Whew!

Where does my time go?  It doesn't seem like I do all that much but my hours just disappear and my list of "to-do's" is never finished.  The cycles of the daily are never ending; there is always something that needs my attention. 

It has been a busy, very full few weeks since I blogged last.   

Bekah has continued to come to market with Zachy and I.  She has been drawing her pictures like crazy and getting quite a following actually.  She is making some money -- she even made 15.00 one week which is a LOT of money for her!!!  It has been fun to watch her as she has started being more confident and interacting with people that walk along.   It has been a fun adventure. 

We also have a new business venture that Zachy is involved in.  The gentleman in the booth next to me is a balloon twister and has a growing business.  He keeps super busy every week.  Well, he also works in the Guard and can't always attend.  He asked if he could apprentice Zach so Zachy has been learning the art of balloon creations.  His siblings, my folks, and Tim and I all put in together for his birthday and got him a pump and some balloons to get him going.  He is doing FABULOUSLY!  The gentleman told me that he chose Zachy because Zach is so quick and faithful to help the vendors every week around us to set up, tear down, spell them for a break - those kinds of things.  Zachy has made a lot of friends down there with the other vendors.  It also has been fun to watch him as he grows.  He will always be my little old man I think -- so super serious and thoughtful.  He works the same way, quiet and meticulous but he also has started being more comfortable.  He was teasing the children and interacting with the parents.  It was a delight to watch him.  It leaves me on my own more -- now he spells me instead of the neighbor vendors :)  but it has been a really good thing.

In home news, our house is in SHAMBLES!  We finished up the middle boys new room.  Tim hasn't quite finished up their new dressers/closets.  That is a good wintertime project but he welded frames and we finished the painting, etc. They moved in to their new room which is SO marvelous.   We have a few more things to hang on the walls but they are basically settled in.  This put us into the next project -- their old room.  Gabrielle really needs her own space.  She has been sharing with Bekah and that does come with challenges when you are 10 years older than your little sister.  Since we were sheet rocking, taping, mudding, texturing that room Elijah's room and the hall in between seemed like one big project that should be done together.  So Elijah moved into the den and we have been working on the three spaces every day.  Gabrielle has partially packed all of her stuff as well so there are paths here and there.  I will be SO glad when we are done!  We are getting close I think to texturing.  I taped everything.  Tim has been mudding.  Tim has E's room totally ready for texturing and he has the first few passes on G's new room and the hall.  I can't wait!  I will try to post pictures of everything when we are finished up.  I am hoping to start painting this weekend.  We'll see if that works.

The olders are still working a lot of hours this summer.  I will be glad to have them home more and back into a semblance of routine again.  It has been great having  E driving.  Not NEARLY as much running for me.  He is serious and thoughtful driving, just as he has been his whole life in everything.  As nerve wracking as it was at first I see him continue to just get better and better.  It has been really neat to see him in this season.  He definitely is in the crossing between youth and manhood.  His boss really likes him and has treated him well.  He is making pretty decent money and his boss sends him on jobs to get things done.  Not a "forever" career but it has been a great thing in this time.  He hasn't completely decided where to go next.  So we pray and wait as God is faithful and will open the doors for him.  Elijah will do awesome no matter what he does. 

Gabby has one more year of school.  Working for Prescott has been great for her too.  How many places does a young woman get to run loaders, fiats, and other heavy equipment?!?!  She enjoys the other women at the nursery but is on the work crew more often than not.  She works hard and seems to really enjoy it.  She is getting her Senior pix taken in the next couple of weeks.  Is it possible I will have TWO graduated?!?!  Time has flown.  She bought her first car about a month ago.  A Grand Jeep Cherokee 4WD.  It's older and we found out the person that sold the car had not told the truth about some things which was very frustrating, but I think it will be a great car for her in the end.  Thankfully Tim knows what is necessary to fix things and G is learning mechanics in the process which is great!  They had to tear out the exhaust system, repair things, reweld things..... I never learned that type of thing.  It's a great opportunity for her and it is always good to spend time with your Dad :)    She passed her permit test so as soon as the jeep is up and running I will be back in driver's training mode.  No wonder my hair is graying!

The youngers and I are back at school.  Josiah is my right hand at present.  He has mastered a lot of home skills and is quickly becoming quite the chef.  He runs everything when I at market and does a really commendable job.  Everyone expects his waffles Saturday mornings :)   He starts his sophomore year.  He has also kept busy doing yard work, mowing lawns, etc for neighbors and has helped my cousin a little with some installs and things.  It has been a good year for him too, having opportunities to work for others, make some extra money, etc.  He is getting taller -- he passed me up and is getting pretty close to E.  E of course doesn't want to be shorter than his LITTLE brother.  I think it might go that way, we'll see......  He is getting pretty witty; his sense of humor reminds me a lot of Tim's -- dry and not always easy to read.  Tim and he will think something is hilarious and it usually takes the rest of us a little longer to catch up.  It will be interesting to see where the Lord leads Jo in the next few years. 

The youngers and I are back at school.  It is always hard to get back in the routine after a break.  I couldn't handle it most of this summer with my physical challenges but things are going better now.  The little neighbor girl is home-schooling also and she home-schools with Bekah one day a week which is a fun way to break up the same-old-same-old. 

I am still working away at my little soap venture.  Trying to get all my products on Etsy, do well at market,  work on new products, and I would LIKE to try and get my products in a couple of shops so I have some holiday/winter business after market closes.  We'll see how that all comes out.  Struggling most days to just keep my head above water so finding extra time is challenging sometimes.  Did make a bear tallow soap that I am pretty excited about.  Tim says it is the best soap he has EVER used.  We'll see how it does in market. 

Tim is up just over 1700 miles on his bike so far this summer.  He loves riding and I am doing okay.  It is hard sometimes to let go, to walk in faith and KNOW that God is always in control.  I was reminded as he determined to do this again that it is God who numbers our days.  It isn't going to be because of his bike that something happens.  The Lord will allow Tim here with me until the day already set for Tim to go to be with Him.  I have gotten worrisome a few days when he has been later than I expected or when I got a roadside call that a tire had blown but it is another opportunity for me to let go and walk in faith.  I'm still learning.

Me?  Humm....... overall, I am doing well.  Things have been much slower to heal than I would have liked.  I still get dizzy if I work hard and don't get enough rest.  I'm not as organized as I like and my brain isn't quite as sharp right now.  All pretty common I guess for what my body is recovering from.  I am taking liquid iron (when I remember) and eating healthy, waiting for my hormones and everything to settle back in.  It has been a long, difficult road.  I struggle with grief sometimes..... when I least expect it which is weird.  A friend who I have been praying for delivered this week.  She had placenta previa and has been on bed rest in the hospital for weeks.  I saw the news of her delivery, the pictures, and I started sobbing.  I couldn't stop.  I was so happy for her but my grief was consuming.  I didn't expect that; it hadn't been something brewing or anything.  It just hit like a Mac-Truck.  

Debbie Holland is coming to our church in September.  She is going to present the study I have been working through - Faith in the Night Seasons.  I am excited to see how God will use this, not only in my life but in the lives of many others.  It seems like lots of people are struggling financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually.  It has been a time of challenge for many in the Body Of Christ.  I want to do well in pilgrimage here.  Learning to walk in joy, faith, TRUST........ such hard lessons but so necessary. 

Learning to be content ALWAYS in His grip.  It doesn't mean that I don't face trials but that they come through His hand first and that I am in His will, in His love, in His protection if I am willing to stay there.  So much to learn in doing that but it is where I want and need to be.  Grateful for a Heavenly Father who tarries with this daughter......