The Finish Line

Ah, Monday. Yes, it was a normal Monday, not too crazy though. I'm sure as the week goes on it will be. I left school today with a very bad headache, almost to the point of I thought I was giong to be sick it was so bad. Came home took some medicine, Abby and I layed down and woke up 2 hours later. I guess I needed that nap. I was surprised that I slept that long; I had intended to just sleep long enough for the headache to subside. However, the finish line is in sight...each day it gets closer and closer. This is my last full week of school. We are off Monday for Memorial day, then Tuesday and Wednesday are half days with the kids. Which means I'll have kids from 7:30-11:30. Then, we still have to stay until our regular time of 3:15. We have teacher work days next week on Thursday and Friday, but I don't count those because there won't be any kids. Then the following week, June 7th I believe, I will be at school everyday working regular school hours (7:30-3:15). Our grade level is going to work with the instructional coach to update and upload information onto our website of power points, smart lessons, journals, etc. anything we have created this year to the school website. They said they would pay us extra if we were willing to give up a week during the summer. We all said yes and decided that it would work best for us all to come the first week out of school. That was the best week that didn't bother anyone's vacation time, and that way we could get it done and over with and enjoy the rest of our summer and our extra bonus. So, this Friday, at 2:45; you will hear me shouting because I will be kid free and just have 2 half days left! Yea!

10 Year Reunion

This evening I was checking my email and I got an email from a find of mine from high school telling me about our 10 year high school reunion. I knew that it was coming up on 10 years this June, but at the same time I don't feel that I have been out of high school for 10 years! Crazy! She said that it was going to be sometime in November and told me who was getting everyone's info about the reunion. It still was a surprise to me when I saw that. I don't feel that old. But then again, this July I will be 29 years old. That's 1 year away from 30! How did I get that old? I still feel like I'm in my early 20's. I guess that's a good thing.

Veggies are Here!

This evening, Abby and I took a walk down to the garden. Sunday, I took pictures and noticed that the squash would soon be ready. I found 4 squash and 1 zucchini. 3 of the squash are smooth and they were all on the same row. But the few squash plants that are on the same row as the zucchini are bumpy. Hummm....You can tell from the picture the difference.I play to cook these for dinner tonight with some other yummy things. I am so excited! It's so much fun to walk in your backyard and have a vegetable stand growing there. Everything is also organic so you really feel like you are doing something "extra" good for your body.

Mandisa - He Is With You (Slideshow With Lyrics)

Our Flowers

Here are some pictures of the flowers around our house. A few weeks ago, we had some kind of little critter, that was eating the roots off of everything new we had planted. That made us both very mad. Kevin put out some poison for it, and so far nothing else, new or old has been eaten. Hopefully we got it. Flowers are not cheap and when you spend money on them and they get eaten the very next day, it's very upsetting.

As you can see we have some pine needles to put out.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Our garden grows very well with Humble Acres' Bloomin' EZ Organic Compost. We still have strawberries, but I know our time with them are coming to an end. Kevin and I put up a gallon to freeze today and plan to get at least another gallon or so before they get gone. Kevin has planted a garden to sell the produce at the produce stand, once it comes in. We took a walk down there this evening, and I was surprised by how much it has grown.

Back row is corn, then squash, then tomatoes, you can see how tall the corn and squash is.



Sweet Corn-it's up to my waist.

Squash Plants-they are also just about up to my waist. They will be ready soon.

Okra-it's more a middle of the summer crop. It likes very hot weather.

Cucumbers-they were planted 2 weeks after the squash, no little cucumbers yet.

Secret Hidding Place

Last week, I was sitting in the den and I was looking out my front window and I noticed a Carolina Wren sitting on the porch rail. Then it flew into a plant that I have hanging. And here's what I found out when I went to investigate.

Here's the flower, but let's take a closer look....

A little bit closer....

Still, just a little bit closer....

Now, 4 precious little speckled eggs. Can't wait til they hatch.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there and to the women that have been such an influence in our lives that at one time or another have played the role of "mom". I am so blessed with a wonderful mom. I am thankful my parents were able to come down and visit this weekend. We went out to eat last night at this charming little place in Aiken, called the Bowery. It was delicious! Then today after church, we had lunch at Kevin's grandmother's house, Mrs. Kitty. We had about 30 people there to each lunch. It was a nice time. I hope all of you moms were able to enjoy the day with your children and know that you are so greatly appreciated for all that you do. You don't have an easy job, but you do it with love.

Produce Stand has arrived!

Finally, our produce stand has arrived and was open for business Saturday for the first time!

The stand came Tuesday and by Thursday was put together. There is a program that the state prison does and the stand was put together by inmates. Mrs. Katie was able to talk with them and befriend them and was able to witness to them. She brought them lunch from McDonald's', which was a very special treat for them. She asked them if they knew who Jesus was, and they all said yes. She also asked if they had a Bible and they all said yes. One told her that he didn't read it like he should. She also was able to share about Christ and how he was crucified between two thieves. This really got the attention of one of the men. He was very curious as to who that thief was that Jesus said "today you will be with me in paradise". But the Bible never states their names. Two of the men were charged with they had beaten someone up with the intent to kill, another was a drug dealer. He told Mrs. Katie that he never has done drugs, but he made a good living at being a dealer. On Wednesday, it rained and Mrs. Katie said that two of the men were dancing around in the rain and seemed so happy that it was raining. One of the men, told her that he hadn't felt rain on his face in over a year. Mrs. Katie really made an impact on these men and earned their respect. One man told her, that most people wouldn't even look at them, must less talk to them, because most people looked down upon them. Mrs. Katie told them that everyone makes mistakes and that you can make a good mistake. One asked her what did she mean by that, and she said that if you learn from the mistake, it was a good mistake. One of the men had served 7 years and had another 11 years to go. He hadn't seen anyone from his family in 7 years. Mrs. Katie got their information and addresses and was going to write to them.

They did a good job on our produce stand. It looks like a cute little country store. We hope this will bring in more business and be inviting for people to come.

Before it was fixed all cute...

After....