Fun and games

Every Sunday I hear at least half an hour of rapid shooting. These two so enjoy firing round after round at the towels. Merle may be waiting for a turn or studying technique for when they leave and he has all the guns and supplies to himself all day long. 

He and Andy enjoyed the pictures in one of Lia's reading books. The love books. In the truck there is a stack of books that they love to look at. 

Addie taught her young women's class and printed coloring pages for the girls to work on highlighting the message to Choose Joy. The extra pages Addie shared with siblings at home who likewise really enjoyed coloring with Addie. 

Addie continues to run miles and miles every week. These are her teammates the ladies also putting in miles and words of encouragement. A sweet group of girls each working to improve and do better week by week. 

Reed (65) playing football at home is being coached in real time by Mark. I love how the varsity players come and work with the JV in their games as they are playing then correcting on the sideline. This kind of immediate course correction is powerful. I also really appreciate how Mark builds and corrects player by player. From be tougher make the hit to move your feet like this work on it. I love that Reed is teachable. 

The month of August is etiquette month in our town. Both wards combine to discuss how to interact with others. The wrap-up is  a multi-course meal followed with a dance. 

And Mark preparing to travel to Lakeview. They left at 1 and wouldn't play until 8. For us the most sticking meal is a steak. Mark got one all to himself. It's tough to sit on a bus for more than 2 hours. 4-5 is brutal. Staying or keeping hydrated, hunger, stiffness, etc. Nonetheless, that is the story of living on the edge of a state. 

All work and no play makes people dull. Thankfully there is great desire to play and great responsibility to work so the balance is more like a pendulum. We are blessed in so many ways so many days.

This year I decided to market the corn we grow. It was heartwrenching to watch the market fall and fall from 4.97 to 3.82 in a matter of months the same months of sweat and toil fighting nature, fighting, kids, fighting the laws of living meaning no sleep and exhaustion. I didn't dare pray to ask God's grace to raise the market again. For weeks I wondered how could I pray when I had watched it fall? All indicators were it's just gonna be a rough year hope you can survive until the next. Yet my faith-filled daughter said, "Mom I will pray for you." And she did and fasted more than once for us.

 I just wanted the market to go back to 4.05. Well, I sold my first contracts at 4.06. Then some more at 4.13. Then today 4.27 after the buyer agreed to cancel the ones he sold for 4.13 in our name yesterday. That was generous on his part. We had run to the temple on Saturday as we were not at the right moisture and Addie had a race. I know it was a sacrifice of the precious little sleep we get. But I know that we are blessed financially when we go. 

Through all our years of business, we have been blessed in a variety of ways when we go.

The acceptance of a higher contract was generous to say the least. I thank God for his softening hearts. 

Our fast this week was just one of gratitude. I am thankful to be able to work with my kids every day. I am thankful for the daily time in nature and working to till and cultivate the heart for our health and strength and for the growth of others. I'm thankful for the freedom to live the life we choose and for the health and strength to do so. 

So yet again and day by day we are blessed and life is good. Look to Jesus and live of curse him and die are a choice and helped by other peoples strong faith too.