No, Just Camping

We bought the Vintage Camper and STILL we move out to go camping. Really??

Really?

My man is an avid cyclist. Road and Mountain. He rides whenever he can and wherever he can. For him it's the best stress reliever and cholesterol controller out there. I can't tell you how many times he's been God protected from weird crazy accidents. Now, don't get me wrong, he's had his fair share of tumbles and falls but always, always, he's been protected. Today was no different. Before he leaves I ask the same question each and every time,"Where are you going?" Riding alone increases risk and one that makes me more anxious with each candle added to his birthday cake. I swore today I was buying him a tracking device for Father's Day. Today he was heading down a BIG hill at the end of his 19 mile ride. Now if I could show you a picture of the hill you'd get the full picture but for now try and see this... two lanes, bushes, trees, fast cars, steep hill, 4o miles per hour on HIS BIKE, and head phones in his ears. He told me that each time he descends this hill he envisions what would happen if the tire went flat. That's a nice picture isn't it? Maybe Aflac accident insurance is another present for him this year. Sooooooo.... he makes it down this hill, gets back to his truck in one piece, rushes home for another infamous work meeting, and as he is putting his bike away, away mind you, he realizes his tire is going flat. No sooner, no later, right then and there. God Moment again! T says over and over again how God protects him and sure enough He does.

I'm still buying a tracking device.... just sayin'.

Rising Hope

This tulip found its way through the wood and reached high to show its beauty. Isn't this just what we do through Christ? In the toughest of times and the roughest situations, He is our hope. We rise up, reach far above our surroundings and when we can't see any hope, just then, just then we rise above to see all around and find we made it. You can do all things in Christ who strengthens you. You can. Do you believe it?

27 Things About Me...updated version :)

25 Things About Me

1. I don't like mornings very much. I'd rather sleep-in then get out of bed.

2. Coffee, Coke and distilled water are my 3 favorite drinks. Please don't offer me Pepsi.

3. I was born in Kentucky, lived in Arizona, married in California, reside in Colorado.

4. I love to travel. Wish I could go somewhere more often and take my kids with me.

5. I have a dream of being an actress on a sit-com.

6. I've lost some of my hearing.. sure hope I don't lose more.

7. I hate the dark, especially by myself.

8. I have no sense of direction. Isn't everything North?

9. I have a chocolate addiction. Way addicted.

10. I am unorganized but most people think I am organized. I think it's a learned skill. Maybe I can use that on my resume. Hmm.

11. I lived in an apartment my senior year of high school with my sister Reginia.

12. I have 4 kiddos.. wanted 7.

12a. My children are amazing and nothing pleases me more than being their mom.

12b. I've decided my only true talent in life is being a momma.

13. I love red wine and dark chocolate Harry and David truffles together.

14. I've been married 20 years to the same amazing man. We are nothing alike but work well together.

15. I take a bubble bath everynight, except for the summer.

16. I don't like exercise but love hikes and walking. I don't like obesity even more.

17. I've gone to 4 colleges and now I'm finishing my education with Regis University this December. Some things do get easier with age.

18. My dream car was a Red 2 Door Jeep. Promised myself one as a gift for raising 4 kids.
Now I'm not so sure what I want to drive when the nest is empty.

19. I love to dance.

20. I'm getting a tatoo this year in honor of my husband and our 20 years together much to my daughter's dismay. Still working on a design.

21. I don't like shopping. It's no fun if you're on a budget. I'd rather not be sad when I come home.

22. I love learning and wish everyone else did too.

23. I cry over anything and it's never pretty like you see on Hollywood.

24. I want to be a national Christian women's speaker. Encouraging women to love the Lord and honor their husband. I think 23 might get in the way.

24. I love to pray.

25. I love Jesus. There is no other name under heaven I'd serve.

26. My new revalaltion in life is this: God doesn't care where you live, He cares how you live.

27. I really despise being cold more than being hot.

Ok.. your turn. iI you are reading this, you're it!

Oh How Will My Tomatoes Grow?

In the rich soil and horse manure ground??

In the pot that doesn't roll so well?

Or in the pot that is easy to roll?

All three techniques will work, question is which one is best? The two pots will come in at night and out every day. I can chase the sun with the rolling pots too. The blue pot is my favorite so far. I got it at Wal-mart for 5 bucks, it rolls fabulously, and I punched drainage holes in it. Time will tell but one thing I do know... I'm trying hard to have me some Dave Teter tomatoes!

What to Do? What to Do?

Windy Colorado Saturday. It was really warm! So warm in fact that I got me some sun today with out tryin'! The day was supposed to be a planting on the garden, getting ready for camping, enjoying the warm weather kind of day. Instead, it started off with a trip to urgent care for Lina. (no strep, thank goodness) After that we came home and tried to start our planting. We got three flowers in pots with dirt flying in our face and stopped. The girls worked very hard on getting the camper ready for the season and in between working they schemed a plan for getting Gabriel T. wet with squirt gun. It's amazing how fast it went from cold to hot, from no sprinklers to hurry and turn them on the grass is burning, from being stuck inside to staying out all day and not caring the house is messy. Colorado..... summer really is the best time of the year. Minus the wind, of course.

Finally

Let the Planting Begin!

This is my garden space. We mulched for months and added horse poop as well. The soil is full of nutrients and ready for veggies!

These are our potatoes. They are sprouting nicely already. oh yeah! These things are so easy to grow.

This is a rose my Aunt Pat got me. I love LOVE roses! I can't wait to see it get HUGE!

It's FINALLY time to get my garden in the ground. Most people say wait til Memorial Day but I don't want to! This weekend we are gonna be in the 80's so I'm taking advantage of the weather to get those veggies established. I do have to find a way to protect them though from critters and hail. Both will destroy any plants lickity split. Can't wait for sweet tomatoes and squash.

Letting Down

May is a little more than half over but for me, it's over. Why? Well let me tell you....

We graduated our daughter on May 15th.
I hosted family for a few days.
I cleaned and re cleaned.
I shopped and re shopped for party supplies, memory book supplies, food, household needs, and then some.
2009-2010 school year is complete, finished, done for my other three kids
Civil War Days is done
CBU college application and discussions for child number 1, done
Mother's Day celebration
My responsibilities with Awana, done
Girls Base Camp every week, done... sorta. We still want to get togehter every so often.
Bi-annual eye appointments for each member of my family, done
Dental appointments for each member of my family, almost done. One child left.
School registration for 2010-2011, done
Filing that was sitting way to long, done

LOTS done! May has been a very busy month! I am feeling myself let down and I keep thinking about the sun and a pool and reading a book. My kids asked about my ideal vacation recently. I told them this: I want to go to a place where I know no one, sit by a pool, listen to kids splash around, drink a Mai Tai, read a book and start all over again the next day. That's where I'm at today.

Back to reality.... I have 3 more weeks of school for myself. The class I am taking is awesome taught by a Rabbi even. How cool is that. I have a garden I hope to plant in soon and a rose my sweet aunt gave me that needs some proper care and a pot to call home. I have a messy house that is calling my name and a gym calling my body.

The letting down part might have to wait.

Civil War Days

Lina's school has History theme days according to what grade your in. This year her class participated in Civil War Day. There were cool costumes, history on the weapons used, a battle in the field and a traditional meal served off of metal pie pans. They did the Virginia Reel and practiced walking on stilts. It was a very exciting day and tons of fun for the kids. So the funniest part... They announced the battle in the field. Confederates one side, Union the other side. My baby was on the Confederate side for the war. We said "Hey! Wrong side!" She said her dear friend chose that side so of she wanted to play with her she had to choose it too. So much for understanding her history! :)

Becca's Graduation 2010

Aunt Pat and Uncle Walt

The Father-Son pool match. Who Won???

Sweet Kadence and her wonderful mommy

The presenting of the Memories book.

Yummy dinner!

Thruston grandparents and the Kurtz grandparents

Rocky Mountain Christian Academy graduate of 1

Yes! We did it!

Terrell and his baby girl Sweet Pea

The Proud and oh so blessed Momma!

Rebecca Joy.. 2010 Graduate

Well... it's official. Becca is done with high school and ready for college. We celebrated her big day with family and friends. Grandparents, aunties and uncles, friends, neighbors; she was blessed by so many around her on her special day. When you're home-schooled you have the pleasure of doing it your way. Becca loves purple, so purple and black are her school colors. She loves small gatherings as well, so the time of presenting her diploma and the blessing over her was intimate. We took the family out for dinner at a great little Italian place afterwards and gave her a gift I have been working on for over a month. I created a memory book for her full of pictures and letters of encouragement from friends and family all over the place. She got letters from California to Colorado. We finished off the day with more family time at home playing pool and eating more cake. I am so proud of my baby girl and know God has BIG plans for her. Next Step...college!

SHOCK!!!!

My dad taught me how to play Cribbage and so Uncle and I got our game on.. I won!

Me and My Momma :)

Mom, Dad, Uncle Walty and Aunt Pat

SURPRISE!!!

Brother-Sister Hug!

Thursday was cleaning, cleaning, removing beds from their original position, thinking, organizing, did I say cleaning??? Gabe left for work after his chores and the girls left at noon for a hair appointment. I was doing last minute wash when I heard the door bell. I was not expecting Mom and Dad for another hour. I opened the door and COULD NOT believe who was standing there! My aunt and uncle from Kentucky! I cried, hugged and was in total shock they drove this far for the weekend and my Becca's Graduation! You have to understand this is the auntie and uncle that I grew up with.. farm, cows, weekend visits, cousin time.. GREAT memories. A few years back he had a stroke and we were really scared. Here he is doing amazing!! I love having them here! Family and more family. Oh yeah!!!!

From Chaos to Order

A long time ago I went from saver-pack rat-messy-crazy woman to give me order and less stuff. Not that we still don't have more than any one family needs but order is better. Now to get my girls to that point.. freedom ensues. This is step one! They got rid of so much junk today! of course, Lina doesn't quite know she got rid of junk today. :) Proud momma on board!

PS. The bunks aren't normally down... we have the grandparents visiting for Becca's graduation and climbing a ladder, not such a good idea!