Shop Local

The boys and I spent some time in town today...(I avoid taking both boys at the same time at all cost), but today we made it an adventure. Between the "must" errands, we made a couple of stops at locally owned business. One is a new little specialty popcorn/fudge place and another was a little cafe for lunch. This past weekend I also ventured out into our down town area and loved strolling among the stores. Why do I not do the local thing more often- I love it and it's what makes small towns great.

Oh- we got cotton candy, banana, and pickled flavored popcorn!

Caught by Surprise!

We had a very eventful evening yesterday (Friday evening).

About 7:00pm while picking in the garden I noticed a dark sky. As the boys continued to pick it started thundering and lightening (No big deal...just a thunderstorm, Right?). As the lightening seemed to move closer my adorable husband had the boys start making their way indoors. While waiting on the boys we noticed some low clouds moving in...I turned inside and as I did my adorable husband called for me to turn on the TV as the wind started to pick up. About that time there was a loud BOOM and the electricity went out and it started hailing!!!...we swoop up the boys and head for the closet. We had my adorable husband's laptop in the closet and as we were reading about the tornado warning for our area the house starts to creek and rattle. I slid my fingers out under the closet door to hold the door from rattling and scaring the boys- As I do I feel a weird sucking like breeze and we hear a grumbling like noise and my adorable husband asks me if that sounds like thunder...NOPE! We remain in the closet for what seems like forever! My adorable husband finally makes his way around the house. He returns with a look on his face and says..."It's gone."

Do you know what is missing?

Yep! The Tree Set .

When K-man was told about their Tree Set he just started sobbing and asking why God makes "Big Storms". We spent some time while we were getting over the initial shock of things talking about our faith and how thankful we were to all be alright (still a bit heart sad).

From start (the hail) to finish I think the storm/tornado lasted a total of 10 minutes, but felt like an hour. A little side note that makes me nervous is how close the Tree Set was to where we were in the closet...still bothers me to think about it.


From what we can gather, the Tree Set was lifted and twisted and then thrown down into our garden in about 100 pieces! After talking to our neighbor, our trampoline had to have been lifted up and flown through the air, hitting his storage building and then landing in the next yard over completely destroyed with springs and poles driven into the ground in several yards.


Our well staked windmill was also damaged.
The "only" damage we had was: the Tree Set, the trampoline, the windmill, our wooden fence is a bit loose, our deck is loose, a little water damage in the hall way, the garden is flat (but we are hopeful)...Oh, I have to add in here that I was in the middle of canning a batch of green beans before the electricity went out- grrr!
Bottom line- we feel very blessed and lucky!

Here are some pictures as we made our way around our loop to check on all the neighbors.
The sky was a bit strange until it grew dark.

Here are some neighbors checking on each other and making phone call to neighbors that were out of town. We had no electricity for about 4 hours (not really too bad considering the storm).

Around our loop the damages included roofs, chimney's blown down, play sets gone, trees down and twisted, barns and shops destroyed, car ports down..BLESSING -no one was hurt!

When the electricity finally came back on we bathed the boys and then they slept in the living room, because understandably they were a bit anxious. When we woke up, the Tree Set was still gone- Bummer! But the day was sunny and we were glad to have slept in a undamaged cozy home. We did venture out into our small community to see what other areas were hit. Here is some of what we saw.

Today, around our community there were neighbors helping neighbors trying to clean up and manage all the damage. There will be long days ahead for some of our neighbors. We are still not sure if there was one tornado or multiple (we were all in closets!) However, I feel blessed we are all safe.

While we were in the closet and K-man was trying to understand why God created storms and why He would let things like this happen...he paused to ask us if God would make a rainbow after the storm was over, "just like for Noah". Oh, my sweet boy! God heard you and knew your tender heart, and He gave you your rainbow! As soon as we stepped out on our front porch this is what we saw. Thank You, Our Father, for Your promises!

Tucking Little Bit in tonight he asked, "thunder tonight?...big storm?...Going in closet?" Yes, I think we all might be a little more nervous the next time a thunderstorm blows through.

Lately...

Lately, I have been a bit hard on myself about this blogging thing. I seem to be so busy with the day to day life...such as chasing little pirates...that I just can't seem to do one more thing in my day. If at about 9pm I even sit down for a split second I'm "down for the count." I really want to do better.

I have had some things on my mind, but I haven't taken that chance to sit down and voice them...even now as I type I have one Little Bit telling me his is "yucky" and another bigger K-man talking to me about all fun things done at school today (and of course I pause to smile and make a comment to each thing shared), mixed with a bit of "Momma can you do this, hurry momma."

1. How much time should you take for yourself? I know everyone is different, but I just feel so needed sometimes I can't breath. I feel very pulled to focus on "home" things. I feel my place is in the home doing the best I can for my family and my adorable husband...but sometimes I feel that I am restless. Like I want to do for me...selfish sounding, I know. I love every minute of preparing meals for my family, keeping my home, teaching my boys about God-loving my family, I just seem to need to find a time for my own refreshing time- I also can't seem to complete anything-I am absolutely interrupted continuously!!!! What do you do to refresh? How much time do you take to refresh? How do those wonderful women who post amazing things they do and complete have the time and energy (some of them have a home full of wonderful children!)???


2.Our family recently were invited to a home to allow K-man and T. ( A boy K-man has gotten to know at his "school") to play. I was sadden by the whole visit. The almost 5 year old boy said "crap" on several occasions with his mother's response, "don't say that, they may not talk like that." WHATEVER! No, we don't talk like that and absolutely no child of mine is going to use that language freely- so tacky! Then the evening proceeded with his mother and father continuing with..."T. don't play that music,...don't play that game, they may not like it." Oh my! I was blown away by what they allowed there son to listen, watch, play and say! Not only this,but I didn't even know this family well and the mother talked about everyone and everything (and not always the most kind words were used). I was so upset. Through passing conversations and greeting with her I had no idea the family life that they led. Living in a small town, I understand that you have to be nice to everyone, but I'm not sure this family is one we will be doing much with. I think I'm in for a rude awakening. We spend so much time with friends from our church and others who are so kind hearted that the "real world" can be so shocking! I was so concerned that night that I couldn't sleep and I was physically sick the next day. I'm just so tired of the "real world"! You can bet I have hit my knees in prayer with the realization that I will have less time with the K-man as he starts "real" school next year. I am also praying to be more assertive and not to become timid when it comes to how we raise our children and operate our home. Those wise women with children in school...How are you combating the "real world"?

That's A Wrap!

I could not let T-ball season officially end without a wrap-up!

One of the highlights of the season was K-man enjoying the day with his little league team at the Texas Rangers Little League Day!

K-man's team (along with my adorable husband and Little Bit)...Oh, and another 1,000 other excited little boys and girls , got the chance to walked around the field.



Aren't they just to cute!...I mean manly!
The day was also a special day for the boys because they were giving out Ranger jerseys! Little Bit is sporting one of the jerseys!

CHEESE!

What is a day at the baseball game with out Self Portraits?!?

yep! There are my precious boys!

The game was VERY exciting! They boys yelled, jumped, cheered, danced, and did the wave multiple times- I think that they got the full baseball experience!

This T-ball season was just plain FUN! K-man improved so much and he really had fun with the guys which is really what any mother wants. I love this picture because K-man is wearing my adorable husbands cap- after leaving his at Gramzie's house-oops!

During this season it was fun to watch the relationship between my adorable husband and K-man get a bit deeper on other levels. It warmed my heart to see the relationship between them only grow stronger. My adorable husband is K-man's #1 fan (after me of course!)

AND the season could not be concluded without mentioning the Little Bit. He wanted to be just like his big brother! He was able to sit with the guys on the team and say "good game" with the other team following the game. He even got to pick out of the "hustle bucket" following the game, but it wasn't until the last game when he was able to stand in the outfield with his Daddy and big brother!!!

K-man was so sweet to little Bit! He let the little guy hand out with him and made Little Bit feel so big! Thanks for being a GREAT big brother!

You don't have to much longer Little Guy before you will be knocking them out of the park!

Meet the Little League

ROYALS!

Oh, I can't neglect to mentioned that the last game K-man was hit in the face with a ball. The sweet boy cried and looked for his Daddy on the field. He was fine after a couple of reassuring words from his coach/Daddy! Way to be tough!

Following the last game pizza, cupcakes and a trophy were enjoyed by the team!

every boy on the team signed 11 game balls so each boy could have signatures from their teammates! What I neat memory for K-man's first T-ball experience.

The proud Dad!

And you better believe this K-man has a

VERY PROUD Momma!

K-man you did great!