what are we doing today?

 Apples!  We're going to pick some apples!  When Miss Char got home from school the other day and there were pumpkin pies baking, she said that she wants to help make pies next time.  She's 15 years old, and shh, not always enthusiastic about things, so of course, we are going to make this happen!  

She got up this morning, got ready, left for school, then lo and behold, a call from the superintendent:  a water main break at the school, so virtual school today.  Virtual school, no fair!  Those poor mamas who are also teachers and have their own children home from school today!  Back in the day, it would just be a free day off!  But it was still fun and exciting to have the bus bring Charlotte Claire back home, after a half hour ride. 

Once way back when, it was terribly snowy out there, low visibility, windy...several kids got on the bus, the bus got to the end of the road, then school was cancelled, the buses were struggling, so it turned around and brought them back home, so much fun.  I wish I could have saved us all the trouble of getting up and getting ready, but still, it was fun, and back then, no virtual.

Our pot pies were mmmm good, not beautiful but so fragrant and flaky and filling, very satisfying.

I sent a few heaping slices over to Emily and Mariel, along with the last slices of pumpkin pie.

The state reservation system for camping is frustrating...it opens for reservations 9 months ahead of time, so you have to figure out so long in advance when you'd like to go camping.  I did reserve one of our favorite parks for a long weekend in June, a nice site on the beach.  Then I found out it was already a scheduled youth weekend for the kids, but oh well, Paul and I can still go with the pups.

Here's what has been encouraging me lately:  our kingdom is not of this earth.  Imagine if it was!  I do find myself getting caught up in it all.  There has to be a balance between having your head in the sand, and being stressed out about all the injustice.  It's comforting to know that at the end of the day, God knows all of what's going on, and that "all things work together for the good for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose..." (Rom 8.28).   And this we heard in a meeting recently: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In my Father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14 1-2).