Dave took the boys on a father/sons campout several weeks ago. While there Jacob found the best stick "in the whole world" because it had a sharp pointy end. (I'm thinking it was probably the worst stick in the world) He loved this stick for about 10 minutes then became curious if it would float in the river. I guess that it did and floated down the river. As he watched it float away he suddenly realized that the stick that he loved more than life itself was gone. He quickly burst into tears and hysterics about his stick for the next 2 hours. For a moment that he calmed down he asked his dad "Did you get a picture of the stick?" Finally he stopped talking about it or so we thought but now 2 weeks later we hear about it every other day. "I just can't stop thinking about my stick" complete with tears and everything. I have recently been reading Anne of Green Gables and I have to say minus the red hair, Jacobe could pass for Anne any day with...

It has been 3.5 years since we left the frozen chosen in Minnesota and the student budget. Thank goodness! It has taken several years but I am learning to spend money with the best of them. But some things never leave you and that is my desire for cheap produce to can/freeze. When you are canning things you want to feel that you are not only going to enjoy the taste difference but that you will also be saving money. That doesn't always happen and usually I end up spending a lot to put up my peaches or other fruit. Back in Minnesota they had this dumpy store downtown St. Paul one of few that bagged your groceries though. They sold fruit and produce that wasn't the top of the line but had the best prices in town. That was how we canned peaches and made jam and ate any veggies while we were living off of $15K a year. I could never pass up a box of overipe peaches for $2 and then go home a make the best pie with them. Though my budget is much larger, the neglected fruit stil...

Kids just know how to make you laugh. As of late it has been my 6 year old Jake who never stops pondering the questions of life. Here are some insights into his brain I suppose. After receiving a birthday invitation for a Sunday birthday party he was telling his brother about how he would not be able to go. (I guess the Sunday and FHE lessons are sinking in) "Come on Tom I can't go to the party on Sunday. What is more important a birthday party or Eternal life?" Then a few minutes later Jake asks "Mom what is Eternal life anyway?" This week also as he was discussing school summer vacation and how excited he was for it. Then he said "How come we don't have a church vacation mom?" Lastly today he came and told me he had something figured out. After he had touched something dirty like the dog or his mouth or who knows 3 times then he would wash his mouth out with soap to remind himself to keep his hands clean while emptying the dishwasher. So t...