Warm weather

Warm weather has come to the mountains (with temps in the 70s and 80s) and we've planted a small garden of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. We fenced the garden with chicken wire to keep away any of the deer and rabbits that Jake the dog doesn't bark away.

Warm weather has encouraged the red hot pokers (pictured below) to bloom in our front yard along with Indian paintbrush and other wildflowers in the countryside around us.

Warm weather also means summer vacation is here. Nicole's last day of 3rd grade was Thursday, May 28. Dad & Mom went to school for an awards assembly that day and watched with joy as Nicole received awards for 4th quarter honor roll, "Terrific Tiger" achievement, and passing all the ones through twelves multiplication facts.

Warm weather means our county's 4-H program is getting underway. Nicole will soon participate in a 4-H horsemanship camp (and can hardly wait). She will also participate in a 4-H cooking club for kids her age. Jane and two other ladies will sponsor a 4-H cooking club for 5th/6th graders.

Warm weather also means activities are "heating up" at church. VBS is around the corner (June 15-20), a new middle school/high school youth group called "TLC" (Teens Living for Christ) will begin next week, and plans are underway for Sunday afternoon fellowships this summer at area parks.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us and for the ministry here.

We're still here!

It's been a long time since the last post. Here's a summary of what has kept us so busy the last few weeks:

Church life - Since the last post, five have joined the church. Four of those were as a result of baptisms on Easter Sunday. On that Sunday we knew several guests would be present and we prayed that the Lord would do a mighty work. One of those guests came to Bible study that next Wednesday to begin "Experiencing God" with us. On Friday of that week the woman accepted Christ and then made a public profession of faith the following Sunday! She will be baptized on Mother's Day. We praise the Lord for His work and are blessed and encouraged as a result. The next big event for the church is vacation Bible school, June 15-20. Please pray that the Lord will draw children and their families to Himself during this week.

Subbing - Jane has subbed eight times since our last update. While we're thankful for the extra income, it has been challenging to be busy with subbing and still keep up with other tasks. Since this is the last month of the 2008-09 school year, there shouldn't be too many more sub jobs before summer vacation.

School - Nicole's school held its annual music/art/science fair last month. Nicole exhibited a robot she and a classmate made, kids sang, and art was proudly displayed.

Softball - Nicole has joined girls' softball. This has kept us on the go with games on Mondays and practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Would someone tell the photographer she can get closer and avoid the chain link look?)

Outdoor Work - The warmer weather has allowed us to reclaim the backyard from Jake the dog. We've reinstalled above ground irrigation pipes that he enjoyed playing with this winter. We'll soon reseed and fertilize. Jake is now assigned to the side yard, only to play in the backyard when we're outside with him. This will enable us to grow a small garden in the yard without the prying paws of a playful black lab.

We'll that's about it. We'll try not to wait so long before the next post. Thank you for your continued prayers. We love and miss you.