October

October info:

1. Preschool music (aka "preschool noise") has been meeting at our house and its soooo much fun (thanks Mrs. Wagner!)... Mommy's going to start practicing not falling off the stage with Henry soon- as we prepare for the Christmas program.

2. It's fall!!! Though it in no way compares to Boone... our three trees worth of leaves have been quite fun.

3. Mommy did "The Screamer"... thanks Miss Micah and Miss Amanda for encouraging her. I gave Mommy the longest biggest hug when she came down. I think that's my way of saying "Good job Mommy but don't ever scare me like that again!!"

4. I won third prize out of all the little people in the pinewood car derby @ the Harvest Party! My tie-died minivan blew Daddy and Henry's Scout away... but theirs was pretty cool looking... if they'd painted it pink they'd have surely won 'Best in Show'--- who paints a Scout baby blue anyway?

5. Me, Henry, and Mommy won first prize in the pie contest. Thanks Aunt Barbie... we won't disclose your secret recipe to everyone, but for those wondering... all you really need to win a pie contest is ridiculous amounts of butter and sugar, and a few blueberries too.

6. Mommy is forever indebted to Mrs. Brown! (Yay for prop closets, prairie dresses and friends!)

7. Lincoln is amazing... he's had a few brief moments of standing on his own... he cruises around the furniture... dangles from the kitchen table by his hands, and climbs all the way up the stairs when Mommy and Daddy turn around for 2 seconds. He also spits up on the sofa, spits up on the table, and spits up on the stairs... but always with a smile! We like him alot. I kiss him alot. He doesn't mind yet.

8. We had community soccer each Wed. this month... Mommy ended up coaching the wee ones a little... we're all still a little confused about the game after that. I think it involves kicking a ball.

9. Daddy's doing Program for 'Work and Worship' this weekend (that means he's the funny guy). We'll try to get a few pics up. He's really amazing at it and really just loves to be serving in ways beyond his day job.

My quote of the month:

(upon discovering a fallen branch of the juniper tree in front of our house... knowing full well that blueberries grow on bushes, not trees, after picking thousands of them at our old house)

"What in my mind?! A blueberry tree!!" ( I think I meant 'what in the world?' but the intensity and excitement with which I said it made it seem perfectly correct.

Henry's quote of the month:

(upon finishing the story of Zacchaeus with Daddy- after Daddy explained that Zacchaeus had a changed heart and gave back all the money he stole, tenfold)

"I don't like money... I just like food."

That Henry...We like him alot. I kiss him alot. He definetely minds.

a beautiful day in the "neigh"borhood

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Thompson!

celebrations and vacations

First there was Nora's Princess party...

This was the beginning of my interest in playing dress up... I'm a late bloomer, I know... but now I'm hooked. Then we were off to Portland... first stop, Multnomah Falls- On to my favorite part... the hotel! We kind of stood out like the Beverly Hillbillys. Thanks to smart shopping on Priceline, Daddy booked us a trendy "boutique" type motel. That's Lincoln over in the corner in his own private suite.... a sheet covered pack'n play... being lulled to sleep by Phil Huxtable. The first night I was so excited about the ice machine that I filled the shiny bucket and snacked on ice through at least 3 Cosby Shows until I was shivering. Mommy and Daddy are so thankful I'm easy to entertain. Then for the zoo!! Our reaction was different than Mommy had initially hoped for... ever since the cow incident, it seems we're now a little nervous about large animals... but we did loosen up by the end of the day.

The next morning we woke up and headed for the coast!

It was the first time Mommy and Daddy had ever seen sun @ Cannon Beach! It was beautiful!

I found lots of pieces of sand dollars... not like the full ones Mommy and Aunt Amy used to find... though they did discover years later that all those perfectly round, bleached white sand dollars had been placed strategically on the sand moments earlier by their Uncle B who was casually walking a few feet ahead! Still makes a great memory, though! And mine will too!

Lincoln started out happy and sitting pretty in Mommy's dream confinement contraption.

Henry likes to wrestle.

I like to hug.

Lincoln, it turns out, does not like confinement.So we set him free to eat all the sand he wanted... it was a vacation after all!
Then back to reality after a full 3 days of action! And back to dressup. Here's me as "80's Prom Princess" and my handsome "Knight in Shining Underwear". We truly are everything Mommy's ever hoped for and more.

And Daddy went on another adventure to see Uncle Brady and Aunt Austin. One night, before he left,we were playing one of my favorite games ... "The Guess What I'm Drawing Game" (some call it pictionary-but not me, I just call it like it is). I surprised Mommy and Daddy with this picture of our family in an airplane b/c I'm so excited about flying to see them one day too. Mommy and Daddy are a little slow though, so I had to write out a hint for them... " T-e-c-s-s-i-s" (Some spell it Texas but not me, I just spell it like it is). I can't wait to see you Uncle Brady and Aunt Austin... thanks so much for taking care of our Daddy... We love you soooo much!

And after 30 minutes (past our bedtime nonetheless) of Mommy baiting us into luring you to come visit us through flattery and her amazing use of cinematography- here we are making one last plea... or two or three...

I'm 4!

I 'm 4!! I woke up that morning and immediately asked for new clothes b/c I was certain I no longer fit in my 3 year old clothes after growing into a 4 year old overnight. (well, woke up would imply I actually went to sleep but Mommy and Daddy are pretty sure I watched the clock all night.) I got to pick my food for the day... french toast breakfast... pizza and a movie lunch... spaghetti dinner. I opened presents (thank you to everyone!!) I played... I napped... I partied (karaoke style)... I stayed up late to see the rock crushers at the quarry... and I roasted marshmallows over a campfire! It was a good day. I did cry at my party but I think Mommy's just realizing why the song was ever written in the first place. Too much sugar + overwhelming attention and overstimulation = "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

And in other news:

Daddy actually caught Henry's poop in his hand. It was a close one, you shouldn't ask too many questions or try to picture it... but otherwise potty training is going pretty well. The real test, however, will be at the zoo in a couple of days!

And let us not forget my sweet Susie... she turned three!... It was on my very first birthday that she entered our lives and stole our hearts -- and just look at how clean she is :) ...

breaking the silence

Our computer had bad cookies... didn't sound too bad to me, but Daddy had to wipe it clean and start over (they must have been peanut butter b/c Daddy would have never gotten rid of chocolate chip) - anyway, we're back and here's a look at our last month or so.

I finally let Mommy and Daddy in on the whole cow-fear thing just after the camera was off... it's an honest mistake to think that the cows would squirt their udders at us- they did, after all... appear to be forming a blockade.

Also... Henry's become quite the talker, (when I let him get in a few words, at least). In an effort to give him a chance at those few words, I'm now taking your questions for a one-on-one video interview with the talker himself. Please think of a question you'd like to hear his thoughts on, and submit it in the comment section below... don't hold back!

Brady and the Triple

A gift to Margarita and our intern family- the moment you've been waiting for for 6 years...

Back at it!

Thank you so much everyone for praying!!! Our 16,000 acre fire has seen it's last juniper and tumbleweed! Well- a few tree's are still smoldering... Mr. Brown explained today that the base of the trees turn into an oven pretty much and continue to slowly burn from the inside out for a while... but as long as they're surrounded by "black" (already burnt stuff) we should be okay. The men are still patrolling though. But while they patrol... camp is back in action! Praise the Lord! Mommy's working on a montage right now so you can see some shots of camp in action (working in this case means strongly thinking about it). In the meantime... we've had our Daddy back and we love it. Daddies... kid's love 'em. Here's a song I wrote in his honor:

"A Daddy held his Baby When He was at the Hospital" by Lucy

A daddy was at the Hospital

Daddy held a baby

And I went to the grocery store

In my car seat

With a big treat

What was it? Candy

But I was not old enough to eat candy

But Daddy had no ?

So he rided with our Mimi

But did you remember, he had no truck

So he had to ride with Mimi.

Also... Henry's almost officially a big boy (potty training will seal the deal). Here's his bed as of a few nights ago. (Thanks Gray!!) We only had enough paint for the bottom part for his first few nights but finished it and put it together in all it's glory last night. Only then did mommy realize that they had just constructed the only thing that may actually be more confining to sleep in than a crib (no complaining though!) Here's a clip of us waking him up the next morning... well... he wasn't really sleeping- more like basking in the glory of his freedom. And the latter is a shot of the completed project.

And last, but not least... WHC Interns '03.... both Mr. Brady and Miss Micah are here right now! Watch out for some great pics. Margarita, Mommy's setting up a special photo shoot for you... so be sure to check back. Oh - and here's a picture of me blogging, for those of you who've been wondering!

It Rained!!!

Praise the Lord!!!

Mr. Brown!

I thought he was just making hamburgers the other night but it turns out he was fighting fires... and now this... He's a tv star! Here's my famous neighbor and some good footage of the fire:

http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=10856020

Here's Mrs. Brown's update on the fire for now:

"Fire is quite large, and has jumped one of our fire lines, but camp is still not in immediate danger. There are other fire lines yet. BLM and Forestry are now out helping us. It's not worse-case-scenario yet, but it's not going totally according to plan either. Wind, humidity, and weather are not working in their favor at the moment."

good news!

B came home @ 1:30 last night... said things have died down soooo much!!! Most of our men are home...BLM taking care of the rest last night! This is huge!!! Thank you GOD! I'm driving into Antelope this morning so I'll try to get some pictures of our changed landscape. Thanks again for praying... keep on going if you will, (He hears you!!)... especially for those arriving today, that this won't be a distraction or a hinderance, that they'll get to hear about Jesus and a greater fire will be lit in their hearts!

Found this...
http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=10848689
The last minute of the video report shows a flyover of the fire on our property.

photos by Abby Brown, my shotgun photographer on the 30 min. drive home today...

Antelope VBS perseveres- please pray for all our hearts as we are weary, good thing He's promised that when we're weak He's strong!!

Hail, Fire, and Brimstone

That's what someone just announced (jokingly) over the radio. In the last hour, the prospect of rain was exciting- until we found out that the National Weather Service issued a warning for golf ball sized hail this afternoon! And said for those in the area to take cover- not an easy thing to do when you're fighting a wildfire! Rain is welcome, lightning and hail are not! It turns out the BLM is coming back, though, with new equipment and crews- whew. Sometime today I'll try to catch you up on what's going on out here but it'll likely be after little ones are in bed (Yes, Lucy let me borrow her blog to update you all!) In short... there is a fire, a pretty big one, on our property and our fire team has been doing an amazing job to keep it under control. Long before their own energy gave out, the Lord's been holding them up with his righteous right hand (me and Abby Brown have been talking alot about that amazing hand lately on the way to VBS)- we are safe, buildings are safe at this time, and that's the important news for now. Please pray with us over the entire situation... especially for those exhausted men out there. Check back tonight for more info.

More Info:
B came home last night and actually slept. He had to go into the office this morning to prepare for summer staffers and work crew arriving today. That's the good news... camp is still on for this week as of now. There's alot of smoke,and the guys are still out there now (B included... he headed out straight from office) but we'll welcome week 7 of campers tomorrow... close to 700 middleschoolers! So, that should indicate that they've got the fire under control (that's my hope at least). I don't know how they predict these things, but the "pro" firefighters that came in estimated it to continue burning for another 4 days... but it seems the intensity has died down for now. B tells me that the thing about fires out here is that they're low to the ground- until they hit a juniper, at least. We don't have a lot of trees but the dry brush all around in combination with early evening winds just make the flames spread like crazy. The fire started two days ago and was noticed by a volunteer on her way out of camp. By 11ish we were heading to the pool to meet B for lunch but he ended up rushing off on what we all thought was an adventure at the time. (it's wildfire season...real life practice for the fire squad which consists of a good portion of the men who work at the Ranch) Whenever there's a fire call here the guys get this little twinkle in their eye. They act all serious and in "go mode" but I can just hear B inside his head squealing like a school girl. He loves this kind of thing... and he's good at it. He hadn't come home, though, that night and I kept hearing bits and pieces of what was going on, but the real shocker was after I'd put the kids to bed (well, Lucy kept waking up asking if our neighbor, Mr. Brown, was cooking hamburgers- thanks to the smoke). I got a phone call from Shirley at the main office saying to go ahead and pack a bag and be prepared to grab the kids as soon as I got the next call, the flames were quickly approaching main camp, and our homes. If the flames jumped across the main road it would be bad. I think I'd always kind of wondered about those folks you see on the news who's homes get devastated by wildfires... and I remember having thought before that if I were in their shoes... and I knew something like that was on it's way, I'd start packing like mad and cram everything I could into my car or a big truck. But when I got the call, I just started turning around in circles... looking around to see if I could narrow down what to take- and the funny thing was that I realized none of it seemed to matter at that moment, it was just stuff. I had to stop and say "ok Lord... I hadn't imagined this being a part of my life story but I wonder what you have for us from here." There was a weird peace but a longing for B to be here. When I get nervous, I clean. I held myself back though considering the circumstances and prayed instead. Thank you to those of you who were praying with me and who still are. I was scared... but not. Just a really new feeling (you'd think there wouldn't be many new ones @ 30). "Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10. B got home around 1:30 am- they had to start taking sleep shifts. By this time they had stopped the flames from crossing the road (for the first time at least) and danger did not seem as imminent. We slept a little. Each day since has been so strange... we keep living life as normal b/c that's all we can do... B keeps heading back out exhausted but yet renewed (enough), everyone around here is praying unceasingly and praying together when we can (glad the flu's a thing of the past!) On that note though... we have been closed for two weeks b/c of the flu (swine)... we thought we would be able to reopen this past week but b/c of just a few later developing cases of the flu among staff... and no real predetermined standards within the state health department, they recquired us to remained closed. We were all kind of wondering what was going on here... thinking maybe one day far down the road we see the good in it all, what the Lord would do with all this... but isn't it interesting that no campers were here for the start of the fire. (They have never in the history of the camp cancelled an entire week of summer camping!) B/c we were closed that takes 8 or 9 hundred extra people out of the equation... the fire was spotted quickly...all staffers were able to respond quickly and focus all their attention on fighting it. I could go on and on about what a difference that had to have made. With campers here, the story I'm sharing tonight would have likely been alot different. I wish I could say we're in the clear- but the wind keeps me from saying that. As long as there's still a spark those guys will be hard at work. Please pray for what that will look like with campers coming tomorrow... That wise decisions will be made, that the flames would die, that everyone would have rest, that Christ would reveal himself here in ways we couldn't imagine. Satan would love to see this place gone, I have a feeling. God knows the bigger picture. He is with us, He is powerful. And that's where I have to land on all this tonight. Oh- please pray for sweet children also, who are missing their Daddy.... whiny and emotional right now... but sweet nonetheless. I'm a little whiny too, but I guess that's what late night blogging will do to you. I don't know how Lucy does it :)

My Father(s) the Hero

When we can just see his face up close (ashy and dirty as it may be)- all fear fades away. It doesn't matter what fire is burning out there... we have our DADDY! ( reminds me of another Father!)

The fire's still going... buildings appear safe for now (depending on the wind).... Daddy's home for now... men still out there fighting and tired. BLM here now and till it's completely out (a very good thing!) Please keep praying!

Update... I think the Bureau of Land Management just left b/c their property is in the clear... seems that the storm has caused quite a few fires in the area and the workers are spread thin... please keep praying for all our men out here. This means they'll have to double up their efforts... and they're already only getting a few hours of sleep every 24 hours, if even that. Mommy will give you a full rundown of the whole fire event as soon as she can.

Keep on

Though summer camping's at a slight stand still... we'll still keep on going around here (just in our own small quarantined spaces).. so we're asking you to please keep on praying for this place and what the Lord has in store for the rest of our summer. The flu seemed to tear through the camp last week... we're so thankful to have had an incredible medical team here (We love Miss Micah)... but the hard stuffs not over yet... we have to recieve the go signal from the state health department...and need for all staff to be well here in order to do that. Several are recovering now so please pray for them... and that it will stop there. Every week that's cancelled means financial strain not only on the camp but many YL areas...and each cancelled week ends up effecting thousands of people involved in the big picture... but most importantly, close to 700 highschoolers will miss out on experiencing the "best week of their life" and hearing the gospel in such a clear and tangible way. But we know God's even bigger than that-- we know He can and does open the eyes and hearts of so many to their need for Jesus and abundant life with Him without setting foot in a camp like this- so we just pray that His will be done... that folks will get to hear about Jesus no matter where they are... and that those who are sick will be healed... bodies and hearts. Daddy's job and world have been turned upside down for a few days too... He's amazing...hanging in there, but could use some rest and energy himself. Me, Henry, Lincoln, and Mommy have just been staying put... everyone here has been asked to put a pause on social activity for now to stop the spread of the flu (we wave at our neighbors from a distance, sadly)... but we can and have been going to the pool everyday (chlorine saves the day for antsy little people) And Mommy's had time to throw together a quick musical montage for your entertainment. She really needs no excuse for montages, though. Just before our visit from the Flu (which thankfully our family hasn't made personal acquaintances with yet)... Daddy was completing a project for Mommy. I think they've both once or twice wished they'd agreed on my pink idea... but it'll do for now...

The flu

It's here... please pray for all those affected... which means everyone... for campers sent home, for those leaving today, for camp staff and kids... especially the littlest ones. We're closing down this next week which is a pretty huge deal. We'll keep you updated... in the meantime please pray with us!

it's not supposed to be this way!!

Mommy says she should have at least had a couple of months of contented sitting up and playing by himself before this happened!!! But oh well... me and Henry got so excited today b/c it means he can be a part of the action now. Later on in the day we realized he only knows one game and we have to do most of the work.... it's called Keep-Away!

also the bonus feature of the day is this:

the way before (6 yrs ago):

mommy being swept off her feet by a vehicle= $600
mommy being swept off her feet by Daddy= priceless!

the before (upon reuniting 6 months ago):

and the after...

check back very soon, we bought the paint! (Daddy almost let me pick but since there are more boys than girls around here lately he passed on pink)

home from home

we're back home from home! 3,000 miles between the two, but they're both our favorite places!

Back in NC, we showed our old playground to our new brother at Grandpa's picnic...

we sweated with our cousins in WS and Boone (humidity's overated... but cousin's definetely aren't)

we squeezed Caroline!

we did this alot...

mommy and daddy burned alot of calories this way...

mommy and daddy earned alot of calories this way...

we relaxed...

We did weird things...

Barrett and Lincoln got acquainted....

we got wet... aunt brooke ate a snake...

we opted for donuts instead...

we loved every minute of our time with our family and friends!