Our New Digs

A new year...lots of people use this time to make resolutions and renew commitments. Not me. I'm terrible at making and keeping new year's resolutions. I usually have to resolve daily to change things about myself that I wish were different. But I hope everyone out there who does make resolutions, be it yearly, monthly, or daily like me will be successful in all their endeavors!
I've been endeavoring to get settled in this new house we're calling home. Like I mentioned previously, it's much smaller than the house we were living in. It's also got its quirks. The floors are loud and the windows are drafty. It smells funny...not bad, just different than the house I'm used to. But despite all that, I like it. A lot. It's close to the kids' schools and to the dollar store. The convenience store in town has excellent fountain Dr Pepper. I'm content. Would you like a peek?














I thought about waiting until everything looked perfect before I posted any pictures but, really, that could be a while...like never.

I hope everyone is having a great new year so far. Our family is finally getting over this upper respiratory stuff that has plagued us since before Christmas.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2011!

Can I just say...

that it's been a rough couple of days? Friday was the fourth anniversary of my mom's passing, so the weekend didn't necessarily seem too promising anyway. But then my car was broken into Saturday night...window broken, purse stolen. It's a violation...and I was royally ticked off. But now I'm just sad. I mean, really...what kind of person so thoughtlessly steals such a personal belonging? As I stated on Facebook, we have much to be grateful for regardless of the loss. No one was hurt and except for the window, the car is fine. 

Today's had it's highs and lows. Fortunately, something vital I thought was taken was found, but dealing with governmental agencies never puts me in a good mood. I wasn't able to go to work because it was storming and my window is obviously missing, so I get to spend more time with my family.

At one of the lows this morning, Morgan brought me a gift she made for me in art class...

and so I'm reminded that although the thieves were able to rob me of some material possessions...they can't take away the love of my children, the beauty of a sunset, the feel of a kitten's fur, the joy of having a place where you belong, the gift of His grace and mercy...

Tomorrow's a new day, as the saying goes...and I intend to make the most of what really matters.

Watermark

After seeing one of my photos recently on a website that I had never heard of and gave no credit to me, I decided it was time to create a watermark for my photos. I'm sure someone with photo editing skills could still use my photos without permission by removing the watermark somehow, but maybe that will just prove to be too much trouble.

This is not necessarily a final version. I've had fun playing with different styles, but so far this is my favorite. What do y'all think?

I really, really love blogging..

Really! I do!

But I have this vision of what I want my blog to be...inspiring, funny, honest, encouraging, beautiful, thought-provoking...I could go on.

And I've realized that's been true in lots of places in my life.

My point is, my need for perfection has kept me away from here, it's kept me from opening up to friends, it's even kept me from praying... because I feel if I don't have all the time I want to devote to something, why bother?

But the truth is, I don't have all the time I want. For anything. I have exactly the amount of time I have.

So, I'm making a new commitment to you, this blog, my family, God...

I'm going to take the time I do have and use it. Use it all up.

And when my endeavors don't turn out perfectly, at least I will know I didn't waste time worrying about it.

Today I'm living as an imperfect Christian, wife, mother, friend, blogger...but I'm okay with that. In fact, I'm rejoicing.

I'm striving to do better, be better everyday.

I know I can with the Lord's help.

Thank you for all your support!

Love,

Below the hem

The nice thing about taking photos from the knees down...

is that it doesn't matter if your subject brushed her hair or not.

An open letter to the sun

Dear sun,
I miss you. Won't you please come back and lavish me with your warmth again? Why have you gone? Was it because I cursed you for shining in my eyes while I was driving without my sunglasses? I'm sorry! They were in my purse, which had fallen down behind my seat. I'll wear them all the time now, even in the shower, so I will always be prepared for your brightness.
Please, won't you evaporate all these puddles that are making my car look like a dirt clod with wheels? Did you bid me adieu because I complained you were too hot? Never, never again will I take you for granted.
I need you, sun. Please, please...come back soon.
With all my love and devotion,

View from the schoolroom

Things look different...

through the lens...

Musings

It's Tuesday again. This is our busiest day of the week. We have school, of course. But the girls also have a 90 minute art class in the afternoons. I pick them up with just enough time to get to work.
Today, however, is busy plus. My day was all planned. I had everything down almost to the minute, and still do, with one exception. Morgan won't be joining us for any of the fun stuff. She's sick again. This seems to be a recurring theme for her this fall and winter and I'm so tired of it. I feel bad for her not just because she feels unwell, but because today was a big day for her.
Our martial arts school has a demonstration team, and Morgan is a member. Tonight there is a health fair at a local elementary school and it was going to be Morgan's first demo. But since she awoke with a fever, naturally that is no longer an option.
I still have to go. I coordinated the demo, and am the only adult from the school that will be there. Morgan is so disappointed. And I'm disappointed for her. I've held her while she cried and comforted her how I can. A little homemade ice cream, some Finding Nemo...She'll be staying with her granny while the rest of us go on with all the things that must get done today.

Life seems to be passing me by lately without much participation on my part. This is the first moment I've had in several days to sit and just spill out some thoughts. And I shouldn't even be doing it now. I should be checking and re-checking, packing up stuff for the day and sitting with my girl while I can. But I needed this. Just a few minutes venting it out.
I haven't been able to spend much time browsing my blogs lately. I've missed all my blog friends and what's going on with them. I may read one or two a day, but I haven't felt that like I've had the time to ponder them, to encourage and be encouraged. I miss that a lot. I keep thinking, "when we get back to our normal schedule.." but I'm starting to believe this just might be our normal schedule. Lol.

So, dear friends, I've missed you all. I hope everyone has a great day and week. I, for one, am looking forward to a wonderful birthday dinner on Saturday night. I can't believe it's time for my birthday again, but there's no way to stop them from coming, so I'm determined to enjoy it!

Long time, no see

We've been having a wonderful winter break here on the Hay Farm! We'll be back soon! I have lots of pictures of our snow (yes, snow!) to show you!

Droid

i got a new phone on friday and i must say it is wickedly awesome. its the motorola droid and you can check it out here

droid

now if i can just figure out how to make this thing type in caps for blog posts, ill be all set.

and certain puncuation doesnt work either. but all things in their own time, right?

love,
leigh/nerd

Rain, rain, go away...and a request for prayer

It's raining here again. This has been a very rainy October. The weather has been confusing and I've even seen some things blooming, thinking it's spring.

This has been the view for quite a while. The sunny days are so few and far between that they're forgotten almost as soon as they're gone.

Our family seems to be completely recovered from the H1N1. Tristan's was trying to turn into pneumonia, but we caught it in time and were able to knock that out with some Zithromax. There is still some lingering coughing, and maybe some extra fatigue on long days, but we're so much better off than we were a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate all the comments, emails, and prayers. They all worked to cheer us up in those dreary days.

There's another family out there in blogdom that desperately needs some prayers. Jennifer, better known as MckMama, and her husband have a baby that's really struggling health-wise right now. Stellan was born with SVT (if you want all the nitty gritty on SVT and to read Stellan's story, please visit Jennifer's blog) and he's fighting a bad case of it right now. He's in the hospital and really needs some prayers! And to add insult to injury, today is his 1st birthday. Not the party his momma and daddy were hoping for, I'm sure.







I hope all my bloggy friends and their families are staying well!

Love,

So what's up in your neck of the woods?

Here at the Hay Farm it's rained a lot. Our pond was almost completely dry 3 weeks ago and now it looks like this:

This photo was actually taken last week and it's rained even more since then. In fact we're not supposed to see the sun here until Thursday or Friday this week.

For any local readers who might have forgotten what blue sky looks like I have this photo, taken during a recent break in the rain:

Ron went out this morning and found this on the concrete apron in front of our garage:

Although the photo makes this snake look big, it was really only about six inches long. We put it in a pickle jar to study it for a while. Ron decided it's most likely a young bull snake so we let it go. Bull snakes are great for keeping the field mice population down.

The kiddos have been busy with school and all the activities that go along with that. The laundry is piling up and I'm not sure I'll ever be caught up again this side of heaven. We have more than usual too because the weather has been freezing cooler and with all this rain we are bringing in lots of mud on our clothes. Which brings me to the next thing...who is going to clean up all this mud? It's on our shoes, our clothes, pets' feet, the floor, the rugs. It's a mess.

Remember this pair?

Honey is now a good 70 lbs (she was about 35 in the photo above). She's already taller than our "big" dog, who will soon be demoted to "medium" dog. I'm going to try to get a photo with all four dogs. That should be no sweat, right?

I think I hear my children's stomachs growling, or maybe it's my laundry calling me. It could be the mop crying because it feels abandoned...best not to dwell on these things. I think I'll go eat a Ding Dong instead.

Have a great day!

The weather and other things

Tristan brought me a specimen today.

I have to admit I don't mind too much. The weather here was so hot all summer that going to the pond to "hunt and shoot stuff" just wasn't much fun. Then it turned rather rainy. But we've had a taste of fall here this last week or so. I just love it. I love sleeping with the windows open and not running the air conditioner. Yesterday and today have been so perfect weather-wise it reminds me of Colorado (where I live in my dreams). Blue, blue sky, gentle breezes and wonderful temperatures.

This kind of weather renews me.

This crawdad, however, not so much.

Busy, Busy

Wow, I have not posted in a few days, thought it sure doesn't seem that way. This week has just flown by with all the things we've had going on. School is in full-swing and since my kiddos school at home, this does not give me more free time, but less. I've been working a little extra this week to make up for the kids being sick last week, so even more free time is taken there.

But hopefully tonight (no promises!) I'll be back to take you on the final part of our Waco trip. Here's a preview of the highlight of our visit to the Mayborn Museum: