Homestead Happenings

The Lord has provided our family a rental house in the country! We had enjoyed the temporary rental but were excited to get out to the country where the kids could run around outside again and we could have a bit more privacy. We have determined that we are just too loud for the city! :-) Our new landlords are gems. The rental has been in the wife's family for 100 years and was her family's old homestead. It does put a bit of pressure on us in regard to keeping it kept up and well managed but we try and do that anyhow with any home we live in. They allowed us to pay a little over the (very reasonable) rent in order to use their barn and acreage for farm animals.

                                    

With Grady being gone so much, the kids and I pretty much had to move us from this house which was the one located in Halsey and right next to the train track. Thankfully we didn't have much stuff so loading up the trailer didn't take too long.



         

Happy packers!



         

 

All loaded up!

 

The next morning we had tons of help which made the job of unloading and unpacking at the new house go very quickly

We really are enjoying this new home. It was built in 1952 and has all the charm of an old house

Willow and Ash put the food away in the fridge

'The twins' are looking less like twins now that Mandy isn't wearing glasses as often. They are still best of friends though!

Hanging out in the new living room

Meadow gets the job of babysitting the children while we unpacked and cleaned

Stephanie finishes up the dinner that they and the Pages were so sweet to bring us.

We all gathered for prayer and a blessing over the home and then it was time to eat!

The back yard

Our living room. I love the red wall, don't you! And a free piano from CL! Really, looking at this picture, we have almost all of the colors of the rainbow represented! Very cheery!

Home sweet home, at least for now! :-)

The neighbors brought us these lovely fall flowers. We are very blessed!

Happy 23rd Birthday Ashley Elizabeth!

Unbeknownst to Ashley, the Page ladies had arranged a surprise birthday tea party for her! Upon arriving to their home, we saw this cute banner on their front door which read 'Page Garden Cafe'

The ladies had prepared the most lovely tea and light lunch! And Willow had made and decorated a lovely cake along with little cupcakes! It was so yummy.. with chai flavored filling! Mmm!

And tea cups were lined up.. including 2 manly mugs for the boys!

And 2 for the little girls..

 

A birthday message for Ash

Watching Ashley open her gifts

The ladies had cut out over 20 maple leaves out of beautiful fall colored paper, each with a blessing for Ashley or with an Godly attribute that they see in her life. So special! They also showered her with many other gifts. She felt so special & spoiled!

Posing with her pretty cake

 

Posing with the pretty cake decorator!

Tea, warming on the stove

Ryan, with  his manly cup- really enjoyed the prayer, tea and goodies

 

We are blessed with such sweet friends! The Lord is so good to us!

 

Later that evening, Mandy and the boys watched the little girls so that Daddy and I could take Ash out to Burgerville for delicious burgers and fries! Happy 23rd birthday dear Ashley. You are such a blessing and joy to have in our family. It is such a blessing to watch you grow more and more daily.. to let go of those things which are not pleasing to God and seeking his face and being changed into His image. You are a treasure and a Godly friend to me, your mama.

 

 

Havin' a 'Hay' Day!

This is what the wonderful Daddy McDonald has been doing to support the family since our return! He works for a Mennonite man who owns a hay company. He was able to secure his US Port Clearance Pass via TSA as well as his CDL permit- with which he is able to drive farm equipment, including semi trucks within 100 miles of the farm. Next week he will be taking his CDL driving test and Lord willing will start driving up to the ports where hay is shipped out in containers to Asia. He has been able to take the older children along a few times on these local runs which has been a blessing.

 

This 'big rig' has 2 trailers! It never ceases to amaze  me how quickly my husband can learn to do new things.. first day on his own he was put into a truck like this one. Thankfully it was an automatic.. which he had for a few days before moving to a 12 speed manual!

Unloading the hay

Some of these local hay barns here are absolutely enormous!

More unloading..

Helping dad.. many afternoons I was able to meet Grady somewhere and let the boys make a few runs with him. There was a push especially in September when there was still hay on the fields which needed to go into barns before the weather changed. Grady worked many long hours in Sept but having the boys along made the long hours more enjoyable for sure!

Grant catches a ride!

Autumn in the Park

 

 Our friends, the Pages invited us to come have lunch and crafts in the park with the children. They brought hot steamy chili and lots of delicious cookies to enjoy as well as all sorts of crafty items to make scripture bookmarks and leaf rubbings for the little ones.

 

 

 

 

 

Grant, whose big brother was working with dad that day was the only boy on the scene. He was a bit embarrassed by that but quickly found the job of leaf-hunting quite enjoyable. He had brought his bike along and used it to peruse the park for lovely specimens. This extended summer and early fall have been so lovely.. the type of year where the leaves remain in tact and beautiful on the ground due to the lack of rain.

Pretty notecard Laura!

 

 

 

Good job, little friend

 

Its getting to be dusk..time to go home! Grant loads up his bike. Thanks Page family for a fun and fall-y day!