a final farewell

Hello Dear Friends~ I have beenblogging for a while over the past 2 years, stopped for a while last fall so I could care for my family and then I picked it back up this summer, hoping I would have more time to write out the many thoughts going through my head, and "visit" with you all. I feel like we have been friends for so long, now. Old college chums scattered across the states. This will be my last post. I have not had as much time to write as I thought and this fall will be even more difficult as we start "officially" homeschooling... I am even closing my etsy store. I want to make sure my attention is as much on my family as possible. I have a new curriculum we will be working through and I hope and pray that I wont make things any more difficult than they need to be, that Lily will be patient with me as I learn how to teach using these books and that she learns to her hears content! I am on Facebook- you are welcome to come find me. I use FB to keep in touch with my sisters and military friends both near and far away. You can also email me gigapeach@yahoo.com I will miss you all. I will miss seeing what you all are doing in school and in your homes, the trips you take and the photos you share. I will most definately miss all the yummy recipes you share- I have tried so many of them!!! I wish you all- all the happiness in the world!! Love~ Kristina Kessler

PRAYERS NEEDED!!!

Ben Tinsley, 15 years old, was in a car accident tonight.  He is our nephew.  Please pray for him.  He has head trauma and in going into surgery as I type this to learn the extent of the injury. 

Please pray for him, for our family!  we all know the power of prayer and that our God hears each and every one we lift up! 

Please pray!!

Thank you!

JULY

July- just the name of this month makes me think of the 4th of July, swimming, peaches and ice cream, heat and no rain, beach, fireworks, cook out… well- you know what I’m talking about! 

This is our July- so far…

*~* Peaches from Carroll Farms in Woodbury *~*

Peeled, sliced and already in the freezer!  They are SOO good!!

*~*  My Pantry is FINALLY built!!  YAY  *~*

This was actually done last month, but I just wanted to share! It has been on my “wish list” for 4 years!  Lots of shelves for food, and cleaning supplies.  I am still in the process of organizing it, but I am SUPER excited about it!!  YAY!!

*~* Homeschool Awards Night *~*

A Night at the Oscars was the theme!  Lily got 3 awards, one for completing Kindergarten, one for completing the school year and one for being a Math Master- doing K and 1st grade math in one year!  Her dress is a “formal” skirt a friend gave me.  We tightened up the waist and then scrunched up all over and added lace flowers and beads to shorten it and added lace for the straps!

*~* Train Derailment near Woodbury *~*

The ground is so dry here the gravel settled so much that the rails gave way.  Luckily it was a cargo train with fertilizer and not a passenger train!

*~* 4th of July *~*

Button Napkin Rings- Aren’t the just CUTE!!!

*~* Getting Fresh Milk *~*

We met a friend of a friend and he has 3 dairy cows.  This one is Daisy.  He lets us have fresh milk every week!  On Wednesday he let us come over and milk Daisy ourselves.  Lily had so much fun with it!

* The bucket fills up fast!

We got over a gallon of milk from the one bucket!

Marcos also has a lot of chickens.  These are some of his smaller houses.  Aren’t they CUTE!!  I would love to get one to move around the yard for my chickens to get fresh bugs and grass without the dogs getting them!

He trains horses and has so many staying at his house!  Lily likes El Torro,the pony.

*~* You cant have the 4th of July without Fireworks *~*

Of course, earlier that day it was raining, so we weren’t sure if we would or not…

The month isn’t even half way over and we have done so much already!  Today is my grandmothers birthday.  We leave to visit her in a bit, go pick up more peaches, then lake and farmers market tonight with friends and more fireworks Saturday night!  If you are ever in this area you should check out Callaway Gardens.  It is just great! 

I hope you all have a very blessed weekend!!

~ Kristina

school time

Is it time to start school?? I am so excited about the curriculum for Lily this fall.  We decided to go with My Fathers World, 1st grade, curriculum. 

I have never used anything with laid-out lesson plans.  We have always just bought books that interested us and worked through them, through out the year. It has worked great for us so far, but I want more structure in our schedule so we are trying this out this year…

The books are out of their wrappers, and resting on the book shelf, patiently waiting to used.  I think I am most excited about the math book.  It covers both 1st and 2nd grade math.  She has already worked through 1st grade, so I like that I didn’t have to get an additional math book.  I also really like the science/nature studies!!  Lily loves to be outside so I know she will love that part!

On another note- I just finished up photos from my June wedding.  I am very happy with them.  The couple is from our church and we just love them. 

  I have decided to take it easy this fall with the business.  I want to be able to focus more time on our family and home for a bit.  There is still a lot that needs to be finished before we tackle anything else.  Jon gets frustrated with our “To Do"” list.  Unfortunately he is as ADD as I am.  We have so many projects started and just about finished… there is something small on each project that needs completed… maybe we can finish them this summer… 

~ Kristina

growing up

I was laying in bed last night listening to Jon snoring… He doesn’t have a smooth, rumbling, soothing snore.  He has a loud, inconsistent, wake you up from sleep, hear it across the house, possible sleep apnea, multi-tone kind of snore.  It worries me a lot. I think he needs to see an ENT about his nose and throat, possibly even get a sleeping test done.  It really cannot be healthy.  And it has gotten worse as he gets older…

But what got me thinking- while listening to the snoring-  was Lily wanted to snuggle with her Daddy for a while. I was ok with it, as was he- but while I lay wide awake Jon and Lily were SOUND ASLEEP!!  How can she sleep through all that noise?  She always has fallen asleep when snuggling with Jon, even as a baby.  I guess it started when she was a baby…

But my though train didn’t stop here- 

Do you remember, as a kid, ever getting hot in the summer?  Or cold in the winter?  We went outside to play after breakfast and didn’t come in till supper. And in the summer, after we washed up dishes we were back outside again.  We slept through the night (except for the occasional bad dream).  We didn’t hear snoring or traffic going down the highway.  I remember everything being so easy.  We played, we went to school and church, we ate, we slept.

At what point in our lives did we start getting hot in the summer?  When did winter get too cold?  When did getting enough sleep, and good quality sleep, become important and something to worry about? 

When did all that change? When did we grow up?

real quick-

I cant write much tonight-  I have had 2 late nights in a row, already… 

I was reading through my posts from the past few years and it dawned on my how much you all meant to me, mean to me!!  I love going back thru and reading all the comments from you all, hearing what all we have in common -like enjoying cleaning, homeschooling, reading, being outdoors, photography, sewing- just to name a few…

Anyway-  as tomorrow quickly approaches- I just wanted to say…

  You all are like a group of college buddies, scattered all over the states!  And I am so tickled that through this crazy thing, called blogging, I have gotten to know you all.

Have a great evening!!

Tomorrow I will be canning tomatoes and making peach jam!!  YUMM!! 

~ Kristina

my coastal home

Edisto Beach, SC-  it is one of the non-commercial beaches.  It is a small island that is RARELY crowded.  I have heard it gets busy around the 4th of July, but I have personally never seen it.

Jon’s parents own a home on the island and we always have such a great time there.  It is just BEAUTIFUL!  One of my most favorites places to be! 

…………………………………………………………….

*~* You get on the island and are welcomed by a farmers market…

*~* Once you are on the beach you see…

…dolphins feeding in the bay…

… beach chairs sitting side by side..

…GORGEOUS sunsets…

…and breathtaking sunrises…

…Good Morning Edisto!!…

…coastal wildlife…

…and crazy talented nephews that will ‘jump over the sun’ for me and my camera! 

I just love Edisto!!!

~ Kristina