This summer has gone by in a BLUR, there is so much going on and so much to do and attend my homebody nature is not adjusting well. The garden has taken on new dimensions I have a huge amount of yellow tomatoes and Roma tomatoes, the herbs are doing well and I will have enough red potatoes to feed the whole block. Presbyboy is still picking a few berries every day from the "ever bearing" strawberries. My squash is dead, not sure when or how it died but I went to water it day and it was withered! The broccoli right next too it was thriving so I am left to ponder...My glads are glorious too, I planted a bunch of different colors, however I seem to be getting a lot of colors that's I'm sure I didn't plant and vise versa.

I am already thinking about Christmas and more importantly planning the Presbytery meeting meal that will be held at our church in November. 150 attenders plus 25 helpers from our church for dinner. I have already decided on a turkey dinner, it will be cheap then and I know how to do it because that's the traditional funeral food, though most funerals aren't quiet as big as 175 people. Presbyboy isn't going to preschool this year he's 3 1/2 but thanks to a Christmas birthday can't go to kindergarten for 2 more school years, I was thinking of ordering some home school curriculum but I think hes doing pretty well with letter and numbers etc. I'm 30 and never went to preschool and I turned out just fine! Presbybaby is 13 months and so full of energy and climbing over the back of the sofa, they do play well together but the poor cat has taken to hiding from both of them most days.

Running Late for Christmas... in August

It's 90 degrees today but in a few short months we will again be in case in snow and ice, last year our city was #2 for snow fall , lets hope we don't make it to #1 this year. I love to shop but I hate to shop in overcrowded stores and Christmas (if it's nice enough to drive) is definitely not my cup of tea, also December is one of the busiest months for a Pastor's family,once upon a time I used to buy gifts all year and put them in a storage cabinet...the Presbyboy figured that out and now checks the cabinet every day! So then I moved them to under our bed, but one day the Presbyboy crawled under the skirt and thought he discovered a treasure chest! So here it is August and I only have two presents purchased for next year! I have decided that I am just getting the kids each one big thing and I'm going to order it by mail and leave it in the box till Christmas Eve, with church members and grandparents they get plenty (o, and Presbyboy's 4th birthday is 9 day's before Christmas). Presbyboy is getting a huge Thomas track layout for his train table and Presbybaby is getting a play kitchen.

Traditions

I recently read a book written by a former Methodist ministers daughter, even though she grew up in a parsonage a long time ago her words still ring true today. I especially liked the part about how her mother made each parsonage feel like "home" her father would often get moved every two years, but they had the same holiday traditions and in each house the same picture was hung above the same piano no matter where they went. They ate the same meals on each certain day of the week etc. it gave her that sense of security that I feel is especially important to each child (pastor's kid or not).

I was recently reviewing a list I had made at New Years on things I wanted to work on , one was having a family dinner around the table each night the ReverendDr. was able to be home with us. I am lucky if it gets done once or twice a week!