Cherry picking

Two evenings in a row we picked cherries at our neighbors who were so generous to let us pick for free. The 3 oldest enjoyed it while the little ones had a blast running, swinging, and playing by the brook. I do believe they miss having a big yard. We didn't have tall ladders to reach the top of the tree but this set up worked very well. The cherries were very small, plenty ripe, and starting to dry up. Despite all the rain we've had this season and hearing about the loss of cherries from other orchards because of splits and worms, we were very blessed to pick them. Our neighbor said this kind of cherry usually doesn't split. It's the black heart cherry and I wonder if pruning the tree would have produced bigger cherries. We picked one large stainless steel bucket full each night. I love evenings to work outside.

Amber enjoyed the picking as we have not picked cherries for years.

Zach really enjoyed the climbing part, but he didn't last long. He would rather play. I believe if the cherries would have been bigger, he would have been a steady worker. It took really long to fill the bucket. As Allison photographed some of these pics, we missed getting one of her picking. The neighbors had four trees. Two of them are very tall and old so we didn't touch those trees as our ladders were very small in comparison.

Zach was delighted to climb.

Kay is very sweet and helps take care of her mama who has Alzheimer's.

These photos reflect the first day of pitting cherries. Amber and Allison ended up picking out the seeds by hand because the cherries were too small for the old fashioned cherry pitter. Since the girls get bored during the day, this is one job I gave them while I paid bills and made sure the accounts were in order. I will add that we are so thankful for answered prayers. We had our Ford F-250 King Ranch truck for sale since December and we just sold it last week. Buyer and seller met half way which was several hours' drive. We thank the Lord that he meets our needs just at the right time. He is worthy of our praise! Now we are on the look out for a diesel that is less than what we sold this truck for. Back to my busy girls, it took all day for them to clean them. That's when my turn came in to can pie filling and that yielded to 7 quarts and 6 pints. The pints our for our dear neighbors.

Old clothes were needed for this job. And all hands are stained for days! That includes the youngest ones as they had fun eating cheries.

WOO-HOO! We're finally done! They had been working outside until the heat got unbearable.

Zach still has a little math and English, but anything to keep his mind off of the few remaining lessons is great to him. Of course, he was playing most of that time. And then I reminded him about school. He came in to change his stained shirt, then snuck outside without one. That's when his sister Allison painted a nice big smiley face on his back with cherry juice!!!

On the second night of picking, we 3 girls pitted them right away with job completion in 2 hours. It was after 11:30 p.m. and I started to cook the cherries for pie filling. Then my husband asked, "Are you going to do that tonight yet?" That's when I decided there and then to finish it in the morning and I'm so glad I did. Next morning, I decided to read some blogs while the cherries cooked. I hadn't done any reading for over a week.

An hour later and this was the results................

A little clean up and we were blessed with another 10 quarts.

Time can go by so fast while surfing and reading the Internet. And while that is OK, there comes a time where it takes strong discipline to pull away from all the fun reading on the computer and DO something else. I have been convicted of that this week. So I ask for your prayers that I would spend less time on this gadget. When you make a strong commitment to something, that's when Satan tries you out the most. We have the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives to resist him, and he will flee from us. Too many times I fail to use that power.

This morning I read this in Paul Heils' newsletter (host of The Gospel Greats radio program) and was blessed. There is power in the blood of Christ! Are too many people shying away from this?

"The Blood"
Normally, I don't repeat stories that have been circulating on the Internet (because you've probably already seen them). But this one, whose original author is unknown, is so powerful –and, perhaps, so convicting – that I just had to share it with you:
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs and prostitution. But the change in her was evident. And, as time went by, she became a faithful member of the church.
She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the preacher's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began.
You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a minister's son. And the church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.
As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the matter was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up concerning her past.
As she began to cry, the pastor's son, who could not bear the pain this was causing his wife-to-be, stood up to speak. "My fiance's past is not what is on trial here," he said. "What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today, you have put the blood of Jesus on trial once more. So does it wash away sin or not?"
Church members began to weep as they realized what had been taking place. They realized they had been slandering the blood of our Lord Jesus.
Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is the very foundation in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely, then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!
1st John 1:7, speaking of God, reminds us that the "blood of His son cleanses us from all sin." It even "cleanses the conscience" (Heb. 9:14). The shed blood of Christ justifies us (Rom. 5:9) and redeems us (Ephesians 1:7, Rev. 5:9) with the "forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7).

The Perrys' current very popular radio song, "I Know It Was The Blood,"* says it this way:

There is nothing like that joy of sweet salvation

Knowing that my past has been erased

And life is just a fresh and new beginning

Made possible by just a touch of grace.

It was the blood, I know it was the blood

That cleansed me from the inside out.

Giving me a calm assurance far beyond my greatest doubt.

When I knelt down at the altar Heaven listened to my plea.

Oh, I felt a new found glory from my head down to my feet

And I know it was the blood saving me.

If you are a Christian, you can rejoice in that truth of God's saving forgiveness today. But please don't defame the power of Christ's shed blood by questioning its efficacy in the life of someone else who has truly repented of past sins and claimed the blood and its power to wash them "whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7).
- Paul
*"I Know It Was The Blood," Wayne Haun & Joel Lindsey, (c)2007 Bridge Building Music/Blacksferry Town Music/Hefton Hill Music BMI. Excerpted lyrics quoted by permission.