Shoshone Falls

 

Last week Rick had business in Twin Falls and I went along to help drive so that he could set up mobile carffice. Okay, the real reason I went along was to get a break from the adorable cherubs above. Raising honor students is exhausting, people!

 

See? There he is while I drive. Actually, sitting still that long was the hardest part. I do enjoy my blogging and social media, but when I'm not slaving away trying to be famous (kidding) I do have just a few other things to keep me moving. He did buy me two Dutch Bros too, so maybe that had something to do with my inability to sit still. We arrived in record time. LOL.

 

 

It was such a fun little trip...quality time together ya'know?

I really do love that man! He works hard to provide and studies hard to guide.

 

We got to go see Shoshone Falls which is really spectacular this time of year, but especially so this year what with all the mountain snow we had this winter! From the looks of that falls, it's going to be a great irrigation year. Have I mentioned that I love green grass?

 

Shoshone Falls is the Niagra of the West with up to 32,200 cubic feet per second coming over the 212 foot high 300ft wide falls. It's provides water for our valley and hydroelectric power too!

 



The Promises Promise

 

It’s about as hard for me to choose a favorite Bible verse as it is to choose a favorite season. It seems God leads us to the best promises for the “season”’of life in which we currently abide. This verse though, has to be my all time favorite as his promises are new every morning and although changeless, they still always fit our ever changing circumstances. They apply to every heartache and loss, every difficult and burdening family situation, every financial hardship, every physical pain, every spiritual need. This verse is like the promises promise.

 #gardeningismytherapy #godmadebeautifulthings



One decade old!

 

Ten Years ago today, this was us...

 

 

We were so excited to welcome baby Kaite to our family. I think my favorite photo of all time still might be the one of daddy there with all his pink. He was so happy to get another little princess!

 

 

Above are some pictures of Kaite's first year adding beauty to planet earth. We still marvel at what a pretty baby she was and how adorable she still is. It's okay....we wouldn't be normal parents of we didn't feel this way.

 

 

And there are years 1-9!  Her daddy and Papa Germain say that she is Momma's clone, but Momma knows she's much prettier. I'll admit that I was sorta a cute one in my day though....my day being about 30-35 years ago. Haha!

 

Kaite chose Chicken and Waffles for her birthday meal and donuts for dessert. She doesn't like cake or icing. Kaderick was up and had dressed himself complete with a bow tie for the occasion and was working on a birthday card all by 8am!

 

Scenes from the party. Kayla and Kalli both work, so the festivities occurred on daddy's and school's lunch break.

 

 

In the evening, the three littles had gift cards they had been saving up for a few years, so to Walmart we went. An interesting side note here is that Kaderick goes shopping so seldom that he was amazed at the automatic opening doors!! Actually, he was amazed that they had toys...he thought it was just food. LOL. Afterwards, we went to Freddy's for custard. You'll have to excuse our excitement; we are a budget family and with 7 on one income, we don't have these splurges often. It was our first time ever to get icecream there and also the first time the kids had ever been. Rick and I have been there on "shopping or calling dates" several times in the last several years since they opened, but our poor deprived children??      Never.

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Kaite's 10 year birthday pictures that we took at Indian Creek.

I'm a New Creation!

 

Our "Easter theme song" this year. It held so much meaning for us, and my husband and I practiced very hard to sing it as bad as we did. Haha!

 

 

Sunday School craft Kalli's little students made and then used to decorate our Easter tablescape. 

 

I love having girls with whom to share the celebration preparation times. They each have their own unique talents which add to the fun. I must say, they will make amazing wives and mothers some day....for now though, we are treasuring every moment of their single days. Kalli mentioned Saturday how exciting all the preparing was and then she said, "Can you imagine how God felt all those years ago on that Saturday? He had the greatest Easter Celebration ever planned for his children! Talk about Easter preparations!!" The girls and I made most of Easter dinner, but in addition to this yumminess, there were also wonderful pies and casseroles and plenty of candy brought in. Laura even brought a couple bags of Cheetos from Stan's stash which were a huge hit and a sweet reminder of the man we lost to Heaven just two weeks before losing grandma.

 

 

Our program theme was "I'm a New Creation." We had three little boy caterpillars and one tiny girl who "feasted on the trash and junk of this world" before getting into the sheltering cocoon of God's grace and allowing Him to transform them into his beautiful butterfly design. Kaite was our beautiful butterfly assisted by four other lovely girls who read parts and verses about transformation. Of course we also sang all 3 verses and the chorus to "I'm a New Creation."

We had 13 extras in addition to our regulars and were so thrilled to worship our Risen Saviour with them.

 

 

 

We raised butterflies from tiny caterpillars this spring so the children were very well able to relate. Kaderick drew this life cycle sketch. I love knowing that he understands the lesson.

 

On Good Friday, we took our butterflies and released them at grandma's grave. It made us all cry, but sometimes tears are good and healing. It was a very special time.

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Easter Sunday was three months since she went to be with Jesus. If you know grief at all, you know that there is some significance about the 3 month mark. Experts aren't sure why, but it seems to be the point where you kind of stop swinging back and forth between denial and acceptance and it settles in on you with a certain finality. Easter was bittersweet to say the least. Bitter because we miss her and sweet because what a treasure it is to know and love someone so dearly, someone who has actually touched the scars in His hand...someone who lives every timeless moment in the tangible presence of Jesus. 

 

(Bleeding Heart Plant from my garden.)

 

I thought of the broken hearted that Good Friday so long ago, standing at the foot of the cross in hopeless dread of their future. If they had just believed His promise that he would rise again. He was so much nearer to them than they realized, and he's still near today....so much nearer than we can even imagine. He walks the Emmaus Road by our side, may we recognize and be aware of that miraculous fact.

 

 

Kayla with one of our little bugs.

 

Kalli the narrator holding a very small and squirming caterpillar. Notice the little bugs eating junk and the overflowing trash can...this was before they allowed God to clean up their lives.

 

Butterfly Kaite.

I failed to get a picture of her with her wings spread.

 

 

 

I am so blessed!!

 

So so blessed!

 

So so so blessed. X5!

 

 

Also, I'm tired! SO tired! What a busy and blessed week! Now to drink some coffee and prepare for a birthday party, then the last few weeks of school!