Plots, plots everywhere but nothing finished yet!

Here is our small plot in the front yard.  It is now home to several kinds of squash, a Pueblo Indian popcorn that my Papa gave me, some melons and 2 different kinds of okra.

Taters!  2 different kinds of taters.  These have a cozy home in our alley.

This?  This is my Everest.  It is a huge plot in our backyard.  It is covered in Bermuda grass.  We are slowly digging it out but it is growing back.  I think it's angry.  This will be the home of my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, lettuce and carrots.  We must conquer!

I just love my chicken house.  I had to share pictures of the finished product.  Thank you to my sweet and talented husband!

They must be happy with life.  They lay 4 delicious eggs a day!

This little chubby hand loves to help put the eggs in the carton.  Sometimes, eggs end up thrown to the dog.  I try to be stern but it's pretty funny.

My Linus.  We have to wash the well-loved blanket several times a week.  Have blankie, will travel.

"Could my brother BE any funnier?"
(Chandler Bing style)

"Yep, he can!"

Tis the season!

Passover season that is.  We are in the midst of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. (Click for a great website with info on both.  Thanks Michelle!)  I love this season.  It is sweet to be able to celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) with God's Feasts.  No, we are not Jewish. (But we do cherish the Jewish people and have looked to their example of how to honor the Feasts.  They've been doing it a LONG time!)  No, we aren't members of a weird underground church. (Although we are a bit weird.)  And no, we do not honor these Feasts because we think it will gain us salvation.  These are all things we have been asked so I wanted to preempt any questions.

We have simply taken God at His word.  Genesis through Revelation.  Old and New.  There are the times He has set apart for us to honor Him and His plan.  We are blessed to be a part of The Vine, though we be wild!

“But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry… But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.”



– Romans 11:13, 17, 18, NASB

So, I wanted to share some of our pictures from this year's Pesach Seder or Passover Service.  I welcome any questions.  I know this is a different way for a Christan to celebrate the Resurrection season or Easter.  But we prefer glorifying Jesus through Feasts to the tradition of  bunnies and eggs!  I know, I know.  Bunnies and eggs are fun.  I'm not saying everyone has to follow our lead.  For us, letting go of old traditions to embrace God's traditions, has been a blessing. 

 I do struggle with one thing though.  Easter candy.  I am not really even a candy person.  But give me a Reese's Egg or a box of Peeps and I'm a happy girl.  What is it with Peeps?  They have some strange hold on me.  I don't even really like the way they taste but I will eat the whole box.  Don't even get me started on Cadbury Caramel Eggs.  YUM!

Anyway, however you are celebrating this year, I pray that the sacrifice that was made on the cross would become very real to you.  I pray that you would remember that gift and accept that He loved you enough to suffer the Cross.  I pray that we all take time to examine ourselves and how we respond to His gift, that we would show that sacrificial love to everyone we come in contact with.  I pray that we all give Yeshua Jesus glory and honor and praise, not just in this season but everyday.

We were so thankful to Ann Kitten and Casey Kelley for taking on the enormous task of putting together a Passover Seder for 100 people .  They made it so beautiful and special and they worked their tails off!

Our fearless leader Roman!  He really made the evening a special time to worship our Savior.

The Passover table.

Prophet Elijah's seat.

Did I mention that about 30 people from our group provided more food than 100 people could eat?  It was amazing and delicious!

Roman being a servant in the example of Yeshua Jesus.  The washing of the feet is always a very sweet time.

Asher eating the maror or horseradish. 

We were able to have worship woven into our Seder this year.  It really added to the spirit of the evening.

Jolie was able to keep up with the service this year.  She really understood what was going on.

Zaddok and Judah got to check the door to see if the prophet Elijah was joining us this year.  They came back to report that he, in fact, was not there.  Maybe next year.  Or, next year in Jerusalem! 

SPRING!!!!

My seedlings are struggling this year.  Not sure why but it is depressing.  I am trying everything I know to revive them.  If I have to end up buying plants, I will be sad.  God's will be done.  It's just hard to find the good heirloom plants here locally.

I was finally able to plant tulips this year!  They are my favorite.  I would like to have them all over the yard.

This is our smoke tree.  I will post a pic here in a month or so and you will see why it's called a smoke tree.  It's very unusual.

Asher is in coach-pitch baseball and Zaddok is playing T-ball.  They both ended up on the Astros.  It's confusing.

But they are stinkin cute. 

This has nothing to do with Spring but EVERYTHING to do with Nutella.

Our love for Nutella is a sickness that Matt and I have passed on to our children.  Levi seems to be okay with it.

Updates...

I wanted to update you all on how much we are loving our homemade laundry soap and deodorant.  I was not sure what to expect.  I thought that maybe the laundry soap would stay with us but I was pretty sure that I would end up not liking the deodorant.  It turns out that I really love both! 

The laundry soap has been wonderful.  It cleans thoroughly and smells great.  It even removed some stains that had been left behind by my other detergent!  I have been pleased.  I have also started using vinegar in a Downy ball instead of chemical fabric softener.  It softens and freshens the clothes without leaving the slick, highly-fragranced coating.  I hated that every time I folded clothes, I was left with that on my hands and I didn't like that my kids were wearing that on their bodies every time they put on clean clothes.  I am converted.  The soap is easy and cheap to make.  It's a keeper. 

The deodorant was my biggest surprise.  It is so easy to make.  It takes me less than 5 minutes to mix everything up and pack it into old deodorant containers.  It is a bit different than using the store-bought stuff.  For one, it melts easily.  I found that out on a trip.  I opened the stick of deodorant to find that it had melted into the the lid.  It was an easy fix and I know better for next time. As for how it works, I have not been stinky since I started using it.  It is awesome!  Now remember, this is not an antiperspirant so you will sweat.  I am kind of a sweaty person and end up with pit stains even when I use antiperspirant.  So I sweat but I don't stink.  I smell like lovely lavender and roman chamomile.  Matt has even started using it and loves it too.

I have had a few days where the under wire of my bra rubs at the bottom of my arm pit and makes a tender spot.  It hasn't happened in awhile so I am guessing my skin had to get used to the abrasiveness of the baking soda.  I did read that you can use arrowroot powder instead if it bothers you.  Other than that, I have been happy with it.  I am extremely happy that we are not slathering our bodies with aluminum anymore. 

Hope some of you are inspired to get back to basics.  We don't need to use all of the modern chemicals that are in most store-bought products.  There are great alternatives that are often cheaper!  If you don't like these, research and find something that appeals to you.  You will be thankful and feel good about taking away one more unknown out of your family's life!

Preciousness

Be still my heart.



This is the machine that the kids drive around without stopping while we are at Grandmother and Poppers.



What a beauty.

I stinkin' love brothers.

This is forever in my mind.  I would recognize those feet and hands anywhere.

Grandmother and Popper always throw the best parties.

Levi approves with his cheeser smile.

See the party?  The kids live for this stuff.

We are quite innovative 'round here.