Summer

Sometimes there is a lot of work even on our 5 acre farm and we have so many plans for it that take time to accomplish. But truly, it is a glorious place to be, especially in late spring/early summer. It stops you in your tracks and reminds you why you are here.

Yesterday the peonies and iris started blooming, following the lilacs, tulips, daffodils and bleeding hearts. I've been outside almost every moment it hasn't been raining and after mowing last night I just sat outside for a minute to drink it all in. I also mowed a "walking path" through our meadow (field) for the boys and me to wind around amongst the wild plants (and weeds).

Now for more work but here's a shot of the peonies. I'm almost thinking we could have weddings here in May/June . . . ok, maybe when we get more caught up:).

--A

Rainy Day 2

Rainy Day

I've been meaning to post a photo of our new bunny. So introducing "Blacky". . .

Our Thoughts and Prayers

go out to a client's family and friends. We had a family photo session scheduled in a few weeks and they called tonight to cancel due to losing their son, Joe (20 years) in a car accident on May 4th. Please keep the Link family in your prayers this week.

I never thought I would have this type of call but it just reminds us of how fleeting life really is. My heart goes out to them, I cried when I saw the newspaper article.

So hug your children tonight, say a prayer for those who have lost and God bless you all.

--Amanda

Jason and Tiffani

Last weekends' wedding was beautiful and so much fun. . .


We had a wonderful time at Jason and Tiffani's wedding on Saturday and I'm just going through the photos today and loved this one of the ladies at the lake. More to come. . .

One Ticked Off Woodchuck

Cocoa (the dog) was barking furiously outside the office this morning and we looked out to see a woodchuck hiding under our propane tank. He/She is really mad at being disturbed - Cocoa is just guarding the hideout and the woodchuck just keeps screaching at her. I'll have to tie up Cocoa so the woodchuck can leave . . .

Senior Photos

Tonight I got to meet the nicest senior and her family. Isn't she beautiful?

Got Roses? Sniff (or lilacs)

I was outside taking laundry off the line (yes I do hang laundry on a clothesline in the summer) and my boys were happily playing in the yard, my husband diligently working on the lawn mower and the chickens wandering the yard looking for a tasty meal.

It made me wonder why every evening didn't look like this. Then I started wondering why I don't get up in the morning and take my coffee outside and sit in one of my many benches in my yard. Even with the overgrown lawn (due to the non-working lawnmower), we have a pretty nice yard. Especially in Spring with lilacs, tulips and trees blooming . . .

Finally, I mentally measured my midsection with growing concern (pun intended).

See, I know why all the above is the way it is and I know I don't want it to continue in that direction. I've noticed also a growing habit of technological dependency in our household. We don't do, we read about it or watch a podcast or fuss with a dishwasher when I could have had the dishes all handwashed in the time it took to fuss.

And granted, winter is tough here - to stay away from the computer work that is. But in Spring? Summer? Autumn? and really even some nice winter days?

So, I'm not sure who is out there reading but I'm going to work on changing my attitude and bad habits and I'd love to have you all say a little prayer for me in the process. I want to spend less time "doing nothing" with our technology and do more with the things that matter: family, friends, nature, God. You get the idea.

And for all those legalists out there - I came down out of bed because I had a scratchy throat and needed a lozenge - and I needed to get this off my mind.

--So find a rose - a REAL one and sniff it for me. If no roses, lend themselves then any dandelion will do!

Planning

I'm a planner. I think usually it's a good thing. I like to make lists, draw up "blue"prints, make schedules, write down goals . . . And many times I find myself frustrated that nothing (meaning my plans) gets done.

Then this morning, it struck me that I never put weeds into my garden plans. I mean, I draw up this planting plan that includes the hostas, the pink flowers that coordinate with the white flowers and look for foliage that will carry through the season, but, I never draw in the quackgrass or nettles or stinkweed that invariably finds my flower bed.

That led me to think of the other things I plan that have their own set of "weeds" in their reality. You know, the house project that on paper looks like a week's job and turns out to be 10 (weeks that is). Or scheduling an outdoor photo shoot, hoping for that perfect day only to have it be overly sunny and so windy that you can hardly stand up. Oh, sure we can factor these things into our plans but somehow we are disappointed when those factors play out. Or when reality isn't quite as neat as our little lists and drawing boards.

This reality sort of bugs me a little - probably because I like control and yet know deep down that I don't really have that much control over much of anything. See, control is an illusion. I get that. So how do you reconcile this discrepancy between plans and reality?

Well, I can't say I've mastered that but I have a few thoughts:
1. Celebrate the now. As in, plans are nice but always for the future - which doesn't really exist yet. The present is what we live in - look around and take a deep breath, do you smell the flowers?
2. Have children - there is nothing like a child to ignore all plans and celebrate the now. And instead of getting crabby at them - join their enthusiasm.
3. When was the last time you skipped? Oh yeah, you'll look like you're crazy but you know it's pretty fun. Or go to a playground and swing (only be warned, you may get nauseous)
4. Meditate on this verse in Jeremiah: I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23
5. When reality is really bleak, crying can help. Or if you are a guy, go play some sport or find some object that needs tearing apart and fixing. I don't know why but it can help.
6. Shut off the tv, computer, ipod, radio, stereo, etc and go outside. Or read a book or do anything a little out of the ordinary. It might give you a new perspective.

Let's just say our reality will almost always fall short of OUR plans. But if we look and listen carefully, we might just discover that the reality - with all it's messes, really IS better. Even with the weeds. Otherwise if we are always looking at the weeds, we might just miss the flowers.
--A