we don't go looking for an adventure, but they seem to find us...

Hooray!

The pictures from our adventure to the North Shore this year have been loaded to my computer, and now, I can share them with all of you!

WARNING.... I get kind of long winded... this may take you a while to read...

Just me, Dad, L and M packed up the big red bus and sailed north.

We drove up and soon discovered, much like our last visit, that there was some severe weather ahead of us.

We ran in to the state park we were camping at, were quite pleased to find it wasn't raining, in the nice little chalet no more than thirty seconds when God opened up the flood gates and down came the rain.

I haven't seen it rain so hard and fiercely since the hailstorm 3 years ago.

However, our family is not one to shy away from an adventure, so instead of stopping right there and finding a hotel, we decided to go into downtown Duluth.

The only problem was that all of the major highways in Duluth are under contruction and traffic was reduced to one lane with no exits.

The puddles came up to our van's headlights.

And in case your wondering how big our van is,

it's pretty big.

We plowed through at a grewling 10 mph and worried about the little civic in front of us that had water up to the grill.

And still it rained.

So just like last year and like Gideon in times gone by,

we put out the fleece.

We laughed and ran into our favorite wait-out-the-weather location... Grandma's Restaurant, and we prayed.

If the rain stopped and cleared up enough that we could pitch a tent, we would.

If it didn't, we'd head to the nearest hotel.

But once again...

God did a miracle, and we stayed the night at the State Park.

The next day we headed out to find some pretty places to take pictures.

This part is for all you history folks out there.

While walking along, I found a building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the days of FDR who were in charge of preserving our parks and making them what they are today.

This was the date on the building:

Across the way was another building.

Same story.

Breathless with history and thoughts on who built it and what were their names and why did they join the CCC, we climbed into our drying-out van and headed for downtown again.

Little did we know...

That this was the weekend that the old Tall Ships like the ones built from the days of our country's forefathers were scheduled to be in the harbor at noon.

It was 11:00.

So we hung around for a while, watched people, made some lunch....

no ships.

Went to look at the shops, moseyed around a little bit...

still no ships.

Rumors floated everywhere... they were at Superior, WI... they weren't coming in today... they'd been sighted a few miles off our eye's limit...

After we had had enough of waiting and waiting we headed up to Gooseberry falls.

But before we got there, we encountered more traffic, some guys dynamiting and lots of rocks everywhere.

But when we pulled off, it was like stepping into heaven.

Slippery rocks and cool water became lost isles to be discovered and an adventure had begun in each of our minds as we slipped and stepped careful over the lava rocks by the shore.

Dad pointed out an out-cropping that lead far out into the water. We hiked up and walked down to the tip of the edge of the steep drop.

My stomach flipped.

From the beach it looked harmless...

but when you were at the tip looking over the edge...

there was a drop about 10 feet to the water...

and beyond that... a good 50-100 ft plunge down into the waters of Superior.

No thank you!

However I noticed these pillars and remembered them from somewhere.

I walked around while I pondered where I had seen them before.

Then I knew!

The CCC had built them and had cleared out this area so that we could stand there today.

Wow.

History, science, and gym class all in one sha-bang.

After visiting the falls which were crawling with tourists like ourselves, we packed up to go back to down town to see if we could find the ships.

Keen eyes watched quiet out the window for the masts of the ships like the Native Americans in the days of Columbus.

Shouts rang through the van and we stopped at a marina.

 where one of the tall ships had anchored for the evening.

The perfect ending to an adventurous day.

(kaye ann silver)

Acts 2:28

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”

Acts 2:28

Colossians 3:23

Sitting in the basement, I stared hard at the book in front of me.

Focus. I need to focus!

Algebra and geography loomed overhead like the bright leaves ready to fall.

So often I think to myself- Oh, I'm fine. I can do this later and get it done then... no worries.

and yet every time I think that, I know that it is a lie.

For once I forget to do something, it stays forgotten.

So this school year to fight off those thoughts of laziness with His words. 

'Cause after reading Proverbs, the last thing I want to be is lazy.

I memorized a verse that God continually reminds me of and that keeps showing up everywhere-

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though working for the Lord, not man."

Colossians 3:23

So I sit straight, thank the Lord for His word that continually convict and promise...

and I do geography.

thanking Him for His reminders this week...

#404-415

geography books

The constant reminding and patience of Christ

crunching leaves under feet

walking with my sisters



R's dedication!

the dedication dinosaur cake...

Betsy remembering the cake! :)

40! people come to celebrate what God has done for our family

our whole family standing behind us in the pews singing praises! What a blessing!

finding pictures of our trip to the north shore!

flowering kale in a vase on our table

chickadees finding their way to the basement window to wish me good morning

(kaye ann silver)

ps- would you all send prayers to Him who hears tomorrow at 8:30 am?

I am taking my driver's license exam...

Thank you, dear friends!

Kansas Speedway

We arrived at 7:40 am, gear and earplugs ready and the moon still high overhead.

Parked and walked with the cool steam of early morning air floating around us as we talked.

We shivered and jumped to keep warm, the temperature being 45 degrees.

But we weren't aware of how amazing and breathtaking it would be.

Walked through the front gates, mouths open and eyes wider than ping pongs and we pointed and stared and bounced on our toes breathless in the adrenaline in the moment.

In the early light we stood in line with fellow fans with our passes ready when they swung the gate wide and welcomed us in.

Giddy, we ran in, everyone too excited to stand it and smiles ready for many photos to come.

We were there- The Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway.

As one big excited 12 person parade we ran to the grandstand and gasped at the early morning light reflecting off the bleachers to be filled with 82,000.

We were the only ones out there at that moment and it seemed unreal.

Ran to the Cheerios tent that was hosting our stay at the speedway, all laughter and smiles and cheerios for breakfast. We are so blessed!

Clint Bowyer came by to sign autographs on complimentary die-cast race cars and hats, then off we ran to catch another racer.

Many many many thank yous to my Grandpa for getting me in to see Kasey Kahne!

He signed my hat, we snapped some pictures, then back to the tent I skipped with my best friend L chattering with me the whole time.

After a while they started calling tours to go and see the pit area where they change tires and the garage where they take the cars if something goes wrong.

A-MAZING!

They were really working hard down there! :)

(actually, our tour was right about 1 hour before the race started, and those pit crews were buzzing! Tires rolled, semis were unloaded and drivers prepared for the big race in their fancy RV's. It was totally fantastic!)

A little while later, we stood and screamed loud and whooped and hollered til we couldn't hear and wore yellow ear plugs and sat strangely silent in the loudest sport around.

BOOGITY BOOGITY BOYS! LET'S GO RACING!

What a great weekend!

Thank you so much Mamo and Papa for taking us all to the race!

Blessings to you!

(kaye ann silver)

dilly beans

We canned them together in August, with sunshine in our faces looking at the mountain of green beans piled on the table and five cousins staring in awe of the green strips of gold from Mamo's garden.

Phone lines to Grandma E all the way on the other side of the country bounced with our giggles and shouts in excitement at the new project.

We raced as we crammed as many as we could into the Kerr quart jars all lined up for each of us... twelve quarts in all.

Tooter horns blasted through the house in a deafening roar at the birthday party that camp week while twelve quarts sat on the counter and quietly popped closed.

And today, two and some months later when the burning bushes flame red and the trees pause in wait for the big wind soon to knock down their summer full of leaves.

M comes bounding out the back door, eager to tell L sitting simple quiet on the swing.

"Dilly beans on the table!"

We all laugh and run in for a taste of the week gone by too fast up at the cabin and summer and crisp tart wonderfulness.

And on this warmer-than-usual fall day we remember the sweet summer.

(kaye ann silver)



This is the Way...

Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,

"This is the way; walk in it."

Isaiah 30:21

I was supposed to be doing algebra...

I was supposed to be doing algebra.
I had it all out there with me- the book, the notebook to write answers in, a calculator and a pencil too.

This is as far as I got.

because when warm sunshine and an early morning mix...

sometimes that blue chair in the sun is simply too wonderful to resist

and when you have a puppy dog to keep you company...

what could be better?

enjoying the warm sunshine over here

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets...

Psalm 50:1

(kaye ann silver)

Wednesday Wanderings

"Be still and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations.

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Blessings on a Fall Tuesday

Went out for a walk this afternoon to think and pray. Just me and my dog. At the last minute the camera tagged along too.

For up here, the colors now simply burst and scream of the Creator who made them all.

"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye..."

Genesis 2:9



And as I walked and saw and snapped, I noticed that one tree that always turns early. Always bright and beautiful while the rest of the world is still covered with green.

This is the one you can see coming down the hill, right there sitting at the bottom- a beautiful display in the fall and a sledding hazard come the snows of winter.

I walk up to it, and walk slowly under its branches then attempt the impossible-

to breathe in the breathtaking.

"Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes..."

Psalm 96:12-13

Walking under that tree, seeing its color and how it sings of its creator with nothing but pure colors just makes me stand in awe of He who created it.

Blessings in the leafy season...

#393-403

the colors of fall

the tree

apple crisp turned apple caramel cement

Extreme Makeover Home Edition and the laughter it brings

the rooster

the green walls in my Mom's kitchen

reading The Heavenly Man (soon to be on my book list page... the amazing story of a man who endured everything for Christ)

my new daily thought reading- A Year with C.S. Lewis

(kaye ann silver)

Stories...

I had to smile when I heard. I couldn't help but be excited.

Some of my favorite people ever were coming for dinner.

And I couldn't wait.

They came bustling in from a busy day at the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, all smiles, and laughter and there was pizza lining countertops and plates flying every which way.

He prayed and you could feel and smell and hear His spirit sweep through the room and I bowed my head in awe of this man who spoke with His words.

We all sat in our little dining area and dreamed as a family of bigger space to come, farming, and stories not told since long times past. We sat there as large family, three generations sitting in the same 14 by 6 foot area. And I was speechless.

We toured the newly reorganized and staged city cottage of ours. They grinned happy at my sister's and mines bright room, laughed at the couch that sucks you in, and just were there.

I sat with her for a half hour or more, just listening to the stories she told all shining and wonderful, of how a 70 year old lady like her could still change the world. Of the 160 quilts her church quilting group sent over seas, and how they pray over each and every one.

Of the bags she makes out of denim for the kids going to the first days of school of their lives in Africa, and how she loves to sit in her sewing room and watch HGTV while stitching.

Of how she loves to make quilts out of old jeans, and how none of the fabric she uses on her quilts for the quilt group are ever purchased, but donated and meant for a purpose. I could see the boxes of scraps of her fabric told to be sitting in her closet and how she could tell you what she made out of each one.

She gave me sewing tips and wowed at the quilts our Mamo had made lying vibrant across all our beds, and the clothes sister had figured out for her dolls.

She laughed at her sister Joyce and her getting in trouble when they were girls for hollowing out a round loaf of Molly bread, then leaving the crust hollow like an old log in the bag. How she hadn't thought of that in years.

Of trips to the library for her mother, of Anne of Green Gables and her favorite styles of houses, of how when she was a girl they made all their own clothes and hardly had anything new to wear because of their poverty, and what a joy it was to recieve an Easter dress every year.

How if she ever had a little black scotty dog she would name him Angus.

And what she said when walking out the door. "You have a beautiful family. Keep on keeping on."

Thank you, Great Uncle Duane and Great Aunt Jan, for blessing us with your laughter and love last night. I loved every minute of it!

"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you."

Genesis 17:7

(kaye ann silver)