Party Hiatus

We've had a 4th of July party the past 2 years - it had almost become tradition.  They weren't "super spectacular" - but I had a great time at them, and it seemed like everyone else did too - and that's what counts.  It's been less than a year since we relocated, and I don't think we know enough people in the area to throw the same type of party, so it looks like we're gonna take a year hiatus.  The 4th is coming up soon, though - less than a week, so I thought I'd at least reminisce a little.  So, here are some pics from our patriotic parties the last two years.

July 2008

(my mother-in-law carrying Harrison, and my soon-to-be sister)

(yes - that IS a gingerbread house - long story...)

(Alex was 3 - don't you wanna just kiss those cheeks!)

(Karen brought the goodies for the kids to make-their-own-cookies!)

July 2009

(the ladies' table)

(the kids getting Alex wet - much to his chagrin)

(escaping while the guys were distracted)

(a very patriotic Harrison)

(sparkler fun)

(testosterone at its finest)

(the kiddos pooped-out before the parents!)

They were fun parties - mostly because I spent more time partying than photographing.  This year's gonna be a quiet Independence Day for the Feitners.  But, truth-be-told, I am starting to get a little antsy for a party.  I'm sure Aaron can sense it beginning to stir in me.  We'll see how long I can hold out before throwing one here on Dogwood. Hope you have a great (and safe!) July 4th!

Possibilities ......

I'm a possibility girl.  I like having options.  Often times the fact that I have options can be more important to me than what the specific decision ends up being.  I think it's that the thought process involved in weighing several possibilities stretches my brain in ways that I find exhilarating.  (That probably stems from my mother teaching me HOW to think as a child....)

Several people have made a suggestion to me (not knowing that anyone else had that same discussion with me) - and I'm finally considering it ... a ladies' Bible study here on Dogwood.  Today someone suggested a book to study - and it happens to be one I read recently - and found to be excellent on so many levels.

I'm not positive about it yet. ... But It seems to be a more and more likely possibility (and one that my husband agrees with). 

... And I like possibilities.

geotrax

.... after about 2 solid hours of CONTINUOUS play - using the SAME toys - and with NO fights.  I'd say the train set was well-worth the money!  (It was Alex's Christmas gift 2 years ago.)

(excuse the full diaper)

(Alex doesn't miss much!)

Beetles on the brain

... not this kind ...

... not this kind either ...

... THIS kind ...

Sometime between Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening they emerged from the depths, and have invaded my yard!  My blackberry bushes are under serious attack - and our garden is a mere 20 feet away!  The birds ate all the berries - and the beetles are working on all the leaves.  Just look what they did to my basil (on the deck) in less than a day! (In the background you can see the blackberry bushes to the left of the storage shed, and the garden just to the right.)

I've read that the best thing to do to get rid of them is to drown them in soapy water.  Well, that's gonna be a start, but there's no way we can get all of them!  So, we've purchased these....

There are 3 unused acres behind our house.  Aaron's planning to put them up out there, and hope that it'll draw them away from our property.  It'll draw them from other neighbors too, no doubt.  But hopefully it'll be far enough away from anyone that it won't matter.  From what I read, Aaron's gonna have to empty the traps in the early morning and/or late evening, when they're less active - and then dump them immediately into soapy water.  We're soooooo hoping it works.  I can't even begin to explain how disgusted I am by them.

Since moving into this wilderness I've battled stink bugs and asian beetles (which look like ladybugs) INSIDE the house - for well over a month I was vacuuming up about 200 each day!  There are hundreds of wasps and various other types of bees.  Earwigs just showed up around where the sliding door goes from the family room to the deck.  We have flies and mosquitos, millions of ants (outside) - slugs, worms, gnats, spiders, millipedes ... you name it, we've got it (except bed bugs and lice, praise God!) ... and now JAPANESE BEETLES! ... and SUDDENLY all the birds are gone from our yard.  Do they scare birds away?  I'm beyond disgusted - I feel like I'm under attack!  I HATE BUGS AND I'M SCARED OF BUGS! (I think it stems from when I was 7, in New Mexico, and woke up with red ants in my bed.)

I want to move.  I want to pack up the whole house and just MOVE.  I no longer find ANY enjoyment being outside.  Every time the breeze moves my hair even just a little, my skin begins to crawl and I think it's a bug on me.  I'm convinced that God didn't create bugs until Adam and Eve sinned - and they're part of mankind's punishment.  I HATE THEM - and at the moment they're winning the battle on Dogwood.  ... At least Aaron's home for the next two weeks (until his next business trip) - so HE will be the one fighting on behalf of the Feitners.  Let's hope and pray he gets the upper hand REALLY soon!

Monday Morning

Last week (for 10 days straight), we had 3 different "sets" of house guests - back to back for a total of 8 people - and the most time between one leaving and the next arriving was under 4 hours.  It was WONDERFUL (a little chaotic at times) but WONDERFUL!  The last family left Sunday evening just after dinner.  So, I declared Monday "Jammie Day".  The boys loved it just as much as I did.

( airplane )

( "count to 3 and i'll hide" )

( "oooh - he found me." )

( strawberries )

Morning Thunderstorm

( jennisheckels ... I'm dedicating this post to YOU!)

Behind the house - just as the first edges of the storm are beginning to appear (at the tree line).  These photos were taken by me within the past hour.  

(PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICS TO MAKE THEM BIGGER - THESE SMALL IMAGES DON'T DO THEM JUSTICE!)

After I downloaded my pix / videos (full memory card) and moved to the front of the house.

In this last picture, that center part was actually spinning!  Not like a tornado (which spins parallel to the earth) but from top to bottom. It was soooo cool!


(These pics don't do the sky justice.  Think I need to read the camera's user manual and learn more about it.)  The sky was simply amazing!!!

The Battle

I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.

(Joshua 5:13 - 6:27)

The City of Jericho.

One of the spies helped by Rahab.

Joshua and the Israelites led by the Priests.

Back at camp for the night - sleeping.

Repeated on days 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6.

(waiting for stragglers)

Then on day 7 - 7 times around the city in complete silence.  Until the trumpet (recorder) call and everyone screams.  God takes care of the rest!

... And the walls came tumbling down!

"... Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!" (Joshua 6:16b) Sometimes when we have a situation that seems to be more than we can handle, all we need to do is shout God's praises, and He'll fight our battles for us.  The battle might not be won overnight (for Joshua it took 7 days), after all "... If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b)