Thankful...

...for the many blessings of a busy summer. I've been able to hang out with the kids on a different schedule, organize and clean together, go swimming (sort of...still not allowed to do much with my knee), have company (Fred Barton just flew back to New Zealand after a wonderful visit), go away (camping and the Women Discipling Women Conference). I am thankful, and I am tired! I will write again when I have more energy, but I wanted to say that God is so good to teach me and guard me. Many times there were things that would have "set me over the edge" and they didn't come to pass. Praise God for His work and direction in all things!

July Fun

Happy 4th of July root beer floats.


It was fairly hot, and so we went to Steelhead Beach on the Russian River on July 6.
Lots of friends from church joined us :)I saw this great butterfly.
The kids all really loved floating around. Lily wasn't feeling so well, so she laid low on the banks.


Maggie and Trey
Feeding time
Trey caught a fish with his bare hands!
Good times

"The body might be engaged in the most base drudgery,

but always the mind can be thinking on whatever is lovely, pure, noble...."

Good quote from The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
Thinking...Phil. 4:8

Happy 4th of July!

Pancakes--so delicious!

Whole Grain Buttermilk Pancakes (I made 4 times this recipe)
1 c. whole grain flour, ground fine
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. slat
1 c. buttermilk
1 egg, at room temp., separated (whip egg white separately)
1/3-1/2 c. water, to make thinner batter

Mix and fold in egg white. Heat oil in griddle (I use a bit of oil each time to crisp the edges).

Visit with the Hunts

We had the wonderful opportunity to see our friends from Princeton and DTS--Graham and Jen Hunt and their boys, Alden and Calvin. Jen and I spent one day in San Francisco checking out the city, the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Legion of Honor.




Graham and the boys came to our house the next day. We spent fun hours together.

We also visited Armstrong Woods.

Trey is

getting so big! He just said, "Thanks so much for my frog book. I am enjoying it so much, Mama! Did you know they poop under their neck by their exoskeleton?"

Here he is at the Cars 2 movie...he's been "racing" around the house ever since with all the sound effects!


He heard that I'd seen a mug that said "Best Mom" at the store. Today he whispered, "Mama, I would have bought you that mug!" Aw.