A good tree produces good fruit.

We have a 5 year old peach tree that is producing fruit for the first time this year. We're pretty excited about it and so we walk out every morning to see how it's doing, make sure the branches are supported well enough so they don't break, scare away any intruders or thieves looking to steal or destroy. (mainly birds) and give it some water and walk around and smile at it.

Sounds just like kids. You nuture and invest in them, support them when they need help, run off any bad influences and the like, feed and clothe 'em and walk around smiling at them. Hopefully, one day they will bear good fruit as well. Love is the main ingredient.

My own 2 peaches.
Getting watered.

Rich soil is always good too.



What do you get? Sweet, juicy and ripe fruit.

TYBEE ISLAND

School starts this week so we made a run to Tybee Island with my brother in law Paul and his kids. My father in law came down as well. We stayed in a great 3 bedroom condo right on the beach and everyone came home looking like roasted turkeys. I didn't get my camera out as much as I would have liked because with 6 kids, sand tends to get everywhere but I did snap a few pictures here and there.

Samuel and Zoe look for a way to make it to the beach on their own. They look more like brother and sister, not cousins.

Early morning weather forcast.

On Sunday morning I woke up early to walk on the beach. As I began to step over trash that had been left by beach goers I saw a few people with buckets gathering sand dollars (live ones) to take home and bleach for their collection. There were also a few metal detector guys looking for lost treasures while scanning over garbage. I began to think about how easy it is to tune trash out when we don't feel responsible for it. I found myself being "irked" by the multiple displays of selfishness. People just caring about getting what they want, not giving anything in return. Then it hit me that they are just like me. I'm that way too. Selfish and living for myself. It seems to be in our DNA.

Unless we make a concious effort to be grateful, responsible and servants of others, we tend to think of life in terms of "me." So I started to pick up trash. A lot of it. I began to make an effort to thank God for this beautiful place and the wonder of the ocean. I spoke out loud as I walked along and I wondered if people thought I was crazy. I started to feel different about judging others for not caring because I remembered all the times I had gone to the beach in Hawaii and California, looking for what I could get. Not caring about giving backto the planet, not wanting to be accountable for the abuse and waste that I have contributed to the environment. I stopped being irritated at people stepping over the trash and actually felt thankful that I saw the opportunity to pick it up. To be a giver. But I did hope that someone might see me do it and think about picking it up themselves. That they might see the selfishness in their own hearts and feel convicted like I did.

I walked for a long time and saw a small group of people near the dune grass kneeling down, digging and taking pictures. I walked up to see that a sea turtle had came in the night before and laid 100 eggs in a clutch. Her tracks could still be seen coming in and going out and there was a marine biologist there doing research, and moving the eggs to a much safer place. I wish I would have had my camera so I could show you but I left it at the condo. I felt like I was watching National Georgaphic, it was so cool. I stayed for about 15 minutes talking to the lady who was part of the "Dawn Patrol," they looked for turtle nests so they could protect and count the eggs. In 50 -70 days, while under the cover of night, these little turtles will hatch, crawl out of the sand, and make their way to that big blue ocean. They will take their chances with predators, boats, people and garbage, and hopefully one day come back to Tybee to lay their own eggs.

As I walked back, I thanked God for letting me see such a beautiful thing and I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't somehow related to the fact that on that morning, I made an effort to show Him that I cared about His creation.

Hope and Joy

I love being a mom. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do, next to being married. I mean that in a good way. Being married is about what you can give, not what you can get. I admit that I am selfish by nature so that is very, very hard at times. It means dying to myself in order to put someone else first. It requires a major effort on my part because it's so much easier to make myself #1.
Being a mom is huge. I have these 2 little lives that I am responsible for. Not just making sure they are safe and warm and cared for, but I am responsible for shaping their character and that's a big deal. It's done by example more than words. Words are easy to come by but living up to what I say is a lot harder. They watch me all the time, especially the older one. I see her taking mental notes and forming opinions about life and relationships and situations based on what she sees me DO. Essentially, I'm raising up little diciples to do what I do. The goal is to raise them up to be BETTER than me. I want them to achieve more, love more, serve more, be better sister's, daughters, wives, and friends than I ever have been. That would make me feel really good as a mom.
Today I took Madison to the Southeast Homeschooling Expo and began my (our) new adventure in homeschooling. Yes. You heard correct. I'm going to give it a try. 6th grade here we come. I'm ready, I'm excited and I think it is going to strengthen our relationship as mother and daughter....and I'm all for that.

Madison and her cousin Emily made an apple pie yesterday. She loves to bake and she did a fabulous job on this one. That's joy on her face, in case you can't tell. I love you, Madison. You are a star.

Mom's stay

She lives in Utah and I miss her very much so we flew her out for her 60th b-day on July 7, and don't worry, she doesn't mind if you know. We were all singing Happy Birthday to her here and she was singing right along.

We always make frycakes when she's here. They're these wonderful donut things with frosting that came from my great-grandmothers recipe. Zoe got her first taste of homemade maple frosting and decided it was more fun to share with Madison.

She is eating all kinds of different foods now that her adnoids are not blocking the way. She actually sleeps totally silent to which is new to all of us.

Nana taught her all kinds of new things. It was so good to have her here. I miss her not only for myself but for my daughters too. They need to see their Nana more often that 2 or 3 times a year! ( hint hint )

That's my crazy husband doing the cowabunga off the diving board in the back.

It has been raining a lot the past few weeks and we drove to Rex to see an old Mill that Steve remembered from 5 or 6 years ago. The river was bigger than normal and it was super loud.

We miss you Nana!!

Be still my beating heart.

What is it about the ocean that leaves me feeling like I've found my long lost friend? I miss her so when I'm away. The endless tones of green and blue, I'm reminded of just how small I am and just how big He is. She gives endless peace, changes and yet remains the same and touches my heart in such a way....ah. words fail to express

Some photos of me and my girls, and my sweet little sister.

A RANDOM STOP ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA

5 hours in the car with my 2 daughters and my sister. New sites, pouring rain, lots of conversations, tons of snacks and too much candy. We drove through this small little town and stopped to snap a few shots.

She is 11
Full of joy and wonder
I can see the struggle she has at times
trying to make sense of the world...of life.
"Don't be afraid," I whisper.
You are the apple of His eye
and all things are possible
Just believe

Sunflower

So you know those chocolate covered sunflower seeds? (if not, you are SO missing out!) Well, Zoe loves them and her little fingers just can't seem to grab them fast enough so she fixed the problem by going straight to the source, cutting out the middle man.

So then to get a better shot, I moved them onto the glass coffee table where I could put the camera underneath and we all laughed and laughed.