Picnic

This is of the picnic we had with our good friends. It was so lovely... Another of God's blessings. :)

They brought subs, chips, pretzels, tea... :)

Eating pictures are so funny... :P

We had to jumpstart their car. :P

Chili

As people have remarked (ahem, Laina ;) ) that I mostly post pictures of sweet things I've baked on my blog, and not many (if any) of real food, I decided to do a couple photoshoots of myself cooking dinner. -.- I hope you enjoy....

The hamburger, onions, garlic and herbs cooking... (I use basil, oregano, parsley.. all fresh, of course.)

Some fresh-picked, homegrown tomatoes...

Now all blended up, for use in the chilli. :) I only used some of the tomato sauce. 

My soup bowl:

Atalie's soup bowl:

Michelle's soup bowl:

It was good. :) This wasn't how my chilli usually turned out, but that's cause I used more of the garlic-chilli powder I usually use, and less of the normal kind. And I don't usually add so much tomato sauce or herbs. The extra herbs definitely gave it a slightly different flavor. And I don't usually use lima beans, which I had to this time cause I didn't have canned kidney beans, and I only had dry lima and pinto beans. So. But I never feel constrained to follow a recipe (specially if it's mine!!) exactly the same each time! :P My chilli usually doesn't change much, except in heat, though.

Family...

Every child's plaything... the corn silk!!

Hana's work, and photography... reprinted with her permission. ;)

Now my photography again:

Bikes. A Favorite Pastime. :P

I know these are all somewhat similar, but she's so cute! I couldn't leave any pictures out. :P

The Cheese, Grommit!!

I can never truly struggle with wondering if God actually cares about me, if God actually cares about us. I am chastened by my lonely thoughts of God being so distant and not caring about us when I am reminded of the so many times - especially those of late - where God has reached out and touched my family. He has blessed us so much. Let me proclaim it to the world - HE HAS BLESSED US BEYOND MEASURE!

I won't forget the milk that he has supplied us with for the past several years. On a regular basis, and without fail, when we needed it most...

I won't forget the groceries brought to us late at night by a wonderful woman, those many years back when we lived in the city. I won't forget how extraordinarily thrilled we children were to receive the food. It was like Christmas.

I won't forget the watermelon... the ground beef... the cantelope... I won't forget all the produce clients of Mom's have blessed us with. I won't forget all the food good friends give to us out of the goodness of their heart. I won't forget the meals.

I won't forget the cheese.

How could I ever forget that God really, truly, amazingly does care for us? How could I ever not realize that He is out to help us, and is always there for us, and is on our side, fighting for us valiantly? How could I ever forget? How could I forget that He moves for us time and time again, and that He weeps with us when we weep, and laughs when we are joyful? How could I believe that HE - perfectness and awesomeness embodied - could not care for US?