May snapshots

Oh these ladies do love make-up. It is magical to them. One day while I was working on the computer Lia got the idea that I needed make-up. I figured why not? So the fun began. 

She would bring random pieces from my very random make-up collection ask where it went and then apply as she thought best. 

The most important piece of making up is the lipstick. They do love lipstick. She was impressed to learn about a lip pencil. 

Andrea also got in the action. 

And then some hse finished with the less controlled brush strokes. They enjoyed the 45 minutes or so of applying color and I knew exactly what they were up to. 

Addie works on the pheasant crew. After a morning of cleaning they took a minute to balance their drinks. Silly girls Addie, Lia, and Chenai.

Andreas hair fis finally growing I think it may be braided in a tiny braid in back. Unfortunately, she or Merle, or Lia likes to cut her hair in random places making hair do's a real challenge. 

A final senior tribute is dress-up day. Mr. Barnes dressed up as Mark. Addie helped get his clothes to Mr. Barnes. This is a fun recognition and many teachers are pulled in to represent at least 50 seniors. 

These hard workers took a few minutes to cool off and recharge before heading off to another chore set. It's so invigorating to have them around. I'm thankful for their youthful energy and enthusiasm for life. Addie is a reliable capable worker who gets so much done both on our farm and home, and for neighbors whose yards she works on. 

The pigs are growing well and getting use to the kids, and the kids are getting use to the pig responsibilities. Andrea is still on the watch and see list. The others who must feed and water them are less smiley about their increased work load. There have been many threats of who will and won't be attending the fair this year due to lack of follow-through on the chore side. We shall see. We are about 1 month out now. 

And my birthday cake made with love by Millie. Our chocolate maybe should be used a little more sparingly than the recipe dictates as this was a very dark chocolate flavor. Good yet really helped by vanilla ice cream. Millie is becoming a very proficient cook. We are grateful for her abilites, we just hope she will stop taking so many reading breaks and get the food in the oven with a timer before getting lost in a story. And remember to take the cooking food out before it gets toasted. All in all she does great and has kept us fed well for several months. 

Another year another chance to do better, become more, and improve my holiness level. We are thankful for health and strength and daily bread that keep us moving through our days and nights. Life is good and we are very blessed.


 

Mark American Legion Nationals

Most people know Mark as a farmer. That's true, he is passionate about growing things. This is a picture I snapped of him dropping off a strip-till machine that we used in his cover crop experiment.

 Not seen is the air full of cow smells which always transports me back to my growing up years spending time at the neighbors diary farm. Oh I have good memories of those days and nights helping with the cows. It makes me sad sometimes that my kids don't have neighborhood friends. But I'm pretty stingy with sharing their time, so it probably wouldn't be the same freedom I enjoyed even if there were kids around. 

Occasionally though Mark leaves the farm. This year we escorted him to Hillsdale to compete at the American Legion Oratorical Contest. 

This year we were not as confident in the judgements. Not that it matters but it seemed more weight was given to the content of the amendments than the primary speeches. The young lady on the left we met last year, and the young man on the far right is from the post in France he has grown up in Europe and hopes to remain there. The chinese lady in the pant suit went on as well as the young lady from Iowa on the left. 

It is so nice to see a family face. Jim from Oregon was there again to support us. He grew up in Michigan and returns for the summers. 

 
In the past there have been few kids that spend time on athletics. This year there were several student athletes. This young man from Pennsylvania was a fellow football player. His speech talked about the playbook of politics and he used sports methaphors to make his point. 

The young lady in the front in purple was a delight. We really enjoyed getting to know her parents from Missouri. A true highlight of the weekend is the people we get to meet and learn about. 

Anna came home to steady the ship. The kids really enjoy spending time with her. Andrea especially loves to sit with her. I'm thankful they have time to develop a relationship. It also made me feel much more comfortable being gone. 

Mark receiving his award and scholarship money. 


We returned to Detroit eager to share with Mark the wonders of the Henry Ford Museum. He and Greg explored and discovered. I visited with my missionaries from a bench in the museum. Unfortunately, the assembly line shut down half an hour before our tour. I was very disappointed because I knew Mark would be impressed watching it work. 

Back at home the kids went to my parents for dinner one evening. Apparently cousins also cam and they played games. 

Looks like chess was the game of the evening. Oh these smartie pants, but they were impressed grandma and papa had so many chess sets. 

And after a long weekend the weather was acting up and we got delayed and delayed. Thankfully we got into Boise around 1:30 in the morning. I drove us home thankful for hardly any traffic. 

And that kicked off graduation week for Mark. It has been so pleasant to take time with these older kids individually. I'm thankful for Greg's insistence that we go even though I would be happy to stay home. Each kid is distinctly different in how they travel and handle situations. We are blessed. 

District Track Meet

Prior to state track was the district track meet in a far away town. Addie was triumpant and very cominant in her races. Coming in at least 30 seconds ahead of the pack. It was a good experience. 

A big part of high school is time spent with friends. This lady Greta, has been a constant since first grade for Addie. 

Addie's running buddy Duncan also qualified for state which was his goal for the year. He is very encouraging and dedicated to the sport of running. And coach Mary who knows each distance runner personally and works to help them achieve their goals and potential. We are thankful for her time. 

And the ladies team won/earned the 2025 District title. They had a great showing and do well supporting and lifting each other. More special days in the memory book. Life is good. 
 

Memorial Day

Memorial day came out of nowhere this year. Between traveling and end of school but not end of school it just came and went. We did celebrate putting together over 30 bouquets to decorate graves. The weather was windy and cold and made us wishing for jackets. The kids are becoming more involved with each passing year they did a lot of the arrangments. 

I'm thankful the kids know their cousins. Millie and Natalie cross paths often. James and Livy are more reserved yet also enjoy cracking jokes and observing from a distance. 

All done and ready to roll. Livy continues to have her own sense of style. 

We all loved the name of this rose the ketchup and mustard rose. It's real, and so unique. The roses were ready this year- that's rare- we enjoyed sharing them. 

At the cemetery the kids all take one or two and we begin finding the graves. Some are easy and some elude us almost every year. There is a master list that keeps getting longer, thankfully we have more and more helpers. I think Great grandma would be so tickled to see all these energetic kiddos remembering and sharing time with family from the past. 

My mom took some quiet moments to explain connections and what she knew about people we were remembering. The kids did a good job listening and being respectful. 

A special bouquet for the one missing from this picture. 4 were born in 6 months. One went to heaven early. These commemorate him each year. 

After a yummy lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs Papa took anyone who wanted on a hay ride. While the sun was out it was breezy and just right to be outside. 

The flowers were gorgeous and the time together was good. I'm thankful for traditions with family that keeps us connected as we want to be. I remember Memorial days from my childhood helping my grandmother clip and pick flowers from her yard, the scurry to get them in containers. The solemn walk around the cemetery, the visits with her neighbors, and then begging and pleading to eat lunch at her house. Sometimes we did sometimes there was too much going on on the farm. We would cook hamburgers in her oven and have them outside in her cement shaded area, we would roll down her hill and visit with both grandparents. My kids know this holiday and look forward to the traditions it now holds. Life is good and we are blessed abundantly as the years roll by. 
 

End of year for elementary school

While the older kids are busy living their lives these younger ones are also creating personalities and adding flavor to our family. Andrea is changing into a little girl no longer a toddler she has opinions and loves to be on the go. 

She and Merle tackle any project they are allowed and usually are found giggling together about whatever they have dreamed up to do. 

Livy has grown so much this year academically and physically. Her beautiful hair is a challenge, and she loves when people braid it nicely for her. She has as much hair as two people combined it is beautiful red and curly. 

The end of year play was short a few people so Millie and a few other 6th graders were asked to help fill in the cast. Millie was a pregnant lady at a whacky hospital. 

Livy was the gypsy queen. She was very dramatic and perfectly performed her character. She also memorized the entire play after being instructed to do so by Addie and Aliza. She knew everyone's lines and the entire story line before many had their few lines memorized. She really enjoyed this experience. There was no singing in this years play but promises of a more musical selection next year. 

After the play Livy with her grandmas. This was a funny play with many jokes it was a joy to watch.

A few days later was the annual awards assembly. Bruce earned many awards for academic achievement. He is the oldest and biggest in his class. This causes problems as he is stronger and faster than most but he is also a leader and sets an example for doing well in his class. 

The kids all gained awards and growth. Alivia earned the most improved student. Afton also got a most improved and several merit awards for doing extra lessons on the computer. Millie also got a music award and was gifted a new recorder of her very own. 

These kiddos are plodding the same path as the older kids embracing reading, self-educating, stretching their limits in PE and other areas. We continue to be very grateful for the education they are gaining at their school and for the dedicated teachers who push them to improve and do more than they think or want to do. We are thankful for the growth they make each year. For Livy and Afton both they worked hard and put in extra effort this year to gain a lot of ground. We are blessed with many opportunities if we will do the work to take them. 

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