Summertime

We had summer before sickness. These pictures show the lovely start to the month we enjoyed. A nest in the branches of a tree just the height Andrea and Merle could climb a small ladder and watch the progress. 

We went swimming. I considered swim lessons and hesitated. This was a providential move as we have been sick ever since and swimming would not have been a good fit. Then Merle broke his arm and so swimming is on hold for a while. 

Jake enjoyed watching. Oh I long for these simple healthy days again. 

A new garden holds lots of hope and small or not present weeds. Thankfully most thigns have survived and the weeds are thriving. 

These buckets are critical for transplanting tomatoes shielding the plants from the violent winds for the months of may and june allow the plants to gain strength and grow instead of hunkering down and being blown to pieces. The plants in the tires don't do so well. 

The strip tilled corn coming up. Happy to report it is not a foot tall and growing more everyday. 

Reed and Jackson had a great time at Washington Leadership Conference touring DC with the group and solo. Reed doesn't talk much, but he smiles when asked. He did enjoy the morning at Mt. Vernon saying the gardens were impressive. We have survived all of his travel, he had District FFA camp and football camp, and are so ready for him to be available to give Greg a break. It cannot be adequately expressed how much these teenagers contribute to lightening his load. 

Summer rolls on long long days of light and work past the generous time we are given. We were surprised recently how quickly the sun goes down in other locations. Here it was 10:30 and not quite dark. That is a blessing and curse. Our bodies still need recharge and rest unfortunately our choices cut into that. We are blessed even in the midst of the struggle and some pay consequences others don't understand. Summer is 1/3 over and things are moving along. 
 

Art Projects

This summer I have to keep reminding myself this is my most important project. He is demanding and most content here in our spot. Although Addie has discovered he is ok sitting outside in his high chair watching the world. She is much tougher than I and not as interested in soothing him. He has had tremendous growth this past few months. In both size and strength. He can crawl from room to room now and is eating some food. 

He is opinionated. 

She is too. She is beautiful and smart and so wanting to do big things. 

A storm was coming again so we picked the roses before the wind and rain could destroy them. The cooler temperatures coupled with a very mild winter allowed for vigorous growth on the rose bushes. 

These smelled so good. 

We made bouquets and shared with some neighbors and friends. I love to share flowers but don't really like to be the one making the deliveries. It's hard for me to want to leave my house. Doing all this blogging in one big push shows me there are reasons why I am constantly tired.

I saw this post from a friend. I was inspired by her creative use of time. I decided we needed to be more creative this summer. 

So we made a mess. All of the supplies were stored semi-organized in the back room. We drug it all out and let the kids get started. Oh we make big messes here. (Addie was gone).

Afton knew what to do I was back nursing/ napping Jake. These girls got started. This picture is more complicated that I would have chosen for Andrea but she was insistent this was what she wanted. Seed cups waiting for the zuchinni seeds I was soaking for the garden we are suppose to be growing. 

Afton helped Alia get started on her horse. She told her how to paint each section then Lia obeyed the instructions. Andrea wasn't as patient or willing to listen her picture did not turn out as well. 

Livy also gave pointers. They turned out nicely. I did not participate further than showing them my friends project and printing pictures for them to paint. Next they will do a water color or colored pencil project. Maybe I will figure out how to set Jake down or just put him outside and do some art too. Or probably not. 

After these pictures the kids started getting sick water had to happen again and life moves on. So many pictures on this blog are seriously seconds of our life not the norm. The norm is busy and then resting or gathering strength for the next push and a lot of maintenance. But they did enjoy this hour of time and Lia and Andrea produced pretty pictures. Life is good, much is work, but there are moments of beautiful and creative. 
 

Mark Mission Update

We got this nice poster/letter from the Branch president a few weeks ago. The work is going so fast in this country. The elders don't have time to meet with all the people who want to hear their message. This is amazing. God is truly shinning his light on the people of Africa. 

This is one Sunday. Only in new countries. 

Mark also gets to spend time serving his branch leaders this was the elders quorum president field of beans. The elders came to pull and bag the plants for transport. 

Laid out to dry.

The Elders after a few hours work. I love seeing Mark in his farm gear. 

Mission life isn't all work though there is time for games. Ticket to Ride and some pie like home. This looks a lot like a pie from home but Mark made it in Africa. Each of my sons has baked on their mission. 

The field is white all ready to harvest. Many are called. This is quite the experience Mark is having. Each of the missionaries from our family has grown tremendously through their service. It's not about the numbers its about the testimony built in the missionary that serves and the commitments they make and keep throughout this life. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve and get to better know God. Life is good. 
 

Story Tellers

I don't know if this is my calling but I know I really enjoy the record that documenting this life we live brings. I loved this and snapped a picture while walking the halls with Jake in Joplin MO. I appreciate the records we have from people more versed in geneology than I. So I tell the stories we live and document the activity of this beehive full of busy kids. I'm thankful for the many ideas and experiments we are able to work through. 

Two years ago I really studied gardening. One of the magic products guaranteed to improve your garden soil is decomposed leaves and or earthworm castings. Being summer time I didn’t have leaves but that fall I stockpiled a large totes worth. I let them sit all winter our dry climate doesn’t force much breakdown. That spring I purchased 10 or twenty pounds of worms and turned them loose in my compost bin. We watered the bin a few times a week and added some grass clippings. Finally this year we opened up the pile to find nice soil. Hopefully this will grow some beautiful dahlias. 

Addie has been following my worm experiment through the years. We were very surprised to find no worms in the soil. I’m excited to get the compost bag cleaned out to see what holes are in the bottom. We got 4 big totes worth barrels so far from this. That’s a lot of potting soil from waste products on our farm leaves, wood chips, manure, grass clippings, and vegetable waste from cooking. Now it’s gonna be flowers. Life is good.

State Track

After graduation the track team traveled to Eugene to compete at the University of Oregon State track and field competition. Addie earned her spot in the 3000 and 1500. Many in this picture went to be inspired. 

The girls team placed 3rd overall. 

These 4 broke school records this year. Addie in the 3000 and 1500, Duncan in the 1500 I think, Brandon in the pole vault, and Claire in the 200, 100, and 300 hurdles. 

Addie at the beginning of the meet. We received pictures as we waited to leave for Harold's wedding in Arkansas. We have really enjoyed the state track trips and were sad not to be able to attend this year. You never know when your last time is until its past and you realize that was all. 

Addie ran so strong these days I love that she was able to put down power performances eachc day. Maybe the weight lifted of her own expectations, maybe it was such a relief have high school and clubs finished and have her next steps mapped out. Maybe its all the years of work and training. Maybe it's just the beauty of preparation.

Addie was not ranked to medal in her state events but she did this day. We were so happy for her and she broke the old school record of 10:53 from 1986. This was huge. 

With her coach Mary and training partner Duncan. 

On the podium. We were so happy for her. I love the mismatched socks. 

Holding her 4 year letter bar. 

She was an honorable mention state distance runner from OSAA. 

 She ran sub 5 for her 1500 with a 4:59. Again another goal she had hoped to achieve each year of running. I love how she was able to achieve the many goals she set for herself. I never imagined running would be enjoyable but it is a lifesaver for her. We are trying to convince the younger girls to train to be able to participate. That's not going well. Addie had some great windbreakers called brothers who made it possible for her to spend the time she did at meets, practices, and running at home. This next phase of our family the girls are having to do more. Addie also is a great worker at home but it wasn't all on her. Anyway we learn and we adapt to each stage. We are proud of the dedication and work ethic she applied to her sports expereince too. Life is good and this was a fun chapter to watch. 

Two Fridays

Last friday was National Donut Day. Of course we didn't go to town we made one batch at home. This felt very small compared to our football gifts. It also felt very decadent. 

We did not use tallow wanting to insure they tasted perfectly delicious. 

Millie is pretty skilled at donuts. She knows the process and is a great helper. 

Voila so yummy. We shared with our neighbors. It was nice to walk up to their door and offer them a few donuts to join our celebrating. 

The allotment Millie left for us at home. 

The next week Friday was a different story. I got this picture early in the day. Reed had noticed this cow hobbling around upon investigating he found she had a problem. He got her loaded and we went to the vet. The assistant asked if we wanted antibiotics that if we were going to kill her we would have to wait a few days before she could be butchered. This is a bred cow a few months from calving. A calf is worth over $1500 newborn. We don't want to loose this cow right now. When the vet came out she assured me the xray and possible removeable of whatever was in there complete with antibiotics would be less than $500.00. I told her that was cheap compared to the irrigation and tractor repairs lately. She laughed and said yes animals are much less expensive than mechanical issues. 

A few hours later they called to say she was ready to go and sent us home with this wire they found around her hoof. 

While waiting for Reed and Livy to get the pen ready for her these two were coming very slowly to the farm. They thought they had run out of gas. Reed showed them the reserve tank and they shook their heads in disgust. This is just a small example of the type of season it is. Learning lots of novices learning. Reed takes a few with him often to show them how to start motors little tricks to get things to work the stuff anyone wouldn't know because they haven't done the process. 

I woke from a nap with Jake (the first one in weeks) to see Reed carrying Merle in held straight up. Merle was very dirty and crying. I demanded to know what was wrong. There was a four wheeler accident Millie was driving Merle was holding the toolsf rom fixing the pump at another place and Reed was following in the tractor. Millie got spooked by traffic on the road passing and whatnot and Merle got tossed off into the dirt. Millie also fell off the fourwheeler I learned a day later. Our neighbor Kerry Wysocki stopped to help them and assessed Merle for brokenness. He deemed him fine. He brought home Merle and the tools. Reed carried Merle in. He would not move his arm at all and was very upset. I could see no blood and little scratches but did not like how immobile his arm was. I decided to take him to urgent care for xrays. We got a blessing from Greg before we proceeded. Merle did not like going over the train tracks or bumps in the road. We got right in and the worst part was manipulating his arm for the x-rays- He does not do well with painful events. This is him and I after the xrays calming down with a warm blanket. The doctor told us nothing showed up and just see how the next few days go. 

We went for a burger and fries after the doctor check-out. He enjoyed them. Kids went to bed GReg came home and Jake thought push-ups looked really fun. 

He's getting to the age where he really likes his dad and wants to go with him. He's not quite big enough and with Greg's intense load of repair responsibility on the farm the days of just going for a ride are past or gone not sure which. Thus when Greg comes home at night Jake is sure to spend a few seconds with him. 

Two Fridays. One week apart. Weeks full of fixing, figuring, and frustration. A week full of sick kids,  I was at the doctor office three days this week getting strep tests and medicine for very sick kids. Weeks with some friendship and a lot of faith. Even some fighting. Ok a lot of fighting. 

The night before I had read about a recently popular singer who was talking about how big his God is and how he could rescue a drug addict no-body and turn them into a saved singer star. I thought and lamented I want a God that is that big. I could use some help right now. So I prayed it out I fought some with God about how hard life is this summer, how we just can't seem to catch a break because everything is breaking. I asked for help. 

The next day we had the DMV added to list of things to do. It was a five minute wait 2x we walked in. That is unheard of ever in my almost 30 years of going or hearing about people going. Most new drivers have to wait for hours and hours even days because they can't wait that long. That was God making a miracle for me. 

The second and far more important was Merle and Millie being spared the pavement, the full canal, and obviously serious bodily harm. I know for sure they were protected and helped. I know that all our trite prayers for safety are heard and answered. I'm thankful yet again for kind neighbors and for angels who watch over us. 

Merle spent the day in a home wrapped sling to help isolate the arm. As the day wore on he used it more and more. A free squirt gun from a yard sale helped inspire use. He is still pretty sensitive without it. We found lots of bruises on Millie who also left the 4wheeler. Her upper thigh, knees, shoulder and a bump on her head. No one told me she too had been thrown off. Again thankful she is ok.

We will not be superstars- we don't want that attention, but we do have a big Big God who loves and watches over us all the time. We need to ask and we need to pay attention. Life is good and we are blessed.