I love this girl!! She has spunk and attitude; she loves her family. She is a deep thinker on spiritual things. She finishes what she starts and is a good friend.

Proverbs 14:26
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

I love this girl! She is such an amazing young woman. She is a thoughtful thinker, a lover of God, a team player in our family, an awesome photographer and baker. Whatever God has for her, it will be exciting.

Psalms 112:2

His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

^{Ecclesiastes 3:1-8}


There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Life

These two are at summer camp. Miss them terribly. Hayden is working on 4 or 5 merit badges!! William is holding down the rocking chairs, eating ice cream, and doing other important 'things'. That's my man!

These two have been staying up until 2 and 3 every night laughing and talking. You'd think it was summer and we have nothing to do.

I'm sleeping with the DOG! I can't add anything to that...

Proud Mama

Today Sarah began mandolin lessons. I am so proud of her for trying this. It is a beautiful instrument that is so reminiscent of the area we live. She is a little nervous, but with time I believe she will do well. What she chooses to accomplish, she does.

Hannah did her first photo shoot with some friends of ours and their beautiful baby boy. She is so new to this and babies are definitely different than FOOD!! Food doesn't move, make faces, drool or cry!! I am just posting a couple of the many she took right now.

Ok, I Am Angry

I can't help it. I have tried to ignore it. I can not!

This coverage of the circus surrounding Michael Jackson's death and memorial service makes me ill. Absolutely ill! I will not apologize for my rant or my convictions regarding this subject. So, if you think you will be offended, don't read this. You have been warned.

This man was SICK; mentally and spiritually. Has anyone seen some of the later interviews where he talks about sleeping with children. HELLO!!! This is not normal or moral.

He had an obsession with plastic surgery and skin bleaching. He spent money on ridiculous things that had no eternal value. Yes, there is perspective to this, but this was way out of bounds of reasonable.

He brought three children 'into the world' (God only knows how) for what could only be considered selfish reasons. They were victims of the wealth and media; part of a abnormal, sick world.

He produced music that did not glorify God and took people's minds to immoral places. His moves were obscene. This is how he spent his time and made his living.

Examine the motives, the heart. Of course, no one is perfect. But, we must look at the motives, the priorities, the influence, etc. Michael Jackson had a multitude of opportunities to profess Christ, be a Christian influence, glorify God... HE DID NOT! He glorified himself, the entertainment industry, worldly morals, popular culture. He lived for this life. A warped life.

There is NO gray area folks. NONE.

Col. 3:2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Phil. 4:8

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things

1 Corn. 6:9

Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality.

Ps. 51:15

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.


Prov. 12:8

A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

photography by Hannah Queen

Summer Fun!

Summer has been busy for the Queens! The farmers market has kept us baking away every Friday. Saturday mornings until noon we are at the market. Then there is scouts, guitar lessons, cleaning, cooking, chickens, vegetable plants, etc. So, we have tried to fit in fun where we can.

We went to the pool one day with the Scoggins clan. Always fun! Last weekend we headed to their grandparents house for a birthday party and they have a POOL!!! Love them!

The girls and I went to Chattanooga to shop in an actual department store. Oh my, it has been a looonng time; I was overwhelmed. But, we managed to buy Hannah a necklace, me shoes and Sarah sandals.

Hannah's new necklace

Hannah needed subjects for testing outside evening light. She is doing a shoot for the newest Scoggins family of Matt, Emily and Dylan soon. Here is Sarah and Piper helping her out!

We made zucchini bread one day. We plan to sell it at the market and had to do a test run.



Tomorrow is cleaning day!! The kids are so incredibly excited...

A Quote from John Wesley

“Let it be remembered, that I do not speak to the wild, giddy, thoughtless world, but to those that fear God. I ask, then, for what end do you send you children to school? “Why, that they may be fit to live in the world.” In which world do you mean, — this or the next? Perhaps you thought of this world only; and had forgot that there is a world to come; yea, and one that will last for ever! Pray take this into your account, and send them to such masters as will keep it always before their eyes. Otherwise, to send them to school (permit me to speak plainly) is little better than sending them to the devil. At all events, then, send your boys, if you have any concern for their souls, not to any of the large public schools, (for they are nurseries of all manner of wickedness,) but private school, kept by some pious man, who endeavours to instruct a small number of children in religion and learning together.”

John Wesley

Our Heavenly Father Knows

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:26-34

Tribute to Chick-fil-A

This is one hard working girl.

In my last post I told ya'll about us working with William on a job site. Sarah worked so hard with us. She got up on the second level of landscaping and planted a dozen plants for us in no time. Cleaned and did whatever was needed to get the job done. She has an incredible work ethic that we are so proud of.

Sarah you are special to us and a gift from God.

What A Day

Today the kids and I helped William on a job site, along with our wonderful Matt! He is a great employee. We have an existing client that has had her house on this horrible market for 2 years and needed help updating and staging her home.

We got busy cleaning, changing out ceiling fans and light fixtures, etc., then to the outside. There were 3 large cedars that were obstructing the view of the house and deck; they had to go. Then she had tiered beds that had been overtaken by cypress bushes. ugh. They had to go. Of course this meant replanting.

So, off to the H**e D***t (not my favorite, but close) to find new plantings. We picked Hostas, which are one of my favorites for their hardiness and Periwinkles for low ground cover. And mulch, lots of mulch.

Tomorrow I hope that we can finish replanting and start cleaning all the mess we made in the driveway. A BIG mess. But, one must have mess before order.

Here are some pictures:

This is where the cedars were. They completely covered the porch. Sarah, what are doing child. Stand up! You can't get anything done bent over. She is probably looking for snails; there are tons around this place.

I wish we could have filled the bed in more, but there are money constraints. They will fill out.

These had to go in the tiered beds. They were huge and making the area look smaller.

And William compiled! Good husband.

Matt working hard. I think he'd rather not have me on the job site! :) I did feed him!




Hayden not working!! He was playing Ghost Busters, the nut. He did work hard... kinda.

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!!

A Wonderful Good Day!

This morning our pastor spoke about grace and the law. It was very eye opening and beneficial in helping me find a balance that so many times eludes me due to poor teaching in the church.

We can not throw out the law and live solely under grace because we would walk in disobedience. There are requirements the God has placed on us and He has said that we will need strength and endurance. If we live only under grace there would be no need for either of these.

The balance is to not move over into legalism requiring certain 'things' of people for them to be holy. ie, hair length, dress length, head covering, etc. Whatever we do or do not do must come from the heart, in obedience to what we believe God is asking of us.

What a blessing to hear the Word!!

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2

Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:5

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.
Psalm 123:2-3

"My Husband Rocks" Fridays

My husband rocks because he always asks how I am, do I need anything or is there anything I would like him to do. That means a lot to me after 23 years of marriage. What a caring sweet man!!!

Busy Day

Today was a busy day for us. We started by going over to my FIL's and picking cherries. The humidity was horrible and we were dripping by the time we left.

Then off to the grocery store. UGH. But, it is done for atleast.... a day!

Once we got home I needed to pit the cherries to get them in the freezer. Had to stop for Hannah to take pictures of them, then she dumped the pitted and unpitted together in a bowl. Urrrrrr. What is up with that??

Next the blueberry bushes needed pruning and the tomato plants needed some cutting.

Dinner of grilled steaks, potatoes, corn on the cob and salad!! YUM!!

Finally, a driving lesson for Sarah. Tired momma...

The cherry mixer culprit, keep a look out!

photography by Hannah Queen

Facing Adversity

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Hab. 3:17-18).

How do you respond to adversity? Anger? Defeat? Muscle through?

Habakkuk was told by God that Israel was going to be invaded by the Babylonians, yet he chose joy. He accepted God's will for the discipline of Israel.

When we realize that nothing can touch us without His permission, then we can respond with JOY. When we trust God's love for us and know that even adversity is for our good, we can rejoice when we face difficult situations.

A Great Day at the Farmers Market

Things are still slow at the market because the produce hasn't come in yet. But, we have been doing pretty well overall. Today we sold out of everything!!!!!

We sold out of these little sweeties before 9 am.

Sold all these early also!

Sold all our bread!!!

And we sold the 3 last jars of Hannah's salad dressing. Praise God for a good day!!!

Hannah sold 3 of her pictures today!!! They are amazing, though I realize I am the momma. Visit her store by going to the button on the right of my blog.

Here is a sampling of her photography

The Deception Continues

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20 ESV)

The first president of the United States that would not participate in the National Day of Prayer and sat before Rick Warren in August of 2008 and said he believed "marriage is a union between a man and a woman, has declared June 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

Obama has no integrity and the truth is not in him. He calls evil good and good evil.

“Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (Rom 1:32 ESV)