Turtles, Blackberries, and Friends

This week has been full of...well, life. :) Between our Monday full day of errands (chiropractor. weight watchers, walmart. whole foods, etc), working out at Curves three times, laundry, cleaning, keeping up with toddlers, blackberry picking with friends, having friends stay overnight, going out to our land, and...turtles. Yup, lots of life this week.

To back up then, yesterday we enjoyed an outing with the V family picking blackberries. Now, let me tell you, you have NEVER seen blackberries this huge! They were something else. We enjoyed the fellowship and between the two families we picked 8 1/2 pounds of berries. To top off the adventure though, I locked the keys in the van..with my cell phone and purse in it. You see, I had been keeping it locked and had given J the keys to put in his pocket. Well. he did not know it, but as the day went on I decided it was safe to leave it unlocked and put the keys back with our picnic food. J came along and dutifully locked the van up for me..with our lunch in it as well. So we went up to the owners of the farm and used their cell phone to call S (it was the only number I knew by heart) who called my mom and dad, and then Dad drove out and brought me his key. In the meantime we went up on the hill, rationed out the V famiilies lunch, and when my van was opened brought out round two of lunch. S told me to hold a biggest berry contest, like we had done when we blueberry picked in Tx. J and another V boy teamed up and got the dollar prize (they split the money) then I gave change to all the children for their efforts. We came home hot and tired, but we had so much fun! J wanted to make a cobbler, so we got out Nona's recipe book and made a DELICIOUS double batch one (shhh, don't tell weight watchers, mmm mmm)

Some of our best friends from NC came down for a couple of days. Mr M. and their son D spent the night last night. D is a terrific bowler and I think even has gotten into the professionals. He had a tournament Thurs and today about 45 mins away. So R (Mr M) brought D over for that and also worked some on his property (right around the corner from SpringMeadows). It was so good to see them. We went out today and spent some time over there with R. He is a landscaper so he gave us some tips on how to prepare the spot where we will be putting our foundation. Mom and Dad took J and W to go and watch D bowl his games this afternoon and evening.

Ah yes, and the turtles. Well. as R was on his way back from taking D to his bowling this morning he found a turtle on the road. He brought it back for the children...they were delighted! At first they named it Scamper, but then changed it to Tuck (like in the show Wonder Pets). Dad thought they should call it Mortimer, cause that was what he called his turtle when he was a boy. Then, out at K and R's land tonight R found 2 more turtles. THEN, on the way back here to the house, R found a 4th (!) turtle. So now we have a little turtle farm...we just need two more to have one for each child. The children are just delighted with them, and I have to say they are really cute. Not sure what the names all will be now. The children are pretending the turtles are their babies.

So that's a little update from over here. You never know what a day will bring, whether it is cobbler, turtles, or a baby that is covered in dirt all over and blissfully happy about it!

Nostalgia, or Dreaming of the future?

Mom decided to have some fun the other night with her wedding dress...this started a fun time of "dress-up". I can remember putting my mom's dress on when I was about 16. It was scary for my dad because he realized the reality of it was not that far off. Now, here are my little daughters trying on their grandma's dress...

Home is where the heart is

D brought me some flowers when we were out at SpringMeadows the other day. I smelled them and had him smell them too. Here were his thoughts...

"They smell pretty"

"I want you to take them home..hehe..we ARE home!"

"The house will smell so FWESH in there".

Such a dear...well, he understands that SpringMeadows is home..even though, we don't have a house there yet. :) BTW, J took this picture of us.

Now THIS is progress...

I came out this morning and here was my son, starting breakfast on his own. Scrambled eggs, complete with cheese, ham, onion powder, salt and pepper. They were delicious! Mmmm, with 6 children 10 and under, THIS is a treat to have one old enough to not only take the initiative, but to be able to cook. We are making PROGRESS! (BTW, he's in cleaning his mess up too! )

Happenings on the Homefront

Well, yesterday I went to my weekly meeting and I had met my lifetime weightwatchers goal! Whoohoo! Now, to clarify, Weight Watchers has a range of what they call "healthy weight guidelines". I chose to have my goal to be at the top of that range. This way I can become a lifetime member at that weight. However my own personal goal is to be more in the mid-range of that weight range that they have. So I am going to keep losing, even as a lifetime member of weight watchers. But, it was very rewarding and exciting to reach this milestone. If anyone is wondering...weight watchers really does work!

I am going in to sign up for Curves for Women today. I wanted to find a workout where there were just women there, and this appears to be the one for me. As soon as I put the littles down for naps, I am running into our little town and getting signed up, and having my first 30 min. workout.

Last night, S and I had our first parent/teacher conference (hmmm, which ones the parent, which ones the teacher?) to plan for this falls homeschooling. We plan on having ongoing meetings to get it all planned out.

Other than that, life is pretty normal. Laundry getting done, potty training, you know all that fun stuff. We should feel so blessed when things are "normal" shouldn't we?

Oh! We got a street address given us for SpringMeadows, so that is exciting. Also, I now have a home landline. For the sake of privacy on the blog I will not post it here, but jot me an email if you'd like the phone number. springmeadowssc@gmail.com

Thursdays Thoughts

Our Dear little Hbug enjoying the mountain view on Memorial Day, and another picture of that gorgeous swimming cove that Mr A had discovered and shown to us....





Newsy Updates...
So what is new with the E family? (Remember, I am married to an engineer, so I have learned to start my sentences with "so".) Let's see...


These are busy days. Summer has finally arrived here in SC, giving us a heat wave that rivalled Texas. Although Mr. E maintains it is NOT the same. When he works out in it, he still is just fine. The heat does not have the heavy, bear you down, humidity with it. The breeze actually cools you down here. Nevertheless, it has been HOT and apparently not normal for this time of year. We had a rainstorm last night and it looks like the belt across the east of heat will move on soon. It is 89 degrees right now.

SpringMeadows...
Last Saturday was a "GROUNDBREAKING" day....we actually made improvements on our land! It was exciting to me, cause it was kind of like a promise of the future. It is ours to do with as we feel best for our family. I don't know, when we have just been out there walking around, it still could be someone elses land, but when you are actually making changes and taking care of it, it is ours. KWIM? So, we went out there for a full day Saturday. S was going to use our dear friends mower to cut the over waist high grass, but the mower died right in the middle of Mr C's (our neighbor who sold us the land) driveway. It would NOT start again all day. S could not figure it out, Mr C could not, and my dad could not. So, Mr C loaned S his bushhog and that worked out just fine. Also, S dug the post hole and put the posts in the ground for our gate. We have a nice big red gate to put up for the entrance to the property. We also now have the order in for the county to come out and put some culverts in. So, the process has begun...we are developing SpringMeadows. It will be a long road ahead (excuse the pun) but it is exciting. Next step, probably will be to get electricity out there, or maybe the road has to be in first...

Two steps forward, one step BACK...
Mama E has had another back crisis. It's really not a crisis. :) As some of you know I have been under chiropractic care in Tx. I had a rotater cuff injury last year and have had issues for years. Well, I had not found a chiropractor here yet. I had been doing real well. The beginning of this week though it became really bad again. Tuesday was our day into town and I was just trying to put up with the pain. As we got in the car to head home it had reached such a point that I was not doing well. We started just looking for chiros as we drove down the main road. It was after 5 but we thought we would just see if anyone would take me, cause I really needed relief. In the Lord's providence there was a chiropractor who, even though he was booked, still would fit me in. So, my mom dropped me off, drove the children and all the groceries home. S drove in to meet me at the office. Long story short, this chiropractor was the most knowledgable chiro that S has ever seen. He was very impressed with him. The Chiro took x-rays of my spine and did some exams on me. Basically, I am not in the best shape. I have arthritis in a couple of places, and he said that the root of my rib issues is really in my back. He really gave me some relief with his adjustment, and tonight S and I are going back in to see again. This time he is going to talk over with us the long range plan, of how he can help me repair. My posture is a big thing that he is going to help me change. My range of motion when I turn my head left to right is very tight on one side. So we will see what he is thinking tonight. I am very thankful though, I feel like the Lord providentially picked out my chiropractor for me. He careth so tenderly for His sheep and knows just what they need.


Remember the program HeeHaw?
Mom and Dad's storage buildings have finally arrived...THAT is another story in itself. First, the big building they had picked out did not fit through anywhere on the trees. So mom and dad picked out two smaller buildings (they are really cute, with little porches on the front) to be delivered. Well, after DAYS they finally got one of the buildings in here, then the mans mule (electric mule not a heehaw kinda mule...I know its the country but...) broke, died, gone, toast. So, the man left with one of the buildings blocking the driveway. Said someone would be back, they were going to call another guy with a mule (still the electronic kind, but by now, does anyone have a heehaw we can borrow?) No one comes yesterday. Mom and Dad's ABF truck is due to arrive TODAY and they won't be able to get in if they don't come back. (Ok, how bout a neigh, neigh, instead of a heehaw?) Finally, this morning, here they come with the second building and get it in place, just in the nick of time for the big truck to pull in. Whew! So now the truck is waiting. On Saturday several from the church are going to come out and help unload the truck.



Potty Training Tidings...
H is going really well on the training, although at this point your's truly is the one that is trained. She has yet to figure out to tell me BEFORE she goes. But, if I put her on the potty, she goes like a champ on command. We make a big deal out of it, cheer and lots of encouragement and now we have graduated from a cookie to a gummy bear. When she does have an accident like yesterday it is funny "I go poopy MYSELF" yes, dear, I see that. But, we are making progress and I am encouraged that she will at least go on command. Now, Mommy just has to remember to keep taking her.



In our local news...
The children are all doing well. They are going at the summer reading club at the library with great gusto. I have never seen W so motivated to read chapter books. He is doing great! (this is my boy who would rather be creating or taking something apart instead of reading). Of course, J I have trouble keeping him OUT of a book, so that is nothing new with him. They are all motivated to get their little rewards at the end.

We are going out tomorrow night to put our new red gate into the posts. We will meet S out there after he gets off work. I might bring a picnic supper, will have to see what S wants to do.

This Lord's Day we are having another one of the pastors from our denomination visiting, so he will be preaching both services. S knows the pastor and so he is looking forward to seeing him after many years.


So that is an update on the E family. Send us an email sometime and let us know how you are doing. Springmeadowssc@gmail.com

May you have a blessed rest of the week, and wonderful Lord's Day!

Mothering-such a high calling

"If commitment to our role as a mother languishes, this may be true not because the job is too small or unchallenging, but because our vision is too small. Our dreams for our task may be thin and weak. We fail to hear God's call and miss the broad scope of the possibilities before us. We focus instead on the routine activities and demands--changing diapers, potty training, cleaning up messes, telling the kids for the fifth time not to slam the door--and miss any sense of a higher calling.

Mothers, look up and look ahead! Ask yourself; in five, ten, twenty, even forty years what will I wish that I had done today? We want to avoid reaching the end of our lives with regret. Look ahead, plan what is important and live accordingly...

Several years ago, I heard a dedicated missionary share what she would do differently if she could start raising her family again. This woman was committed to Christ, and His cause, and she spent her life serving others--so the depth and quality of her life made me sit up and listen when she shared. She said she would stay home more, be kinder to her children, and feed them spiritually....

I too am jealous for the influence I have at this crucial period in my childrens life, to teach him what is good, to enrich his life with beauty, to train him in obedience and respect, to stimulate his eager intellect, to encourage his attempt to try new things, and to play with him, I want to enjoy these years that happen only once and are soon gone forever." A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming

These quotes are from a book I am reading this week, after feeling so keenly my need of renewal in my mothering. It has really challenged, encouraged and reproved me. I have a long way to go, but I am seeking the Lord for His grace to "be there" more for my children, instead of being so caught up in the next thing to check off my mental list for the day. My children need mama, not just someone to clean, cook and care for them, but MAMA in the real sense of the word. So, I am trying to take those few moments to throw a frisbee, examine a bug, or build a train track. (typing this as I kiss and snuggle my 4 yob who just woke up from his nap a little while ago)

BTW, today H sat down as pretty as you please and went in her little potty chair! After a few days of feeling discouraged about the progress, this was a breakthrough!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my favorite man! S, I feel so priviledged to be you wife, and love you so very, very much! May the Lord richly repay you for your sacrifice and love that you so selflessly give to your family. You are a king in our eyes.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

This picture was taken on another birthday just a few years ago. :) I love you, my husband!