Nuggets Along the Trail: July 2014

Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

Thursday, July 31, 2014

7-31-14 Life Lately

Saturday afternoon -

A beautiful Saturday evening -

Monday brought us a bunch of sweet babies -

Loren -

Kennedi -

And Blayne.

Another beautiful evening.

Tuesday was another beautiful day, perfect for traveling to Oregon. Or something.

Monday, July 28, 2014

7-28-14 Threshing Bee

by Kate

Saturday was the Threshing Bee. We got there around 10:00 and left about 11:30. There were a lot of old fashioned machines. This is the steam tractor attached to the threshing machine.

Then later on they baled the big pile of straw with an old fashioned straw baler.

There were lots of little contraptions.

Wishing we hadn’t missed the corn shelling demonstration.

Sheep shearing.

Getting the corn sheller going again later.

Corn shelling.

Ben got to help put the corn into a smaller (older?) corn sheller.

Baling straw. It seamed like there were a lot of big long belts getting used.

He had already shoed the horse but he made a shoe anyway.

Twinkie train.

Making cedar shingles.

Josh and Jewel liked their ride on the little train.

THE END.

Mom-isms

When you've got a lot of irons in the fire, sometimes you're gonna get burnt.
Much gain comes to him who hustles while waiting.
Good intentions produce little.
Efficiency is utilizing effective but careful shortcuts for the sole purpose of making more time for the next productive pursuit or service to others.
Laziness is utilizing shortcuts, careful and effective or not, for the sole purpose of making more time for the next selfish or nonproductive pursuit or activity.
Never try to multi-task while giving haircuts.
Carelessness hurts.
I've never met a mess that can't be cleaned up.
God made dirt not to hurt.
When you go on a walk, take gloves and a bag for trash.
Shortcuts usually aren't.
A job done right has been done twice.
When sick children are almost better, we always regret taking them anywhere.
When sick children are almost better, we are always glad we kept them home.