A.D. 6

Well...today was...hm...honestly this day may have been longer than any this week and that's strange because I was busy all day long.
But it was a nice day! Em was off  work which was SO nice. She and I haven't had a day where we can just hang out and spend time together in a long time. So...the day started out with us getting up and all of us except Mom and Naomi going to the flea market down here... (a cultural experience all of its own, but more on that later.). They went to Florida for drill practice and then Dad and Micah took Lydia and Abby to drill practice while Em and I took the other car and went to town! (Does that all make sense? :P )
Now...about this flea market. Have you ever seen Black Hawk Down? (Incredibly awesome movie btw...just needs some filtering.) You know the markets shown in that? All the people running around with tables of stuff covered in tents? Yeah...if you've seen that, you've almost seen our flea market. :P Not quite...there aren't AS many guns (certainly not the same kind). The accents are only slightly more understandable and we have a nice indoor section of the flea market too. So! You may be getting the idea of what kind of a place this is. But really...it's a lot of fun and kinda a big deal around here. There's some really neat stuff out there sometimes.
So! Yes...we did the flea market and Em and I were in town just about all day long which was SO awesome. I haven't done that in forever. I love town. And I love people...love interacting and...all that yes. Anyways. Moving on!
When we got home today, Dad and Micah were watching the second Matrix movie (they had come back up after dropping the girls off...yeah...the Pendleton family burned a lot of gas in our cars today. :P ) and I went back to my room to organize some papers and such that I've collected over the last couple of years in a folder thingy I bought today...and I knew some of them were in my desk...so I went through my whole desk. I hadn't done that in years (terrible, I know. Organization has never been my most attractive talent...but I'm working on it! :P ) and, oh wow...the things I found in it. I actually broke started crying like...a lot! :P (Man, I'm becoming such a cry baby lately...what is up with that?) Good things and bad things. Things I didn't want to ever remember and things I am SO glad I found because I would have forgotten the incredible memories behind them if I hadn't. It was really like...a walk through my life from...twelve years ago and forward. Scary...bumpy...happy...grace filled...and awesome in the end. Sometimes I look back on some of the things, I can't believe God pulled me through them...and how incredibly...thin I was. In the sense that...I was messing everything up! And...seeing how God has organized my unbelievable mess...it really...man...it seriously blows my mind. God is so good and loving and merciful. It really just...wow. Yeah...anyways. Going through my desk...makes me so thankful for where I am now and what God has used to bring me here.

Gah! And I've gone on again! Do forgive me and in no way feel obligated to read all of my ramblings...it seems that when I start writing, I just don't want to stop...no matter what I'm writing (unless I'm ten years old writing sentences as a punishment (tell me I'm not the only one who did that.). Then I wanted to stop. :P )

So! Here's a few pictures of the day! Hope y'all had a good day and that you have a wonderful Lord's day tomorrow, smiling, spreading God's Light and shining for Christ! :D (I sure hope some of that made sense...I've had way too much caffeine today. :P )

Okay...seriously...what better way to start a blog post than with this epic picture? I mean...really...have you ever seen any cooler shoes? (Sorry...I kinda like my sneakers. :P )

Headed up to the black mar...I mean...the flea market! :D

Abby was my buddy today and...man oh man do I love this little girl. 

There's a TON of walking to be done if you go over the whole place...Dad enjoys the outside more...I like the inside part best, mahself. 

Okay! So...yeah...I love little baby accessories. :P I'll look through the baby section just because I think the stuff is so cute (I feel like I'm telling a dirty secret here or something... 0.o ). In't this boot adorable?  

Abs again! :D (Or as I call her in a southern belle accent... Abby Lynn!) 

...right, Eli? :P I wanted to get this and put it on the Yukon while you're gone...but...you'd be  proud of me...I resisted. (for now. >:-D)

Our two epic dudes. 8-)

Oh! And this one is for you and me, Hannah M. It has our name on it! :D 

"We are never ever ever! Getting back together..." (Sorry...you'd have to had the dream I did to understand. Don't ask.)

Lydia found bling!!! (She be happy, iffins ya can't tell...) She so cool. ^_^

And! Em and I are off to town! :D 

Then....we met Dad and Micah for lunch at 5 Guys. 

I bet if Dad could buy every 5 Guys in the world he would. :P  My Dad is so incredible. No...I'm not just saying that. 

Aha! Yes...the worst experience of my LIFE! (Not really...but I do. not. like. the. car. wash.) 

Here's why...

Actually...HERE'S why. I was seriously having a hard time not opening the door to jump out. :P Gah...that felt way too closed in. But Em and I cleaned and vacuumed the Honda out and it looks awesome! :D (Also saw a friend of ours who I haven't seen in years...she (and her kids) were our duplex neighbors in Germany.) 

Oh! These are at Kohl's and I wanted them so bad. Wouldn't they be perfect with my converse? :P 

And look at this! Profiling! Gah! What is this nation coming too? Children are people too. I need to send that petition out for Childrens' rights again. *nod*

And there you go! Another Day 6. :P
I hope y'all have a wonderful evening! Be sure to smile lots and think on epic things (there's lots of them, isn't there?)! :D

Goodnight, folks! 

A.D. 5.

Y'know...I think it's when I sit down to blog every night that I think "Wow...another day is over already." Then I look back and the week feels so incredibly long...it feels so much more like a month than a week...but it still has a way of zooming by at the same time.
I really don't have too much to blog today. It was deep cleaning day and I think that's why today was especially long because I was inside doing housework again all day (not a bad thing! Just a long thing. :P ). On the days when I can get out and work in the garden, time goes by much faster and I enjoy it more because I actually feel like I'm working hard and that really does feel good.
I should be getting my plants soon. I can't remember all that's on my list to plant this month...I think it's carrots, swiss chard (which when made right is so tasty), onions, sweet corn and...oh, I know there's a couple more but I don't have my list with me right now. I'll be planting more in April, too. I finally counted and we have ten, large, raised block beds. The garden is still a bit of a mess, but it's shaping up pretty well. I didn't use the weed eater today...didn't really have time and, honestly, I was feeling a bit chicken over it. :P I may do that tomorrow or Monday.
Oh! I think I'll be starting my new job at around mid April. It feels terribly far away since I'd thought I was going be able to start work within a couple weeks, but that's okay! I know God has a reason for the extra time in between and I just hope and pray I use it well.
I did get to be outside a bit and did a small amount of working in the garden. Mostly throwing some solid cinder blocks around (and when you're not used to a lot of heavy work...they're quite heavy to toss around after a while. :P ) But, I was outside, looking around and breathing in the incredible fresh air while the birds were singing and the sky was so blue and it makes me remember how beautiful life is. What an incredible gift we have by being on this earth for the time we are. And it's not always easy...but it's so worth it when you find beautiful, worthwhile things and people to be with. I think I take it for granted way too much. Just how beautiful life is and how happy I am to be alive. It's really quite something that God chooses us to be His Representatives here on earth. And...that's such a heavy, but wonderful task. I know I fall short so many times at doing the right thing and my first reaction is to get really angry at myself and feel worthless and want to just leave everyone I know so that I won't be "bothering" them any more. But...looking around at the beautiful weather, I think about God's glory and the fact that it's through our falling to rise again the God is most glorified. So, when He uses us like that...it's time to smile, get up and go on to do the right thing.
So...oooooh...I think I just went on another preaching rant, didn't I? Gah...I try so hard not to do that...sorry. :P Just something I came to realize (perhaps a bit of the hard way) today. :)
Anyways! I've rambled on quite long enough! I really do hope that y'all had a wonderful day and are enjoying the evening in this beautiful life with Christ. :)

Here's just a few pictures! Since I was cleaning all day, I didn't really start getting pictures till near 3:00...

Yeah...so...while I was working in one of the beds, I saw two lizards run by. I haven't played with these things since I was  a kid, but apparently I can still catch them just as well as I could back. Haha...makes me smile thinking of some of the memories I have with lizards and trying to sneak them past past Mom....

I didn't name him...and I let him go before the girls found him. Too many a  lizard have been my victim by accident. :P Mom was also super about letting me keep critters when I was little...except for when they didn't last long. She didn't like that. :P 

And there he is...free and happy.

Ran into this guy (or I guess it's a girl since she has egg sacks) Hanging on the side of the bed...no...I didn't freak!!! Um...okay...maybe a little bit. :P 

If you look closely, you can see the spider (just follow the legs. :P ). I found her  interesting because of the egg sack. You can see each of the individual eggs all wrapped together in a clear sack. 

Naomi and Bear. 

Abby and Lydia have been enjoying the weather lately and putting the badminton rackets to good use. 

Oh! Today was our sister-in-law, Virginia's, birthday. So we all gathered around the phone and sang to her. :)

My smallest and youngest minion, Naomi, and myself. Love this feisty kid. :D

Ah, yes...Dad made another "pasture" by fencing off a bunch of the woods with  electric rope.  So...we had to move the  swing set. As you can see...it was quite the operation. :P I gave Oscar to Naomi to get a picture and she had a hard time getting the whole thing, but she managed just fine! :)

And the beautiful sun...the weather has been so beautiful lately it seems a shame to send any time inside. 

That's all for now, y'all! :)

No idea what might happen tomorrow...we may go out...I know Mom and the girls are going to Florida...some of them are going to the flea market...IDK! We shall see what ends up happening with my day! I usually don't know till the day comes lol.
Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow! Be sure to enjoy the gift of life and smile and shine for Christ! :D

Goodnight! :)

A.D.4. (I'll leave you to guess what that means...I know you're clever...)

Soooo...today...let me explain. No, there is too much...let me sum up. *total Princess Bride moment*

But, really...today was another day (of course) and not a bad one at that. Not exciting or bouncy or anything, but busy for me and I'm loving that. 

I've found several good reasons for keeping this blog. One, it work as a journal in a sense to document my life and my family's life for us to go back to and look at. Like...a scrapbook. Two, it lets me keep Eli updated on all of this stuff going on while he's on his trip. Three...it keeps me motivated  As crazy as that sounds...if I know I "have" to blog every night...I want to be using my time in a worthy manner...cuz it'd just be embarrassing otherwise! :P And the truth is...it's hardly glorifying to God to just sit around all day. 

So! Yes...blog. Good thing.
I'm a bit bummed right now because I thought I was going to know when I started my new job...and it turns out the boss has no idea. So..yeah...that's okay though! I'll stay busy around here and keep going and just be ready when the time comes up! :)

Hope y'all had a good day with lots of smiling and enjoying life with Christ! 

I'll let the pictures do the talking from here. :) 

Started the day by going to clean my neighbors house...very  nice weather...but a bit nippy.

Came home and made bread....

And found the pile of clothes that I bought yesterday  sitting on my low chair in my room and decided it was high time I cleaned out my closet. ...so...

I pulled all of my clothes out of my closet. Now what? (They were very comfortable.)

Lydia in her "hippy" shirt. :P 

After I finished with my closet, I went outside to work in the garden and  the kids were playing outside since they'd finished their school. 

Mom and Dad working very adorably together on some horse stuff. 

One of Dad's creations. A horse feeding station. Very well done, too. 

I used this bad boy today. 8-) Yeah...there were so many huge weeds and a massive patch of weeds that needed to be hacked...so I hacked them. This thing is fun too You get it going and it starts working by itself, flying over your head one way, coming back down and swinging up the other way. Wears you out after a while, but that's good. :P 

And I opted for using this instead of the gas powered push mower. For one...I'm too scared to use that one. :P And two...there was too much stuff that the other one shouldn't have been used on.
I decided to clean up around the beds I'll be planting in soon instead of cleaning out the other beds that I won't even use until April. So...that's what I did.

The first four beds are the ones I'm going to plant in. This is before I hacked and mowed and all that. 

And this is after. I think I may get brave and see if I can use the weed eater tomorrow to get around the edges...I 've never used it before and it freaks me out...but I'm getting over my fear of spiders by running into them left and right so maybe using the weed eater will work that way too. :P 

Maggie... >. >
Nice cow. (Mom's cow.)

Sadie...she's so awesome. :P

And it felt so good to take a shower and get clean tonight!  It was in the 60's when I was working in the garden...but I still got all nasty and sweaty. :P (oh, btw...that's my... "go ahead and admit that you're jealous of my hat" look. :P )

Clean and done for the night. *Happeh*

Oh yes!!! this was so funny. :P A while back Abby was drawing pictures for everyone and she gave me mine and I was a bit...confused at first...but then she explained and it was hilarious. :P She said, "I know how into your villains in your books you are and how much you love them, so I drew this for you!" Aint that just cute? :P

 

And again! This is all for now.
Another day is over...I can't decide if it was long or fast... :P

Hope y'all have a great day tomorrow! Be sure to smile and shine for Christ! :D

Another day...3! (Is this getting redundant yet?)

 Soooo...today I actually...didn't do a lot of "work" but I was pretty busy most of the time. Which is strange. But cool!
Got up and made breakfast for the kids and did some housework (cleaning etc.) made some kefir and...then Em and I went out later on. And we had Bible Study tonight. So all of that pretty much took up the whole day. Didn't do any garden work. I'd say it was too cold but after watching/hearing some of the weather reports from up north I think I'll say I'm thankful for the weather here. :P And I would have worked in the garden in the cold, but I really didn't have time today (which was awesome, as strange as that sounds. :P ).
Enjoyed the fellowship at church tonight and getting to drive the car there and back (and yes...everyone lived for all of my dear friends who are thinking things right now. :P )
I'm going to clean my neighbors house in the morning...a little bit of extra cash there which is nice, considering I spent almost all of my money in town today... :-/ :P
Not a whole lot to say. I've been hit with how blessed I am the last few days. I mean...I've known that and have always been thankful. But this week it's been just about overwhelming when I'm laying in bed thinking about it and going about my day reminded of it. It's...yes...overwhelming is the best word for it, I think. The only one I can think to use.
Anyways! Before I go on and start preaching ( :P )...on to pictures! Not a whole lot...just got a few of the day. :)
Hope y'all are well and enjoying life in Christ! Keep smiling and shining for Him. :)

This...lovely substance is called...k-k-kefir. (Okay, so it's not so bad IN things...but by itself...welll..yeah...not so great IMHO. :P  But it's super healthy and sooo easy to make!)

I decided to take today's batch of kefir and make kefir  cheese. It's super easy and  reminds me of cream cheese a good bit. 

Em and I went to town later on and this is her being a goody-two-shoes by running down the street to pick up a trash can that had flown around. (Okay...really she was just being decent and human. :P )

Got this shirt today...I like it a lot because it has dog tags and a cross. I like both of those. 

Can you tell we're related? :P I've got me one cool sister. (And no, I'm not just saying that because she got me a job...and a cupcake.)

Got a ring at Lifeway today...I love it. It says "Love waits". I think that's great...like first Cor.  13 saying "love is patient." Goes along that same line of thinking, I think. 

Then we came home and hung out with the kiddos. :D (Lydia is seriously epic, btw.)

And Bible Study tonight. I love holding up my phone and telling people to smile...they actually obey me! 

Scccarrry. (JK..these two are awesome.)

Happy, lonely steps. :P

Okay...wanna have some fun? Randomly Doodle on your cup at church and get all kinds of looks and questions. It's hilarious  Cuz you just act totally ignorant and have fun with it. 

And to wrap it all up...Hannah and me. She is so funny and cute and... talkative. :D Puts a smile on your face. 

That's all for now, folks! I think I'll make me some of that mango tea and go see if I can get some of the Hobbit knocked out. I started it a couple weeks ago and have only read like...fifty pages. :P That or I may journal or...try to compose a song or...hmmm...I could do a lot! :P

See y'all! Have a great day tomorrow! Be sure to smile and shine for Christ...always a chance and always a reason. Thinking about epic, happy things makes that so much easier, I've found. Life is beautiful and God is good and makes the most beautiful things unbreakable and real. Because He's God...and He's good.
*stops before I go on preaching again* :P

Goodnight, everyone! :)