The Good I've Found (TGIF) : harvesting simplicity

aren't they beautiful?!

Not having 5 acres to care for is so nice. We were never terrific at it, and began to despise the constant maintenance needed. Weekends meant yard work or Even More yard work the next weekend if you slacked.

However, I missed my apple tree and blueberry bushes. The excitement of watching the blossoms turn to fruit entranced me every year. The hope that one day I would actually get to harvest some of it Before the deer ate it made for fun pursuit. (never happened by the way!)

When we planted our small flower bed garden for Valentine's Day, I smiled as the kiddos selected fruit trees and blueberry bushes. And, this week, I triumphantly harvested ripe blueberries!

Five. No, I did not take a photo of only the best. That is all. Five. But they are big and juicy and, from watching Shell's face as she ate them...very Sour! :)

So, we traded 5 acres for 5 blueberries. huh.

Here's TGIF: simplicity. May you be blessed by the little things. And may they be your joy as you remain steadfast in the big things.

The Good I've Found (TGIF): Him

my man

It's his birthday today. And I love him.

there is no greater TGIF this week. He is so much of what is good in my life.

oh, and he's home today from a week-long business trip ~ and yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, for me, with him, it is true even when he leaves for work. I cannot wait until I get to see him again. Too mushy? Too Bad!! It's my post about my man ;)

 Happy Birthday, Love :)

The Good I've Found (TGIF): Literally...Stuff I found...

Ok, so I've been having MASSIVE issues with my photos on my computer.

No, I'll rephrase by saying I've been having MASSIVE issues with my computer. period.

That being said, my tech guy is amazing. He's just tired of having to deal with tech issues all day long and then come home to them as well. And between the 5 of us waiting for him at home...there is usually at least 5 computer questions/issues for him. Poor tech guy. We love you :)

ANYWAY...I have blamed cursed put off posting for a couple weeks now due to said issues...but enough is enough! There are GOOD THINGS that need to be posted!!! (and should I regain ability to add photos, I certainly will!)

You ready? Cause this is a REALLY COOL STORY:

Yesterday, the kiddos and I left the house around noon for an ortho appt. When we returned, an hour and a half later, I noticed our 'yard debris' container (it was trash day, so they were on the curb) was stuffed to overflowing with broken wood pieces--furniture and old frames--stuff that we definitely had not put in there and that had not been there before we left the house.  I was a tad upset, thinking that it might not get hauled off--not to mention that someone had put it in our can without asking!--so I decided to try to transfer as much as I could over to the regular trash can. I accidentally lifter the 'recycling' can lid though and WOW, am I ever glad I did! Someone (presumably the same broken furniture off loading folks) had carefully deposited a large an enormous glass tank/aquarium inside. AND...that tank was full of another tank...AND...THAT tank was full of another...and another...and so on...and so on...

seriously, we now own 6 tanks. 3 glass and 3 plastic. Plus 6 heat lamps, bulb refills, sunning rocks and other accessories.

and it is all in great condition.

Ian has been asking for a turtle. I think God just said yes.  ;)

Moral of the story: If you have any really cool stuff you've been wanting to get rid of, please come dump it in one of my trash bins...on Thursdays...I guarantee I will never not check them again because of TGIF this week! :)

The Good I've Found (TGIF) : 11:11 on 11-11-11

Don't tell me this time and date isn't cool!!! 'Cause it is!!!

As my oldest daughter would say,  "Make a Wish!"

some days I feel that I am living a dream and can't imagine what else I could wish for.

this is one of those days. 

a beautiful moment in my beautiful life

TGIF ~ memorable moments. 

special seconds. 

times I love to record and remember. 

(sooo...did you make a wish? or are you like me and just said thanks for all the wishes granted?)

The Good I've Found (TGIF) : the secret of happiness

No, it's not Disneyland.  

(although living close, certainly doesn't hurt one's 'happy meter')

The truth is...I've never much liked the word HAPPY. And I consider myself a pretty 'happy' person. Now...JOY--that's a whole different animal--not to mention post!--and that's certainly an awesome thing...a thing I treasure as a child of God. But happy is well...meh.  

let's see what mr. webster has to say about it, shall we?

happy (hap'ee) adj.1 favored by circumstances; lucky; fortunate 2 having, showing, or causing a feeling of great pleasure...

and therein lies my issues with the word.  circumstances  lucky   feeling   all temporal. all variable. 

now, please do not misunderstand me. I like to be happy. Very much. HELLO..Disneyland!!! :)  But what I don't like is how much time I spend trying to BE happy. Trying to maintain that feeling. it is not something I am proud of.

But ... TGIF!!! Check out this quote:

"Happiness is finding something more important than you are and dedicating your life to it." 

This video contains that quote in it. And I like it.

The secret of happiness

It is not my life's philosophy. And I certainly still do not love the word happy, but this quote, this video THIS view of happiness is a nice reconciliation for me... it is The Good I've Found this week :)

The Good I've Found (TGIF) : schematic drawings and math

I have always loved sketches. Perhaps because my dad is an artist and it reminds me of watching him begin a drawing or lay the ground work for a painting. Perhaps because I did so well in jr. high shop class and am still so proud of the A's I earned in a traditionally 'boy' class.

But I think it is more than just that. There is just something so intriguing to me about the plans/dimensions/numbers being visible. A skeletal, mathematic base from which the final piece will emerge. The necessary blend of creativity and precision.

a very good reminder for me as I struggle through teaching my children math. 

My artistic mind wants only to read, to 'rite...but certainly not to 'rithmatic. yuck.

yet, looking at this simple charcoal and ink, I am humbled. Math is everywhere. And I have been blessed with children with strong, capable minds...minds that deserve the opportunity to experience life unhindered by predjudices against this subject. 

yes, MATH is my TGIF this week. (and, yes, I'm surprised, too!)

The Good I've Found (TGIF) : an explanation

The saying TGIF, or Thank God (Goodness) It's Friday,  is used to express a relief that the work week is almost at an end and the weekly time of rest is upon us.

I am stealing this acronym (sue me) and renaming it The Good I've Found, to express my favorite thing (or something I've chosen to see in a good light) each week.

My inspiration is the Bible verse:

'Whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

 --if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.'

Phillipians 4:8

I shall, of course, continue to complain and whine all other days of the week. ;)