A Humbling Harvest

It's early - way too early for a full harvest.
But this is humbling.
I was so hopeful...and proud; thinking that all our hard work would be sufficient reason for me to have gardening bragging rights.
But the Lord is humbling me and it appears that this year of gardening and hopeful harvest will be a 'learning year' for us; learning about the Texas soil, Texas heat and what grows well and what doesn't....in Texas.
I've been thrilled to have the occasional onion, and one or two strawberries.  Most everything else looks like it will die before it has a time to fully mature.  Our green beans have been a HUGE disaster...both crops dying...our potatoes have died.  Our tomato plants are producing about one tomato each and then withering away.  The carrots are almost humorous, they are so tiny and skinny...I have hope for the squash and the corn, but even my hope for them is starting to wane.  Before my job, I was giving my garden daily care and consideration.  Now, I am barely lucky to get outside once a week.
FRUSTRATING and yes, disappointing.
BUT...we ARE leaning a lot from the experience this year and will hopefully do things next year enough differently to get a better result.
Speaking of my job...it is what it is.  Just a job.  Still not emotionally invested but grateful for a second income.  Del is finding it comforting to be back on our financial 'plan' or goals with the second income.  I am glad to be contributing, but wish it were something that I could LOVE.  I wonder if I'll ever find a job I really LOVE.
Father's Day was last Sunday and we had all the children over to give Del a sweet recognition of what a wonderful father he is.  I sure love him, as do the kids.  He is a good man, a good father and a very sweet and loving husband.  I am truly blessed.  The Primary children made him something for Father's Day too.  A picture of a tree, with all of their thumb prints being the leaves of the tree.  It was really cute and he will put it in his office at the church.
Mike got a new job; one that will bring in a substantially bigger income that his current job.  He will start the beginning of July.  It will be a huge blessing for their family if he and Kylie will just be wise in their saving and budgeting of their finances.  Jordan got a promotion in his job and he and Lexi are hoping to buy a small home out here in our area.  I would love to have them closer.  Kathryn continues at her job and makes better money than I do some weeks.  She is bored with life right now though...wants so many things different but hates waiting for them.  Patience will be something she needs to work on.
I was on facebook this past week where some of my friends were doing some 'summer 'things - canning, making homemade freezer jam etc etc... I was jealous of their time and ability to do some of things that I have always made time for in the past.  I don't even have time to go and find raspberries on sale, let alone make the jam.  I've found myself missing my Utah garden...dreaming of the days we used to pick beans, corn and then can it and freeze it.  I miss having freezer jam - I miss making dinner for my family.  I miss being home.  But, I must be grateful for all that I DO have and not complain.  Someday, I will be able to do it all again.  'A time and a season for all things.'.
In the meantime...enjoying my church calling, being mom and grandma and wife.  So busy though and not taking enough time to write everything that happens each day.  My sister Elaine is going to be having a grandbaby bumper crop this next year.  Each of her married children are expecting babies...and her one daughter, Janene is having twins.  There will be a lot of excitement going on in that family this next year.  I've heard from my mother a few times and she seems to be doing well.  She's not the 'lonely' type - she likes her quiet and she likes her calm so I know she is happy.  Yes, she misses my daddy, but really is peaceful about the whole thing.  She's a good woman.  I love her.
NBA playoffs.  My team isn't in it, but I'm enjoying watching it anyways.  I don't watch much tv anymore, since working.  I work 6 days a week...kind of doesn't leave time for much else.

Memorial Day

We had all the kids out for the holiday.
And since I am now bringing in a paycheck again, we felt we could finally go out and get ourselves a new barbecue!!!  So Del and I went out early Monday morning to Lowes to hit the sales and we got ourselves a nice barbecue that Jordan and Del spent the nest 2-3 hours putting together; (with Lexi's much needed supervision).  We had a wonderful barbecued chicken dinner, Sean and Becky made taffy and then there were water balloons and volleyball to be played out in the front yard.  Sean had been sunburned from the day before and was barely able to move, let alone participate in the games, but he was a sport to be with us at all.  It was a nice, relaxing holiday...and a 'paid holiday' at that.
Del, with the help of Jordan and a young man in our ward, has been able to repaint and put together a really nice play set/swing set monkey bars set on the side of the house for the kids to play on.  It looks really great and will allow many fun years for the grand kids to enjoy.
Speaking of grand kids....
Look what they have been up to....

Madison is sitting up by herself now...sooo big!!!
And Preston is just getting so big, his vocabulary getting bigger and bigger and his singing abilities with the Primary songs have progressed to where he has 'Popcorn Popping' down to perfection!  He loves to throw rocks at Papa's house and his new favorite???  Water Balloons!!!!!  We try to stay continually stocked with balloons for any possible fun he may want to have. He also loves sharks....and has just gone from his crib to his new 'big boy bed' with his sheets being what???  Sharks and whales.  His mommy and daddy say he is doing well in his new bed.

Updates

I've been busy.
Not had time to write.
I started my job at the bank over in the branch in Pilot Point where I will work from now on.
I work in the drive thru with four different lanes.  It is the busiest branch of all the branches, as it is the 'head office' of the bank.  We have more customers than any other branch.  And come Friday's, it is literally CRAZY.  I am catching on quickly, but still making some mistakes; most of them silly, but one's that I still need to fix  I balance almost every day after dealing with literally hundreds of thousands of dollars.  It's mind boggling at times.  Do I like my job???  Right now, it's just a job.  I'm not really emotionally invested in it, as it doesn't pay really well, and I really do wish I could either do something else, or, stay home all together.  But, that's not an option right now.
My garden isn't doing well. Between the bugs, worms and caterpillars, my beans have had to be replanted twice now.  Our potato plants are starting to die, and my tomatoes are not going to produce like I hoped they would.  I still have hope for the corn, but after so much hard work, I am pretty discouraged at the lack of progress some of the garden is showing.  I'm trying not to be bitter.
I have been released as a Primary teacher and just recently called as the second counselor over cub scouts.  I am in charge of Sharing time for the month of June, so that started yesterday.  The children responded well and I'm feeling 'back in my element', so that is a good thing.

Some More 'I Don't Want to Forget's'

Tie a Blue Ribbon on the Backyard Tree

A few days after my fathers passing, my mother awoke to find this sight in her backyard.
A small token of love and kindness from some sweet neighbors.
Heartwarming and comforting.
Kind gesture that brought joy to my mother.

One of the Worst Ever - Moore Oklahoma

Almost two miles wide and on the ground for 17 minutes, with over 200 mph winds.
It was an E5 tornado that wiped out the city of Moore, Oklahoma.
Children and adults dead.  Another disaster - another day of mourning.
My prayers are in their behalf.

The Last Night - Family Dinner

Rachel holds a captive audience.

So many secrets being told.

Conversations were held everywhere; upstairs and ON the stairs.

LOTS of girl talk.

Bishop taking a quiet moment.

Carrying on the family tradition...TAFFY!!!!

Sean and Becky were in charge of the family Taffy pull.

Sean and Nate

The Lilac Tree

Everything was done.
The Viewing.
The Funeral.
The Burial.
The Luncheon.
And now we were back at mom and dad's house.  We had a family meeting before dinner was brought in for us by mom's previous ward in Pleasant Grove.  We all just enjoyed relaxing.  Most of us were changed out of our Sunday clothes.  Most of us were exhausted...emotionally and physically spent.
Games were being played at various tables.  Taffy was being made in the kitchen.  Babies and kids were playing outside and all around the rooms.  Visiting was going on in and around all corners of the house.  But then, attention was asked of everyone as there was a gift to be presented to 'grandma' from some of the grandchildren...mainly, Von and Ann's daughters.
Daddy sings.  Common knowledge.  And he sang certain songs on a regular basis, especially at the wedding receptions of his children and his grandchildren.  The one song he was most famous for singing was, 'The Lilac Tree'.  Cute cute lyrics...about a little boy, and a little girl.  The little boy wants a kiss.  The little girl acts shocked and says she'll give him one, but 'only when the apples grow on the Lilac tree.'  The little boy is soooo sad and in despair.  The little girl feels terrible for breaking his heart...so the very next morning, he goes back to his Lilac Tree, only to find his little sweetheart 'tying apples to the Lilac Tree'.
The granddaughters presented my mother with a Lilac Tree; with apples they had tied all over it's branches.
That did it.
Mom hadn't cried, until that moment.  What a tender moment.  I have to be honest; it was good to see her cry.  She had needed to.  She snuck back into her room, needing to have a private moment, where she allowed herself to have a really good cry.  Then she re-emerged with a very grateful and tender heart.
Rebecca will go over later next week and help her plant her Lilac Tree outside in a place where she will see it often.

I'm home now.  We flew home last night and I was back to work today.  Life has gone on, as if the past weekend was a blur.  In fact, today, the news is all about a TERRIBLE Tornado that has hit Oklahoma and killed several children who were in school, many many are still missing and whole cities are obliterated.  It is devastating.  I am feeling thrown back into reality but realize that only my life, and that of my family, has been set back on it's heels of my fathers passing.  Life truly does go on.
And so do I.  The weekend celebration of my fathers life was a much needed closure for me and I am so grateful for the gospel.  I will not mourn, but rejoice for having known and loved such a wonderful father.  He lived a full and productive life, and has now returned to a Heavenly Father that loves him and is also grateful for his life.
Counting my many blessings.