Writer's Conference!

A week ago tonight I was in the vehicle heading home from beautiful Michigan, and an amazing writer's conference. I had a wonderful time there, meeting friends in real life for the first time who have meant a lot to me over the years in their own different ways. There wasn't nearly enough time to squeeze in all the visiting I wanted to do!

I learned a lot about the different available avenues of getting written work out there to be read, including the publishing process and social media. I learned some of the mechanics of writing and editing. I heard a LOT of inspiring speakers, reminding us that our measure of success is being obedient to God's voice, not in the number of books with our name on the front cover, or how many hits a blog post gets. We are writing for His glory.

I traveled with a dear, dear friend, and our time together was gloriously sweet and refreshing... what both of us needed, I believe! I was so encouraged and blessed spending time with this woman who has such a passionate heart for God, and for God's daughters. (If you need contact info for a motivational speaker, let me know!)

What does the aftermath of this conference mean for me? It means a lot of soul searching, facing up to a schedule overload, and the movement to a bigger and better (hopefully!) blog platform. It might be quiet around here for awhile until I can get some things organized and set up, as I only have so much time in my day and the kids get most of it. So, keep on the lookout for further updates and the announcement of the new blog, coming soon!

It's a Zoo!

 Recently we made the time to go all the way to Milwaukee to the zoo! Since we had studied land animals for the last school year, we promised the kids a trip to the zoo. And my, did we ever enjoy it. Especially meeting up (and spending the night!) with some very special friends whom we hadn't seen for awhile.

Watching the monkeys is always a highlight.

Some weren't so sure about getting so up close and personal with the snakes! 

A couple of Ibex buck fighting. Quite entertaining.

By far the cutest little creature we saw!

The Cheetah stopped to take a good long look.

We had a very sweet weekend, complete with late nights, lots of talking, and fun activities. Even wading in Lake Michigan! (Well, it was supposed to be wading, but you know how that goes. "Don't go in over your knees." quickly ends up with kids soaked from head to toe, and blaming the waves. Thankfully we had a long walk back to the car for them to dry off!)

I was reminded again how important fellowship is. Deeply sharing our hearts, crying together, being honest when it hurt, accepting challenges, laughing together... all of these make up such an important part of a complete and healthy life.

I've admittedly lived through the other side of the coin as well. Feeling very, very alone. Not knowing who to trust. Wanting to walk away from all relationships altogether. Because people hurt. People let us down. People are too much work. Please, let me go live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, where I can go to town and check email when I feel like it... maybe never? Some days I still feel it!

But the truth of the matter is, we were created for relationship. We were created to need each other, to need that deep heart caring, loving, challenging, and uplifting. It's sometimes hard to find people safe enough to open up to, and we become cynical and jaded... but let me tell you, it's worth it. Worth trying one more time. With caution, with wisdom, with hope.

Time Out at the Lake

Last weekend we drove up to visit my sister Michele and her fiancé Aaron at their new property on a lake in Minnesota. What a fun time! They don't have a house built yet, so we essentially camped with them on a raw property. And we spent a LOT of time on and in the water! I think this quickly became a favorite summer vacation spot for us! Here are a few highlights in pictures.

Aaron's lovely mom brought some small fireworks, and the kids LOVED them!

Returning from a walk.

The view from the top of the bluff where the campers were parked and their house will be built, out towards the lake.

Out on the boat.

Tubing fun! He managed to stay on despite become airborne a time or two!

The two middles decided to try the tube together. One was utterly delighted and the other wasn't so much. Can you tell which is which?!

Then the one who enjoyed the tube went back out all by herself!

Jere tubed a bit, and then tried his hand at water skiing. He did an amazing job!

Playing in the water.

We were so blessed to spend this time together, and made lots of great memories. Shellie and Aaron, we'll be back!

Vacation!

We finally splurged on a vacation! And what a great time we had. Our first stop was in MN, to visit Aunt Kay and Uncle Robb. The kids enjoyed a swim in the lake, and getting their first rides in a kayak. Plus S'mores and sparklers and glow sticks...

Second stop was at the Lake Thompson State Park, near De Smet SD. A lake that was talked about in a couple of Laura Ingalls books. We had an enjoyable time despite the rain off and on while we were there. We rode bikes and waded, and visited several of the Laura Ingalls historic sites, including their homestead.

View of the Ingalls homestead... replica claim shanty on the left.

Now if he isn't the cutest...

… or maybe she is??

Helping with the laundry.

Learning to work a treadle sewing machine, and making button and string toys. 

The kids all got a chance to drive the pony and cart.

And the kids all got a chance to drive the mules pulling the covered wagon!

Making rope.

Umm... is this supposed to be yummy? It's messy!

Stop #3 was the Black Hills, where we spent 3 nights. We biked, went panning for gold, hiked, drove the wildlife loop and Needles Highway, and tried to dodge raindrops. Somehow it rained pretty much every day of the entire trip! (Not complaining, I know it's normally drier out there and they are grateful for moisture. I'm happy for the ones who live there.) Most of the activities I only captured on my phone, sorry.

The final bit of our trip was a delightful visit with my brother, his sweet girlfriend, and my sister in the mountains of Wyoming. We went hiking, exploring in the mountain woods near where we camped at 9,000', and the kids did a lot of bike riding, picking up rocks, and playing with the dogs. The views were breath taking. Again, it rained/sleeted numerous times, but rarely lasted for long. My favorite activity of the entire trip was when my brother's girlfriend, who is a horse lover too, took me out looking for wild mustangs. All the thrill of a hunt, with a trophy of watching those beautiful animals enjoying their natural habitat. Most of them never even saw us.  Despite a wrenched ankle those hikes will be fondly remembered for years. (By the way, I felt like I could finally really breathe out there. I guess I'll be a prairie girl to the day I die! Sorry to all the Wisconsin folk...)

Eliott spent most of his time chopping firewood!

Sooo, we're home again safe and sound... tired and happy. The camper is cleaned out, the laundry is done, and we're back to normal life. A calf died while we were gone, and we got two bottle calves to replace it, hoping that our kindly older cows would take them in as they have a reputation for allowing any calves in the herd to nurse. We'll see how that goes! Otherwise things look great here on the farm. And I'm trying to reacclimate to the crazy humidity!