Garden

Well... it has been awhile since I posted last and boy has our garden been growing. I am sure for all of you out there who are garden savvy that you aren't surprised or even really impressed by this news. However for those of us garden newbies this is sheer excitement!

We have watched the sunflowers grow larger and larger almost everyday. It seems like each time we look out the kitchen window they have grown even taller. All the other veggies have grown quite nicely as well. We have had a few casualties (it took Jason a few days to learn to use the hoe) but for the most part our garden has been a great success.

For mother's day I received a potted herb garden and it has been fabulous. The herbs included basil, thyme, oregano, chives, cilantro, parsley and sage. Since mother's day we have added rosemary and a citronella plant (it really is suppose to rid off mosquitos). I have already used several of the herbs for cooking (recipe to follow shortly... OK well maybe not shortly).

Jason also started a compost pile. I don't really have a lot to say about that except... I save all the leftover scraps for it. I know you might be thinking WOW those Sessoms sure have gone green or healthy or something. Let me be the first to inform you that ALL of this growing and decomposing is because we are cheap not because we are trying to save the planet (although that is a nice plus).

It has been really interesting and quite honestly fascinating to watch our garden grow. It is not a lie when I tell you that we go outside every day to look and see what is new in the garden and it is also not a lie when I tell you that certain grown people in this house (who shall remain unnamed) have actually jumped up and down in excitement when the "veggies" started appearing.

So, it goes without saying that I think if you don't have a garden you should start one. It has honestly been a learning and bonding experience for our family. Isn't that precious...

Enjoy the pics!

And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth."

And it was so. Genesis 1:11

#2

For those of you who read my "25 random things about me" post, this was #2 (you thought this post was going to be about poop didn't you?).  Anyway, yes we finally got our garden started and it has been so much fun. We started this winter talking about and planning our garden and then as spring was approaching I honestly was having second thoughts.  I wasn't sure we could pull it all off... the tilling, planting, weeding, watering and so forth.  But we decided to give it a go. Along the way we have gotten some very helpful advice from many people and a really great book my g-ma let us borrow (although we have had it so long she probably thinks she is never getting it back... sorry g-ma).  

We planted corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers (several kinds), watermelon, sunflowers, zucchini and carrots (Jason did I leave anything out?).  And speaking of Jason, during this planting adventure I have seen a side of my husband that I didn't even know existed. I wasn't really planning on him helping me with the garden, I just didn't think it would be something he would be interested in.  BUT... it all started with him printing some graph-paper off of the computer (you read right) and making a map of the garden... to scale!  In the process we had to change some of the locations of the plants and silly me I said, "Lets just plant them wherever."  Apparently that phrase is some sort of garden blasphemy.  No he said, we have to redo the "map".  Did we switch places or what? (usually I am the one who is so anal)  Any who... 

Adele has really enjoyed the garden too and I hope that she learns a lot about life and the meaning of life and.... just kidding, I just hope that we get some good free veggies!  Seriously I would recommend starting a garden, it really has been a fun family project (check back with me after about a month of pulling weeds in the 90+ weather and then see if I still recommend it). 

Here are a few pics. 

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Rain, rain don't go away, Adele and her friends want to play...

Today ended very rainy.... but not dreary for us. We met our neighbors outside for some guitar playing (the boys), chatting (the ladies) and playing in the rain (the girls of course). Us adults sat under Jason's shop out of the rain while Adele, Molly and Rachel ran around in the rain and played.  They had such a good time playing in the mud puddles, jumping on a very slick trampoline (I know, not really that safe), running from tornadoes (even less safe) and spraying each other with the water hose (why I am not sure considering it was raining).  Needless to say they had a great time!  I have very fond memories of my step sister and I playing in the mud puddles in our driveway after a big rain... I hope that the girls will remember this day too. 

What do you and your family like to do when it rains?  Crafts, games, movies or etc.  We have had a lot of rain lately so we might all need some rainy day ideas... after all you can't play outside in the rain every time.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,  "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  

Matthew 18:1-4

In the kitchen...

Today at Servant's Heart Fellowship  we had a fellowship meal after church.  I made a recipe that I got from my friend Tara called Broccoli Salad Supreme.  Well.... it got so many compliments that I decided to share it with you all.  It really is delicious!  

Ingredients

10 cups broccoli florets (about 3 1/2 heads)

6 cups seedless red grapes (cut in half)

2 cups miracle whip

2/3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 cup crumbled bacon

1 cup sliced almonds (toasted)

Combine broccoli and grapes in a large bowl.  In a small bowl combine miracle whip, sugar and vinegar and pour over the broccoli mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.  Add bacon and almonds just before serving.  

Serves 20

The Whole Armor of God

We started this week teaching Adele about the armor of God.  I have been trying to decide how to go about this for a couple of weeks now.  So, Jason printed off some clip art and I taped it to a piece of poster paper, taped on the labels and voila... the armor of God man was born!  We are very excited about teaching this to her and to our family as well (I feel certain we will ALL benefit). 

My plan is to go over each piece of armor week by week.  My mom  helped too by purchasing the Armor of God outfit from Lifeway.  I am sure Adele is going to love putting all that on as we talk about each piece (she already has great plans to fight the dog!).  Another cool thing is that I was looking online at different ways to go about this and I saw a "Armor of God" board game for kids.  I thought, "how cute is that"!  Then I thought, "Oh, I have that game"!  DUH!!!  

Please pray for us as we learn and teach this to Adele.  Pray that God will use this time to grow our family spiritually, prepare us for His plans for our lives and honor Him.  I hope that during these weeks God will help me to see opportunities and/or situations in our everyday lives that can be used to explain the purposes of the armor of God to her and why it is so important.  

I am including some pics of the armor of God man and our "armor of God girl" too!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints.     

Ephesians 6:10-18