Wanderlust..It's bad!!

I have it bad...and it's not even spring...it's..well..fallish..kindof.    Around here anything below 90 degrees feels cool right now.  And those days that begin cool with a brilliant blue sky,  big fluffy cottonball clouds,  slight breeze, and just the right music on the radio make me want to take off...ANYWHERE!!!

Here are some blogs of places I would LOVE to visit...and can I just say REALLY?  These people actually live here..it's not a dream.



This blog post caught my eye because it had the word BLUE in it.   Here are a couple more pics from that blog...if you like it..go on over and visit...http://chezlouloufrance.blogspot.com/





That's me in the red polka dot dress...I mean that's where I WANT to be..in a red polka dot dress..reading..and enjoying....

Here is another blog about living in France..http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com

I drooled over these photos..





Seriously,  who takes a vacation here?   Oh...me me me..please!



So, if you call, and I don't answer..I will be off in one of these places...at least in my dreams and on my computer. 

I know I shouldn't dream too much about places I will probably never see..but I think of it as God's way of saying I was meant for more that just here...and that where I am headed...heaven...is WAY more beautiful than this,  and believe me..I long for heaven as much or more that these fantastic places.  And that gives me hope...I may not enjoy France in this world...but whatever God has designed heaven to be like will FAR out way anything I desire here...and I wouldn't trade a trip to France for my final home....

If you find yourself longing for these far off getaway's...ask yourself if it is because your heart knows you were created for much more than this..Do you know where your forever home is?

thanks for reading,

Rebekah

School Daze

Yes...I mean daze....I finally got everything together,  the notebooks, the book lists,  the schedule thought out...I was planning on a great first day...

We got up at the crack of dawn..6 am for some, 6:30 for others.  Chores, Bible reading,  and then off on our first day of 5K training...WHAT??  Yes,  we are training for a 5K run..all of us.  I had my eldest look up an 8 week program and it looks like we can do it.   We walked 1 1/2 min. then ran 1 min.  Not too bad.  My heart ended up in my throat the last run...I had to chase down a child who kept wanting to nap on the side of the road...but it went very well.  One day down,  23 more days to go.  

My eldest made breakfast for us...yeah for kids learning to cook.  We were very thankful for those oatmeal pancakes. 

After showers to stop the showers, (of sweat!!!  It's ENORMOUSLY  hot and humid here in the mid south!)  we began our school.  The kids are so much more independent this year.  A little scary...and yet very freeing.  I get better at organizing and having things all set for them,  they get better at reading and execution.   It  helps to have goals.....get this done this week,  done well, done cheerfully or no birthday for you, missy!!...Ok, so not that drastic but we do have some sleepovers and rewards that need to be earned.

All was going well UNTIL....my son reminded me to call about when his orthodontic appt was.  Uh,  today,  in 10 min.    Out the door we go,  praying the girls would keep plugging away.  They did pretty well...but I really don't like last minute dashes. 

Anyway,  it seems this year is off to a good start.  If you have begun school,  how did it go?  If not,  do you feel prepared?

dashing off to scrape a ceiling,

Reb

Thoughts on the Word ...and some chicken pics

I have been reading chronologically through the Bible this year.  LOVE IT.   I think it makes the prophets and their prophecies come alive.  Here are some thoughts on today's reading. 

Isaiah 2:²² Stop regarding man
in whose nostrils is breath,
for of what account is he?

We puff man up here on earth.  Books (and shows) about self help,  about pefecting our beauty, knowledge  (ouch!), homes,  gardens,  food.  It is all to puff ourselves up.  Here God is saying "of what account is he?"  Ouch again!  Other scripture talks of the shortness of life.  

Job 7:7  "remember that my life is a breath."

Psalm 39:5  "Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath !"

Psalm 78:33  "So he made  their days vanish like  a breath."

Go ahead..take a breath.  That is how fast our life here on earth will seem from the viewpoint of eternity.  I don't want to be like the Israelites in whom God was quite unhappy.  He looked at their big houses,  fine food,  beautiful gardens,  rich clothing,  false worship,  broken relationships,  and led them to be exiled.   I want my breath,  my short time here to bring honor to God.  Thanks to the Lord for all my "counselors"  (parents,  pastors, friends)  who also desire this and can help me get back on the righteous path when I vere off. 

Take time today to evaluate your "breath".  Is God saying "of what account are you"  because of your misplaced sense of self importance...or are you making your breath be counted worthy of Christ?

a little heavy today,  but such a good reminder!!

And here are the chic pics.

   I bought 10 white chickies from TSC in April.  I hoped they were good for this area and for egg laying. 

Here are all 10 of them in a plastic bin.  My son and I quickly made another for longer term.

I think it is wonderful.  So did the chics.  We made it with pvc pipes we had laying around,  zip ties, and fencing.  I think knowing a little geometry would have made this job a lot easier. 

 

Here is what they look like 11 weeks later. 

Here is a pic with a comparison to the 1 1/2 yr old layers and the crazy rooster.  (Story coming soon...it's ...well...long.)

It turns out I bought White Leg Horns,  which are great egg layers and tolerate heat very well.  Good thing!!  We already had one Orpington die from this heat.  I have 3 others and some Red Sex Links.  I pray they make it. 

Last pic for you with a question.  What do chickens do when it gets hot?

Go swimming.  Sheesh!!  It IS the south.  (In case you can't see it,  that bin has water in it.  The chickens were lining up to get in and cool off.  I may need to do that myself.



Stay cool,  drink water,  and go play with your kids.  Mine beat me HAPPILY AND GLEEFULLY at Parcheesi.

Rebekah

Rebekah

Outdoor showers

Is anyone else thinking of water conservation...since we have a drought going on?!!  I am actually saving water from washing dishes in the sink to pour on my plants.  I just read about putting a bucket in the shower while it is warming up and then pouring that on the plants.  My sister is swimming at the local pool 3 or 4 times a week, and they shower there instead of at home.  HMMM...all good ideas.

Then I began thinking,  why not shower outside?  NOOO, not in the buff..nude...au naturale...in a swimsuit..or something. Not that confident..I mean, NO,  that's not nice!!  I'll figure it out as I go.  Here are some pics of ones I found on the web.  I also pinned some to my Pinterest.

Here is a "If I had a million dollars"  version  I love!!



I will let you know what happens.  I would really like it to be moveable.  That way I could water the yard AND clean off the dirt.  I love duel purposes....I think my 13 yr old son needs  a job and this seems right up his alley.  

Have a cool..clean day,

Rebekah

Five Question Friday

1. What do you keep a stock pile of? 
  Books...I bet you knew that though.  I really don't stock pile..don't believe in it...except books.   Husband and I were thinking of ways to simplify what we have...and I STARTED on the thought (didn't say it aloud..shesh)  that maybe I should get rid of some books,  and then I shook myself awake from that really scary nightmare and went over to the book shelf and hugged and kissed a couple.  I felt much better.  No toilet paper?   Just grab some newspaper.  No shampoo?  Sprinkle some baking soda on you hair.  No books... well,  that wouldn't even be heaven now would it?

                                           


2. If Ben & Jerry asked you to invent an ice cream, what would it be?


I am such a fan of Baskin Robbins choc chip and choc mint that I would LOVE for those to be mixed.  But that would be awkward asking Ben and Jerries to make Baskin Robbins flavors.  


3. How do you blow off steam? 

 Seriously,  I pray,  walk outside,  go watch the chickens,  picks some weeds,  water the flowers.  If I had a million dollars,  I would catch the next flight to Europe and then ride a train and visit castles, museums,  local eateries,  small hotels,  walk some hills, and come back a very well rested and cosmopolitan woman.  Ah,  dreams.


4. What would you do if you had an hour to yourself anywhere within a ten mile radius of your home...no kids, no hubby, just you? 
 Ten miles from my house would only get me to Sonic,  a gas station, and my friend Kelly's house.  So I would have to choose taking Sonic OVER to my friend Kelly's house for a crazy hour of laughing our heads off.  Kelly,  I'll be over soon.  What flavor Blast you want?


5. When you were 16, what was your curfew in the summertime?
  I guess 10.  I didn't like staying out late...loved to be in bed by 10, still do..and still don't like being out late.  I think my parents knew that and we never really had to talk about this.  The more I think about my teen years,  the wierder I think I was.  What teenager doesn't like to stay out?  I guess that means my house was more fun than anything else.  Or else I was just weird.

Now you know MUCH more about me.   If you have time,  copy these questions and let me know about you...if I still have any readers other that my mom..  Thanks, mom.

catch you later...but hopefully not too later.

Rebekah