Confessions of a Snail Killer

We've had a fish tank for several months now. We've filled it with multiple fish and two snails that the boys have each picked out. Several fish have died and now we are down to three. The snails were thriving, or so I thought. I found one of the snails, Gary floating at the top of the tank. I thought to myself, Oh boy...here we go again. The boys will be crushed. I plucked Gary out of the tank before I could arise suspicion from the little ones and chucked him across the golf course behind our house. They were none the wiser.

Until the second snail started to float a few days later. Ugh. What was going on with the aquarium or it's keeper? It was like the death trap for all things aquatic. I figured I would save the chucking of the snail for the morning and went to bed. When I awoke in the morning I discovered something unusual. The snail was scooting along on the bottom of the tank! Could it be true? Could he actually have just been faking his death to meet his friend in the after world?? Or was this some trick that my mind was playing on me? I observed the snail for a few days only to come to the awful conclusion that I unfortunately, had killed Gary. I think he was faking his death. Who knew that snails could actually do that or are mine just that talented? Because of Gary's little 'dead dog' act, it was his final curtain call.

That snail haunts my dreams to this day....

Where ART thou?

Tonight we took a trip to the Memphis Children's Theater Festival kick-off where we had encounters of the artsy kind or what Chris would say "My thing". Since it was just the kick-off and not the main event which is tomorrow, the crowd was small. We were able to have more interaction with the performers such as the man on stilts, aka, "Zeke the juggler", the acrobatic lady, the face painter, the dancer and the musicians. We played around for a bit before the performance which was the play "The Kalahoney Kids vs The Shadow Monsters". The play was great and very fast moving which held their attention. Chris and I thought it was very entertaining as well. After the performance we were treated to a cookie and milk buffet. Boy, what a spread! I wanted to take a picture with my 3 children, the octopus triplets, we had to grab and go before there was nothing left for the other patrons! After our bellies were full of sugary goodness we enjoyed the delight sounds of Out Loud Artistry (think Stomp! on a smaller scale). The boys were brought up on stage with a few other kids to show off their skillz on the dance floor. Tyler promptly went into a break dancing spin on the floor. Wish my camera was ready to catch that! We all really enjoyed ourselves and I think that this night will be talked about for weeks to come.

Kick-off to Summer!

It's the end of school for Logan and we've already hit 90 degrees. We completed puzzles, disassembled radios and made our own slushies! We have plans to grow our own sunflowers and make a teepee. Things should get interesting around the Morrison household, but then again with 3 boys, things are ALWAYS interesting!

Mountain View, AR

This weekend we took a little trip to Mountain View, Arkansas for Mother's Day. It's a quaint little town that is the self proclaimed Folk Music capitol of the world. It's not uncommon to venture out at night to the town square and find people "pickin' an' a grinnin'" by the moonlight. Tourists are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in on the fun. We explored Blanchard Springs Caves and the Ozark Folk Center while we were there as well as the antique shops and boutiques around the square. We even attended a junior rodeo which was quite amusing. (Imagine four year olds racing around on ponies and hog-tying baby goats.)This town has that old fashioned feel that I love so much and I look forward to meandering out that way again real soon.

A two-fer in the crockpot!

Ingredients:

3-4 med sized sweet potatoes
3-4 bone-in chicken breasts
seasoning of your choice (I used Corky's Dry BBQ Rub but Lipton Onion Soup Mix works just as well)
Tin foil and a large Crockpot






1. Remove skin from chicken





2. Sprinkle with seasoning





3. Wrap chicken individually in tin foil pouches





4. Place washed/dried potatoes on bottom of crockpot with chicken packets on top. Cook on low for 8 hours.


5. VOILA! Eat and be merry!


Side Note....My friend, Toni and I were out shopping the other day when I spotted this cute little apron. The one I have is blue and boring. I debated on purchasing it for myself and then decided against it. Toni went back and got it for me. Love her and my new apron!

The Gardener of My Heart

Till the soil of my heart, Lord.

Plant the seeds that grow into the Fruits of the Spirit.

Help me to tend my garden. Help me to stay vigilant for weeds that will steal the nutrients in the soil.

Keep watch for snakes that wind their way in to hide.

Lord, You are the Great Gardener of my heart.(This is a short poem that I wrote on Easter. I find writing therapeutic and luckily for my reader, I keep things short and sweet!)

Growing Roots

God created me to be a visual person so naturally He speaks to me in word pictures. I've always had a special fondness for trees. I'm not sure why, but to me they are beautiful in any shape, size or age. I have a tendency to humanize them.

My in-laws are going through a tough time right now. My father-in-law had a stroke in January, as well as brain surgery from an infection. He's still recovering and it's been a long and life changing road for the both of them. Their life, their family "tree", was knocked over in a storm.

I was at a nature center here in TN the other day and I noticed this great big tree. This is an excerpt of an email I sent my mother-in-law the other day describing it. (I hope she doesn't mind that I share it!)

"The tree was huge and had fallen over a while back during a storm. The roots were exposed on one side yet half of them were still rooted in the ground. The roots that were exposed had new growth coming from it. It was a beautiful sight. The tree's life was forever changed during that storm yet beauty still grew from it. Your family tree has been uprooted during your "storm". Beauty will still grow out of it." (I'm sorry to say, that I do not have a picture of this tree. )

Two nights ago, we had a crazy, powerful storm. Lightning, thunder, the whole works. The next morning after the storm had passed I shuffled the kids into the van and was backing out of the garage when I saw part of a tree in the yard. It was leaning against the neighbor's house. During the storm this tree was struck by lightning and the top half of it was completely knocked off. Such a drastic turn of events for this poor tree! The trees roots are still planted and it will survive this but...sometimes that is how God gets our attention...with a quick spark of lightning.


To continue with our theme of trees, I considered my family tree and what it's like right now. I picture this...

Living the military life, you've got to be portable. You can't let your roots grow to deep because they are eventually going to be uprooted. I do look forward to the day when I can stretch my roots but until then I think I'll just continue to decorate the pot that I'm in.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7