We are now less a steer, lamb and pig on our little farm since 4-H EXPO was just this past Wednesday – Saturday.  I love EXPO which is where all the 4-H’ers and FFA members bring the animals they’ve raised to show them in classes for confirmation and showmanship.  On Saturday there is a big auction and all animals are sold.  It’s really a fun and exciting time. This year was a great year for us.  Seth won Grand Champion Steer for confirmation as well as Reserve Grand Champion Showman. This was Seth’s last year in 4-H;  he’s been in it for 10 years.  This year he named his steer…

20 years ago Russell and I tied the knot.  But it was a double knot tied that day for my sister was married also. She was 25 and I had just turned 20. In some ways it feels like a lifetime ago and in others it seems only a few years. Dad bore it all quite well.  He was dealing with quite a bit.  Marrying off two daughters and having a wife (my mom) having a mastectomy just 3 weeks prior.   Looking back I think I was so young and naive.  Thankfully, God was directing my footsteps and gave me a wonderful man to share my life with.  My dear husband has helped…

The wedding that saw so much preparation is over and I have to say it was probably the nicest wedding I have been to (at least that I can remember).  But let me show some pictures of the days leading up to the event and then I’ll throw in a few of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner was held at our place.  Much preparation went into getting everything ship-shape.  But then the day of – it started snowing and it was quite chilly.  This picture shows the snow coming down. (if you look real hard) I knew I could not seat 70 people inside my house but I figured we would…

The children’s Sunday School teacher had the inspiration to do a play about Esther several years ago.  Her dream finally came to fruition Saturday when the play was finally performed.  She and all the children did an outstanding job. From looking at Wesley’s face, I would say they enjoyed it. King Ahasuerus servant has just been told by Queen Vashti to tell the King to "Go jump in the lake." After the King rids himself of Vashti he looks for another lady fit to be Queen.  This maiden has perfumed herself so much the smell fills the room causing the King some discomfort. Justus was the royal fanner. The King has just commanded…

What might happen if you live in the country with plenty of open space around with room for lots of people?  Why you just might play host to a Civil War reenactment group!  That is exactly what happened here at the homestead this past Saturday, March 14.  A group of 50 reenactors came and reenacted 2 battles to about a 100 of us homeschoolers.  They also gave about 25 boys a chance at becoming a soldier, complete with uniforms and guns which I think was the best thing about it all.  Unfortunately, the weather was not a typically beautiful Arizona day.  At one point we had a lot of people crammed into the…