Jan/Feb/March Recap

Here's a recap of our life the past couple of months!  We have managed to stay pretty busy and are thankful we didn’t get sick for a couple of months like last winter.  

Jacob discovered what he thinks to be some Indian graves so the girls (and George!) went out in the field to see them.

Amanda taking a neighbor to town.

Making a quick run over to Miracle Farms to buy some sausage and eggs. 

One Saturday, we kids decided to go exploring out in the field.  It sure was cold but we had fun.

Jacob with his long bow he made.

Boone was very happy that we came exploring with him. :)

Amanda and Grace making pizza together.

Jacob shot his first deer in January!  

 Jacob and Mom processing his deer.  We were very thankful for all the good meat.

Grace and I ground up 12 pounds of the deer meat. 

Jacob tanning his deer hide.  This boy is a regular Dan'l Boone!

In February, a carpenter friend and his son came and helped us build an addition on our trailer.  It was exciting to see the first wall go up.

Mr. Keith and Jacob.

The guys worked hard all week and got a lot accomplished.  

Jared worked hard getting the insulation and walls put up so he could get to his favorite part... the painting. :)

The animals seem to think that we built the addition for them. :)   

John doing some repair work on his new stand-on mower.

The garden work has begun! Mom and her garden crew got a lot planted this particular afternoon. 

"This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Happy Birthday Amanda!

 Amanda turned 25 on the 14th!

For her birthday post, I thought it would be fun to do a few random pictures of her...

She loves chocolate -to be more specific- dark chocolate. :)

   

She absolutely LOVES dogs.

Dad, Grace, and Amanda listening to the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. They are the classical music lovers of the family. :)

Will and Brittany's wedding. 

Having fun with the siblings on a road trip!

Farmer's Market.

A fun shopping day that Jared generously took Amanda and me on. :)

Mother's Day 2018

           

Live Nativity Scene

This year we decided to do a live nativity scene at a Christmas event that we sing at every year.   We had a week to make the costumes and get everything ready, but we managed it just on time. :)

Dad built most of the stable at our house, but we brought it to the actual site to put it together. 

Grace overseeing from the manger. :)

Jacob did a really great job building the manger!

We borrowed two sheep from a friend, and they really added a lot to the nativity scene.

They were happy as long as they had hay to munch on!

John, Amanda, Mom, and Grace stood off to the side of the stable and sang Christmas caorls.

                 We took some breaks when people left to hear the other music that was going on.

Our goal was that this nativity scene would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of Jesus Christ!

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

Summer Recap / Part 2

The August birthdays snuck up on us in the midst of a busy summer!  John's birthday was August 1 and he turned 21, Grace turned 12 on the 22nd, Will turned 26 on the 24th, and Jacob turned 19 on the 26th. 

We didn't have a number two candle, so we had to get a little creative. =)

We are glad when Will and Brittany get to come for birthday celebrations.

We had a full house on Grace's birthday - Pap, Nana, & Aunt Lynn, and Will and Brittany came over. 

Opening presents.

Grace chose ice cream for her dessert, and we enjoyed visiting in the living room while we ate it. 

Aunt Lynn and Nana.

Jacob's birthday!

Jacob's birthday was on a Sunday, so he opened his presents the night before; but he decided to have his cake on Sunday at lunch.

Eating lunch with a friend from church.

Around all those birthday times we had a singing appointment scheduled, so we had to find time to practice for that.  One night we went to over to our church to practice with the sound system.

Sleeping buddies!

Amanda and Grace on the last day of market. 

In September we had fun celebrating Dad and Uncle Mike's (his twin brother) birthday together.

Dad opening his presents from us.

Grace and Boone playing in a little lean-to that her and Jacob built.

                     Wowsers loves to get on the top of your head and massage it with his claws!                         

Amanda had her first lesson from Mom on cutting the boys hair.  Let's just say John was a little nervous what his hair would look like after she got through, but she did a good job under Mom's supervision. =)

Boone and Lucas love to go along with whoever is taking the daily walk down to the mailbox.

"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, 

the God of our salvation!"

~Psalm 68:19