July 4th, Family Visits and a Gender Reveal!

Well, July 4th has come and gone - for another year! This year seems to be flying by! I can hardly believe summer is halfway over, can you? It's been such a busy summer - we've had lots of wonderful company and adventures! The tragedy on Independence Day with the floods in Texas has overshadowed everything, and our hearts are mourning with the people who have lost loved ones in the floods, not just in Texas, but in other states, too.  Kerrville, Texas, is the town where my husband was born and raised, and the losses suffered there are beyond belief. I am thankful to report that all our family and friends there are safe, but our heart breaks for those precious girls' families, and all who lost their lives in the flood. 

My sister, her husband, two children, and my brother's son all came to visit us over the 4th.  We went to Coeur d'Alene to watch the 4th parade. 

My sister Rebekah and I 

My two nieces and nephew, so precious to me! 

We were invited to a friend's home to celebrate the 4th after we watched the parade. They put on a fireworks show second to none! 

Cooking lessons in my kitchen - the kids helped me make my Iron Skillet biscuits for breakfast, and we had so much fun! 

We enjoyed a bonfire outside with S'mores.  

The kids loved playing frisbee with our son's dog.  Riley could care less about running around that much! 

Lots of games were played together!  

I made treat bags for them for each day while they were here, and they got to open one a day. Today's bag had a special craft in it! 

More fun and games! They had never played the game of Life before, and we had so many laughs and good memories playing it! 

My clematis has bloomed so huge this year that I wondered if it might topple over!

It just makes my heart so happy to see its generous blooms! 

Took a ride up into the mountains with the kids - they loved the views!

My chickens were loved on while the kids were here. I know they miss them! All the special treats the kids brought them and special attention! 

My sister and I got a picture with my clematis as the background. We enjoyed walking around my garden together. Special memories!

This was her favorite chicken, it is a Silky bantam and so sweet! 

My sister's husband played the guitar for us with some lovely background music one evening while we visited. 

Dan and I celebrated our anniversary the day our family left.  We went out to eat and then got ice cream in Sandpoint and walked around City Beach.  It is one of our favorite things to do. I always say that if you walk and eat ice cream, none of the calories matter :) 

A picture of Lady Liberty from City Beach, Sandpoint. It was such a beautiful evening! 

These two little ones have been hatched out in my yard where I can watch them from the house. So amazing to see the parents care so diligently for them! In this picture, they were waiting as momma or daddy swung by with food. 

The excitement in this month continued with a Gender Reveal party for Ryan and Alanna! 

Alanna had an ultrasound to find out the gender, and the results were put in an envelope and given to a friend.  They bought powder to put in the smokestacks of Ryan's semi truck and when the truck was started the color of the smoke revealed that we are having a baby GIRL in November! 

Here is the video of that special moment! 

Alanna made these cheesecakes for the reveal. She was wearing pink for Team Girl! 

I was wearing blue for Team Boy - but we are so excited for Baby Clara Madeline that will be arriving sometime in early November!!! 

Our little momma is just radiant, isn't she! 

Early morning walks - oh, how I love them! My time with the Lord is so special to me. The mornings are glorious, nice and cool with a light breeze. 

In the evenings, we ride down to the river and cool off. This is one of the things I love about July! We can swim every day if we want to! 

Riley doesn't care much for the water; she gets in, gets wet, and then lies on the sand to sunbathe and dry off! 

Gus - Ryan and Alanna's dog, LOVES the water - he is tuckered out after swimming for about an hour! 

Across the river, we watched two eagles as they rested along the shoreline. 

A view from my garden looking toward our home, as the sun was setting. Such a peaceful, serene evening! 

Another view of my clematis. 

Black-eyed Susans are now blooming! 

I'm sharing my newest video, made with some of our pictures from the recent trip we took to Banff, Alberta, paired with a song that speaks to my heart more than ever before. I pray your heart will be blessed as you listen to this song, and join me as we pray, "Come, Jesus Come!" Blessings to you all!