45th Anniversary!

My parents reached their 45th anniversary milestone on March 6.  We celebrated that week with lunch at Pizza Ranch. 

 

My parents with Ephraim, Emmet, Eden, Alyssa, Eliza & Garret. 

Mom & Dad--they are dressed alike because they had to give a work trip report at church. 

Jim & Amber, Mom& Dad, Seth and I

 

We had a nice meal together and it was nice to commemorate this occasion together.  Thanks for setting the example of 45 years of married life . . . and thanks for the pizza!

 

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Archery Awards

Last week was the final Awards Banquet for Rocket Archery.  We went so Ephraim could be in the team pictures and have individual pictures taken.  We also enjoyed the enormous potluck!  It was a great season and Ephraim is already looking forward to next year.  Emmet will be joining the team as well. 

 

They took a photo of the Fremont archers on the team. 

 

The girls were trying to entertain themselves while the archers had photos taken. 

 

This is everyone who could come and I know there were others who couldn't come.  It is a great team and we enjoy being a part of it!

4-H events

 Ephraim has had a couple of 4-H events in March.  First, at their regular meeting he had a presentation to give.  He chose to give the other members a True/False quiz on chickens and eggs.  Then he had the members match up 6 colored eggs (white, blue and different shades of brown) with pictures of hens (and one rooster). 

 

The pictures of the hens (and one rooster) are on containers with a slot for their egg ballot.  They had written their names on the eggs  and the person with the most eggs correctly matched up would win a chicken.  Not really, but it was funny with the 4-Hers. 

Ephraim and Emmet are matching up the egg votes. 

 

 

 On a Tuesday  night in March, Ephraim had to speak to a roomful of Farm Bureau members.  He told them about his chicken broiler project last year at the fair and how much he learned from it.  The project was sponsored by Farm Bureau and they paid for the chicks.  They wanted to hear if the program was worthy of another year of sponsorship.  We must have made a good impression because they voted to sponsor it again and even contribute more money to the broiler project.  We are excited about it again this year!

 

There was a county-wide 4-H silent auction on Friday, March 13.  We bid on a few items but only came home with one, which is fine.  The bucket we won had many items in it and there was something for everyone -- a hitchpin, work gloves, a bucket, chocolate, Osky Cash, a water bottle, a tape measure and movie tickets.  It was a pretty good deal and the money goes back into the 4-H fund for ribbons and judges at the fair. 

Waiting for the silent auction to close. 

How many mints did you eat??

Spring!

We were so glad to have some spring weather last week!  It was glorious to be outside in the fresh air and we took some time to enjoy it. 
On Friday the 13th, Eliza had the rare opportunity to have some alone time with me when Seth took the other three to do some chores.  She wanted to play tag and I said yes.  I mean, how could I say no to her.  Well, by the end I was the one begging to go inside.  She can run and run and run and run.  And she can run fast.  I was breathless.  Then she tried to outsmart me by running up a tree!

 

 

 While the boys are getting their piano lessons, it is now warm enough that the girls and I, along with the piano teacher's boys, get to play outside!  The tire swing is a favorite and so are the swings that hang from the tree.  Lots of "underdogs" are given until I take a break!

Sewing Day

The kids had scheduled a sewing day with Grandma Donna for March 5.  The main idea was for Ephraim to sew a pillowcase and get one fair project accomplished already. 

 

 

Ephraim chose a Case IH theme. 

 

And if one child is busy sewing, the others also want to be involved.  So, the girls brought fabric to make a bag, a purse and a pillow for each of them. 

Emmet chose a John Deere theme. 

Using Grandma's Serger. 

 

Eliza is sewing her purse. 

Eliza's purse is finished!  Eliza also made a pillow but I will have to get a picture later. 

The boys with their finished pillowcases! 

Eden with her bag and pillow. 

 

Everyone learned some great skills, had a good time sewing with Grandma and playing games with Grandpa who was home for the day.  Now we just have to remember to bring these projects to the fair :)

Band O Rama

Ephraim's first Band-O-Rama experience was Monday night, the 9th.  All the bands in the EBF district play 2-4 songs.  There is a 5th grade band where Fremont, Eddyville and Blakesburg 5th graders play together even though they are all separate elementary schools.  There is a 6th grade band, a junior high band and then the high school band. 

A photo with all the siblings:

Emmet took a picture of Ephraim and me. 

There were 4 trombone players in all, Ephraim is on the right. 

Ephraim is playing Seth's trombone from years ago :)

The musicians played for a packed gymnasium.  Ephraim also had Grandpa Arlin & Grandma Donna in attendance. 

Great job 5th graders!  They sounded excellent!

 

"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High." 

Psalm 92: 1

Sermon & Bells

Our church takes a turn once a month hosting the church service at a local assisted living location--the same location where Seth's Grandparents spent some time.  Seth was at a meeting where they asked for volunteers to give the sermon/devotional time and Seth volunteered.  He also volunteered the kids and I to play our bells, which we have done in the past.   

 

Here we are on March 1.  We started by asking for favorite hymns to sing. 

Seth gave the message on some of the fascinating facts about Noah's Ark.  He gathered most of his information from the many books we have by Ken Ham, a creation scientist.  It was a great message and the audience appreciated his time and efforts in coming to worship with them. 

Emmet and I are playing "What Can Wash Away My Sins." 

The girls and I are doing "Jesus Loves Me."

 

We had a change in location when we were done here.  The staff caught us when we were done and asked us to come to the Alzheimer's unit, so we went there and played for those special ladies. 

The boys and I played several songs together, including "How Firm A Foundation" and "Doxology." 

Ephraim and I played "Crown Him with Many Crowns." 

 

We enjoyed our time here and hope to be back again soon. 

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By this faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."  Hebrews 11:7

Flare's Homecoming

 

Ephraim's bottle calf, Flare, from last spring was moved for the winter to be with the other cows at Seth's parents' place.  Now was the time to bring Flare back to our place so Ephraim can care for her in preparation of the county fair.  Saturday, February 28, the boys spent the morning doing cattle work and then bringing  Flare to our place and getting her settled.  She was missing the buddies that she had at her other pen :( .  It won't be long and she might have some new bottle calf buddies here and she'll be the big sister ;)

Flare has definitely grown in the last year and is no longer the small calf that came to our house in the minivan!

A boy . . . his calf . . . his brother. . . love!

 

 

"Make it your ambition to lead a quite life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

 

Father Daughter GEMS

The girls had their annual GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) Father-Daughter event on February 18 at church.  They were more than excited and had been counting down the days . . . always making sure that Daddy was still available to take them that night. 

 

All dressed up and ready!

Ready to go with Daddy. 

Sisters and best friends!

They wanted a picture of their hair pulled up and looped. 

Dancing in the kitchen while we wait for Daddy to be ready. 

 

The evening's theme was Minute-to-Win-it games. 

Eden enjoyed stacking Conversation Hearts. 

And both girls enjoyed trying to get an Oreo from their forehead to their mouth. 

It was a great evening with great memories for the girls and their Daddy.