Ridonkulous!

Homemade

Michelle Dugger I am not but I did realize that she is onto something when it comes to making her own laundry detergent.  We have been using homemade detergent for several months and it is surprisingly easy and definitely cheaper.   I always have the supplies to make it so there are no desperate dashes to the grocery store in order to do laundry.

Begin by grating a bar of soap.  Ivory works great but this time I wanted our clothes to smell Zestfully clean.

Dissolve the grated soap in six cups of water on the stove.  

Add 1/2 a cup each of Borax and Washing Soda. You can get both of these on the laundry aisle of Ingles.

Continue to stir until everything is dissolved.

Put the mixture in a two gallon bucket and fill the bucket with water.  The detergent will turn into a soupy gel overnight which is easy to break up with your hands or a whisk.  Use half a cup with each load of laundry.  The clean up is easy and gives your house a fresh smell for the day.

Toe-licious

Welcome Home

This summer my mom was gone for a month to care for my great aunt in Alabama.  While she was gone so much changed and I really missed that she was not there to enjoy it.  However, Aunt Elizabeth is doing well and mom is back home.

We are so grateful for all she does (she really is amazing) and are so glad she is back home.  I know there are many women with small children, including my sister, who don't live near family.  Knowing this makes me even more grateful for her and her willingness to help with Elijah.

Welcome home Grammy!  We missed you!

Squirmy

I learned yesterday taking the monthly growth photo is more of a challenge once a baby can roll.  Wedging the him between two pillows results in an awkward (but amusing) shot.  

Fortunately, my sister stopped by and using her as visual bait made for greater success.  Thanks Ester!

A Face and A Baptism

“The LORD bless you 

   and keep you; 

the LORD make his face shine on you 

   and be gracious to you; 

the LORD turn his face toward you 

   and give you peace.” 

 - Numbers 6:24-26

How important is it to be able to see someone's face?  It is not really something I think about until one of those awful moments when that someone won't look at me.  It is the most awful when they turn away from me because of something terrible I have said or done.  What an dreadful feeling...

I heard the verses above repeated as the benediction at the end of church services many times growing up.  The Lord told Moses to teach it to the Israelite priests so they would use it to bless the Jewish people while in the desert.  These were the same people who saw the plagues, were rescued from slavery, walked through the parted Red Sea yet habitually complained, built their own idols, and failed to trust God.  And the Lord chose to turn His face toward them.

This past Sunday Elijah was baptized by our friend Brian at Clemson Pres.  When he was finished, Brian used the blessing from Numbers..."the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you..."

Brooks and I don't believe that Elijah is now saved because he is baptized.  We trust that a God who turns His face towards sinful people like us is at work in the life and heart of this little boy.  It is a scary thing to know that I too 

habitually complain, build my own idols, and fail to trust God and my son will as well.  Elijah's baptism was a picture of God's undeserved favor to sinners reminding us that He is the Faithful One.  He chose to turn His face toward us.

Elijah waiting with Daddy to go up to the front of the church.

After the baptism...

New Doo

Some post-bath shenanigans...

Little Sleeper

I Love the Mountains!

This weekend we escaped the baking temperatures of Clemson for the cooler air of Highlands, NC.  It was a weekend of friends, fellowship and too much food but all of it was wonderful!  Many of the photos below were taken by our dear friend Tamara (Auntie Tam).

An attempt at at family photo in front of the summer flowers in downtown Highlands.

We didn't stay at the Old Edwards Inn but it was fun to enjoy the view.

A giant ant enjoys downtown too.

Our sweet friend Tamara is always up for an adventure.

Tamara took us to a "lake" near downtown.  

Elijah meets ducks for the first time.  

Elijah and Auntie Tam

The temperatures were cooler but the sun was still warm.  Brooks and Elijah took refuge in the shade of a tree.

We had wonderful meals including Tam's beautiful quiche.  

The barbeque at Cashiers' Carolina Smokehouse was so good I forgot to take a photo until after the meal.

Our sweet friend Sarah joined us Friday night and treated us to orange chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast Saturday morning.  Again, I only took a post-meal photo.

Elijah flirting with the ladies over barbeque.

A delightful thunderstorm brought even cooler weather Friday afternoon.

Lots of hanging out time.

Shopping and enjoying downtown Highlands

A little too much shopping...

Sarah joined us on a quick Saturday afternoon trip to see Bridal Falls.

Brooks and Elijah explore the falls.

 

Sarah shooting photos.

Where was Ziva during all of this?  She went to Doggy Disneyland (aka The Watson's House) where she spent the weekend playing with other dogs her size and enjoying their sweet family.  She was very, very tired when she got home.