Thankful - Day 11 Part 2

I am thankful for my Veteran children.  My pride in your service to this country surpasses just loving you both.  Thank you Melanie and Dave.  God bless our USA.

Thankful - Day 11

I am thankful today to be able to sit here and catch up on my thankful days.  Life gets busy,  and those odd days we get a breath and take time to talk with God,  empty out thoughts,  and connect with our hearts are cherished.  Today,  I was able to connect with my thoughts.  Thank you God for listening and answering. 

Thankful - Day 10

I am thankful today,  as it marks the 8th month since our Leslie went to live in Heaven.  The days have been empty without her and knowing one day,  we will join her in Heaven,  gets us thru these empty days without her presence.  God holds her close,  and one day he will hold us too. 
Leslie,  til we join you,  know our love is as strong now as when you were here on earth with us.  Dad and I love you so much.  So glad we had those years with you. 

Thankful - Day 9

I am thankful today for waking to a beautiful day ahead.  Spending time with Kiley is always a wonderful time.  She is my sunshine.  God blessed me with such a terrific grand child.  May he bless me with another one before my time on earth is done. 

Thankful - Day 8

I am thankful for our home.  Warm in winter,  cool in the summer.  God provided us with this home,  almost 34 years ago.  Our whole life together so far has been right here in the same home we started together.  Built before 1829,  it's a testimony to how love can keep us strong. 

Thankful - Day 7

I am thankful for my eyesight.  Thankful for Dr. Donahoe and staff for the next surgery date to remove the right eye cataract scheduled for Jan. 11.  God blessed me with this miracle last March,  and showed me he works to keep my faith.  Thank you God.

Thankful - Day 6

I am thankful for the heaven sent messages I recieve most daily.  God is wonderful to allow this communication.  My heart lives for them.  Thank you God.

Thankful - Day 4

I am thankful for the ability tonight to count.  Seems I missed a day,  and my number is off.  So once I posted,  I re-counted my days and now I am counting right.  Thank you God for not keeping score on my mess-ups and forgiving me. 

Thankful - Day 5

I am thankful for my hearing and the chance to listen daily to the sound of my grand daughter's laughter and giggles.  So thankful she inherited Steve's families sense of humor.  Life is fun,  no matter what comes around. 

Thankful - Day 3

I am thankful for good health for my family and I.  God provides our vitamins if we ask with our whole hearts. 

Thankful Day 2

I am thankful for my loving supporting family.  God gave me the best.

Thankful - Day 1

Thankful - Day 1
I am thankful for my faith in God.  He walks with me daily.

Fall 2013

It's been a different kind of summer.  Now we are awaiting corn to dry so we can harvest.  Rain moved into our area yesterday,  so the waiting continues. 
My garden was a success this year.  I canned and froze veggies for the winter.  We just got the garden done for the winter.  Fresh cow manure added this year.  We just beat the rain too,  so hopefully the soil will soak up the much needed moisture.  Our area is in a drought this fall.  Summer wasn't too hot,  but we got the heat in late Aug. thru Sept.  My was that ever a long 4 weeks of heat in the 90's and 100's.  Makes us wonder what winter will bring our way.

Life hasn't been the same since spring.  It will never be the same without our Leslie.  At least I have visits from her and I hear her talk to me still.  Yes,  I talk to her everyday at some point.  Thinking I may need to write them to help deal with this grief.  We shall see how journaling then goes first. 

We have had so much fun watching and helping shape our little Kiley into a wonderful,  smart,  and funny kid.  Life without her right now would be soooo lonely.  Melanie and Dave are doing a wonderful job being terrific parents.  They are dressing up for Halloween with her.  Batman family.  Love it. 

Well,  I am still trying to get back into this blogging that I once so loved to do.  Even though it's really only me who reads it,  at least I can read back and see what life has been like around here. 

August 9, 2013

Summer sure wasn't long,  even though the calendar says summer still,  the weather isn't summer except for the humidity. 
Garden is still producing,  not as well as in hotter summers,  but this year at least we have gotten rain,  natures watering to keep things growing. 
Been canning green beans,  making tomato sauce,  freezing zucchini,  making zucchini bread,  eating cucumbers,  eating summer squash,  freezing summer squash,  eating green peppers,  onions,  and praying for carrots soon.  Watching and waiting for cantalope and watermelon to ripen,  as there are many of those on the vines.  Nothing like fresh grown vegetables and fruits. 

I am still so lost.  In my head I know life will be different from what was,  but my heart still hurts so much.  Leslie,  I miss you so much.  

Just some tidbits

Been doing fun summer stuff.  Weeding garden,  mowing lawn and farm,  weeding garden,  keeping flower beds cleaned,  cleaning house,  weeding garden,  trying to get our sweet corn patch weeded,  and harvesting my first green pepper,  some green onions,  and our first official tomato,  and weeding garden.  Did I mention weeding the garden?  At least I am not having to deal with knee high weeds since I am keeping it cleaned.  I had a massive amount of strawberries this year.  Finally gave lots away so they wouldn't go to waste.  Gearing up to get the energy to dig up some starter plants and till and clean the old area of strawberries and make the new bed for next year.  I am definitely down sizing the rows this year and having less to pick next year,  and also,  I am going to cut the runners as they grow this year.  Last year I let them go,  it was just too hot to work much in the garden last year.  So since God blessed us with rain this year and so far good looking crops,  it's much easier to work out in the garden and enjoy the nature all around me. 
Tractor pull season is upon us,  so pulling is fun.  Our county Fair starts this weekend,  so that should be a nice time watching Kiley enjoy the events and rides. 
As I watched the fireworks this year,  I kept thinking of Leslie,  and smiling cause I know she had to have been watching them from above.  Got through her birth date with lots of tears and good memories of the day she was born.  Steve and I sure do miss her,  her humor,  sarcasm,  and especially her laughter.  Just so many feelings and emotions to deal with,  and wonder how long the pain will feel so fresh?  Maybe forever. 
Melanie is being so strong for us,  doing everything she can to console and help us thru this,  and then dealing with the loss of her sister herself.  She is such a good daughter,  and I hope I tell her enough how much I love her and appreciate her. 
God is good at holding us in his hands,  and everyday I try to thank Him for his love and support. 

2013 Crops/Garden

Finally got the crops in and the rest of the garden planted.  We prayed for rain last summer,  God answered our prayers this spring.  So far,  the corn come up within 6 days of planting,  and the things that got planted here and there time wise in the garden are doing very well.  Had such a bad luck year last year with most everything but tomatoes and melons.  This year,  we are hoping to be able to put up many jars of canned goodies for the winter months.
 My strawberry crop this year was so abundant that we offered to our friends and family to come pick-free strawberries,  and they took us up on the offer,  so I am happy to announce my berries didn't go to waste.  Happy so many love them like we do.  I froze many of the ones I picked,  and we ate Strawberry shortcake every day/night for over 2 weeks.  Switching desserts for a while now. 
Gearing up for our first antique tractor pull of the season this coming Sunday,  as it's our rain out date to make up from June 2 cancellation.  Hope the weather cooperates and we can get this pull off without a hitch. 
Farm counties fair is this week.  May get up to it one or two nights to enjoy some events,  and take Kiley to ride some of the rides.  We haven't found anything so far she doesn't enjoy doing and seeing,  so this will be another memory maker watching her take in new adventures.  The circus was such a hit,  she is so into animals,  I love her interest in them. 
Life is never going to be normal again,  but we are hanging in here,  making the best of life as we can.  Miss you so much Leslie,  99 days today.  Your still and will always be in our hearts,  your life in our heads and your absence grows in bounds at times.  God has you now,  our love to you,  forever and always. 

80 Days Later

 

Leslie Anne Garrison

June 21,  1983 - March 10,  2013

 

Our first born moved to Heaven to live with God.

We all miss you Leslie,  so very much. 

 

Love you always and forever,

Mom,  Dad,  Melanie,  Dave and Kiley

Lunch ???

Another day of what to fix for lunch....????  Kiley and I get tired of the same ole left overs,  grilled cheese,  salads,  chips,  sandwiches,  etc. that I fix us.  And we are about to head to the kitchen to make yet another lunch,  what kind,  we don't know yet.  Kiley thinks maybe the answer is in the cabinet now,  after standing in front of the fridge with the door open for 2 minutes....I told her we were not cooling the house. 

Looks like the choice today is brownies or angel food cake.  lol  The angel food cake is going to made later this afternoon anyway,  but I bursted her bubble when I told her they weren't lunch food items. 

I think she is going to settle on pb&j and applesauce,  as that is what is on the counter and she said lunch is ready Gramma. 
I really need to get a little more creative with lunch,  as it won't be long til we start packing our picnics and heading to the farm daily. 

Must be the time of year for catching up

Not much of a TV watcher,  I found myself watching a movie today,  actually sitting in front of the TV and watching The Devil Wears Prada.  As we own about 500 VCR/DVD's,  it's really not hard to watch one that hasn't been seen in a while. 
I have to say,  Unstoppable is a favorite of mine,  as it grips ya from the beginning and holds you glued to the chair til the end. 
Kiley was only here for 2 hours today,  so I had to find something to hold my attention,  while watching it rain off and on all day.  Just didn't feel like trying to do anything today.  It's just hard on cloudy days to do too much. 
Praying Saturdays appointment puts me on the list.  God will lead the way.......

More rain and snow

Tonight they predict heavy rain coming after 11PM,  then by morning,  turning to heavy wet snow.  Wonderful news,  as we still need the rains and snow for the soil and water tables,  lakes,  rivers,  etc. 
Yesterday, Kiley got to go sledding again.  The snow is melting fast that we had,  but it was still good for an afternoon of playing out in it.  Got the golf cart out and tied the sled behind it and around and around the yard she went,  giggling the whole time. 
Today as I surfed the sites I follow,  the day of complaining just got to me.  It must be a very unhappy life being so negative daily about little things,  and complaining daily gets so old to read day after day.  I used to comment on such daily's,  but now I just shake my head and look for positive posts to read.  Life is too short and precious to live in a hateful,  foulmouthed world of negativity,.  looking for something,  everything to find fault in.  Aren't those people afraid of Karma? 
Enough of that.
The day had been warm and sunny.  Starting to cloud up now.  I am so looking forward to being able to enjoy warm spring time weather coming in the next few weeks.  For now,  we will enjoy the cold and snow.  Daffodils are growing taller everyday,  and soon they will bloom lovely yellow flowers for me to enjoy seeing.  Color will be back in daily sight before we know it.  Praying I will be able to see it and work the soil to add to the beauty of nature around my area.  Never know what tomorrow brings,  so staying ready for anything.   

Been a while

It's been a while since I posted in this blog.  Not much going on during the winter months at the farm.  It doesn't help that life has changed so dramatically for me since the end of November.  Everyday gets harder,  even with a positive attitude.  Prayers are being answered.  Patience is the key right now.  Patience is something I have struggled with my whole life,  much more so in the last 7.  Somedays I think I will loose my mind,  what mind I have.  So,  again Lord,  I ask for help with my patience and everyday with this struggle.  In Jesus name,  AMEN