training at the time). The man said that he could only hope that if his wife and kids were alone and in need like that, that someone would help them. And he thanked us and my husband for his military service.

That was definitely one of those times when I think an angel disguised himself (interesting that it was as a car salesman!).

I also tried to remember times when I have been the giver of a kindness. One thing I think of is a time in Texas when I was driving and saw a girl whose car was broken down and I stopped. It was close to our house and I really felt like it was okay for me to stop (-I prayed that it was as I stopped). I told her I could not help with the car but I asked her if she wanted to use my phone. She tried to call someone but couldn't get an answer and she asked me if I would take her back home and I did. She lived right next to the turn to our subdivision.

Helping strangers--and accepting help from strangers can be scary nowadays, but I am glad I did it that time. I hope that is not the only kind thing I have done!

It is very interesting to think about those things and be aware of opportunities. I know that sometimes something as simple as a smile can be helpful. I hope I always take advantage of any opportunity that God gives me to be kind or bless someone else!

Starting again

New blog name. New state. New home. I tried once before to start posting again since the move but there was just too much to catch up on. So I decided not to catch up. I will just start posting again where we are!