Trip 2011: Visiting Family

Family photo

We had a wonderful visit with mom's side of the family on our first day in South Carolina. The weather behaved beautifully while we were there and we made many fun memories together.

Valentine tulips

Mama and her pump organ

Happy birthday Samuel....

Cousin Leah showing Rachael her scrap-booking projects

It was wonderful to see Melanie, Tyler, and Leah again! Leah has grown so much since we last visited and is so sweet.  We had a great time!

Leah's fort in the woods

Cousins

This company made special Valentines  just for Bryant Family Farm!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner and had a great time talking afterwards

Trip 2011: Friends and Fellowship

Sarah met Sarah Ann E. several years ago through their ministries for young ladies. Sarah Ann publishes an e-magazine called Ladies in Waiting, and they have enjoyed corresponding. Earlier this year we made contact and found that her family lives in SC, so the E. family invited us to attend their church while we were in town. We enjoyed meeting in person, and were blessed by the church service and encouraging sermon. The Christian fellowship was wonderful.

Sarah Ann E. and Sarah Lee

Our family also met the Larsen family, who are KBR subscribers, via correspondence, and were excited to hear that some of their family would be in town and attending the same church. We enjoyed meeting them and hope to meet the Larsen ladies next time!

Zachary, Nathan, Mr. Larsen, Jonathan, Mr. Bryant, Samuel

"God is faithful, 

by whom ye were called unto the fellowship 

of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

(1 Corinthians 1:9)

Trip 2011: Samuel's Skating Adventure

Each year, Samuel's birthday falls during our annual family vacation. Thus, we celebrate for several days. Before we travel, we have his special birthday meal, and of course, we have to celebrate as we travel. One year we found that having a birthday balloon in the van while traveling cross-country was not the safest idea, so we decided to stick with having a Happy Birthday banner and decorating our motel room. 

This year he wanted to go ice skating for his 10th birthday.  Dad and mom surprised him by planning a special birthday ice skating time as we traveled through St. Louis. The outdoor rink we visited is one of the nation's largest ice skating rinks. Samuel said he had a blast, and so did everyone else!

We are slowly but surely learning how to ice skate. Nevertheless, we all have quite a few bruises when we're done - but it doesn't seem to diminish our fun!

Samuel is very creative with his lego projects:
After ice skating, he built a Zamboni and ice skating rink! 

Trip 2011: On the Road

The children had many things to keep them occupied as the miles slipped away. Jonathan is our semi-truck counter now that Sarah retired from that pastime. He came to a grand total of 27,591 - by far beating the family record of 18,000. Congratulations!

Off we go!

The pretty mountains of Tennessee

Computer work 

Letter-writing and journaling

Sharing a pillow for a nap

Mom with all her smoothie ingredients

At the motel one morning, we met this sweet couple at breakfast. They are missionaries to Australia, and shared about their church-planting work among Christians there. Currently they are on leave visiting sponsoring churches in the United States, thus we ran into them en route. God bless you and may you have safe travels!

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: 
and he delighteth in his way."
(Psalm 37:23)

Trip 2011: Packin Up, Headin Out

The month of February brings the Bryant Family vacation time! Each year we try to get away as a family for about a week before the goats kid and spring busyness begins. After much discussion this winter, we decided to head east to visit extended family in South Carolina, and then to see Brandon, who just moved to Georgia. 

So the frantic preparation began - sewing new clothing, cooking lots of lunches to enjoy on the road, reserving motel reservations, getting the farm settled down for friends to care for in our absence...and all the other million tasks that must be tackled!

Kitty boxes

Finally the day arrived when it was time to leave. It was time to pack the van.

The essentials: legos

More legos

To say we were "packed" is an understatement: but everything fit, somehow

Dad bought Mom some pretty roses

Finally - we were all packed and in the van in one piece

Stay tuned - the fun has only begun, and more pictures to come!

Can You Guess?

Can you guess what this picture is?

Hint: See past guessing games on Bryant Family Farm blog!

Stocking on up Hay

Last weekend we had to buy some more hay for our cattle, and the men hauled it home from a neighboring farm.

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: 

that he may bring forth food out of the earth."

(Psalm 104:14)

Samuel

Happy 10th birthday, Samuel!

Thank you for being such a cheerful addition to our home. 

We love you and home you have a blessed new year ahead.

"The child Samuel grew on,

 and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men."

(1 Samuel 2:26)

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them:

 for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee."

(Deuteronomy 31:6)

Are You Studying?

"Take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law...

to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways,

 and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, 

and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

(Joshua 22:5)

Bread and Tortilla Creations

Last week Rachael and Sarah made homemade wheat tortillas and whole wheat bread to place in the freezer for future meals.

We love to have Rachael's tortillas for weekday lunches

We made whole wheat bread in batches of six loaves

Ready for the oven