for pictures!!!!

(These pictures are not in any particular order!)

David being David....




Why we are not in the Family Portrait business:

Troy's BIG catch of the day...(okay, okay, it's a stuffed fish...but a guy CAN dream!)...

David sliding down a Fire Pole:

Climbing on a Pirate Ship toy...

Marlee girl finding her way through the hedge maze in the midst of the corn maze:

Ah ha...the castle!!!

In the corn maze:

Random picture from home....the fog was moving in!

Marlee's nature shot...pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Troy pickin' and grinnin':

Jacob got his birthday present a month early - his 'excited' expression was for his dear old mom!(Thanks, Jacob!):

Marlee and David's watermelon crop - Dad could have eaten it in one bite!!

David being David...

Laylie, Marlee and Elsie reading 'The Jungle Book' -

for catching up

Not sure where I left off...but I'll just fill you in on what has been going on around our house. We have moved to a year-round school year this year as a test drive. So far, everything is going smoothly. Every 9th week we take a week off, and we just enjoyed our first week off last week. We focused on what we had been learning in History and Bible while doing crafts. The kids made a replica of Charlemagne's crown when crowned 'Holy Roman Emperor'. They also made a necklace of Thor's hammer - which also led to discussion of Charles the Hammer. They made mosaic tile coasters (which didn't turn out so well) and finally we made paper mache whales as we talked about Jonah and his trials.

The kids and I went to Green Bluff a few weekends ago to enjoy their Harvest Festival. We went through a corn maze - the kids explored a castle - and we picked up some very cool wool hats for the little ones (who aren't so little anymore!). It was a fun day!

We have been staying relatively healthy this season. A few coughs and stuffy noses - but nothing too serious - of which we are very thankful!!!

Victoria continues with her studies through Whitefield - which she thoroughly enjoys - and I have been reading some of J. C. Ryle's works. If you have not read anything of his, I highly suggest you do. It is very, very good teaching...and though written in another generation - it pertains to ours just as well. Of course - isn't the Lord wonderful in that way? No matter the culture or the society - His word fits all.

Troy took a day to go fishing - and has been using his smoker with great success. He and Jacob refabricated an old refrigerator into a smoker - and it works wonderfully! I'm not much of a fish eater - but I have had a few tastes - and it is very good.

Pictures will follow soon - I have to track down the camera and get them on the computer!!!

So, how are things in your corner of the world?

for thoughts and ponderings

From "The Valley of Vision" found at Banner of Truth:

O God,

Though I am allowed to approach thee

I am not unmindful of my sins,

I do not deny my guilt,

I confess my wickedness, and earnestly

plead forgiveness.



May I with Moses choose affliction rather than

enjoy the pleasures of sin.

Help me to place myself always under thy guiding

and guardian care,

to take firmer hold of the sure covenant that

binds me to thee,

to feel more of the purifying, dignifying,

softening influence of the religion I profess,

to have more compassion, love, pity, courtesy,

to deem it an honour to be employed by thee

as an instrument in thy hands,

ready to seize every opportunity of usefulness,

and willing to offer all my talents to thy service.



Thou hast done for me all things well,

hast remembered, distinguished, indulged me.

All my desires have not been gratified,

but thy love denied them to me

when fulfilment of my wishes would have

proved my ruin or injury.

My trials have been fewer than my sins,

and when I have kissed the rod it has fallen

from thy hands.

Thou hast often wiped away my tears,

restored peace to my mourning heart,

chastened me for my profit.

All thy work for me is perfect,

and I praise thee.

for fun pictures just because

for get togethers and family celebrations!

Labor Day weekend had us at Peniel Ranch for a Family Retreat. We were treated to some fantastic teaching by Les Garrett, the man who gave us 'This is the Day'. He focused on the book of Ruth tying it to the Gospel message. Really great stuff!!!

While at Peniel, we did our share of fishing! Troy and I both caught a 10-pounder! It is so much fun to catch these fish - even the small ones!!! If you live near us - or are at least in the Pacific Northwest, you should really look into coming to Peniel Ranch for one of their many retreats!!! The people are wonderful, the food is awesome, the fishing is fantastic, and the teaching is tremendous!!!

Now that's a fish!

The next weekend had us visiting some friends that we met at Peniel Ranch (another great benefit of the camp!). It was a fun to meet with them on their 'home turf' (the West side of the state) - and to get together with other families from the ranch. We also met a nice family from Arkansas that were staying with them. While there, we were able to attend the Regional Kick-Off Picnic sponsored by Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington. The event was a fun get-together! Mr. Bradrick gave an encouraging message on home discipleship and we also got to hear the lastest going on in Washington State from Scott Brannan from Christian Homeschool Network. They are a grass roots organization dedicated to protecting our God given right to homeschool in Washington State without government interference. I spoke briefly with DiAnna Brannan and thanked her for all the hard work they do on our behalf over in Olympia. After the picnic on Saturday, we headed back to our friends for a joint birthday celebration for their sons. They were very kind to include Victoria into the celebration! On Sunday, we got to enjoy their Home Church. It was a wonderful time of fellowshipping with the members of God's family. It was a huge reminder of remembering not to limit our family to 'biological' only.

Since we were gone during Victoria's official birthday on the 12th, we celebrated again tonight with Grandpa Ron, Grandma Sweetie, and Alice, an older lady in town that Victoria spends time with. We had cake, played a game of Apples to Apples, and let Victoria know how much she means to us. I still can't believe she is 19!

Happy Birthday to you...

Dear Friends, joined by love - not separated by age

I didn't get as many pictures as I should have - but I was too busy enjoying our company!!!

Since we like to remain busy on weekends (or so it seems!) - we will again have goings on this weekend with our annual Fest. Some friends from Peniel will be coming down to spend Saturday with us...and we will get to enjoy their kids singing on the Outdoor Stage!! God truly has been wonderful to us these past several weeks. His blessings have been big and small - and we thank Him for them all.

for Chicken Projects and Round Robin

David's project of choice involves Poultry. Unlike the Swine Project, there is no Market Class for poultry at fair to help offset the cost of the project. However, we truly enjoy the eggs all year long!!!

David takes care of the chickens all year long with some help from brother Jacob during the winter months. David goes out bright and early every morning to check their feed and water. During the summer months, they are on an automatic watering system (gravity flow) - but he still needs to check the water level in the bucket to make sure it is full. He collects the eggs - usually leaving one or two in various nests to encourage laying.

During the winter months, the chickens are switched to waterers which need to be re-filled every day. He also has to make sure their light is on in the house. The light provides some warmth, and encourages laying. Chickens need approximately 14 to 16 hours of light a day for egg production. During the overcast winter months, it is important that their light stays on in their coop, not only for warmth but for egg production as well.

The other tasks include keeping their yard picked up, changing the straw in their nests, and cleaning out the coop. Unlike hogs, chickens go everywhere!!! One of these days, we hope to turn the manure into fertilizer, but for now, it goes in the compost pile behind the barn.

While the chickens do not have to washed at fair, they do need a bath prior to fair. If you have never washed a chicken...well a live chicken...it's quite interesting. You need 3 buckets of water. One with soap, one with plain water, and one with vinegar (not for marinating...for helping cut the soap!). You have to be careful not to dunk their heads because this could drown them. Also, you'll need a toothbrush for a chicken pedicure, and to clean their beaks!

At fair, he has to make sure they have food and water every day, and their cages are free of manure.

As I said in an earlier post, the chicken project is more about knowledge of all poultry, as well as knowing the body parts of your animal.

Their are no tears with a Poultry Project, either. You know that your animals are not off to the butcher at the close of the fair - so it is easier on the emotions!

Since David was Grand Champion in Fitting & Showing for the Junior Class this year, he was able to participate in the Round Robin competition, which involves showing an animal from each of the Small Divisions. David had to show and answer numerous questions about...

a rabbit,

a chicken (not his own),

and a goat!

The goat was his favorite. This goat is a young Nubian. It is raised for it's milk. Marlee and David have both expressed an interest in raising Nubians, but Dad is not yet sold on the idea *smile*!


After the completion of the Round Robin, the points from each category are totalled. The participants, in order to qualify for the trophy, must have earned a certain number of points. In classes where there are more than one participant, the competitor with the highest point total takes the trophy. In case of a tie, the competitors have to answer additional questions.

David was thrilled to receive the Round Robin for Overall Showmen his first year showing as a 4-H Member. (He has shown in previous years, but not in the 4-H Class. 4-H Members cannot show animals until they finish 3rd grade.)

Portrait of shocked humbleness

Well done!

We look forward to many more years encouraging the kids and learning with them about God's creatures - great and small!

for 4-H preparation

4-H has been a new and exciting part of our lives these past couple of years. As a 'city girl', I don't think I knew 4-H existed...nor what all it entailed. I still don't know all the ins and outs, but we're getting there.

The projects in 4-H are so much more than just showing up with your chosen project. Some of the projects takes months of preparation, not to mention the 'other stuff' that goes along with your project.

For example, with a swine project, you must obtain your piglets sometime in March. Since the weather here is still chilly, you have to have a proper place to keep your little piggies to make sure they stay nice and warm. Marlee had to clean out a stall in the barn and throw in some straw for their bedding. With the help of Dad, she also put up a heat lamp to help knock off the chill. Daily she had to feed and water the little gals (and fellow) as well as clean up their mess. The nice thing about pigs is that usa a 'potty area' away from where they sleep and eat. It is usually in one corner.

Going to check the piggies!

Once the weather warms up, she moved her piggies to a pen that she and her Dad (along with a lot of help from big brother Jacob) built. This was their home for the remainder of their stay with us. Again, she has to keep a daily check on their food (now in automatic feeders), as well as their water (also in an automatic watering system).

Checking out their new home

A new addition for next year is a 'practice arena' adjacent to their pen, so she will be able to work with moving her pigs around during the Fitting and Showing. Previous to this year, she would take her pigs on walks...but this year we did not allow this because the pigs are on our own property now. The dogs, horses, and neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate a pig on the loose!

She has to keep a record of the feed and feed costs of her pigs. As well as a record of any treatments they receive (mainly for parasites - which is normal). She has to keep alert of any stressors they pigs may have, as this can have an effect on the final meat product. She also works on finding a buyer for her pigs. She has to figure out the cost that goes into them in order to come up with a figure that will not only pay for the current year costs, but also cover the cost of buying new piglets the following year.

Another addition we would like to see in the future is an area to wash the pigs. They have to be bathed at fair every day. It is not fun for the pig or handler to get a bath for the first time! This year at fair one of the pigs jumped out of the wash area! Thankfully, it was not one of ours - but Marlee and one of her pigs was in the other wash area at the time! If she is able to wash the pigs regularly at home, our hope is they will become used to being squirted down and soaped up!

Once fair time approaches, she has to make sure she has all necessary items available at fair. She has to have feed pans, a waterer, soap, a rain suit, several brushes, a spray bottle, rubber boots, feed, towels, clippers, rake, and various other paraphenalia. Of course, you need a place to store all this stuff, as well!!

This year, she and her Dad built a show box so that all of her belongings could be stored in one area near the pig barn.

Measure twice...

cut once!

After assembling the box, Marlee painted it. We printed out her name and a 4-H logo on the computer. We then used a projector, and she traced the design on the front of the door. She and her dad 'filled in' the lettering! The project turned out beautifully, but I cannot find a picture of it any where, so I will post one shortly!

The hardest part of a Swine Project is knowing that all the piggies are piggy number one in the old nursery rhyme. 'This little piggy went to market...' Marlee has learned to say her good-byes shortly after the pigs go through the market ring. She does not re-visit the barn for final clean up until all the pigs have been hauled off. This year there were tears to soothe, but each year it gets easier to say goodbye. I(Mom) STILL can't go to the barn the last day!!!

for some more updates!!!

This summer has flown by in such a flurry that I have forgotten where I am in the updates. I know I owe some pictures - but I'll have to go back through the old posts to figure out where I am!!!

I'll at least catch you up on the last several weeks of August. We began school in late August. We are trying year-round schooling this year, which I think will work better for our family. Taking the summers off seems to cause a bit of laziness on my part - and I'm sure it affects the kids as well.

The last week of August was the County Fair. The kids did really well this year. Victoria and Jacob did not enter anything this year. Well, Victoria hasn't since she was David's age. Jacob decided he wasn't up to bringing a pig this year, but in the end it worked out well because he was able to work instead!

Marlee once again brought pigs. She did very well - bringing home blues in Fitting and Showing as well as in the Market Class. In the large animal class, Fitting & Showing is more focused on how well your animal is taken care of as well as how well you can maneuver them around the ring. The showmen are asked a few questions - but most points are derived from your performance with your animal in the ring. In the small animal class, there is more emphasis on head knowledge. Control of the animal is still an issue, but what you know gets more points.

On the Homestead with Ms. Emily and Ms. Mamie
(can you tell she is a Walton's fan??)

Ms. Emily getting the Salon Treatment

Some pre-show encouragement from Cousin Bud

In the Show Ring with Ms. Emily

David is our chicken farmer. While he doesn't get the monetary benefit of bringing a market animal - he and his chickens received many awards. He was Grand Champion in Fitting and Showing, as well as Overall Grand Champion in Fitting and Showing in the small animal class. He had to show a chicken, a rabbit, and a goat. His favorite chicken Ms. Lillian received Best of Show in breed, Reserve Overall Best of Show, and the Special Commissioner's award. A dozen of Ms. Lillian's eggs also received a Best of Show. In the Lego division, he received Best of Show for his Star War's Death Star - which also received the Commissioner's Award. He came home with lots of colorful ribbons and some spiffy trophies this year.

On the Homestead with Ms. Lillian

Fitting & Showing w/ Ms. Lillian

...and the winner is...

I'll have more pictures soon - and more updates on what we have been doing. Thanks for stopping by!!!

for Trips to the Lake, BBQs, Camps, and Hospitality

The end of June through mid-July had us busy with short day trips, Family Camp, and opening our home.

At the end of June, we spent a day at Lake Roosevelt. It was a day for enjoying our corner of creation and giving thanks to our Great Creator, visiting with one another, learning a little from the Park Ranger about flooding, swimming in the ice cold water!, and having some fun on the monkey bars!












July found us enjoying a barbeque with old friends and new faces which included a Pie Eating Contest and Ultimate Water Balloon. We then drove along the river in search of fireworks for our own show after the 4th...and then we were treated to 20-minutes of sky pyrotechnics over the Columbia River.

Light Sabres!!!!

I will post more pictures from Family Camp and our time of fellowship and Hospitality...as soon as they get put on the computer!

For now, as I got to reflect on the past couple of weeks as I was posting the pictures - I'm just amazed again how wonderful, gracious, loving, and kind our Lord truly is!!! We truly taste a bit of heaven on earth as He bestows upon us blessing upon blessing. Enjoying His creation, His people, and His presence - even in the 'everyday', especially in the 'everyday' - it is more than I am capable of expressing in words. He truly is our all in all!