Well everyone, I have an announcement.  This will be my last post on this blog.  Don’t worry, I’ve not given up blogging, just decided to start at a new site.  I’m switching to Blogspot.  My new blog can be found at http://testimonyofgrace.blogspot.com.  Please take a look!  It’s still “under construction” so to speak, but you’re welcome to start commenting whenever you’d like.

-JESSICA

In a former post, I told you all that my son was horse crazy.  Well, it’s true, and he comes by it quite honestly.  Not only are Ransom and I horse-lovers, but several of our siblings are as well.  It’s only natural that our child would have an infatuation with these gorgeous animals. 

A little while ago, we informed Honour that his Uncle Rem was getting a horse, and since that time, he’s spoken of hardly anything else.  Rem loves it that his little nephew is just as gung-ho about horses as he is.  So on Friday, immediately after claiming his new horse, Rem rode to our place.  He gave Honour a ride, and has definitely earned the “uncle-of-the-hour” award.

After a little visiting, we took a walk with the aunties; Honour rode the whole way.

When Rem left, it was raining cats and dogs.  I’m sure he wasn’t thinking this, but he looked really cool, riding away in the rain in his cowboy hat and black Carhartt.  Sorry Rem, just had to add that.

Hi y’all.  So, I haven’t posted in a while, especially not about today’s subject.  Our building project has been on hold this summer for obvious reasons.  But, now we’re back at it, and Ransom is in his element.  He loves to see stuff getting done out at the property, even if it’s just a little bit of stuff.  As they say, “Every little bit counts!”

A couple weekends ago, we had the concrete pad for our basement floor poured!!!  Very exciting.  Things look “real” out there now, not just like we’re playing in the dirt.  Here are some pictures:

This is what the site looked like prior to the pour.  The area that is marked by boards in the middle of the site is where the bathroom will be in our basement apartment.  Ransom had to mark that out, ’cause we needed to put in some of the plumbing before pouring concrete.  You can see our sweet little boy in the foreground; he loves working with his Papa.

Here I am!  Right now, there’s not a lot I can help with at the building site.  But I really do enjoy it when I get the opportunity.  On this particular occasion, I was pulling weeds around the perimeter of the site to make it easier to maneuver around.  As you may be able to tell from the picture, these aren’t your typical little garden weeds.  I’m not sure what they’re called but I’d describe them as a mutant tumble weed…one that crossed with some sort of a thistle plant.  They were easy to pull, ’cause they were growing in sand, but they were brutal on the skin, hence the gloves you see protecting my hands.

So, the night before the pour, Ransom’s brothers came over and helped him finish tying the re-bar.  They were up past 10:00 PM.  Then, they all crammed into our apartment, which we’d outfitted with blow-up mattresses (thanks Rickels!), and hunkered down for the night.  The next morning, everyone (including ME!) was up by 5:00 AM and after a quick breakfast, the guys were off to help with the pour, which was scheduled for 6:00 AM.  And here’s what things looked like by 7:00 PM:

Since we started the building process, our friend and neighbor, Dave McLean, has blessed us with advice, support and assistance.  We wouldn’t have had a successful pour if it weren’t for his involvement.  He was also there at 6:00 AM, along with my Grandpa Wayne Schmid.

Doesn’t that look beautiful?! 

After the pour we had a brunch.  Dad and Mom Rickel allowed us to use their back porch, and Paige and Emily helped with everything.  Dave’s family came over, and we had pancakes, sausage and coffee.

Cute shades, huh?

This picture is of Holly, Dave’s wife, holding their youngest child, Jubilee.  Remember and Jubilee are only six weeks apart.

This picture is of Honour playing with Isaiah McLean; they’re five months apart. 

Here’s Honour with Samuel McLean (3 yr.).  Thank you to everyone for all the help you gave us with our house.  And thanks for all the fun too!

Hello everyone.  I received an e-mail today from my dear friend, Lynne Mason.  She was requesting prayer for Ellie Rose Loop, the five-year-old daughter of a couple that she and her husband discipled several years ago.

Since my father’s illness, I’ve become far more aware of the power of prayer and what an important responsibility it is for the saints to intercede for one another.  So, please go to the Caring Bridge site where Ellie’s mama is posting about her illness and start praying for this precious little girl and her family. 

You can also leave words of encouragement in their guest book.  Let the Loops know that you’re praying for them.  I can’t tell you what a blessing it was to us to read our guest book on Caring Bridge and receive notes from brothers and sisters we didn’t even know who were faithfully upholding us in prayer.

May God be glorified through this situation and be pleased to display his mercy.

Growing…

Changing…

Discovering…

Learning…

Rejoicing!

Look what my mama brought me from Missoula!

Isn’t it cute?  It’s a Fiestaware (sp?) sugar bowl and creamer set.  I just love it.  Thanks Mom!

And look what Ransom brought me!

He brings me flowers whenever he gets off night shift.  Isn’t he a sweetie?   I just love the color of these roses and think they look wonderful in my big blue pitcher.   

So, I’m all ready for tea.  Come join me!

Hello everyone.  Today was a day of particular rejoicing in our household.  My father, after nearly eight weeks of being in the hospital, returned to his home here in Columbia Falls.  He was greeted by many joyous friends and his grateful family.

He and Mom got home from Missoula around 5:30 this evening.  About thirty people, mostly friends from church, were here to welcome them with balloons, banners, shouts of exultation and songs of praise to our merciful and almighty God.  Upon his arrival, Daddy was quickly ushered into the house, where his old armchair awaited him along with eager children and grandchildren.

Having Dad home is almost ethereal.  These past weeks have seemed more like a dream than reality.  I still am not sure that the heaviness of all that has taken place has actually penetrated my mind and heart.  

As I walk with my parents and siblings through the coming weeks, I’m sure reality will sink in.  Dad is quite different now, physically as well as in attitude.  He has lost a lot of weight and muscle mass.  And he is very solemn.  But his eyes have not changed; they still shine.  His recovery will be very gradual.  But, praise God that the word “recovery” is even in our vocabulary!

Along with Dad being home, I’m rejoicing that I get to go home too.  I have never loved the sight of my little apartment more than now!  I have sorely missed overseeing my own household and serving my husband and children.  I’m looking forward to sitting at the breakfast table tomorrow with just my babies to talk to. 

Nor can I wait to restore a certain degree of cleanliness and order to our dwelling.  For the past eight weeks, the apartment has become merely a large storage space, an out-of-the-way place to put in-the-way things.  Tomorrow, I hope to return it to it’s former glory.  Okay, “former glory” exaggerates what my apartment was like before all this happened.  But, whether ones home is a mansion or a shack, it is glorious having it be your own.  And, speaking of mansions versus shacks, I need to update everyone on the progress of our building project.  But I’ll save that for a different time.  It’s almost 11:00 PM and my bed in my room is beckoning me. ;)  

Okay Rayia, here’s that post I especially promised to you.  And guys, be forewarned, this is all going to be ultra feminine; you may just want to skip this one. 

Perhaps it has something to do with having lived in a predominantly female household for the past month, or maybe it’s this glorious summer weather, but lately I’ve had a hankering to try things that are new and different.  I’ve been threatening to cut bangs since Ransom and I were married almost three years ago, but only now have I had the gumption to actually do it.  So Rayia (and any other gal for that matter), what do you think?

Another “new and different” thing I’ve done lately is – brace yourselves – paint my toenails!  I never thought I’d have the nerve to do that.  But, while I was at Wal-Mart earlier this week (under the influence of Paige, I will add), I timidly picked out a fun-but-still-safe shade of pink polish.  When Ransom got home later on, I sheepishly showed him the bottle and asked what he thought.  Much to my surprise, a very pleased grin spread over his face and his eyes began to twinkle.  “Very fun,” he said.  YES!  That was just what I needed to boost my confidence.  The next day, while my babies were napping, I eagerly scrubbed and clipped and painted and here is the final result:

I would like to try a slightly more “grown up” shade next, something a little darker.  This color reminds me too much of Pepto-Bismal.  Anyhow, I’m having fun rejoicing in these girly things. 

Paige took these pictures…thanks sis!  She can be so hilarious, and there were multiple times during our “photo shoot” that I simply couldn’t helping laughing at her ridiculous antics:

Here’s to sisters and all things girly!

And, just in case some guy actually read to the end of this post (i.e. my brother-in-laws), by rejoicing in femininity, I’m not saying anything negative about masculinity.  Quite the contrary.  Women who are feminine and men who are masculine desperately need each other.  This is the way God has designed it.  If we were the same, things would be pretty boring.  Opposites attract and opposites work well together.  

One of the reasons I was attracted to Ransom was because he was comfortable being a man.  He didn’t make any apologies for being a strong, opinionated, in-your-face leader.  Nor was he afraid of confidently forging ahead and boldly moving toward his goals.  Yet, at the same time, he fell in love with me because I was so unlike him.  He wasn’t attracted to a wild, daring, take-charge persona, but one of gentility, tenderness and grace.  I will add that he wasn’t attracted to me because I was wishy-washy either; I had firm convictions and strong opinions too.  But I digress…

The world needs truth; it also need mercy.  One without the other is nearly useless.  Likewise, masculine men need feminine women.  When opposites are combined, a new element is created that is dynamic and earth-shattering.  May this be true of our marriage, and all marriages that are built on Christ Jesus, to the the glory of God.

Wow, this has turned into a post about anti-feminism.  And it all started by writing about cuttin’ bangs and paintin’ toenails!

As many of you know, my sisters are kinda horse-crazy.  Come to think of it, I am too…kinda.  Since becoming a wife and mother, I’ve become a little too practical for horse fantasies.  But, occasionally, when Ransom and I are out on a walk, I’ll get this wild desire to jump on a horse and gallop away with him to who-knows-where.  Maybe it’s the setting sun on the mountains, or the playful way the wind blows in the evening that brings out that bit of eight-year-old girl I’ve retained who is madly in love with these beautiful animals.  Horses are pictures of contrast: powerful and controlled; strong and graceful; rugged and beautiful.  There’s something incredibly tantilizing about seeing one running through a field, mane and tail blowing wildly, hooves barely touching the ground, nostrils flared, head tossing, eyes gleaming.  Oh, I’m getting shivers just thinking about it. 

Wow…maybe there’s a lot more of that little eight-year-old left over in me than I thought.  No wonder I married a cowboy.

Following are pictures of my sisters and Honour riding horses at Frank and Micki Strickland’s house, my Aunt Paula’s in-laws:

Katie was a natural!  And Anna has a beautiful posture in the saddle.  Honour, not even two-years-old, has already proved to have a bad case of horse fever.  When riding time was over, he pitched a royal fit, kicking and screaming, and repetitively saying, “More horse!”  His favorite toys are his aunties’ plastic horses here at the house and his favorite book is his daddy’s A Complete Guide to Horses.  When he’s grown up, maybe he’ll be rich and famous and actually be able to afford to keep one. 

I was just at Karen Dunham’s blog and she has a wonderful post and some great pictures of our Thursday gardening adventure.  Click here to view them.  Thanks Karen!