Summer marches on and we are in full "fall preparation" mode.  Although the boys and I are enjoying our little "summer break" from homeschooling, we're also busy preparing for the next season (both literally and figuratively).  Fall is literally around the corner and beginning with the last weekend in September we'll be on tour again.  We're headed to Cali (with a week in Boise on the way) for a 6 week tour full of church services at both repeat churches and new ones.  We're looking forward to reconnecting with brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we've been privileged to serve as well as meeting new "family"!

As for the figurative "next season", we are preparing to say "Goodbye" to this ranch and the people here in Montana who have become family and have given us a "home" after so long without one.  This season here has been a tremendous gift and a time of rest, reflection, seeking direction, and of course making new friends.  Preparing for our next season is bittersweet!  While it will be sad to leave this beautiful place full of beautiful people, it is very exciting to anticipate having a home of our own for the first time in four years!  We praise God for our time here and we are grateful for the hope of staying connected with the people we've grown to love here, knowing that we have lots of churches to return to minister at and we'll just be a "short" four hours away. 
( just a hop, skip, and a jump for us season travelers! )

So between now and the last week of September, we will pack up our belongings (few that they may be) and prepare to move.  When we return from our California tour in mid-November, we'll come back to the ranch with a U-hual, load up our boxes and head to Spokane.  We'll be renting an apartment while we continue our search for a house to buy!  We'd so appreciate your continued prayers for God's blessing and direction in the financing and finding just the right place for our family!

Next week, we are taking a short trip to Western Washington to minister at two churches and then spend some time with our friends and family in the Seattle area!  Summer is an exciting time for my nieces as they all have birthdays and I LOVE my little sweeties so I can't wait to go celebrate them!  Also T-1 gets to get his braces off!  Yeehaw! (that's my Montana girl coming out, lol) He gets to have chewing gum again! ;)  AND we get to hang with some of our home church family, so we're super excited about that too!  Then it's back to the ranch to pack and finish homeschool lesson plans! :)

    Until next time, remember - God is good!  Life is interesting and sometimes very hard, but our God is faithful, and kind.  He sees us and loves us!  Praying you find peace in those truths! 

I've said before that if there was a contest for world's worst blogger, I would certainly be in the running.  Fortunately, I am not aware of any such contest, and if it exists I'll happily remain in the dark! ;)  Whatever the case, I just can't seem to get into a consistent "writing groove."  The reality is, I just have lots of other things that rank much higher on my priority list so it has indeed been nearly a month since my last post.  However, unless/until the Lord clearly tells me I'm done blogging, I'll keep it on my priority list (all-be-it down at the bottom) and will continue to look for opportunities to write and pray for wisdom about what God might have me share.

We continue to stay busy with church services and concerts across Montana this summer!  God is so gracious to use us in this way!  We are humbled and blessed!

I have been diligently working on our homeschool plans for this upcoming school year.  We are taking the month of August off for "summer break" and getting excited for our upcoming year. 

Our summer adventures are continuing now that we are back at the ranch.  We are enjoying time with our new friends here, visits with family, and traveling on weekends to minister.  We're also busy with preparations for our fall tour to Cali, next school year, next year's ministry calendar, and our upcoming move. (details to come)

Last week we enjoyed a visit from my parents.  One of my sisters and her boyfriend were here for a couple days too!  It was so much fun having them here.  The boys' especially loved taking them all over the ranch to show them their favorite spots and introduce them to all of the animals.  Papa (aka, my daddy) even helped the boys build a bridge across the ditch! :)

The next few weeks our ministry schedule is light, but our family schedule is full.  Next week will be full of last year schoolwork organization, prep for assessments, and planning for next year.  Then the following week we're headed to western Washington for 10 days, where we'll minister at two churches, get together with our own church family, celebrate my niece's birthdays, and go to the orthodontist twice so Thing 1 can get his braces removed! :)  

And so life goes on and we continue to seek to follow our Master!  Blessings to you and yours as you also seek to follow Him!