Travel

We thought those at home would enjoy seeing our day of travel through Michigan.

We couldn't help but stop by this deserted train along the road.  Silas doesn't get chances to crawl under trains to take a picture just any day!

Silas and Priscilla standing in front of the gorgeous Lake Superior.  What a nice drive along it in several legs of our journey.  Nice sand, but the water was a little cold! (Lake Superior's average temp is like 39 degrees or something) This brought me back to our college days when Arthur and I travelled this road back and forth to home. The older ones remember this but Silas and Priscilla didn't so it was nice they got to see some of it.

Priscilla discovered how seagulls like to eat your lunch!  We have a lot of seagulls at home but they generally never wait around for a handout like these ones did.

Mackinac Bridge.  They were doing some repair on this bridge, as they were the big one in Duluth.  Couldn't help but think of the I94 bridge that they were working on when it went down.  This bridge is almost five miles long!  The water was so blue green and calm.

And the train again.  We did have one visit with a highway patrol, no, Silas wasn't driving, in fact, no one was.    Well, we need to get to sleep to get up bright and early in the morning.  Have a great evening!  We love you at home!!!!

Honey Granola Bars



Priscilla is working on packing a lunch for our trip and she made some Honey Granola Bars - a recipe I got when we were first married.  They are really, really good!  Yes, those are corn flakes you see in the granola.  Sometimes when I make granola I throw in some boughten cereal to make it go a little further (the guys eat it so fast!) and we had some corn flakes so they got added.  Here's the recipe if you want to try it:

1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. honey
1/2 C. peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups granola (we always add more otherwise it's almost too gooey)

Combine sugar and honey and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  Mix in the granola till well blended.  Put in greased pan and cool.  We pat it down with wax paper.  These are really good and soft.

Have a great week!  Maybe Miriam or Hosanna will do some posting.  If you want, the evening rallys at the convention are e-streamed.  Info on the www.aceministries.com  website under conventions and then International Convention.  They always have some fantastic preaching!

Cowboy Style - Singin',Preachin', Eatin', Workin', and Shootin'

First, we had a storm last night.  Not a nice rain storm, that we really, really do need, but a dust storm with strong wind.  Cowboy weather I guess.  You couldn't hardly see past our mailbox for a few minutes because of the dust and the wind took down a few trees.  One was over at Amos and Rebekah's which was on a power line and took their power out.  Another one was on our bull pen fence.  Yes, the guys and some gals got right out there to fix that one before the bulls got smart.  Wind also took down the slingshot booth at the maze.

Singin' - Those grandsons sure love singing The Lord's Army cowboy style!  God must be so thrilled to hear even the little ones praisin' Him!

Preachin' - This is one of Hosanna's chalk talk lessons she's working on.  When she turns the black light on, you can see the cross in the middle with it's reflection in the water.  Beautiful!  Anyway, the cross is what it's all about.  Christians get so sidetracked sometimes and forget the preachin' of the cross.

Eatin' - We've never done much grillin' but we're trying out some potential maze ideas.  Here Silas, the chef, is trying out some bacon wrapped hot dogs.  Mmm!  Very good! No, we don't eat a lot of hotdogs.  But these were good with the whole wheat buns Hosana made.(Yes, I know the garage needs paint! One of these days...)

Workin' - Miriam plantin' onions.  We're just getting started with planting garden.  Isaac's been working for a local farmer but took today off to help Silas build a corral to move some beef cows.  Arthur has two days left of school.  Wednesday will be petunia planting day in town.

Shootin' - Priscilla shot a "Robinhood" yesterday while doin' some target practice with her bow.  One arrow goes right inside another arrow and it ruined both arrows so she wasn't too happy about that.  Archery is one of the events both Silas and Priscilla will be doing at the International ACE convention next week.

Three posts in three days.  Amazin'!

Graduation Day

Yesterday was Silas' graduation.  It went so good!  The grads all did their parts without flaw, the food turned out, there was enough, and lots of people came!  I tried to get pictures of everyone that came, and from them, and from memory, we figured there were about 192 people. (I know most of you don't care how many people were there but those that graduated might)

The happy grads!  Ashley, Tanya, Eve, Silas, Karen, and Elizabeth. 

Silas led a hymn and read scripture.  The girls sang, Karen played piano, Tanya gave a speech, Mr. H. had a message, and each of the dads prayed for their graduate as the parents gave them their diplomas.   We talked (at home) about how Priscilla was the only one left to graduate so she might just have to wait till she's thirty or something!  I don't look forward to having homeschooling behind us :(  I am very "proud" (a good proud) of Silas.  He's worked so hard, harder than most, to get to this day and I look forward to seeing what God has planned for his life.  I'm sure he has something extra special for Silas! 

We also had the pleasure of attending Nathan J. and Mae W. wedding on Saturday.  I don't know about your church, but in our church, it seems like everyone is family and on Saturday, I'm guessing we weren't the only ones that felt like this was our nephew or something getting married! What a sweet couple they are, mainly because they both love the Lord, and I also look forward to what God will do in their lives.  I would've posted pictures but I'll let the J. family have that privilege.

A few of us leave on Thursday or Friday for the International ACE Student Convention in PA.  With how busy we've been, mainly getting VBS stuff ready, I can't wait to get on the road!  Priscilla can hardly stand the wait!  Meanwhile, we need to get the garden planted, and a long list of other stuff, so we don't leave those at home with too much stuff to do.  Have a great day enjoying God's beautiful weather!

A Mother's Love

When a child falls and scrapes his knee,

Or a teen has a problem that no one can see,

God's remedy from above,

Is a Mother's gentle love.

A Mother receives this love from seeking God's face,

And from obeying him who died in our place.

Every Mother may have the love which God will give,

If for Christ each day they live.

The love of a Mother,

Is like no other,

But greater still

Is the love we find by staying in God's will.

As a Mother you will ache

When your kids don't do so great.

Even so our Savior friend

Aches when we don't endure to the end.

So how do you be a good Mother,

And love God more than all others?

Set your eyes on the Prince of Peace,

And He will make your love increase.

Study the word of God,

And He will help you stand against all odds.

If you always seek the face of Him who reigns above,

Then you can truly have a Mother's Love.

Written by,

                         Priscilla J. Krahn

I wrote this poem for Miriam to read at a Mother's Day Tea, and Naomi told me to post it. I figured today was as good of day as ever. Since it's Mother's day, and I have your attention, I guess I'll take the time to tell you about my Mom. She has always been a good example, and whenever she sees a need, she does something about it. Although us kids are far from models, Mom has really tried, and done a good job at training us to always seek God's Word, when in doubt about something. Mom's have the hardest job in the world, but also the most rewarding. I will always be grateful for all the work my mom has done for us kids. I'm sure I will never know the half of what she put up with, especially from me. So all I can say, is THANK YOU MOM!!!!!

Dependant on God

The field work is progressing at a nice pace.  We could use some rain, but with a few more fields to get in, it can wait.  Day after day rain is in the forecast but we just don't get it.  Guess we are following the same dry pattern we had last summer and all winter.  I wonder if people realize when they go to the grocery store, how dependant they are on God for the food on the shelves?  Even those that want the government to feed them, won't be fed if God chooses not to send rain.  Here Arthur is fertilizing about a week ago.  Since then,the leaves have really started coming out.  There is still some corn to plant and soybeans.  Yes, the maze is planted. 

Daniel and David discovered a new "toy" at our house.  A canoe! 

Thought for the day:  Did you ever notice how when you are working on an area of your life, you struggle with it more than you did before you started working on it!

Silas Wants You to Know That -

Yeah!

Just out today! Copied from One News Now

Labor Dept. nixes new farm child-labor regs

Russ Jones - OneNewsNow - 4/27/2012 9:55:00 AM

The U.S. Department of Labor has withdrawn new regulations that would have prohibited children under the age of 18 from participating in many farm chores.

Residents of rural communities across the nation have been in an uproar in recent days over a proposal that would severely prohibit youth involvement on the family farm. Late Thursday night, however, the Department of Labor (DOL) withdrew its proposed rule. The terms of the new bill would have restricted the farm activities permissible for children under the age of 18.

Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) says the law that was set to prevent children from doing farm chores would have greatly affected agrarian-based states across the country.

"For months now -- in town halls, in constituent meetings, in the ag committee field hearing in Dodge City -- I've heard from Kansans about the hardships this regulation would place on our farms and ranches," says the congressman. "Kansas farmers have spoken -- and we've finally gotten our message through to the Obama administration."

Kansas is just one of many states that has fought against the proposal.

Huelskamp says the decision is proof that persistence pays off. "While I'm thrilled at the announcement, this is just one of a whole host of job-killing regulations threatening family farms," he says. "For the sake of rural America, I hope we will see many more announcements like this in the coming months."

Adds the congressman:"There is no better place to develop an appreciation for hard work and a strong work ethic than the family farm."

The Kansas lawmaker adds that along with the decision to withdraw the rule, the Labor Department will continue to allow farm safety classes through local chapters of 4-H and Farm Bureau. The proposed changes would have replaced the government's approval of those classes with its own 90-hour training course.

The Associated Press reports that child labor groups say they are stunned and disappointed the Obama administration is backing off the plan to keep children from working in hazardous jobs on farms. They contend more children will die in farm accidents that could have been prevented.