August 6, 2008

Here's one that's gotta make you smile!

I just downloaded some pictures I took and this one was on the camera. I am guessing that Kendall took the picture of the girls playing around. It definitely made me smile I hope it makes you smile too!

July 1, 2008 Moreland-Gilman Family Reunion

Cascade, Idaho on Cascade Lake



Kendall's fish!

Marcus' fish!


Kendall driving the boat



Carly driving the boat


Lookout! Mason is driving! Just kidding, Mason is a great driver.

Aunt Monica and Aunt Melodie!


All of the girl cousins!



You can barely see us in a Pontoon boat that Grandpa rented. The mountain still had some snow on it. It was really breathtaking. The picture just doesn't show how beautiful it was.


Grandpa and cousin Carly

We had a wonderful time all being together enjoying nature. Uncle Ralph, Aunt Lynelle and cousin Christy drove from New Mexico and we were thrilled that they would travel so far to see all of us. A group went rafting down the Boise River and Mason lost his glasses twice.....the last time was for good! The girls made a trip to see the American Girl movie, Kit, and it was a great movie. It was especially fun to watch it with cousin Carly, Aunt Melodie, Aunt Malisa, Aunt Monica and Grandma! Some wonderful memories were made and we are so thankful to God for blessing us with such a super family!

Sunday July 27, 2008 Family Outing

We have been enjoying riding our bikes together especially with the weather not as hot and humid as in Alabama. We have a fun neighborhood to ride in with sidewalks that are not curbs. The way they are designed makes it nice to get off of them without a huge bump.












We rode quite a long way and stopped at Maggie Moos and ate some ice cream! It was really expensive but very good. Amelia fell asleep on the way and she was very happy to wake up for a stop for ice cream! On the way home we found a little Maltese dog that had gotten out. We found him at a church parking lot and brought him home. The kids were so excited they were thinking we might keep him if we didn't find his owner. It ended up that he lived right by the church so we found his owner and they were so thrilled.

Tuesday July 22, 2008 Abby's New Girls Club

Abby's New Club

Last night was our third meeting for a new club that Abby is a part of. We are studying a book called A Young Woman After God's Own Heart - A Teen's guide to Friends, Faith, Family, and the Future by Elizabeth George


Chapters
1. A Heart Devoted to God
2. A Heart That Loves God's Word
3. A Heart Committed to Prayer, Part 1

Last night was on prayer. I love how Elizabeth George challenges the girls to set goals to committ time to getting to know God and His Word. It is not about checklists and rules but about a true relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ! The leader, Mrs. Briggs, really makes it fun. She challenged the girls to learn Romans 12:1-2 and gave them a wooden nickel with a Bible verse on it if they learned it. She also plays ice breaker games which the girls absolutely love!

After our study we made flower headbands to use with costumes. A couple of us sewed the bands and then the girls glued flowers onto them. A group will be going to Sun Valley Idaho for a Renaissance event in August and they will wear their headbands. We had such a great time together!


Cutting the felt for the headbands

Picking flowers to go on the bands

Glueing the flowers on

Abby's headband; I think she did a wonderful job picking out the different flowers and arranging them. Way to go Abby!

Our 2nd Camping Trip! May 23 - 26th Memorial Day

Banbury Hot Springs, Hagerman Idaho

This was our first time to go camping with about 8 families. We home church with two of the families. We had a really fun time. The weather was supposed to be cold and rainy but it turned out to be just beautiful. We did have to use our heater at night and I couldn't believe it since it was the end of May. I'm still trying to get used to the change in weather. Needless to say, it isn't very hard getting used to it! LOL



I am crocheting a little bit and Kendall is whittling a walking stick


Mattie Grace playing Junior Monopoly



Lots of good food! You can see the yellow tape behind the tables and
that is where very strong winds came through and destroyed quite a
few trees just a few days before we came.



Dasher was well loved by everyone!


The group minus Monty who is taking the picture


Our trailer is the one in the middle of the three trailers

I'm back again!

We have been super busy so I haven't had a chance to blog lately. I am going to go back and post a few pictures from May that I thought some of my family might enjoy seeing.

Mother's Day at the park May 11, 2008

Grandma reading her card



Amelia helping Grandma open her present



A serving tray to put family pictures in

Grandpa and Grandma after our picnic lunch prepared by the kids


Feeding the geese

Monty and his mom

Playing at the playground

Thursday June 12, 2008 Drama Costume Party

Abby took a drama class with our co-op group and they had a party yesterday. They each were to dress up like something or someone that they had studied during the school year. They read out five clues and then the kids would try and guess who or what they were. Some were quite creative.




Benjamin Franklin



Abby as a pioneer: She studied all about the Oregon Trail








The whole group: The girl with the yellow box was the ark of the
covenant and she held up a jar with bread in it for the jar of manna,
a stick for Aaron's staff and paper ten commandments.

Below is a section I found from an article about the items in the ark of the covenant and although I have studied this subject many times I learned a few new things so I hope it will bless you too!

"These three articles were preserved in the ark throughout Israel’s history as an unpleasant symbol of man’s sins and shortcomings, a reminder of how they rejected God’s provision, authority and right standard of living. It pointed to man as a helpless sinner.
It may have been uncomfortable to think that God’s splendor was so close to the three articles associated with man’s sinfulness. But this is where God’s provision comes in. When God looked down from His presence above the ark, He did not see the reminders of sin. They were covered by a necessary object — the atonement cover. "

If you would like to read more about the tabernacle you can go to the website below:
http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com/tabernacle_articles/tabernacle_ark_of_the_covenant.aspx