Camp, Concert, Pancakes, and Pies... Oh MY!

We had a Ca-RAY-zee last couple of weeks!  I am very much looking forward to a week at home!  I am realizing more and more that I am the kind of person that likes having different things to do, but I need a few nights at home a week to be able to enjoy/appreciate the busy times.  Otherwise I get burnt out too quickly!

 

Last weekend we had a church retreat out at Camp Mennoscah.  It was fabulous.  Full of great food, walks down to the river, swimming in the pool, letting the kids run like crazy, minute-to-win-it games, and several worship and lesson times.  We did a mini-series on the book of Ruth, and my eyes were opened to all kinds of lessons God was wanting me to learn.  (I continued to be blessed as the She Reads Truth devotions focused on Ruth and Naomi the next couple days after we got home!  I am sure God planned that one!)

 

 

This last week/weekend was the Harper County Fair.  The fair always tends to be a busy time, but this year, we decided to throw in a few extras to make it super busy!  Zach is the "superintendent" for the photography booth at the fair, so basically he is there when people turn in their pictures, and is there when the judge judges.  So he went to set up Monday night, while Lyle and I went to an Outreach ministry meeting.  Tuesday night I went to get my haircut (much much needed) while Zach and Lyle had some play time at home.  Wednesday we were back to the fair to help Zach while people turned in pictures, and to hang signs at the Preschool booth.  And of course make several trips to see the animals with Lyle.  He looooved the animals! 

 

Don't you love his cut off shirt! :)

 

Thursday we met up with Greg and Kim, and Kodi and Shawn for supper and a trip around the fair.  We watched the tractor pull for a while, then headed over to the animal exhibits and the blue barn to look at just who had won ribbons.  Once we got home, I got to work making mini-pies for the fair.  (Outreach started this last year, making mini pies and handing them out with bottled water in the parade.  Seems like pie is as exciting to adults as candy is to little kids!) 

 

Friday my parents came down to watch Lyle (who had come down with a fever...maybe from teeth, but who knows for sure!?) while we went to the Band Perry/Rascal Flatts concert.  They had gotten us tickets for Christmas, but the show got postponed until this weekend.  It was AWESOME.  The Band Perry is probably my favorite group right now, and after seeing them perform, I love them even more.  She looked like she was having the time of her life up there.  I'm pretty sure that Kim and I would be best friends.  Just saying.
 

Sorry, I haven't uploaded pictures from my camera yet.  Hopefully better pictures to come!

 

We got home about midnight and the alarm to get up on Saturday went off about 4:45.  We took our bleary-eyed selves over to the church to get set up and going for the pancake breakfast fundraiser for the new preschool our church is opening in January.  Pancakes, sausage, coffee, and pie (yes we serve pie for breakfast) made the early hour much more bearable!  We had a pretty decent turnout and will use the money to start buying toys and equipment.  It's pretty exciting! 

 

Harper Industries (where Zach works)  was having an open house, so Zach headed over to give tours, and we met up with him for a while.  Lyle's fever was back, so we headed home (our tummies were too full for lunch anyway!) to rest.  After our nap, we headed back over to the church to get ready for the parade.  We handed out 121 pies and over 200 bottles of water.  Once the parade was over, we watched the turtle races, and had wonderful authentic steak tacos.  We chatted with friends, and once Lyle made it very clear that he was worn out and it was past his bed time, we headed home.  Can you believe I didn't even have a funnel cake???  What is wrong with me!

 

Checking out the turtles before the race

 

After a long hot shower I collapsed into bed.  We were very happy with how everything that we worked so hard to plan turned out, but we were ready to sleep until next weekend!  We spent most of Sunday relaxing, having time with the family, and riding the new gator out to look at the pond.

 

 

 We also got the news on Saturday that my Grandad was put on comfort care, and will most likely not be with us very much longer.  Keep our family in your prayers if you think about it!