Friday, May 18, 2012

InstaFriday

Happy Friday!
My intention is to post pictures that I've taken on my phone each Friday.
I'd like them to be a peek into our everyday life.
I hardly took any this week, though.
I hope to improve!


1. Aidan spotted a motorcycle like Bop-Bop Chuck's at a garage sale this morning.  I won't post a picture of the pink Barbie guitar he had to have because it's like "Da Da's."   (Not really; Brian's is red.)
2. Aidan and "Mick" (each with their blankies) sit next to one another each night for stories. Aidan loves to have "Mick" by his side each night.
3. Aidan loves his baths!
4. Chasing Mommy and Leo in the yard with his Westminster shirt on.

Aidan is so BIG!

Videos of Aidan!

Brian caught him counting to three and helping me plant the garden.

Visit Brian's blog here to view them.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Movie Makers!

Aidan and I went to our town's little coffee shop today to pick up a latte for a friend and the movie makers were there!   They are also filming out at a nearby farm!  I'm not sure of the movie's name, but I'll keep you posted!


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Pastor's Wife: Conversation Killer


The article above is hilarious.

You will especially love it if you are a pastor's wife.

Enjoy!

P.S. Brian - thank you for never using me as a sermon illustration!  I love you!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Gay Marriage Links

Obama's new official stance on the homosexuality debate is causing quite the buzz here in Iowa!
I heard so many tables of old ladies talking about it at the Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday - so cute!  I love their passion.

Brian and I have been doing some reading on the subject.
Here are some links that we'd recommend - hopefully you find them interesting & helpful as you think about this hot issue.



Both of the above articles are written by Brian's seminary friend, Matt, who is studying for his PhD now in Ethics.  Smart, smart, God-fearing man!

 And the White Horse Inn always has good things to say:

Planting on the Farm

Karla, the sweetest farmer you'll ever meet, invited Aidan out to see the tractors last week!  We had such a blast riding around on the Gator - Aidan got to see lots of his favorite cows and tractors!
17 cows!
Aidan wasn't too sure about being up close by himself...
Miss Karla saved the day so Mommy could take a picture:
 Aidan wore his new John Deer boots that Miss Karla bought him.

Nolan, Myra, and Reed showed Aidan how they jump on the hay bales.
Reed!
 Nolan!
Myra - sweet girlie.

 The huge planter!  Karla's dad, Ed, drives it.
Karla's brother, Kyle, drives the big plow.
Kyle was very kind; he stopped and offered Aidan a ride.  Unfortunately, Aidan was afraid!  We're not sure if it was Kyle's bright neon shirt or the big tractor...  ;)
Maybe this fall during harvest he'll be geared up to ride in the combine.

Thanks, Rauks and Barkemas, for all the farm fun!  It's such a blast at your farm!  And I love seeing all the people out and about in the fields - Iowa comes to life.  So fun.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Garden #2

With the weather so beautiful, I couldn't resist the desire to plant my garden this morning.
Aidan and I lathered up in sunscreen and headed outside.
 
  
The only thing missing was Grandpa Richie - I thought about him a lot this morning as I planted.
Mostly because my dear grandpa is a perfectionist.
And he would've died seeing how imperfect my garden went in this year.
Why is it so imperfect?
Because of this little helper.


He was constantly on the move.


At first he stayed in his own "garden".

 

I could keep an eye on him from my garden.


I also had to keep an eye on Nuisance.
He only appears innocent here - he's playing with this frisbee after getting a spanking for eating my gardening gloves.


[Aidan picked out this pink frisbee for Leo.  He also tried to pick out pink tennis balls.  Brian says he hangs around me too much.  I heart pink!]


 It didn't take long for Aidan to become bored in his "garden".
"Yes, Aidan, you may help Mommy put seeds in the ground."
"I dump."
"Yes, you may dump them..."
(Thinking: "Hmm....not in that spot!")



 "I help."


 I really did enjoy Aidan's help.
It was fun talking to him about the seeds and showing him the pictures of the veggies that they will soon grow into.
After I explained it all, he replied,
"I EAT!"

 

 I'm very glad my mother-in-law gave me another digger for Easter - Aidan didn't want to share.


Soooo helpful!


 When Aidan started asking for "fissssh", I knew it was snacktime.


 Aidan even made sure Leo ate his snack.
 

 Dirty face!
 

 

I adore these chubby legs. 
[He didn't want to wear his new sandals today.]

As I planted, it was fun to reminisce about the past year.  I thought back to how I knew next to nothing about gardening and about all the wonderful church ladies who offered me advice.  I remembered the different things that I wanted to plant and how I was going to reorganize the garden this year.   I kept thinking of Grandpa Richie and how perfect his garden is going to look...unless we head up to Brainerd on planting day and give him some "help"!  I continuously thanked God for my "helper" - he has grown and learned so much in the past year.

I also reflected on how faithful the LORD has been - He has kept us and continued to sanctify us through another year.  He is so good.  And I praised Him for the creation of grocery stores; I can't imagine having to rely on just my garden for food!  Yikes.

And I couldn't help but notice how different planting was this year from last when Aidan just watched from his walker and Leo wasn't born yet.  (Last year's post: Seeds are In!)
Last year, my extra seeds were neatly tucked into a plastic bag:

This year:

 The seed packets I chased down were ripped to shreds.
And they were empty because my helper planted dumped all the seeds.


And my glove lost a finger.

I even think I planted one row twice - with two different vegetables.

But it was fun!  And I'm thankful for my boy and my puppy.
Now I need the LORD to use His rain and sun to bring my crops to fruition!