good stewardess: April 2010

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Planting Time, Use What You Have!

My sister-in-law posted a great quote:
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~Theodore Roosevelt

Left: Raised bed I built with firewood logs. Center: walkway built from old store tiles. I planted grass seed between the tiles. Right: Empty plot, future potted garden bed (I'll use gravel for the base). Front: potted tomatoes, cucumbers, Sugarbaby Watermelons, Cantaloupe and Yellow Squash.

That idea inspired me in making my garden as economical as possible. I just don't have a couple of hundred bucks to put into a new hobby! But that's where creativity begins (so I tell myself :) )
I used some old firewood logs from a tree that my husband cut down (Go Curt! Love ya!) to make my semi-raised garden bed. My neighbor saw what I was doing and offered some old pots that he had laying around for years! Good old Jack! He saved my daughter, and now he's helping save my garden dream. He told me "Erika, I don't waste nothin',...call me a pack rat, but it hadn't cost me a thing to keep all this stuff back here!"

From Back to Front: 3 corn stalks, 5 (2 different varieties) strawberry plants, two cantaloupe plants, 2 cucumber plants, a hill with Sugarbaby Watermelon seeds, 2 yellow squash pants, and 2 carrot plants.

Hard work, but I love it... It BETTER give a good harvest!

I look like I know what I'm doing right?

Then here I go thinking,... (by now, you should know,... I analyze EVERYTHING) is it that I don't have enough? or am I not using what I already have? Obviously the latter in my case. It's not bad to want more, but I certainly have to check myself on how faithful I am with all the things that have already been given to me... Here is the beginning of my garden, and me using using what I have!

"You learn by doing" ~ Jack

Thursday, April 8, 2010

We're ALIVE!! Diaries of a Copperhead Snake Attack

Last night, after visiting the neighbors the kids and I were walking home when blam! (or hiss.. or something like that) Chloe stepped over a Copperhead snake that was on the gutter of our driveway!

Sorry Copperhead,.. but not really!

In a Panic, I reached out for her, which caused her to step back over the snake as it coiled for attack! ... He didn't strike... he had every reason to,... but he didn't. Sounds like it was just not in the plan for my little girl to get bit by a snake that could have killed her. Thank You Lord!

My neighbor stepped on it's head as it was coiled up... and beat with a nearby branch (It died). Thanks Jack! We love you! And we KNOW you love us too. How many people would put themselves in a position like that for a neighbor? It's rhetorical,... don't worry,...We probably had the same answer,... but now, I'm going to have to rethink mine :)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Perspective: Is it really THAT bad?

Yes! It's Spring Break! No school, no waking up in the 5am's, and no pretending like I am not too tired to play when I pick up the kids!
Mean while, teacher contracts are coming out with some SERIOUS cuts, got a speeding ticket (while daydreaming of my life's drama), both cars go into the shop this week, and I'm planning to be back in the home full time. No one ever told me as a child that life would be "This Way"... (title of a song I am working on:) I'll post it when it's finished). But it is.

I AM RESPONSIBLE!!! even when it's not my fault (not that I am faultless, because I'm not lol). I was chatting with a fellow teacher about the excuses children in our classes come up with and she said: "I mean how much of what happens am I in control of?! Not a whole lot."

Wow, that really hit home! When I was taking pictures of my kids and niece on Easter Sunday, I thought... they are so happy! Not a care in the world... How did I get here? I know it's not a coincidence that this happened... Life is sometimes unfair, and with some of us, even relentlessly unfair... but you have to roll with it. Nope, I don't have a 7-step self-help guide to a better life...just FAITH, and a candid observation. Enjoy these photos of the kids...ENJOYING life.

Hurry up mommy.. I am ready for some action!

Here I go!!!

Alas!! My very own egg!

On the hunt for some Easter eggs..

"Mommy, look how many I got!"

Jelly bean number uhhhh...pretty big number!

The cousins in grandma's back yard! ENJOYING it all!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Kids, a sure way to selflessness!

Curt (my husband) and I were talking about what we used to do before we were blessed with our chidren Chloe & Isaac... Ahhh the good life, come home, talk about crazy days at work in the lives of Public School Teachers. We had Wine down Wednesdays, where we had a glass of wine, I made an awesome dinner, and watched a favorite TV show together....hmm...seems like a dream at times.

But then, when I look at Chloe, growing, talking, reasoning; and I see Isaac walking, trying to sing, and at times, just wanting some "Me and Mommy Time," I think: What would our lives be like without them? To be honest, I really don't care. I would not trade them for anything,... when we need a break (and boy do we!) there are babysitters, and other friends & family.

I had no idea what I was in for being a mommy, and much of it I have yet to discover (Ahhhh! teenage years...scary). One thing I do know, is that these children were no accident, God is certainly sovereign over their lives and the roles they play in mine.