Tomatos,tomatos,tomatos....

...hopefully I don't end up with a tomato brain : D Tuesday I made Salsa and yesterday I made marinara/pizza sauce.I ended up with 12 pint of salsa and the half batch of sauce I canned gave me 17 pint.Now I have another half batch to can today and a whole lot more tomatos to do up.Now to decided what I'll do with them?? Ketchup,salsa,more pizza sauce,juice....?I don't know.Guess I'll see where it takes me today :) Honestly,yesterday I had the blues.Trying to do this by myself plus doing all my "motherly duties" around here is a challange! ;) No,I'm not begging for help neither am I making up a big pity story,it's just the cold, hard fact c(: Normally I LOVE my life but I will say I'm ready for these tomatos to dissappear into jars :)

Some for generous person grows a HUGE patch of tomatos and then lets people come pick for free! Ya,FREE! Normally I don't bother with tomatos but this year I decided even tho I can buy pizza sauce for quite cheap you can't beat free.And if it's a place where I can save on groceries,I will.Jan,bless her heart helped me pick them.We ended up going in the afternoon and it was so hot!Thankfully it didn't take to long to get done but wow! It was exhausting!

When my kitchen looks like this it doesn't take me long to get depressed! Drawer hanging open,sink chock full of dishes,stuff all over the floor! UGH! That's how it made me feel!I finally took time out on the couch and read for awhile :)That didn't get my work done but the work sure didn't run away either.

Crumbs where they shouldn't be

This is how I felt by the end of the day.Exhausted and grouchy. (photo credits go to Braxton c(:  ) He thought it was so cool that he took a picture of mommy : D
I'm so glad yesterday is over.Oh,but I get to do it all over again today so I need to scoot and get busy!
I do want to show you a picture of our wonderful Claydiggers yet.Last night there was a game yet to top off my hectic day but we went to cheer them on :) They didn't win the tournament but they came in third!

This is our team



This is only a few of the cheerleaders that come to cheer them on :)

Bats and balls...

And candy...

and occasionally icecream is all part of the game evenings.No wonder the kiddos all love to come watch their daddies play ball :)
 Well,I really do need to go now and get started! Wonder how far I'll get today :) Y'all have a lovely day!

 

Thoughts from church...

I love my church! I love our pastors, their families and the people in our church.I'm thankful God brought us to this church.
Yesterday when we left church I had a few things to ponder.None of our pastors were there due to the BMA Convention going on,so another guy from church filled in for the message. His message was on running the race of life.In his message he gave the thought so much that "it doesn't matter how you start the race,what really matters is how you finish." I thought over this and I know that many times I have failed giving "the race" my best.However,I really,really want to be sure to finish it out right! To make the changes I need to now and to run this race with the best I have.When I see Jesus face to face I want to be able to hear Him tell me "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I want to know that I did the BEST I POSSIBLY could do for Him and His Kingdom.
And in Sunday School the teacher read us a little article someone had written,I even forget the writer's name but it really spoke to me.In this little devotional she touched on how we should us our talents to the best of our ability.To make use of our gifts.Everyone has a different set of gifts,maybe you can teach and preach,or maybe you can't do that but you have the gift of encouraging someone or maybe you have the gift of listening.These are all gifts and one is not more important than the other in my opinion.
Later as I was thinking about this, I decided I want to do my best in using the gifts I have...but....I started wondering,what is my gift? How do I know what is my God given talent?
How do you decide or know what gift you were given? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Just some thoughts from our Sunday service.Once again I'm so thankful to God for christian friends we can worship Him with.
Wishing everyone a wonderful day.

~Staci

Ohio...

I had so many pictures of our time in Ohio and little time to get it done the last time I sat down so I decided to do another post of it.
The flowers in Ohio were GORGEOUS! And I heard someone say they just aren't as bright this year :) Anyway,we'll leave that at that.When you come from the south where the sun basically fries every flower around,they're gorgeous! ;) Frying is what happened to mine this year because I didn't have time to water every morning and evening!! :) I need low maintenace flowers.Gerber Daisies are that for me.I forgot to ask someone to take care of my gerber daisies while we were in OH and I figured when we get home they will probably be DEAD! I got home,checked them and they were limp and dying but I gave them water and they sprung back to life! :)



I can't remember if I put on a picture of Braxton on this pony or not,but I was in delighted shock that he actually got up on there and took a ride! He's come a long way in his fear of animals! He still says "I'm petrified of dogs :D " Little stinker!

I don't know if you can tell or not,but these guys are twins.My father in law is on the right and his twin on the left.And minus that Amish beard and suspenders of my uncle -in- law, Ivan,I'd say they are identical twins.They look alike,talk the same and even kinda act the same! Ya, two in the family is plenty!!! ;)

Braxton and Hailey had the time of their life on this pony cart with Kirsten.I thought it was the cutest little thing :)

This barn was the cutest thing.Randys had it fixed up at their place and for some reason I just loved it!

Their flowers were pretty amazing too.

We got to meet this pretty lady and her son on Saturday morning for a wee little bit.She made me feel welcome when I moved to Ohio.We did some things together,got pregnant at the same time (not planned :D ) both had the same due date and the funniest,both had our babies born 10 days early! How cool is that!? So Braxton and Camden are twins,only different mothers ;) They really are the cutest little things! We weren't together long enough for them to completely warm up to each other but someday I can't wait to see them play together!Funny little guys!

This is our newest niece Mariah.She's a cutie and I have a special bond with her because I put her to sleep ;) Those of you who know me,know that I love to put other peoples babies to sleep.Especially when they're a challange.
Anyway,I am running out of time again.I have a few more pictures but those must come at a later time!I'm majorly pushin time and I don't want to be late for a day of shopping ;) Y'all have a great day!



OH-IO,Ohio!

The end of June found us packing up and heading to Ohio for my cousin's wedding and a few family reunions.Crazy me of course did not have a picture of the couple.I'm a little shy to dig out my camera at weddings,and to add to it,I just slap didn't feel like it! :) Anyway, it was a beautiful wedding! Very much my style.Beautiful black and red for her colors and a cute couple to top it all off.I'm happy for them.Congratulations David and Julie!
And then,I didn't dig out my camera at the reunions either.Pitiufl me :) But I did get some pictures while we were there so I'll share those with you.
I was happy to get to spend some time with my family too.My mom and grandparents were there the whole week,so alot of days found me headed over to see them.I went with my mom one day to visit one of her childhood friends.CRAZINESS is all I can think of when I think of them together!I do have a picture of them to share...

This is the good one.I'll refrain from posting the funny one because I wouldn't wanna be canned and set on the back of the shelf forever...Although now that I think about it,I am like 1000 miles away and they couldn't help but love me anyway....

I think they're cute.Full of fun,ladies that haven't lost their spark even when they hit their 50s! I love them :D And they love me I'm sure! ;)

I made matching dresses for my little sis and Hailey.I thought they were so pretty in them.

Brax and Hailey loved hangin out with aunt Shawna :)

I always love listening to my grandpa (on left) and his younger brother sing and play their instruments :)

Got to hang out with my pretty friend Samantha and her cute little guy,Jensen.One morning we took the kiddos out for donuts and juice.The donuts were free and so yummy!!! I could have ate 5 rite on the spot.

                                  Saying the kids loved them would be a huge understatement!

Me and my mom took the kids for a walk in Berlin one day.The two years I lived in Ohio,I don't think I ever went for a walk through Berlin.This time I felt like a tourist :) Of course Grammy bought the kids candy and they loved that.

Oh and while walking in Berlin we spotted "Galen Eli" in his Amish hauling van.No,I don't have a picture and we didn't tell him any jokes.If you want to know more about this man,just ask me,I'll tell you later :D

One evening we went down to visit Joels Amish uncle.They have a cute place with alot of animals and pretty flowers! :)

                             Cute little Avery loved these little bunnies!They really were adorable!

Since blogging and kids do not mix I think I'll run and finish up the Ohio blog later! Having a kid on my lap an one chewing gummies VERY loudly beside me and me still feeling a little loopy is more than this mama's nerves can handle! So come back for more pictures later :)



Just a little randomness...

Since I found some of these pictures I'd forgotten about,I'll just do a little post showing some of the fun things in our life :)

You reckon we have a little cowboy in the making?

Oh,and maybe even a little cowgirl? ;) Ride em' boys!

If you come to our house someday and see toys strewn all around...

....you know it's been a good day for us! I love when my kids get the toys out,because the days that they're not out,means it's been a day full of crankiness,pulling mama's skirts...just a plain grouchy day.That's my take on it! ;D

One evening these sweet people took us out on their pontoon and gave us a yummy supper and a fun ride.

Along with Harley and Janice,

and Vic and Viola

We had a fun evening.

God allowed a beautiful sunset that evening! A beautiful,romantic way to end the evening ;)

This was an idea I found online for father's day.Super easy and Joel LOVED it!

We have a little apple tree in our yard.I couldn't bare to see the apples go to waste so I brought them in and made applesauce.It's yummy and free,what more could you ask for.Brax thought "helping" me was quite cool!