Bright Lights

Last month we had the joy of helping with a Bright Light's Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Filled with Biblical encouragement and fellowship, the days flew all-too quickly as we shared in music and leading teams of girls in small group times. We really saw the Lord work through the entire conference. [In fact, you can read of the many answers to prayer here.]

A specific area the Lord really refreshed on my heart that week is the daily privilege and importance of cultivating our relationship with the Lord through His Word and prayer. I was again challenged to realize that within myself dwells no good thing. It's only through the Lord's work in and through my life that produces anything of value. What JOY to know He desires to do that work in me!

For all you blog readers in PA, OH, or MN -- the Bright Light Conferences are coming to your area this August/October! Please check out the schedule here to learn the dates/location in your area. You'll be blessed!

"Let all those who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
"The LORD be magnified!"
Ps 40:16

It's Corn Season

Note: This week Rachel and Alaythia are in Virginia visiting Dan and Bethany...and having loads of fun! Which leaves me to tell you what has been keeping those at home busy! So this is Hannah blogging from the home front:

Our wonderful friend Arnie, grows some sweet corn for our family every year to work up, which has been a huge blessing. We've been excitedly waiting for the fresh garden produce to ripen and he called saying that Thursday was the chosen day! Since Rachel, and Alaythia were in Virginia and Dad, Matthias, and Stephen were all working out of town that day, our work crew was smaller than usual. But we decided to see how much we could get done without them!

Thursday morning we woke up to a very wet rainy day. Not ideal for working with corn but we decided to head out to the corn field anyways and pray it would stop!

And once we got out there it stoped raining and just drizzled. Which was a lot better to work in, but since it had been raining the fields were extreamly muddy. So Ruth, Elizabeth, Susanna and I all took off our socks and shoes and got ready for a fun morning sloshing through the fields.

After two hours of picking corn we had all but three rows done and the back of the truck loaded full. So we rinsed all the mud off and hopped in the truck to head home and as soon as we started the engine, the 'light drizzle' turned back into a 'heavy pouring rain'.

Then came the fun part! Husking! We got home, ate lunch and by the time we went out to husk the clouds had lifted and the sun was shining and there was a nice breeze. It was amazing!

Our husking reinforcements!

As we husked we would play games to help us go faster. One was to see how many corncobs we could husk in 10 minutes. Our record was 145!

We husked for 4 1/2 hours and did approximately 3,000 cobs of corn.

By the end of the 4 hours we were all sun burnt and sticky but still not done!

The next step of the process was blanching. We would put them in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes then cool them off in tubs of cold water.

About this time Abi and Joanna, Kori, Arnie, and his brother Matt came over to help!

{Thank you everyone!}

Joanna was so much fun to watch as she played in the water and chewed on her own cob

Then cutting the corn off the cob and putting it in bags. And yes, we decided it was time to move into the shade! Ah, so much nicer!

Abi is a pro at this!

This was Kori's first time and she did such a great job!

Josiah and Andrew came and we took shifts eating supper. Then they went home and we still weren't done cutting. As it got dark the mosquitoes were biting dreadfully, so we moved into the garage, put the younger ones to bed and the five of us (Mom, Ruth, Elizabeth, Susanna and I) cut, cut, cut.

A.M.

Yes, this is what time it was when we finished cutting, and bagging. Then we cleaned up and went to bed! Whew! Big -- but good -- day.

All together we froze 168 1/2 quarts of sweet corn!

"Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us."
Ps 67:6

Blast of Summer

What happens when a friend brings over his multi-year stash of firework/tanks?! That's right -- an all-out battle of sparks! After the July 4th festivities were concluded, we had one final evening of lighting fireworks:

Setting up the battle array.

The first sparks start to fly!

Ever boys at heart!

The smoke thickens.

In the thick of the fray.

The many lively participants cheering from behind the lines.

A few final blasts battling it out...

And the grand firecracker show is over!

July 4th

Here are some much-belated pictures of our July 4th celebration here in Seward. What a special day! Please pardon the excess of random pictures, but we are posting many of them especially at a few family members' requests! [We love you Dan & Bethany -- and Grandpa and Grandma!]

Gotta love the variety of family fun in Seward!

Smiles!

Stephen competed in the 3-on-3 basketball and we all had a wonderful time cheering for him!

Happy smiles cheering for our team!

Andrew had the biggest day as he competed in the strongman competition. Here he's lifting 75 lbs as many times as possible in 60 seconds. He lifted it 39 times.

Round 2 was carrying these railroad ties.

And finally, he dead-lifted this car 22 times to take first place in his division.

His favorite and best encourager!

And a highlight for our family is sharing a concert at the local auditorium. It was here where we first shared in the Seward community over 11 years ago. What a joy to share with the hometown folks who have encouraged us over the past years!

Another little look-alike?! *smile*

"Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day."
Psalm 96:2

Stephen

Happy 18th Birthday Stephen!

Faith:
"Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it."

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

Bethany

Happy Birthday Bethany!

Virtue:
The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life
as I obey God's Word.

"As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," 2 Peter 1:3

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous:
for praise is comely for the upright.

Praise the LORD with harp:

sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Sing unto Him a new song;
play skilfully with a loud noise.

For the word of the LORD is right;

and all His works are done in truth.

He loveth righteousness and judgment:
the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made;

and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap:
He layeth up the depth in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD:
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spake, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,
the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
and the people whom He hath chosen for his own inheritance.

The LORD looketh from heaven;
He beholdeth all the sons of men.

From the place of his habitation He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

He fashioneth their hearts alike;
He considereth all their works.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him,
upon them that hope in His mercy;

Our soul waiteth for the LORD:
He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
because we have trusted in His holy name.

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.

Psalm 33

Pictures from our July 3rd Concert in Seward.
Compliments of Kori!