hot air balloon ride

For our birthdays, Mom gave my brother, husband and me tickets to go on a hot air balloon ride….we just had to pick a date. This past Saturday finally worked, and the day could not have been more beautiful. We were able to ride "Tiny", the largest balloon in Ohio.

If you have ever dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon, I would highly recommend it! We flew with Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Company out of Lebanon, Ohio. They were so professional and had a great sense of humor. www.hotairballoonrides.com

Unloading the basket from the trailer.

Ready to tip the basket after the burners were attached.

Straightening lines and filling the balloon.

Filling with air.

Three other balloons ready for take-off.

View from the basket looking straight up.

Looking down as we take-off.

A beautiful evening.

Here we are in the balloon.

Our shadow.

Putting the basket away.

With our awesome pilot!

fall photo shoot 2014

This past Saturday was a beautiful, cool fall day here in Ohio. I always enjoy taking the kids to the farm to get their photos taken. These were shot during the evening. I use a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 18-270mm lens. I prefer natural lighting when possible. The kids and I had great fun, and many thanks to my mom for helping the kids to smile for the pictures. Of the 132 photos taken, these were my final and favorite pictures.


In black and white:

In color:

Together. (Getting multiple children to stand still, smile, and pay attention can be quite a feat.)

a little put-put

We had some friends with us today and decided to take the kids put-putting (miniature golf). It was a first for my kids, and they kept calling it it "pot-pot." We went to Hazzards in Huber Heights, where they have a nice 18-hole course. The funniest part was when Claire figured out the point of the game was to get the ball in the hole at the end of the green, so she would pick up her ball and run to the end, place it 3 inches from the hole and hit it in. "I did it!" She was so excited each time. Frederick was the only one to get a hole-in-one. Elauna actually had pretty good form: golf might be her sport.

With the friends.

Hazzards put-put course.

Getting tips from Dad.

Frederick working on a shot.

This is how close she would stand for her shot!

My little golfer.

In the event you are interested in miniature golf, check out Hazzards in Huber Heights.
www.hazzardsminigolf.com
6240 Brandt Pike
Dayton, Ohio
937.233.4706
They are located right next to the bowling lanes.

mother's day

I know this post is a week after Mother's Day, but I'm still a thankful mom and wanted to share about my day. Elauna filled out a paper during Sunday School entitled, All About Mom. Here goes:

My mom is really good at: painting. (I'm thinking painting walls or tables, not fine art!)
My favorite thing to do with my mom is: play games
I think my mom is pretty wearing: dress and necklace
It makes my mom happy when I: listen (she nailed that one!) :-)
I know my mom loves me because: she cuddles with me

Her little paper was the sweetest thing!

Me and Sis

With Mom and the kids at hospital after Dad's triple bypass.
Thanks to so many for the prayer coverage.

Mom and I went to see the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
My friend Parker was playing the french horn.
They are incredible!

So there it was: Mother's Day in a nut shell.

money well spent

I don't know anywhere else you can spend a penny and get your money's worth. Each time we go to Meijer my kids all wait in line for their turn. Three cents. And they think they've gone to the circus or something.

beauty in the details

I was walking with my kids this evening while Jeremy was planting the fields. They picked dandelions and waived them in the wind and watched the seeds blow. They would bring me a few of their favorites…mostly just the stems by the time they made it to me. I picked one myself and really marveled at the beauty and complexity of the dandelion….a common weed.

a walk with my son

We were at the farm recently and I wanted to take a walk in the field to look for arrowheads before the ground gets worked and the field planted. I had my little man with me, and for some reason he thought we were looking for corn. (It had been planted in corn last year….) He wandered behind me for awhile.

"Mom, I can't find any corn."
"Alright, son."

We walked to the edge of the field. Whack!
Whack. Whack.
I turned around. What is he doing?

I was half tempted to tell him to quit hitting the corn stubble, then he stated to me:
"I'm getting the bad guys for you." He smiled so big and gripped his make-shift sword from a corn stalk and continued to whack away.

"Don't go too far Mom. I'm your protector." Whack Whack.
"Oh no. The bad guys broke my sword!"

I turned around, waiting patiently as he stripped another stalk back to get a new sword.

"Ok, you can go now." Whack, whack. "Oh, they got me!"

We stop. I say to him: "Pick up your sword. Don't give up now. Don't let the bad guys win."

He whacks away for a few more rows. "Ha, Ugh, Yah!" Whack, whack.

A few steps more, I ask my little prince, "Are you alright?"
His cheeks are bright red; he is breathing hard.

"Yes, Mom. I'm going to get all those bad guys for you. I'm strong. I'm your protector."

He gave it all he had, whacking away at the corn stubble with his sword. He was proud of his work. We walked to the edge of the field and hopped on the golf cart. He put his arm around my neck and gave me a kiss.

He smiled big and said, "You are my beauty…….and I'm your prince."


I didn't find any arrowheads, but I found something even better. My little four-year-old son fought a valiant battle and won….and he showed his mother that the greatest battle for a man is fighting for what he loves. He was never taught to be this way, but his Creator instilled this into him. And I am proud he wants to be a protector.

little blue derby

Just for fun. We were at the Equine Affaire today in Columbus and I visited the marketplace where people can sell their used tack, show clothes, and accessories. I found the cutest little blue derby hat, sized 6 1/2 for $10. I love collecting hats and they make great props. Frederick loved the hat right away and wanted to wear it. Here are the kids having fun with our new find:

So cute, ears and all.

peru

Jeremy and I are really excited about the opportunity we have to go to Peru this July. We are going with a group from church and will be heading to the Andes Mountains where we will be hiking at 13,000 feet and camping during the nights. The Bible has recently been translated into the Quechuan language and we will get to take these Bibles to remote villages where they get to read God's Word for the very first time in their own language. That really really excites me!!! The children will get children's Bibles too, with pictures and we will teach in the schools and villages as well.

Eighty degree days, twenty degree nights, hiking 6 to 8 miles a day, sleeping in tents, buckets baths, rice and veggies for dinner…..it really sounds perfect. And I've had to amp up my workouts and healthy eating. The kids are pretty excited for us to leave too, because they get to go to the zoo…and other fun things Mimi has planned. I know I will miss them terribly though!

We would really appreciate prayers in the following areas:

1. Preparation to be apart from our family; that our hearts will be strong.
2. Physical strength for the journey, safety, and closeness for our team.
3. Preparation of the hearts of the people to whom we will share the Gospel.

If you are interested in learning more, you can let me know…I would be thrilled to talk more about this trip or the ministry going on in Peru. Here are a few more pictures from those who have gone before:

Hiking to the mountains.

Setting up camp.

The beautiful colors of the local people.

spring help

We are so thankful for the warm weather! Getting the gardens ready has been very relaxing and peaceful, and the kids have been a big help. Little Claire isn't too keen on the strong wind, so she took a nap in the garden shed. The warmth of the sun and the smell of the fresh air is such a welcome change from the long winter.

Taking the grass to the burn pile.

Elauna was sick, so she bundled up and sat in the sun.
Claire didn't like the wind too well.

Just waking up from her nap.

Having fun in the garden shed.