With the intense heat we had just a few weeks ago, who would guess we’ll soon be through September? Inspite of the weather, we can’t be tricked. There’s too many signs fall is treading in ever so softly. I welcome cooler days and pumpkin treats, but I’m mourning summer’s end. There’s a chance I may embrace the season with arms full of blooms instead of pumpkins.
Here’s to my annual post of summer highlights.
Ordinary summer days are best spent at home with a side of splashing and sunshine.Our biggest event of the summer was our June trip to Thompson Falls Montana, for a reunion on my side of the family. Hosted by two brothers Jon & Becky Yoder and Nate and Mary Jo Yoder.My brother’s ice-cream trailer. We were privileged to be served one night. Jon has this mission where they serve free ice-cream at their local park every Tuesday evening through July and August. A way of reaching souls and bringing community together.Group photo at the reunion. We missed my brother Marc & Dorcas. He was very sick with staph infection at the time and unable to be there. Also one of my nephew’s and his lil family were missing. And of course Dad. This was the first reunion since he’s gone.💔Late June I was prilveged to attend a special aunt’s wedding! LaRetta Yoder married widower Merle Beachey. At 67 and 70, it was just the sweetest to see the love in their twinkling faces!🤍My sister Geneva coordinated the desserts for LaRetta’s wedding. Many of us neices contributed.Mom, my two sisters and I. On a very hot week in July, we had our leaky, shingle roof changed to black, standing seam metal. The finished project.July 27, we celebrated Reece turning 7.August 22, we celebrated Josie turning 11. She has been tickled to begin piano lessons this summer and plans to continue through the winter.A cool morning spent out in the flower gardens is refreshing!Our flower gardens at sunset- many evenings were spent out here enjoying God’s beautiful creations.Josie and I throughly enjoyed visiting another flower farm in Kansas, called Juniper and Thyme. We were given a tutorial on arranging flowers.Loved her cute flower studioOur finished bouquets We raised two steers for a year and a half. Just last week, we got our meat back from the butcher. We got over 500 pounds of meat!(Church friends got one of the steers) What a blessing to have freezers chuck full of delicious meat!! We raise our own chicken and pork but this is a first for beef for us. Beautiful, gelatinous homemade broth, bone marrow and all! I’m thrilled to finally have all the soup bones I want for broth making. I’m working on healing my terribly leaky gut; bone broth and meat stock are both super beneficial. I enjoy drinking a large cup every morning, and quite pleased that my toddler has learned to enjoy broth with me. I have also learned it works great to blend cold broth into a protein shake as part of the liquid. (Stop the shivers- you wouldn’t know it if you didn’t know it.) Due to my allergies, I use non dairy milks so am always pleased to find ways to incorporate more health and protein into shakes.The second weekend of September, our church went camping at Sycamore Springs in Kansas. This was our weekend space. Kettle popcorn Church group photo, although we still had several missing here. We are not big campers but we really enjoyed our time. Having a good church is a tremendous gift!What’s a more jolting reality that summer is over, than the beginning of school? Reece is in second grade and privileged to have his aunt Kaylene Rhodes for his teacher!Josie is in 6th grade and very happy to be back with her friends! Miss Krystal Swartzentruber is her teacher. Our school started 2 weeks later than usual, due to not finding an upper grade teacher. We are very grateful for Miss Krystal’s last minute leap of faith to fill the need for us!Grateful for the precious family God has given us! These last two photos are credits of Mary Steria.
