A song written by a teenage friend of mine.

You are the Creator! Worthy of all Praise!!

You are the Creator...
Worthy of all Praise!
Let the nations bow down before You,

let the rulers of all the nations bow down,

casting their crowns down before Your thrown singing,

“You are God the Creator of all!

The Maker of the earth!

You are worthier of praise than the sky can proclaim.

Your Son,

the Lamb,

the atoning Sacrifice,

the Maker of my life,

giver of life through man. 

You are God and I am Your servant. 

We aren't worthy of Your grace. 

We are humbled at Your feet. 

You are Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy! “
Raise your hands all you nations below,

praise the risen King with the creation. 

Freely we will sing,

“My Jesus Who concord death and hell's fiery gate to purify us in the fire of Your love. 

Change us into Your people, for we are the clay in Your potter's hand. 

You are worthy of all praise. You are Holy, Holy, Holy....”

Birdsacre - EFA 2.15

Since the water was to high for fishing today we went to the Birdsacre wildlife sanctuary.  It's free and huge.  I recommend it to any and all.

I've been looking for the perfect flower for this shot for a long time.

I'm in love!

2308.  Boys who didn't once ask for things as we shopped.
2309.  Man of the woods who stopped to help a stranger pick up the things he had dropped.
2310.  The symmetry of nature.
2311.  Nature walks.
2312.  Shiloh the blind great horned owl that gave my boys great delight.
2313.  Board walks through mossy bogs.
2314.  Green everywhere.
2315.  Bold colored flowers.
2316.  Birds of all kinds.
2317.  Man of the woods offering on his own accord to share his snack knowing it's one of my favorites.
2318.  The joy Man of the woods had as he carefully examined and compared the different nests on display.
2319.  Laughter telling us that he would "change his anger to obedience".

A petion for wisdom with thanksgiving

I was given the chance to go have an evening out and alone.  Something that I need every once in a while so I grabbed my Bible and a notebook and hit the road.  I had many things spinning around in my head so I began making a list and as I asked God what was going to happen with each of these things I looked out the window to see the most beautiful rainbow (It even had the purple line at the bottom) on a dark grey sky.  A promise from God to Noah and a reminder that God is bigger then what was on my list.  My heart quickly turned from weary worry to this:

Praise the LORD, all nations; Thank Him, all peoples!

For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD is everlasting.

Praise the LORD!

I will trust in His truth with all my heart and I will not lean on my own thoughts.

I will revere the LORD and I will not act on evil thoughts.

It will be healing to my body and refreshing to my bones.

Your works are great, O LORD!

Your thoughts are very deep.

By wisdom Your founded the earth, by understanding You established the heavens.

By Your knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.

How blessed I will be if I find wisdom and gain understanding.

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom and with all my acquiring, get understanding.

And if I do this I will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever I do I will prosper.

I will sing of His truth and lovingkindness, I will sing to both the young and old.

I will clap my hands.

I will shout to God with my voice of joy.

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will make my request for wisdom.

As evening comes I will eagerly look for your answer.

For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

I love You, LORD, because You hear my voice and see my search.

I will give thanks to You with all my heart; I will tell any who listen of all Your wonders.

I will beg the nations to join me as I worship You.

Praise the LORD, all nations, Thank Him all peoples!

For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD is everlasting.

Praise the LORD!

Praise His glorious name!

(A compilation of different psalms and proverbs turned into first person with a very few of my own lines mixed in.)

Doughnut recipe (bread machine & by hand)

If you have a bread machine add into the bread machine in this order:
1 3/4 cups milk (room temperature)
2 eggs beaten
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
5 cups flour
4 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast.
Nutmeg to taste.
Set on dough setting and forget about it.

If you are making it by hand mix in this order:
1 3/4 cups warm milk (about 105 degrees.)
Two packets yeast. or 4 1/2 tsp yeast
Set aside for about five minutes.

Mix in the remaining ingredients.
2 eggs beaten
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
5 cups flour
Nutmeg to taste
Dough should not stick to the sides when done.
Put into a greased bowl and let rise for about an hour or until it's doubled in size.

After the dough has doubled in size and before you begin working with it start heating 1/2 quart of oil and I used about another 1/2 quart shortening. ( I have used only oil before but the doughnuts don't seem as fresh on day 2. They become almost soggy.) I heat on high until the shortening is melted and then turn down to medium low-ish.

Pat out dough on a floured surface to about a 1/2 inch thick.  Then begin cutting out dough to your choice size.  I used a pint size mason jar.  Makes about 2 dozen doughnuts.  I don't cut holes in mine.  Just before I put dough into grease I gently pat down, otherwise they come out like giant doughnut holes.

It should take three minutes of total cooking time, 1 1/2 minutes on each side.  One at a time I test the oil to make sure it's the correct temperature.  Once I find it the frying goes quickly.  I use a cooling rack with a cookie sheet underneath to place the cooked doughnuts on.

As one set is cooking I roll another cooked set in cinnamon sugar.  Or a chocolate glaze that I dip the top of the doughnuts in.  Both are good.

Homemade doughnuts, EFA 2.14

Words cannot describe the simple joys.

2303.  Bread machines to do the dirty work.
2304.  Warm doughnuts on a rainy day.
2305.  Chocolate faces.
2306.  A collective "mmmmm, that's good."
2307.  Two awesome taste testers.

A summer of Last of's, EFA 2.13

A few days ago we went in search of a water fall or two. 

We crossed a few rivers, but the hike was pretty easy.

Laughter ran in the beginning try to keep up with Man of the woods.  He'd trip about every seven steps, but was a man about.

Trying to determine how old the Moose dropping were exactly.

Can you find Mr. Toad.  He stumped my men.

Thank you nice man for taking our photo!

Aahh yes, back to Laughter and man hood.  I realized on this trip that this summer is a summer of "last of's".  By the end of this summer my youngest will be a full boy.

He walked or ran a lot of this hike.  He didn't complain when things didn't go his way.  He didn't want to take help.  He wanted to do it "all by my own."

When we got to the base of the falls while man of the woods spent most of the time throwing rocks in the water Laughter cuddled up in my lap to eat his snack.  Instinctively the Mommy rocker came out so we rocked and watched the water falls as he nibbled.  As I realized I was rocking him as I would an infant I quickly stopped not wanting for him to feel like a baby.  He began rocking himself pushing me to rock too.  I soaked up the moment.

As we were hiking back with him in my pack we chatted for a bit until I felt his body relax into sleep.  A thing too that will quickly fad into the past as this summer comes to an end.  May I soaked in the last of's this summer.  May it be good.

Remember that my life is but breath

~ Job 7:7a

2267.  A day outside of normal life, just me and the boys.
2268.  Cool river water on my toes.
2269.  Laughter running only to trip every seven steps.
2270.  Walkin' & talkin' with my men.
2271.  Sitting at the base of the falls withe the mist hitting my face.
2272.  Laughter cuddled up in my lap.
2273.  Us rocking together, fitted together the way only a Momma and her child can.
2274.  Singing songs of how great God is while waiting for Daddy.
2275.  Man of the woods sitting at the top of the hill by himself waiting for to catch up.
2276.  Back packing my youngest.
2277.  The moment I realize Laughter has fallen asleep on my back.
2278.  Country stores.

EFA 2.12-Belfast

Since yesterday was a no nap day and because of unwanted appointments we wouldn't be able to get off early this morning we decided to head to Belfast.  A first for the boys.  It was simple, laid back, and fun.  There was virtually no packing or unpacking, no wet clothes or fish to gut, nothing just us.  A few treats from the local candy store, lots of time climbing on the rocks and a simple lunch.  to finish the day off we had "dinner" at Gifford's.  A good day.

2292.  Man of the woods a chatter box the entire ride.
2293.  Sunshine and cool ocean breezes.
2294.  Walking up and down the sidewalks.
2295.  Walking through the farmers market sampling a little of everything.
2296.  Slight of hand games.
2297.  A family that is satisfied most with being together and happy with inexpensive treasures.
2298.  As the boys played with sticks I was reminded that my time with them is short.
2299.  The smell of clean boys.