Last night was our first time using our wood stove this season! Harvest is over, the animals are finishing off the green grass before moving on to the winter hay, pumpkins have been carved, fall soccer is over and winter is just around the corner!

Our family had some new experiences this fall. Kendra, being 9, was old enough to show an animal at the fair! Travis and I both showed growing up so this is something that we have looked forward to for our children. Kendra loved being in 4-H and had a great first year experience showing a pig! She placed 4th in both the market and fit and show classes earning blue ribbons, then sold her pig for top dollar. Needless to say she was a very happy camper when that check came in the mail and already has made plans with the money. Give some, spend a little and save the rest so she can do it again next year!

Another new adventure for us was fall soccer! Kendra played for the first time in the spring and wanted to play again this fall. However there weren’t enough girls her age who signed up, so she “played up” meaning she joined a team with older girls. With Kendra being the youngest on the team she definitely was challenged but did exceptionally well!

Bryce too played fall soccer (this being his first year). He had a great coach who was able to break it down to the boys in a way they could understand! Bryce picked it up quickly and again proved that athletics comes naturally to him. Travis and I met ourselves coming and going between practices cramming homework in and often times going different directions on game days, but we made it through! I can only imagine what it will be like when all 3 are in sports!

Wade isn’t old enough for soccer, but he is old enough for pre-school! Yes, at 3 years old and fully potty trained he now enjoys going to school like big brother and sister. Just 2 days a week (for 2 hours at a time), but he sure thinks he’s a big shot! He often comes home and wants to do his “home work” too. So I grab one of his pre-K books and he works hard tracing the letters and shapes.

Another “new” thing for me was mostly my sister’s undertaking, but I enjoyed helping her. She and her husband opened up a produce stand business. There were signs to be made, newspaper articles, set up, tear down, fruit, vegetables, bins, trucks, trailers, a scale, pricing, cash register, customers and much…much more! I enjoyed helping her pioneer the business and look forward to watching her vision for the future to unfold!

This month I was able to make a quick trip with my Mom to Riverside, CA and visit my 93 year old Papa on his Birthday. He was so surprised! I had a great time making memories with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins too. Sometimes it’s important to set aside some time for those special moments with family.

Next week Travis will be traveling to Ireland with a friend to attend an international conference and minister. This will be his second trip there and is excited about going again. We appreciate all your prayers as he travels, ministers and as I stay home and manage things here.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded to be thankful for so many things. Let’s be encouraged to thank the Lord for all the many blessings in our lives. He is so good!

With love,

Jennifer