Family Reunion '08

For the Witts...

You were missed.

Gifts of Goodness

There's something undeniably good about shelling black-eyed peas. You tear off one end of the pod pulling part of the spine with it. Then the pod opens easily to reveal those little, perfect, black-eyed globes of edible goodness. The repetitive, monotonous nature of shelling peas frees your mind and calms your soul. It takes me back to my Grandmother and Grandad's farm and the summers I spent there learning about gardening and goodness.

I learned about gardening from my Grandmother. To a kid, her garden seemed enormous. I'm really not sure how big it was but I know that I shelled two brown grocery bags of peas every evening along with snapping two more of green beans. I didn't really like picking the peas or beans but I loved to shell and snap them. I think I liked opening them. It was as if I was waiting for a surprise. You cracked open that faded and worn exterior and inside were these bright, shiny gems. My brothers and Grandmother were surprised by my tenacity as I always finished my bags. I wanted to see what was inside.

I learned about goodness from my Grandfather. My, he loved the Lord. He also loved to sing. His voice was deep and clear and he always had a hymn on his lips. I would beg to stay near him as he went about the farm just so I could hear him sing. I think that is why I'm always singing around our house and why Miss G can be heard belting out "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof while she plays with her baby dolls.

Grandad constantly talked to me about the ways of the farm and of nature. He talked even more about right and wrong. He talked a lot but the way he walked, his Godly walk, said even more. His skin was worn but worn a rich, tough wrinkly brown. His hair was gray and thin. He wore glasses and had a big nose and ears and I thought he was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. He was my gem and I loved him so.

I hope that I caught some of his goodness to pass along to Miss G. What a joy it will be to walk with him again someday listening to him sing enveloped in his goodness.

Swimming Lessons

My focus/organization has been less than stellar lately. Recent tests have shown my hormones to be less than balanced and I'm blaming all my dysfunction on them. So there.

Because of this lack of focus, I've been trying to be prepared early. As a result of these efforts we were ready for swim lessons 30 minutes early today. Early is normally a good thing unless your child is chomping at the bit to go. I tried to stall as long as possible taking this opportunity for some photos.

As you can see, all I got was cheese in her impatience to GO SWIMMING!





I like to think that this pucker was a kiss of love for me, but alas, it's truly a face of impatience.



And this is what you get when you leave for the pool early and arrive 15 minutes before class begins and your child can't get in the pool.



Ahh....bliss.



She won the backstroke race across the pool.



Victory!

The Garden Update

Despite our complete inexperience at growing fruit and vegetables, our garden is thriving. It just shows you the perfectness of God's design. We planted things at the wrong time and way too close together and they are still growing strong. He knew how wrong we'd get it and designed it to grow anyway. There's a lesson there but I'll let you dig that out.

Speaking of digging...Miss G loves dirt. Do all children love dirt or is it just mine? She rolls, sifts, rakes and wallows in it. She can't get enough.



She doesn't just go out back for a quick swing. She always ends up looking like this.



Thank goodness for the great equalizer...soap & water.

We have a very robust crop of black-eyed peas. For those of you who have never seen a black-eyed pea bloom, here is one. It almost looks like an orchid bloom to me. No detail is too small for God to make it beautiful.



Miss G is very excited because the cantaloupe are about ready too.



Yum!


P.S. The cats were no where to be found this morning. Someone let the cat out of the bag! **Oh...that's funny. I crack myself up!**

The Great Cat Hunt

We have kittens.



They were harmless enough when they were first born...but they've grown. At first, they were extremely shy and would hide at the least sound. Now, they have grown less and less leery of us. It might have something to do with the tuna fish I've fed "Mashed Prunes" (the Momma cat) but all the same we have grown on them. They now feel quite at ease eating my strawberries and playing in all my plants. They poop at the end of the deck steps and I think they have fleas...which Miss G, catching only half of the conversation at a restaurant tonight, announced loudly to the whole room "We have fleas in our house!?!"

Just a little factoid about me...I turn completely bright, beet red when embarrassed. It's Texas. It's 94 degrees and I was wishing for a turtleneck sweater. But enough about me...

Miss G and I would love to adopt those kittens but Mr. Reserved's allergies can't tolerate them. So we have found a home for them but we have to catch them first. The hunt has been set for tomorrow morning.

I've never been cat hunting. Actually, I've never been hunting at all. Mr. Reserved is bringing a cage. I'm bringing my tuna fish. Miss G is bringing her glorious self in all her safari attire.




Wish us luck.

Photo Opportunities

What a great week this has been!

Only one girl will mug for the camera and that's Miss S. The other girls have started ducking out of the pictures. I'll admit it...I like to take pictures and they are such wonderful subjects that I can't resist. I did manage to capture a few of the cousins...

The Blue-eyed Girls

The last three children born into my side of the family have all been girls. All three of these girls were born with amazing blue eyes. I have a particular fondness for brown eyes, but it's hard not to notice and appreciate the clarity and vividness off their eyes. Miss G, the oldest girl, has a deep, rich blue color. Miss N, the next oldest, has a deep aquamarine color and Miss S, the baby, has a liquid blue color with a hint of gray.




Miss G


Miss N


Miss S

God made their eyes as unique as their personalities. They are full of life and love and possibilities.

The baby, Miss S, and I have already settled into a routine. She has me sit on the couch and slowly, very slowly reach to tickle her feet. She says "Ready!" and is in hysterics before I even touch her.

Mr. Reserved had them all lined up after bath time last night brushing their teeth. He told them to make sure they brushed all their teeth even the ones in the back. Miss S smiled and took her toothbrush out of her mouth, reached around behind her and began brushing her back. Everyone fell into giggles and smiles.

I love having them here with me. God has truly blessed us.