Summer Fun

Last week us children went to go camping in our neighbours bush across the highway from our yard.

The girls getting ready to go.

Latter that evening we sat around the fire and had popcorn.

Then in the morning our favorite part came,

cooking breakfast over the fire.


Rita is the pro at frying bacon and eggs:)

Ruth enjoying a very yummy breakfast.

Reuben eating pancakes.

Randy having alot of fun spending time with his siblings.

Farm Life

For 15 years we have been in the hog industry. For the most part it did very well for us. We got 1400,50 lb. weanlings 3 times a year. They would be in free roaming barns that we cleaned out once every week and bedded them with straw so that it would be a better environment for the hogs. It was a nice way to have even the younger boys in the family involved. Our boys have often gone along with Henry on the skid steer at a very young age for hours enjoying the ride. But for the last 2 years we have been trying to stick out the low hog prices,thinking that it has to go up any time. But after shipping this last batch and still losing money we were forced to make a decision that was hard to make. So this has been a hard week for us and saying that final word that we wouldn't be filling up again. It was like Henry said "It felt like being defeated." So here we are asking the Lord to open a new door for us. Here are some pics of the process that we went through 3 times a year.

We would have them outside for weighing. They had to weigh about 250 lbs. to be ready for market.

Soon it's your turn Mr.Piggy

Some happy helpers.

With all those boys the pigs didn't have much chance but one way only,that was to the scale.

Rounding them up to be chased onto the semi. We could load up to 230 in a load.

Up the ramp and away!

Raymond taking a last peek.

We hate to leave your place, but we're on our way!

Saying good bye to the last load.


So if any one has any ideas of what we should use these barns for,we are open to suggestions.

Exciting News

This post does not need alot of pictures,at least not yet. They will be coming once our precious grandchild arrives in Jan. It is with great joy that we make this announcement. Becoming grandparents seems like it will be a very exciting step into the next phase in our lives. Josh and Rebecca have been very happily married since Feb.28,2009. Now the Lord has begun a new life in them. We pray that He will provide health,safety and strength for the journey ahead. That the little soul growing inside the womb will be preserved. It really doesn't seem that long ago when I was able to tell my mother about the news that we were to have our first baby and now our first baby is taking that step in her life.Josh and Rebecca we love you and are very happy for you. Love Mom and Dad

Oh how great is thy goodness,which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee. Psalm 31:19

Lunch Time With The Family

Today for lunch we had a family favorite,Strawberry Roll Cookies,something we only make during the strawberry season,we don't have it very often so when we do every one is really looking forward to it.

First you mix the dough,then you roll it out and cut in to squares.
Then you put strawberry's and sugar on the dough.

Then you seal them really good.

Then you fry them.

Then you go outside were it was a beautiful day,and then....

You eat them!

Yummy,yummy.

Even Ryan could make it for lunch today:)

Canning Peaches

What fun to can fruit for the winter.

For peaches we can some and we also freeze some.
Rita enjoying herself while working.

The peaches were super good this year.

Mom cutting up the peaches for freezing them.

Now they are in the pantry all ready for eating.

Happy Birthday Reuben

July 16 th we celebrated Reuben's 12 th birthday. We are so happy to have Reuben in our family. As you can see he loves animals and especially cows and their calves. During calving season he is busy trying to record all the births. He writes down all tag numbers of each cow and her calf. We are thankful that he still wants to go near a cow even after the accident a he last summer when a cow ran over him and broke his leg,causing him to be on crutches for a good part of the summer.Reuben you mean allot to us. You are a great help to your Dad when it comes to all the farm work. Keep it up Reuben,we love you.

He shall cover thee with his feathers,and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4

Raymond's 8th Birthday

Good Morning to our birthday boy!

Sunday,July 12th we celebrated Raymond's birthday. He quickly opened his presents before we left for church.

He had a wonderful day. We spent the evening together playing games and having a hot dog roast.

Then he cut the cake. He requested an ice cream cake. Sharing it with the family was the best part of it.

Raymond we love you and are so thankful that God had entrusted us with you. We have been blessed by your kind and considerate ways. May you continue to grow in the love of Jesus.

For this is the love of God,that we keep His commandments:and His commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3

Our Camping Trip.

On Sunday we decided that we were going to go to Kenora Ont.to go camping with our friends that have a cabin by a lake.Since we only decided on Sunday that we were going we had a very busy day on Monday with packing clothes,food and all the other fun stuff that comes with camping.
So I hope you all like pictures because we all had a great time and I want to show you some of them.

Randy trying to find a comfortable position to sleep:)

There were beautiful wild flowers that just grew on the sides of the road.

It was very interesting to see how they had to blast through the rock to make a road.

Then finally after five hours of driving...

We got there.

Thanks to Daniel and Tyler who waved us down at the end of the lane:)

Then all the fun began,

whoever wanted to,went knee boarding.

The brave ones were Daniel,Tyler and me.

And then of coarse there was...

water tubing!

Everyone got a turn,

The Mom's,

The Girl's,

And the Boys.

After Shawn and Randy were done playing in the water they went to lay on the dock in the sun so they would dry out:)

Then later on when we were done with water sports

some of us went to wash our hair in the lake.



In the Morning the girl's went to do some shopping in Kenora.
I was busy making a phone call:)


Ruth posing with a friendly bear.

The big Husky the Musky fish in Kenora.


And of coarse we always had lots and lots of food:)



One of the days we went across the lake to climb a rock.

Surprisingly it was harder to go down the rock then it was to go up it.


Best Sisters:)


The beautiful view from the top.


Climbing up the rock.

Going to rock climb.

Some of the beauty of God's creation.

This is the cabin where we stayed it was a wonderful cozy place.

We made lots of great memories there.

Thank you so very,very much Mr. and Mrs. Dyck for everything.

Before we left on Thursday morning,

Everyone wanted to stay longer but we know that all good things must come to end:)

The happy campers:)