Catching up on the Blog - June Camping

As Part of their Christmas present....we gave Noah and Broden a weekend of Camping at Cran Hill Ranch so they came on our church camp out with us.

Since Frog and Turtle races are big part of this weekend - Nancy scoured the internet to find some great nets...and gave them to the boys for their birthdays.

 Some Assembly Required

Looks like it Worked

You will notice that Noah has gone frog hunting without his frog helmet on....I of course am left holding other kids nets as they all had to try the super nets.

 Look closely and you will see why you need to wear a frog helmet!..
....stylin' dudes!

Then there was Airstream Living....just kick back and relax

We learned a new game..."Trash"  the boys could not get enough...

Then there was a little fishing...and we caught several ...little fish

Noah Cutting crawlers...or fishing line.

We also went shooting...check out the wild game at Cran Hill

 Getting instructions

 Aiming a little high there Noah

A Very determined shooter...with sound effects...(I cant begin to spell them)

Yup...That was a bullseye..a little more umph and it would have stuck all the way in the target.

Noah shot very well too - but he pulled his arrows out so quickly I did not get a picture.

We also practiced on targets with the .22's...there was no need to photograph the targets.

Broden waiting in pit row for "ladies and gentlemen...start your frogs!"

Noah was desperately hoping he would be able to race a turtle - and someone gave him one to race...a wish come true.

Only two entered the competition

 Even though it is a shell game...Noah's Turtle won!

 Seriously...Broden's Frog was so fast he had to run to catch it...Yup - He won!

 On the wagon ride with his new friend Tucker

Hey Kid...what's that up in the sky....made ya look!..(stupid goat tricks)

Of course they slept most of the way home!

catching up on the Blog - May Wedding

Spring came to Michigan about the second week of May - once it got nice - we did not stay inside to blog.  But here we are now in June and thought we should share some photo's of what we are up to.  In May, Michelle's sister Melissa got married to Ryan - so we helped with the wedding and some child care.

Weddings are about learning how to tie the knot

 Elizabeth looks like she needs something

Hey Mom...Got Milk?

 even Judah gets practice tying the knot

between the Wedding and the Reception we took Judah - Broden and Elizabeth to the park.

It was a great day!

Easter and 90th Birthday Party

Easter at the Brets was also Harve's 90th birthday - so it called for a grandiose party!

There was of course dinner Shrimp and Chicken

The Easter Egg Hunt....only Judah and Janey moved slow enough be captured by the camera

The big kids had to wait for Two Whole minutes!

There was a bit of Romance!

Then we played some great silly Nancy games!   Like the Kleenex Pull - One at a time - first team to pull them out was the winner - girls against the guys!

Fun to roll in them too!

 It proved a challenge for some...believe it or not...it was a tie!

These are the girls putting a cookie on their forehead - trying to get it into their mouth just by using facial movements

Good Job Christa!        

The Book on the Head Walk relay                        The egg on the spoon relay

And the balloon walk relay

And of course...Cake!

What a great day - thanks everybody

Mission Trip to North Carolina

The Third week of March we traveled to Waxhaw North Carolina to work at JAARS...The support site for Bible translation of Wycliffe.   They train and support missionaries that are working on translating the Bible into the heart language of many groups throughout the world.

While our work was in support of house renovation and building a playground for families that are there for training or on furlough - it was rewarding to hear the first hand accounts of God at work through many heroes of faith we were able to meet.

 Each of these bookcases contain completed new testaments or full Bibles each in a different language - at this time there are about 1800 languages yet to be translated and written down...which means they still have no written communication - no alphabet whatsoever.

Due to cold rainy weather - we worked indoors at a house being readied for a new family - it had not been remodeled for many years....hmmm a lot like home.  Nancy and many of our workers painted and stripped wallpaper - and fixed tile and plumbing projects...I was trimming out the windows that never got finished after being installed.

They have a full airplane shop where they modify and repair airplanes

 These are not Bombs - although they look like them - they are aerodynamic cargo compartments....vital when space is limited

 The Cab of this Helicopter is being used to learn how to modify it so that a person can be airlifted out in case of medical emergency in places a plane cannot land.   They are working to be able to get a full sized stretcher in there - which it's was not designed to be able to do... 

In many places - rivers and lakes are the only runways

 They have two runways - one regular...and one "Jungle style" so pilots can practice and be trained to land on a grass hillside ...On this sunny day we there were many takeoffs and landings as pilots and mechanics tested the planes

 Help Wanted here!.   This old fire boat is being refurbished to transport people and goods from the islands.  It will replace the dug out canoes as the only means of transportation that are still used for Ocean transport...to the peril of many.  They are in need of fabricators - and tarp sewers - and boat painters for an ocean craft made of aluminum

This is the beginning of the playground structure that will resemble an airplane.

It is located in view of the runway so kids can watch planes and dream of flying themselves.  It also will serve as a place for families to connect with each other.  It is located by a swing set - a soccer field - and a sand volleyball court.    I will send out a picture when it gets finished - wished we could have done more.   Maplewood church donated all the funds to bring this to completion....   

We were so blessed to be able to experience this.