Jackpine Retreat

A panoramic view of church this morning

This afternoon we got back from a fun weekend  of camping in Northern (way northern - almost to the border) Minnesota. We went to Jackpine Retreat which is a Rustic Christian Family Camp. I have gone ever since I was a baby and it is something I have always loved and my family loves it too.

  I enjoy spending time with friends and family all of us tied together through Jesus. The fellowship time is always wonderful. I enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors in God's creation, singing together, God's word being shared, game playing, cooking outside and much more. My kids love the freedom to roam, stay up late, get dirty and do a lot of playing.

Here are a few pictures of the weekend:

Some of the girls were running a restaurant on Saturday afternoon and wanted many of the adults to come to their restaurant.  A couple of my friends and I were the first ones to go. We were "fed" all variety of food and had wonderful service.

 A bunch of cousins and a friend shared this tent which got all fixed up pretty.

Singing around the campfire at night.

 Cousins at church this morning.

 Walking on spools is a special Jackpine Retreat sport. We also had a race on them.

Some new and old spool walkers.

We were glad to get home to showers and a warm house but truly loved our weekend there! (Though as far as showers go I did actually get a hot one up there this year as a friend got it fixed.)

 To any of you who live around here you should think about joining us next year! (And for those friends of mine that used to come - it is still worth the trip even if you might live farther away. We sure would love to have you come!)

Good instruction for life

Today in my Bible reading I appreciated the words of this verse:

   "He who gives attention to the word will find good,
and blessed is He who trusts in the Lord."

Proverbs 16:20

 

 

Over and over again I am struck by how useful and life changing is God's word. The Bible is the inspired word of God and in it He has given us what we need to know to be prepared for this life and for eternity. I encourage you (whether you never have or you do all the time already) to dig into God's word and believe it and obey it!

 

 

   This verse also talks about trusting God and how we will be blessed if we do. That is so true and something that I need to remind myself of regularly. In every big or little thing we can trust God and we will find ourselves blessed when we do.

 

 

  May you have a blessed week, one where you spend time in God's word and practice trusting Him in all things!

Choosing to Trust

I have been thinking about trust lately, here is why....

  On Labor Day weekend our family (along with some others) decided to go on a little canoe trip on the Mississippi not far from home. While we were canoeing along we started noticing "For Sale" signs every so often on homes or property along the river. Ken commented "wouldn't it be fun to live on the river" and "I think I will check into them". We visited about it and I did think it would be fun in a way and if we were to move I would rather do it sooner than later as I would like to get fruit trees planted (again!) and so forth.

   Really though, I was hoping that he would just forget about the idea which Ken does realize. I have this big thing about putting down roots, I love the fact that in my life that I can go visit my parents and when I do that I am also visiting the only home that I ever remember from growing up (I was born elsewhere but my parents moved to their current house before I was two- I believe), also when I go visit my Grandpa in Nebraska I am going to the place where he was born and raised and where my Mom and her siblings were raised. My Grandpa did build a new house but the old one is still there too. Anyway having a sense of permanency is something I really enjoy. I also like to be able to work on our land with things such as planting things, improving soil, making our home and yard just what we want and so forth.

  So anyway after that little conversation it made me realize yet again (we have talked about this before) that Ken isn't quite so into this whole putting down roots thing (he moved all over the place as a child and moving is normal for him) and also that Ken just might not ever be truly content living here in Northern MN without having a home on the water.

 So I went home from that fun little canoe trip and I will admit I had some rather turbulent thoughts and feelings. I wanted Ken to be happy but I also really wanted things to go my way. Oh, that sure sounds selfish but it is quite true. Not only did I have the reasons that I already mentioned but I also realized that if we decided to buy a new home we would also be getting a larger mortgage - one that wouldn't be paid off nearly so quickly and I would dearly love to get our mortgage all paid off (the sooner the better in my opinion!). Anyway the more I thought about it the more I hated the idea of moving. I could think of all the things that we would need to fix up before we could sell, all the things that a new property would absolutely have to have if I was to make a change and so forth. After a morning of thinking about it my stomach was practically in knots and I felt like crying.

  That afternoon when we took our rest time I was blessed to be reading Ann Voskamp's book "1,000 Gifts" and I believe the chapter was about trust - whatever it was about it made me think about trust and how I really needed to change my attitude and be willing to trust both God and my husband. First of all, God can see the big picture. He sees things that I cannot see. He knows what is truly best for all of us. He can open doors and He can close them. He can work this out however it should be worked out to glorify Him if we are willing to let Him work. Also I can trust Ken. He too wants what is best for our family. He doesn't want any of us to be unhappy. He also doesn't want us to make stupid financial decisions. It is true Ken might make mistakes but no mistake he can make can effect eternity for me so it doesn't really matter.

  After some thinking, reflecting and prayer I have felt so at peace over this whole issue. God has truly helped me to learn to trust. When I am willing to let God be in control I can be happy and at peace and He can work things out far better than I can imagine.

  And yes, we do have an appointment to see a house on Monday night. Only God knows if anything will come of it - I can trust Him!

Harvest Time

High bush cranberries picked on our canoe trip

 I read these verses lately and I feel like I can really relate just now so I thought I would share them today....

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Mara in one of my parents gardens

Observe her ways and be wise,

One of the big cabbages at my parents

Which, having no chief, officer or ruler,

Watermelons growing is always exciting

Prepares her food in the summer

The peppers are doing well this year

 and gathers her provisions in the harvest.

I think purple cabbages are beautiful

 Proverbs 6:6-8



High bush cranberry juice and grape juice- they are beautiful too.

 God has provided plenty of good things for everyone but His plan does include us doing some work. I think it is so cool that He gave us little things like ants to be an example for us. May you enjoy a week of hard work and one of experiencing and thanking God for His many blessings!

Here I am again...

Water Balloon Toss Game

 It has been a little quiet here on this blog lately. That is because real life hasn't been so very quiet. I thought I would share a bit of what has been going on here:

A week ago Friday we decided to hold an End of Summer/Back to School Ice Cream Party. That all got started because the week before we had watched my Sister-in-law's sisters for a day and we had ended up being given payment even though we had said we didn't need it (we really had fun having them here and they weren't extra work), anyway it was decided that we would do something fun with the money and we wrote up a list of ideas and what won was buying ice cream and cones and some toppings and some water balloons and then inviting over a bunch of friends for a party. So that is what we did.

Water Relay Race

    We told everybody to come prepared to get wet. We found a few different games to play that involved water (a couple required the use of water balloons) and then we also set up a slip and slide and a sprinkler and the kids had fun having a water fight. It was a nice warm day for a water party and it turned out pretty fun. I did put an end to the water fight we I went inside after spending a bunch of time outside visiting with the other ladies and when I got inside I found that the kids had been running in and out to get water for their water fight. We have 3 different spigots outside so that was totally unnecessary but I was told that they were cold so they needed warm water!

  On Labor Day weekend we thought it would be fun to go on a little canoeing trip. We decided to leave Sunday afternoon after church and then camp and canoe on Monday too. We invited others to join us and quite a few from my family did on Sunday but for various reasons none of them did on Monday but a friend named Benjamin (whom the boys really enjoy having around) did join us for the whole trip.

 In the picture above Keren, Jaten and Megan are waiting for the drivers to get back from dropping off cars so that we can head off.

   Our canoes were pretty loaded on Sunday since we had 15 people and luggage and only 4 canoes. Thankfully many of the people were on the little side. :-) As we were getting started our canoe (that Ken, Mara and I were in on Sunday) was the last to get put out and somehow when we were getting in (we are still feeling puzzled about it) we tipped over. Our canoe is narrow with a big keel on it and so it makes it tippy and I think perhaps we were perhaps on something and then I do know that we were pretty loaded down with stuff and Mara was sitting high up on an ice chest in the middle so perhaps that all is why but still it was a bit of a shock. :-) Anyway, we ended up dripping wet quite quickly. The day was on the chilly side anyway and as I tend to be cold blooded I quickly pulled out my dry clothes (that we supposed to be for the next day) and went off in the bushes and changed. Mara did the same but Ken didn't think that a bit of wetness would bother him and it didn't. He was glad to stay nice and cool. We sure do have different body temperatures!

 We all ate supper together after getting to the campsite. It is one of those little ones on the Mississippi that is only accessible by boat. It was nice and quiet and I like that. At the campsite we found some wild mushrooms (puffball varieties) to add to our supper as well as a few raspberries and wild mint, raspberry leaf and horsetail for tea. After supper Ken and Benjamin took the others down river to where their vehicle was and then they brought back two canoes.

 While they were gone the kids had fun going around in the canoe that we had left.

 I enjoyed a beautiful sunset but was sad because they never turn out as pretty in the picture as they are in real life.

 We did some exploring around the campsite too.

 The next day Mara and I took the tippy canoe (I bought it as a teenager and am kind of attached to it even if it is tippy - it is also fast) while Ken, Aaron and Megan went in one and Benjamin and Jonathan went in another. The kids did do a little bit of changing where they rode but mostly that was how we did it. In the picture above Mara is picking highbush cranberries which we spied on the bank as we went down the river. I made them into juice sweetened with honey and I am wishing I would have picked more now.

 This week has been a very busy one of putting up food for winter. On Wednesday we picked beans, grapes and broccoli at my parents and we also got some corn from a local farmer. On that same day we were also trying to prepare for a garage sale which I had said I would do on Thursday and Friday. The garage sale was really a bit much to add to a busy week but I had said I would do it and others from church (we were donating the funds to the church) had already brought over stuff so I thought I had better go through with it. After picking all the beans at my parents my Mom questioned whether I would really have time to get them done with the garage sale and all so she came over and snapped and canned them (or at least helped to can them) for me too. I am very blessed and a little bit spoiled!

 This Saturday and last I have also done flowers for weddings. Last weeks was all calla lilies and this week the bride wanted all/only baby's breath. I actually ended up liking the Baby's Breath wedding best of those two.

  This week we did also get started with our school work. We took it pretty light the first week but we did get started.

The canning and putting up for winter continues. I have canned four loads today. 2 were of beans, 1 of grape and highbush cranberry juice and one of tomatoes. We are feeling quite ready for winter and very blessed!

How is life going for you?

Don't be wise in your own eyes

I have been reading through the book of Proverbs lately. This has long been a book that I really enjoy. I really enjoyed reading chapter 3 this week, verses 5 & 6 I have had memorized for a long time and really like but this week I really appreciated the message in verses 7 & 8.

They say:

 "Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to the body

and refreshment to your bones."

Proverbs 3:7 & 8

 

God truly does have everything figured out and when we stop trying to have all the wisdom ourselves and start listening to His wisdom then things are going to work out. This is something that it seems like we have to learn over and over again.

 

 

  I love how this ties in the following of God with our physical health. That is not often the first thing we think of when we aren't feeling good but it is true that spiritual sickness will contribute to physical sickness as well. That is something that we would do well to remember.

 

 

  I hope you have a blessed week!