heart song

Here is my heart song as of late. I've kinda been going through a rough patch and this song has given me comfort. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing I've never left God's hands. Sigh.
JJ Heller is a newer artist, singer/songwriter who is a must have. Her cd "Painted Red" has been on repeat in the car the past few weeks. Check her out, you will be encouraged!



YOUR HANDS

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

Our Harvest

As autumn comes the harvest begins. We're already loading up the freezer with our harvest of summer's growth. Corn, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, apples, peaches, pears, berries, squash. Oh what fun it is to have a garden. To watch it grown from a small seed to thriving plant full of fruit. Here are some pics of our garden treasures:

Our carrots were fabulous this year. And we blended up the greens in our green smoothies and chopped them up for soup. Carrot greens have a strong parsley flavor. They're delicious and packed with vitamins.



We also grew lettuce for the first time this year. It was a mesclun mix which you can cut and it continues growing. So sweet and pretty!

Zucchini! Our zucchini plants were bountiful this year including few extra large ones after we returned from our vacation. Grilled, sauted or baked it's a wonderful veggie. We also grated and froze about 20 bags.

Here is evidence that Evan sampled one.


CORN! We live in Nebraska so of course we have sweet corn. Hand-picked from the Lucas farm.





We ate as much as we could and froze the rest. It will make some yummy chowders this winter.

We also harvested tomatoes both big boy and roma in which we've made many jars of salsa. We had loads of grape tomatoes as well. They make our summer salads so delightful. We had bell peppers, banana peppers, and green beans a plenty. We've picked a variety of berries and rhubarb and made some delicious jellies and muffins. We were given peaches which are canned for winter. Now our table is full of apples and pears which I have sliced and sauced. Just waiting for our pears to ripen more before they are canned as well.

What a bounty God has granted us this year. It is so rewarding to see our freezer full and our cupboard filled with canning goods. Not only has it been fun, I've gained much in my hard work of preserving. God is teaching me more every day how important my job here at home is.

For Love of Powdered Donuts

What a better way to start off a grumpy day than with delicious powdered donuts? Evan could devour the entire package if we let him. His love of powdered donuts runs deep. Thanks to Grandpa Steve we've been working on this package for about a week. Evan awoke this morning fueled with the grumps. But a small mention of donut changed the whole outlook on the day.

They sure are delicious.

I'm Growing Up!

I am now 21 months old. My grandpa knows this and that is why he gave me my very own ice cream cone the other day at our favorite restaurant...Valentino's!


Let me tell you what...it was very yummy and exciting..just look at my intensity :)

Still here...

Cheese!!! Here I am. Did you miss me? Our July has been jam packed with events and vacations. But we'll get back to blogging very soon don't worry.

I love blowing old dandelions they fly everywhere, it's so funny!
Have you ever done it?

Here is Mama and Daddy in Estes Park. They climbed up a mountain overlooking the continental divide. Someday I'll get to go there with them.

We're going to go fishing on Lake Michigan with Grandpa next week. I hope the water is still so I can be on the boat. Grandpa said we'll catch salmon and trout. Ouuhhh I can't wait!

Till next time. Keep it cool friends!

A weekend of F-U-N

Hello my sweet friends. As we are hit and miss with the internet at our house I've decided to visit a favorite place of mine called PANERA. Many of you partake in this love as well. Isn't it a delicious place of relaxation? Hazelnut coffee and a chocolate croissant...oh so delightful. Over Memorial Day weekend we had a fabulous time spent mostly down at the farm in Unadilla. I took oodles of pics which we can't wait to share with you, so we hope you enjoy and maybe even decide to visit us sometime. Here's Evan:

We started the weekend with a bbq and my cousins came down to play with us. It was so great.

This is Caden, he's my littlest cousin.

This is Caitlynn and Callie, they're my girl cousins.

This is Cooper with my Gpa. Cooper is Caitlynn & Callie's brother.


After lunch we all went fishing! Well I took a nap but everyone else had a blast!

Aunt Amber caught a fish.

Uncle Chris caught a fish.

Daddy did.

Caitlynn did.

Callie did too.

The girls had a lot of fun on the paddle boat.

Urghh...closing time...stay tuned for more weekend fun and pictures galore.

Jubilant with Joy

"...Let them be Jubilant with Joy!"
Ps 68:3c

Dearest friends it's be awhile and we're sorry about that! I hope these pics tide you over till Mama gets more uploaded. Have terrific Tuesday and a joy-filled week. Remember smiles are contagious.

Costco Run

We Lucas' love our Costco runs! They are always an adventure as we seek to find the best deals and see many 'wants' we desire. Evan is starting to learn that going to Costco means we get lots of different snacks as we walk up and down the aisles. Sometimes it cause a ruckus though of an unhappy boy wanting more. Yesterday when we went we did'nt realize how much of a bargain we got until we came home. As we were unloading the box, Evan pretty much took over.










This box has us mesmerized with the hours of entertainment it gives our little man. Check it out:

Sunshine and Smiles

"What sunshine is to flowers, Smiles are to humanity.
The good they do is inconceivable."

Today I colored a picture. I saw the box of crayons on the end-table and grabbed them to color in my journal. I love coloring, I always have. I don't really remember the last time I just sat and colored a picture. It's so freeing and fun. I ended up drawing green hills with pink and purple flowers, and a bright sun shining bright in the blue sky. Across the shining sun I wrote , "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Hebrews 13:8 It's quite beautiful. When I was finished I realized that when I do color I color the exact same picture over and over. It's like I'm on autopilot. So I was wondering, what is the one picture you seem to always color over and over?

"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7

Little Things

"Everything, all joy, all happiness, all sadness comes from inside. Keep putting the little moments & the positive thoughts together & they'll turn to:
CONTENTMENT."

Here are some little moments we've had over the past few weeks. As I'm desiring contentment it helps to pause and relish in the little things that make us joy-filled.

Birthday Cake


Green Smoothies



Long Walks


Long Naps


Rocking Chairs


Playdates



Reading Good Books


Finding Old Pictures




and Spending Time at the Farm Where We Were Married

"It's the little things in life that mean the most."