FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY

My apologies for not refreshing the blog as often lately - our life just seems pretty calm right now without much going on. I don't mind when these kinds of weeks come along - as long as it doesn't last forever=) I like to keep things moving! Like I often say to Matthew, "Let's put some miles behind us, babe!" Well, five years ago today he did.

July 31st, 2003, was our first day in South Dakota. We arrived late in the afternoon one hot summer day after having driven 2,400 miles cross country from the state of Maine. Within minutes of our arrival a lady walked up to our door; I assumed it was our landlady but it was Diana Kunnari and that was just the beginning. Within a few short hours the truck was unpacked, beds put together and made, the kitchen items were in their place and we were headed over to Dan and Diana's for supper. What a welcome! So many people came and helped and we felt at home from the beginning. I remember Matthew and I asking ourselves who that dark-skinned guy was that just introduced himself as Matt - that Sunday we found out he was to be our pastor=)

The details of that long trip are still fresh in my mind as the Lord protected and provided miraculously on what could have been a dangerous ride. Matthew drove a big Budget moving truck (BTW - we DO NOT recommend them) hauling his pickup on a trailer. Logan, who was 15 months old, rode right beside Daddy the whole way. I drove a van older than most of my kids and had Chad, Monica, Zach and George with me. The Lord protected through potential roll-overs, a blown-out tire in the trailer, keys locked in the truck, broken brake lines in the van...and who know what else. We thank Him, even today, for bringing us here to South Dakota ~ where we have made ourselves a home! So, here's a few pictures from days gone by - just because for me today is full of memories=)

A couple pics from before Logan was even around....

The year before we left...And the week before we left...

"Our" river behind our house..."Thank you Lord for leading our steps, may your Word continue to be a light unto our path."

"A Short Story" by Alisha Chamberland

I had nothing else to write about today so I thought I'd share with you something that happened almost exactly a year ago. Monica was in Washington state for a month and I wrote this little story for her to keep up to date on what was happening here at home. It's based on actual events - nothing added or embellished.

George sat staring out the window of his big green house. "Yet another day in my boring life where I have to put up with baby after baby and now that dumb cat!" he thought to himself. Nothing moved as he scanned the length of the brown, fenced-in yard. Suddenly, something in the far corner of the lot caught his eye! His ears perked up, his tail stood tall, and a whine started deep in his throat. He looked at the woman, the one who used to love him, but now seemed so often annoyed with him. "Oh, I hope she'll let me out this time, please, look at me" he said with his eyes. The blond woman stood up...could it be...she walked toward the door..."Yes, she's letting me out!" he rejoiced with a small, high-pitched bark. Within seconds the glass no longer separated him from his prey and he took off. His long legs and lean body were made for the hunt. His mouth opened in preparation and drool began to fly out of the sides of his mouth. His sharp canine teeth which had evolved over millions of years, =), were ready to snap closed. This time, the rabbit was not going to get away. Victorious, George dove down and closed his powerful jaws over the neck of the soft, brown, furry bunny. If only he knew how to dance he'd do a jig. He'd done it! After years of failure victory was finally his and it tasted sweet! Actually it tasted warm...Then he realized the taste on his long tongue was blood. The blood of his prey. He looked up triumphantly at the blond woman. "Why," he wondered, "is she standing there with her hand over her mouth and her eyes as wide as saucers...oh no, she's going to beat me!" The woman disappeared from his view briefly and then came back with a black thing held up by her ear, her mouth moving quickly. Suddenly his catch began to move and thrash around, making a squealing sort of noise. George clamped down harder and silenced the rabbit forever. Whatever his owner was up to he was going to enjoy his prize, instead of worrying about the consequences. He spent enough time with his tail between his legs and for now, supper was calling. He began at the neck and head and then worked his way down the body. "Glorious, warm, flesh," he thought to himself. Then, while still enjoying the spoils of his labor, he heard the glass door open and close. It was the woman. She came closer, slowly, staring at the ground in front of him. She approached and patted him on the head, "You're the dog," she muttered, "you're the dog!" His heart sang! He dropped the remaining hind legs and panted happily in her direction, soaking up the praise he so craved. "Ok, ok," she said, "gross breath!" And off she went.

Later, with his belly full, he went up once again to the glass door. He raised his paw to scratch and let his family know of his desire to come in - but he hesitated. For some reason, one that still eluded him, he was often hollered at for scratching. Well, he was happy; he'd just lie down and wait until he was noticed. In the meantime he'd go to sleep and dream of the Happy Hunting Grounds where this time, his dream was a reality.

That evening, while lying comfortably up against the couch, something began to happen. George lifted his head and tried to figure out what was wrong...something just didn't feel right. Suddenly, he knew, he stood and tried to make it to the door, but he was too late. As his body heaved he felt a warmth rush up his throat and out his mouth - right there on the living room carpet. "GEORGE!" the blond woman hollered. "Yuk, sick, disgusting, gross DOG!" she fumed. "Get out, get out, get out," she screamed over and over. She opened the door and kicked his hind end out through the opening. George put on his most remorseful, apologetic look then sank down onto the deck. "Oh well," he thought to himself, "it was fun while it lasted." He licked his lips free of any remaining chunks and enjoyed the flavor all over again. He lifted his head and began to scan the yard once more....
THE END

Cabin Horeb

This was soooo exciting to me! This morning I received an e-mail from Liz Thompson, the missionary wife (not to mention friend) who we will be working with in Chile, Lord willing. The camp is pretty rustic and the cabins there have no water, electricity or bathrooms in them. We were more than willing to make that work, but being there with a family of seven for hopefully seven weeks it was going to take some work. Well, there is one cabin at camp that is quite a step up from the others and this is where our family will stay while the other teams come and go, again - IF we go. Anyway, back to the e-mail - Liz sent pictures of the cabin and it just makes me want to head down there right now and get started. She said they'll give it a thorough cleaning so it's ready for our arrival=) As Alana would say, "I'm so exciting!"

So here is our virtual tour....

The front of the cabin ~

The front room which is kitchen, dining room, living room (and will probably be bedroom also) ~

One of the two bedrooms ~The bathroom ~And last, but not least, the view ~

A recent addition

We had a new, rather large addition, to our home last Saturday.....A NEW PIANO!!!! The story is that Matthew is working on an old house here in Buffalo Gap, built in the 1880's as a mansion, that is basically falling apart. It was recently bought and the new owner has hired Matthew to do some repairs. There happened to be a piano there and, when asked, the owner said she didn't want it and we could have it - yippee! I've wanted a piano in the house for years, not because I play but I grew up with one and wanted my kids to be able to have the opportunity to learn - now they do. Anyway, it's an older, thus very heavy piano so thanks to Brett, Patrick and Chad for helping us move it and get it in the house. It is an upright grand piano built in 1950 and, although the body itself is pretty worn, the keys look fine and they all play surprisingly in tune. Monica has already learned to play the scales and a few other tunes=)
Wish I could have included sound effects with the next 2 pics=)
Jesse was the first one to play it.Monica dusted it right away.Do you recognize the blue hymnbook, Mom?

A recent loss

Last night our family surrounded Logan in his most recent loss - his first tooth! Although a highly anticipated event it was met with mixed emotions. After undergoing daily harassment from his older 2 siblings (with gruesome teeth-pulling tales) he wasn't sure if he was ready or not. His mother, unaffected by the bloody stories, wrapped a piece of dental floss around his tooth, only to have Logan clamp down his lips and grin. Then something happened that made everybody laugh and as soon as his mouth opened wide the string was yanked and out came the tooth! The expression of shock soon turned to tears as the youngster realized what had just transpired, a sympathetic cry was then raised by his sister Alana - also emotionally unstable for reasons that may forever remain a mystery. But, in the end - Logan rested his head on his pillow that night with his tooth safely taped to the sheet underneath=)

Before the detachment....

Some earlier attempts....After the cruel trick....Complete recovery....minus the tooth!
I've also been asked to introduce, Horny the toad, who Logan found at Daddy's work today....Nothing like a toad to restore a boy's smile=)PS - Comments about the toads name may or may not be posted....=)

Swimmng at Coldbrook

Last Thursday we, along with several other home school families, went to Coldbrook - a small lake not to far from here for some fun in the water. I planned on writing about it as soon as I got home because it was just so much fun for the kids and me - but once I got home and had to deal with every one's damp clothing and sand in places that sand should never be, I got distracted and forgot. But it really was an enjoyable day - I did a little visiting but it seemed like most of the time I was in the water with the kids, anyone that knows me knows that was fine with me - I love the water! So, as the other grown-ups clustered their chairs under the tree in the shade I splashed around and took turns swimming out into the deep water with one of the kids or watching them play up on the beach. Thanks to Monica I was able to enjoy swimming by myself for a bit as well=) The older kids were able to hang out with some of their friends as well as meet some new ones. The younger kids just wandered between the water and the sand...oh, and the snacks, too! Plus, we just found out it will be a weekly event...Coldbrook here we come!

She's going!

Again Melissa bumps a previously planned post - but this time it is good news! She's going! YEAH!!! Last night she was able to talk with the man in charge of her situation and teaching position - things were finalized and she is able to go. The Lord has provided for her and all that is left to do now is get the plane tickets=) Of course there will also be an endless to-do list for her since she will be leaving within the next 2 weeks - classes start the beginning of August! Thank you for those that prayed and gave so she could do this - I'm just so excited to be a part of a really great friend going to a really great place and desiring to serve the Lord by ministering to the MK's.
"Thanks, Melissa, we'll miss you but are sooo excited for you and will keep you in our prayers!"
PS - See you in October, Lord willing.....

Mulberry Madness

Last Friday night we were once again invited over to the Couch's for a treat ~ this time it was for some homemade mulberry ice cream....YUMMM! Monica had gone over earlier in the afternoon to help them with some ranch work and then the rest of our family went over in the early evening to enjoy the tasty treat. Mrs. Couch had picked and cleaned the mulberries ahead of time but the kids still did plenty of picking and eating right from the tree. (As a side note, Monica was not able to do much work - shortly after she got there and was saddling her usual horse he got annoyed with some flies and stepped to the side...right up against Monica and on to her foot. She got knocked back onto the ground while her foot was still under his hoof! Thankfully nothing was broken, however she was left with a pretty sore foot and a nice big bruise - God's protection again.)

Mulberry Munching Madness:

Just some favorite pics of mine:Monica showed up with the Couch's after the feeding frenzy and we started making the ice cream.

Did I mention Logan found some bugs.....surprise, surprise!