Newest Addition to the Landscape

This is the newest addition to our foliage: a Mini Penny Hydrangea. I have been yearning for a hydrangea since last spring, and we finally got one to add some color to the front of our house. Right now it's only adding green color, but we hope that soon it will be covered with either pink or blue blossoms (depending on the pH of our soil). Lindon generously donated a patch of land where he was cultivating some grass for the prominent display of this plant.



We welcome any hydrangea tips, and when this baby starts blooming, we'll post photos!

Dun

Lindon is officially finished with his second year of seminary!

He took his last final this afternoon, and now he is free for 3 months. We are both very excited about this. Lindon's personality comes back in full force when he has no schoolwork to occupy his mind. This morning I saw glimpses of what is to come as Lindon followed me around the house as I got ready for work, and he kept talking to me. It's not that he doesn't talk to me when he has schoolwork to do, it's just that he doesn't follow me around to talk to me. And of course Nash followed right behind Lindon. It was cute. It's nice to have my husband back.


Oh, and tonight is the season finale of The Office, one of my favorite TV shows of all time. I am quite excited about that, too.

Cast Iron and Country

We recently had some family members admit that they never got us a wedding gift (like we remembered). Well, we couldn't allow their consciences to torment them any longer, so we relented to their pleas to let them buy us some cookware. When the box arrived yesterday afternoon, we were excited. The Le Creuset set is cast iron cookware with an enamel finish. It's HEAVY, but so worth it. This stuff is super efficient and heats like a dream. And it will last until Jesus returns, which is an added bonus. I like to think I will be making some corn bread in the oven with my cast iron skillet when the heavens open.

Many of you know that I love to cook, and I think this stuff is going to inspire me. Plus, it came with a cookbook, and I really like new cookbooks. And since these pieces are stove- and oven-safe, most recipes in the cookbook are for one-pot meals. Amazing. The fact that the blue enamel matches our everyday dishes is just icing on the cake.

In other exciting news, there is a new song out on the radio that we think you'll really like. Actually, we think you'd better like it if you want to keep being our friend. Lindon's brother Lonnie co-wrote a song on the album of country singer Bucky Covington. Some of you might remember Bucky from American Idol a few seasons ago. Lonnie's song was released this week as Bucky's newest single. It's called "I'll Walk," and it's steadily making its way up the charts as more stations play it. If you're a country music fan, request this song at your local country station.

One more update

Here is an appendix to the previous post:

Our plants are doing really well! The red azaleas are finished blooming, and the pink ones are in full bloom. However, it does appear that something is eating our pink blossoms. I plan on investigating. Eating our pretty flowers will not be tolerated at the Fowler house! The boxwoods are growing more and more every day. The next phase of gardening will be to add a hydrangea bush and try my hand at growing some herbs again this year. I tried rosemary and basil last year, but I killed them both in a matter of weeks. This time around I am going to be a little more cautious.

I will add more photos soon.

Some updates

So I need to update this blog with some information, but I have been so mad at my blog since it lost my Chaco post that it kept me away. But now I have decided to move past my disappointment and post anyway. Here is what's been going on with us:

1. I got a pair of Chacos. The big news with those was that it was the most money I have ever spent on a pair of shoes. It's not that Chacos are that expensive; it's that I am that cheap. I had to fight through the feelings of guilt at spending what for me was a vast sum of money. I told myself they were a worthwhile purchase and one well-deserved. I won that fight, and I love my new sandals. :)

2. Lindon's parents visited us last week. It's been nearly a year since they made their periodic sweep across the country to visit their kin. We had a wonderful time with them, and it went by too quickly. We are thankful to Barry for helping Lindon move the washing machine to its new location next to the dryer. And we are thankful to ME for discovering that the re-directed pipes were backing up all over the basement floor.

3. Lindon's semester is close to finishing. Classes end on Wednesday, and finals begin shortly thereafter. Please pray for Lindon as he tries to complete the surge of assignments due at the end of the semester. I am so proud of the way that he continues to press on even when he is discouraged or overwhelmed. Many of you know that he doesn't consider school to be his strength, but he is doing so well for himself. Come next Friday, we will be half-way done with our time at Covenant Seminary. Amazing...

4. We just learned that our cousin Krissy Fowler is engaged! No details yet, but we are excited for her. Krissy is the daughter of Lindon's cousins Brian and Lori.

5. Speaking of weddings, less than two months until my brother Andrew marries Carly. I will probably write more about this later, but I am so excited for their wedding and that Carly is going to be part of our family. Yay!