The Fourth

Last week was a doozy! Monday I was off work (from keeping Judie). I worked instead finishing cleaning Nana and Papaw's house. Ryan went with me and spent the day with Papaw. We got home around 5:30PM. Needless to say, I was exhausted. The Saturday before, Papaw had given me some green beans. Before I left for Nana's Monday morning, I washed them.

That evening I didn't fix supper. Papaw had gotten Ryan a hamburger, and I picked up a hamburger for Mark. Then I just used the sides I had fixed on Sunday. I only ate sides for supper because I don't eat gluten, and you can't find gluten free burgers without traveling for miles. After supper, I had to rest a bit. I was just beyond exhausted. I dozed off and then I felt better. I decided to get started on the beans.

I washed jars for one run because I only had enough beans for one run. Then Ryan and I broke the beans. I am so thankful he helps me. After we broke the beans, I washed them and packed the jars.

Ryan put on the lids and tightened them before putting them in the pressure canner.

He took care of pressure canning them too. I went to bed after that. I think I got in bed around 12:30AM. The next morning, I checked to see if the jars had sealed.

All of them sealed, but for some reason, I didn't have enough water to cover the beans. I have had that happen before and they were fine. I really hate that tho'.

Tuesday I went to work at Judie's. I felt exhausted that day too. I tell ya, I am getting old. I don't get over a hard day's work like I used to. While Judie was napping, I noticed the living room got very dark.

I went to look out the window, and saw the wind was blowing hard.

Then it started pouring the rain.

I loved it! I love watching the rain. We were really needing it because we have been in a drought. By the time I left to go home, it had stopped, so I didn't melt. Ha!

Nikki sent me the sweetest picture of Andrew and the babies. I only wish she had been in the picture. They went to see Finding Dory.

Ahhhh, I love my family and am so thankful for them.

I am so thankful for:
1. The rain
2. I get to enjoy breaking and canning beans
3. My family. I love Andrew, Nikki, babies, and all my family.
4. Ryan's help!!!!!


Till next time....

Friday

Friday morning Ryan took me to work so he could have the car. His truck needs tags and I didn't want him to get a ticket. We went one day a couple of weeks ago, and the office was closed because they were relocating. We haven't been back. I have been very busy, and Ryan doesn't like to drive it anyway. So, I haven't worried about it.

Ryan went down and mowed Papaw's yard for them. Then he picked me up after work. We went to the bank, and then we went to get an Arby's for my dad. I try to get him one on Friday's when I can. After I took Dad his meal, we went to Aldi's, Walmart, and the Dollar Store. I wanted to go the Ingles, but it started to storm.

We have been getting some really good rain this week. It was lightening across the sky. I don't like to drive when it is like that!

I told Ryan he could either put the groceries away or wash dishes that night. He chose putting away the groceries. He also brought most of the groceries upstairs from the car. He is such a wonderful help. I am so thankful for him!! 

Yesterday at work I saw the coolest thing. There was a big hawk sitting on Judie and Dennis' back fence. 

I wish I could have gotten a close up of it. See how it's head was turned all the way around to the back? So cool!

Nikki sent me picture of their day. They went to the farm they had visited a few weeks ago. The owners had posted on facebook that the rain had make the creek rise and the kids could come play. Oh, it looked so very cool!!

In the next picture, it looks like Haley is telling Mason to get in the boat, but he is scratching his head like....hmmmm I don't know about this. Hahaha

I love that place. They also got to see a cow up close.

Haley says thank you for the milk. :)

I love that pic. It looks like the cow understands her. Ha!

Nikki said they stayed there three or four hours. Later they went to get pizza.

They had a great busy day making wonderful memories!!!

Ok, I am off to bed. It is getting late. Tonight I am thankful that

1. My grands had a wonderful day at the farm

2. Ryan helped me with the groceries

3. Mark and I have jobs to buy the groceries we need.

Till next time....

Bible School

Last week we had vacation bible school at our little church. I was the teacher for the 0-4 years old, and Martha and Ryan were the helpers. I talked Ryan into helping me to complete his community service for college. He did an amazing job helping. He also helped with the props for our room. 

When I found out we had to decorate our rooms, I immediately thought of Mary and her girls. They are so artistic. Jess has even won awards for her artwork. They had great ideas. Our VBS lessons for the week were about Psalms 23. The Lord is my shepherd. Mary gave me a sheep they had used in their Christmas program. I traced it and Ryan cut out several. Jess painted them and she and Liz also made a tree for us. This is the final result.

Our VBS package was Barnyard Roundup. They had some awesome decorations.

We faced a lot of challenges and it was really hard. But, I loved those little ones and hope I taught them a little about Jesus. I will have to update later with pictures of the crafts we did, but I didn't get any pictures of my class. Believe me, I was too busy!! 

I copied a few pics from facebook, but really, there were very few pictures taken.

Even tho' the pictures show a lot of fun, there was a lot of serious lessons too. We had one teenager give her life to the Lord. It was such a blessing! 

Every night before class they had wonderful skits that we all enjoyed. One night the wolf tried to get the sheep.

But Jesus protected them.

 Buddy portrayed Jesus and of course, he had to jokingly show me Jesus is strong! He has a great sense of humor, but he did great in the skits.

Tonight was the commencement and I am so thankful it is over. I learned it is very hard to hold a job in one county and drive 40 min every night to teach bible school at your church. I don't want to be a teacher again, but who knows. They may talk me into it next year.

This morning I did not go to church. It was pastor election, and since I am not a member, and very close to the pastor's family, I didn't go. I actually slept til almost 10AM. After working last week at my job, cleaning at Nana and Papaw's, and teaching the littles at Bible school, I was worn out. I felt so refreshed when I got up.

Last night after 9PM, I learned that I needed to bring a dish for the meal after the commencement. I got up this morning, got ready, and ran to the store to get ingredients to fix two blueberry cheesecake pies. The grocery store was packed. It was awful! I was so happy I only had to get a few things.

When I got home, I fixed the pies. Then I fixed potato salad, slaw, and deviled eggs. I was going to fix a meal for us, but when Martha texted she was taking GF food, I decided to save what I fixed for tomorrow's meal. I also washed and bagged ten 1 cup bags of blueberries.

I tried to rest a bit before I got ready for church tonight. It rained a downpour while I was relaxing. I was so thankful because we need the rain.

It sprinkled the rest of the evening. The skies and mountains were absolutely beautiful on the way home.

We travel a long way to church, but it is a beautiful, scenic view.

And finally, here is a picture Nikki sent me a few days ago. I love, love, love this picture of my gorgeous darlings!!

They melt my heart beyond words!!

I am planning a very busy day tomorrow, Lord willing. I hope I will have time to post. I pray you all have a wonderful, blessed night and day tomorrow. Til next time.

Ryan Graduated From High School

Ryan had a hard week when I was spending a week with the grands. I think he started getting sick Wednesday. Martha took him to the doctor Thursday. He was so sick and feeling so bad. He told me over the phone that he had to go to school Friday because they had an awards ceremony and his carpentry teacher wanted to make sure he would be there. Ryan assured him he would. I tried to talk him into staying home, but he said he had to push himself. I was really worried about him.

He called me Friday after he got home from school, and I am so happy he made it. He ended up getting the Eagle award for the carpentry class. Each department at school gives an award to one student and Ryan got the award for carpentry. He also attended an honors luncheon and received an award for having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. 

This is the honors award and the Eagle trophy. It is so cool.

This is the certificate for the Eagle award.

I am so excited about his awards!!! Every day he went to school I would pray God would give him understanding of his school work and that he would work hard to make good grades. I am so thankful he did so well.

Ryan had a week off before he had to graduate. He spent two nights with Kolby and two nights with Matt. I hardly saw him. Thursday morning Ryan rode with Matt to the arena to practice. Thursday evening Ryan and I went shopping to get his clothes. That was really cutting it close. 

Friday I got off early. Ryan and I got ready and went to Martha and Kevin's. Thank God Kevin drove and we rode with them. I have no clue how to get around in that part of the city. We got there early and had no traffic problems. 

Ryan went downstairs and we found some good seats. It seemed to take forever until it was time for them to line up. One time Ryan sent me a text asking me to pray for a girl in his graduating class because they took out one of her family members on a stretcher. He said she was crying. I thought it was so sweet of him to ask me to pray. 

Kevin took our pics while we were waiting.

Jared photobombed. Hahaha I love it!!! 

My darling Jared. I love him so much!

Finally they lined up and got started. Martha and I just wanted to cry as they walked in. Matt sat near us, but Ryan was across the aisle toward the back. We sat where we could see him walk across the stage. Matt:

The ceremony was good but was veeerrrry looonnng. Finally they started handing out (fake) diplomas. They get the real ones after the ceremony. Matthew was lucky because he has a last name at the first of the alphabet. Poor Ryan had to wait forever, but finally it was his turn. 

In the next picture, Ryan is starting the line of shaking hands. :) You can see he is wearing the dark ribbon signifying that he is graduating with honors.

Shaking more hands.....

When Ryan shook Dr. McIntire's hand, he said, "you are going to do great things." (I pray so)

End of the line...

Finally graduated!!!!

My baby and me! <3

I am so proud of him and so glad it is over. It was so late when we got out (10PM) that we didn't have time to do anything to celebrate. We got home at 11PM and Ryan and I were dog tired (whatever that means).   

We came home and there was Mark in the kitchen getting a snack. He had picked up Nana and Papaw and taken them to the graduation. We never saw them the whole time. Ryan and I got a snack and we all went to bed. So tired!!

Ryan is planning to go to college this fall. God willing. I have asked him to wait before he gets a job until he can help me get some very much needed things done here at the house. He has been working every day digging out the ditch between our house and the neighbors. Well, it used to be a ditch but has filled with dirt and weeds. It is a mess and hard work to clean/dig it out. Today we went to Lowes to get concrete pavers to put in the bottom and sides of the ditch to keep it from overgrowing again. Ryan says his truck is not running well, so we made two trips of packing pavers all in my car.

We got 70 pavers.

As soon as we unloaded the last load, I left and ran to the store to get ground beef to fix grilled burgers. This morning I fixed potato salad so we could have a Memorial Day feast. I got back and immediately started on supper. I shucked and silked corn on the cob and cut up berries for dessert. Then I had Ryan start the grill and I grilled the hamburgers.  Everything was so delicious.

It is hard to tell, but that is a lettuce burger because Ryan and I fix gluten free for Ryan and me. There is nothing more delicious than a lettuce burger with lots of mayo and mustard.

Strawberries and blueberries for dessert.

I added sliced bananas to mine.

And dipped them in melted chocolate.

It was so so yummy!!!!

Ok, I gotta go fix Mark's lunch for tomorrow and iron a shirt for him. Then I am going to bed. I am so thankful for:

1. All the men and women who have served or are serving our country so that we can have the freedom we enjoy.

2. A son that is willing to help me do the hard stuff around here.

3. The health and strength to be able to work hard and have a productive day.

I pray all my friends and family will be safe and blessed. Till next time.