~We sang for FMA Camp in Mitchell, SD, McDowell's missionary service, Father's Day.~

 ~THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR OUR FAMILY AS WE SANG FOR THE CAMP IN SOUTH DAKOTA!!!!

The Lord really helped us as we sang for the FMA camp in Mitchell, SD.  Also, God helped Phillip as he spoke for the morning services!!  

When we arrived, Phillip and I were recovering from a bad cold, and were dragging and didn't hardly have a voice.  We were in desperate need of prayer!  We were constantly reaching out to our family for prayer...and we know many of you were praying too!  We totally felt those prayers!!  God came through and helped us and gave us a wonderful Camp filled with his sweet presence, lots of praying around the altar, shouting, testimonies, and worshipping Jesus! 

Here are lots of pics from our Memorial Day here before we left and our trip out to South Dakota!  Included is stopping and being with our Dear Dear Friends Steve and Luann Boardman, Bethany, Kara and kids, and Sito!!!!

There will be Tons of fun pics from SD camp and spending time with all of our wonderful friends there! We have Lots of our FAVORITE PEOPLE Here in Ohio, and all over the World...so we LOVE to spend time with all of our dear friends when we can!

Wes & Ashlea and their family are some of our dearest friends!  Ashlea and I hit it off WAY back in AZ, when I was probably 27 & she was 14 or so.  

We love to Coffee...and we Love to thrift shop together!  We are a pretty dangerous DUO together in any Goodwill!  :-D It was so fun to be with Ashlea and her family during camp!!!

On the way home from Camp, we had a special Time with our dear friends Anthony, Bryan, Julianna & kids, the Blackcalf kids, and Adrian and kids... in Mount Zion, MO!

We got home at 2:00 AM on Thursday, June 12th, and the missionaries, 

The Benjamin McDowell Family, (Our Dear Friends) 

were to be at our house by 2:00 PM THAT SAME DAY!  

Needles to say, we got up quite groggy that morning, unloaded the van, put everyone's bags into their own rooms, got our showers, and swept, mopped, and cleaned the house, 

got the McDowell's room ready, and got ready for the 

All-Church Indoor Picnic that we were having at our house by 4:30 that day!  

We had a nice little indoor picnic with Uncle Bill, Cousin Laura, Mr. & Mrs. Fields, Kimberly & baby Stella, the McDowell family, and 5 of us, since Noah was still at work. 

The Lord gave us a very nice Missionary service that night with the McDowells. God's sweet presence was near.

I have never been in another missionary service that reminded me soooo much of our first missionary services back in 2004!  

I just sat there and wept!

We had a very fun visit with the McDowells and they got to stay until Saturday, June 14th. 

The Lord gave us a wonderful Father's Day on Sunday, June 15th.  Phillip had the neat idea of having Noah drive Phillip's John Deere tractor, that his dad so beautifully restored and gave to him,

down to our church, for everyone to get pics with for Father's Day! God gave us a sweet service, and Phillip and the church passed out really nice leather work gloves, shop towels and old fashion candy for the Fathers! 

Just as Phillip was nearing the end of his sermon, in walked a man.  Phillip welcomed him and told him that he was welcomed to take a seat and we were almost done with church.

After service we all gathered around him.  We found out that he is Walking Across America!!! A couple months ago, there was another hiker that had come by our church and Noah had welcomed into our church, gave him a water bottle and some snacks and let him use our Port-a-John.   That hiker had starred the map for all hikers to know that we are friendly to hikers.  

This man's name is Greg and we had a nice time visiting with him.  Then Phillip invited him to enjoy Father's Day Sunday dinner with us.  He did.  Phillip gave him the Gospel Message and prayed with him when he asked how he could forgive those who have wronged him.

Then Phillip loaned him some clothes and he got a hot shower and got to wash up his clothes. 

He went back to church with our family that evening, we fed him a snack and let him camp out on our grounds.  

The next morning the kids and I were leaving for Pilgrim Youth Camp (PYC) so, Phillip made us all some yummy breakfast for Greg and the kids and me, we ate together, and we said goodbye to Greg, and then to Phillip and left for PYC.  

We had a wonderful PYC! 

PICS OF PYC and the Hobe Sound Legacy Quartet being here at our Strait Creek Church, coming soon! 

ENJOY!!! 

~Memorial Day~

~Nearby neighbors gave us some rhubarb.

So, I made a strawberry Rhubarb cobbler.

~Sarah holding Kimberly's baby Stella.~

~Simple Memorial breakfast.~

~strawberry rhubarb cobbler coming up!!~

~Little Adelynn's cute shoes.~

~Kimberly holding Sarah's baby Adelynn~

~Kimberly's baby Stella.

She looks just like her Dear Daddy Chris.~

~Sarah's baby Adelynn.

She looks a lot like her Dear Daddy Josh.~

~Noah and Mary have the sweet baby girls on the trampoline.~

~It was so fun to have Josh, Sarah, & Adelynn join us for a Memorial Day.  Since we were leaving for camp in S. Dakota on Wednesday, we kept it simple!  But it was OH! SO! FUN! to be together, enjoy snacks and hug on those 2 sweet babies! 

~Can Jam~

~We laid down a blanket and put the babies on the trampoline.~

~HEADING TO SOUTH DAKOTA...

TO SING FOR FMA CAMP!

But, we were barely into Indiana...when we ran out of GAS!

I was shocked! 

Then I realized that my Phillip does not drive this new-to-us Toyota van very often.

He is used to our old Suburban which had a huge gas tank, and when it hit "E," you still had 48 miles.

In this Toyota van, when it gets below 1/4, I get gas, because it runs out before you even get to E!

So, here are P & E walking to buy a gas can, and then get some gas and put it in our tank.

~Coming back in the rain, with gas for our tank.~

~Enjoying the trip.~

~We arrived safely at our Dear friend's Steve & Luann's house!

~We enjoyed a yummy snack / Supper with them, and had fun visiting.~

~Abigail found all these cute little glass turtles around Steve and Luann's house...that their Kara had hidden.  :-) 

~Fun little Goody basket in our room.~

~Phillip & Steve visiting the next morning.~

~The kids always love puzzle-ing with Luann~

~Dear Luann and Bethany took us to the Iron + Grain Coffee House.

It used to be an old bank.~

~Sweet Bethany in the vault!~

~Then we met sweet Kara and kids at a very fun park~

~Fun lunch with Everyone and even  sweet Sito!!

~Kara took us into enjoy the hot tub.~

~We got to enjoy Trenton Davis' wedding that evening.~

~It was so fun to meet Lindsey that evening.  

Her mother Becky and I used to be friends when we were teenagers in Louisiana.~

~Mr. and Mrs. Trenton Davis!~

~Everything was so pretty.~

~This sweet lady came up to me and introduced herself.  

It was so fun to meet sweet Shonda!

~And my sweet friend Amy saved Phillip and I seats at their table at the reception.~

~Mary and Amy's daughter.~

~Elijah was driving and was quite happy to see that the speed limit was 80!!!!~

~We got to Mitchell, SD, with only 32 minutes to spare before Faith Bible School's graduation. We quickly unloaded most of our van, 

Changed our clothes, and ran to the graduation.~

~Bro. Lindell Howard did a great job speaking.~

~Sweet Laura and Isaac, Ashlea & I.~

~Saturday morning practice for the Faith Bible School service that night.  they asked Elijah to play his bass guitar with them.~

~The cute little apartment we stayed in.~

~Fun treats they left for us to enjoy.~

~This was in the laundry room.

Soooo cute.~

~The guys and their longboards...skateboards.~

~Jaxsen & Ellie's fun birthday party.~

~Sweet Ashlea...the brilliant brains behind the party.~

~Little Ellie~

~Honoring Bro. Lindell Howard.  It was a sweet service.~

~Dearest Mrs. Becky!  I love her to pieces.~

~These 3 ladies right here made some very yummy meals!!~

~Helping peel potatoes.~

~First Sunday dinner of camp.~

~The 2 Heathers!

Phillip's first cousin Heather...daughter of Dad D.'s twin sister Jean,

and me.~

~Uncle Mark and Phillip.~

~Little Lawrence gets given to Jesus.~

~Sweet Cynthia and Brady and us. It was so fun to be with them.~

~The Lord really helped Phillip as he spoke on the home 4 mornings and on 

missions on Saturday AM.~

~Dear Pastor Stafford and Phillip are a lot alike.~

~Joy & Abigail. It was fun for them to be together again.~

~I got 2 little jean skirts for Stella.~

~Emma & Mary~

~Emma, Rosie, & Mary.~

~Phillip, Mark Russell, and Bro. Lindell.~

~It was so fun to have Trint, Janette, and their girls and TJ come for a couple days.  I know they were so exhausted from the recent wedding and all, but it was so fun to have them with us for a couple days.~

~Yummy coffees at the FMA book store!  Thank you, Joy!~

~Found these little peach shoes at Walmart on Clearance.  They matched my outfit so well.~

~I found this cute South Dakota sweatshirt for Mary at Salvation Army.~

~Bro. Brent Woodard did a good job preaching.~

~A quick guy pic the first night that Noah flew in to SD to join us.~

~A quick pic of Trint & Janette, Brent & Nicki, Phillip & Heather, and Pastor & Mrs. Stafford

~I had fun talking to these sweet ladies one night.~

~Youth service.~

~Elijah leading singing for youth.~

~The boys and their longboards.~

~There they go.~

~It was so fun to have Dear Noah join us for the last weekend!!~

~dear Patrick and Little Lawrence!~

~Saturday Slip and slide!~

~Here comes Joel~

~The corn palace!~

~HAPPY 30th ANNIVERSARY TO PHILLIP & ME!!~

Before we left for South Dakota, 

I put my wedding dress back on 

(6 kids and lots of life later...it may or may not have buttoned completely ;-)

Mary took our pictures.

~We ran out for coffee on Saturday of camp.~

~Our Reflection in the glass door.~

~We enjoyed a pastry and some yummy coffee!

The owner came out and sat down and asked us what our secret was to 30 happy years!

We told her Jesus, selflessness, and staying best friends!

~These colors are basically the colors we used in our wedding.~

~Volleyball in the gym.~

~Phillip & Joel

~Gilbert put together a special and asked me to play for them.~

(My sweet friend Laura found my dress at Goodwill.  

It is a Wrangler Dress, very colorful, but I thought it was fun so got it.)

~Noah played an offertory on Sunday morning.~

~Children's service Sunday night.~

~Ashlea did such a great job with the children.~

~Most of the young people. Such a great group of young people! 

We Love every single dingle one of them!!!

(Sadly, I think we missed a few of them who had 

already left the church to go and change or eat.)~

~My Sweet Ashlea and Me~

~At Goodwill, I found this Adorable sweatshirt for Mary that says, "Love Like Jesus!"

We were shocked to find out that her dear friend Addison has a shirt that says the same thing!!

~Katrina, baby, and Me.~

~Bro. Brent, Phillip, and Pastor Stafford talking.~

~One morning we all met at the the Bread and Vine coffee shop.~

~A quick run out with my sweet friend Rebecca.~

~Corn palace.~

~Go Abigail~

~Roller Coaster in Scheels.~

~Our Goodbye committee.~

~Traveling home.

~Saw this somewhere...I think in Kansas.~

~Got to Mount Zion, and Dear Anthony served us yummy DECAF coffee 

(per our request) and yummy lemon cake!~

~We so enjoyed the adorable apartment that we stayed in.  

Anthony did a great job decorating it!~

~Dear Bryan and Julianna and children (and Anthony) had us over for a yummy breakfast!  

Adrian and children came too.  It was so fun to be together! 

Sweet Adrian and Me. 

I meant to get a pic of Julianna and me, but I forgot! :-(

~We took the kids to Lambert's cafe...home of the THROWED ROLLS!!

~This young man was putting molasses (and he also offered apple butter) 

to put on the hot rolls.~

~One of the hot rolls smothered in molasses.~

~Elijah catching a roll.~

~Mary catching a roll!~

~HOME SWEET HOME!!~

We got home at 2:00 AM Thursday morning, and the Benjamin McDowell family was to come that day for a missionary service at our SCCNC.

That afternoon we had an indoor picnic in our house, with our church people and the McDowells.

Mr. Fields and Stella.~

~The McDowells missionary service!~

I have Never been in another missionary service, that reminded me more of OUR OWN MISSIONARY SERVICES BACK IN 2004!!!!

I just sat there and wept!  

#1. During our service we played a slideshow and had the song, "I will Go" playing behind it.  

The McDowells used, "I Will Go" in their service as well! 

#2. We had 3 small children, they have 4.  

#3. Phillip mentioned the Moravians, and quoted a quote from them in our service, 

and Benjamin quoted the same quote. 

#4. We sang together as a little family,

And they do too.

#5. At the end of our service, Our little 6 year old Kimberly got up and played her violin for offertory.

At the end of their service, their 2 young girls got up and played their violins. 

After their service, Phillip had the McDowells come forward and we prayed for them.  

~Phillip asked the McDowells to come up and we all gathered 

around and prayed for them!!~

~We got to take the McDowell girls swimming in our neighbor's pool.~

~Soapy bubbles on the trampoline.~

~Mary let the girls help her make choc. chip cookies.~

~Phillip ran to PA with Benjamin that day...and back by 2:00 AM the next morning!  

They had a nice visit and trip!

We girls, Noah, and Elijah ordered pizza for our supper.

~Jesus helped Phillip get a little hay wagon to pull behind his Neat John Deere 

Tractor his Daddy gave him.~

~Cousin Laura took these fun pics.~

~Father's Day~

Phillip had Noah drive Phillip's John Deere Tractor down to our church 

on Father's Day, so we could take pics with it.

Noah looked so sharp driving it in his suit and bowtie. 

~Father's Day Gifts for the men at church.~

~The Guys and Greg, the hiker.~

~Phillip is doing some improvements to my kitchen for our 30th! 

I rearranged the top of my fridge.

 BEFORE....

~AFTER!

~This is my HIGH-TRAFFIC wall in my kitchen!

So, I asked Phillip to put me a

chair railing out of bead board on that wall.

He has it nearly all done, 

just lacks a couple boards and caulking and painting.  

I Love it!

I'm so happy!

~Dear Anthony gave us this neat coffee pic.~

~Just lacking caulking and painting. ~

~Noah's boss sent this pic of Noah to us. :-) ~

~Baby Stella~ 

~Thanks for stopping by!

If I don't blog again before July 4th...

HAVE A VERY HAPPY FOURTH!!

Fun pics from PYC coming soon!

~HEATHER~