Majestic

The fun of living in the "country" is that we never know what kind of animal we may see wandering loose around the neighborhood.  These three were interesting enough to cause us to stop what we were doing and watch them as they checked out ours and our neighbor's yard.

This is looking out our back door.  What you don't see and I wish I would have taken a picture of.... is the three children hiding behind objects to the right of this ram.  I debated if they should be that close or not but figured this isn't a wild creature per say but someone's pet that was clever enough to get out of its enclosure.

Isn't it majestic!!!  Those horns!! 

  Praise Him with a blast of the ram's horn; praise Him with the lyre and harp! 

 [Psa 150:3]

I love being a grandma!!!!

God's Canvas

The sky is God's canvas.  He is an amazing artist.

His creations are unique, beautiful, majestic and amazing!!

I never grow tired gazing upon His handiwork.

And while I enjoy trying to capture His art through photography....it just isn't the same as seeing it in person.

Sweet Sixteen and Never Shot a Gun.....till now!!!!

Our youngest daughter turned 16 last month.  She is the fourth of our six children to reach this milestone.  It use to be that we would have big birthday parties for all the birthdays but as the children multiplied we realized we'd have to pick which birthdays get a big celebration.  The 16th birthday happens to be one.

Along with having a cookout in our backyard, Hannah wanted to shoot a real gun.  I get a chuckle over this because shooting a gun was not even on my birthday radar of things to do, yet it is so Hannah.

Actually I am surprised we haven't gone to shoot guns sooner since my hubby has two shotguns, empty that is, is our closet.  They have been there almost our whole married life and yet we've never gone out to shoot....even with three of our children being boys.

Getting a few pointers from Dad

Ready.....Aim.....

So this birthday wish turned into a fun morning for the whole family.  The hubby drove with the birthday girl down onto the lake....well the dried up part anyways.  I took the rest of the kids in the van and met them at the closed boat dock.  We piled in the back of the truck and drove about 5 minutes further until we found a safe spot for target practice.  And for anyone who is considering doing this....be careful driving....there are lots of little tree stumps hiding in the grass that will wreck havoc on your tires

Nicholas made sure we left no trash behind

Checking on the target

She shoots like a girl!!

The kick back is a bit strong

Andrew nailed his target full of water

He needs a bigger gun!!

Of course mom had to try it out!

Once a Marine.....

Shoot'n with style

Ever Heard of Umcka?

There is a product I use now that is my "go to" when I start feeling a cold coming on.  It is a natural remedy and has a very strange name.  It's name is so strange that I get a little embarrassed when I have to ask someone at the store if they carry it.  It's called Umcka and it's my wonder cure.

Ever since I started using it almost a year ago I have been thrilled with the results.  This past spring we went camping and I ended up with a horrible upper respiratory illness.  We were not around any big cities and I was desperate for some Umcka....so desperate that I took one of my daughters on a drive to find some.  We drove to every store we could find in this small town with no success.  I loaded up on some other over the counter products to help alleviate the symptoms but it was a waste of money as they didn't help.

The other day I woke up with the feelings of a cold coming on.....stuffy nose.....drainage.....sneezing.....and just an overall feeling of blah.  I immediately went and took some Umcka.  This is the first time I've taken it at the onset of the symptoms and I'm impressed with how well it works for me.  It is suppose to lesson the severity and duration of the illness and I find that it's claims are true.

However, I have spoken to an acquaintance who said it did nothing for her.  That has not been my experience or that of other friends who use it..... and I highly recommend this product to anyone suffering with the cold or flu.   It is recommend to start taking it as soon as you notice any symptoms.  I'm doing it that way right now but have also taken it after I'm in the midst of the illness....and it's worked both ways.

Here is a brief description and you can read more about it here

"Umcka, also known as Umckaloabo is an herbal extract that has been shown to work against colds, flu, sinusitis, tonsillitis and antibiotic-resistant ear infections. It has shown both antiviral and antibiotic properties in killing both viruses and bacterial infections."

A Time of Healing

I almost feel like I should start all over again.....blogging that is.....but I am partial to this blog although I have been negligent of posting any entries in the last year.  I've been thinking about posting and that's all it's been....a fleeting thought....until now.

I like blogging!! Blogging is not only an outlet to express through writing....I have found it has also been a great diary, one which  I can go back and read what I've written and be transported to that very day.
 
God has taken me through a much needed time of healing.  Let's just say that one way people get fixed is they die.  Not just physically but spiritually and for me the last year has been about death.

My mother passed away unexpectedly in February and my children's "Pe-Paw" passed away in June.  A dear friend passed away in March.  A close acquaintance passed away in July. And those are just a few of the funerals I've attended these last eight months. In another kind of death the church we had been attending "died" or as we said...it dissolved which I've written about but didn't realize how like a death it had been.

All I know is that we go through different seasons and sometimes those seasons are hard and painful and take a while to get through. I know I don't want to go through this season again but I'm also thankful for this season as it brought me more dependent on my Rock.....my Lord.....my Healer.....my Saviour.....my All in All.

My Lord has healed me....emotionally, spiritually and physically and I now look forward to expressing my "healthy" thoughts for any to read.  And boy do I have some thoughts to express.  :)

I Want to "Fix" Things

Bad news is bad anytime you receive it....but since I haven't been feeling good it just seems overwhelming.  Especially since I am a fixer.  I want to "help" or "fix" the problem.

But how do you "fix" someones marriage?  How do you "fix" someones body when they are in stage 4 cancer?  How do you "fix" your child who just days ago was excitedly telling us about her pregnancy and now thinks she is miscarrying?  How do you "fix" a loved one who is losing the use of their legs?  How do you "fix" a friend who is carrying a huge weight of grief for her son and sick daughter-in-law?

I feel very overwhelmed right now with all the "fixing" that needs to be done.  I know it's not my job to "fix" the problems and I understand that but it doesn't make it any easier.  All I want to do is cry for them all.  Because I don't feel good these feelings weigh heavier on my heart.  I know the Lord says to lay our burdens at His feet...but how do you do that when they aren't your burdens.  I'm not carrying these burdens...my friends are...

Yes, I offer a listening ear.  Yes, I pray.  But right now I wish I could do more....I wish I could "fix" their hurts and pain and sadness.  I wish I could wave a big magic wand and make all the bad disappear.