Happy Fathers Day!!!

Today we want to thank our Daddy for his godly example, and all the ways he shows us he loves us.
My Daddy is a godly man. He loves God first of all, and lives his life following the Lord. He has passed down a passion for the Lord to us children. He guides each of us children to follow the Lord.
Daddy is a man of integrity, he stands for truth, and he is dedicated to the Lord and to his family. He life is a shining testimony to those around him.
Thank-you Daddy. For loving us, for training us, for inspiring us. For teaching us and playing with us. For the hours you have spent reading the Bible to us, helping us memorize the scripture and helping us grow closer in our walks with the Lord. Thank-you for the countless hours you have spent praying for us. When we were scared, when we were sick or hurting, when we were struggling. You have invested your life in us. You have sacrificed so many things for us.
You are the Best and Most Loving Daddy in all the world. There is no other Father like you, and there will never be another one like you. Thank-you!!
We Love You Daddy!!!
Seth, Esther, Noah, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Moses, Micah, Charity, Phoebe and Silas.
"Children's children are the crown of old men:
and the glory of children are their fathers."
Provers 17:6

The Lord is GOOD!!!

On Wednesday night, Seth was in a bad wreck. God spared his life, and he walked away from the accident with no injuries!!!!
He was running a errand for his boss, and driving his boss's little truck. Three of his co-workers were leaving work and they had a near head-on collision. Seth was going about 30-40 and the other truck was going 50-60. The other driver was goofing off and drove in Seth's lane. Seth didn't realize that he wasn't going to get out of his lane until too late. He tried to swerve into the other lane, but his wheels wouldn't turn (there are huge skid marks on the road, so he thinks he unconciously slammed on the brakes). The other driver swerved in the ditch on Seth's side of the road but the rear end of his truck smashed into the front of the truck Seth was driving. The impact was so severe that it took the axel off of the other guys truck.
Seth was stopped in the road from the impact, but the other guy drove through the ditch, hit a culvert and flipped. The truck slid a few feet and then flipped right-side up again. None of the three guys were wearing seat-belts and they all got pretty slammed up. Seth was wearing his seatbelt which kept him firmly in his seat without him hitting his head or going through the windshield.
One of the other guys went to the hospital, but the other two, besides scratched and bruised were okay. After the accident, Seth was able to share with some of the un-saved guys on his crew about how fast it all happened. He had a neat time to help them see how they can't wait until the last moment to make things right with God.
Seth said that from when the other guy entered his lane, until the wreck was over, was probably about 5 seconds total. We are So grateful to the Lord for sparing Seth. A few seconds difference, and he could have been killed from the collision.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Micah had been prompted to pray for Seth, that he would be safe. The Lord surely hears our prayers!!! Seth's safety is proof of that!!!

"In the fear of the Lord is a strong confidence:
and his children shall have a place of refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Proverbs 14:26 and 27

The Visit-Part 1!

 

The Visit- Part 2!

Usually, when we have guests, schedules get a little jumbled up. You know how it goes- bedtime slips later and in the morning, the alarm clock is shoved out of sight (or sound!)! This visit was a exception. It was decided that anyone who wished, would make a fishing expedition at first light, and hopefully, the fish would bite!!!! So they set their alarms for 5:00!!!! A few of us were left behind to do chicken chores, make breakfast and get other things ready for the day (and maybe get a little more sleep!!)!!
It was a beautiful morning!!!!

Mauri's not sure if she really likes this thing called fishing!


Way-to-go, Parker!!!


Joshua's fish!!!!


Around nine, the hungry fishermen and fisher-ladies, returned home for breakfast- Mommy and Aunt Judy made egg casserole, and Esther made cinnamon rolls (she and Seth got home late Saturday night). After breakfast, we all gathered in the living room for worship. It was a special time, reading the scripture, singing, and praising our Awesome God together!!!! 

The Visit-Part 3!

For lunch, we joined a group in Bern, helping to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Uncle Leroy and Aunt Jane Kaster. There was a lot of extended family there, and we enjoyed visiting with them over the meal.
Andrew and Rebecca had followed Seth and Esther home Saturday night, but since we had a full house, they stayed with Scott and Lydia. Both couples joined us at lunch.


Aunt Karen and Rebecca!


Justice likes his thumb!!


What are these two scheming now??


Moses and Parker really enjoying the huge trees next door!! :) 

The Visit- Part 4!

As evening came, it was time to hurry home and help prepare for our evening cookout. Because our visit with all the extended family had been so brief over lunch, we invited them all out to the farm for supper. It was great to host them all and be able to have longer conversations with them all!!!
Supper Ready Yet???


Some-one said something interesting!!


Supper Tastes Good!!!

The Visit; Part 5!

Monday morning, they began packing up and preparing to leave the farm. None of us were happy to see them go!!! We took a few last pictures of them on the farm.

The Fernandes! (Hope to see you next time, Uncle Mitch!!!)


The Ulmers!


Dad and Uncle Bernard talk while they walk!

The Visit- Part 6!

Some random photos of everyone.

The Aunts!


Silas was very fond of Joshua!


The four boys had a blast together!!!!! (this is my personal favorite picture from the entire visit!! :)


Quite a handful you've got, Mauri!!!!

Cute Quotes..

Ink Issues.
Upon Rebecca's recent visit, seeing Silas's natural blond hair in contrast to the rest of us dark-headed children she exclaimed, "Wow! Mom and Dad are really running out of ink!!!" :)
TLC.
Tender-Loving-Care---that may be what you would call Micahs treatment of the cats. He ran in and excitedly told us how he had just given his prized bluegill to the cats and their kittens. He added that he served it 'breaded'- rolled in dog food!!! :)

In Loving Memory.

"For every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die........."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 Raymond Douglass Easton - "Red"
October 14th, 1920 - May 27th, 2006


On Saturday, we lost our Grandpa (Dad's step-dad). He was a very special person to us all, and his death has been a hard blow. His health has been decreasing over the past few years, struggles with cancer and diabetes all have taken their toll on him. After having a knee replaced in 2002, he became mostly immobile, and things have gone down-hill from there.
In the past 6 months it seems like his health had become worse and worse. On Tuesday last week, he was admitted to the hospital for breathing problems. He stayed in the hospital until Friday night, when he went home with oxygen. Saturday afternoon, he became restless and shortly after 2:00, he passed away. He went quickly, with no long or drawn out pain.
Uncle George and Aunt Nancy (Grandma's brother + sister-in-law) were up for the week-end, so were able to be with Grandma. It was such a blessing, and deffinetely God's hand that had them there. Grandma could have been alone, and suffered from the tremendous list of "what ifs", but with Uncle George & Aunt Nancy there, they were able to give CPR, and do everything possible.
Grandpa was home for his last night, which is exactly what he wanted. He didn't like being in the hospital. His 4 children, Doug (Kansas), Victoria (California), Steve (Colorado), and Barbara (Nebraska) had all been to see him just a week and 1/2 before.
The Lord has truly been our strength this week-end. We had been planning and preparing for weeks for this week-end, with a schedule packed so tight you would not believe it! And everything was going to get set into motions at 2:00, Saturday afternoon. So exactly as our company arrived, we got the phone call saying that Grandpa was gone. What a blow!!!
The Lord gave us such grace and strength. Andrew and Rebecca had planned to come up Sunday and Monday, and were able to stay for the funeral this morning.
We will miss Grandpa. The birthday cakes, the card games, the hugs, the deer hunts, the tractor rides and the moments when he would read to Silas or Phoebe. Grandpa was a one-of-a-kind man, He has left a lot of memories that we can cherish.
Please hold our family up in prayer as we grieve the loss of Grandpa. Also pray that we can be there for Grandma when she needs us.
(Note; Please pray especially for Esther, for it has been hardest on her.) 

Happy Birthday Uncle Drew!!!

Happy Birthday-Uncle Drew (and Catie)!!!
We love you!!!!!! :)

To view your birthday video; see link below!
http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=C5756A4F6F26F35A

Reflections from the Star!

We are all so happy for our Elizabeth. The past couple of months she has discovered how well she can't see. In the past she would comment how she couldn't see a sign or a pictures from afar. Dad and Mom decided it best to have her eyes checked and they revealed her need for glasses. She got her glasses ordered last week.
We all think they look great on her!! They make her look just as cute as always!!! We think that they look like she has always worn them; don't you agree??
Even though Elizabeth never says anything about her self here on our blog, I thought it would be great if I took a couple moments to say a few things about her to you all. She is such a blessing to our family. Even though you never see pictures of her on the blog of butchering chickens, in the mud or having fun, she is always there working faithfully right along side us. Thank-you Elizabeth for your sweet spirit in our home!!
For My Dearest Friend and Sister,
I Love You!
The Star*

Sister and Best Friend- both words mean you!!

*Other wise known as Esther. 

Friends......

These past two days we were blessed by a visit from our friends, the Sarensens. Although Mr. Sarensen could not be with us, we enjoyed fellowshipping with Mrs. Sarensen and the girls.
It is such a blessing to have such wonderful friends!!! Come Again!!! :)
Some shots from the visit;
Mrs. Sarensen and Mom take a break after a busy morning!


Bryant and Silas!!!


Micah-Noel delighting us with some piano music!!! 

Home Construction Projects.

This week-end Dad has been working on getting the feed shed tight so that we can start getting chicken grain in bulk. It is cheaper (and also they deliver it!) to get it in 3 or 4 tons then to get a couple of feed sacks. The delivery truck will come tomorrow, so Dad is closing up all entrances to the feed shed and making a hole in the roof so that the feed chute can pour grain through the top. Dad peeking through his hole in the roof.


A hole in your roof is usually not a good thing, except in our case! :)


A shot from inside, Dad sitting on a crate suspended on two rafters while he saws away on the opening. 

Butchering Season Has Begun!!!

This past week we officially launched into our butchering season. Our first chicks were big enough to be dressed, so we cleared the schedule, and tacked down the first day of butchering on Thursday, May 18th.
The first batch of chicks were sickly from day 1, and only got worse as they got older. About 30 of the original 120 chicks we ordered died within the first 24 hours.......and another 30 didn't make it to the butchering table, but dropped off one by one every other day or so. This was something that had never happened to us in 10+ years of raising broilers! The broilers always had plenty of water and feed and warmth and didn't suffer from heat exhaustion. We contacted the hatchery after the initial loss and they were very agreeable and refunded us for most of the ones that died.
Anyway, the survivors of that first batch were rounded up and penned up bright and early Thursday morning and we headed up the butchering chores at 10:00.
The year didn't exactly get off to a terrific start, while removing the head from the second chicken, Moses cut his hand-not badly, but enough to keep him from using his hand for the rest of the day-. We missed his help!!
But other then that, the first day went well, although we were all a little rusty from not butchering for 7 months! :) We had a little bit of trouble with the water temperature, which resulted in some skin tearing on a few birds.
Below are some pictures from the day.



The chickens waiting to be butchered.


Tabitha is our head plucker!


Esther does a fantastic job gutting the birds.


Noah kills the birds, scalds them, helps pluck and fills in where needed!!!