"Fences" and "Fruits of My Husband's Labor"

Our Picket Fence
My husband has recently painted new fencing.  It is to replace the old picket fence sections in our yard that have deteriorated over the years (since we originally installed them).  He is finally done and we are excited for the fresh new change.  

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Another "after" picture

Another "after" picture

Our Garden


My husband loves to care for his garden and the plants within.  He does a beautiful job and I love using the fruits of his labor in our meals and new recipes.  When we came home from vacation recently we were greeted by more than enough string beans to fill three huge bowls.  We have so many beans in our freezer now.  What a blessing!  

Two of the three bowls of beans that we picked after vacation

String Beans

Ripe Cherry Tomatoes

Tomato Plants

I have a habit of eating the cherry tomatoes as I pick them, like I used to do when I picked strawberries as a child.  Sometimes I don't have any cherry tomatoes to show for when I come in the house because I've eaten them all!

Banana Peppers

Bell Peppers

 We also have had three good sized zucchinis, one of which we gave to our neighbors and the others I used to make two great recipes from allrecipes.com  The recipes are some of the highest rated "zucchini" recipes on that site.  I have really good experiences usually with the recipes from allrecipes.com and these were no exception


Mom's Zucchini Bread Recipe

Zucchini Patties


Since then we have noticed that our zucchini plants are dying and we aren't sure why.  I hope that we are able to grow a few more zucchinis before they wither any further.  

What happened to our Zucchini Plants?  Any ideas?

How are your gardens growing, my friends?  

Have a blessed Lord's Day,

((hugs))

Cheryl

Blessings -- Friends, Books and a Birthday!

http://stillservinghimthroughthestorm.blogspot.com

What a beautiful tribute to our little Caleb.  My friend Trennia made this and posted it on her blog in memory of our son.  Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.  The song "More Than You'll Ever Know" which I had mentioned in this post brings to mind people like you who have helped me get through some of the darkest days of my life, Trennia.  

Blogs can be such a blessing.  They put you in touch with many people, some of whom become friends via "blogville".  I thank God for my friends that I have made here.  

I thank my God every time I remember you.  Philippians 1:3

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I love finding books that are interesting to me and also teach me at the same time.  The books pictured below have taught me more about the culture, details and customs of Biblical times and they also include the facts that are in the Bible concerning these two interesting stories...about Esther and the second about Samson.  They are fictional books, but are based on facts.  

Chosen: Lost Loves of the Bible Series

Desired, Lost Loves of the Bible Series

 

Book description from Amazon

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God 

I cannot end this post without sending a shout-out Happy Birthday to my now 14 year old son!  You add so much passion and energy to this family and you are always willing to share your talents and gifts to help us.  You mean so much to all of us and I am forever thankful that God chose you to be in our family.  

Fourteen years ago you didn't want to be delivered like babies normally are so you continued to turn in my belly so that when it was close to the time to deliver you, you were feet first.  The doctor had to turn you while you were in my belly and then (some time later) the minute you were born you soaked the pediatrician...you couldn't "hold it" any longer. :) 

You have always had a lot of energy and you started showing it to us before you were even born.  We love you and you mean the world to us. 

 

Happy 14th Birthday!

 

I am now reading this book.  It is not as much of a "fun" read as the other books, but it is filled with Biblical truths and if anyone is feeling overwhelmed with life/family/marriage this may just help!  

A Grave Journey

I hadn't been to the cemetery to visit Caleb's grave site recently mostly because my children are now home for the summer and I prefer to go alone there.  

Similar "Hope" stone

I went to the cemetery on Friday when I had a small window of time that I was by myself.  I was placing a small stone on the site that says "Hope".  I have been driving around with that stone in my van ever since I purchased it at the "Christmas Tree Shoppes" (when I was purchasing my oldest son's graduation supplies for the party we had for my oldest son).  

It is amazing how the emotions come right back when you remember yet again that your child's body is buried in the ground and in order to be close to it you have to visit a place where mostly older people who die are buried. Life doesn't always make sense.  I am not going to ever know for sure the reasons that God chose to allow Caleb to die.  

I do have "Hope" though in the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I have the promised "Hope" of seeing Caleb again when the Lord chooses that it is my time to pass on.  

I was weeping for what I had and what I will never have again on this earth and really meditating on "time".  How could I have survived almost four years without my son?  I was mad at God in some ways for allowing the pain to get softer because I don't ever want to forget my son and how special he was and the hole that he left.  Sounds crazy huh--that I would even wish the strength of the sorrow to go on?  I want that raw searing pain of loss to come over me again, which at times it does sometimes without warning, to somehow connect me again to that time when the warm touch of Caleb was not four years ago, but just a few hours, or days....

I could remember him more clearly in those days of early grief.  I am saddened that the memories are faded, but am thankful that I was able to scrapbook the pictures of his 17 months here on earth, for I know that others who have had losses when their babies were younger can't do that.  I long to remember his hands and his feet and his hair and his mouth and especially his eyes.    

I also know that my grief when Caleb died, and even now, makes me feel closer to God than I ever had in my life.  Although I somehow know God is close, I weep for the little boy who once lived in that body in the ground.    

The area of the cemetery is quite secluded where Caleb's body is buried and very serene.  Woods surround the area.  I heard a bird's song and looked up.  The whole area where I looked is completely green except for seeing a few bits of brown of the tree trunks...So many trees.  Immediately I see a cardinal who seems to be performing just for me...He is bright red and stands out like a beacon.  I feel so loved by God.  I know that he sent that bird there for me to see and to be reminded that he is in control and that he is watching over me and although I might be hurting, he is there to comfort me.  He stayed there for a minute or two and then flew away into the woods.       

A similar Cardinal

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

    

Heard This Recently -- So True (in my case)

So very true...

“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.”
― Robert Browning Hamilton

Songs on My Heart about Loss and Friendships

I love the musical group Watermark.  They have a couple of songs that have become favorites of mine.

One of them was written after the artist had a couple of miscarriages and is very close to my heart, Watermark - Glory Baby (Watermark's YouTube music videos are not high quality).  Their CD (All Things New) is exceptional.

The lyrics are as follows:

Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby…baby..
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby…baby..
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…
Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a
day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do
Sweet little babies, it’s hard to
understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…
BRIDGE:
I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies
and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home 
And it’s all you’ll ever know…all you’ll ever know…

The second song that holds so much meaning to me and my friends that have carried me through the darkest of days is:  Watermark - More Than You'll Ever Know (again, the video is not high quality, but the song on the CD is exceptional)

The lyrics are as follows:


Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...
CHORUS:
'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken the Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...
You have carried me
You have taken upon a bruden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you
A hundredfold, oh yeah...
A hundredfold, oh yeah...


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What songs are in your heart today?  


Blessings to all of you today, my friends
With Love and Hope,
Cheryl

Catching Up, My Friends

Acting "cool" with her shades at the cottage we rented.

I have been putting off posting lately because I don't have the right pictures or a grand idea in mind for a post, but I will put it off no longer.  I have been extremely busy the last few months and I am breathing a big sigh of relief that I can now relax a bit and try to focus on things that I have been putting off.

My oldest son graduated from high school this year.  We were/are very proud of him.  We put together a party (actually two parties) for him at our house.  I am not generally a great hostess because I get very nervous.  I recognize this fact and I am trying to purposely put myself in situations that are generally not comfortable for me by inviting people over or having a party.  I don't want this to always be the case that I struggle with having company.  I really enjoyed myself at his party so I was happy that I went through with it.  When my daughter graduated we held her party at a church hall and that worked out great too.

Part of our backyard before the parties got started

My son wanted a "bouncy" at his party so it was easier to have the party here.  The police were only called once, that I know of because a neighbor or somebody driving by thought that somebody was in danger because they heard girls "screaming".  I know most of the children that were at our home that evening and I felt as though the evening was going really well (We had the family/adult friend party during the day and Alex's school friend's party in the evening) and although I knew that the girls were being loud it was a laughing/joyful loud.


I went into our backyard when I found out that the police had been called and met with two officers.  Apparently the girls were all in the bouncy house having a blast and the boys were all around the campfire.  Does this sound familiar to anyone with teenage girls out there?  Loud, squealing, laughing, etc with their girlfriends?  Too funny.  The police apologized for bothering us and went on their merry way.

Then two weeks after his party we went on vacation to Point Judith in RI and stayed at the cottage that we have rented for the two previous years.  We stayed there for a week and although the beginning of the week was very rocky with bickering and disagreements about where/how to spend our time, by the end of the week we were in a sort of rhythm about how to spend our days and mostly in agreement with one another.

One of the beautiful sunsets that we saw at Point Judith.

My second oldest son was so excited that we finally gave in and allowed him to get a cell phone (15 years old--16 in August) that he paid for it to be over-nighted so that he would have it for vacation.  Wouldn't you know it that on approximately the second day of vacation..three days after receiving it (he paid for it all himself), he swam with it in the ocean and it hasn't worked since!  Valuable lesson he learned.  I felt pretty badly for him, but I found a friend on Facebook that generously gave him her older cell phone the day that we arrived home, so he is now happily texting his friends again.

My crazy happy family...I love them all!

The next day, I believe, my third oldest son, decided to go swimming while forgetting he had his glasses on!  Needless to say the waves took them off of his face.  The minute I realized what happened I recruited the whole crew to search the waves for them.  Five minutes later or so my husband actually spotted them and my son was able to, with the help of swimming goggles, grab them!  Thank you Lord!  I don't know how he would have made it through the week without his much needed glasses, and I am thankful that we didn't have to find out.

My older daughter is not home this summer because she found a nanny-ing position near the college that she attends.  I miss her, but she is blooming where God has planted her and has many families that depend on her gift of child rearing for their own children.  She watches children for five different families, on top of helping out the family that she lives with.  She was able to go on vacation with us though, and for that I am grateful.

I am heading to bed shortly because I have to be up early to drive my second oldest son to driver's ed class in the morning....just to think I will have three out of six of my living children with licenses soon!

I was able to read nearly two books while on vacation and was wondering what you enjoy reading.  I don't have a lot of time to read normally, but I find that if I enjoy the book it is amazing how I can suddenly fit a page or two of reading here and there scattered throughout my day.

Our little one chasing a kite with her eyes...Doesn't it look like she is looking up to Heaven?

Even though you are not here with us on earth Caleb, we do carry you around in our hearts.  We miss you terribly still, but God is giving us a sense of peace slowly...Every day we are one step closer to meeting you at the "shore".  We love you little buddy.  

My "Little" Girl

My heart is heavy tonight.  Lots going on by way of family dynamics and stress can threaten to overwhelm at times.  I honestly can't wait till Heaven.  I do not fear my own death, although I fear the death of my children more than I ever have, since Caleb died.  God is always drawing me close when I start to fear for my children's lives.  He does help me and I am comforted, but it is a frequent fear that I have. 

I am also sad because it was my oldest daughter's 20th birthday today and I wasn't able to see her.  She is away at college.  Time goes by so quickly and as I try to absorb that my first baby is now 20 I am thankful that God chose to allow her to live as long as she has (Caleb died at 17 months), but saddened that the time has gone by so quickly in some ways. 

I enjoy reading all of your blogs and thanks again for visiting mine. 

Until next time,
With Hope,
Cheryl