Beautiful

I think this is one of the most, if not the most, beautiful stories I've seen... I really encourage you to watch this short video from Desiring God ministry...
Update on Ian and Larissa
(From the site...)"Three years ago, I was part of a small film crew that had the privilege of meeting Ian and Larissa Murphy at their home in Pennsylvania. Ian and Larissa were newly married, despite Ian’s traumatic brain injury in 2006. They were kind enough to let us tell their story.
When I think about that time I spent with Ian and Larissa, one thing stands out the clearest: their love for one another. It was beautiful to see Larissa’s devotion and respect for her husband, and Ian’s glad-hearted love for his wife. A lot can change in three years as bodies heal and marriages mature, but their amazing story continues.
Citygate Films, with Vinegar Hill Creative, recently sat down with Ian and Larissa to update us on their life and a new book releasing later this summer."

Demonstrations

As part of 4-H, once a year the kids are required (or strongly encouraged anyway) to participate in Demonstration Day. This is actually part of why we joined 4-H- to give the kids opportunities that they don't get being home schooled (yet).  So Peter did a power point presentation on making soil blocks for starting seedlings and Anne did a poster presentation on how to grow sprouts (for eating). They each presented before two judges and answered questions. They did very well and both got "Blue Awards", basically like getting an A. They are soooooooo glad to be done! Now it's just learning and having fun until the county fair!

Easter '14

 Big T was pretty clueless about the whole basket search. Too cute. :)

 Not too old to enjoy the hunt. 

 Uncle Caleb hid the baskets, can you tell? This one was Peter's.

 Ok, I look a little stingy here, with how little I put in their baskets. But they were happy!

 The girls had a funeral for their Cinderella doll a couple weeks ago. Try to read the gravestone if you can- it's pretty touching. ;)

 Our tunnel is doing great! We have spinach, carrots, strawberries, melons, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and peppers all growing in there right now!

 Back to the hunt...

 Anne gave Peter a box of dirt clods for his birthday. Almost as good as lumps of coal!

 Our lettuce is sooo happy and so are we! 

 Finally found it!

Birthday 12

 Peter got a hat like Dad's from Marmie and Boppa!

 Nephews!!!

 Auntie Beef and a pile of girls!

 Nieces!!!

 The kids were all thrilled for Cooper and Katie to surprise us!

 Anne is quite the helper these days!

 Felicity's birthday is soon, too. She wasn't terribly impressed with her candle. Maybe she wanted as many as Peter. :)

 Argh! My pirate ballerina.

 F and G gave Christian a nice lens... cup. :)

 Apples to Apples!

Then we finished the evening playing a game that Peter invented/created. Fun times!

Proverbs

Christian is re-teaching his class on Proverbs. Here is a link to where all the classes will be uploaded- the first two weeks are there so far- The Way of Wisdom and Friendship & Proverbs. I hope you get a chance to listen to them! (They are about an hour long each.)

http://www.youtube.com/user/fcfproverbs

Kids with a Camera

 Creative use of duct tape and pony slippers to make a horse-drawn carriage

 Beautiful dancing and twirling

 Peter looks extra tall from the vantage point of a four year old!

 Practicing sad faces

A little man with a vision

 The cats really enjoy the greenhouse, especially with the new paver patio!

This is the life!

Turkey Trivia

Peter is raising turkeys this year for 4-H, hoping to sell one at the county fair Labor Day weekend.

 Here are Butch (light one- he's a bully; bourbon variety) and Willie Wonka (he's a chocolate turkey. really. that's the name of the variety)

 And this one's Groucho, as he has dark "eyebrows". He's a standard bronze.

Did you know....?

-Turkey babies are called poults

- young, male turkeys are called Jakes and females are called Jennys

-full grown turkeys are toms and hens

-Turkey poults are dumb enough to not catch on to drinking, unless you put something shiny in their water. Then they're so curious they'll keep trying to peck at it...and get enough water in the process!

- I believe, though haven't thoroughly researched this, that only Toms will gobble.

-These cute little things will reach 18-30 lbs in just 20 weeks!

-We don't really know what sexes these birds are, and might not know for a long time! So we may be having some name changes later on. :)