The garden coming along

So, I'm extremely excited about how well the garden is doing! What a blessing. It is so neat to me how things grow from the earth into things that sustain our life and health. In our garden, we planted pole beans, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce(two types), tomatoes(regular size and cherry-yum!), white acre peas, lady peas, okra, squash, broccoli, pumpkin(just because!), watermelon, and corn!

The garden 05/14/08. The "first fruit of our labor"

One yummy tomato, coming up!

Corn rows!

The Power of...

...a 3-year-old's prayer. After I made that post yesterday, I decided to let Mallorie know as sensitive that I could that Tag was missing. We went calling him around the yard a few times and then came back and sat on the porch. Mal put her head on her hands and let out a huge sigh. I told her Tag needed her to say a prayer for him. We came inside and she said as I folded my arms, "No, no, no, you've got to put your hands on my head!" She thought that would give Tag a blessing I suppose. I explained that we had to pray for Tag since he was not around. So, she folded her arms and said a short prayer, including in it "to bless Tag". I knew if he was coming back it would have to be because of her sincere prayer. While I was cooking dinner, Joe came home. After a while he came in and said that Tag had come up, but that he was foaming at the mouth! Of course, our first thought was rabies. After a while of checking on him outside, we saw that something was just wrong with his mouth. At 8:30pm last night we took him to the "Emergency Vet" an hour away from us. Sounds kind of weird, and there were some interesting people there, but luckily for us they were open. Long story short, and over $300 later, Tag is back at home and taking some medicine to make him feel better and reduce the swelling in his face. We still have to take him to get his tooth pulled though. Poor snaggle-tooth! Anywho, glad we had good news to report!

We miss you Tag!

Sad news for us...Our cat Tag has not come home for 2 days:( I did not know how attached I was to him until now. He was limping the last night we saw him, but we figured it was just a sprain from doing what cats do so we let him outside that night like normal. In the middle of the night the other night, Joe and I got woken up by ferocious sounding dogs on the porch. He got out there as fast as he could and ran them away. He said he saw Tag under the van, but it may have been "neighbor kitty" as Mal calls the neighbors cat. I'm hoping for the best and that he will come back soon. Is it weird to pray for your cat to come home?! I'm not usually an "animal person" that gets overbearing about their pets, but this cat has got to be the sweetest cat ever! Not to mention, Mallorie loves him so much. Anyway, hope to have good news about the situation soon!

Missionaries...

...become like family after 6 or 7 months in a branch. Elder Wright and Elder Howe are two dynamic missionaries. Their willingness to serve in all capacities is an example to me. They are down to earth young men in which people feel they can relate to. After spending over half a year with them, we feel a certain sadness as they leave. They ate at our house at least once a week, they taught lessons in our home, they helped me to start the first choir our branch has had in quite a while(if ever), they came to Mal's birthday party, they cut down trees in our back yard, they helped out at my mom's house, they helped paint our fence, and the list goes on and on. When someone serves you that much...well that really is a true disciple of Christ. They would always say "It's what we are supposed to do" as if that was a reason not to thank them as much or something. They chose to come on a mission and they chose to serve us and others. I am so grateful for all the work they have done. But, they were ultimately transfered this go 'round...of course, they were ready to see new scenery, but hopefully know how much we appreciate them and will remember us as we do them. May God continue to bless them as they continue their missions.

Elder Wright and Elder Howe on their last p-day, at our house.

Elder Wright, Elder Howe, Mal, and Joe after moving the scrap VeeDubs to one spot.

The crew after cutting down some trees, and Elders Howe & Wright rolling a log onto the trailer.

Hangin' out and eating some cake at Mal's b-day party.

As was always on their message..."We know Howe to be Wright" (clever fellas, too)

Mallorie's 3rd birthday...already?!

Vires, Artes, Mores

I just finished my last exam ever at Florida State University. Wow, I can't believe it. I don't think it has hit me yet that after 7 years I actually am a college graduate. Instead of walking/marching/standing in place as they call your name at graduation, whatever they do, I gave it about two seconds of thought and decided that it was more important to have Mallorie's birthday party on that day. She is my graduation present. All of the stuff she has gone through to get me through with/to my degree, she deserves an extra party; for all of the "I'll be right back"s, all of the "I can't right now, I have to study"s, and all of the late nights. I will have to say that I do owe many thanks to my mom and my wonderful husband also for sticking by me in my determination. Now I am faced with the question of what will I ever do with it?! I would love to teach high school band, but we also want to have more children. What is a mother to do? It is so much easier to get a "real job" than it is to stay at home. Joe knows that more than ever now and has been helping out alot, while I've been in school and working part-time, by staying home with Mallorie. Okay, so he's like that country song "Mr. Mom". Let me say one thing as a side note about his skills as a part-time stay-at-homer, though: so normally a stay-at-home mom would clean during the day, at least some, but between him and Mal...you start to wonder if you are outside with all the dirt that was tracked in, and then you begin to ask yourself if there had possibly been a small earthquake that was to blame for all of the distruction in the house. Mallorie can sure tell you how a car works and can fix anything with a screw driver, though. Joe is probably going to give me the "I can't believe you wrote that on there" look when he reads this, but hey I'm sure someone will find it humorous!! I know people think we are crazy...we are a peculiar people after all, right?

On a more serious note though, I know that God has blessed me with my education and I am so grateful. I know I am where I am supposed to be. Where I'm going in my life from here, well now that is a mystery. So long, Florida State...

Alma Mater -

High Over Towering PinesHigh over towering pines our voices swell,

Praising those Gothic spires, we love so well.

Here sons and daughters stand, faithful and true,

Hailing our alma mater, F.S.U.

Hymn to the Garnet and Gold -

Here's a hymn to the Garnet and Gold, ringing to the sky.

Here's a song for the men and women bold. Sing with heads held high.

Striving ere to seek to know, Fight for victory.

Alma Mater, this our song to you. Echoes, F.S.U.

FSU Fight Song -

You've got to fight, fight, fight, for FSU

You've got to scalp 'em Seminoles;

You've got to win, win, win, win win this game

And roll on down and make those goals

For FSU is on the warpath now,

and at the battle's end she's great

So fight, fight, fight, fight to victory,

our Seminoles from Florida State.

Mal's new ride

Mallorie sporting the pedal-car in front of our house:)


Taking a cruise downtown, and helping a friend out at the park.


Ah, this is the life.....