Keeping On

I’ve been keeping up my exercise program for about 14 weeks now and it feels pretty good. I noticed all summer long that I had more strength and stamina at our normal garden work. I started alternating jogging with weight training.

I think the garden below gave me the very first incentive to begin, it was pretty hard laboring in the hot sun at times, but I got in touch with that strong and determined side of myself again. With a little encouragement from Carebear, I began reading “Body for Life.” I got some very important tips and learned about regrouping and keeping at it even when things change. Just get active! That’s not so heard.
It is quit catching as Rodney has joined me, and my sons just love to imitate us. My bubble burst a bit when Hans punctured my exercise ball with a dart, but the only time I’m not up to par is in a cook week, when everything gets thrown out of whack.

Happy B-day Hans Sep.29

Hans has turned four, and is still big for his age. It seems like he has been older for a while, but there is still enough of baby in him to satisfy his mom. It seems that I don’t have another baby to baby so I baby him. Well, the cheeks are so tweekable, and he still has dimples in his hands; add to that a lisp and you have one cute guy.

I’m really reconciled to the fact that he is much like me, sometimes I think that he is the boy version of me. It helps me understand him better and it makes it easier to give him what he needs.

I usually write something for my boys every birthday that they will someday want to look back at. I’ve already told them of my heart’s desire. It’s for them is to accept Jesus as their savior someday.

Hans loves to be challenged; he will do some things only because we say he can’t do them, to prove that he can.
“I bet Hans can’t put off his PJs all by himself.”
“Close your eyes, Mom.”
“Hans needs help from someone.” Comes the muffled taunt.
“You can look now.” He pops up wearing only a big smile.
“Is daddy hiding somewhere near? You must have had someone to help you.” Says mom giving him a big hug.

"Thtanley says girls shouldn't touch boyth."

"Oh Honey, But I'm your mommy."

He needs a lot of attention, and loves to cuddle and be with people. He is a little tease and will relentlessly bug whomever he wants the attention from.

He will let you know when he is not happy by sticking out his lower lip; better known as a pout. But he soon forgets it though, and the smile returns just as quickly as the frown came.

He is a happy child and loves stories. He listens to Victor for hours and has told me the one about “Ricky Ticky Tabby” completely by heart. He also enjoys bible stories, but not of bad people like Jezebel. His English is very good for his age, and we can talk a lot of it.

We try daily to teach him about God, and let him know that his family is really pleased and complete with him in it.

Where did my summer go?

June, July, August...gone.

What did I do all summer? Did I accomplish anything?

I spent quite a few of Hans' nap times sweating it out behind the turkey barn in the old homestead building a garden and a swing. I have some other plans yet, but need some supplies. I was inspired to make it from a story called The Man who Planted Trees, but poor Nel can't remain anonymous. The story just thrilled me.

This is the dream version of it before I made the real thing. I was going to celebrate doing and trying things anyway even though you are going to make mistakes, but it turned out even better then it did in reality. Here, you can judge for yourself, it was made in the paint program.

Here is the real thing..

I was there the other day and the swing has already broken down but the flowers are just getting nicer and sweeter. The Alisum have finally bloomed and are giving off a musical cent.

It was meant, at first, for butterflies, because I have named it 'Butterfly grove,' but there weren't any this year. I wanted to have them eat there in the garden and have planted some Milkweed for them as well, so they could grow there, eat, reproduce, and hang out.

I also planted some raspberries, just for anyone who goes there, I can just see Mel and her best friend being chased out of there by the mosquitoes. ;)