Blackberry Picking!

Matt's dad owns some land in East Texas. We affectionately call it "The Ranch" because there are in fact some cattle who live on the land. Although another guy takes care of the cattle, Matt's dad takes care of the land, including a fine garden where he has planted corn, squash, carrots, tomatoes, white and red onions, blackberries, raspberries, and lots of fruit trees. It's pretty impressive!!

Interestingly, there are also lots of wild blackberry bushes growing along his fences, and this weekend was a prime time for pickin'! So we invited our dear friends the Uptons to come with us for a day of fun in the country. I didn't get too many pics because we were having so much fun, but here's a few:









Then Maxwell took this pic of Elizabeth...


And she took this one of him.


In the end, we yielded about a cup of blackberries (we ate some, too), about a dozen white onions, and four sleepy kiddos. We had a blast and can't wait until the peaches ripen next month!

Wordless Wednesday

I know this is supposed to be Wordless Wednesday, but I just had to say that Abigail actually brings me this apron and asks me (in her own way) to put it on. She loves working in the kitchen. Mostly with that fish!

A Kiss!

Today, for the first time in her wee little life, Abigail gave me a kiss on the lips. We've been practing. See, I'll say, "Keeeessss," and at first I would get nothing...a blank stare. Then she started kissing the air in my general direction. But today, she turned and looked at me, leaned towards me and planted one right on my lips. Oooh weeee! I was so excited; I cheered and cheered, and Abigail just smiled. Next I did what any reasonable mother would do...I asked for another kiss!

Wordless Wednesday

Snapshot

Sitting at the table tonight and savoring my Jell-o chocolate pudding, I realize I have a really good life. I have a husband who loves the LORD, me, and his darling daughters. He takes an active role in their lives and makes them (and me) laugh hysterically. I also have two precious daughters. The oldest had her first dance recital this weekend and now has been bitten by the dancing bug. She talks of almost nothing else and is so, SO eager for her next chance to be on stage. Then there is the youngest, who just found a book on the living room floor. It's about 1/4 of her size, but she faithfully carries it into the kitchen and looks for someone to read it to her. Matt (remember my previous comments and the fact that I'm thoroughly enjoying my Jell-o) volunteers to read. Abigail toddles over, gives Matt the book, and sits down on command to hear her favorite book being read for the 100th time.

P.S. She has it memorized. She can say certain words like "ball," "-gon," for wagon, and kisses at the kitty in the picture. This is sheer bliss, and I couldn't be more grateful to God who gives good gifts to His children. How blessed am I to be one of these?