The Fall Festival was great fun. We all gathered at mid day on Saturday and DH led a short devotional thanking the Lord for His wonderful blessings to us. We then ate and started the games; face painting, the Hay Ride, apple bobbing and the cake walk. Here are some photos. You can see how the Lord blessed us with beautiful sunshine!

Rainy days

Hello...

Even though it has been raining ALLLLLL day, we have had a fun day :-)

This morning we got everyone fed and dressed and then went to the antique store in town. Yesterday we had spotted a small chair with a caned seat. I have been learning how to cane chairs and this will be my 'flying solo' project :) I will need to sand down and finish the wood before I do the caning, but I think it will be a neat little project :-)

Just before lunch some friends come over to help Hannah and I make caramel and candy apples. I have never done this before (I like to try new things ;-)) Everything turned out great and Hannah was happy to sit there munching on a caramel apple.

These apples are for our Fall Festival at church tomorrow. We begin at noon with hamburgers and hot dogs. We will be doing apple bobbing, a sack race, cake walk (kindof like musical chairs), egg and spoon race and Receit a Bible verse to guess-how-much-candy-is-in-the-jar. If it doesn't rain we will also have a hay ride :)

Here's a recent photo of my sweet little man Nate. At last weigh in a week ago he was 13 lbs 4 oz :-)



Also, DH has been hunting this week and shot a 9-point buck which is now neatly processed and packaged in our freezer. What a blessing it is to be able to hunt and fish and when we get our vegetable garden next summer, to grow our own veggies :) We may even keep some chickens. Any of you out there keep chickens?
I'd also like to learn how to keep bees, but I think that will require a little more attention time than what I'm able to give at the moment.

Have a great weekend!

Where did September go?!?!?!

Wow, I don't know about all of you, but September just flew by me!!! and we experienced a few events that were totally unexpected.

Monday the 9th September I went to have some bloodwork drawn at the hospital in the morning, little knowing that I would be back later that evening to be admitted for a 5 day stay with Pancreatitus!!! I got sick around lunchtime thinking it was just a really bad case of acid reflux, but later in the day when I could no longer hold down any water, I knew it was time to go to the ER.

The kind doctor ran his tests (we were thinking maybe food poisoning)and he came back with information that normal pancreas enzyme levels are around 50-100, mine were over 3,000. We were a bit shocked. They quickly had me on a drip as I was very dehydrated and also gave me morphine which took about a minute to take away the excrutiating pain and sent me to sleep!

Over the next few days they ran a whole bunch of tests which required drawing blood and did ct scans. The upshot being my pancreas was extremely inflamed with a gall stone blocking the duct, and my gall bladder was not functioning properly and would need to be removed. But it was too dangerous to do that with my pancreas being in the condition it was. The remedy? Rest and a liquid diet. For three days it was just that drip, and then I was graciously give broth and jell-o!

Family and friends were a great help during this time in looking after Shaun and our sweet kiddies. It was hard being away from them, but the doc finally released me on the Saturday.

Ten days later I had my gall bladder removed and stayed overnight. I was a bit nervous about the surgery as apart from wisdom teeth removal, this was my first major surgery, but the doctors and nurses were really kind and talked with me about the procedures, even joked about interrogation via anaesthesia ;-) They told me I hadn't said anything as they put me under :-) I remember one of the nurses putting the vanilla smelling mask over my face and taking one breath. That's all. Then I wake up seeing Shaun walking into my hospital room :-)

I had lots of help from dear friends at our church after I returned home. Help with meals, household work and taking care of Hannah and Nate. Such help really is a blessing. We take for granted our stomache muscles. When they are impaired it is so difficult to do anything! But i'm thanking the Lord for how all of this turned out for the best. It has been a bit of a trial, but i'm glad to be over the hurdle and on the mend. Oh, and liquid diet + gall bladder removal = weight loss (for me anyways ;-))

Looking forward to what October will bring ;-)

S.

Introducing......

Nathanael Alfred Richard Allen






"Nate" was born Friday 15th August, 2008. Weighing in at 7lbs 8 oz. He decided it was time to discover America (2 weeks early). We are now relaxing at home and getting to know each other. Grandma Wain is visiting and having a good time with her Grandchildren :-)

Enjoy the photos, and we hope that you all are having a great weekend.

We're having a.......

BOY!!!!

We had our first doctor's visit yesterday. All is well. Our expected due date was advanced a week, so I am actually 27 weeks and 4 days along, dd = Auguast 31st.
We are so excited about our little guy! Now just to figure out the first name... we already have the middle names, but won't be telling until we get the first ;-P

Hope you're all having a wonderful week!!

S.

Eastward Bound - Home At Last!!

Hello everybody!

H, Pudda (cat), my Mum and I made it home to Douglas, Georgia at last!!! Mum is such a trooper and did a great job of helping me out, thanks Mum!
After arriving in Moscow, ID a little before midnight on Tuesday May 13th, we changed out suitcases, had a cup of tea, and loaded the last of the things into the back of my Honda Pilot by which time it was quickly approaching 3:30 a.m. I had wanted to be on the road at 4a.m. so we decided to go ahead and leave that little bit earlier. The roads were pretty much clear of traffic and by the time we got to the interstate up east of Coeur D' Alene 2.5 hours later at dawn, we had only seen the one live deer by the side of the road. I really didn't want to encounter any more!

We went over Look Out Pass - Elevation 4725 ft and there was still snow along the side of the road. Entered Montana at 6:15 am!
Drove hard the rest of the day to get to the Little Big Horn by 5:15 p.m. The park closed at 6 p.m., but we had a look at the museum, and then up to the monument to view the soldiers' graves and also the resting place of the cavalry horses. We were glad we had made it in time to visit.

Had supper at a nice diner called JB's restaurant in Sheridan, Wyo and drove on to Motel 6 in Buffalo, Wyo.

Mileage for Day One: 758.83


Day Two
Left Motel 6 by 6:10 a.m. and drove to Gillette, Wyo. Pretty countryside and the start of the Black Hills. Got to Mt. Rushmore by 10:05am. Toured the museum and saw the faces which were impressive. H was more impressed with the local chipmunks!!

After lunch continued long hard drive to Albert Lea, MN, committing ourselves to getting there by reserving a Super 8 motel room. We arrived at midnight!!

Mileage for Day Two: 732.06


Day Three
Left Albert Lea by 7a.m. No sight seeing today only to get through Chicago and into Ann Arbor, MI by 6p.m. Due to heavy traffic in Chicago, we missed our time by 40 minutes! The plan had been to drive on down to my brother's place near Dayton, OH, but we decided to rest and spend the night at AE's there in Ann Arbor. Good decision as we were tired!

Mileage for Day Three: 667.28

Day Four
Saturday being the next day Mum successfully did what she needed to do in town whilst I took H to the local park borrowing her cousin's tricycle which she had fun using but it needed the extended handle on the back that some tricycles have to make it easier for this expecting Mama! :-)
Left Ann Arbor and arrived in Huber Heights, OH (Brother's house) by 2:30 p.m. My sister, her husband and their son, Ian were already there. H was glad to have a playmate :-)

Spent the weekend relaxing and meeting my s-i-l and nephew for the first time. H even started a pillow fight with Ian which was fun to watch but Ian soon finished it! They played well together. No tears and they shared toys. Sometimes H calling Ian 'Boy' and Ian calling H 'Girl'. They were sweet together.

Day Six
Left Huber Heights by 6:15 a.m. and drove south on I-75. Driving, driving, driving, switching out drivers and more driving! Said Hello/Good-bye to Powell, TN and continued driving!!
We made it to Douglas, GA by 9:30 p.m and had to do a little bit of guess work to find out where my new house was located! I said to Mum, "If I can navigate Chicago, I can find my new house without having to call Shaun!!" ;-) We pulled into the driveway and thanked the Lord for such a great and safe trip. Except for a lady having a rear tire blow out on I-75 we did not see any accidents the whole trip!!

Mileage for Day Six: 741.36

Our new house built in 1947 is a 2 bedroom one bath charmer :) Dearest S has worked hard on painting the rooms, installing new floor in the kitchen and bathroom and working with a friend who so very generously sanded, helped stain and varnish the wood floor throughout the house as a gift! We have beautiful red mahogony shiny wood floors that make you go "Wow!" when you see them! :-)

After resting up with Mum on Tuesday H and I took her to the airport for very early on Wednesday 21st May. And with special thanks to Pastor Quaade coming to the rescue to pick Mum up at the airport in Washington, she made it back home to Moscow, ID by early evening. Poor Mum, her internal clock must be so messed up I'm sure it will take a couple weeks to get readjusted!

The rest of the week has been spent finding homes for our things, breaking down the moving boxes and hopefully putting them in the deepest darkest place in the attick not to be seen for a good few years!!!
There is the cutting-in paintwork to be done throughout the house, and painting the white woodwork and then putting up bookshelves before all of the boxes are gone :) H and baby's room will be the first to be tackled. I will post photos as and when I get them.

Thanks for visiting and taking the time to read this extra long post. Hope you've enjoyed it!

Ok, The young and the old are down for a nap so I have a few minutes to have a go at this.... then the nap is where I'm headed!!

Where is your cell phone? Currently do not own one. Will be getting a disposable for our trip back to GA.

Your significant other? My Gorgeous-Hubby :) All alone in GA (not for long!!) working on our house and his lawn business....

Your hair? brown, chin length but will be trimmed and layered soon.

Your mother? Loving, generous, hard-working, and soon to be here.

Your father? Quiet, too hard-working, and a wonderful Papa. :-)

Your favorite thing? umm... at the moment, probably a painting my Grandfather did when he was 15. Which in 24 years time will be 100 yrs old!!

Your dream last night? I don't remember dreaming

Your favorite drink? A really nice cup of National Trust tea. But since I can't get any of that I'll settle for a really nice cup of Yorkshire tea :)

Your dream/goal? To be in God's will for my life honoring and pleasing Him.

The room you are in? The basement!

Your fear? Failing to do what the Lord wants me to do.

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Location? With my family of hopefully at least 4 kids by then ;-) Working in a church that is thriving, teaching my kids and working in my garden/providing for my family.

Where were you last night? Resting in bed.

What you are not? A loud, and look-at-me woman.

Muffins? Yes, please. Goes good with tea :)

One of your wish list items? To get a simplicity ellis changing table/dresser to go with babies' new crib that my great sister and her hubby bought for us.

Where you grew up? Bicester, England

The last thing you did? Put H down for her nap.

What are you wearing? khaki skirt and purple/black/ mauve stripe shirt.

Your TV on? Nope. Your pets? Down to just good ol' Pudda now (cat)She's here with me and will be coming back to GA. In her life-time so far she will have travelled close to 6,000 miles! by car of course!!

Your computer? UL's computer. Mine's in storage.

Your life? Busy, exciting and about to get more so!

Your mood? Tired but still going. Now if H wakes up before I get my nap in I might get a bit cranky ;)

Missing someone? My hubby.

Your car? Honda Pilot, which I really like. But come on guys... make your windscreen wiper replacements more available. The local Honda dealership here is 30 miles away!! I can give you a few good names... stock 'em at Auto Zone, Shucks, Jiffy Lube and Wal-Mart!!

Something you are not wearing? ummm.... a hat.

Favorite store? I don't have one.

Your summer? Being at home with my hubby and preparing for arrival of new baby!!

Your favorite color? Blues

When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday, but I can't remember what it was H did.

Last time you cried? When H broke my glasses and then I found out she posted a dvd in the vcr!!

Who will repost this? YOU! I tag YOU! If you play along, let me know in the comments, and I'll come visit you. (I like the way she worded that!)

Here's a photo of me at 5 months and 5 days along. I guess because of my height (5'9), I do not show baby very well. If I remember right, with H, it was only in my last month that I really looked like I was expecting. Ah well, things seem to be going fine. Little one practises martial arts on me daily!!!

Georgia Countdown!!!

Yes! We're now officially into the one month countdown of starting our journey back to GA!!! Some of you may not know, but DH is already there. "He went to prepare a house for us!!" :-) And H and I have been care-giving for a relative since the beginning of February here in ID. We miss our DH/"Sweet Daddy" as H calls him.

Little bump is doing well. Strong and active :) No sonogram pics to share yet as I haven't had one yet! Will be 5 months next Monday :)

Off to take H to the play park. She's got lots of energy to burn off :)

Photos

Some photos of H to enjoy.

Little Helping Hands

H is my little big helper :-)
She takes the folded clothes to the bedroom
They land on the floor in a heap but
She's a joy to watch when she runs to get more
She bows her head and swings her arms
just wanting to help

She spies the bags full of groceries
Veggie cans and fruit juice
She knows where they go in the cupboards
But to lift them takes all of her strength
So one at a time she laps, back and forth from cupboard to sack
I see what she's doing and come to help
Together we put the groceries away
She's such a good girl, my helper today!

01.24.08
By Suzanne Allen

I thought this was a pretty photo of H. She enjoyed getting dressed up for Christmas and allowed me to curl her hair with a curling iron. Those curls lasted less than 20 minutes, her hair is so fine!

Yes, we are expecting another little blessing. Found out on Christmas Eve!! What a birthday present :) All is going well so far and I haven't been sick (yippee!!!), but I do have a bad cough so if any of you have any good remedies that are ok for taking while expecting then please pass them along!

Hope you're all enjoying this first month of the new year!
sa

Mmmm... Those Christmas Aromas!

Our tree has been up for a good week now. Yes, it's one of those wal-mart imtreeonators! (Ha, I just made up a word!! )

Well, it looks pretty there decorating that one corner of the room. I like the colored lights, and I also put white lights in it. Maybe oneday in the not too distant future we'll be able to reinstitute a family tradition for going for a picnic to pick out our real Chritsmas tree.
I also like to collect special ornaments that mean something to us, and at least one ornament that has the year on it. I found one at Hallmark that's a little photoframe with the date, but I didn't buy it as my creative brain is thinking..."I could do something like that with a little Fimo!"

Today was the day to get some of H's pent up energy burnt off. I took her to the Mc'D's playground. There were a couple ladies there with some young children but all at least a year or two older than H. She watched them go up and tried herself to pull up on the platform. I took my shoes off and decided to take her all the way up and down the slide one time!! It was fun going down the slide, and it gets a little warm in there. We had fun.



I have Christmas candles burning and today we made some banana and pecan squares and some Christmas mince pies. The apartment smells good!

Here's a photo looking out from our apartment at the snow last week.

Hello!!!!!

Wow, where do I begin??

Well, we're not in Georgia anymore. We have moved lock, stock, and barrel - containing all of H's toys!!!! to the great state of Washington!!! and we love it here!

Some of you may not know, but the Lord begain putting Idaho on hubby's heart concerning starting a church, a while ago but at that time it wasn't a fully lit thought, and then this past summer we met a Pastor and his family from Idaho who has recently started a church and that not-quite-fully-lit thought ignited and turned into a little flame which grew brighter in our hearts with each passing day. The Lord started to 'stirr the nest'. We made a trip out to Moscow, ID for two weeks to check things out and meet people. We put as many miles as we could on that rental car!!

On our return to Georgia, the stirring of those 'twigs in our nest' were starting to gouge!!

Well, we are here now in Liberty Lake which is just inside the Washington border from Post Falls and Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Upon arrival, the Lord blessed us greatly by being invited to stay with a family from the church for a week so we could find an apartment. The Lord also blessed by leading us to this apartment which is pet friendly!! (Not many are here, so beware if any of you have pets and are thinking of coming this way!)It is also asthetically pleasing! ;-)

After another week, Hubby has a good job with a construction crew, but it is hard on the body working in the snow, cold and wet. Please pray for his health and safety.

The people here are so GENUINELY friendly!! We love our church and the Pastor and his family. Our stay here will only be for a season, and we're not sure how long that season will last. We came here to plant and start a church (in Idaho) and we are waiting on the Lord's direction, timing and guidance for this to happen. We are truly grateful and glad to Him that He has led us here. It is amazing to look back and see how everything fell into place so quickly and so precisly.

We didn't get a chance to say good-bye to many people we would have like to in Georgia, nor did we get a chance to tell out of state friends, but you're all about up-to date now :)

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanks Giving because we certainly did!
Sa

My camera.....

Unfortunately has succommbed to 'Bloggeritus' as some of your cameras have done recently.
I was trying to carry too many things at once and dropped the camera on the tile floor. It did not bounce. It spread itself out in about 5 different directions!

The telephone people came by yesterday and chopped away at some of the pecan trees to clear them from the wires. *sniff, sniff* But we still have plenty and I'm looking forward to when they drop and we can gather them up!

H played in the back yard with Pudda while I picked the last of the grapes and I made the jam last night.

Pudda's wounds are healing well. They look to have closed up a little, and we haven't seen or heard of the offending cat anymore.

If I had my camera, I would have posted a photo of my pumpkin patch. The leaves are looking healthy and big ;-)

Take a look at the maps down below.

My Beloved Country - by Lola Lingard

Why are my feelings so ardently stirred
Whenever the sound of a drum or a bugle is heard?
And the sight of a flag, unfurled and free
Brings gratitude for my beloved country.

Oh England, my England, what treasures untold
Are found in your castles and cottages old.
Your highways, and byways, and sweet country lanes,
Your theatres and cities and London-bound trains.

A quaint little village, a church with a steeple,
Cobblestone streets and warm friendly people.
Tall stately homes with carved oaken doors,
Crisp virgin snow on windswept moors.

No distance can take you out of my heart,
You've been there instinctively right from the start;
No time can erase you from my mind,
My thoughts to thee are ever inclined.

Traditions are many, and friendships are true,
And pride, love and loyalty just grew and grew.
That's why my feelings are ardently stirred,
Whenever a drum or a bugle is heard.

The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams

We're still here!

It's been a while, I know since I've posted, but we praise the Lord that all those walking on two legs all doing fine and in good health - those on four legs are a different story, but we're still praising the Lord!

Mr. Wiggles (orange cat) has now been gone for about two months. We think he has tried to make his way back to his beloved pond on Papa's farm. He has about 30 miles to cover whilst dodging a whole array of other animals, roads and fences. I hope he makes it, and if he does, he will have earned the right to stay there. My M-in-law gave encouragement that our cousin's dog got lost in this town and it took her 3 monthts to get back to Alma. I think it might take Mr. Wiggles a little longer. I do miss him though.

Pudda is healing from wounds on her haunches caused by a trespassing stray cat. They are pretty serious wounds a little larger than a quarter coin. I have been doctoring her with Benodine and Neosporin. She is walking good still and keeping them clean. Needless to say, that offending cat now has a death warrant on his head.

Mr. Pepper decided to take advantage of the chain that had slipped from around the gate last Wednesday morning, and he pushed his way through the gap. Fortunately, Pi was too big to get through. We noticed Pepper running up and down the fence line teasing Pi as we sat down to breakfast. Shaun ran out to try and catch him, but Pepper charged off down the road at a full gallop. We grabbed halters and rope and bundled into the car, but by that time had lost sight of him. A man on his back porch pointed out the way he went which we followed but there was still no sign of him. We crossed over a road and saw a man walking towards us so we stopped and asked if he had seen a little black and white pony. He said "Yes, he charged by me about a minute ago!" and pointed the way.
After driving a mile from the house we saw Pepper in a field behind a fence which held in a burro. Mr. Pepper had gone visiting!!!!! He could have gone down any number of side roads or into the woods, but he had made a bee-line for this burro's pasture. I followed his tracks in the dirt to figure out how he got behind the fence and shook the bucket of feed in my hand to which he came without delay. While I was putting on Pepper's halter I got too close to the fence which was 'live' and the shock went through both myself and Pepper who took off again at a run, but I managed to stop him :) Shaun walked Pepper home and we are so thankful that he was ok and had not caused any vehicle accidents or got hurt/killed. Pi was very glad to see him and I'm sure from his body language, was giving him an ear-full!

H is growing up very fast. She has now gone swimming twice in a friend's outdoor pool and mostly enjoys it. She's still learning that she shouldn't suck the water in! But she relaxes well and is not afraid of the water.

H is also learning to use a spoon for eating.


Her hair is growing long enough now for adorable pig-tails!


She likes to color in her coloring book: (We need to get her a proper kiddies table and chair!)


And she loves to feed her babydoll.


Spending time with Mama and Dadda is fun too...




The weather is starting to cool here. We have had some really good storms lately which has helped my pumpkin patch nicely. The pecan tree outside my study room window is loaded with pecans that will provide a wonderful harvest and hubby's favourite pecan pie!! After I'm done here, I will be going out to the fence in the back yard and pick the last of the bullace grapes. I made grape jam last week and it turned out well. Maybe there will be enough grapes left to make another batch.

Well, I think I'll close for now and try not to leave posting for so long next time. I hope you are all doing well and having a wonderful weekend.

Check out this water melon!

It's a Moon and Stars kind of water melon. Our good neighbor friend allowed us to pick a couple. It tastes really good, even more so with a little salt!
When I picked it up my first thought was that it weighed more than H and she's 22lbs!!