I’ve decided not to do my normal Tuesday post today.  After having my Littlest Girl sick for a week with five of those days producing a high fever, the Bigger Girl started on the same track Sunday morning by throwing up a few minutes after she got to church. 

I’ve had lots of Thinking Thoughts spinning around in my foggy head.  So next week you may see a post on self-pity! J

~Jessica

Little Caterpillar

Only My Opinion

by Monica Shannon

Is a caterpillar ticklish?
Well, it's always my belief,
That he giggles as he wiggles
Across a hairy leaf.



As far as I can tell this is the caterpillar
 that turns into the Virginia Tiger Moth. 
 I found this little guy munching
 my green bean bushes.

This dude has some really awesome hair going on!

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Genesis 1:31

Reid and Amy's Wedding

Amy and Reid were married last weekend in Lancaster County, PA.  The wedding was held in a quiet country meadow along a creek with beautiful landscaping.  It really was a breathtaking location!  That morning we all woke up early to rain coming down.  I was impressed with the faith of the groom – he had sunglasses in his pocket and he pulled them out when we started photos as the drizzle stopped!  Soon the sun was shining and things were refreshed and beautiful from the showers. It was the beginning of a day blessed by God!

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

The creek was flowing behind the arch where the couple gave their vows to each other. 

photo credit: Marla Martin

This ancient Irish Hymn was sung at the ceremony:

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

The Reception was under a white tent beside the creek and each table was decorated with an assortment of wildflowers in collections of vintage bottles and vases clustered together.

Rock Bunnies

It all started last week when Kadi was cutting the boxtop from the Wheaties box after breakfast.  Soon she was punching air holes in the top of the box with the scissors and making a home for a bunny.  She asked if she could buy a real bunny. So I proceeded with the normal comments as a mother will do, “a bunny is a lot of work”, etc. etc. 

I suggested sensibly that she find a stuffed toy bunny to put in her bunny box.  She proceeded to chatter about taking it all outside to play so I gave another motherly reminder that we don’t take our stuffed animals out because they get dirty.  Then I recommended going outside and finding a rock to be a bunny. 

That is the point at which I was sucked into the event, and the messy kitchen and dirty clothes got a break. J We took our sharpie markers out and went on a rock bunny hunt in the backyard! I learned something new when I asked what the sticks were for, Kadi informed me, “they help the bunnies come to you better.” So sticks it was! 

We found some normal rough quartz rocks in the back yard, but they didn’t look very bunnyish and were hard to draw on (but once a bunny is made you really can’t just throw it away, that’s like murder).

So we hunted some more and came across a pile of discarded river rock. (Doesn’t everyone have these in the backyard? That’s another story.)

Kadi had to take her most brown dirt colored bunny along as we continued to search “because it’s camouflage and might get lost,” little sister Cassie couldn’t be left out and responded, “Mine is 'camomauge' too!”  I love these funny kid moments!

The bunnies have been well cared for and have gone along with the girls wherever they go. They’ve had baths and lots of bunny food (found seed pods, berries and such) and been tucked into their bunny boxes quite regularly. I’m almost considering a real bunny. Well… maybe next year.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10