family + sun + water = good times

we drove straight south, for hours. away from the calendar, the schedules, the telephone ringing, appointments, chores, and work. the trip was uneventful, save one flat tire on the boat trailer and one forgotten cooler of food in the kitchen. the tire was changed quickly thanks to the spare and the tools that mark threw in at the last minute. and the food would be replaced at the walmart as we neared our destination. we turned off the highway and meandered into countryside and then woods. the woods got thicker until we reached paradise! the woods cleared into shimmering water...

a view of the resort from the water

S is up and skiing!


the captain

S and B hangin' on!

C at the helm

everyday gift: the hum of the boat, splashing water, sweet laughter

summer camp

dusting off this blog post draft left over from the summer... i downloaded a few pictures from B's canoeing adventure in july, but never went any further. and then life kept happening. and happening. so here i am trying to get back into the blogging habit. i will start by posting this summer memory. now that it is october the days are getting shorter, the nights cooler, and the evenings are now filled with homework. how did the summer fly by so quickly?

a picture perfect day for canoeing

everyday gift: summer sun, fun on the water!

one thing i love about summer...

everyday gift: vine ripened tomatoes

snap shots of a summer adventure

a glorious week on clayter lake.

sailing, canoeing, swimming, snorkelling, rowing, water skiing.

a summer to remember.

i think C is the last one in the last canoe.

sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

sunshine in my eyes can make me cry,

sunshine on the water looks so lovely...

(sorry, i just couldn't resist breaking into a john denver song)

the dock

umm. i guess they weren't really "roughin' it", now were they?



the rocket, pulled by a speed boat

a beautiful sail boat.

C tells the story of their first day out in the sail boat when a storm popped up. the wind was keeping them from making any progress toward the dock and at one point the boat was almost capsized! i'm not sure, but i think he actually enjoyed it. or maybe he just enjoyed telling the story and how he had lived through it! ;o)

C learned to row and really fell in love with this sport at camp. living right on the mississippi river, he may have the opportunity to pursue this new interest. i'm looking into it.

his incredible week of water sports ended with a bang. the night before heading home, C caught his hand between two boards tearing his finger, requiring an ambulance ride to the ER and 11 stitches. now i know why i was praying so hard this week! and despite the injury, i know that God protected him. C's tendon was exposed from the cut. had his tendon actually been cut, he would have needed surgery instead of just stitches! so we are thankful for the silver lining.

C in the ER

"yes, mom. i'm really okay!"

everyday gift: C on an exciting adventure... and safely home!

zucchini blossoms

please excuse my absence. i've been lingering in the garden...

everyday gift: the summer sun nourishing my garden

success!

i knew you could do it!

everyday gift: learning to fly

an afternoon at the park

after a morning of running errands with 4 kids...we were all ready for a break! i packed some sandwiches so we could enjoy the beautiful afternoon picnicking at the park. it was so much cooler than the normal temperatures of august and the sun was shining! so i sat in the shade munching on doritos and sipping snapple peach tea while the kids ran off the energy which had accumulated while they were "being quiet and not running" in the carpet store!

we rule the merry-go-round!

oops! bad picture, moving too fast!

the zip line

(although after his summer camp excitement, S was not impressed by this. lol.)

everyday gift: an afternoon at the park

summer sweet corn and the keepers

there is nothing like illinois sweet corn straight from the garden. oh, my! it is heaven. it is one of those things that you simply must have when the hot days of august roll around.

the keepers met on saturday to work on their food preservation badge. i really must take just a moment to tell you how truly thankful i am for this group. i have been so blessed by these moms and daughters (both past members and present). these women have been such an encouragement to me by their commitment to spending time with their girls, teaching and mentoring them in all areas of skill and service. at this meeting nancy taught the group how to preserve fresh corn by freezing it. she did a wonderful job of leading the girls through each step. and we enjoyed her stories of growing up on a farm where the whole family and a whole day was devoted to the process, freezing many times more than we attempted on this day. thank you, nancy, for sharing your expertise with us!

beforet the meeting, B and i stopped by the farmer's market to pick up some really fresh corn...

beacon woods market stand

this is my friend, chris at the farmer's market. her corn is incredible!

( you can check out her blog here. she writes about her adventures on the farm and her observations of God's grace and love. )

B choosing her corn for the keepers at home meeting this morning

first the corn is shucked and cleaned of silk.

then into the boiling pots go the cobs of corn

after 3 minutes at a rolling boil,

the piping hot, blanched corn is taken out the pot...

and plunged into ice water to stop the cooking process.

mrs. D is demonstrating the safe way to cut the kernels from the cob,

the girls give it a try.

filling the freezer bags with the corn kernels

nice team work!

the girls holding a bag of the finished product, ready for the freezer

they did a fantastic job!!!

everyday gift: sweet girls and sweet corn

ahhh, those summer days

we are in the midst of a very memorable summer: the house, 9 camps between the kids, living in town, bethany's pony...wow, such excitement and fun. here are a few snapshots of july.

S with his garter snake

lolly enjoying the pasture

our cozy little summer cottage

this little house is such a reminder to me of God's provision.

while i was busy worrying about how all the details of our move would work out, He quietly provided...

a picnic at the farm

i have been packing a lot of our meals lately and taking them out to the new house where mark is busy working. the boys have been a great help: cleaning up the construction area, working on the deck, framing some basement walls. sometimes we eat in the barn on my kitchen table stored there. this day the weather was perfect for the picnic table.

bethany having a ride

everyday gift: enjoying summer days

the lemonade stand

B has really enjoyed having her friend live just a few doors down for the summer. they are constantly scootering back and forth between the houses, having popsicles, than checking at the other's house to hopefully have another one. (yes, B. i'm on to you!) last week they launched their lemonade business. that kept them busy for days, cleaning out the play house, making signs, gathering supplies, advertising in the neighborhood, and minding the stand.

the lemonade was as sweet as the memories being made.

i thought 10 c was a bargain, so i gave a little in the tip jar, too. ;o)

everyday gift: a summertime lemonade stand