SNAKE!

It’s been hard to get to the computer over the last few days. We’ve had so much going on….the days have gotten away from me before I’ve been able to write.

This morning we’re saddened by the passing of our sweet little hamster, Snickers. Last night she apparently had injured her leg while climbing around her cage. We knew when we went to bed last night that she wasn’t doing too well.

She has been such a good pet. Joshua took very good care of her and loved her very much. We will all miss her.

Along with the burial process and trying to put her things away…we’ve not lacked the normal Lambert “stuff” going on around here. Jessica was standing out by Courtney this morning in the yard and a snake crawled by her foot.

She was cool as a cucumber…her brothers, sisters and mother however, were not. We’ve found a couple of other snakes around here while we’ve lived in this house but never have we had such a close encounter. Dad was swift with the shovel and sparing you the details, that snake will never come near his little miss again!

Prayer Requests:

We’ve not had luck finding good sales people yet. Concierge will be an awesome opportunity for the right one but apparently we’re going to have to tweak our ad a bit before running another. Please pray that we are able to find sales people.

For Joshua. His heart is hurting this morning as are my other children over the loss of his pet. Please pray peace over him.

The Lawrence family. I’m going to try to call and get an update on Krista some time today or tomorrow. I’ll post as soon as I know something.

My extended family. That’s really the only detail that I’m going to share right at this moment, but please pray for all of us.

My Mom. She’s still not 100% following her surgery.

Today, I’m Thankful For:

My son, who is so obviously becoming a man. As he sat crying this morning he said that he really loved his hamster but he was so glad that after being hurt, she wouldn’t have to suffer any longer. These little boys grow up so quickly. I am so thankful that God placed this little one in my arms so that I would have the pleasure of being part of his life. What an honor.

Concierge is scheduled to go into it’s first hotel next Thursday!

Paul was able to get my store up… and at the bottom left of “Lines From The Vine”, you can now purchase “Vine Wear”! I thought it was really sweet of him to set these up for me!

Almost completing my first 8 cloth diapers. I’ll post a picture sometime today as soon as I’m finished with all of them.

The progress that I made in my bathroom last week. I took a shower curtain that my Mom purchased a while back for us and turned it into a valance, curtain, curtain tie backs, and a toilet lid cover. I was so excited. Now to just have time to paint….. : )

Classtime:

I’m sorry I missed the last week’s “Classtime” segment. Today is Tuesday so it’s time to begin the sour dough starter.

There are many recipes and methods that you can use to begin your bread starter. We try to eat mostly whole wheat (atleast that’s what I try to make and purchase). I used whole wheat flour for my recipe and I wanted to begin the old fashioned way…”catching” my own wild yeast. I didn’t want to use sugar or prepackaged yeast but you could if you would like for your starter to ferment a little faster.

I hope that you’ve purchased your glass jar…to begin, simply add 2c flour and 2c water. Stir well and place the lid on your jar.

On days two and three look for bubbles in your mixture, and give it a quick stir.

On day four, you should begin to see more bubbles and may notice a fruity, yeasty, or sour odor coming from your starter. It is at this point that you will begin to feed your starter. Take out one cup of starter (dispose of this) and add 1c flour and 1 1/2 c of water. Mix it all up.

You may also notice a liquid coming up from your starter. This is actually a good thing. Just mix it back down into the batter and continue on.

Place your starter in the fridge, stir daily and meet me back here next Tuesday for the next step.

Tracy’s Task:

Today, I’m organizing DVD’s and Videos. If you would like to join me, separate all of your family media and put them in a safe place. I keep mine with my photographs. Sort through all other videos and DVD’s.

Do you have any that have not been viewed in forever and need to be passed on to another home?

Do you have any that are not glorifying to God?

We have purchased movies only to get them home and realize that they had garbage in them… I know it’s hard to throw something away that you’ve spent money on but it’s a far greater price that you will pay in the long run if you keep them.

What I’m Learning:

Want to immediately see that little boys and little girls are completely different, inside and out, from the time they are very little?

Take a family of 6 males and 4 females….throw a snake out in the yard and watch the faces as some are horrified and scream and some are mouths hanging open saying “How nasty! Can we come off the deck for a closer look, Daddy!” UGH!

One additional note:
You want to keep liquid soap, not the big bars in your kid’s bathroom. These don’t make for a great experience when flushed down the toilet…want to ask me how I know? Want to ask how many times it has been that one of the littles in my home have “accidentally” flushed a big bar of soap?

Today’s Scripture Meditation:

2 Cor 1:3-5
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
(NIV)