Our Friend Henrietta

Matthew 6:26 'See the birds of the sky: they don't sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?'


My husband would like to introduce you to the new additions to our friend Henrietta's family:

Now, we know Henrietta very well - every summer she leaves us an empty nest in a special bush that seems an unlikely place to raise babies.....but this time - she had some chicks!!!

John named Henrietta but he's given me the task of naming the babies so without further ado:

George (otherwise known as Ugly in a Painfully Cute Way #1)

Maria (otherwise known as Ugly in a Painfully Cute Way #2)

George is the more agressive of the two - he often pokes his head up looking for a snack. Usually he's a little startled because whenever I take a peek, Henrietta (or George Sr) flit away to the nearest low hanging branch to yell at me. The quality of my pictures may reflect my trepidation... ahem...

But Oh My Word do you see those gorgeous eyes!? I tell you one thing - it's pretty fortunate we don't have many stray cats around here because you are about to see how easily accessible these babies are...

I don't know how to do arrows, but do you see the thin diagonal lines - that would be the nest...

And zooming out below you see same clump of the bush and what's this??? Brick?

We have our own darn welcoming committee!!!

This last picture of George and Maria is from two days later - look! They have started getting their wing feathers!!! (I know it's hard to see, but it's the darkness that you can imagine is their wings - you can see the texture up close, but remember...Henrietta and George Sr. are very intimidating...)

Tomorrow we head to one of John's college friend's Dairy farm for some fun, fellowship, and HOMEMADE ICE CREAM with fresh milk! Yummmmmm

Many Blessings!

"The Best Laid Plans....

....of mice and men, often go awry..."

Isn't it just so?

The day was meant for playing. We planned, we waited...we anticipated and then: It just didn't work. I looked around my clean house today a little deflated but very happy that I had accomplished so much. I swept the basement! (unfinished basement that is)

Seems like that happens in life. We plan, we execute, we wait and wonder yet the result is completely out of our hands. God knows our dreams and hears our desires and while we use a lot of energy relying on our own strength He is holding in His hands the best outcome.

Speaking of plans...I have more plans....Plans to homeschool...(But By The Grace Of God)

(that sound you just heard was me - gnashing my teeth in fear and uncertainty)

Not really - I refuse to operate from a spirit of fear or uncertainty. That is just where my enemy wants me and I will not give him the foothold. Without further ado, the start of my plans:

Today was #1's last day of second grade! We've moved ahead with the science portion of our Sonlight Core 3 curriculum: Introduction to Biology. We're kind of starting at week 4 because it just so happens we put in a garden and started some radishes! Radishes are yummy with a little salt by the way. But really, I knew that we needed to plant radishes because I had planned ahead!

Here are the beginnings of radishes:

Would you like to see the rest of said garden? Of course you would!

We have in the two corners roma tomatoes and pink brandywine heirloom tomatoes. Between the two is a marigold plant. Not my favorite, but they are said to discourage tomato eating bugs...

The next row from left to right, from lower to upper is a singular marigold, followed by the next row being 3 marigolds! (Isn't this exciting!?) The next row is cherry tomato, marigold and cilantro; final row: chives, basil, chives. The radishes were planted from seed in the other half of the box garden. There is a row of radishes, a row of green onions, a row of bush-snap green beans and along the edges are flat leaf parsley and curly parsley. Whew! I'm exhausted! (not really - it's a very small garden)

By the way, here is #1:

She is wonderful...

Diversion/Conversion

So it's been a while for all you (1 person) people that read this blog. Hellooooo Illinois!

Recently I've had a chance to revisit my Taco Bell Stalking (read down into the entry and you'll find it) because of this. Some of you may know that shortly after my 2nd daughter was born she was diagnosed with a heart condition. A form of SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) called Persistent Juctional Reciprocating Tachycardia. Anyway I could go on but the cool thing is this:

I didn't ever think I would be any help for MckMama because upon his birth everything was revealed to be healed and resolved. Through God's sovereignty Stellan converted into SVT and I was pushed or driven to reconnect with Stellan's mama. I did and we shared some time and it was wonderful that something good came from a very scary time in my life.

This seems so cryptic, but I don't want to try to elaborate further while I'm still so jumbled about it. I can say this: when the Holy Spirit wants you to do something, He doesn't let up till it's done. (Even if it's out of your comfort zone)

So please pray for Stellan's little heart - that it would convert to a normal, steady rhythm. I know has little to do with Homeschooling, but it has much to do with me and my relationship with The Lord...