As summer draws to a close and school season starts up it is fun to reflect on a lot of fun activities and special times we've had with the people in our lives.
One of the highlights of the last couple months was going on RYS Convention with 6 kids from our church youth group. We thoroughly enjoyed connecting with these kids and getting to know them better. Each day during Convention our minds were filled with sessions and messages about being salt in this earth, how to be broken before we can bless, and how to bless the broken. Then in the evening we gathered with our group of 6 kids to bring it down to a personal level and listen to them talk about what it looks like for them to live the Salt Life. It was beautiful to watch these young adults make deep, heartfelt connections between what they heard to how they are to live.
We've also seen of both our families recently, which is always fun! During one of my trips up I was able to visit my dear friend, Summer and meet her baby, Lillian. It's always such a sweet time with this family because they are raising 2 girls just like us :) Janie and Lydia are close in age, and it is so fun to watch their little friendship grow. This time we spent an afternoon at the Sioux Falls Zoo!
Our garden, oh my goodness. I'm about ready to rent a tiller from Vermeer and till that whole thing up. I love the produce; we all love it actually. But this time of year I always get overwhelmed because the tomatoes
will not stop! The peppers are a close 2nd, but at least they can keep for awhile on the counter or in the fridge. We have plenty of sweet corn, tomato soup and green beans for this winter, so now we are just eating a lot of it fresh. We might make a batch of salsa yet, but after that I think we're going to call it quits! Until the squash and pumpkins are ready!
In the next couple weeks our fall routine will be in full swing which means Wednesday mornings at Coffee Break Bible study, Thursday mornings at Mainly Music, and Wednesday night church activities. We also have about 4 things that occur monthly that will keep us busy. I've been working one shift a week this summer and will keep doing that as we go into fall.
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| Family picture time! |
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| Tim and Carrie looking good! |
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| John and Anika...what a cute pair ;) |
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| And our little fam :) It's pretty obvious what Lydia thinks of getting her picture taken. |
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| The whole extended Hofland family (minus Mark And Sheryl's kids). |
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| At the campground in July with Opa and Oma! |
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| Does this scene look familiar to any other VW grandkids or great-grandkids? |
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| Red, white and blue! |
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| Elsie and Lydia both turned 2 years old this summer! |
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| Corn husking begins at an early age. |
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| Sweet baby face, and a bit of drool :) |
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| Dan captured this rainbow on a stormy evening. |
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| I can't stop looking at the expression on Clara's face :) |
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| On our way to RYS Convention! |
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| Sweet little friends. Janie and Lydia :) |
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| Only 2 months apart in age, and they love all the same things! |
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| "Mommy's glasses?" |
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| She always has a smile! |
