Little Joys of Life

Mmm....the sweet joys of ... wait, it's not quite Autumn yet... Ah well, it's soon to be!! :) I can feel it in the air...and you know what one big plus is?!

Not feeling like this! =D

I thought August would slow down, and in some ways, it did...but in other ways, haha, NOT a chance! Here's a few highlights from the last month (I only wish I'd been able to capture more with my missing camera!)....

We've sold 24 alpacas in the last 4 months--most of which have happened in the last month, which is such a blessing, bringing us thus far down to 26 alpacas total...plus we've had quite a few crias born! All of that has kept me quite busy!! (Glad my dream last night didn't come true, where we had 5 crias born in an hour!! =D)

This little one is our personal favorite - from an outside breeding out of Lexington and Rose, his name is Legacy. :)

This little one (Asphalt), gave us quite a scare, and I ended up bringing his mom to WSU Vet Hospital because he wasn't coming...but when we got there, we found that trailering had corrected it, and this 19+lb. gray male was already born!!

Pride is an absolute darling.

And Cutie (our only female this last month), sold almost before she was born!! Isn't she darling and cuddly?!

The boys had a lot of fun on their fishing trip with the Alert Cadet Squad up here:

As did David at his photography class in Alaska, where he turned 18!!:

Maybe this will help you understand why I am so partial to my homeland... :)

Eagle River--the area that I grew up....except, we lived in the mountain, overlooking the valley.

And of course, there was no doubt that our men enjoyed their time in the Alaskan wilderness when Papa and Samuel flew up to join David after his class!!

Here they are stalking sheep...

And here...they found them! ;) (But, that was only the males....the females were their own number too!)

They had more than a few (close) encounters with Grizzlies...up to only 30 yards away, and charging! God is good. :)

And of course, what is the North without the Aurora Borealis?!

How great is our God, that the mountains, winds, and seas obey Him?!

The girls went on a 10-day Journey To The Heart in the Northwoods, for which I don't have any pictures offhand, however it was life changing and encouraging for each of them. Find out how you can go on a Journey HERE!!

A quick word on David...I can hardly believe he's turned from this adorable little boy:

To this dapper, responsible, young man!!

On with life, Alex's sister is getting married in a couple weeks, and we just had her bridal shower, which was so much fun!! With a crazy week of work and selling alpacas, I was doing prep to the last minute, and didn't get the photos I wanted, except of Tasha and I and glimpse of our decorations..

And, per requests, here's a little glimpse of my favorite part of life right now (besides my relationship with Jesus):
Starting with memoirs from July (since I didn't get my copy of the pictures until August... :) David, Alex, our friend Garrett, and I all filmed at a wedding by Sagle. Isn't it a pretty setting?!

(We're trying to get more 'even height' photos...just for fun :)

I can hardly believe we've been "officially courting" for over 2 months now, and the longer we have, the more I realize how blessed I am. We've been studying together how Christ and the Church relates to Marriage in real, applicable ways. And you know what?! The more we study, the more we find how it correlates in pretty much every way! We're also really enjoying going through the book 'Before You Say I Do'...definitely a recommend for any couple pursuing setting the foundation for life! That's just the tip (and if you want to know, just ask), but it has been SO good, and it is the most wonderful feeling to be truly washed in the Word.

The boys and I went over last Sunday to Alex's house for...umm...Hank's "Get-Together" Party. :) Tasha and I hung out at the house with their mom--talking and crocheting, while the rest went shooting, and then Alex and I prepared dinner...

Our silly picture (Tasha is just in bliss... ;P)

Cleaning the Barbecue

And I guess that's all for now folks! This next week is crazy between work, sewing, People and more people, and then babysitting all next weekend. So, for now, I'm off to my sewing machine to get as much done on...something (that'll I show you in a few weeks, when the times right :p).

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, whig are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

~ Philippians 1:9-11 ~

The Grace of God

I came upon this poem today, and was blessed, encouraged, strengthened, invigorated, uplifted, thought-provoked, inspired, and humbled by it. I wanted to share it with you all, in hopes that it would do the same for you.
We serve a mighty God!!

My

"My grace," 'tis the God of all grace who hath spoken,

Whose Word in the heavens forever is set;

Whose covenant promise hath never been broken;

Who never can fail or forget;

Who knoweth my needs and Who seethe my sorrows,

However so many and great they may be;

Who hearth my prayers for the days and the morrows;

His grace is sufficient for me.

Grace

"My grace;" all His blessings this work is unfolding,

His love and His power in harmony blend;

'Tis grace that hath saved me, and grace that is holding,

And grace that will keep to the end;

'Tis grace that hath written redemption's glad story,

And grace all the song of the ransomed shall be;

'Tis grace that transforms me from glory to glory;

That grace is sufficient for me.

Is

"My grace is," not "was" and not "will be;" 'tis flowing'

Each hour and each moment my need to supply,

The deeper I dip, still the deeper 'tis growing,

No drought can diminish or dry;

My heart from the future no trouble shall borrow;

Eternal this present provision shall be,

Assured for today and as sure for tomorrow,

Such grace is sufficient for me.

Sufficient

"My grace is sufficient." Oh, help without measure!

An ocean of riches no plummet can sound,

A storehouse unfailing of infinite treasure,

A gift without limit or bound;

Exceeding abundant for all His creation,

Enough for the thorn that is buffeting me,

The fulness of God for earth's brief tribulation -

"My grace is sufficient for thee."

For Thee.

"Sufficient for thee," for my utmost salvation,

As though ne'er another had owed Him a debt;

For my special grief and my special temptation,

My cares and my sins that beset;

He giveth more grace for my humble endeavor;

I am praising Him now, I shall praise Him forever;

His grace is sufficient for me.

~ by Annie Johnson Flint ~

"And He said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee' for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 ~