Our Summer Part #4

 Our next visitors this summer were Uncle B and Cousin C. We had such a great time with them.

Swimming, water fights, shaving cream fight, watching olympics, going to the playground, going to the woods, the kids loved playing around the house and building forts. B let Babe and I go out on a date and we had a wonderful time doing that!

 Ahh, fun in the woods!!!

 I received the HARD end of the water fights we had and

ended up drenched and having had a lot of fun! The first water fight I went out myself and built up an arsenal of water balloons and then called the boys outside and starting bombarding them. They quickly started repaying me!!

One day the boys had a day out and went to the Golden knife store

and they each got a new knife. Gabriel is THRILLED with his new knife 

which is way better than his old one. The took time to carve with there new knives.

They had a good boy day in Golden with Babe, Uncle Q, and Uncle B!

 Fort time!!! Box for playing card and board games inside!

 Uncle Ben hanging out with Annalina and Jedidiah!

 Annalina and Cousin C were the best at this game. Catching cheeseballs on shower cap doused in shaving cream. C had the hang of it!

 The shaving cream game turned into a BIG and FUN shaving cream fight!!

Our Summer Part #3

 When Babe's brother and his sister-in-law were here they climbed Pikes Peak.

It took 7 hours and 45 minutes to get up. They took one of the longer routes up.

Coming down was a lot faster but also 

while they were coming down ran into a CRAZY dangerous storm. It is a hike

none of them will ever forget, FOR SURE!
My brother-in-law took these pictures.

 My brother and sister-in-law at the summit!

What an accomplishment! I was so excited for them!

Brian with his brother.

Our Summer Part #2

 Grandma L enjoying cuddle time with Jedidiah!

The beginning of July Babe's oldest brother and his family and Babe's Mom and Dad came for a visit.

 Carson first started this riding with Gabriel because he couldn't keep up with the big kids.

If you can't race them . . . join them! Here he is with his cousin K.

 The kids really had a WONDERFUL time with their cousins!

Always something to do! My brother -in- law took this 

super cool picture!

 Fun with wrist rockets. I could hear the "ready, aim, fire" from 

inside the house!

 The gang white water rafting!

 Tooooo fun!

 Garden of the gods with cousins K and K.

Little bit bright out there!

 Cousin K and Ross climbing in Garden of the gods.

Ross loves climbing this rock.

 We drove to the summit of Pikes Peak. We had to take turns going to the top because young infants are not allowed at the top. Gabriel went with the second group up.

 Cousin K taking care of Carson at the summit of Pikes Peak.

 Hanging out on Pikes Peaks.

 The kids found some gems!! Especially Cousin K seemed good at spotting them!

 Cousin K would dress up Carson from time to time in 

crazy outfits!!! Cousin K would bring him to show 

the latest crazy and fun outfit!

 Firemen, Super Hereos, Both?!!!!

 Annalina helping Grandma L make some pie.

 We went for a cool tour of the Olympic Training Center 

in Colorado Springs.

Aunt K sure did love little Jedidiah. She wanted to take 

him home with her! Aunt K is awesome at taking care

of babies. She taught me after Gabriel was born!

It was great to see everyone again. Fun to sit around chatting.

Our Summer Part #1

 The end of May we were able to get together with Babe's youngest brother 

and his family. The kids really really enjoyed hanging out with their cousins!

I Appreciated this thought provoking challenge about being a wife . . .

Portion of Beall Phillips challenge . . . I read this on visionforumministries.org it was titled

150 Gather for Edwardian Ladies’ Tea to Honor Heroes of Titanic and “Women and Children First. Beall Phillips asks: “Are you a woman a man would die for?”

"There are many tragedies and devastations in history, but what sets this one apart and draws us back to remembering it year after year, decade after decade, is the extraordinary sacrifice demonstrated. The critical element in the story of the Titanic is the sacrifice of the men for the women and children.
So, I have a sober question for you. It is one I have been asking myself and meditating on for several months now.
How can we as women inspire the men in our lives to sacrifice for us? Are we worthy of such sacrifice?
In the ultimate sense, of course, no, we are not worthy. We are ultimately worthy only of death and damnation. And the charge for men to give up their lives for their brides as Christ gave His for the church is not based on the merit or deserving character of the bride. It is their duty and obligation regardless. But set that aside for this question.
But how can we live, day to day, in a manner which would make worthwhile a man’s sacrifice? How can we inspire our husband, our sons, to consider it an honor, not an obligation, to lay down their lives for us?
What kind of attitudes should we cultivate and actions should we aspire to raise our character?
Let me tell you about three of my dearest friends who have taught me about this very question. They have walked with me intimately since I was a child, and while these friends are no longer living, they daily encourage and exhort me from their own lives through the pages of Scripture. They are Sarah, Ruth, and Esther.
Sarah gives every woman hope! She laughed at the prophecy of the Lord regarding bearing a child, then took matters into her own hands and created an enormous mess in her family. On two occasions Abraham failed to protect her, and yet Sarah is the one singled out in the New Testament to be praised for submitting to her husband and calling him “lord.” The Scriptures say: “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” (1 Peter 3:1-7) She must have ended very well despite all the faulty beginnings. Her life should encourage every woman alive.
Ruth exemplifies loyalty, bravery, creative problem solving, and a commendable work ethic...
Esther demonstrates perspective, unselfishness, respect of authority, acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God, honorable confidence, the power of prayer and fasting, and consideration of timing and jurisdiction in making an appeal. . . . .
What do we see in the lives of these friends that we can incorporate into our own lives? This principle: Maintain an eternal perspective. Do not get lost in the small facts and details of the moment. God is about a much bigger plan.
Be thankful and joyful as these attitudes demonstrate trust in God and faith in His sovereignty. Root out feminism. We are all daughters of Eve, and like Sarah, and all the rest, the seeds are there. Eschew pettiness. It is not noble.
Allow yourself to be protected. It is risky and not guaranteed, but God is in control, and His way is the only proven way.
Believe in the men in your life. Pray for them, encourage them, and see God’s work in them. Refuse the temptation to dwell on his shortcomings. You have your own. . .do you want those to be in the limelight? Of course not!
Let him lead. Watch the Lord work through His purposefully designed jurisdictions for His goals.
Look at your own life, as I am looking at mine. Consider how you can live, day to day, in a manner which inspires the men around you to consider it a noble thing, an honor and a privilege, not only a duty and obligation, to lay down their lives for you. What attitudes and actions do you need to cultivate in your daily life? How can you become a woman worthy of such sacrifice?"

Father Son Retreat Coming Soon!!

Babe and Gabriel are VERY excited about their Father Son Retreat coming up! They signed up for this in the spring and were eager then! Lord willing we would like to send both Gabriel and Ross with Babe for next years retreat. We are also hoping it will work out financially and time wise for Babe to take Annalina to Vision Forum's Father Daughter Retreat in Georgia in March!

If you click on the link below on the right hand side is the schedule for the father son retreat this year and you can see what some of those "manly arts" are that they will be learning. We really appreciate what Vision Forums mission is to equip the family to be strong in the Lord and for the fathers to be the spiritual leaders both leading to multi-generational faith in the Lord.

Vision Forum's Father Son Retreat