Summer Part II and into Fall Y'all

Strawberry-Rhubarb pie at my Aunt Jeannie's. Doesn't that look spectacular? It tasted even better!


Bethany playing at Grandma and Grandpa Hay's house.

Bethany and Grandpa

We took a trip to the North Shore and this was at Duluth Harbor at the lift bridge.

Trent received his first bible at church. He is really taking off in his interest and ability to read.

Toby demonstrating my wood graining project.

Bethany's dedication at our church. We're thankful for a strong community of believers!

Still here... Summer part 1...

Camping in June with lots of friends at Baker State Park. First the adults... (and Chewie)

and then all of the kids... (I think there were actually some missing)

Fishing with the kids... or should i say the kids fishing with their bait assistant dads!

Becky looking as beautiful as ever!

For some reason I can't get rid of the text underline here. This is Bethany and I at Trent's soccer practice.

Over the 4th, Matthew ran in the kid's Pan-O-Prog fun run. He placed third overall. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

Matthew and I went to camp Nathanael earlier this summer. It was a great time for just the two of us to ride horse, shoot things, make things out of wood, sing songs about God, discuss some important life stuff and just hang out!

Matthew really enjoyed shooting targets and earned two merit badges for his sharpshooting ability.

What made the experience even better was that we were able to spend it with some good friends of mine. Here we hiked out into a field filled with ticks, built a fire and had a hobo supper. It was sweet! Except, of course, the tick part.

Matthew is doing piano lessons and has been doing soccer. He's doing well although can be our most challenging child at times as his will is strong. I'm sure someday we will be thankful for that!

Trent has started 1st grade and is our most happy go lucky child that goes with the flow. Unfortunately this causes him to go a long with the flow too much depending upon who he is hanging with at the time. Trent has just completed a great flag football season... more to come there...

Toby and Bethany are at times the best of friends and others, the worst of enemies. Both are doing well and clearly have accepted each other as brother and sister. I know I fought with my sister battle royale style growing up so I guess all is well there.

More to come about how our summer wrapped up!

Busy, busy, BUSY!

We have been busy. I'm sure you are experiencing the same! I heard a story of a conversation between two friends. One was going on an on about how crazy his life was for quite some time while the other friend listened. Finally the silent friend spoke and said, "You don't have to do this."

The troubled friend said"Yeah, I should try not to be so worked up". The other friend said again, "you don't have to do this" in a calm voice. He then said it over and over and over again.

It seems that it is so easy to get busy but it is so much harder to stop being busy in this stage of life! Especially with all that goes on. The point of the friend saying, "you don't have to do this" over and over again is that our God is much bigger than the situation we are in. He is working through it, around it and it. He will get us through it and help us to the the next challenge. He wants us to take refuge in Him as we work through life's challenges and struggles.

May you find peace and hope in God's plans for you on a daily basis! Hopefully my story made some sense today...

The kids are good. Very busy and very much typical kids.

Dan