All Caught Up

I posted the last three installments of our recent trip this morning. If you are not thoroughly tired of all the pictures, here are some more...
~Sunshine on my Shoulder-just a stop on the trip.
~Going Back-more pictures from convention.
~A Night at the Farm-stopping at Grandpa Larry's farm on the way back home.
Have a great week!

A Night At The Farm

Out at the East Farm. The green wheat blades are starting the head out. A photo moment with the kids above. They're happy to be at Grandpa's farm!
Randy checking out the rain gauge and crops at "Harry's". At least a half an inch of rain!
Crop looking good...
Glen takes kids for a wagon ride out the get the mail...
A bedtime snack with Glen, Alan, Wayne and Grandpa. A special evening together...


We spent the night in Grandpa's travel trailor. Here is what the girls looked like in the morning...
Finally headed home and being passed by Amtrak along the way. We waved to you Glen!
The End.

Well, almost. We did have one little mishap on our trip....

We were driving down the dirt/gravel road on the way to Grandpa's place and all the sudden the back window in the van just shattered into a million pieces. The kids started crying and we were so thankful to be almost to the house. We spent a little time vacuuming and cleaning up the mess...

Then the next morning Randy and Dad fixed up the back of the van... It got us all the rest of the 500 miles home through wind sun and rain...
And then we got home and got the window replaced.

The End.

Going Back

It's been 19 years since Randy has been back to the convention he grew up going too. The kids and I have never been there but enjoyed hearing him tell us about this special place. For quite a few years now we have been wanting to get back there but haven't been able to. With the recent "forced time-offs" that Randy has had to take at work, we decided this was the year to go. This meant we would have two conventions back to back because our home convention was only the week before. Wowza! But it all turned out perfect and now we are basking in the glow of the special memories...

Between Randy, Kyla and myself we took quite a few picture. I shared a few earlier but here are some more that I know some of you would enjoy seeing...
We took two days to make the 580 mile trip across the top of Montana. As we neared our destination we saw more and more oil wells and grain bins. The beauty is not all that makes this land rich...
A highlight of the trip was spending time with cousins. Here are the girls with cousin Lana!

This path through the farm fields made a beautiful walk. The weather was perfect most of the days we were there...

It was special to spend time with Great Grandma Ruth...
Here is Colter with friend Kip and cousin Evan!
Randy took this picture. He enjoys seeing these nice straight rows of wheat...



A tent full of more girls...
The sunset on our last night...
We have been so privilaged lately and feel like we have been given so much to help and encourage. One of the thoughts that has stuck with me and I can't help but sharing is...

God has been so generous with us. He has poured out so much on us and continues to give of his storehouse beyond what we can even imagine. This should move us to be generous with what God has given us... love, time, forgiveness, encouragement, care for one another, thoughts of good, remembering others in prayer.

I need to keep going back to this every day...

It's been good to "go back",

Sunshine On My Shoulders

On our recent trip east we stopped along the way to visit some friends. Turns out they had a bucket lift "thing-a-majig". We all had a chance to try it out. Here are some pictures...





It was a beautiful evening for a "bird's-eye view" and even I got to go up high in the bucket. But I'll save that for Thursday...

If I have a day that I could give you. I'd give to you a day just like today.
If I had a song that I could sing for you. I'd sing a song to make you feel this way.
If I had a tale that I could tell you. I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile.
If I had a wish that I could wish for you. I'd make a wish the sun shine all the while.
~John Denver

Fathers Day Post

A special night spent at the Best Western! Yes this Fathers Day picture with the pajama clad kids will have to do this year.

Looks like Dad is completely done in after a long day traveling. Are the kids ready to go to bed? No way...
It was so nice to spend time with both of our Fathers these last two weeks. Here I met Dad and Colter coming back from an afternoon walk up to the bald spot. I guess they lost the trail and didn't get all the way up. Maybe next year...

And then we enjoyed surprising Grandpa Larry by going over east for convention and not telling him we were coming! Here we are visiting outside our tent trailer. We will always remember this special time together...
Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!~Lydia Maria Child

We Love You All,
and kids!

Flowers For Friday

On our recent trip to the eastern prairie, I took these wild flower pictures. Be sure to check out THIS POST to see my latest mountain wild flower pictures. These pretty wild roses above grow not only on the wide open prairie but also here in the mountains. They always remind me of my Grandma Alice who loved them so much...

Can you see the bee buzzing about to the right of the flower in the middle in the picture below?

Scarlet Globe-mallow (did I get that right Amy?)

And another wild rose...

Enjoy your weekend!


P.S. I "heart" the flowers!

12 of 52: Meet Me in Montana

Well, we're both Montana girls and we have gotten to know each other a little through blogging but it was a treat to meet in "real" person! In between chasing kids, meetings, eating and sleeping we got in a couple visits and then Randy snapped this picture of Carin and I* before we started our journeys home.

One of the things we have in common is our "Colters"... They are close to the same age too! Watch out...

This is the funnest 52 week post yet! Hope we can get together again someday...

Until we meet again,

Hosted by Forever in Blue Jeans

*52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

Bambi and Whhhooo?

Randy took the picture of the baby fawn above. I wonder if he is hoping that no one sees him in the tall grass? Randy almost stepped on him until someone pointed the little guy out. And the Momma must have been standing nearby hoping he wouldn't be seen either...

and,

"whhhooo are yooou looking at?"

Later in our travels someone told us about this baby owl so I went and found him perched in the tree by the nest. Looks like he had outgrown the nest and he was probably waiting for night when he would fly away and find something to eat. When I see those beady eyes, I'm glad that I'm not a field mouse.

Back to laundry duty...

Catch you later,