Dear Family and Friends,

How quickly things have changed and in less than a week we were back into the scheduled season of Fall!  With starting school, (Kendra 3rd grade) and (Bryce 1st grade); came the regular bedtime schedule, packing lunches, homework, AWANA’s (Wednesday night kids church), piano lessons, and switching out wardrobes to fall/winter clothes. 

I too began a new commitment this year - Bible Study Fellowship; which is a nation wide, ladies only, Bible study group.  My sister, mom and I drive once a week to Kennewick to meet with our study groups and then gather in the sanctuary for worship and lecture.  We are really enjoying reading and studying the book of Matthew this year.

Every year the kids enjoy our local county fair the second week of September. It’s kind of our last “hoorah” of enjoying warm, sunny weather before fall.  Being that pigs are close to my heart, because I showed for 6 years in 4-H and FFA, I feel it only deserving that I volunteer in the pig barn.  It is rewarding to help out the kids and help things to run smoothly on weigh in and show days!  Every afternoon I would pick up the kids from school and off to the fair we went!  The kids enjoyed all the usual fair activities including; junk food, animals, clown shows, wild animal show, exhibit buildings, face painting, showing pigs in Pee-wee class, the Rodeo, tractor pull, and seeing lots of family and friends.

The 3rd week of September Travis entered the state roping competition in Pasco, WA.  Although he didn’t win any prize money, it was a full 3 days of roping and just hanging out with the cowboys, and sharing God’s love with them.  On Saturday they host a big dummy roping contest for all the kids.  I brought my niece and nephew and the kids had a blast!  All the contestants win a prize (a new rope, roping glove and bag of goodies)!  This is the 2nd year in a row Bryce won 1st place in his age group and took home the buckle!  He is quite the little roper….and practices most everyday.

Anyone who lives in the Columbia Basin knows what Fall time means…HARVEST.  Getting stuck behind a slow semi hauling potatoes, onions or apples is just part of it!  I grew up as a farmer’s daughter and just love teaching my kids about how our food is grown and harvested.  It always makes for a good field trip out to the potato field and watch the digger and semi trucks in action!  And of course, Papa (my Dad) turns everything into a contest; which was…boys against girls who could dig the most potatoes and who got the BIGGEST potato!  I’m pretty sure the girls one *wink*.

I explained to you last month that Travis, Kendra and I were going on a trip to Oklahoma.  Travis spoke at some Cowboy Churches in Edmond, OK and Watongda, OK.  Kendra and I drove to a dear friend’s wedding in Iowa and then we attended a church conference in Tulsa.  Kendra and I flew home safe and sound last Wednesday, while Travis continued on to Texas to minister at a church in Dallas, TX.

I will be sharing more details and photos of our Oklahoma trip next update.  Until then, please continue to pray for me as I “hold the fort down” and as Travis travels home (driving).

With Love,

Jennifer

Visit the Photo Album page to view photos from September!