Thankful for Freedom!

We hope you had a wonderful Independence day with your family. The Declaration of Independence was signed by fifty-six men 238 years ago. They, along with countless others, risked their lives to establish freedom in the United States of America, and this document still stands as the core foundation of our country. We were grateful to gather with friends on the Fourth of July, and remember this heritage we have been given as a nation.

Fellowship meal

Jonathan and his friend John enjoy mechanical work, and for the past several weeks,
they each have been making a racing mower to race on the Fourth of July.
Here they introduce each other's creations to one another and wonder whose will win the race...

Heading to the track

And they're off! Both did a great job creating their mowers. Jonathan's won for speed.

A beautiful Fourth of July bouquet

Enjoying a fireworks display

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
{Psalm 33:12}

Samuel's Birthday

Happy 13th birthday, 

Samuel!

Samuel is our only child that was born on the farm. He's a true farmer at heart!
Here he is helping with chicken butchering.

Samuel, Happy birthday! I hope that your day was a wonderful one! Thank you for helping out around the house. It is hard to believe that you are already 13 years old! Keep seeking the Lord. I love you! ~Rachael

A miniature goat kid

Happy Birthday. Thank you for helping me with all the farm work. Thank you for being a good brother. Have a fine day!!! Jonathan

Enjoying summer watermelons to the last drop!

Happy Birthday Samuel!
I hope you have a wonderful day and a very blessed year. Keep up the good work!
I love you,
Nathan

Samuel is our egg collector and washer

Happy birthday, Samuel! I can't believe how fast these twelve years have flown by and look forward to what God has in store for you! Thank you for all the laughter you add to our family. You are a very creative and smart mechanic and I enjoyed our John Deere tractor ride yesterday! I love you -Sarah

Samuel is a hard worker...who takes breaks as needed. He cares for our calves each spring.

Happy 13th Birthday Samuel!! I am so thankful for you and I am so grateful you are our son. Thank you for all your hard work around our home and for your willingness to help with any project we are working on. I pray you will remain diligent to seek after the Lord and follow His ways all the days of your life! -Mom

Samuel's first visit to the ocean

Samuel - Thank you for being a godly young man. Your diligent hard work is a good example to all. I am very proud of you. Happy Birthday - I love you ~ Daddy ~

Some of Samuel's more humorous moments... 

Samuel can make the most incredible Lego creations -
This is one of his highly-complex combine tractors with a turning reel and tracks

"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge."

{Proverbs 5:1-2}

Christmas Blessings...

...from our family to yours! What a joy it is to set aside this day to ponder the incarnation of the Son of God...Who came to earth to live a perfect, sinless life, fulfill the Law and the prophets, and then shed His own blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Certainly this is reason to rejoice and to give "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14)!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

 and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 

The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

(Isaiah 9:6)

"And we know that the Son of God is come, 

and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, 

and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. 

This is the true God, and eternal life." 

(I John 5:20)

Happy 22nd Birthday Sarah!

Happy Birthday Sarah! 

We are thankful for you...

Happy Birthday! Thank you for helping us with our school.
Thank you for challenging us to memorize Scriptures. ~Jonathan

Sarah, Happy Birthday, I hope you have a blessed day, thank you for encouraging
us in our scripture memorization and with school. -Nathan 

Sarah, Happy Birthday!
Thank you for being a wonderful daughter - you are a true blessing to our family - I am very proud of you.
I love you, Daddy

Happy Birthday! Thank you for being a good sister. Samuel

Happy Birthday, Sarah!!  I pray your upcoming year will be full of grace and growth in our Lord Jesus Christ! There are  many things to thank you for and to be thankful for concerning your life. I am eternally grateful for your commitment to your Lord and Savior, for your diligence to learn and grow in Him, to seek Him daily and to truly strive to live for Him, and to allow Him to work in your life. Thank you for all you contribute to each of us individually and as a family, physically and spiritually. Your input, presence and encouragement as an older daughter is invaluable to us all. You truly are a corner stone in our  home.  Thank you for your faithfulness, Sarah! -Mom

                                         

Sarah, happy birthday! Thank you for all you do for us! Thank you for encouraging me and all the others that you encourage through your ministry. You are my favorite (and only) big sister. I hope that your day is filled with joy! I love you.~Rachael

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

 but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." 

(Proverbs 31:30)

Posted by Rachael

Happy Thanksgiving!

...from our family to yours!

"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: 

and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD."
{Psalm 117:1-2}

Happy Anniversary...

Happy Anniversary!!!

We love you, Mom and Dad! 

We love you so much!

~Sarah, Nathan, Jonathan, Rachael, and Samuel

"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: 
thou hast established the earth, and it abideth."
{Psalm 119:90}

Thank you, Veterans

Veteran's Day. 

We are thankful for those who have sacrificed so much for the freedom of our country. 

Thank you for your dedication, toil, sacrifice.

Thank you, Dad, for your many years serving our country.

Thank you, Brandon, for serving our nation.

God Bless America, 

Land that I love. 

Watching the Veteran's Day parade

Stand beside her, and guide her 

Thru the night with a light from above. 

From the mountains, to the prairies, 

To the oceans, white with foam 

God bless America, 
My home sweet home.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; 

and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

{Psalm 33:12}

A Surprise Visit from Alaska

Last week, we had visitors! 

My dear friend, Sharia, had arranged with my parents, to come for a surprise visit, along with her younger two sisters and youngest son. This is no small trip...for they live in Alaska! They flew in, and Rachael and I were so excited to see them when they arrived at our front door. I am so humbled by the sacrifice and thoughtfulness of their visit. It was a dream come true to be able to spend several days together.

What a special blessing to fellowship again in person!

Maryanna, Sarah, Rachael, and Lydia

During their stay, we went shopping for material to make matching skirts

Trying on stylish hats...

Sewing together provided time for many fun conversations and memories

After about eight hours of sewing together, the matching skirts were complete...

We had a tea party and celebrated Lydia's and Sharia's upcoming birthdays

We played several rounds of Capture the Flag together, to continue the tradition

The winning teams

Our time together ended all too soon...on the way to the airport, we played the "Who am I" sticker game

Thank you so much for your visit! Your friendship is a blessing.

"The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: 

and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."
{Psalm 34:22}

~Sarah, for the