It never gets old

Every year I am amazed. We plant the seed, water, weed and wait.

The plants and greens grow every so slowly but surely.

And when it comes to harvest each year I am no less amazed. The meals that include produce from our own garden simply amaze me. I feel so grateful and blessed to be able to eat something so good for us that we had a hand in.

All by himself

He planted the seeds...

watered the plants...

weeded a little...

watched and waited...

and pulled them up all by himself. He couldn't be prouder.

Sweet peas

There is nothing like fresh garden peas. Straight from the pods into the steamer for just a few minutes and then placed in a warm bowl with a couple dollups of butter.

We don't buy them canned or frozen unless they are going into some sort of casserole where they are covered in something else. They aren't even the same thing. When canned or frozen the texture morphs the peas into something not even resembling the same vegetable.

On the last night of VBS Steve and I went over to where we had already pulled up the pea plants and found a few pods we had missed. We opened them and put the few remaining peas onto the kitchen counter. When the kids got home our oldest daughter immediately spotted the peas and with shocked disappointment she asked, "You guys had fresh peas without us?!" Her dad told her that no we hadn't had any while they were gone. Her response was a slightly disgusted question, "Then who's stash is this?"

Should we be worried? :-)

Brothers

I always wanted a big brother. I love my two sisters very much but there was something about a big brother that I longed for.

When I was twenty-one my first brother came from Africa. He was three years old and was ring bearer at our wedding four months later.

Then the second came when I was pregnant with our second daughter. He was six.

They are now seventeen and sixteen and heading into their senior year in high school.

I love them as if they have been there my whole life.

I love them as if we share blood.

And I make them smile when I call them my "big" little brothers. I really love that.

A walk down memory lane

13 years ago this past February Steve and I were in this very spot on this very bench when he proposed to me. My family and I were on vacation and Steve was at a funeral in California for a long time pastor friend of his family. Having planned the proposal for some time and not wanting to miss out on his plans he drove all night to come out to join our family for a few days and to propose. My parents had the skinny but I was kept in the dark. I really had no idea.

This place is absolutely gorgeous and has a spectacular view of the mountains and ocean. Later he told me that he felt like it was the perfect place because I was a lover of the woods and he of the ocean.

Calling this place a romantic spot is an understatement.

We explored the area letting the kids look over the cliffs and enjoy the view looking out for miles over the ocean. We also told once again the story of the Japanese tourists that were standing in this very spot in the picture above when Steve proposed. They had just come around the corner as Steve got down on one knee and they went crazy. They were laughing and taking pictures like they were the paparazzi. I was dying laughing trying to say yes. So much so that Steve thought that I was just laughing and hadn't answered him yet. I reassured him that my answer was yes but all I could do was laugh watching all of these cameras clicking away listening to them talk in their language having no idea what they were saying. I bet somewhere in Japan we are in a few vacation books. Ha!

There are a few trails through this spot on the coast. It is easy walking making it a great trek for the kids and the view is worth every step.

When we came back around Steve asked a passer-by if she would be willing to take a picture of our family at the same bench that started it all 13 years ago. A lot can happen in 13 years. Look at that family! That young couple had no idea what was in store for them but that same couple 13 years later wouldn't change a thing.

Coast Extravaganza

I have been quiet here on the blog because we are on vacation. We are at the coast for nine days and are having a blast. The weather has been better than any other trip we have taken here. Every day has been gorgeous and picture worthy.

The kids have been spending countless hours exploring and playing on the beach as well as up the river that feeds into the ocean where are staying.

The tide doesn't come in as far this time of year making lots of tidepools for looking at ocean life.


My parents came for the first part of vacation over the 4th of July weekend. My kids love spending time with them and Steve and I enjoy chatting with them late into the evening.


A game of memory is always more fun with Grandma.

We all said at the dinner table last night that the highlight of the trip so far has been the fireworks at the beach. The house we stay at is right on the bay. People build fires and set up camp for the evening to enjoy the festivities. Once it gets completely dark the city sets off fireworks over the ocean and it's a spectacular way to end the night.