On the third day.... I just have to break from my usual family blogging to say "Thanks" to Third Day for another fabulous release. Revelation was released July 29th and since we pre ordered it we have been enjoying it...no LOVING IT all summer! In all seriousness, it has been a stressful summer. Farming, while it has been rewarding has been hard for Chris, with the higher prices for fuel, chemical etc, it has increased the stress. The first time he listened to this CD on Erin's mp3 player he was just riveted! Revelation, Take It All, Give Love, Born Again, Caught Up in Yourself"... each song has just ministered to our hearts during a season that lead us to "Run To You", Lord! Now I realize children tend to like what their parents like (until teen years anyway) well our kids just love this CD!!!! The other day they sang "I Will Always Be True" a capella and the lyrics were right on! Amazed me!

Mark Lee on the Third Day blog has asked us to blog about Third Day on the 3rd day of the month, well we were camping in CO on the 3rd, so I'm sneaking this in... along with a note from Hans that he wrote without any prompting from me... Thanks guys!!!

You have to listen with head phones, the guitar just explodes!!! Chris and I enjoyed hearing a few of these songs at the KS concert in March http://kansas-wheathearts.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

I just had to jot this down somewhere so I do not forget it when I am an empty nester someday:

Todays schedule:

9- 10: Swim Lessons for Collin, Erin and Alan

10- 10:50 : Swim Lessons for Hans

10-11 Piano for Collin

10:30- 11:30 Gymnastics for Erin

1: Eye MD for Hans with several other children in tow

He gets his appliance next week for his teeth!



Then off to Wal-Mart for groceries and necessities. Last week we had baseball and football in the evenings. This week they will probably ask to go to the pool.

I have been having a hard time getting up early in the mornings this summer. In the winter I usually like to get up before 6 for devotions. I just have my schedule so out of whack and I think it's the above schedule.



Can anyone tell me why running children to activities and WATCHING them makes a person so tired??????????????????????????


If anyone wants to see what I do for fun check out my photogallery at http://www.scrapbook.com/places/TeriScraps

Hans' Baseball Season:

Unlike last year, our season did not shine after a first game 12-1 finish. In fact they did not win another game all season! Seems like practices were rained out and kids had too many other committments and such It was rather disappointing to Hans who spent the year anxious for another baseball season and heartbreaking for mom and dad seeing him so sad. However, the boys pulled it all together and did a fabulous job for their last tourney of the season winning 13-4. Hans had a horrible game the week before: struck out 3 times and was missing throws and ball stops. Not this week. He struck out once and then nailed it the 2nd and 3rd time to base. The 3rd time was in the rain and he slid 2x trying to get on first and even somersaulted to try to sneak in. (a new variation of the slide) It was pouring down rain so I have no video although it would have been a true winner. I was so pleased that he could put the past behind and work hard for this game. It still got them 4th out of 4 for the season, but at least it ended well. Here are the pics:

Hans' Last Baseball game

Gotta finish up harvest photos so I can move on to some other topics!!! I wanted to introduce you to Jeff, and show you some in the combine photos!

Lacey, our one year old lab pup is so explosive we thought she might enjoy dock diving, so we loaded her up for a coveted pick up ride and headed to Sterling Lake! She was not so sure about diving off the dock to retrieve the "dummy". Chris "helped" her a couple of times and she tentatively tried it a couple of times and then she was DONE! The dragonfly flirting with her did not help either! She is fine going from shore, but she was not diving off the dock with the abandon that others too. Oh well, maybe after she gets used to it!


This dragonfly was buzzing Lacey repeatedly!

Collin really was part of harvest...

You can tell who kept catching the camera's eye! Anyway, Collin and his friend Andrew came out to the field to watch a bit. Then they jogged home and spent lots of time on the trampoline!

I just had to include this one of Alan and his friend: they look like the are contemplating wheat prices!! Love the shorts and boots!

Still harvesting.....

I told you I kept the camera clicking..... this evening we were harvesting near the house so the boys rode to the field on their bikes. Erin had been riding with Gwen so she was hot and tired so she rode with me in the pick up.

Here comes Hans! Alan loves to just sit and watch!

Jeff and Duane trying to figure out an error message on the combine. It yells at you if you've been in the seat too long!!! LOL! Hans and Alan rode with Duane's son in law Paul. Thanks, Paul! Pop pop manning the truck! Just a cool shot of the wheat being unloaded, I thought it was cool anyway!MOTHER, ENOUGH WITH THE CAMERA!! I AM HOT AND WANT TO GO HOME!

Both Dad and Chris wanted to leave their vehicles in our yard, but had to get to the farm somehow... so dad got a 4 wheeler ride. I think they secretly enjoyed it!

Harvest!

It's that time again! Harvest ran from Friday June 20th in the mid afternoon through the weekend and the entire next week. There was a break on Friday- Sunday due to rain and then back at it until July 3rd. There are 2 words to describe wheat harvest this year: great yields & breakdowns. Repeatedly equipment broke down. It is too long to really get into, one after another... 2-3-4 a day! It was scary! God was so good to us in that the breakdowns could be fixed usually within a few hours, but still it made for tense days! They still got done in 8 days of cutting, when usually it takes 10 or more. The yields ranged from 22- 77 bushel/ acre and the average was 50 bushel/ acre. That's great!!! So the Lord has once again provided for us in that way as well as the way above average prices will help balance out the increased price of fuel, chemical, fertilizer, break downs etc. For this we are thankful and try not to complain! The new camera got a work out during harvest... as did our newest crew member Jeff. Since it has been cold and rainy Chris still had planting to do during harvest so Jeff got to drive combine for a few days!!! (that's a big deal for those of you that do not know our harvest practices) He did fine although I'm sure the numerous difficulties made for a difficult learning experience.

Ok, so enough details, how about some pictures...

Chris in the new combine, well new to us. Above Dad A, our trusty truck driver!

The kids and I work the feed truck! Plus they are entertainment for the crew! Collin is allergic to wheat dust so you will often see him in the pick up truck during meal time.

One month down! Where is summer going? I know "summer" has only just begun, but here in KS the children have been out of school for a month and I ask myself: where has the time gone?

It seems like the first week we stayed busy with baseball, VBS prep and we went to see the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Then Vacation Bible School was in full swing and very busy. Unfortunately a humdinger of a virus visited 3 of the children with high fever, sore throat that looked like Strep, but wasn't and fatigue. So we missed a good 7 days of activities due to that. Then we hit a lull between not sick, but not well and harvest. Keeping older children busy and content with $4 gasoline is not easy!

We did find some adorable kittens. We had a few more baseball games (losses unfortunately). Our coach has not been very enthusiastic this year, so the team has not been practicing and thus not winning. We've been to the pool a handfull of times. Just pretty boring!!!!!!!!!!

It's a dog's life...

The devotion of a lab should not be underestimated! Or is he just bored?

We are the interum home for Mike and Staci's dog Remmington until Bill and Paula get ready for him. Which is fine for us, Remmy has often vacationed with us in the past, so this is normal for all of us. Although, I am getting rather attached to him... Anyway, I think he enjoys having the children to play with and basically hang out with. He has also been running and 4 wheeling with us, which has him panting heavily. He has gotten a bit out of shape!!!

Anyway, yesterday was cleaning day and I finally just had to carry the camera with me because he constantly followed me whereever I was going and laid down. I think he was wondering why I could not just stay in one room!!!

Bathroom #1Bathroom #2

Dishes...

Laundry...

And then a long run after all that...pant pant pant! I'd rather be hunting!

Farewell, not goodbye...

Our dear friends Mike, Staci and Brody (and baby) have headed to TX to start a new chapter in their life. As much as they will be missed, I'm sure their family in TX will love having them close. As long as they wander through KS from time to time and stop in to say Hey! Plus with Erin absolutely in love with Brody, we will be making a few trips south. Here are some pictures at a farewell party at the lake.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer,my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heavenor hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I saw it,but I really didn't know Him.
But later onwhen I met Christ,it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places,
but life has not been the same since.

When I had control,I knew the way.
It was rather boring,but predictable . . .
It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,and through rocky places
at breakneck speeds,it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious and asked,"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed,gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.
And we were off again.
He said, "Give the gifts away;they're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did,to the people we met,and I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him,at first,in control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places,
and I'm beginning to enjoy the viewand the cool breeze on my facewith my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,He just smiles and says . . . "Pedal."
-- author unknown