Today I left the farm with two bushels of tomatoes, and lots of onions, garlic and peppers. There is something incredibly rewarding and delicious about canning our own tomato sauce each summer. Nadine was a wonderful help, as she always has been in the kitchen. We got through one bushel together before I sat down, put my feet up with a cold dandyblend beverage, and let her finish the second bushel. We chatted about life. It was a special time together, and I appreciate her youth and helpfulness! Having teenagers is great! The entire process took about 8 hours, but we now have tons of delicious roasted tomato sauce canned for the winter. Not exactly the most convenient day to can and get the kitchen as dirty as can be. Matthew is busy installing a new hot water heater in the basement, which means we temporarily have no water. I’m soooooo excited to have hot water again! Our tank has been leaking for a while, and he is replacing it with a tankless water heater, which confuses me to no end. Which is why I can the tomatoes and he installs the water heater! Yes, we did about forty jars, and yes, that one green-lidded fella bothers me too. It’s the Where’s Waldo of my canning jars.
Yesterday we celebrated Kids’ Day. This is our sixth year doing it, and it is never a specific date… just someplace in August when the time is right. The inspiration of this day is due to my sweet friend Ruthie.
It was a rather scattered morning, in which we found out the coupons we had been saving for this specific date were expired. But we still ended up driving to New Jersey to venture around Six Flags Great Adventure for the day. It was so fun that we never even got a picture of the kids on their special day. Most of the day was spent in two groups: the three oldest, who were tall enough for all the rides, and the short crowd who wished they were, but made the most of as many rides as they could. Each group was accompanied by either a parent who doesn’t really care for rollercoasters because it makes them somewhat sick, or a parent who adores rollercoasters, but happens to be growing another human being and wasn’t able to do any of them. I’ll let you take a stab at who’s who there. We shut the place down, and made many memories in the process.
The Ferris Wheel was the only ride Mom could do, which was fun with the little girls. We started school, and much is done around our table. Elijah had a sweet tea time with the girls to make up for a friend who was unable to come. My diligent artist, learning how to create 3D drawings and illusions.
As the month comes to a close, I relish how beautiful it was. Playing. Splashing. Growing things. Experiencing imncredible heights. Being with friends.
There were a lot of super difficult days, to be honest. A few in particular which threatened to unravel me for no apparent reason except to remind me that this is not my home. I’ve also been remembering how different our life was three years ago, when Matthew’s life was hanging between life and death. It’s not fun to go back to that place, even though somewhere in my deep subconscious I know that this week was the week. As hard as it all was, it was what God used and is using to bring Him much glory and many people to a place of freedom in their health. We’re so excited for the stories emerging about how God is changing lives through Plexus! We share our story, never knowing what He will do!
Baby “Chip” is growing so much! I’m twenty-eight weeks along already, and have only begun to realize that we should start getting ready to welcome a baby into our busy little home! I feel great, though huge, and am enjoying his antics which go on every night around the time I’m crawling into bed. He is so loved.
Have a delightful last few weeks of warmth and summer!
Grow Old With Me 