An Abundance of Friends and Family

My dad generously traveled from Louisiana to go hunting with Jonathan this past week. 

Friends from church let them hunt on their property. Jon and Phoebe arrived home from a weekend youth group trip the same day that Aupa arrived and everyone was dead tired. The boys still got up at 5 am to hunt the next morning. This was Jon's first hunt. They never did see deer (at least not while hunting; I think they saw some while driving), but they saw lots of signs and trails, so Aupa was able to teach him some things at least. And they had good quality time together.

Target practice behind the house. 

Those black things on the grass are our shutters. Phillip took them down, sprayed them all down, and I painted them today. 

I listen to podcasts while I do such things as paint shutters. If you're a homeschooler, you might love The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins. If you're a Christian woman, you might enjoy these sisters in Idaho (What Have You). If you're just a general person, this is a great news podcast from a Christian worldview: The World and Everything in It.

Aupa sharpened our knives. He often does that for us when he visits and I love it!

He also taught us how to play Shanghai, which was a very Clouse activity for us all to do.

The cats now expect to be fed at all hours of the day. 

That or they're longing to be in a warm house.

Abigail had her second batch of kittens, but we have not seen any sign of them. They may not have survived.

The boys being silly while I read at bedtime. 

Those are Phoebe's feet.

A very sweet picture!

Jonathan and Gabry have been dating for three months now. 

We love her and her family.

Jonathan at the Ark Encounter. 

This is where the youth group went this past weekend. Seventeen youths on the trip! Bless youth ministers and sponsors. 

Jon and Phoebe had a really good time, and we are glad they got the experience of seeing the ark and visiting the Creation Museum.

The ark at night.

Jon, Phoebe and buddies.

Jon and the boys wandering the town.

Phoebe and friends. 

They got the loft. After hearing that the boys stayed up so rambunctiously late downstairs, they were happy they'd had their privacy. Phoebe says she's glad she "didn't have to witness a thing ~ probably several crimes were committed."

Phillip and I also had some friends over while the kids were gone. 

Twila (who is illustrating my homeschool book that will be out soon) and Christy (who is The Preacher's Wife [she hates being called that :-)]) and their husbands came over for lunch. Twila and Chris had their son Moses with them, so Harrison and he had a good time playing. Jamie and Christy's kids were also on the Ark Encounter youth group trip, so they were empty-nesters that weekend.

And Andrea and I get together about once a month to talk over a Bible study on Jospeh. She knows all the good places around here. We met in Bowling Green today at a really cute coffee shop and restaurant. I'll have to take Liz and Phoebe back next week while Liz is home.

The farmers around here are tilling the fields that were in corn and putting anhydrous on the fields that were in beans. I think that might be the end of seeing the tractors pass by. Until planting season. 

My mom and dad just bought a house in the country, and Mom has been describing to me the farming around them. They get to watch rice farming, and Mom talks to the cows while she hangs the laundry. 

I've been reading The Yearling to Harrison. 

I came upon this sentence which perfectly says what I've been wanting to say about fall-ish weather.