I guess I was having too much fun because we hardly took any pictures. We watched the kids play, held babies, watched a funny skit, roasted marshmallows, won a brand new dehydrator in the auction, and listened to some beautiful testimonies from this awesome family.
I think Heavenly Father knew I needed a little blessing this weekend because He sent me Jennifer. Jennifer is Daren’s cousin Kenny’s wife, and the mother of two adorable ADOPTED kids. Daren and I had no idea that our kids would have cousins that are adopted too. I am so excited! We talked forever and she was such a huge comfort to me.
In all honesty, the last few weeks were kind of hard as much as they were wonderful too. My nieces and nephews are so cute! There are defineately Black family traits. They all have GORGEOUS eyes. They are all so cleaver and cute. They all look like their parents. I got caught off guard for a second thinking about what Daren’s and my genes would look like mixed together. This was the first subconsious bio thought I had in a few months. I have been so focused on adoption the last little bit that this thought really surprised me. Then, regrettably enough, it made me sad. Sad that we will probably never get to see our genes in action.
But Jen strengthened me. And those two little kids of hers; they strengthened me too. They had the most beautiful skin, adorable wavy curls, and these melt in your heart smiles. That’s when it hit me. It’s not so important that our children are created in our image, but in the image of our Heavenly Father. All children are beautiful because all children are delivered straight from heaven. I can’t wait to hold those little angel babies for the first time.
I also found out that our sister in law Gerb has nieces and nephews that are adopted! We keep getting touched by adoption and I keep feeling more and more blessed. I love this way we have chosen to build our forever family.
The raspberries are officially in. For the last week I have been picking a handful or so each day. Yesterday was the first day I realized I actually needed a bowl. Yesterday morning was a gorgeous, warm, drizzley, silent morning. I wish I had these more often. My guess is that the raspberries will peak in about a week or so. If you want some talk to me! I honestly believe that raspberries are best eaten in the early morning right off of the bush. I think that is how the Lord intended it. And that is what I did. I also picked more than I could eat and froze them. I need to start my smoothie stash again. We ran out in about April this year. Maybe I can do enough to get us to next July.
Care to walk through the rest of my garden? Don't mind the weeds please.
These are my favorite apples. Very sweet, but they have kick! And when they are ripe they are PINK! This tree only blossoms every other year, so I am happy to see these ladies back. They will be ready end of september, early october. 
Apricots. Not many of them this year. I think our cold spring had something to do with it.
Plums. We have quite a few of these. They do pretty well.
This is one of my mystery bushes. It has BEAUTIFUL red berries which I assumed to be choke cherries because they were pretty sour. Apparently not sour enough. Someone told me they thought they were Chinese Cherries. Is there such a thing? The really dark ones actually are pretty sweet, but the peel is sour. If I had the time I bet this would make a really yummy and pretty jelly.
The whole mystery bush. We need to prune. I know. Poor bush.
Grapes. Really good grape juice, early September.
Pears. They are usually ready end of october, really sweet, but they are rock hard. I have to let them sit for a week or two. Also the peel is disgusting. It feels like sand paper. But peeled and soft, it is delish. 
Mystery berry #2. I am thinking maybe blueberries? The birds eat them before they are totally ripe, so they never finish changing color. They taste like a bland blueberry and have the same texture. KENZIE S! Help me out!
My tomaters are getting out of control in our green house. The hot heat though makes them grow crazy. I had a red one this morning and it was perfect. Hopefully in the next month I will be making some serious salsa!
Last but not least. My garden breakfast. My fresh picked raspberries in honey bunches of oats. YUM!
