Coming this Fall....A and L's Pumpkin Patch

Adam and I woke up this morning and decided this was the day we were going to plant those pumpkin seeds we order a few weeks ago! Adam plowed the land one more time , before we headed into town to get some supplies for planting. I had never been to Sparr before, so I was excited to check it out. For those who have been to Sparr you may think I am crazy but, I love to go to places I have never been before. We picked up some fertilizer and Black Kow (Compost), which confused me since we live on a farm with cows who poop. Adam convinced me that it would take a long time to pick up that much poop, plus Black Kow has extra stuff in the mixture.
Adam laying out the fertilizer while I snap shots...just to clarify the bags were too heavy for me to carry so I was unable to help with this aspect. After the fertilizer was layed Adam used a "bedder" which makes "beds" for the seeds. Being from the city and never planting a garden he had to explain all this technical stuff. Here is the plot after he ran through it with the bedder.

Sadie was wanting to help too!

As you can see through pictures I have not been able to assist yet! I just had to document this monumental moment of planting my first garden/pumpkin patch. Then we layed out the drip tape for watering purposes , which I was finally able to help with. Once we were done we planted all the pumpkin seeds.
Now it is a waiting game to see if they start to grow. I do hope so because it would make for a fun fall full of wonderful pumpkins for decorating. Tonight we ordered some decorative squash and Indian corn that we will plant when the package arrives. What fun!

All done and ready for a cool shower. Here is a picture of my feet...and yes I was wearing tennis shoes! I think I need some work boots for our next garden. What do you think? What made me laugh was the fact that they are dirty but they were manicured!
After a crazy, hard working day some much need food was in store. I will be out of town on the fourth of July, so we decided to have our typical 4th dinner... RIBS!! We cooked with the music on and danced around(this is a favorite pastime)! Our dinner plate was so beautiful and colorful...our momma's would be so proud! Yum Yum!

After dinner we took a drive on the farm. They sun was setting and the blistering heat was in the past this evening! It was the perfect day of working plus some relaxation. I love days like this when I can spend the whole day hanging out with my amazing husband...we look forward to pumpkins!


*LRW*

God's Focus for Our Marriages

I have been searching for some literature for us to possible use for the couple's bible study Adam and I are trying to get together for this upcoming fall. I talked to Annie about it last week and thought I would get all of your input. To be completely honest I have never attended a bible study. I have been on retreats (ages ago), and Adam and I have participated in many devotionals, but I am unsure as to what a successful bible study needs. I know it starts with the bible but where do you go from there (it is a huge book you know)! We are coming up on the second church summit that is addressing our refocus plan this weekend. I wanted to have some information on the idea of getting together a couples bible study and possible literature to share with the preacher. So here is what I found...


When Sinners Say I Do (book and study guide) By: Dave Harvey

It is a 10 chapter book and this is the synopsis I found, "Marriage is the union of two people who arrive at the altar toting some surprisingly large luggage. Often it gets opened right there on the honeymoon, sometimes it waits for the week after. The Bible calls it sin and understanding its influence can make all the difference for a man and woman who are building a life together. When Sinners Say "I Do" is about encountering the life-transforming power of the gospel in the unpredictable journey of marriage. Dave's writing style embraces the reader as he speaks honestly, and sometimes humorously, about sin and the power of the gospel to overcome it. He opens the delightful truth of God's word and encourages the reader to see more clearly the glorious picture of what God does when sinners say "I do"."

Man after I read that I got excited! I love it when the book summary gets you excited, but then again that is what it's supposed to do. The study guide for this book is neat because it has a personal reflection, a reflection portion for couples, and then the group reflection.


Fireproof Your Marriage Couple's Study

I pulled this blurb about the study from the Love Dare website, "This six session in-home study is a great way for you and your spouse to build and strengthen your marriage. The Fireproof Your Marriage study integrates movie clips from FIREPROOF, along with key Scriptures, thought-provoking questions and devotionals, including concepts from The Love Dare book. Learn to appreciate the God-designed differences between men and women, how God's love enables you to love others and how to live a life free from temptations that can destroy your marriage."

Adam and I borrowed Fireproof the movie from my parents a couple months back, and we loved it. The acting was a bit hairy at first but the overall message was powerful. I cried because it was hard to grasp how a marriage can become so volatile when you are so happy in yours. We did not buy The Love Dare, because we were reading several books at that time, but my mom did it and she loved it.


Love and Respect by DR. Emerson Eggerichs.

A snip of what they have on the website. There are several different types of studies, but the concept of the book was interesting. "Based on over three decades of counseling, as well as scientific and biblical research, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and his wife, Sarah, have already taken the Love and Respect message across America and are changing the way couples talk to, think about, and treat each other. What do you want for your marriage? Want some peace? Want to feel close? Want to feel valued? Want to experience marriage the way God intended? Then why not try some Love and Respect."

Love and respect...what more could we ask for from our spouse. In all the books Adam and I have read together thus far for men it is all about respect, so this book title has me intrigued.


So there you have it the three I have found...what do you all think? Do you have any other suggestions for studies you have heard of or have taking part in. What books of the bible are great for reading that focus on the sacrament of marriage?

*LRW*

A Fullfilling Year

It is hard to believe my first year of teaching has come to an end. It was an amazingly tiresome, yet rewarding year. I made mistakes, but I learned from them. I laughed with my students often. I had days when I was unorganized, and I didn't get to everything I had planned. I enjoyed recess when I could watch my students be children. I had days when we threw up the planned lesson and layed on the carpet together and read out loud. I had days that made me think what am I doing in this profession. I learned that teaching is not for the weak, it for the strong hearted. But you know what I literally cannot wait to do it again, because every moment this year was a precious moment. Now with that said I am excited about this summer, going on vacation, laying around the house and by the pool, but I can't stop thinking about what I am going to change next year. This year was such a learning experience and I have things I am going to change and I am trying to organize my thoughts and ideas.

I also am changing classrooms this year. It took me three days to haul my classroom contents across campus, but it is all in my new room in the actual first grade wing. I am pumped to get my room organized and set up for next year. When I got my room assignments I was a bit upset, but now I am for sure God was looking out for me. I was acting childish (as we adults sometimes do...admit it) when I did not get placed next to the people I wanted, but in due time He revealed why He place me where He placed me. He knows me better than I know myself, and I need to learn to trust Him more. I was placed next to two teachers that I really do not know very well because they do everything together. I spent all last year on the other side of campus and was pretty much forgotten about. My own mentor only stepped foot in my classroom once. With that said I was worried I would not be included and my goal this year was to work closely with a seasoned teacher so I can learn from them. I was worried these two teachers would do there own thing and I would be left hanging yet again. I was wrong, because they have been more than awesome emailing not only me but my cousin-in-law Stephanie, who is across the hall. Now Stephanie and I have been driving a hour each way to a training in Lake Butler, FL this past week and the one coming up...I know my summer has not really started. The training is called SUMS, Students Understanding Math and Science, and it is a fabulous hands on curriculum. I plan on implementing it in my classroom next year, and guess who is a trainer for the program and uses it in their classroom...you bet the two teacher we have been placed by. Now was God telling me to trust Him or what...I believe so!

P.S. Adam and I started our first sweat equity project, we are redoing the office...more to come!

*LRW*

Dreaming of a Jeep.....

Just over two weeks ago Adam and I were sitting on the beach in Daytona enjoying some fun in the sun. I of course was reading one of my many professional development books, and enjoying the warm breeze. Adam was researching his jeep magazine we pick up at Walmart the night before, planning what accessories we would buy when we finally got our jeep. Then we began hearing honking and loud music, we turned around to find about 500 jeeps from the Orlando Jeep Club rolling down the beach. It was crazy and we sat there quietly thinking one day...we will have our Jeep Rubicon Unlimited with an army green paint job!

The Jeep Parade

Little did we know, Adam's dad (Pappy) also had the jeep bug. Pappy told Adam he wanted a jeep for the farm and for all the family to use and drive, so he gave him a budget and said happy hunting. Adam found a deal for Pappy and last Thursday Adam pulled up our driveway in the jeep. Talk about the kid in the candy store smirk, he had it alright. Pappy told Adam it is his job to keep up with the jeep, and I don't think he minded at all!

Adam in the new Jeep

Already I can see many future memories being made in the Jeep. K, Adam's little sister is about to get her driver's permit and I have a feeling she is going to love driving this around. She tried it out the other night on the farm and I'd have to say it suited her well. Kellee, my mother-in-law squealed with excitement when she found out she could hook her mp3 player up to the radio. Annabelle, our niece, enjoyed her Daddy (DW) driving around...she giggled as she saw the cows and felt the warm evening breeze. We went driving around the farm with William and Stephanie on Friday night and we are already planning to take it to one of the GATOR games in the fall! Much fun to be had!

*LRW*