Sometimes...

you have to get it out so it stops cluttering up your brain.

My heart is so happy the last few days! The only way to explain it is: "Filled with joy" truly, truly happy for my friend and her new little Caleb.  What a blessing to have a brand new baby.  I'm jealous.  I've been praying for her (my friend), asking God to comfort her, and give her peace. Now, I'm also thanking him.  What an amazing gift.  Every time I think about their family, I think about the Matt Redman song I posted.  He gives and takes away, and still I will choose to say: "Blessed be Your name".  And the line: "pain in the offering"? makes me cry.  Every single time.

We had a great visit Sunday with my in-laws and Ryan's Grandmother.  My Mother-in-law went shopping at her farmer's market Saturday before they came and brought me a bushel of green beans and two bushels of golden delicious apples.  Not only did they do the shopping and deliver them to my door, they also helped snip, snap and can the beans!  I now have 21 quarts to put on the shelf.  They look beautiful.  I am excited about the apples too.  It's been awhile since I made applesauce.  The kids love it, and I need to do a better job at offering fruit at every meal.

The final touches on the Ball & Auction are coming together.  After a few very stressful weeks, it's looking pretty good! So many business and individuals have donated items for the auction, (and cash too) I am amazed at their generosity! I cannot wait to hang with our friends, and shopping Sunday afternoon... and new shoes.  REALLY looking forward to that!!  I will post pictures of the event after... and that reminds me... my friend Beth needs a new camera too.  She volunteered to do the research for us... wonder how that's coming along?

William is having a stellar week with his homework!  Last week I told him if he did not bring home any "unfinished" work this week, he could have a friend over Saturday.  He has stayed in for some of his recess (his choice) this week to get his things done, and when I checked with his teacher this morning, she said that he had been doing a fantastic job getting his things done.  His friend Caleb is coming after soccer tomorrow and we are going to go in town for the fall festival.

I love the fall festival.  I used to really enjoy fall.  I'm not really this year.  Fall means that winter is just around the corner... In any case, I'm going to enjoy myself tomorrow.  Grilled pork tenderloins and apple dumplings.  Walk around downtown, visiting the shops.  Want to come?  I would love company!  We also decorated the front porch with corn stalks, straw bales, pumpkins and mums.  I love my front porch.  I'd show you some pictures, but Elizabeth took her camera to school... hmm.  Wonder how Beth is doing on that research...  Ryan's dad is planning on coming back later in the month to help pour our front sidewalk.  Pretty excited about that.  Hopefully, by next summer we'll have real plants in the beds.

I can see the pigs out my window.  They are sleeping in the sun.  In a pile.  We have a pig pile.

I woke up a 3 am today.  Couldn't go back to sleep.  Pretty sure I'll be crashing in the next hour or two.

I should be getting some work done while Jackson is sleeping.  He got up early too. He has officially entered the "terrible two's"  two months early.  Not only is he lightning fast, he's smart.  Remembers where we keep the things he's not supposed to have, and can figure out how to get to them.  Not only has he crossed the road enough times to give us all heart-attacks, he's climbed up the bunker and looked over the edge,  (a 20' foot drop to concrete) he checks on the kittens, climbs in with the pigs, loves to find un-finished drinks and pour them from cup to cup, he climbs on everything.  He poured coffee in my keyboard. Poured half a box of fruit loops into his 1/2 cup bowl.  Permanent maker on my desk.  And that was just yesterday...not really, but he's busy. And fast.  Did I say that before?  And talks.  Like nobody's business.  You would think he's a girl.  But he's not.  Makes to many tractor noises for that.

I changed purses this morning.  I was really over the Vera.  She's all yours Whit!  I only had two to choose from? what's with that?

I'm in the mood for the movies.  I want to see the new Katherine Heigl flick.

If you've made it to the end of this post, thanks for reading!  I feel better having all of that out of my head.