Apples, Apples, Apples!

Our first club meeting for the year was about apples. 

We enjoyed learning facts, making cider, and applesauce.

Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in the seed.

What are the top 5 apple producing states?

1.  Washington

2.  New York

3. Michigan

4. Pennsylvania

5.  California

 And China is the top apple producing country!

"Apple of my eye" is mentioned at least 5 times in the Bible.

If you cut an apple horizontally..

There's a star inside of every apple,
It's a MIRACLE indeed,
That this sweet and juicy apple,
Was once a tiny seed.

How many apples are in a gallon of cider?

We guessed, added some to the bucket, guessed more, added more until we had 36!

We did a science experiment to explain why sliced apples turn brown. 

We added an apple slice to 1 jar full of water, 1  jar full of lemon juice, 1 jar full of ginger ale, and  we left an apple slice on the table fully exposed to air.  Oxygen reacts with an enzyme in the apple turning it brown called oxidation.  The acid in the lemon juice and the acid in the soda kept the slices from turning brown.

 We listened to Bro. Branham's story about the infidel who owned an apple tree and then became a Christian.  Afterwards girls and boys divided into teams and chose captains for a quiz.

Then the washing and work began...

Sis. Melissa said it was best to grind the apples in a meat grinder before adding them to the cider press.

We had an apple themed snack: apple pie, applesauce, dried apples, apple fritters, apple butter with a cracker, and a sip of cider. 

 It was a pleasure having Sister Nadja  from Germany visit for this meeting. 

Journeying Through July

Hello everyone! 

July was a fun and busy month... It started with Hope and Joy going to Arizona to the branding and to see Kaitlyn. Joshua's 17th birthday, then he was off to Still Waters Youth Camp for a week.  Serenah was born while Joshua was at camp so he was excited to see her when he got back!  Mommy had a birthday at the end of July and then Benjamin's birthday started off the month of August!  Kaitlyn arrived the day after Serenah was born and stayed for two weeks so she was able to help Mommy while Hope and I went to Still Waters the first week of August!
Enjoy the pictures...

Eunice, Joy, and Micah David at the Branding...

Hope, Carol, and Shalom going for a horseback ride :)

Hope and Justin went coyote hunting one evening.

Joy and Hope brought home prickly pears and made jam.  It was delicious! 

*     *     *     *     *

Thanks to stillwaterscamp.org there are live pictures uploaded every hour or so during each camp.  It's always fun to pick out the different young people you know at that camp!

Joshua loved playing paint ball

Sometimes when you don't want your picture taken, your friends grab you and won't let you go until you smile at the camera! :P

Joshua during Quiet Time.  Every day the camp sets aside one hour for everyone to get quiet before the Lord.  All the campers and staff find a tree to sit under to read their Bibles, pray, or listen to a Message.

 Still Waters Camp was closed for two years while they built new dorms, a zipline, a welcome center, and a new chapel.  Joshua was blessed to be able to attend the very first service ever held in the new chapel.

*     *     *     *     *

Our sweet little sister is the center of attention and there are always willing arms to hold her!

:: sweet little toes ::

*     *     *     *     *

The smiles that are captured on the live pictures just make you so happy for all the campers attending Still Waters!

Hope having Quiet Time by the lake.

Me during Quiet Time...

It was such an awesome honor to receive the girl's go-kart trophy!

*     *     *     *     *

Here are a few more pictures captured around the house...

David lost his first tooth!

Benjamin all aglow! 

He did break a glow stick by accident and then he really was "glowing!" :D

Benjamin was thrilled to get beef jerky for his birthday!

Benjamin's favorite thing to do is "fix" things. (that aren't broke-until he fixes them?!)

I walked outside the other day to find him out there with his pedal tractor on the jack with the tire off!  He even had a rubber glove there so his hands wouldn't get "greasy"!!  He informed me that his tire was flat and he was fixing it.

Sergeant is such a good dog, he seems to have boundless energy! 

He's always eager for someone to throw his ball.

Joyanna made her own bubble mixture and wand thanks to Melissa's recipe.

Picking fresh flower bouquets is always a fun thing to do during summer.

The Lunsford Family

We thoroughly enjoyed having the Lunsford family from Indiana come to visit us at the end of June.  It is always a great pleasure and honor to host VGR workers!

Getting ready to go for a bike ride!

Silas attempting to ride the giraffe unicycle with some assistance from Moriah :)

Mary Ellen came over one morning and gave buggy rides.

Moriah and I