Surprise Visitors!

So.. I was taking a wee break from ALL that Painting,

and just chatting up the storm at my neighbors house..

For we both had a few minutes 

(how nondescript of me.. probably rather MORE than that)

to just rest our weary bones

and kick back with our waters and chill out

(yes that would be my Amish Neighbor, Mrs. M)

when WHAT to my wondering EYES did appear

a Minivan

a MOM

and four sweet dears

pulling into Blessings Farm DRIVE!

oh MY

Hurray!  It was Mrs.J and her fun Clan!

They totally surprised us.. 

and JUST in time for FOOD!

When one does the math

it's like this

2 Moms + 8 kids = 10 people

it's a lotta food

and C.S. got to grilling right quick

why he chose the out door grill?

well..

its SO nice OUT side!

fun that he had a helper to! 

the Mrs J and her beautiful brood

all jumped right in to working here at the farm

this family LOVES to work hard

and LOVES to play hard

this is JUST the place to do both those things! 

C.S. had done some serious up hill mowing with a neighbors

small brush hog

and we put our pals to work by raking up the grass and what not

and putting it in a pile

to decompose...

THAT brought up WONDERFUL 

teaching time !

As composting is SO important to life here on the farm! 

it was a great deal of hard work, 

but all our kids sure know how to make every job SO fun!

Mrs. J is always such a blessing

from the way she labors alongside

to the way she speaks so full of grace

and truth

and LOVE...

My Children adore when she comes

for she takes such interest IN them

and really talks WITH them..

It gives her a place of extreme importance to my children. 

Isn't the front yard looking spiffy! 

here is a beautiful 

albeit dead moth the kids found with Mrs. J 

that absolutely HAD to be ON THE BLOG!

here Mrs. J recognized the 

all together WICKED Eastern Tent Caterpillar

and began attacking every tent she could! 

She's a fair maniac with those cutters! 

Bucket filled with soapy water right close 

It is clear Mr. J is a hunter...

all I can say.. is

YOU go GIRL! 

Supper.. WHAT to do about supper

when you have surprise guests?

sorry I didn't get photo's of the meal..

but

here's basically what we did..

Mrs. J showed up with Chicken (chicken thighs) in her cooler

I happen to be planning to make chicken myself.. (a whole fryer chicken)

but having been so excited at guests arriving..

I

well...

forgot to actually make my chicken meal...

I forget things sometimes...

so..

What did we come up with?

after a good minute or two of prayer...

Something wonderful

something SO yummy

came to my brain!

(Thank you Jesus!)

 I put ALL the chicken in the pot

yes ALL

and YES it's a BIG pot!

I then..

boiled it...

When it was done, we pulled the meat off the bones

and shredded it whilst it was hot

(we just used forks)

added BBQ sauce and made

BBQ Chicken sandwiches!

chips included

along with a variety of veggies..

Result?

VERY happy kids

VERY little left over

and a wonderful evening of silliness

and delightful conversation! 

So thankful for the surprise

the help it brought

and the fellowship..

BLISS!!!!