Family Economics Conference - St. Louis

Last week, Generations with Vision hosted a Family Economics and Discipleship Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. With farm responsibilities, we normally cannot travel during our busy production season. However, we knew that there would be much to learn from the speakers, so we decided that some of us would go to the conference while the men filled in for us back at the farm. We appreciate Dad and Nathan's hard work to keep the farm running smoothly and pick up our many chores while we were away. 

Kevin Swanson's talks were very inspiring, as always

Audience response/surveys

Joel Salatin was a speaker, and it was great to hear him speak and meet him

Our farmers with Joel Salatin

Profiles on Family Economies 

Winton brothers music

Listening to the Young Entrepreneurs Panel

Liberty Day Celebration

We were also blessed by fellowship with new and old friends at the conference

It was a fun surprise to meet the Moberg family, KBR subscribers

We enjoyed seeing the Serven Family again

The Abbot ladies, Rachael with her friend Jennifer, the sweet Juarez ladies,
and Rachael with the Levi maidens

Our children have learned a lot from the Navigating History Egypt
series, and enjoyed meeting David Noor, who was part of the history team

We were blessed by a time of fellowship with the Ward family - thank you so much!

Sarah was excited to meet Kelly Riddell in person

Breezy and Emily Rose Brookshire are such sweet young
ladies who glorify the Lord with their artistic talents 

Rachael with Emily and Bethany Swanson

Sarah with Elizabeth Botkin

Thank you Dad and Nathan for all your hard work back at the farm!

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, 

and look well to thy herds."
{Proverbs 27:23}

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a hand-made swing that was given to Mom fifteen years ago on
Mother's Day in Korea. Today, Dad hung it up on our new porch.
 It continues to be a "Mother's Day gift"!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
We love you and are so grateful for your daily sacrifices, work, time, and love!

~Sarah, Nathan, Jonathan, Rachael and Samuel

"Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come."

{Proverbs 31:25}

Family Economies

We are looking forward to attending the Family Economics Conference (hosted by Generations with Vision) this week in St. Louis. See you there.

New Farm Babies

Nathan's sow had a litter of piglets last week

They are so tiny and cute...but not for long

Broiler chicks are growing fast

We have two litters of kittens as well, which are looking for new homes

Cats in a pan

The kittens explored the Ford tractor

Belle's calf, Nelle

Samuel was out romping with Nelle one afternoon and decided to take a cowboy nap -
 it's hard work being a cowboy! 

"Like as a father pitieth his children,
 so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame;
he remembereth that we are dust.
Bless the LORD,
 all his works in all places of his dominion:
bless the LORD, O my soul."
{from Psalm 103}

Spring Planting Projects

Jonathan headed up our spring potato planting party this week.
We are thankful for the rains we have been having,
which has made the soil moist and ready for planting.
We look forward to this year's garden harvest!

Samuel mattocking new rows

Covering the potato poonies

The garlic that we planted last fall is growing well

...and so is Nathan's alfalfa/oat field

Sprouts in the field

Spring flowers

Kansas weather is interesting - yesterday, we had beautiful spring weather,
and today - snow on the ground again. We look forward to spring settling in.

"Truth shall spring out of the earth;
and righteousness shall look down from heaven."
{Psalm 85:11}

Spring Kids

This spring, we had fifteen goat kids

Rachael bottle feeds the goat kid herd twice a day

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, 

and look well to thy herds."

{Proverbs 27:23}

Happy Birthday Rachael

Happy 14th birthday, dear Rachael!!

You are a blessing to us all! 

You were born in Seoul, Korea, early one Easter morn, 

and what a blessing it was to us, since your name means little lamb of God. 

We appreciate your willing spirit to do whatever is needed; thank you!  

You truly have a servant's heart! We are so thankful for your conviction to 

live for our Lord and to do what is right.

You are a joy to our hearts! Happy 14th birthday!

It seems like only yesterday when you were born early one Resurrection morning!

"This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more

 in knowledge and in all judgment;

So many fun memories spent together

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,
which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

{Philippians 1:9-11}

Christ is Risen!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again

 unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

{1 Peter 1:3}

"Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth,
which was crucified:
He is risen; He is not here:
behold the place where they laid him."
{Mark 16:6}

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

{Hebrews 12:2}

Visiting the Steamboat Arabia Museum

One of the paddlewheels of the Arabia

The steamboat Arabia was built in 1853, and sailed down the Missouri river loaded with 220 tons of household goods. It would sell its goods to trade posts along the route north. However, along its river route it hit a tree trunk and sank within minutes.

Several years ago, five men tracked the location of its burial and uncovered its treasures through months of very hard work. They have recovered the items that sank on the Arabia and restored them for display - in a fantastic museum that we enjoyed touring a few weeks ago.

The owners and excavators are frequently at the museum and we enjoyed meeting Mr. David Hawley

The restoration lab is still in daily use as the team continues to restore recovered items 

There were not many highly valuable goods on the Arabia; pictured is the jewelry

This "store" was overflowing with household and kitchen wares that were on the Arabia;
we felt like we were walking back in time to a pioneer trade post