Friday, April 23, 2010

Cows and a Picnic

Before the rainy weekend, we enjoyed one more night outside. I convinced Ezra that his gumboots were necessary for a trip to see the cows, rather than his tennis shoes. It took him a while to get comfortable with the cows, but he soon had his skid loader out hauling silage.

Afterwords we had a picnic at Wagaman Mill on the North Skunk Creek in Lynnville, IA with leftover lasagna sent home with Brian from pastor's day at Pella Christian High School. The girls said they would be wearing their dresses from Pella Christian's Junior/Senior banquet on Sunday morning, which I'll look forward to seeing. Too bad it has to be so rainy for them tonight!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Preach Christ or Plant Corn

Ezra sitting in the back window, watching Brian cultivate the soil before planting.

There is an old joke about the man who saw “PC” in a cloud formation and thought surely he was called to “Preach Christ.” After listening to many of his sermons, some church folks suggested that perhaps he was called to “Plant Corn.”

Thankfully, after Brian's first services on Sunday, he was affirmed that his call was to "Preach Christ," but he was also grateful to be able to plant corn this past weekend too.

A farmer in our congregation reminded Brian of this old story after hearing that he experienced both this weekend.

A full tractor cab.


Thursday, April 15, 2010

Birthday Blessings

Today is my 27th Birthday, and like many, I had forgotten it was my birthday until mid-morning when I received birthday wishes from a friend. Because Brian had meetings tonight, we celebrated last night with a family fishing outing the in the beautiful spring weather. I didn't catch any fish worth taking pictures of.

I've been slowly scanning pictures in from my childhood so that I can have them electronically to make a photo album and throw the hard copies away. Here are a few from birthdays/April's past:

Uncle Doug was roto tilling my mom's garden for her the day I was born, so he wrote my name and climbed the antenna tower to take a picture.

Helping dad put on chemicals in early spring field work.
Three year picture at Grandma Boender's farm house.The best slumber party ever in second grade!

Fishing with Grandma Ferguson. I'm supposed to be holding the one my biggest brother Mike has in his right hand.

Today the boys and I went to "the big house" to watch a construction company pour a new drive way and side walk. Ezra brought his little cement truck to play with in the dirt. We took along coffee time from the bountiful collection of cookies we've received as newcomers to town, which they enjoyed enough to take Ezra on a skid loader ride. They assured him that it would be a super place to ride his four wheeler when it dried.

We also planted some garden and went to a friend's house to grill hamburgers and play.





Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bubbles and Fourwheeling






Installation

The worship service, potluck, and farewell for the interim pastor were rich with celebration and gratitude for what God is doing in our lives and in the church family. It was also very special to have our own family join us for the day.

Words from "Come, People of the Risen King," sang in the morning worship:

Come, young and old from every land -
Men and women of the faith;
Come, those with full or empty hands -
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing -
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age:
“Our God is all in all”!

Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!





Elliot gets a roll before the potluck begins.


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Visitors from Grand Rapids!

We had our first visitors from Grand Rapids stop by on their way back from visiting their daughter at college. Ezra was very excited to see Pastor Paul and Diane, Dylan, and especially Jenna.






Friday, April 9, 2010

Easter


After dinner playtime outdoors.
Pictures from last Easter, in Grand Rapids:
I haven't had near the time to exercise this pregnancy as I'd like, but it seems I get plenty without planning time to work out. :)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Airplane

Last weekend Ezra and I watched an airplane that was practicing landing and taking off on the grass airstrip across from our house.

A Welcome Party

We were honored to have a special welcome dinner with the Italian theme, "When You're Here, You're Family!" We enjoyed a delicious meal together, and Ezra enjoyed learning how to play ping-pong, and had his first Easter egg hunt. Brian also received a "Installation Memories Box," with notes of blessing and encouragement.




Monday, April 5, 2010

Moving Day Part II

A few pictures of our move into our temporary house, until the parsonage is ready...