nothing

The weather here can change on a dime. One minute I'm on the deck eating lunch, sunshine and humidity "on the menu", the next minute it's pouring down rain, fast and fierce, only to have it stop as quickly as it came. I don't have any problems with this, I've just learned to take an umbrella with me wherever I go. And I definitely don't have a problem with what these tropical rains do for our garden and flowers. Makes everything so lucious and smell so good. I do, however, have a problem with the rabbits eating my flowers and bulbs, but hey, you can't have it all.

It has been quite hot lately, and very humid, and summer is just beginning! Each year I see how long I can go without turning the AC on in the house, no matter where we've lived. Some houses have stayed cooler than others. Lucky for us, our house is shaded by lots of trees here. So far I have not had to do so. I am so grateful to the man/woman who invented ceiling fans. They are a MUST here in the south, or anywhere humid. BUT, when you can't open the windows at night because of the humidity outside, you can't cool off your house much at night. And some nights it stays warm outside all night long and doesn't even cool down. According to the weather man, today is going to be a hot one, and since it's 7 a.m. and the house is already 77 degrees, I might have to break down and turn the AC on so I don't kill us all today.

In other news, just when my man decides to take a long trip to the wild, wild west, the water heater goes on the fritz. Isn't this how it always goes? My canner has come in handy as I've had to heat water for baths, making me feel like a true pioneer woman. Makes me realize just how blessed we are to have all that we have these days.

Which leads me to my last thought for today. As I woke up to my pesky little alarm clock this morning which was playing "Let's Get It On" (they love disco, R&B, etc. here), and as I layed there feeling half empty and missing my other half, the thought came back to me from Sunday's gospel doctrine lesson (which is in no way, shape, or form related to the song playing on the radio)--I am nothing without my Heavenly Father. Truly nothing. Yet, with Him, I can do all things he requires of me. I can. We all can. And so this is great encouragement for my day ahead. Forge on! With God, nothing is impossible, and with God, all things are possible.

Mother's Day 2011

Just had to include this one. Christian keeps things light around here. He couldn't wait to change out of his church clothes any longer!

XOXO RTA

Hello...

For the past month I have been avoiding blogging. I couldn't even LOOK at my blog, or anyone else's for that matter. Not sure why--the desire was gone. Life has all of a sudden gotten a lot more busy than usual and blogging has been on the very bottom of the totem pole.

But here I am. No cleaning today, only transcription, and I find myself wanting to take a peek once again into the blogging world. The weather has been nothing but gorgeous, perhaps one reason why I have spent time away from blogging. The outdoors frequently call my name and quite often you can find me laying in the hammock. It's my favorite place to go study my lesson material and to just be still. I've been housecleaning oodles and transcription is now picking up after a slow winter. And yes, for the most part, I do not mind scrubbing other people's toilets. You get used to it, just don't forget the latex gloves. Ü

The past month has brought on lots of new things in our lives, some of them very small, but things that include: me riding a bike for the first time in years (and I LOVED it!); an artichoke plant for the garden (never grown one before, apparently they do really well here); new friends; I had duck for the first time and it was delish; a new pet (Gretel's dream came true--we gave in and got her a dwarf hamster. She named him Gus-Gus. He is so cute! It was her reward for practicing violin so well for months); new plums, nectarines, apples and peaches on the trees; first trip to the beach this year with the kids; and new flowers. I am thankful for all of the joy these simple things bring to me and my family.

Ryan is wrapping up his first year of medical school. We both cannot believe how fast the first year has gone. It was not as bad as I thought, but I guess it has a lot to do with perspective and where you're at in life. Some wives really struggle, but honestly it hardly even phased me. In fact, we've had years in the past that were way worse than this, where we saw Ryan less than we see him now, where the kids were lucky if they even saw him every day. The kids are my comfort when he is away studying at the school library. Pierce is good at being the man of the house when Ry is gone and has become quite the responsible and capable young man. I have gained even more independence, realizing that sure, we would love to have Ry come places with us, but when he can't we can manage and still have a great time together. So this year was great and we are looking forward to next year, and the next year, and the next year and are preparing ourselves for the craziness that that and the rest of his medical training may bring. After almost 15 years of marriage, it is so wonderful to see my husband happy, stretching himself, and learning all this wonderful "stuff". I'm proud at his dedication to everything he does and to see him excel. And he sure looks mighty fine when he wears that white coat of his Ü. It will be so nice having a doctor in the house someday...









The boys are constantly wanting to build things

First egg hunt in Virginia!

Spring Break