Becca's Birthday

The day before Becca's birthday, she had an unfortunate meeting with a barbed wire fence. Thankfully, it only scratched her lightly and a few steri-strips had her all patched back together.

She was a very good sport about it, and about spending her birthday with steri-strips still attached to her face.

Becca's cooking skills are flourishing, and Dad got her a cookbook and her own cooking utensils to practice with.

Becca opened gifts twice on her birthday since Trina was bringing home all the gifts from the family out in WA with her in the afternoon.

The second round, with presents from Mom and Richard, Hillary, and Trina.

Birthday food is the best. I mean, when else do you get to eat chicken fried steak, tortilla chips, massive fruit salad and dirt cake? Excellent choices, Becca.

Happy birthday, Becca dear! May your 12th year be as full of blessings as you are full of smiles and sweetness. I love you!!

Summer Break

A few years ago I started on the journey to getting my teaching licence. I call it a journey because that is exactly what it has been. When you start out on a journey you have an idea of where you want to end up and some of the things you might encounter on the way, but not really any clue about a lot of things which will be major parts of the journey. So it has been on my quest for a licence. Through many "you shall hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it" experiences, God led me to Western Governors University, an online school where I have been studying for my Bachelors in Arts, K-8 Interdisciplinary Studies for the last 2.5 years. Since I started my studies at the community college in May of 2008 and WGU goes year round, I have not had the summer off of school since 2007.

Hence, my life for the past 3 years has looked a lot like this...

Not wanting family life to stop just because I am in school, it has also looked a lot like this. Side note: I have the most supportive and encouraging family ever. I would never have made it without you guys!

WGU has all their classes online, then sets up a student teaching experience with a school near the student. However, before a student is eligble for student teaching, they have to complete all their classes, pass state exams and a handwriting course. Yep, a handwriting course. In cursive and manuscript. All of you who have ever gotten handwritten letters from me will be amused to know I was a stellar student in the handwriting course, earning almost all A+'s.

This week I finished all the class work standing between me and student teaching, hence for the first time since 2007 I get the whole summer off. This was cause for great celebration, as is evidenced by the above picture.

The celebration was made even more special by all the people who joined by eating ice cream (or something) to celebrate. It made me feel very special to know that so many people were eating ice cream on my behalf...

Here is to a summer off of school! Thank you Lord for bringing me this far on the journey. I can't wait to see where it goes from here. :D

Typical

It has been a very busy week, and once again my computer contains a very eclectic selection of pictures. Some of these pictures are from before this week, but still a 'typical' sampling of life with Rosie, and everyone else.

We watch movies on Wednesday nights, as family nights. We also watch movies when Dad is not home because we miss him. Seriously, it is because we miss him, not any other reason.... :D

"And the chocolate chips that melt into my eggs, and the longer that I look at it the more I wonder if it will taste great..." Hillary, this is for you. It is fried eggs with strawberries and cool whip. Oh, and raisins. John requested it and Leah made it. I think we need to write a new verse.

Leah recently made unexpected contact with some metal parts of the tractor. It produced one of the most amazing bruises I have ever seen. Being brave like she is, I hardly even heard her complain about it after the first day. Look for more exciting news about Leah in the future, just as soon as we are able to procure pictures to go with it.

The fruit trees bloomed this week. I was so glad to get pictures because the same night it rained all the petals off.

Everything is growing. The grass, the dandelions, John and Rosie...

Few things melt my heart like people bringing me flowers. John brought me these dandelions (I know some people hate them, but I am partial to the way they make a boring green yard look interesting) and told me that they were to show how much he loved me. Melt....

And so you have it folks! Life is never as sweet as when spent with the ones you love. Right now my life is like a turtle fudge sundae.... :D

Weekend With Caroline

Last weekend I went to visit Michael and Sarah, and of course Caroline. We hunted snakes, went on a walk, ate steak, went to church and otherwise caught up on some long overdue sibling and Auntie time. It is awesome when your brother gets married and instead of losing a brother, you gain a sister. It only gets better from there when they have a baby and you become an Auntie... :D While I did not get pictures of the snake hunt or other activities, I did get some darling pictures of Caroline. Enjoy!

Caroline was being very photogenic (as always) while Mommy was hanging up the clothes.

Mommy introduced her to lilacs...

She liked them!

Thanks again, Michael and Sarah, for having me over! Love you guys!!

The Arrival of the Tulips

The tulips are the first real flowers to bloom here. They announce the arrival of spring, the ending of winter and the start of my favorite time of year. Needless to say, I love the tulips.

Some of these tulips I remember planting as a little girl. It was a good investment. Over the years they have taught me a lot of lessons.

The way they burst forth from what was just recently frozen earth after a whole winter of nothing but snow and cold is to me a beautiful picture of patience and perseverance.

The way they are always in the same place every year reminds me to be faithful in what we are called to.

And of course, they have taught me that being a little different can be a really good thing, as long as you are doing what God made you to do.

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. " ~ Luke 21:28

Cure for Hot Days

We are rapidly approaching that time of year when at times the heat starts to get to you. There is a simple, easy, and very inexpensive fix for this problem.

First, full up an ice cream bucket with water from the hydrant. It has to be from the hydrant because that water is like 40 degrees...

Then dump bucket on head. Finally, run around outside until you are dry. Tada! Cooled off....

Introducing Bob

My family is exceptionally blessed. This goes without saying of course, but it also should be said at any appropriate opportunity so I don't run the risk of ever forgetting that we are. This is one of those opportunities. After the mini-van died, we had no vehicle big enough to haul us all around at once. We took two cars for several months. Then Grandpa Bob and Grandma Phyllis called, wanting to give us their station wagon.


They drove it all the way out from Sacramento and delivered it to the farm! We were delighted, first of all because we got to visit with them, and secondly because now we can all ride together! Well, soon, we need to fix a seat belt first.


The car is in wonderful shape and runs very well. God always gives such good gifts!! We decided to name the car "Bob", partly after Grandpa Bob who gave him to us, and partly for the parking attendant at Christ Community who always waves at us on Sundays.


Behold, the most amazing thing about Bob, the backseat and the 'tailgate' that opens either to the side or down. Thank you again, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Phyllis!! We are in love with Bob already....