I'm Just a Bean Farmer's Daughter

Rain Storms

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 05:50:00 +0000

Sometimes life feels like a rain storm.

The rain pours, and pours, and pours until everything is completely drenched, through and through.

Everything is cold and wet and grey.

Then the rain. suddenly. stops.

The sun breaks through the clouds.

Everything is warmed, and everything catches its breath.

And all around is an abundance of life-giving water,

that would not have been there,

had there never been

storm.

Grateful Hearts.

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 06:31:00 +0000

Our God has shown us such kindness and goodness.

We are so grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

A Season of Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:10:00 +0000

Today ended the time of fasting for our family. We gave up a combination of things. We began with sweets, gluten, and processed foods, and ended with giving up all cooked foods. It was one of the more difficult fasting periods that I've ever experienced. I was hungry. Oh, so hungry.

But I learned so much.

I learned that what I may see as impossible, God sees as an opportunity to refine my faith. I learned that I don't really need what I think I need to survive. I learned that I take so many things for granted. I learned that only God will sustain me, and that if He asks me to do something, my response is born out of my trust in Him. I learned that I have put so many things (emotional, spiritual, physical) on my plate, and with such a full plate, I have become emotionally, spiritually, and physically fat. I'm tired of being fat.

I feel as if God has completely cleared that plate, a sort of leveling, or rebooting, if you will. He is teaching me the practice of seeking Him, and allowing Him to lead me.

Trust. Obedience. Intentionality.

A season focused on denying oneself, yet indulging in the message of

grace, redemption, healing and love.

That's the message of the cross.

That's why He came.

That's why He died.

So today, we feast.

And tomorrow, we do not forget how He has carried us through,

and we become even more intentional about how we live.

Passover. Sweet Passover.

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:45:00 +0000

The Wall Comes Down

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:39:00 +0000

As you all well know, in July of 2010, our family was here....

and here.

We wanted to take home a few of these precious ones...

but we made a decision...

to take home two precious ones...legitimately!

We had been asked by the orphanage to not blog or facebook

about our new adventure....until now.

Their names or the country cannot be named...

but they are wonderful...

and they'll soon be ours.

And we'll have our very own to hold...soon and very soon.

A different little Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:41:00 +0000

I started this blog post on December 17.

My, what a crazy December.

We knew that this Christmas was going to be different. Even as Scott was putting together the tree (compliments of our wonderful friends!),

I knew that it was symbolic of our season to come.

It's as if we are in a place in life where we know the beginning,

and we know the end,

but we're trying to figure out all of the middle parts.

Yet there lies a "gift" for us...a small package, if you will...full of blessing for our family

and those who are journeying on this road alongside of us.

We are confident in God's faithfulness.

We know that He is in control of timing.

We know that He is a good God...all of the time.

This we know.

And...since I didn't get to say it...

"Merry Christmas to you all!"

Thoughtfully...and with much love.

Jill

For these hands...

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:20:00 +0000

These hands held me.

These hands loved me.

These hands cheered at every home volleyball game.

These hands prepared my food.

These hands.

These hands taught and worked so that I had

a home,

and food,

and clothes.

These hands.

These hands hold my hands.

These hands hold me.

These hands protect me.

These hand work so that I can stay home

and have food to feed our family,

a home to shelter them,

and clothes to cover them.

These hands are praying hands.

These hands.

These hands help me.

These hands comfort me.

These hands play beautiful music.

These hands.

These hands snuggle me.

These hands explore.

These hands gather.

These hands create wonderful artwork.

These hands.

For these hands, I am thankful.

And these hands?

These hands are so grateful

to have touched

and held

and experienced

so much of God's goodness.

These hands.

Photos taken in Los Lunas, NM Thanksgiving 2010

Brace Yourself...

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:22:00 +0000

This is Katie. She's got the BEST smile.

Dr. Orthodontist wants it to be even better.

No candy, no soda, no popcorn, no joke.

And if that's not enough?

She went and turned 12 on us.

She is such a joy, and so much fun, and so smart, and such a great helper, and has such a heart for the less fortunate and oppressed.

She's our Katie.

The only bad thing about her?

She doesn't share in my new found obsession with Seaweed Snacks.

But we still love her dearly...(and I don't have to share.)

These boots were made for...LOVING!

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:28:00 +0000

Okay. They're really not my boots at all.

They belong to my sis, Jennifer Lynn.

(But they looked way cuter on me...don't tell.)

And those boots were put to work the first day we were in the great state.

We moved cows from the back pasture to the front pasture.

Ally wasn't afraid. She let those cows know it, too.

The best dressed cow movers in Eastern Oklahoma? My parents, of course.

I absolutely love Oklahoma. I love the trees. I love the people. I love the family.

Sweet, sweet times...

loving my amazing uncle,

loving my precious uncle and aunt,

loving cousins...

loving the tire swing...

loving lady like trampoline jumping...

loving the cows...

loving being loved...

loving road signs that bear your maiden name...

and loving old barns filled with treasures.

But what I'm loving (and missing) so much is my sweet, sweet sister.

(But I still look cuter in those boots!)

These shoes were made for...adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:15:00 +0000

These are my adventure shoes. Yep. Adventure Shoes. They've been to Africa... and they've been to Utah. That qualifies them as Adventure Shoes, alright.

Last weekend we went to Zion National Park. We had heard about the "Narrows" for forever. But the time had come to stop just hearing and actually doing.

So we did.

But in all of that hearing, the way that I had always imagined hiking the Narrows was walking on red sand, through really narrow cliffs, and sometimes happening upon a water spot.

I was a bit mistaken.

You see, when you hike the Narrows, you're actually hiking the Virgin River. No, not hiking on the side of the Virgin River, but hiking the Virgin River.

59 degree Virgin River, that is.

Fast current, slippery rocks Virgin River.

Oh, so beautiful and amazing Virgin River.

We didn't make it all the way up. Our feet were freezing, and after hiking for over two hours, we thought we should turn back.

But with every good camping trip, the s'mores awaited us.

(in all of their carcinogen glory)

We will be back, oh Zion, for we loved you so.

16 .. sixteen ... 6 teen

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:06:00 +0000

Today we celebrated our anniversary at the beach.

Sand, surf, and love.

We were having a lovely time...

until I saw this-

15! If there is a lifeguard tower 15, there's got to be a lifeguard tower 16!!

I ran over to ask the nice lifeguard.

He said "No. At Newport Beach, there is no lifeguard tower 16."

Snap.

"16" has got to be somewhere...

and we were feisty enough to find it.

We love 16!

Here's to 16+16+16 more!

(photo compliments of Ally)

I want to be cool...

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:37:00 +0000

Blog Land.

I really do love it.

I love the ideas, and the pictures, and the...everything.

There are so many creative people out there...mega-creative.

And sometimes,

they even post recipes.

I think that's cool.

And...truth be told...I want to be cool.

So, I'm going to pretend, that I'm cool.

Here goes:

I love summertime. Okay. That's not really the truth. I like gardening in the summertime. Or should I say, I like what you get out of your garden in the summertime. Actually, I love the tomatoes. This year we planted five different varieties. I can't tell you what their names are, because I mostly pick the plants based on how clever the name is. I'm pretty sure that one of the varieties was named "The Sauce Boss".

So after we harvested the little pretties,

we went to the old stand by for pasta sauce.

Page 36...Tagliatelle al Pomodoro e Basilico

(translated "Tomato and Basil sauce for really cool bloggers)

Heat 2T. of olive oil in pan and gently cook 2 cloves of garlic.

Add your tomatoes, stirring to coat.

Turn on medium-high heat, squashing with fork as they soften.

(Use caution, as these little tasties are capable of catapulting hot juice

across the kitchen when heated.)

Cook rapidly for 5-10 minutes so that the tomatoes retain their color.

Add 8 whole basil leaves and salt and pepper to taste.

Now, that's Italian.

And now I'm cool.

Blame it on the sugar.

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:46:00 +0000

Tradition.

Each year, on the girls' birthdays, they get doughnuts for breakfast.

Why?

Tradition.

(and because they would eat them every day of their cotton pickin' life if they could, so knowing how amazingly bad they are for one's health, the very smart mother begins the, yes, you know what's coming....)

Tradition.

And to add to the above-mentioned tradition,

each year we use doughnuts to make the birthday 'number'.

(it's a 9.)

But something happened this year.

Something that wasn't part of the Tradition.

Instead of just trying on her new birthday clothes...

she had to try on a new persona.

I blame it on the sugar.

But not the Tradition.

This day.

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:36:00 +0000

This day we celebrated our sweet Ally.

9 candles on top of the cake.

We celebrated with sweet little friends, sweet and silly fun,

and some very sweet (okay...too sweet) treats.

But nothing is as sweet as our Ally.

Full of laughter.

Loves silly jokes.

Wants everything to look pretty.

Would eat sprinkles on everything if she could.

Has a very tender heart.

Amazingly loyal.

Won't ever turn down a garage sale/thrift store date with her mom.

Practical.

Artistic.

Just plain wonderful.

And this day, she's all ours.

This day.

So I can't count

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:40:00 +0000

We started off our week at the Vineyard Christian School of Kampala, Uganda.

Dirt floors, little benches, small chalkboards, papered walls.

But no school is a school without the children.

The school children loved playing with the girls...but perhaps not as much as the girls loved playing with the school children.

The school grounds were filled with so many children...children running, laughing, playing.

But there were always children from the slums watching from the gate.

At the end of each day that we spent at the school,

we were sent off with a sweet goodbye from children.

Sweet, sweet Uganda.

5 A Day...

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:21:00 +0000

I've heard for years that "5 a day" is good for your health.

I've also heard that "5 pictures a day" is not only good for your health,

but it helps you sing better.

Here we go.

Our first flight from LAX to Dubai.

Landed in Entebbe. Such a ginormous plane...

Motorcycle taxis called boda-bodas.

The most amazing bananas I've EVER tasted.

(Too bad I'm a vegetarian....)

Digest slowly...and I'll see you tomorrow.

Who Said Life Was Fair?

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:58:00 +0000

Not me.

I just say Orange County Fair.

No trip to the fair is complete without seeing the piglets.

And the produce.

And buying honey sticks. Oh, how I adore you, honey sticks.

The girls were being attacked by the giant corn dog,

but Jennifer jumped in to save them.

Katie and Jennifer chose the adventurous route...Evolution...

while Ally and I chose the less terrifying route.

Root Beer Floats. Ice Cream Cones. Funnel Cake. Oh My!

Ahhh, yes. Life is fair.

A hunting we will go

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:38:00 +0000

A day after we returned home from Africa, we realized that we were missing a chicken.

And we also found that a family of raccoons had squatted on our land.

Raccoons plus chickens equals chicken parts. So sad. But never fear.

Gallant husband buys a raccoon trap.

Guess what we caught last night?

Yep. An oppossum.

Shucks.

And the funny thing is that when Scott went to check on the trap this morning, above mentioned raccoon family was on our porch!

Okay. I know. We just got back from Africa, and I'm posting pictures of opossums.

But this is serious.

Pictures of African Adventures to follow.

But this was serious.

Shooting from the hip

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:51:00 +0000

One day when we were in Guadalajara, I gave myself a challenge. I so desperately wanted to take pictures of the locals, but knew that it just wasn't right to take photos of people without their permission. So, I turned the flash off and shot everything from the hip...or the stomach...or sometimes the shoulder. And nobody knew....except a few times...with that obnoxious "click" sound that I forgot to turn off...

the older men gathering in the plaza in Tonala

a shoe shiner in the plaza

a woman walking to mass, after being beckoned by the church bell

sitting in the park during the World Cup game between Mexico and France

a clown sitting alone in the park

young girls taking a break from begging to using water to make steam on a hot light

chess games in the downtown square

umm. jalisco legs and fruit

Okay...it didn't work every time. :)

A busy day, indeed!

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:07:00 +0000

Sunday Morning. It was early. 6:15 am early. We were in the car, headed towards the Angel Stadium. We and 9,998 other runners.

Katie asked if she could run a 5K to raise money for our trip to Uganda.

How do you say no to that?

After church we raced home (no pun intended)

and got ready for the Ice Cream Social for the team members

and their families.

(Notice I did not picture all of the decadent toppings....especially Eileen's homemade hot fudge sauce!)

And then for the grand finale of the day....

we got to count the money from the Flying Pig!

We've been saving up our coins and we found $71.29.

I love my Flying Pig!

We are very excited, grateful, and so blessed by the generosity of our friends.

May we carry this generosity to Uganda...as we have some busy days ahead.

Stay tuned!!!

Guadalajara, Jalisco

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:41:00 +0000

City Bus Tour: Double-decker bus: 3 different tours: 5.5 hours:

Ay caramba:

El Centro de Guadalajara: Que bella:

El Catedral: Magnifico:

Rambutan: Deliciosos:

The colors of Mexico: Maravillosos:

Family together in Mexico: Mi familia:

Jalisco: es Mexico!

Dear Weight Watchers,

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:36:00 +0000

I had hoped to see you today,

but an old friend stopped by.

I only get to see her one season a year.

And she came from out of town.

At first, our conversation seemed a little dicey,

and I thought that this would be the straw that broke the camel's back.

But we put it all beside us, and decided that if we couldn't

be sweet, we weren't going to get anywhere.

Before we knew it, the conversation was really moving again!

But it took a turn for the worse,

and at one point, things started to really heat up.

But as always, just a little bit of time (40 minutes, to be exact)

and a bit of cooling down did us both good.

We were really good, actually.

So, I do plan to see you tomorrow.

Thanks for understanding.

But just so you know, my friend might be dropping in again

in the near future.

I so :love: my friend.

Love,

Jill

'The King' is in the house!

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:25:00 +0000

Well...it really all started with these two.

They said that they had always wanted to see 'The Lion King'.

So we got the tickets...

(powdered our noses...)

and were all delighted with the wonderful show.

And I was delighted with this one.

I love her smile.

Date Night with the Mister

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Sun, 30 May 2010 06:15:00 +0000

;

Ahhhh.

So nice to just be with him.

Love him more than Anthropologie and frozen yogurt COMBINED!!!!

(Now that's love.)

The Making of a Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (jillzbop) — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:30:00 +0000

First, you pick the Meyer lemons. Four to be exact.

Then you collect six fresh eggs.

Thank you Roxy, Georgia Wrinkle, Sally, Sammy, and Madeline.

Next follow the directions for "Lemon Chiffon Cake"

from your William Sonoma 'Baking' cookbook.

But don't overwhip the egg whites, or the cake will be a bit dry.

(Great...now you tell me.)

Add the "Vanilla Yogurt Ice Cream"

from 'The Ultimate Ice Cream Book'.

Light the candles.

And wish your Momma the best 75th Birthday!

(Isn't she a beautiful birthday girl?!?!)

That's how you make a birthday party.

Editor's Notes: No animal was hurt in the making of this party. But the editor felt that she should let you know that what she didn't photograph was the unswept floors, the uncleaned bathrooms, and the undusted furniture throughout the entire house. Someday the editor might get it all together. You're right. Probably not. :)