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 ~

Life, Drills, and More

Besides my recording my life and adventures in the Philippines, I'm not sure I have blogged so fully or consistently until we went to Europe...thus, I hope you can excuse the last few weeks of silence as not only did I need the reprieve, but life has been so full I simply have not had much opportunity for any internet time!

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos on hand to show the happenings of the last few weeks, but following my last post, I spent the weekend nannying 'my precious little family' of 4 amazing kids for the weekend, ages 8 - 22 months...that included loading them up and taking them to a music rehearsal with me, playing at the Kroc, and living life with them while trying to direct Esther (back home) via phone how to deliver Katydid's malpresenting goat kid!! It was amazing and crazy, but all's well that ends well!

This week also, I had the opportunity to babysit some other friends of mine (6 kids this time - 13 - 1.5) for a day. The thing I love about babysitting/nannying Christian families is that each time I glean new ideas, learn new things, and get to practice my patience, creativity, and love. The question keeps coming to my head, "Do I have the skills, character, and especially selflessness it takes to be a mom?" And I think my answer is, "Yes, by God's grace I shall!"

I've also been busy with my part-time job at my dad's financial firm, Bible Study, spending time with friends (many of whom I have been sorely neglecting in the last few months), spending time with my Jesus, working on the ranch, correcting and sewing a ewe up with a prolapsed uterus, and many other various activities...

One of which, I want to specifically highlight today.... Yesterday, I had the opportunity to volunteer as a 'victim' for the Coeur d'Alene Disaster Drill, which was a 2-day drill done with Kootenai Health practicing how the Medical system would work if say, there was a blizzard and roofs started caving in causing multiple injuries... How would triage work? How would Incident Command be set up, and would it work smoothly with the City Departments, citizens, hospitals, and Emergency Personnel?

Everyone agreed it went much smoother than last year's drill, though a few kinks are still being worked out.

Corn Syrup and Red Food dye makes excellent blood (however, it doesn't dry fast!) :)

It all started when Selah asked me to volunteer with her (as her Nurse grandma had asked her to help)... I *of course* said yes!! :) Medical anything--especially with the ER is AWESOME! This is my life! Arriving at 6:15am, we signed in and got all 'moulaged' for our parts. I was asked to act as a 'hysterical' 32 week pregnant, 20 y/o female, who hearing the ceiling cracking started running from the building, but fell on the ice and had a occipital laceration, broken wrist, hip and lower leg bruising and injuries, and was in possible premature labor. :)

Saran wrap makes an excellent wrap for holding your "baby" in and keeping shape

Grandma S., Selah, and I (baking soda makes great sheet rock dust)

 Grandma S. had a C-Spine injury causing paralysis from her waist down and minor contusions, and Selah had a fractured pelvis among other things.

I think the baby is wanting to come.... :)

Charcoal makes nice bruising, along with liquid foundation and red spray paint as needed.

I guess they picked the right person, as I had a whole bunch of people come up asking when I was due, if it was a boy or girl, and if it was my first... Some thought it was awesome that they were able to find a pregnant woman to fill a role! Goodness....it was so funny!

After we finished the drill and debrief, Selah and I met up with Luke (my dear cousin, and Selah's hubby ;D), and went out for coffee....well, actually, we walked...as we were... Oh the looks were priceless!!! I still looked all pregnant too...crazy, I know! You should have seen the faces when we walked into the coffee shop! It was priceless....and we acted completely oblivious. Of course we told those who asked. :)

One of these days, maybe this will be my reality... :)

I shall blog more as time allows...
Looking Forward, we are leaving for Texas to see the Grand Canyon and ultimately for a homeschool conference next week, where I will be teaching young women-ages 12-15 for the week. After that, one of my big priorities is working to downsize our alpaca herd and organizing my life, so if you don't hear from me much, just know that I'm busy working, serving, or something like that. :)

"As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

~ Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 ~

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ~

Autumn Happenings

Where to start...

Well, in September, Esther and I got another milk goat, bred for a February kidding (joining Esther's from last year). David and I sold our incredible herd of goats back in 2010, when God called me to go serve Him in the Philippines... It feels a little odd to be getting my fingers back in that pot again, but it is SO good too!!! We've had cows and cow's milk for a while now, but there is NO comparison in my mind between the two... Goat's milk rules (that is, Nubian milk does).. and, of course I look forward to the multiple kiddings in February and March!! :)

Esther with Katydid and I with Niña

Daniel, Rachel, David, and Samuel all worked with In The Gap in Oklahoma City for 6 weeks during September and October, teaching character in the schools to Middle Schoolers, and conducting after-school Bible clubs. They learned so much and came back with a passion to do the same here in Coeur d' Alene. All of them ran/run with Cd'A Charter Academy during high school, and so they are working towards establishing open lines for discipleship there. Pray that God would throw the doors wide open at Charter!! 

My gorgeous siblings...

I should add that each came back encouraging all young adults to go serve there for a while..it will be well worth it!! Not only for those you work with, but also for yourself!

Samuel (far right) and friends--portrayed as the "Prophets of Baal" for a skit

Left at home, we girls didn't realize how much we have relied on our brothers, and Mama would even go so far to say that we went into a depression with them gone..and, we would have to agree... It is definitely a much more wonderful place with all of them (especially Rachel) home!! {and louder too!} hehe

Meanwhile, relatives from Ohio came over, and we all went on a rendezvous to Whitefish, Montana for the weekend!! That was awesome.. I have always loved heights, and so was excited about zip lining their 7-zip course....incredible scenery!! They sent 2 people at a time, and so you could kinda race each other.... Hehe...of course, since I'm not competitive, I can go as fast as I want... ;D

Mama and James didn't go, as James didn't weigh enough..as it was, the younger ones almost had to hand-haul themselves a couple times.

L to R: Paula, Esther, Sarah, Dan, Oma, Grampaw, Gary, Josiah, Rebekah

One of our highlights was having Oma and Grampaw join us for the ziplining...talk about memories!!

Oma found her new favorite adventure-hobby! :D

One of my favorite parts was landing--that red thing stopped us with a really loud noise as it hit the springs... I enjoyed it so much, I guess I made the record of how scrunched the springs got that day... =D

I made a friend, who just happened to be on our tour..she is a Christian too, and participated with her hubby in the Marathon the next day... Best yet, she has ran in almost all of the US States, and is pregnant to boot!! I want to be like that..

Then there was their ropes course... Though I am fascinated by heights, I was grateful for the double carabineer attaché we had, because as at places, you could be 50 feet above the ground! They had 5 courses with varying difficulty from yellow, green, blue, and black (like ski trails). I did great until I got to the blue, and then my "fun-sizeness" almost got the best of me a few times... Whew.. Suspended bridges, cable walk ways, nets/ladders, trapezes, tube traverses, zip lines, barrels, triangles (that was one of the worst)... There were times the only way I got across was through prayer...talk about adrenaline!

A green course, with the Blue course hanging over head.

Late September was busy for us, with my cousin Ben and Katie's marriage, as well as my childhood best friend-Selah's engagement to my other cousin Luke for a January wedding... Talk about exciting!! It has been such an encouragement to see my cousins seek to glorify God in their relationships..

This Fall, Samuel and Rebekah (and David, though he ended up opting out for In the Gap) ran Cross Country with Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (talk about being a taxi-sister!) ;D. This last weekend, both ended up at the State Competition in Idaho Falls, where Samuel's team placed 2nd, he placed 3rd in the team (18:13), and 17th of 127 overall, and one of his team won 1st place!

Rebekah's team got 5th place, and she placed 4th in the team (23:30), and 44th of 94 overall.

We are SO blessed to have our dad as our life coach--for everything!! I don't know what I would do without him (and neither would anyone else..) I love you Papa!!

Gotta love the girls' tie-die uniforms!! :)

Our teams were at an incredible disadvantage, as Idaho Falls is 5,000 feet above our regular elevation. They did incredible anyway though.What was memorable though, was that the 1st place girls' team: Soda Springs got a perfect score of 15, with all 7 competitors placing in the top 20, and taking the first 5 places!! Wow...

I've been keeping really busy....besides ranch work and home life, I'm continued participating in the women's Bible study led by my friend Katie. We're currently going through Francis Chan's 'Forgotten God', which has been inspiring and life changing. I'm also doing a Bible study with a friend of mine, going through Elizabeth George's ' Beautiful In God's Eyes' : a study on the Proverbs 31 woman. I am immensely enjoying that book..it is refreshing realizing that by God's grace, I can imitate her, but it starts in the heart and at home..old habits die hard!!

I'm continuing my midwifery certificate studies, and still get medical work in at times.. I do in-home care a couple times a month, and am a nanny weekly to this precious family of 4 kids under 7. I've nannied them as the need arose between Philippine trips for the past couple years, and have learned SO much from them...

What is so special about this family, is that they mimic what my family (if God so wills) could look like. Though I want however many children that God would give me, I have always wished for a 2-3 boys before my first girl, because then by the time my daughter needs a "man" in her life, hopefully at least one of her brothers would be mature enough.. (Not that my hubby wouldn't be that...but he'll be mine, and I am so grateful for my older brother, who takes my arm and helps lead my heart...) =D

Mama always told me I would have a girl just like me, and this little girl is just that way.. Which is great, because I understand where she's coming from!! I'm so glad for the Training Book God has given us--for each one of the children we have--and for the grace He freely bestows on those who ask for it!!

That is something I've been learning a lot of.. We always have a choice--even when given the grace, or the way to escape from temptation, we have a choice to accept that grace or the escape!!

Preparations for the Belize trip also takes time, and I am most enjoying my job as Treasurer--I can't describe the blessing it is to see funds come in first hand..The gal that helps me can't help but laugh as sometimes I get almost 'giddy'..who wouldn't when you get to witness first hand the generosity of others??

I'm also taking a book keeping/accounting course, and am enjoying it, despite the difficulty in understanding how it all goes together--praise God for common sense!! (Of which I'm short on sometimes.. ;p)

God is so good, and I am so thankful for all those He has placed in my life to both encourage and be encouraged by. To God be the Glory!!

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

~ John 14:27 ~

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever.

~ Psalms 30:11 ~