Hi Ho Hi Ho to the mountains we go

One of the best parts of July is that huckleberry season starts.  We found a "secret" place in the mountains where they are plentiful for the picking.  This season we may have went 1-2 weeks too early as some were still not ripe and a lot of them were pretty small which means you pick them forever and EVER...seriously they are the size of small bb's, it took us 2-3 hours to pick the bare minimum. For example to make jam it takes about 5 cups to yield about 5-6 small jars.  So we make it and put it under lock and key, just kidding, kind of.  :)

Enjoy the pictures, we had a fun family day!

Busy picking huckleberries 

Emily is such a great helper

Notice her "autograph" on the car

Enjoying being in the moutnains

LOVE my girl!!

The Family 

The berries

Kick'n it old school

Oh my we are out of summer and into the new school year... I've decided rather than recap the entire summer in one post I will spread it out... I hope that each of you had a fun summer with family and friends!

Miss Emily ended July by "Kick'n it Old School" at VBS.  It was the 80's reinvented. She had 2 great teachers and lot's of fun.  The highlights for me were watching her singing and dancing during worship and  on the last day of VBS she told me that "Jesus will ALWAYS be my friend". You got that right baby.  I pray for this simple truth to be rooted deep in her heart for all her days.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

First year of VBS (Kick 'n it Old School theme)  

Singing "I am Soldier in the Army of the Lord"

Playing "ring around the rosey" with her little buddy K.

Facing your fears...

Miss Emily had great motivation for learning to ride her bike without training wheels.  She was signed up to ride with Olympian Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong in the kids ride before the Twilight Criterium.  The catch was no training wheels.  She had one month to tackle this.  Each night Rick and I would go out into the cul de sac and give it a try.  I have to be honest it was really Rick who was holding her up, running beside her and coaching her.  I was on the sidelines cheering them both on and bringing refreshments for the hard work being done each evening.  Emily suffered a couple skinned knees as she learned that looking back over your shoulder resulted in tipping over and also turning too sharply had a tendency  to do the same thing.  It was so awesome watching her each night ride a bit further, balance better and be able to do more things on her own, like starting and stopping.  On one glorious evening it all came together.  I can still in my mind picture her little legs going a million miles an hour and her HUGE smile as she is pedaling towards me and daddy is running fast to keep up along side her.  Believe it or not the next day she went around the block and through our neighborhood several times.  The day after that she rode her first ride 8.5 miles.  Daddy took her down to the greenbelt and they rode over to Grandma and Grandpa Great's house! Good job Emily, you did it!


As the days grew closer for her to ride in the Twilight Kids Ride she started getting anxious and wasn't so sure she wanted to go.  One day she said to me " momma I think I am afraid.  but I want to face my fears so I won't be afraid anymore"... such a wise little girl.  


The big day finally came.  She would at least go with her bike to the starting line.  And as she faced her fears her little legs once again peddled a million miles an hour and soon those tears turned to joy as she realized she could and did do it.  So proud of you Miss Emily.  


I hope this same determination follows you all through your life.  

Yes I can, Yes I can, Yes I can

My first ride to the greenbelt

You CAN do it Emily!!

Such a fun day! Kristen is class act all the way around...

Emily took this picture of Kristin

Awestruck Wonder

There is nothing quite like getting up into the mountains.  The smell of fallen pine needles, the babble of a stream, fresh air, blue skies, quiet and breathtaking scenery in every direction.  Our Lord truly knows how to touch our hearts and fill us with wonder.  


We decided to go on a day hike after church last Sunday and it was so fun and refreshing.  Miss Emily carried her own water and walked the entire 6 miles, we were really proud of her.  She loved picking wildflowers as she walked along the trail and at midpoint enjoyed playing in the river and cooling off.  Rick was able to go along leisurely and take pictures for enjoyment which was a nice change of pace for him.  And for me personally it was my first attempt at carrying weight on my back,  walking on unsteady ground, and climbing up and down since I suffered my herniated disc and nerve stuff last year.  I am happy to say that I made it and believe it or not I fared pretty well.  On our way out we heard rumbling in the sky and we enjoyed some sprinkles; it was refreshing. There was so much beauty.  The rain drops that were falling onto the river were beautiful and the mountain air came alive even more.  It was such a great day with my family!  We are looking forward to doing more hikes this summer.   

God Bless America

We had a great 4th of July.  We started the day out with the parade downtown and finished the day with our own little showing of fireworks.  My mom surprised us and joined us for the evening.  I have to say I got a little bit teary eyed as the parade started. When they walked by with the American flag and everyone started standing up to be able to look up and down the street and see the patriotism was such an awesome sight to see.  I thank all of the service men and women who lay down their lives so that me and my family can enjoy that freedom.  God Bless America!

Happy 4th of July

My momma and me

Yummy fruit cheesecake

Sparkler Fun

Little Cinderelly :)

Summer Fun

I cannot believe how fast this summer is breezing by! Enjoy the pics :)

From Hopeless to hopeful

“There is hope in your future, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:17, NKJV

In Christ there is hope; outside of Christ there is no hope. Those focused on heaven find hope; those focused on earth find hope illusive. A life lived by faith is hopeful, but a life lived in fear is hopeless. Hope is not just the outcome of an optimist, it is the fruit of those whose security is in their Savior Jesus Christ. Moreover, money messes with the mind as it demands full allegiance to the almighty dollar in exchange for a false hope.


However, we discover authentic hope and freedom in our submission to Christ as Lord and Master of our fate. Deep abiding hope is not a strategy, but a reality when we bow in reverent obedience to God. He does not tease His children with pseudo promises. On the contrary, our heavenly Father gave what was most precious to Him, His Son, so we could become sons and daughters of the most High. Indeed, hope is a gift from God.


“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32


Where is the root of your hope grounded? In your job or Jesus? With friends or faith? In your home or heaven? In earthly riches or the riches of God’s grace? Satan cannot steal the seed of hope when you plant it in the soil of Scripture. Your hope in Christ is not conditional to circumstances; rather it thrives on trust when assaulted by ambiguity. You move from hopelessness to hopefulness when what matters most, matters the most.


Jesus matters most. Faith matters most. Family matters most. Friends matter most. Love matters most. Fear of God matters most. Evangelism matters most. Discipleship matters most. Stewardship matters most. A healthy diet and regular exercise matter most. Prayer matters most, bible study matters most and forgiveness matters most. Your focus on what matters most is fuel for attaining comfort, hope and courage from Christ. He matters most.


Therefore, be hopeful as a child of God. Your hope in Christ is an advertisement for the Almighty. Those with no hope are attracted to the genuine hope in your heart. Indeed, you are hopeful, because of the origin of your optimism, and the greater purpose of your hope is to bring hope to the hopeless. Suicide shrivels with the prospect of hope. Faith comes alive in Christ and His loving acceptance. Praise the Lord that your hope is alive!


“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

by Wisdom Hunters Devotional