Treasures from Nature

Jacob and I have been working in the yard just about every day for the last two weeks. We have been covered in mud, sore backs, splinters, and we even worked in the rain. BUT it has been so worth it. I love being outside and it has been refreshing to be so productive. Plus, we have just enjoyed experiencing all the little wonders of God's creation.




First, we prepared our garden area. Jacob cleared most of the grass and made the soil loose. We had decided on a raised garden, so then Jacob had to build a frame. I promise I was working too even though I keep saying Jacob did all the work. After the wooden frame was built and put in place, we had to attach the chicken wire to help keep the dogs out. This was fun. I didn't even have the strength to cut the wire....at all. So then again, Jacob was doing most of the work. Finally, we were able to plant the tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, jalapenos, and bell peppers. Notice the cayenne pepper around the frame? That's to keep our pesky chipmunk friends and squirrels away. Adds a little spice to the landscape too! (Okay, I couldn't resist!)





Our next project was the dogwood tree Jacob's parents gave us for our first anniversary a few weeks ago. This was easy, but of course, Jacob did all the digging. I just hauled the tree from the patio the planting spot and took it out of that black bucket.



Project three was a fence around the air conditioner unit. Words cannot describe how hideous this air conditioner is. We had to have our old unit replaced last summer and the new contraption is twice as large and twice as ugly. Well, we (Jacob) have fixed that. We had some fencing lying around (literally) that my father-in-law had given us. We cut it down shorter and framed the air conditioner unit. Jacob put a cute little hinge on the front and the latch should come tomorrow. Yippee! Cheap fix to such an eye sore. Now I can use the fencing for climbing plants. I may even move some of the roses from the West side of our house. Check out the picture of those too!

We've had a beautiful spring so far - I cannot wait for summer!

Making Chicken Salad and Doing Your Taxes DON'T Go Well Together

So as the daughter of a CPA the date April 15th has always been a big deal around my house. Well, this year the big deal came a few days early. Although today is still not my favorite.....

Jacob was working on our taxes earlier this week. I had decided to boil some chicken to make chicken salad for lunches while he was busy. So, we were both being productive. Kudos to us! Well, as it goes, Jacob finished and asked me to rewrite the figures on the form we would be sending to the IRS. I got analytical and we started going over the taxes again to make sure everything was the way it needed to be. As fairly newlyweds, our financial skills are not such to analyze our first married filing jointly return quickly and efficiently, so this part took a little bit of time and brain power. Don't worry here's where that chicken I was boiling comes back into play. Suddenly, I smell something and Jacob jumps up yelling "The Chicken." I ran to the kitchen but stopped once I saw nothing was on fire. Well, I had to get my camera. Jacob did the whole open the door and fan it bit, but I was busy taking photos.

I will admit (and my sister will offer it up a little more willingly) that when I was younger I put eggs on to boil and forgot about them. Burnt boiled eggs stink, but burnt chicken breast is even worse! Here's the visual evidence - we are still dealing with the olfactory evidence as our house smells like we took up Malboros this week.

Happy Tax Day! At least our house is still standing to pay taxes on this year!

Blogging from Belize, Tech Travels

So, The Tech recently returned from a 6 day trip to Punta Gorda Belize on a medical mission trip. He left Monday, March 30 and returned Saturday, April 4. The rest of the team stayed until the following Tuesday. The team consisted of nurses, surgeons, CRNAs and the Tech. While there the team worked for over 10 hours a day in the OR in Punta Gorda. The patients came from villages all around the area. The Tech was given the opportunity to participate by one of the CRNAs that he works with at the local children's hospital. This CRNA happens to be a member of the congregation closest to the church of Christ at White Station where we are members.

This trip was such a blessing for Jacob even though I had asked him to come back early to be home for our first anniversary. He kept a wonderful journal that I hope to read to our children someday. He was actually better at keeping a journal than I did in Ghana. It is amazing to see the pictures too of how the people of Belize live. It always amazes me how God has given us everything to live so simply and we have such a hard time being content here in America. The picture shows the Tech in action doing what he does so well!

Please pray that the work that this team did to heal physical bodies will continue to heal these people spiritually after witnessing the glory of God!