Strawberry picking...

 Our favorite strawberry patch closed last year and I was so sad. But this year we found a new one!

 Yay, for my strawberry pickers! They did an awesome job. Every time we went picking we got at least 10lbs.

Yum! This old strainer was a 10 cent find at a garage sale! It has been so handy for fruit.

Jam, is on my list of to do's this summer. I think I will make freezer jam next time around, but I couldn't resist making a batch of canned jam after getting these fun labels, papers and ties from a friend.

Camping at Steamboat Rock

 What a fun weekend! We camped with our friends Chris and Marie and their three boys. My only regret is that I didn't take more pictures. It was truly a fun time had by all.

Sweet Sammy

Our little Em always ready with a pose.

 

This boy was in heaven....he loves the water.

 Who says you can't play in the sand after dark?

Caught these two deep in conversation.

Marie brought some fun bubbles and these three couldn't get enough.

The evenings were so peaceful.

 Loved the wildflowers.

 Summer is here...and we love it!

Sunshine after the rain...

There were so many times as a child I would go to sleep with the sound of rain on our tile roof, but my favorite part was smelling the fresh air in the morning and seeing the bright sun come through the shutters of my window. Just today a dark cloud blew over and seemed gloomy for awhile, but shortly after the sun came out and everything seemed new and fresh. I feel like there are so many times in life when things seem gloomy and we forget about what will come later. The sunshine always seems brighter after those light and temporary trials, we appreciate life just a little more and a new fresh start to a day or our week can change our whole perspective! There may even be a rainbow to see!
Thank you Lord, for sunshine after the rain!

Finding joy in everyday...

 Last week was a very challenging with these two littles.
While Jocelynne and Jay were gone on a camping trip, we ventured out to several parks. Lots of walks around our neighborhood, lots of days with no naps, a trip to DQ and the thrift store.  Nathaniel is talking so much now and testing boundaries. God has been reminding me to stop and enjoy the little hugs, the laughs and finding the good in the hard days.

 This message from my sweet girl was definitely a good moment!

 

Visiting South Dakota

  Laying Grandma to rest. It was so comforting to sing a hymn all together at her grave to remind us all that she was in heaven.

Sweet memories made with all of my cousins in grandma's attic.

 

Watching my uncle's cattle drive.

 

Plenty of cousins to play with.

Beautiful sunsets.

We stopped in the old mining town of Wallace. I love this statue depicting a miner and his family.

I miss you Grandma...

 

 

The past week and a half has been a whirlwind. No one is ever prepared to say goodbye to someone they love or maybe it was she that loved so much which makes it even harder. Even though I know I will see my wonderful grandma again, it is hard.

The night sky was so peaceful and beautiful the day we put her to rest. The moon was just a sliver and stars so bright.

 It was so good to see my family, to retell the memories in her home, laugh and cry with my cousins, be together like old times and go through some of her treasures. But I wish they could all stay. That I could sit at this table again and have her ask me how I want my egg for breakfast. I want to sip some coffee with her out of these white mugs.

 I want her to be wearing this spring dress and greet me with her warm smile and smell the familiar welcome scent her house always had.

 I want her to tell me to go explore in the attic and play dress up again with my cousins.

 I want her to put on her shoes and ask me to go look at her garden with her.

 And put on her sun hat and ask me if I want to wear one too. And tell me all about what she has planted and how surprised she is that her radishes are doing so well.

I want her to go down to her basement and pull out her green box of chocolates and ask me to pick my favorite. Most of all I just want to chat with her and to hear her voice, her wisdom and her caring heart. Oh, how I miss you Grandma.

This and that...

 Just a fun little skirt I found at a garage sale for 25 cents. The tulle was torn, so I cut it off and for $1 I bought some new tulle at JoAnn's and sewed another layer on. Love fun projects like this!

 Apples from the Tonnemaker farm nearby. Yum. Jocelynne and I made this yummy pie.

 This year we are counting down to Thanksgiving day. Each day the kids take out a little note with something to do or open a new book. I am excited this week Jocelynne has half days at school and we will be able to do some really fun things together.

 This is one of the new books they have opened already.