A Time For Everything.....

Greetings and holykisses,

I didn't decide on a sabbatical. But I know in more ways than one; .... rest has been needed.
I've missed all of you! Each and every one.

Where do I start?.........
Well... our Ruth bible study ended, and oh how I've missed it! We decided to take a little break and then our next study will be on the book: "Women Of The Bible" by Jean Syswerda. It's 52 bible studies for individuals and groups. We don't have it all figured out how we'll do it, but may take turns choosing which women we want to study and go from there. Obviously we won't be gathering for 52 weeks, but it will be nice to not have to purchase books so often. We'll be starting next Tuesday! -- On my own; I ordered Kelly Minter's bible study: No Other Gods. I can't wait til it comes in the mail. In all admittance I know, I've not been in the word near as much since our last study ended.

Let's see, what else has been going on......-- we had a nice visit by my Sil and Bil. They were here for a couple days and we hit the road finding "Bargains Galore on 64." It was fun and we all found some good deals! 160 miles of yard sales!!! --- No... we didn't go that far, but made new memories together. Hopefully the potting shed wren will love her new "wren house" as much as I love the vintage green cultivator that Myguy bought me with it's little wooden handle!

This past Tuesday I had bone grafts done in my mouth. I'm still pretty sore but thank GOD the swelling had finally went almost all away when I woke up this morning. I seriously looked like Mrs. Potato Head for a few days. ... I'm really not exaggerating. Do you remember the Mr. Potato Head game? I'm tellin ya, ... everytime I put on my little black glasses with those great big swollen and elongated jawline... well; I looked like "kin."

Two days after the surgery date, was my birthday. That was going to mean no birthday cake for Lea. But guess what? My friend Maxi knew about all this and the Sunday before surgery, she surprised me like you can't imagine. After church, Myguy and I had went out of town and when we got home, my friend had been at our house and decorated it for my birthday! She left us homemade chicken enchiladas, chips, dips, and the most scrumdillyicious chocolate cake... this side of heaven. As I walked up to the kitchen door when we got home, I found a sticky note telling me I was beautiful. ??? Entering the kitchen was a big shiny banner and there was sticky notes from one end of our house to the other with the most wonderful messages of sweet friendship. I was totally overwhelmed. Balloons were all over the place, and even presents too! We dove into the food and I'll never divulge how much cake I REALLY ATE. You don't really want to know how much this gal can put away. lol How blessed I am by this friends FRIENDSHIP. She's the friend I met literally at the alter of a church we visited. I'd went up to pray and she walked up and prayed with me. God's good isn't He?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember how I told you my friend had left notes all over the house? On my bathroom mirror she'd taped one that says: WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE MIRROR TELL YOURSELF HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE TODAY AND EVERYDAY. Now imagine me standing in front of my mirror looking like swollen Mrs. Potato head after oral surgery. Reading her hand written message.... I couldn't help but smile.* " I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. " Psalm 139:14 -- and thank you Lord for such a special friend!! Oh- I have to share the funniest one with you. Of all things I found another sticky note stuck to a bra I'd left on the dryer. It said: Friends are like bras: close to your heart and there for support. heeheehaahaahoohoo... (now that could break a stitch or two.)

Tomorrow I go back to the dentist for him to check everything and I have a prayer request. Please pray that I start growing enough bone so I can have the implants I need. My dentist also said, that we gotta pray enough bone grows....! I'm trusting God and that it's all gonna work out. Later this evening I'll be sitting down to write a thank you note to the family who lost the loved one that I received the bone from. I don't know who it was, but this is a new thing where they give you a card where you can write a thank you and then the organization that handles everything will see that it is received. I'm very grateful for such a precious gift! I've been thinking about it all alot. It's kinda wild to think someone else is now a part of you, ya know?

On a lighter note.... yesterday afternoon we drove up into the Ozark mountains. It was so beautiful! We stopped off at a basket shop where we know the owners and visited for a little bit.
We bought this handmade apple basket while we were there. It's a nice big basket and the man who made it does amazing work. Bet this will get used alot and passed down to the next generations.

We got the handmade whisk broom hanging on the wall there as well. Have never had a hand made broom before. (Lord knows it needs it around here these days.)
Remember awhile back I told you about this little hen who hid out without my knowing it and hatched out 8 little chicklets? The chicks are all feathered out now and about half grown. We were a little late closing the door on their pen the other night and something got in there and killed this little hen and two of her babies. Myguy found her feathers down by our woods. Makes me so sad... -- the Momma was one of my very favorites.
But now these two jumped on a nest of eggs up at our coop and are sharing responsibility to hatch out another mess. The red one up front was just daring me to take a step closer. lol But I'm smarter than she is.
Today, Trent came looking for me and when he didn't find me, headed out toward the garden wondering if I'd wandered out there. He didn't find me, but found a raccoon instead! He watched it eat two small tomatoes in the middle of the day off this old vine.

When he told me about it I was so excited but then he made me realize that it was kinda odd for it to be out and about in the hot part of the afternoon like that? I'll be watching carefully. Wouldn't you know, he thought it went under the potting shed.* I think tonight I'll put a can of catfood out there in full view of my window and see if I spot it too.
Yall the garden is lookin pitiful. I'm plumb ashamed. It's so hot and dry and for the most part I've let everything just go until it cools down. It was only 99 today though. I think the hottest we've had here was 106 this month. That makes for hard gardening! Unless you want a huge water bill which I've been trying to be wiser about! Remember: *(forgot the waterhose on a couple times... .for a loooong time.)
The most colorful thing we have left is our cockscomb which is about ready to let dry and use for seed. I just love their pretty, red rooster combs. --- As much as I hate to kiss all my flowers goodbye for the year,... they did well and we'll have alot of seed for next year now.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" Ecc 3:1-3

Have a beautiful day,