Resurrection Sunday

We were able to travel down to my (Kelly's) dad and mom's house for Easter Sunday. Barb has always been such a sweetie to stuff hide eggs for the children.  Katie and her family came and joined us for a while too! What a blessing to spend time together..
On the way down to Portland our family listened to a testimony by the late Denny Kenaston entitled 'I am Crucified with Christ'. It was a very encouraging tesimony and very appropriate for the day. We remember not only Jesus' crucifiction and his resurrection.. but also his enabling work in the lives of the believer! Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins, for teaching us how to follow you... and how to pick up our cross daily. WE LOVE YOU PRECIOUS SAVIOR!

Helping baby Laura

Cousin Dana

Dana and Puppy

Wheeee!

Cousins Madison, Dana and John with our kiddos

Yummy Brunch

Heading Home

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Philippians 3:10-12 NKJV

An Old- Fashioned Plowing Competition!

We were surprised that there wasn't a bigger turn out for a local horse plowing competition. There were Donkeys, Shires, Clydesdales, Percherons, Haflingers, Belgiums, and many more types! We were not quite sure the rules of the competition or any specifics as to what they do with the field once plowed but we sure enjoyed stopping by and watching the event for a while. It was silent on the fields.. except for that wonderful quiet clanking of metal buckles and the creaking of leather harnesses. Mixed with the bright sunny day it made for a wonderful way to pass a few hours. Grace was thrilled to see how 'Pa' had plowed the fields in Laura and Mary's day.

 

 

 

Folks were taking as many pictures of the children as they did of the horses.

I think they though the kids looked like they belonged in the same era as the horse and plow!

One lady asked if we were Amish and if we use horses and plows on our farm.

Daddy stayed in the van with Laura who was napping

 

 

 

 

 

Outside Playtime & Work!

Very cute Grace!

 

The girls love the tire swing that the Kings left behind

 

While visiting Nana, Laura, Grace and Grant did some weeding for her

Mandy supervised!

Laura spent more time exploring than she did weeding!

But in the end, she and Grant combined picked 8 buckets of weeds! (and groundcover succulants and flowers.. and other oops plants! Nana is so kind about those sorts of things though...)

Whew! That was a lot of picking Laura!

Daffodil Days

A few weeks back the older children took the little girls on a long walk.. we were recently blessed with a wonderful new (for us!) bicycle cart.. which makes 'walks' with them so much easier! :)
This gave Mama time for a rest and provided great entertainment for the little girls! Ashley took a bunch of photos of the adventure..

The girl's new bike trailer

 

Gracie is wearing her treasured necklace that a sweet friend gave to her

 

Typical Grant treasures: shot gun shell and a baby snake! :)

Growing up

Loving the springtime!

 

'kissing' the flowers

 

 

 

 

 

A Birthday Trip

This year my mother took the day off from her job for my birthday and invited me to take the train down and spend 2 days and a night with her to celebrate. We had such a nice time.. thrift store shopping, going out for gluten free fish and chips for dinner (!) and having some very sweet and deep conversations. It was such a nice time with she and her husband Ben. They drove me home on Saturday and spent the evening here with our family.

 

 

The girls were so sweet to hold down the fort while I was gone!

I hear they did a very good job :)

 

Thanks Mama for a sweet time~