I took this at my mom & dad's this evening.  She's so sweet and loveable....a totally mommy's girl which she is quick to point out to everyone.  When we were doing our family prayers at bedtime tonight, Madeline, with arms wrapped around mommy blurts out "Your mine mama!....right??"  I smiled and squeezed her.  "Yes..I'm yours."

Tara was not interested in having her picture taken tonight, but I'll try to get one of her up here soon.

How did I live without it all these years??!! I am so grateful that my local phone company has FINALLY offered it to my rural area. It makes this whole process so much quicker and far more fun . I was looking at these pictures of Madeline today, and felt inspired to do this....

P>

I like it

Summer has come and gone and so much change has taken place. Personal triumphs have taken place. God has worked in my life in amazing ways this summer. So much time has gone by. Summer was wonderful. Lots of swimming and fun in the sun. My flower garden was extraordinary this year. My vegetable garden brought forth a bountiful yield. Tara turned 6 in June with a Hawaiian Luau party. She's in 1st grade now. I'm still not used to that one. She's gone alllll day!! Madeline's language has progressed with leaps and bounds. Both girls continue to grow like weeds and become more beautiful each and every day (of course I admit to being totally biased). Blogging has gone by the wayside for me because with my dial up connection (that's right...dial up!!!), I just couldn't put forth the TIME required to post. Today however, we upgraded to high speed!! We have officially entered the 21st century!! To everyone who posted on my blog in the time of my absence. Please, please forgive me for not responding . I'm excited about starting up again with high speed though. It will be soooooo much quicker and easier.

My garden keeps transforming. My peonies are in full glory and what a site to see. I have several iris plants in bloom.

Amazing how each individual flower is a beautiful work of art...

My Irisis...when the sun is setting and hits them just so, well, it is truly a sight to see. What an amazing artist our Lord God is...

Heavenly Father, this world you have created is truly amazing.  It pains me to see the destruction of our country with the separation of church and state, and the aggressive movement of the left wing to completely demoralize our nation and our children, while at the same time removing you from the picture.  In my breif lifetime, I have witnessed the systematic removal of you from nearly everything.  As a result, our great nation is tumbling.  My girlfriend informed me recently that they will be installing foot washing stations in the University Of Michigan for the Muslims at a cost of $25,000 per station to be paid for by the tax payers.  Where's the ACLU??!!  Isn't that an infringement on the separation of church and state?  Oh wait...separation of church and state is not separation of church and state.  It's separation of you God, from every vital vein of this country.  I wish things were the way they were when I was a child.  I wish my children could be innocent simply because they are still little kids, and not because I have shielded them from EVERYTHING that has tried to rob them of that irreplaceable innocence.  I worry what this world will be like 20 years from now when they will be starting families of their own.  I'm sorry God that our great nation is rapidly turning into a nation that will no longer be "great".  I pray that you will take care of and protect my children for their entire lives.  I pray that you keep them safe, sweet and innocent for years to come.  I lift my babies up to you Lord so that they may shine in ways to help change this world.  I will fill them with your word and continue to foster a relationship between You and them.

Remember this picture?

Awwwww...all those cute little kittens that mamma (Tinkerbell) moved on me so I could not get rid of them. Well, her Daughter Faline, 2 weeks later gave birth to...are you ready?...NINE!!!!! So lets see, Tinkerbell seen above with her 5 kittens, Faline with her NINE kittens and don't forget about Tiger (Faline's brother). That brings the cat grand total to SEVENTEEN!!!!! Now lets think about this for a minute. Two females gave birth to FOURTEEN kittens just a few weeks apart. Can you imagine the numbers I would have if the females from these two litters reproduced like that??!! Surely destined to be a news story in a year or two. Faline however made a big mistake. She gave birth to her kittens and Tara discovered them in the garage, and after missing the boat with Tinkerbell's 5 babies, I jumped to snatch up Faline's. See?....

After several attempts by Ron to capture Faline "and" the babies together, I gave up and snatched just the babies. Nine in all over the course of 3 days. They were all taken to the vet whom then took them to a local animal shelter that will bottle feed and eventually fix and adopt them out. It was my hope however that Tinkerbell's 5 did not make it. Well, last week, I stepped out into the garage to feed the animals and Tinkerbell was there and hissed at me. I knew at that moment that there must be a kitten or "kittens" in the garage so I reached into the house for the cat carrier and stood quietly waiting for the baby meow. It didn't take long for it to call to it's mamma, and I caught this...

I know, I know...Awwwwww. How can she take them all away. Well let me just say this...EASY!! I figured I'd take this little cutie to the vet after dropping Tara off at school but when we headed out with the kitty in the crate at school time, Tinkerbell was there and hissed at me again. I knew there was more. So I kept the kids in the house and again waited. I caught one more that looked just like the above kitten, but didn't have time to photograph it. When we were leaving, I thanked Tinkerbell and told her that if her other 3 survived, to be sure to bring them around so I could whisk them away as well. I know...I sound so heartless, but I'm a realist and I know the potential mess we'd have if all these cats grew up . Now the following day, I again walked into the garage only to be hissed at. I really had to be patient because the hidden kitty was quiet. With the crate in hand, I began looking in all the potential hiding spots and low and behold, I find the final three huddled together! The third one is in there too. Another tiger stripped one but he wouldn't look up for the camera.

Thank you Tinkerbell!!! I captured them and took them to the animal shelter as my vet no longer would take them for me, but I caught all fourteen kittens!! Yay me . Did I mention that Ron wanted to keep them all so they could keep down the chipmunk and mouse population? AS IF!!!!

My next endeavor is to Live trap Mamma Tinkerbell and her son Tiger, and take them to the animal shelter. They are both very wild and never have let us touch them. I will also capture Faline and get her fixed and she can stay. Here's a little photoshoot of our pretty Faline...the one, and I stress ONE cat who can stay!

No, no...she was not hissing at me. Just a sleepy yawn that translated into a really cool couple of pictures.