Family Update (Amanda)

I've been very negligent in my blogging, so it's time for some updates...

Ashtyn is 18 months old and such a joy! Each day is a new chance to marvel at how much she is changing and growing and how different she is from Ryleigh. She is learning a new word every day, it seems. She has the sweetest voice (except when she's angry). I love the way she says, "Ry-bee" and repeats "please" ever so sweetly until she gets what she wants. "All done" is a convenient phrase of late.

Ryleigh will be four next week. She has every bit of the strong will to go with it, and, according to my parents, is every bit me at that age. Her mind amazes me with the depth of its thoughts and ideas. She is so creative and full of energy. She will be attending preschool three days a week this year, about which she and Mommy are both excited. She loves to help me in the kitchen and with cleaning (makes me glad to be using natural cleaners, etc.). We had fun baking cookies yesterday for Daddy. She passed the first level of swim class at the YMCA this summer. We are so proud of her and how brave she has become in the water. She paddles all over the pool now with her floaties on her back. She is still a little tentative about jumping in, but that's OK.

Ryan is busy, busy, busy with Butter Valley Harvest. The grocery store and local market aspect of our business has been going really well this summer, especially once our tomatoes started coming on strong. We continue to add new venues and new customers, which is always exciting. We are wholesaling to Philly and Lancaster. Our own stand has been a bit slower in the summer with people tending their own gardens and being away from home, but we see a significant amount of new customers each week. The Fall has the potential to be VERY busy when everyone else's gardens are finished, and we still have fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. We passed our GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification this week on the first try, which is a relief. We weren't that worried, but it was a lot of work getting ready, having to put all our procedures in writing, providing checklists and verifications. We have a few things to improve or add to the documentation, but nothing of major concern. It's just nice to have the first evaluation behind us and understand better what they will be looking for in future evaluations, which will occur regularly.

I am continuing to try to adjust to this new life in PA. Moving again was hard, but I have realized I never thought of the place we lived for the past year as home. It is good to have a place that feels like home. It will feel more like home when all the boxes are gone, or at least banished to the basement! I allowed Ryleigh to watch as much TV as she wanted (pretty much) as we were packing to move, but you can't let that go on forever. We spent the first month in the new house without cable, because they had to bury a line, etc. Between Ashtyn transitioning to one afternoon nap and the lack of TV, other than movies, I wasn't able to get a whole lot of unpacking done. Ashtyn loved to help pull things out of boxes, of course, but that wasn't always very helpful. And Ryleigh just craves my attention. Now that Ashtyn sleeps less and runs around all over the place, now that she is much more of a little girls than a baby, Ryleigh finds my attention much more on her and is a bit jealous. I had hoped to have some special times with just her and me this summer, but it's just been too crazy. She had one "Daddy date" that was very special to her, and I look forward to my turn. Anyway, we are starting to see the floors in the rooms we designated as "box rooms." We finally have curtains on the windows, mostly, and are starting to be able to "live" here. We had hoped to be 100% unpacked before our week at the beach, but I'm not sure that will happen.

I've taken a job as the assistant band director of the Upper Perkiomen HS marching band. I'm very excited about starting camp next week, although a bit nervous at the same time. There just isn't near the amount of rehearsal time I'm used to built into the schedule, and I wonder how we'll get it all done. But I am really excited to be back at it and feel affirmed that this is what God wants me to be doing, on a part-time basis.

I also had the opportunity to conduct a piece with the Montgomery County Concert Band where I play my clarinet. It felt good to be back on the podium, although I've never been in front of adults before, and that made me a bit nervous. I think I'm finally getting more comfortable. I have appreciated the affirmations God has sent my way as I have spent the last year wondering what I am supposed to be doing.

Well, there's plenty more I could write, but I have a little quiet right now as Ashtyn is napping and Ryleigh went with Ryan to deliver lettuce to Wegman's. I need to get back to productivity! Blessings to you, dear reader.