Memory Lane

I hope you all will stay with me as my heart takes a walk down memory lane.

My memory starts twenty seven years ago when I met this really cute engineering student.

We fell in love!

A year later we were married.

One week before we met, Rich signed some important papers.

These papers enrolled him in a Naval program called

NUPOC (nuclear propulsion officer candidate).

After graduating from Montana State University, Rich started his
career as a Navy officer.

Let's fast forward a few years...

After moving five different times for different schools he had to attend,

Rich received orders to the USS Henry L. Stimson (a ballistic submarine).

We found ourselves living in Charleston, South Carolina.

After a stellar three year tour he received orders to NR1.

At that time NR1 was the Navy's only nuclear powered deep submersible submarine.

I have so many wonderful memories from this incredible time in our lives

and would not trade one moment of them for anything!

Are you still with me here?

Good!

He has stories, I have stories and together we have stories!

But since this is my blog I get to share one of my memories!

I remember the first time I watched as his sub pull away from the pier.

I had tears streaming down my face.

It would be a long time before we would see each other again.

We would not be able to communicate with each at all.

I had NO idea where he was going (it was classified).

I had never experienced this unknown before.

I can tell you, even though my heart was full of the unknown

and truth be told I was a little fearful.

I was so proud of my husband and his commitment to serve our nation!

Like I said before we would not trade this time in our life for anything!

It was full of adventure.

It was full of the unknown (all the time)

It was full of long separations.

It was full of great homecomings.

It was full of moves.

It was full of great wonderful friends.

It was a full life!

Now, I would like to take a moment here and
thank all of those wonderful people who haved served and

those who are still serving in our armed forces.

THANK YOU!

You and your families sacrifice so much for all of us.

I am humbled by your choice to serve...again I thank you!

~Nancy~

A Lovely Day

It's going to be a lovely day here at the cottage!

The weather is amazing and I hope to get out and enjoy it as much as possible.

Several weeks ago Jen left for a study abroad program.

We put her on a chartered bus that took her to the big city airport where she caught a plane that took her to France, Belgium,
The Netherlands and Germany.

She is coming home today and I can't wait to hug her sweet little neck, hear about all her adventures and see her pictures.

The cute engineer has been in NJ all week.

While his trip wasn't as much fun, it was very informative.

I will pick him this afternoon and hug his sweet neck and
hear all about his trip.

Pretty sure no pics were taken. He was in meetings the whole time.

Like I said it's going to be a lovely day here at the cottage!

Enjoy your week end!

Thankful Thursday

What to be thankful for on this Thursday...Hhhmmmm?

This morning I had the sweetest quiet time.

The Lord and I talked some things over and He so gently called me on my stuff?

So thankful He is quick to forgive and remembers my sin no more!

Then we took a walk through the garden.

I loved sharing that time with Him!

I have been blessed with a few new bloggy friends.

Y'all are so sweet !

We made Turkish Pizza for dinner and homemade Baklava for dessert.

Both were a first for me

AND SOOOO GOOD !

The humidity was down today, so I had a good hair day :)

Those are just a few things I am thankful for today...

what about you?

~Nancy~

The Scoop

Hello one and all!

Here's the scoop...

No photo's today as our computer is sick :(

I have very strict instructions not to use it until the cute engineer

(aka...cute hubby) can back things up and take it into the computer dr.

The weather has been soooooooo nice this week.
We have been plant'n fools around here!

Here's a list of what we have planted...

• a rhododendron
• a peony
• a rose bush
• 3 foxgloves
• 3 hollyhocks
• 2 columbine
• 3 iris
• a ladies mantel
• one flat of snapdragons
• one flat of petunias
• one flat of impatience
• three flats of mixed flowers
• one flat of salvia
• a flat of something Katie picked out and I can't remember the name :)
• 3 dahlias
• 45 gladiolas

~ not to mention all the veggies and various planters PLUS
we had 6 cubic yards of mulch delivered.
We are about 2/3 of the way done with placing it around.

Now, we get to enjoy!

Happy Plant'n!

Sunday Verse

" The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe."

Proverbs 18:10

Being True

Good morning...

When I started this blog it was to share some of the snippets of my life with loved ones that don't live near me

(which would be pretty much our whole family).

I always want this blog to be a true reflection of who I am.

A sinner saved by God's amazing grace.

If you were to ever meet me in person I hope be you would be able to say

she is just like I thought she would be.

So with that thought in mind this is a snippet of my life this week.

I am a person who wears her heart on her sleeve...

I received a phone call this week from someone I love deeply.

When he calls it is always the same need and it usually

always causes me to fall to my knees in prayer.

I ran to God and crawled into the shadow of His wing and

I have stayed there all week!

It is a comfortable place to be and has been a comfort to my hurting heart.

Today God has brought me out of that shadow so that we can do some soaring!

O how I love Him and His tender love!

NOW...

I just wanted to share two of the many blessings in my week!

~Nancy~

Thankful Thursday

"The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever."

Isaiah 40:8

I am thankful this evening that God's word will stand forever!

~Nancy~

A Notice

A few days ago we received notice from the Digging Commission of

"A Hole To No Where".

While they are very pleased with the work Libby has done for them,

they felt as though many of her attempts to find a short cut to

"A Hole To No Where"

just weren't going to make the cut.

The Digging Commission gave us permission to fill her failed attempts.

We thought that might be the end to her digging career, but much to our dismay they renewed her contract for another summer.

She was so happy and wasted no time in plotting out a new route.

Job well done Libby!

Can I Ask You...

The sun is shining.

It is warming up.

The dirt is ready.

What are you doing today?

Thankful Thursday

Today I have been cutting out, piecing and sewing together this fabric.

I love them and I love that they will be sewn together to make a quilt that Jen will use to wrap around her, cover up with at night and
brighten her space at school.

While sewing today I have been able to talk to God about my sweet girl.

I am so thankful for prayer and that God hears our prayers!

~Nancy~

Cookies

Who put the cookie in the cookie jar?

Not me

Then who?

Jen put the cookie in the cookie jar.

And they are yummy!!!

Have a great evening!

~Nancy~

Projects and Helpers

I love, love, love having both my girls home!!!

We have been cooking, eating and doing some projects.

Jen and I went shopping last week and found the perfect fabric for her quilt.

It fits her personality to a T.

I can't tell you just how excited I am to be doing this quilt for my sweet girl.

Katie and I are planting a garden.
First we had to build the forms.
I really should say Rich and Katie built the forms.

Libby supervised!

Katie found prince charming!

Ready for plants.

A job well done!
Plants to come SOON.

~Nancy~

Rejoicing

"This is the day that the LORD hath made...

and I will be glad and rejoice in it."

Today the LORD made SW Michigan a very cold and rainy spot...

and we chose to rejoice in it by making soup!

We had gone to the farmers market this morning and bought some leeks and

many other yummy things.

Katie made a delicious leek and potato soup for lunch.

Mmmmmm!

I made Sweet-Potato Corn Chowder for dinner. I found this soup recipe earlier this winter and it soon became a favorite of ours. So, I thought I would share it with you.

I found this delightful recipe in Midwest Living.

Sweet-Potato Corn Chowder

12 ounces andouille, kielbasa or smoked pork sausage, halved lengthwise and into 1/2-inch slices

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

2 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)

1 tablespoon minced garlic (6 cloves)

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 chili powder

1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning

6 cups chicken broth

1 16-ounce package frozen kernel corn

or

3 cups fresh sweet corn kernels

2 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled sweet potato

12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. In a 6-quart Dutch oven, brown sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally . Add onion, celery and garlic. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in flour, cumin, chili powder and Cajun seasoning. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in chicken broth. Bring to boiling.

2. Add the frozen or fresh corn, peeled and cubed sweet potato and the chicken. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer the chowder, covered, about 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Stir in the whipping cream and pepper; heat through.

ENJOY!

If you give this a try let me know how you like it.

I hope all you moms out there have a blessed Mother's Day!

Thankful Thursday

I don't know if a mom's heart could get any fuller!!!

I just spent part of tonight with both of my girls curled up in my bed.

We giggled, we teased and we shared our hearts.

What a privilege it is to be called mom by these two incredible girls.

Thanks Katie and Jen!

~Nancy~

Exciting News!

Last Friday we learned that our youngest daughter Jennifer was accepted to

Liberty University!

She LOVES history and plans on majoring in this subject.
One day she hopes to work in Colonial Williamsburg.

Way to go Jen!!!

What Happened ???

Oh my, what happened???

We left late Thursday night for Ohio and...

My clean house is no longer clean :(

The yard work that was under control now looks like a jungle :(

Soooooooo, tomorrow is...

CHORE DAY!

I am so thankful for such a lovely week end with my wonderful family, that Katie will be home (with friends) in a few days and some exciting news (post to come) we received last Friday which involves our sweet girl Jennifer that I can hardly sit still!

Watch out CHORE DAY !

Here I come!!!

~Nancy~