Tomato Art

Yes, We have a lot of produce that comes out of our garden...so much that the kids think they need to make some Tomato Art. 

We picked 42 lemon cucumbers on Wed and another 31 on Saturday here are some of the first batch.

We also picked a bunch of tomatoes Saturday.  These two bowls full of tomatoes were picked only two days later on Monday.

So, when the kids ask if they can eat tomatoes, I have no problem with them eating away. But, as I came out of my garden the other day instead of eating tomatoes, they were making Tomato Art.  My first instinct was to stop them in their tracks, I asked them to stop and throw their tomatoes into the compost, but after only a moment, I told them they could finish their art with what tomatoes they had left in their hands.  Maybe I will let them do some more beautiful art work with the tomatoes that the racoons and mice have nibbled on.

#3 Girl and #2 Boy doing Tomato Art

#4 Boy next to a portrait of himself done by #2 Boy.

Chrysalis Earth Life

As humans we were like caterpillars that have to go through the chrysalis stage to turn into butterflies.  In Heaven we were 'caterpillars' and only able to crawl around, not fully about to imagine what it would be like to be able to fly.  It was a wonderful life with plenty to eat and enjoy, but there was more to our eternal life, we are destined to be butterflies.  Many loved being caterpillars and didn't want to have to become a chrysalis, but there was no other way.  

We knew that if we were going to be able to turn into a butterfly that we would have to go through the chrysalis stage.  Some chose to stay caterpillars and try to destroy the chrysalis's of those that are working to become butterflies.  Sadly, some of the caterpillars succeed and make it impossible for some to become butterflies. While others chrysalis's are so strong and thick that the caterpillars can not destroy them. 

Sometimes, while we are in this dark chrysalis stage that we call earth life it is hard to remember the end goal.  At times it might be easy to let the caterpillars destroy our chrysalis's.  But, each choice and movement we make in this phase of our life will help determine if we will be one of the ones that becomes a butterfly. 

This life is not easy.  There is so much change that we have to go through.  Some times we don't understand why we must make the little changes and how they might possibly help us to become butterflies.  But every choice matters, the smallest thing could go make it so that we end up dying instead of flying.

There is no way that we can fully grasp how it will be when we become butterflies, but we know that is what we are working towards.  We know that it is better then being a caterpillar or being a chrysalis.  So, we work on making those small changes, each of them bringing us closer to being a butterfly.  And then one day, when we are fully ready, we break free of our chrysalis and as butterflies fly away!

Following in Daddy's Footsteps

The other day #2 Boy called to me, "Mom, will you play Domino Cards?"  Not sure what it was but deciding it probably was something with the Dominos that we had out I agreed for him to teach me.  As I enter the kitchen #2 Boy showed me the new game he had made.  Little pieces of papers with an "X" on the back side.  He explained the game while holding up one of the cards that had a squiggly line on the back, "You have to try and find this card after I mix them all up."  After playing the game a couple of times #2 Boy realized that picking the right card was easy since it was slightly longer than the other cards so he trimmed them down to the right size making a little harder to tell which one was the right card.

#2 Boy with his Domino Cards

Now if you are wondering how the above story and the title fit together then it is time to let you in on a little secret.  Dad and his two brothers have been working together over the past four years (in the evenings) to create the newest strategic board game, Tile Twist.

On August 17th a shipment from China arrived carrying almost 5,000 Tile Twist games!  Since that time Dad and his brothers have been busy trying to get the games into the hands of the consumers with giveaways, flyers, coupons and marketing to some game stores.  It is exciting to have the product on hand and already hearing back from those (we know and don't really know) that have enjoyed this great game.  So if you are looking for something fun and new for yourself or as a gift...check out the website at http://tiletwist.com where you can learn more about how to play and even buy the game online.