Baking Day (by Raechelle)

Well just a few days ago it was not to nice outside so Mom,Rita,Ruth and I went to work baking all kinds of stuff to put into freezers for over harvest time.

So here are some pictures of our day.
Rita made cinnamon twists.

Mom baked cookies and bread and doughtnuts.
Cinnamon Buns
Doughnuts
After a while(even though we have lots of counter space)the counters got full so we ended up putting the baking on the floor:)

Yummy,yummy.
So you can imagine how our kitchen looked after everything was finished...
VERY messy and full of dishes

At least that's what Rita thought:)
But then everyone pitched in and helped and it didn't take long till we had the kitchen all cleaned up again(By the way our kitchen usually does not look like this:)

Canning Cherries

Through the generosity of our neighbor lady we were offered some cherries that we could pick and can for our family. As you can see there was an abundance of cherries on the trees.
Picking was lots of fun. It didn't take very long to get one pail full.

The branches were hanging so full and heavy.

Picking high and low.

The brightness of these cherries make them look very delicious and yummy to eat. But look out,they are actually quite sour. Now that we have them picked the pitting begins. Raymond is hard at it. What a rewarding feeling to have the filling all ready for those pies. Ready to enjoy during the winter months.

Canada

I want to do a post about the wonderful Country we live in.God gave us this place.And now in the summer I love to watch the sunsets, thunder clouds and look on the fields that are about ready to combine. I think that there are so many times when we miss out on the beauty of it all because of our busy lives. God gave us a land that is free and we so often forget to thank him.So here are a few pictures of our beautiful Canada.

Thank you God for our Country. May you bless it and keep it free.

Family Gatherings

August has been a busy time for the extended family gatherings in our family. Each weekend this month we have had a gathering. This one happened Aug. 16th in the Winkler Park. After having had rain for a good part of the weekend and thinking that we might have to find an indoor facility,the sun did come out and we were able to gather outside. Praise the Lord! You see finding an indoor place for our family size is not so easy. There are ALOT of people at this gathering.Number 166 was added just the day before. My Aunt Sara does a great job with getting it all planned and keeping the family together! Thanks alot. Of coarse there is always lots of good food. It is interesting but our family is becoming a little International. We have adopted two familys from India,my cousin Jonathan is married to Fiona, a lady from Australia, Jason's wife Esther comes from Equidor and this time around there was even people from England. Mark and his daughter who had come out for a family wedding the day before.

Preparing all that yummy food.

These ladies are having a hard time deciding what to put in their plate.Just taking some time in catching up with the latest news and happenings in the family.
Aunt Sara encouraged us to go around throughout the evening and connect with some of the cousins.The younger group got a game of football going.
Now what's all that huddling about?

Happy Birthday Ruth

Another birthday has come and gone in our family this week. Aug. 21st ten years ago we welcomed RUTH DANAE into our family. I remember those were the years when we would be combining that time of the year. The night before Henry was out swathing,he came home at 11 pm and I said to him I think something is happening but by 12 we were in bed and trying to find a comfortable position to lay which just didn't seem to work. We realized that even though it was 2 weeks before this baby's due date that maybe it would be a good idea to call our midwife which had a 2 hour drive to our place. Thankfully she was at no other birth and could come right away. Was that ever a welcome sound when we heard her car come up the driveway and about 20 min later there was Ruth safely delivered into our arms,another one of God's miracles! That's in short Ruth's birth story. That's how it has been with her in the last ten years as well. She seems to fit in wherever. She is a very easy going girl. If the boys go to the farm and help their dad with work there and I don't have anything to do for her at the moment that's where she is,working along side the boys. At home she is a wonderful help to her mom,taking on more and more resposibilities. She is often doing things together with older sisters as well. Whenever we get company or go away Ruth will be found taking care of the little children. Ruth, enjoy your young ,growing up years! We love you and enjoy having you as part of our family very much. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings as eagles. Isaiah 40:31

Getting the combines ready for harvest.

This is a very exciting time of year for everyone on the farm,getting out the combines for harvest.
First washing them.

Then the guys service them.

Uncle Willie trying to find the problem.

The window washers and dusters. Making sure that they are all sparkling clean.

Now they are all ready for a long harvest.

We are very grateful for the sun and rain that God has given us through the summer months so that the fields can grow.

Now we ask that he will bless and that everyone will stay safe as we work through this busy time of year.

Seed Time and Harvest

The other day as we were driving around looking at some of the crops that are so close to harvest,our five year old popped another one of his MANY questions. He asked us," How do the fields know when they need to turn brown?" Well good question. We told him that a seed is actually dead when it gets planted in the ground.With sun,rain and warm weather it grows and produces more seeds.Exactly what God intended it to do. After it has grown and matured it doesn't need the nutrition anymore and it dies so that it can start the cycle over again. We told him in a way mom and dad are like the seeds as well,we are now here with you teaching you and preparing you to live your life. After we have done what God requires of us we will also have to die and then it will be your turn to keep the cycle going. There seemed to be a far away look on his face,but as always he kept on talking and asking more questions.

This got me thinking about our lives. We are seeds that God has placed here on this earth for a purpose. As we live our lives we need to die to self and let God rule our life. Jesus had everything,He gave it up and came to earth in hope of much fruit. In hope ,He buried what He had. Is my life bringing Jesus the joy that He intends me to? Sometimes it is so hard to give of ourselves willingly,but again and again we are reminded that He gave His all and we shouldn't do any less.

Verily,verily,I say to you,Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,it abideth alone:but if it die,it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

Here are some photos of the fields that are almost ripe for harvest. And a young seed enjoying his time in the beauty of the bountiful harvest we are anticipating of gathering in soon.