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The Aardsma Weekly

October 7, 2007

Writer: Rachel Aardsma



Over The Hills And Far Away... (Part 2)

Instead of my normal article, I've decided to give all you readers a special treat this week. Remember that saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words."? I'm going to take that to heart this week, and give you an almost all-picture article.

We took tons of pictures during our vacation in Arkansas. I had been wondering over the last couple days how I was ever go to fit all my favorite ones into one or two small articles. My other dilemma was how I could come up with enough material to fill an entire article! So this is a nice compromise, suggested by Beka.


What did we do during our vacation? In a word, we played. Here's Matthew playing checkers with one of the C. boys, while another looks on. Photo by Mom.


While all the kids played, Dad and Mom talked with Mr. and Mrs. C. I don't think they stopped talking from the time we drove up until we drove away again! Dad and Mr. C. are sitting by the pool during one of their more serious conversations. Photo by me.


At the Shepherd's Inn Retreat Center, there were two dogs, a big one, and a tiny black one. The small one was very friendly. I snapped this photo of Beka playing with him one bright afternoon as we watched the others play corn-toss.


During an adult tournament of corn-toss, the competition ran high. It was couple against couple during this particular game. Mom looks on as Mrs. C throws a bag. Photo by me.


One of the fun things some of us got to do while in Arkansas was go spelunking (cave exploring, in other words). This is the group that went, before they went inside. Photo by the guide who led the tour.


Looks like fun, doesn't it? This is Matthew inside the cave. He's squeezing through a small opening, and preparing to slide head-first down a muddy bank. (Notice the bat in the upper left-hand corner!) Photo by Mr. C.


After the spelunking tour. They are covered in mud and water. Notice the big grins despite all that. Photo by the guide.


All those who didn't go spelunking went to Cosmic Caverns for a normal, sane cave tour. Our group, minus a few people, posed in the improvised photo-gallery that had been made inside the cave. Photo by our tour guide.


After the Cosmic Caverns tour, all the younger boys got to go mining. They all had a blast playing around in the cold water and sand! Photo by Mom.


On our last night together, we had a marshmallow roast. We made smores, ate chocolate, and sang songs. Photo by Mom.


Just before we left for home, we posed for some group pictures. All those who took pictures pronounced it the most beautiful group picture ever. I agree. Don't you? This is our total group, minus Mom, who took this one.

The Weekly Bible Verse

Matthew 28:20: "...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Bits and Pieces

Remember that last week I said I was sad to have missed out on getting some nice photo's of the harvesting going on around us, since we were in Arkansas? Well, it turned out that I did get to snap a few photo's, because the bean field that is just across the road from us hadn't been harvested yet when we got home. So, when I heard the annual yell that the combine was coming down the stretch of beans by the road, I grabbed the camera and was by the back fence when the combine drove by. I was very glad to get a few nice pictures of the harvesting that has been going on all around us in full force for the last few weeks.

I nearly missed getting this nice picture of the combine in the bean field next to us. If we had been gone on vacation one or two days more, the bean field would have been harvested when we got back.

Work on our roof is progressing rapidly. We hope to be done before too much longer. I can't wait for life to get back to normal, though I don't know what on earth I'm going to do with all the extra time I'm going to have when Beka starts doing dishes and cooking meals again. What did I do with myself all day? I guess we'll see in a few weeks!

A Word About The Weather

It has been very, very hot this week. I feel very bad for Beka and Dad as they slave away on the roof, with the sun beating down on them. Cold drinks are always in demand! It feels like summer again...and just when I thought fall was finally here.

A Word Of Wisdom

Here's a proverb for Dad and Beka as they work on the roof: A bad workman blames his tools.




            

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