August 2025

 We had a fantastic time on our family trip to Colorado July 30th through August 5th. We were happy that our friend, Owen, could go with us this year. We also had to bring our dogs along this year. Our kennel that we had booked cancelled about a week before our trip, so we saved hundreds of dollars and brought them along. They actually did well on their first ever road trip, traveling in their kennels in the back of our truck, hiking in the Pike National Forrest with us, and loving the cabin and mountain life. On this trip we spotted Black Bears on three different occasions. One sighting was a mama with two cubs. Other wildlife we saw included Mule Deer, Elk, Chipmunks, and rabbit. A highlight this year was everyone, but me, hiking the Manitou Incline. Silas finished first in approximately 48 minutes, followed by Owen in 50 Minutes. Then Phoebe in approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes (65 minutes), and lastly Sarah and Eric, who climbed together and encouraged each other in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes (105 minutes). Another notable highlight was our hike to Paradise Cove. A lovely little, short hike to a waterfall area, where we have hiked before and watched some crazy people jump from the rocks above into a small pool area below the falls. This time we had two with us who wanted to be the crazy jumpers.... Owen and Sarah. We watched them climb the rocks, shimmy out to the edge and jump. Owen never hesitated just got to the edge and took the leap. Sarah took a little longer. She watched Owen. She got to the edge, looked around, took it all in, yelled down to us, and made sure she knew exactly where Owen had hit the water. Then she jumped. They both laughed and did this jumping routine 3-4 times each before grabbing towels and drying off. Good job, brave kids!

Silas attended the first ever Silverbacks choir camp on August 6th and 7th at his school. We went to listen to them sing a few songs the final evening. The choir, especially the boys sounded so good! The choir director told us that this was the highest number of boys since she has started as the choir director there, to try out and make the Silverback choir.

Silas turned 13 on August 8th. we celebrated with family and the next day we had a party and he celebrated with some of his friends.

We all got delicious drinks from Barista Blendz.

The boys that were invited and able to attend Silas's birthday party were, (pictured below) Camden, Diesel, Arnez, Landon, Carson, Silas, Knova, and Luke.

Sarah had some of her best friends come over to play games and eat chips and salsa a few days before she left for college. Pictured, (below) Ava, Sarah, Jax, Phoebe, and Addison.

Sarah, Phoebe, and Owen went to Emporia with Popee to spend a few evenings farm pond fishing and boating. They caught LOTS of fish and had a good time at the lake zip-sledding, tubing, and skiing. Phoebe was excited to tell me that she had caught the most fish over the two evenings...30 fish!

I have a beautiful Rose of Sharon plant on the west side of our house. I got it for free and planted it a few years ago. It has grown significantly and has many white flowers all over it. But this summer randomly it has had a few purple/pinkish flowers over the past few weeks. Always just one at a time, in the middle of the white flowers. I don't know anything about this plant and if this is something that is normal or not, but I think somehow, they are appearing when I need to see something cheerful and beautiful. Things have been changing in my life lately, things that are out of my control. I've been having some hard and upsetting conversations with loved ones and I've been extremely sad. The flower, I believe is God's way of reminding me that he loves me and to keep standing for him. (I like to think that sometimes those in heaven can get glances at those left here on earth and just maybe I can hear them cheering for me as I continue to walk and live my life here.) It will not be easy. It says that in the Bible. Christians will be persecuted. Friends will come against friends. Families will be split. But I will keep choosing God. I will continue to say and do the hard, but right thing for me and my family. Heaven will be my reward. My Grandmas and my Mom are there and I WILL see them again someday there. I will not compromise my eternity for an earthly vision of "love". I will continue to pray for those who do not truly believe. They will be mad, offended, and will not understand. I hope with all my heart that they will have a moment in their lives that God will open their eyes to His truth and they will be truly saved. Thank you, God, for the purple/pink flowers in the middle of the white flowers. They will continue to bring me joy in the midst of my chaos and anxiety. And they will remind me that I am loved by the Creator.

************************************************************************

Joshua 24:15 "But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve....But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."

Eric and Silas's baseball team met for some end-of-the-season ice cream and laughs at Braum's one evening in August. These boys were not only good teammates this year but have become good friends too. It was a great season of growth, wins, and fun. Go Thunder!

Silas and Phoebe both had good first days of school! Phoebe is a sophomore and Silas is in 7th grade this year. Phoebe is driving herself to school in her new car, a Ford Fusion.

We went to the new movie Freakier Friday one evening. I thought it was good, super funny! If you saw the first one, Freaky Friday, and liked it, you should definitely see this one too.

We went out to dinner at the Olive Garden the night before Sarah left for college. Dad and Wanda joined us.

That night, August 19th, Phoebe asked Sarah if she could sleep in her room with her...a sleepover of sorts before Sarah left. The next thing that I discovered when I went in to say goodnight to the girls... I found Silas in a make-shift bed on her floor next to her bed, Eric on the end of her bed, and Lucy (our cat) snuggled in next to Sarah in the middle of the bed. We're sure going to miss our grown-up-too-fast girl. The next morning she gave good-bye hugs to her siblings as they left for school, we loaded her things into our vehicles, Eric helped her set-up her new laptop, and we set out for Manhappiness and new adventures for our girl.

When we arrived in Manhattan, Sarah checked in, got her key, and we took a couple loads of her things up to her dorm room and began to help her set-up her home for the next school year.

Things went well. We helped her unpack, hang things in her closet, hang things on her walls, make her bed, got her some snacks, got her a t.v. stand, took her and her roommate out to dinner, gave some more hugs, watched her walk back and into her dorm that night, and finally Eric and I headed back to Wichita late that night, leaving a little piece of our hearts there to find her way. We pray that she will continue to be successful in school and her new sport, Rowing. We pray that she will make good friends there and be a light to those around her. We pray that she will be safe and make good choices. God go before her and be with her.

Sarah sent us two first day of school pictures on her first day, August 25th. Go be AMAZING, Sarah!

Our newest dog, Ray, got spayed on August 25th. At the vet that day, when weighed, she was 67 pounds. When we picked her up late that afternoon, she was pretty lethargic and zoned out...not herself at all. Thank goodness the next day she was back to acting fairly normal and on the mend.

Silas has been researching Gray's Tree Frogs and has been looking for them all around our house in the evenings. I call them sticky feet frogs. He has found three so far and is keeping them in a great terrarium in his room. I love this boy of ours and his love of animals, reptiles, and amphibians. He researches them beforehand and then learns from actually having them and caring for him.

Silas bought Ralphie, his Bearded Dragon, a new 40-gallon tank. He has been adapting to his new bigger space. Phoebe and I looked in on him on night and found him asleep in this funny position, a full belly from eating a lot of crickets that evening, and a live cricket on his head. Ha!

Popee, knowing Phoebe's love of ALL THINGS GRINCH found and bought Phoebe a Grinch costume! She immediately tried it on and modeled some Grinch poses for us. We also think that our dog, Belle, would make a perfect, Max, the Grinch's dog. Now to find a Max costume for her..... (a single antler horn to strap to the top of her little dog head). After Phoebe modeled the costume it was someone else's turn... Guess who?!?!?

Sarah came home to visit for Labor Day weekend. Our pets were glad to see her too.

We all went to the zoo for a few hours on Sunday, August 31st. The weather was great and we got to see three of the new baby Elephants. So cute!

Popee took her out to breakfast on Monday morning (Labor Day). They had a good time together. I'm glad that the just the two of them could spend some time together before she went back to college later that day.

Before she left to drive back to Manhattan, Eric made sure that she had a full tank of gas, the snack she wanted, and a Sonic drink for the road. We love you, Sarah!