this and that

sniff. sniff. sigh.
I am still having allergy trouble
...from our flooded/mildewed basement, soy dust, the burning pit
and probably pulling up the carpet and painting too.

I haven't been taking supplements or vitamins nearly as much as we used to
...and I need the extra boost right now.
I should really order some we are out of that I obvious need right now.

The hunters pulled into the farm with a huge 20 lb. swan today.
They were hollaring & yelling with excitment
...I gasped and walked away from the door.
I'm not against all hunting
...I just don't see any good in sport hunting. sigh.

The actual harvest is over...

but the work in the field

and the work on the farm

is far from over for the season.

It's a good kind of busy though. {grin}

I am finally painting our chairs

...and when I say finally I mean as in

it's taken me 4 years to get this started! Ha!

This isn't all of them, or the colors they will be

...but it's the start.

I just heard about a little boy who was killed when he was alone & shifted his dad's pick-up into neutral... then panicked and jumped out, only to have the truck run over him.
This family has been in my thoughts and prayers since I heard the news.
I can't imagine, except I sort of can. sigh.

Farming accidents are very real...
and they happen everyday.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for his protection
and pray for open eyes, ears & minds to make wise choices.

It is such a challenge sometimes.
I get a call to hurry and bring the service truck to the field.
I can't move car seats around to every truck and tractor
...nor would they fit or buckle into most of them.
So we go, with buckles and prayers....
and never leave them alone!

My dad was here for nearly a week

and I didn't take

ONE picture of him!

What kind of photographer does this?!!!

At least I'll always have the memories...
and so will the kids!

I still have a thing with rear-view mirror pictures...

going on 5 or 6 years strong.

I'll probably be able to make a book with all of them one day

...just to have photographic proof that I was there! Ha!

We went to town today
in our honda as the girls call it.
We quickly discovered the lights had been left on and the battery was dead.
Grayson went out to the shop and brought back the charger.
Shortly after we were on our way, but the radio wouldn't work without the code
and the code was locked in the glove box.
The girls fell asleep, the boys were reading....
and I found myself surrounded in silence.

Beautiful, peaceful silence
just me pounding along the dirt...
thinking about how blessed we are.

I said I would never live in North Dakota, or way out in the country, or homeschool or cloth diaper...
and look at me now!
God is so awesome and so is his perfect plan for our lives.
I look back at our tough few years
and the words that flow to my lips is...
Thank You God.
I am thankful for the challenges and hurdles He walked us through...
thankful for changing me, working in me and growing in me.

I am so thankful for where we are now
and I can't wait to see Gods plan for our lives unfold
...one day at a time!