Snatches of July

Once again life got in the way of my blogging. So here I sit on my deck catching up.

We have a retaining wall on the side of our house. Below that is the sandbox and kids area. I have always been rather afraid that someone will drive the little tractor or car off that wall. We had an abundance of old metal wheels from a salvage we did at an old farm. So I asked Bryan if he could weld me a "fence" or railing of sorts to go across there. This is what he did for me! I love it. You would need a bulldozer to drive off that wall now. 

On July 8 I left on Esprit tour. It was an amazing week with a lot of amazing kids.

This picture was taken in the Broken Bow Berean Church. Our first church out of seminary. 

We went down to Colorado and sang at Camp IdRaHaJe. Some of the boys went on a little hike and came back with this wildflower boquet for me. And people wonder why I work with teenagers! 

We had a work project at the camp and all 82 of us stained 8 buildings and painted one corral fence.

This doe was right across the road from the field where the concert tent was set up. She just wandered around over there and ate and rested. Then during the concert just as the kids began to sing "Be Thou My Vision" her ears pricked up, she stood up and very deliberately walked to within 10 feet of entering the tent. She stood there and listened the entire song then wandered off. It reminded me that even the hills and nature will worship their creator. It was a very moving thing to witness.

These are just a few of the children on the bus...and people wonder why I work with teenagers!

I got home Sunday, July 13. Then Monday evening Jayme, Trey and his little girl, Poppy came out for supper. 

Jayme and Trey shot pellets at targets while Poppy and I played in the playhouse and sandbox. She ate her weight in sand...

I had told you about powerwashing the deck. Well it had dried throughly and it was time to think about painting it. The product we used was going on sale on Friday, July 18. So bright and early that Friday I headed into town to get 6 cans.

Before painting but after power washing...

I mean just that little corner made me excited. 

Getting even more exciting...

On Sunday, July 20 all of Travis' family, our family and Trey had a cookout here at our house. It was a nice time for us all to get to know each other. They all left before I took any pictures. Sad. Travis had gotten out the bow and arrows and the pellet gun. We all took a turn.

I think Trey is trying to teach here...he's a bit of an expert.

Ashley and Jayme were so dressy!! Fancy shooting costumes. You probably can't see me there in my camo...

At this point Trey was shooting at the same target so at least if she missed the pellet hitting it made it sound like she had hit it. 

As we were putting things away we got into the dress up box and put on the Avenger masks. 

Monday, July 21 and time to paint the underside. I had completed the top and Bryan jumped in to help me do the underside. Thank goodness!! What a back breaker!!

But here it is all done and looking completely different! I love it so much. 

Bryan found these two chairs on the side of the road discarded. He brought them home, cleaned them up, repainted them, replaced the wood slats and there they are like brand new! I love the rocker.

Tuesday, July 22 Bryan headed to Colorado for convention. I went to Amiah's last softball game then spur of the moment brought the kids out here with me to spend a couple days since it was a last time before school will start.

Amiah and I made red velvet waffles with cream cheese topping. They weren't good at all...hahaha

Always busy in the sand box.

I saw that the 3 robin eggs had hatched.

We swam

played dress up

And this kid woke up at 2 a.m. hungry for oatmeal and tomatoes...he chatted until 5...I was tired.

My gladiolus have come up through the crib just like I wanted. No need to stake them since the crib holds them up. 

As always these two are on the job guarding the house. They weren't too sure about the white deck at first.

Friday, July 25 we celebrated 33 years of marriage. And by celebrated I mean Bryan drove back from Colorado and I was in with his mom because she had fallen and I went to help her.

Saturday and Sunday she fell again. Bobbi found her on Sunday and called 911. She ended up being in the hospital until Wednesday. She is home now and Diane and her family are there with her for 10 days. Fortunately she didn't get hurt in any of the falls.

On Monday, July 28 Bryan was mowing and ran over a yellow jacket nest and they swarmed and he got about 10 stings. Not pleasant. He bundled up the next night to go out and spray the nest. 

Last night Jenny came through and Bryan bundled up again to respray the area but on yellow jacket got up under his hood and stung his head about 5 times. Hopefully we can get rid of this nasty mess of yellow jackets.

It was nice to see Jenny again. Short visit. Jayme and Trey came out, Ashley and Bobbi were busy. 

In between all that stuff up there I have been doing prep for the food for the wedding. Only 16 more days now! Wow! 

I have caught you up on our lives. Enjoy your day!

The Rest of June

We got home from Spain on June 17 (Two months from Bobbi and Travis' wedding!) and I headed back to work the next two days. Then I had a meeting on Friday morning, I babysat the kids Saturday afternoon and we had a wedding that night and Bryan was preaching that weekend too. And I had Esprit on Sunday. So we hit the ground running. It was good to have a day home Monday and Tuesday. 

Bryan had put in a gate at the edge of the yard so he decided to put a "path to no where" going through it. It looks so nice. 

I have been making food for the wedding reception. Anything that I can make ahead and freeze. I have quite a bit in the freezer. Such an exciting time.

I took this picture of the nest the other day. Empty nest...

Then yesterday I was mowing and the robin was having a fit so I snapped this picuture. 

Here we go again!! 

Also I was doing some dead heading and trimming around the yard and found this. I thought it looked so pretty in with my dead heads. It is a red wing blackbird egg.

The kids spent the night the other day and we had a good time in some great weather.

An EZ-GO ride is always a thrill.

Ashley came out and ate supper with us. The kids were thrilled to get to see her and spend time with her.

My zinnias around the place are going crazy and I love it.

The Esprit kids led worship this weekend.

On Tuesday the Petersen boys came out to have supper. Jeff and Cynci were in Germany at the AVANT conference. The boys brought along the game "Ticket to Ride". Bryan rarely plays board games but they wouldn't let him off the hook. It was a fun game.

Bryan found this sign on eBay and got it for my garden. I love how it looks with the old bike.

I just finished this amazing book. I recommend it to everyone. Thanks, Jen for telling me to read it.

My project this past week was to power wash the deck. It took me three days.

But it is now ready to be painted white! I can't wait. When I get home from Esprit tour that is my project. 

Just have to show these white zinnias. I did not know they would have pink on them. So pretty!!

And it is time for my annual trumpet vine  photo...

Yes it is beginning to bloom. Every year I obcess about whether it is going to grow, live, bloom etc. Bryan probably gets really tired of hearing me talk about it. But he's a good man, he just nods and says "You say the same thing every year." 

Mission to Malaga and Madrid, Spain

On June 7 Bryan and I headed to Malaga, Spain. A group of about 30 people from church went to do some work at Springs of Life Camp in Malaga and then we did some work for a group in Madrid.

True to form, Bryan got TSA Precheck and I got a full frisking and search...

The weather the first day was beautiful! But we were inside sewing torn bedding, curtains and making decorations for family camp. But that was why we were there so no complaints here! That is Jeanne Stark my fellow seamstress.

Bryan helped build a small shed around the water heaters, cut down trees, built stadium seating and generally worked as hard as he does at home. 

The whole team.

While we were in Malaga, Ashley sent me a picture of my Robin's nest. The eggs had hatched and the little birds fledged while I was gone. 

I also did a ton of laundry while I was working at the camp.

One machine, two lines and about 100 sheets and mattress covers. But I was outside and loving it.

We took the train to Madrid. It was fun to go on a trian ride again. 

Hello, Madrid.

What a difference from the absolute quiet of the camp. But a great city.

Our work project was outside the city and we were so busy I didn't take many pictures.

One night we had supper at Mercado San Miguel. It is such a fun, busy over whelming place. I am glad I had been there before or I may have felt lost and intimidated. They have a chip there that Bryan calls 

"The Greater Tater" so he was pretty happy to get to have some. They are good. Fried in olive oil. They eat so much bread there that finally one evening I went to the grocery around the corner and bought myself a crate of cherries. They tasted so good!! 

Our work was helping a group build and repair bicycles, and paint a building and handicap ramp. 

We walked miles every day but that isn't unusual in Spain.

On our flight home there was a little Spanish boy in front of me. He kept turning around and smiling at me then about 30 minutes into our flight he reached between the seats and felt around until I took his hand. That was pretty much the entire 8 hour flight. If I took my hand away he would feel around until I took his hand again. At the end of the flight he blew me kisses and his mom told me his name was Sergio. He was adorable.

When I have some more time I will finally upload the pictures on my camera. I just haven't had time yet.

It was such a good trip. I am so glad I went. Getting to know the team was especially fun. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.