Babysitters or Playmates?

Elk in Grand Lake, Colorado.

Project: Painting the Bedroom

This week I was able to spend with Lacey and Brandon up in Mullen, tackling some sewing and painting projects. Lacey and I didn't think we'd get the painting done but the last night I was there we decided to just paint the ceiling at 9pm, and we finished the entire bedroom at 11:15!

:: Before ::

:: After ::



The painters

I decided to paint Lacey....



...and then I painted the baby, whom I'm sure was smiling as big as this after getting to hang out with the girls.

Rodeo Bible Camp 2009

One of the highlights of our year is Rodeo Bible Camp in Stapleton, Nebraska. Sterling, Havilah, Bristol and I attend the camp every year. Bristol is a camper, Sterling and Havilah are counselors and I keep busy babysitting "pre-campers" (0-7), helping teach Bible classes and helping in any other ways that are needed.

All packed up and ready to go!

A pickup load full of boys hauling hay.
L-R: Bristol, Sterling, Trey, Jacob and Cade.



Bristol waits his turn to enter the arena.



Lots of activity!



Bristol finishing his pole bending run.




Hanging out in the sunshine, watching the rodeo.





Smiles from the baby were the best part of the day!

Bristol won first place in the scripture memory event. He memorized 109 scriptures from Thursday-Saturday! We're really proud of you, Bristol!




"Oh, say does that star-spangeled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

The Man Who Pleases God

Who is the man who pleases God

Upon the earth below?

Whom does He rest His eyes upon

When He searches to and fro?

It is not the man who reads each day

From the Holy Word—

Not the one who quotes and studies long,

But he who lives each verse he’s heard.

Not the rich who has mercy on the poor

And sends his money away,

But the man who gives his life complete

To follow the harder Way.

Indeed, it is not the one who owns

A tongue that is bridled and good,

But he who wrestles and closes his mouth

When none other ever could.

It is not the soul who has no obsession

To hide from the human race;

But he who owns a thousand-and-two,

And still battles with charging pace.

It is not the strong who bears his load

With extraordinary bravery,

But the one who kneels each day to be free

From the chains of slavery.

It is not the man who never falls,

Nor he who travels light,

But the soul who trips and stumbles each day,

But rises again to fight.

It is not the one who does not sin

Who pleases Abba most,

But the one who fails and stands to say:

“In my flesh I cannot boast.”

It is not the man who comes to declare

God’s blessings on his way,

But the one who must search and painfully strive

And sacrifice to praise.

It is not the woman who has been given

Twelve children in her trust,

But the barren, who stands beside her,

And thanks God just as much.

It is not the soul who’s been given grace,

But the one who has grace to give—

It is not the one who knows God’s love,

But he who by love does live.

The holy, strong, happy and pure,

The straight, unscarred and tall—

The pastor, leader, star and hero;

Yes, God loves them all—

But the one who pleases the Father most

Doesn’t shield his heart from pain:

But when he feels Love’s sting and falls,

He rises, and counts it gain.

~ AEH, 2003

Project: Robin's Baby Quilt

My favorite way to make quilts is by choosing a color and pattern that specifically matches the person I'm making it for. In the case of baby Robin I noticed very quickly that she's attracted to bright colors and always has to have her hands on anything eye-catching. I wanted to make a quilt that was unique and also I was insistent that it have red in it, not only because red is my favorite color but also because Robin looks really good in red. So, I went to the store with Havilah, got way out of my comfort zone with canary yellow, lime green, pink, black, white and red. I made a few (hundred!) diamonds, put it all together and...

...here's the finished product, front and back. I wasn't intending to piece the back but when I got done with the front I had a lot of scraps and no backing material so I started sewing the strips together and made my first double-sided quilt.

To my delight Robin loves her quilt and can't
keep her hands & eyes off of it!

He's So Fine

Mardel with her new colt.

Sisters