A mishmash of pictures

Thabeh and Jo at a friend's wedding

 

They didn't plan to match either!

Jo and her friend Hannah

Special treats from a dear friend

We had some friends over for the afternoon and spent most of it playing Risk :)

Hmm?

Micah faithfully working on the barn

Amy and her little buddy

Homemade browned butter doughnuts. YUM!

Work on the farm to get water lines and electric run out to the barn

 

The kids went to Cobleskill for the Colby Classic to participate in some youth challenges including livestock judging, practical knowledge quiz and meat cuts identification. They did really well.

They didn't show this time, just watched. ;)

And lastly Nathan was having fun with cards one evening at home

 

So that's just a little bit of what's going on here in our life. We're just enjoying being home and cozying down with our crackling woodstove, watching the big fluffy snowflakes pile up outside and drinking lots of tea and hot chocolate. We have about 14 inches of snow; a nice amount compared to what they have down south of us--over 4 feet! :/

 

We've also been making lots of Christmas cookies.....delicious! :)

 

Remember that this season is all about Jesus. He came so that we could be saved from sin and hell and live with Him forever. Does He live in your heart?

 

"...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

 

Montana Beauty

I came across these pictures the other day of when our family was out in Montana to visit my brother 3 years ago. I think I forgot how beautiful it is there so I'm re-posting them so you can enjoy them too!

 

In the Mission Valley

This is driving through the bison range

All the little dots are bison strung out along the ridge below us

Hairpin curves

Jo 3 years ago ;)

Looking across the valley to the Mission Mountain Range.

Absolutely breathtaking.

On our way to hike in the mountains

Mission Falls

Cameras just don't do justice!

The road we traveled many times

and a bonus of us in Wyoming at Old Faithful :)

 

Good times!

 

Happy Birthday to the cutest 5 year old!

And happy birthday to the awesome, fun loving, violin playing,

 picture avoiding auntie whose birthday she stole.:) 

 

Miss you Mary girl!

The Life

Its living in the country. On a farm. Working hard. It's shoveling silage to hungry cattle in the mud and bitter cold when your muscles are just tired from constant work out, your fingers and face are freezing(and everything else for that matter) and you just got done spending a whole afternoon putting up fence and chopping vines and brush and brambles away from the wire and driving steers down a muddy laneway to their new pasture and fixing fences with icy wind cutting right through you like a knife. Sometimes we complain. About the mud, and the cold, and the frozen hoses, and having to haul water and chase cows that get out. But really, it's the best life in the world. We wouldn't change it.

Because every day we're part of God's creation.

And you're really a part of it when you're on the back of a horse.....

That good earthy/fall-ish smell and the squeak of saddle leather and hoofbeats? Can't beat it.

 

The roundbales in the field; each and every stalk and kernel of corn......

Old barns and ripened soybeans...

 

Little brother on old faithful...

 

....who has let us all learn to ride on him.

 (and the dog can't resist having some fun too)

 

 

 Corn ready for harvest...

 

Country skies....

We thank God for all of this.

Nicaragua

Here is a slideshow of some of the many pics from Nica. Enjoy. :)

http://www.kizoa.com/slideshow/d6376431k4428428o1/nicaragua