~Little Gems~

These three little Gems bring so much joy to our lives!  It is always a delight to get to watch them.  Elizabeth is very expressive about everything and Shanessa is her shadow.  Rebecca is sweet and quiet.

 Sara and Elizabeth

Shanessa-Her natural curls...so cute!!!

Elizabeth looking at something out the dining room window. 

This sweet little one...she will steal your heart!

Rebecca enjoying the swing.

Cow Wrestling!

I had meant to post these pictures awhile ago but forgot about them as they were on mom's phone.  It all had started when one of our cows got out of the fence the night before we were supposed to leave for ND on 5-12-17.  She ran to the neighbors and jumped the fence to get in with his cows.  Our neighbor said to just leave her there and he would separate her in a few days and we could get her when we got back from our trip.  It all sounded like a good plan!  So we get back home...Joanna came over to do something quick so we got her to help bring the cow home.  Meanwhile Mrs. Millen, Bethany, Stephen and Sarah happened to stop by for a short visit. They eagerly pitched in to help. While Mrs. Millen stayed safely in her car, Bethany took pictures while Stephen was asked to do some real cowboy wrestling moves when the heifer got out of control. It took a good while to get the cow on a lead.  Stephen Millen, Joanna and I had a hold of her and let her out of the barn...She tried to fling us off her so that she could run.  We were going to tie her to the back of our tractor but it wouldn't start leaving us in a pickle!  Miki got the neighbor's (her cousin's) tractor out of the barn and we tied the cow to the back of it and slowly drove to our house.

Holding the cow before tying her to the tractor! 

Our faithful neighbor and friend, Miki was such a blessing and a great help.  We are so thankful for all that she does for our family.  If we ever need her to do the chores while we are away or need help with fencing she is always willing to lend a hand.

Stephen trying to ride the cow.  Joanna quickly told him to get off as it was not helping the situation!

So he decided to use a more helpful tactic and pull her tail!!!

We got her back to our field and put her in with our steer.  The cow still wasn't satisfied and she went and jumped the fence again and ran off.  We chased her all over the fields, down the road and through the forest!!!  After several hours of chasing her, she made it back with the neighbor's cows.  All that work and we didn't get her home!  Around a week later, the neighbor again separated her and put her in the barn with some of his heifers.  Stephen Millen happened to be at our house working with Benjamin so he had another opportunity to play cowboy.  He, Benjamin and Evan quickly separated our heifer from a small herd of really hefty shorthorns and got her loaded safely in the trailer.  No casualties were reported.  We immediately took action before she busted out of the trailer and transported her safely over to Evan and Joanna's house.  The following week, we took her to IN to some friend's who felt sorry for us and bought her.  I am so glad that she is gone!!!  I guess things like this keep life exciting!

As you can tell, life on our farm does not run as smooth since Joanna has gotten married!  The whole event was directed by her with much experience and patience.  I was so thankful that she was there to help or else the heifer might have been in a worse state, as I was ready to take a shot gun to her head!  I'm not much of a cow person...as I'm sure you can tell!  

Gr. Rose Memorial Service 06-10-17

We (Dad, Mom, Jonathan, Stephen, Sara, Charity, Michael, Hanna and I) drove out Saturday morning to Iowa for Great Grandma Rose's memorial service (Dad's Grandmother on his biological moms side) which was that night.  The drive was long and very hot as we don't have air conditioning in the suburban!  We drove with the windows open so it was quite a chore to brush out our hair speaking of us girls!!!  We traveled back home on Sunday morning.

Mr. Ron did the service.

Uncle dUg leading hymns.

Grandma Kring sharing.

Aunt Karen sharing.

Singing "The Old Rugged Cross"

>Family picture<

A few pictures from Mother's Day.

The five of us who are left in the nest...

And the rest of the bunch!

North Dakota!

We (Mom, Jonathan, Stephen, Sara, Charity and I) drove out to Fargo, North Dakota for Bethany Millen's graduation from Master's Baptist College.  We left our house Friday morning, 05-12-2017 and made it to the College around I think 9 PM ND time.  We played volleyball with Jubilee Fairlamb, Stephen and Bethany Millen and a few other people from the college.

The GYM

Fargo Baptist Church

Saturday we played volleyball again and then went to Smash Burger for lunch with Jubz, Stephen and Bethany.  Saturday night we met up with the rest of the Millen family to go to a concert of the college choir at the church.  After the concert we went over to the hotel where the Millen's were staying and had a surprise birthday party for Mr. Millen as his birthday was near!  Sadly we didn't take pictures on Saturday. :(

Mother's Day!

We went to church with the Millen's and Jubilee, then after we went to lunch at Apple Bee's and took Jubilee along with us as the Millens had a graduation lunch at the college.

Picture with our wonderful Mother!

Jubilee bringing a little laughter to photo taking!!!

Sunday night was the graduation.  Congratulations Bethany!

I enjoyed spending time with Bethany again!

Sunday night on our way to the hotel we had a little excitement of being in an accident!!!

We are not exactly sure what happened but every one was safe!  We couldn't drive the suburban as the bumper was pushing into the tire.  So the towing company towed it to a shop and we car pooled back to our hotel in Stephen's car and Jared's truck (a friend from the college). 

Monday May 15th was Stephen's birthday so we went to some Pawn Shops!

Monday afternoon we went to a fun park!

Mini Golf

The is serious!
Totally Millens!

Finishing out the trip with swimming in the hotel pool!

We made it home late Tuesday night.  So thankful that we were able to spend much time with wonderful friends!