First Boating of the Year!

With the very warm/hot and dry days these past couple of weeks,

we couldn't wait to get out on the lake!  

We are so blessed to have such enjoyable, family fun available right in our neighborhood!

 

We were so thankful that Papa Bob and Meemom wanted and were able to take us

out for our first ride of the year

on both their speed boat and big pontoon boat! 

(Papa Bob and Meemom and myself were on the pontoon boat,

so unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of us or the big boat!)

We are also so grateful for the big water tube they purchased for the boys' early birthday present!

What an awesome gift that will keep on giving all summer long!

 

Thank you so much, Papa Bob and Meemom for such a fun time!

 We loaded up our friend Michael, neighbor Doug and his dog Penny,

and all the family but Richie and Lydia, who needed to finish haying one of their fields that afternoon. :-(  Next time, Richie and Lydia!

 

 

Brielle and Ben enjoyed hanging out in the boat,

eating lots of snacks,

 and talking horses with Michael.

 The rest of the kids enjoyed riding on the tube for a couple hours!

 And I enjoyed capturing some of the moments with my camera!

 Even after Victoria admits to trying to push Kyle off the tube at times,

he was still chivalrous, and helped pull her back on a few times! :-)

 

 Trying to do some tricks???

 Awww . . . they're holding hands! :-)

 

 

  

  Daddy takes great delight in trying his best to throw the kids off the tube.

 You can almost see his somewhat *evil* smile in the photo below!

 Kyle and Michael are up next!
They made it look easy!!!!

Kyle held on tight and was able to get back on after this near spill!

"I'm sailing! I'm sailing! I'm saaaaailing!"



"Guess what, Dr. Marvin?

Ahoy!  I sail!  I'm a sailor!  I sail!!!"

 

 Hands up in the air!

Beauty and grace . . .right???

 And lots of screaming!!

 Daddy didn't take it easy on the girls!

 Success!  High-fives!

On This Hot Summer Day . . .

. . . as we grieve our nation's leaders continuing to lead our country

 further from God's good ways,

we still have great hope,

knowing that He is sovereign over all!

 

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all."

1 Chronicles 29:11

 

So, we will press on,

as we strive to daily

walk humbly with our God;

seek His face;

ask for His forgiveness of our sins;

pray for His mercy;

 rely on His strength to fight the good fight of faith;

serve Him and others with gladness;

pursue holiness;

trust in Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding;

find out what pleases Him and . . .

do good, for His glory.

 

We will . . .

"Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness."

Psalm 37:3

 

 

 

 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

 

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

 

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

 

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

 

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

 

The decrees of the Lord are firm,

and all of them are righteous.

Psalm 19:7-9

 

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts

are fully committed to him."

2 Chronicles 16:9

 

"Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows."

Isaiah 1:17

 

We received our first referral today for a little boy in need of a forever family! 

We're waiting to hear if we will be one of the 3 families to be considered and interviewed in the process of finding him a loving home.

 

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,

but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Ephesians 6:4 

 

Daddy and the older 3 boys left today for the father/son campout

 that some friends are hosting in Oregon.

(Daddy and Kyle were honored and humbled

to be asked to give the Fri. night and Sat. morning devotions.)

Praying they will all be greatly blessed!



Our Daily Dose of Cuteness!

Look what we found on the porch today!

 



Our Two Littlest . . .

. . . . helpers?

Or partners in crime? ;-)

 

Brielle and I are "holding down the fort" (or farm ;-)

while Daddy enjoys his annual camping trip to Warrenton, OR

with the kiddos for Father's Day weekend!

 

They are having a blast! 

And so are we! ;-)

These two are such a BIG help, ;-)

we had some spare time for pictures!!!

 

 



Double Celebration!

We had a wonderful time last night,

celebrating Lydia's 20th birthday

and Richie and Lydia's 3rd anniversary!

Lydia's birthday was last Saturday,

and their anniversary was on Tuesday!

 Meemom quickly snapped the picture below with our camera.

Thanks and good job, Meemom!

We love you two soooooo much!!!

We are so grateful for the blessing you both are to all of us!

 Joseph was the cake designer and decorator.

He came up with the idea to do a fire truck cake for Richie,

since he is a volunteer fire fighter,

and a farm cake for Lydia's birthday cake.

(Thanks so much to Victoria, for her assistance in making his vision a reality!)  



Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Yummy!



 We purchased this little fire truck just for Richie,

as it looked more old-fashioned to us!

Copycat Cracker Barrel Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake! 

 Looks like Lydia had two helpers with blowing out her 20 candles!  :-)

(Oops, I think there were actually 21, but whose counting? ;-)