2007
The Popper had a rough start to her year (March) when she fell while dismounting the trampoline and broke her favorite left arm (yes, she's a 'south-paw'). It was complicated with a dislocated elbow, so she spent her 5th birthday evening in OR getting it set and the entire arm in a cast. Fun, fun, fun. She did feel much better when her elbow was in its proper place (it was a couple of miserable days/nights in between).
Our strawberry crop was excellent - the kids picked over 50# in one week! The Cowgirl enjoyed strawberry pie for her birthday :-) She had her first piano recital this year.The Cattleman is having a look at the herd... He enjoyed playing T-ball again.
Miss Artist joined youth group with her entrance to junior high. She and Miss Music Box are playing duets on the piano and with violin & viola :-) They were happy to join Uncle Neil & Aunt Colleen and family for a teen revival conference in Wisconsin.
In August-September we had the adventure of FLYING to New Mexico to visit Tim's brother Neil again. The Professor/Computer Geek had already been up in a small plane, but it was the first time for the rest of them.
You can't really see it well, but the Popper is riding a zip line attached to the van at the top of the hill. They know how to play!
We also borrowed a van to drive over to Arizona for a couple days to see the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Walnut Canyon.
Roy Rogers, look out!
The Computer Geek chose to be baptized this year. He also enjoyed his last season of flag football. The Cowgirl gained eyeglasses after she couldn't read the menu at Culver's.
Here's our Cattleman as Mr. GQ, fresh from the barber and slicked up with Dep. :-)
The Popper was requested to dress as a lamb for the Christmas program ~ she has a white skirt and black gloves and shoes.
And here are our munchkins with all of our stockings very temporarily hanging in front of the fireplace...
Tim & kids built snowmen on the river at Grandma F.'s
My dad makes eggnog with ice cream!Tim's family drinks it warm - I love it both ways! :-)
2008
We made the big decision to buy land nearby... big deal after NO debt for many years.
Here's a whopper of a strawberry from the garden... another good crop!
And at our big garden (at the new property), God blessed us with a massive amount of watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. All very yummy! and the steers enjoyed any leftovers they were given.
Tim also seeded a hayfield, so gathered a good crop of oat straw and hay. And the kids enjoyed taking turns driving the truck when they helped pick up the bales.
The Cattleman joined the piano crowd and had his first recital. Here they are with their wonderful teacher, Mrs. D.
These might be our only pictures of the Computer Geek with glasses... he lost them soon after while playing football in the yard with the Cattleman... then mowed the grass before remembering to look for them... (See why I like to call him the absent-minded professor sometimes?) He also started a weekly paper route & loves having a regular income!
water balloons - a favorite sport around hereMiss Music Box and Miss Artist found employment cleaning the farm office. They traveled with youth group to Salt Lake City this summer to help our missionaries there.
Miss Artist led this craft activity for the VBS in Salt Lake CityIn the fall we took a quick family vacation to Omaha area where we saw an outdoor US Navy museum, the Henry Doorly Zoo, the Strategic Air & Space Museum, and the Union-Pacific Railroad Museum. (can't find any photos)
Artwork by Miss Artist for Sketch Tuesday...
and one by Miss Music Box...
Tim & I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary in November - life together is better than ever!
December 1 I made a costly mistake of not seeing a silver Jeep, pulled out in front of him... and was quickly headed for a steep ditch (between interstate overpass bridge and on-ramp). Initial contact was with the front quarter, then must have swung around to hit him again with the rear quarter.
Lots of snow slowed me down (and God's ever-faithful watchcare), so I didn't go deep into the 'ditch' or roll over. We both 'walked' away from our totaled vehicles. I was thankful for our good chiropractor. He said my joints took it worse since I wasn't prepared for the hit - that's why it's better when your muscles tense. Oh well. I was also very thankful I was alone -no kids rattling around in the accident with me. 
And, our God is SO GOOD! The insurance check paid for this well-maintained Suburban! (which would have cost much more in previous cheap-gas years ;-)) Tim is happier driving this - and we are all happy with more room.
2009
Miss Artist suggested the name for new place: Sandy Creek Farm (we have a creek, and the ground is mostly sandy = seemed like good choice).
It became official when Tim bought some registered Angus heifers to start a new herd (we still love Jerseys best, but we're not ready for milking any yet!)
Tim also decided it was time to build a house! Soooo, I became consumed with house plans. Picture me more than a little bug-eyed. Trying to draw our own version on multiple pages of graph paper... ack. You would not believe how many scans I have in my computer, or pages I had in a paper folder... they went in the fireplace a while back. Here's sort of what we began from...
Meanwhile life has to go on...
Such as 4th of July fun with sparklers.
13th birthday for our Computer Geek (who has used his paper route money to outfit himself with a nice laptop and various accessories).
playing at the park with Miss A, my niece's little girlTomatoes = salsa at our house. Three batches this year. Yum. Enough to share with my brothers and nieces and nephews for Christmas.
Tom Turkey fulfills his God-given purpose in life... feeding us...
And this is pretty much what the new house looks like today (plus a LOT more snow). They did finally pour the upper walls on December 17. Tim took delivery of roof rafters this week... maybe they'll go up next week?? It will be nice when Tim doesn't have to shovel snow from inside the house...
Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain who build it...
Psalm 127:1
I want this physical house, as well as our lives, to be used to glorify God. So I must be content with His timing and methods as He uses it in molding us to be more like Christ.
they labour in vain who build it...
Psalm 127:1
I want this physical house, as well as our lives, to be used to glorify God. So I must be content with His timing and methods as He uses it in molding us to be more like Christ.
What a project... I didn't put as much thought into these last years, sorry. But I need to move on - time to BE with my family! Blessings to you all this New Year!
