This child is constantly a source of ..... entertainment

Fun with our friend Lucy at Raley's

After school/work activities

We bought Ellie a while ago in hopes she could someday be Korie's horse. Well, after sending Ellie off for some training, Korie finally rode her today. They both did great. Ellie is A LOT of horse for our little Korie bug, but she handled her like a pro.

Family fun day at Korie's school

Go ahead girls....love on those little furry critters all you want, because this is about as much time as you get to spend with them. They AREN'T coming home.

Korie and I went on a little hike together. Well, I hiked...she rode her horse.

Here's a shot of the homestead. Everything is so green and pretty right now.

Oh....what a life.

Happy Easter Everyone!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Track season is here

This is Korie's first try at the track team and Thursday was her first meet. She did great and seemed to have a wonderful time.

Here she is with her buddy Lena. Lena is an absolutely gifted athlete. Seriously. I see scholarships and all kinds of opportunity for this kid's future.

The girls got to go over to friend Teresa's house this week so that I could work for a few hours. The girls LOVE Teresa. Well, every kid loves Teresa. Daddy got them ready and out the door in the morning. So...little Elmer Fudd here decided to show off her...uh...hmmm..."dancing" ability.

Riding season is approaching! Yahoo.

Not really sure who is the pet and who is the master when it comes to these two.

potty training success, yay!

I think we are ALL happy about the nice weather...

Random shots

3 little cuties Korie and her buddy Abby

Me and my buddy and occasional 4th daughter Lucy.

Most recent house picture.

Let's go on a bear hunt

Cutie pies

These two have such a neat relationship. Of course, it isn't always loving, but most times it is. Kinley is pretty lost when Kali isn't around. On most Fridays I am at home with just Kinley all day. She asks for both her sisters all day long and wants to go get them from school. Don't get me wrong though, sometimes it's World War III around here too. Thankfully, we are blessed with enough peaceful times that I can somewhat tolerate the rocky war times.

lots and lots of water

The Little Shasta River runs through our property. Most times you can't really see it from the house. Well, I guess when there is so much water that it more than triples in size, it's pretty hard not to notice. It's been a very wet winter. Love the water, but ready for a break.

Where's Bambi?

This heard of deer is a permanent fixture in one of our hay fields.

Hard Knocks of Life

Korie was playing on the metal handrails at school last week. She fell off and landed face first onto the concrete steps. Ironically, she was waiting outside in front of the school getting ready to load up to go hit the slopes with her ski club at school. I was having major anxiety about it. She has only gone skiing two times and this was the only trip that neither Mark or I could make. I called my Mom friends, talked to the trip coordinator, begged them all to watch over her carefully. I am thinking maybe God thought she wasn't meant to go skiing that day either. Whew! She ended up with 2 stitches and hopefully a lesson learned.

No explanation needed for this picture.

A picture of Mark and I DOES exist!

Oh my this child is precious, if I say so myself.

Redneck Lawn Ornament

We had a great day skiing with Grenada Elementary School. How lucky are we to drive less than an hour and be able to spend the day with friends hittin' the slopes! Korie did a great job, it was her first time on the ski lift.

I am not a writer. So, I won't even pretend to be. But, I wanted to share a few things. First, I had an amazing birthday this past week. I felt very loved. I don't like to make a big deal out of my birthday EVER...but this year some of my family and friends made a big deal out of it anyway. OK, they didn't make a "BIG" deal out of it, but it was big to me. I am very blessed to have such great people in my life, and not because they act like they like me so much.

Most importantly, lately I have been doing a lot of "soul" searching and trying to clear my mind and focus what is really important in life. I have been having a difficult time with the kids and a little stressed from just plain ol' life. But the reality is...I have EVERYTHING and then some. I have a job that I love, I have adorable, healthy, strong-willed little girls that want nothing more than attention and to be loved. I have a husband who sacrifices more than most men so that he can provide for his family above and beyond what is really necessary. I love him for so many other reasons as well. I have a loving family that would do anything for Mark or I if we asked; and I have the most amazing friends that are like sisters to me. My life isn't perfect, definitely not stress free, but I really am lucky. It's taken me too long to figure out that there really is an undeniable God that loves me (and you) more than I could love any of the things or people I mentioned above. I am so grateful and deeply humbled by this. I will avoid rambling any further, but if you read one thing from my small book here...I hope it's this: if you are looking for some kind of meaning, purpose and perspective? Click on the Uganda Go link next to this post. It will rank as some of the best quality time you ever invested in reading. Get some tissue and be prepared to never view things the same. At least, that is my hope. Say a prayer for the people that live there and the teams that visit. They need it. Now...get to reading!

Here are some updated pictures of recent progress. Feeling very blessed.

The front

The back

View from the living room.