Beauty all around

Pause. 

Soak up.

There is beauty all around.

huckleberries 'n' homemade ice cream...

He could just pick her up and take her with him...

My sweet husband spent 4 weekends sanding, sanding, sanding every board of our front deck.  He was racing against time, as we know we can get snow any time after Oct 1.  When he had to travel for work that last week, the girls and I put in hours to finish the final stretch for him.  We were soooo thankful that the stain/sealing process was much quicker, and the result- a job well done!  Our deck is ready for a few more seasons...thank you honey!

I think it was the 6th stain color we tried that we settled on....
Here you can see the raw wood below and the fresh stain above. 

So thankful for cheerful help!

Wish I could just sit and enjoy every sunrise and every sunset...
they are truly magnificent from here!

First day of homeschool community day!

We may have started a tradition....
Breakfast Pizza on the first day of school!!!
Mmmm, a homemade crust topped with crumbled sausage, scrambled eggs and cheese!

Garden Harvest

The day her brother gave her a fresh grape...

Standing proud!

I am so thankful for this beautiful life we are living- so many things to smile, praise and laugh about!
We still have the struggles- the mess, the broken things, the mechanic and vet and dental bills...
We still get overwhelmed, frustrated and tempted to complain...
But when I lift my eyes to the maker of the mountains I can't climb,
I lift my heart and hands and voice in praise,
and all I can see is beauty again.  

Psalm 121:1-8 1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.