Help!

I have tried to upload some video footage a few times lately but am having a very difficult time....any blogspot wisdom out there for me?

The other day I was in the kitchen and turned around to find this...

My creative and resourceful daughters. This is a mix of our dress up and regular clothes.
They decided to take it outside...
and walk around the yard.

I LOVE the life they bring into our home. :)

Cucumbers,pickels, and Emma

Emma's pride and joy.
A proud gardner!
Cucumbers...
plus a few extra ingredients ...
and you get Pickels!
Emma is my little green thumb. She has been playing in the dirt since she was sitting up. One of my favorite pics of Em is where she is about 6 months old and has a fistfull of dirt in her mouth. It's a pre-digital camera pic and I don't have a scanner to show you. Maybe someday. Anyhow, each year she is determined to grow anything and everything. It all depends on how much space we find for her. It's not much but she loves it. This year we grew cucumbers for the first time and we have been delighted with the results.

Scavenger Hunt in Chicago

Our team with the Sears Tower behind us.


Hitchhiking on Michigan Avenue
Getting ready to jump into Buckingham Fountain.

Here we are at our small group leader's retreat in downtown Chicago. There were 40 of us that gathered together in the windy city. Only where John Dirkse is the senior pastor is there a scavenger hunt on the agenda for a "training" weekend! I laughed so hard when I looked at the schedule. With John, having "fun" is always mixed in with all the serious stuff. I love that about my him.

LAME-O

Alright, there's is just no good excuse why I haven't posted in 5 weeks! Of course, I'd like to blame my lameness on being attached to full time ministry. September is always crazy around our house(like it is for most of you). Add life in the ministry to that and you get INSANITY. :)

We did take a few pix in the meantime. Enjoy!

After 6300 miles and 15 states we are home!!!

I can't say all of the ways that God blessed us on this trip...but I will list a few random memories:

• Driving out west and seeing so much of God's diverse and amazing creation...forests, high lakes in WA, beaches, redwoods, cypress trees, white sand, black sand, sunsets, rivers, red rocks, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and so much more.
• Playing with my family and friends.
• Watching John (and the kids) boogie board for hours in the Pacific Ocean. I think he was in the water more than out of it. :)
• Listening to music on the road from Hillsong, Matthew West, Norah Jones, John Mayer and Seabird. (We always buy new music for the road and really enjoyed these albums, especially Hillsong's new Live album.
• Spending time with both of our families. As the years go on I am reminded of how special these relationships are. We miss them so much!
• Studying the 7 churches in Revelation with the Stead family at Lake Chelan. I learned a lot that I had never known. Thanks Mom!
• Gas prices at 3.85-4.49. Crazy how it changed from day to day!
• Floating the Wenatchee river with family and friends.
• Running and biking with sister in law, Jill. We logged some serious miles together. I love being pushed by her whether spiritually or physically, she is a blessing to me!
• Chi Chi's pizza with Mom, Dad, Nate, and Steve.
• Laughing at Nate and Jon's jokes.
• Playing with Hannah, and Olivia in the waves.

Travel Day UT, CO, NE

We stopped in Denver to have dinner with the Bryants. These are good friends of ours that we ministered with back in the day in L.A. What a joy to see them again!
Kyle, Nicole, Beau, Beck, and Brodie.
Love them!