In the Garden of Weeden!

(click on photos for larger view)

I'm not sure we'll ever be able to open a roadside stand this summer, but we're off to a good start with our vegetable garden. The Thornwell grounds crew tilled a bunch of extra land for the cottages and many of us (OK, mostly Hank!) have worked hard at planting and watering our crops. Cortney was pleasantly surprised that the cows would eat from his hand! Mama Bear painted some garden signs while the Baby Bears helped with digging, watering, and thinning out the corn. Papa Bear found two little "scarecrows" at a yard sale for $2! We were even gifted some heirloom tomatoes from another Family Teacher. Ah....the thought of 'mater sammiches makes our mouths water! Pray for gentle rains and just the right amount of summer sun so that our crops might yield a bountiful harvest. We also pray that these children will be thrilled to discover one of God's greatest miracles as the soil produces a growing plant and finally food.

UP IN ARMED FORCES!

Talk about your perfect day! Put a young boy on an Army post...throw in a dress parade, rifle range, air show (complete with skydiving and F-16 flyover), rock climbing wall, patriotic songs, hamburgers and hot dogs... and you've got yourself some happy children! We took the boys to Fort Jackson (about an hour up the road in Columbia) on Saturday and they were just thrilled. (Hank was probably thinking great National Guard material in a few years!?!) Quinn had gone home for the weekend but we still filled up the van with Randy and David, Cortney, and Michael. It was a great way to honor all members of our armed forces, past and present. Hank took a "stroll" down memory lane as he went through the replica of a Viet Nam fire support base (camp). I think he was touched most of all though when we returned home and David asked him, "Mister Hank, can you please teach me to do that salute thing?" It only took a few attempts, and he can deliver it!