Carter & Ammon ( Being where they are SUPPOSE TO BE) 7-22-11

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Last Thursday afternoon, Carter, Ammon, and I were playing outside. For some
reason, Ammon wanted to play “Catch me” around our fruit trees (a VERY RARE occurrence)that are between our house and our field, and both Ammon and Carter started
running in that direction. I simply said, “Stop where you are! Let me look
around the trees to make sure there are no snakes or ants.” They stopped, and I
quickly ambled through the trees. As I rounded my last tree and looked back to
give the “Coast is clear!” call, Ammon and Carter were running up to the swing
set and the barn where other problems could be lurking.

The Proverb I shared at the beginning came to mind. Like I did for Carter and Ammon, God is constantly directing and clearing the way for us if we will only listen to Him; however, we choose to run off in another direction!
I know I needed to read, meditate on, and make a better application of this
Proverb because I want to go where God has cleared the way and not run my way.
I hope this Proverb helps you out today, and that you have and enjoy a blessed
Monday and week.

Anticipating Santa: December 2010

White Christmas 2010

There was quite a bit of interest in this “Christmas in July” blog this week, so I decided to release it again with a few extra pictures. We hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Does anyone need a break from the heat with its 90 degree temperatures? Gaze at the picture for minute. For you in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, is it all coming back to you? Christmas morning 2010. Our first, truly, White Christmas since 1969! Wasn’t it COOL and refreshing?

Do you ever think about “Christmas in July”? I enjoy picking up Christmas gifts all during the year (it’s okay until it’s gift wrapping time, and I forget where I put them!…LOL). Do you enjoy Christmas shopping in July?  Do you, indeed, think of December weather to help you make it through the balmy summer? Whatever the case, I thought I would share “Christmas in July” with you all as well as a several pictures of that day. Enjoy!

Carter & Sponge Bob 12-25-2010

Ammon and her guitar: 12-25-2010

The Nativity Flag: December 25, 2010

Our Pool (Yes, we finally have the pump fixed!)

Saturday July 23, 2011- Update: Carter and Ammon are refusing their water wings! They jump off the side and swim! Most of the time it’s swimming at least 6 feet in any direction. We are so glad, and we hope and pray it gets better and better. Enjoy your Saturday.

What a difference between now and last April when they began their swimming lessons. They were so timid and whiny in the pool.  We knew that
with children it would take a routine and practice: Ammon and Carter love to
swim.  Now in July from the moment after dinner when we say, “We are going to swim.” , it starts: “We’re going swimming now?” “I need my swim suit.”, “ I need my swim
diaper.” , and we love it.

Ammon: July 17, 2011

Now that the temperature of the pool is always between 88
and 90 (Fahrenheit of course…I do have some Aussie and other European readers….LOL),
Ammon and Carter want to swim every day. We are so glad. There is also a
special time during the last 5-10 minutes of swimming when they are allowed to
take off their water-wings. They both enjoy jumping into the pool, allowing us
to help them float to the top, then swimming to the side of the pool only to do
it all again, and again, and again.

Carter: July 17, 2011

Anticipating Santa: December 2010

White Christmas 2010

Does anyone need a break from the heat with its 90 degree temperatures? Gaze at the picture for minute. For you in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, is it all coming back to you? Christmas morning 2010. Our first, truly, White Christmas since 1969! Wasn’t it COOL and refreshing?

Do you ever think about “Christmas in July”? I enjoy picking up Christmas gifts all during the year (it’s okay until it’s gift wrapping time, and I forget where I put them!…LOL). Do you enjoy Christmas shopping in July?  Do you, indeed, think of December weather to help you make it through the balmy summer? Whatever the case, I thought I would share “Christmas in July” with you all as well as a several pictures of that day. Enjoy!

Carter & Sponge Bob 12-25-2010

Ammon and her guitar: 12-25-2010

The Nativity Flag: December 25, 2010

Ammon & Carter's Cheetos Theater

On Tuesday evening, I got to enjoy my first theatrical
performance by Carter and Ammon. It was basically puppetry with the puppets being none other than Cheetos Crunchy (just plain cheese not spicy)! Yes, you heard correctly. Please allow me to share a few lines of the play with you all.

“Hey, how are you?”, “I’m fine”. “Nice to meet you. Can I
have a kiss?”. “Sure” (the two cheese curls meet across the table and kiss). As I continued eating my salad more dialogue emerged. “Help, I broke my leg!” “Me too! I broke my leg too!” Folks, I was thoroughly entertained, and I’m considering taking this to Broadway.

I am so glad Ammon and Carter have an active imagination,
and as all you parents or parent figures know, children are very fun and entertaining. I am so blessed to have two entertainers like Ammon and Carter.

Before we leave you all on this fine Wednesday, we have to
say, “Happy Birthday” to Carter and Ammon’s cousin, Alusha. He is 12 years old today. We love you, Alusha!

Alusha pushing Ammon, Orrin, & Carter Easter 2011

…my new coffee pot!

Our Kitchen Aid Coffee Pot (AKA...my new friend!)

Our older coffee maker which never quite got the hang of keeping coffee hot was retired the other day. It didn’t stop working, but it was headed in that direction. In 2007, we bought new Kitchen Aid appliances for the kitchen. A few weeks ago, we decided to buy a Kitchen Aid coffee pot. We noticed that the department store Kohl’s had Kitchen Aid coffee makers, and we had received a 30% Off Kohl’s coupon. We bought the pot last Friday evening, and it made its first, HOT, and delicious cup of coffee on Saturday morning! Yeeeee haaaa! So, if you all are in the market for a new, sturdy, and reliable coffee pot, we recommend a Kitchen Aid coffee pot!

Our Pool (Yes, we finally have the pump fixed!)

What a difference between now and last April when they began their swimming lessons. They were so timid and whiny in the pool.  We knew that
with children it would take a routine and practice: Ammon and Carter love to
swim.  Now in July from the moment after dinner when we say, “We are going to swim.” , it starts: “We’re going swimming now?” “I need my swim suit.”, “ I need my swim
diaper.” , and we love it.

Ammon: July 17, 2011

Now that the temperature of the pool is always between 88
and 90 (Fahrenheit of course…I do have some Aussie and other European readers….LOL),
Ammon and Carter want to swim every day. We are so glad. There is also a
special time during the last 5-10 minutes of swimming when they are allowed to
take off their water-wings. They both enjoy jumping into the pool, allowing us
to help them float to the top, then swimming to the side of the pool only to do
it all again, and again, and again.

Carter: July 17, 2011

Grilling time at our house!

At the end of last summer, our Kenmore gas grill shut down.
I was very disappointed because I was grilling at least once a week and
sometimes twice. I really need to practice how to grill chicken (my chicken on
the grill always winds up too dry), but I am pretty good at steaks, hamburgers,
and hot dogs.

After almost a year, we got our grill fixed!
Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiippeeeeeeee! I was so excited. Why is it that everything seems to
taste better from the grill? Has anyone ever seen or read any research? Why is
it that men are more inclined to grill than women? The only reason I can think
of is that it is a constant fixation on a single task: No job to worry about,
no outside chore to do, no inside chore to do, no spouse to think about, no
child to think about, no worries (except getting that food to taste as good as
possible).

Haven's 1st grill of 2011: July 14, 2011

On Thursday, I grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. I really
enjoyed it, and I hope to be grilling quite a bit more before cool weather sets
in this autumn.

Man, I wish I could eat a “good” breakfast like Ammon and
Carter (the bigger “good breakfasts” I eat the bigger my stomach gets)! I knew before they were born that I wanted them to have a
complete, nutritious breakfast at the beginning of the day. I envisioned our
bright and sunny kitchen with a our breakfast table laden with breakfast meats,
whole grain toast, and fruits. You know what? We’re doing it! We even have
yogurt. I had never imagined yogurt.

Sausage links for Carter!

Yogurt and eggs for Ammon!

As we all know, it’s interesting to observe the difference
in the tastes which of course will change with time of Carter and Ammon.
Carter enjoys his breakfast meats (patty sausage, link sausage, and sometimes
bacon).  Carter does not like eggs. However, Ammon asks for scrambled eggs every day, and only eats some breakfast meat every once in a while. They both enjoy their fruits (grapes, strawberries,pineapple, etc,), and they both enjoy their yogurt. For breads, we alternate
toast, biscuits, and pancakes.