Visitors from Jeff~Baptism~Mother's Day

I didn't even realize just how behind in my posting I was until I saw pictures from earlier this month. O_O 

So without further hindrance, here is the next post..

Friday, two brothers from VGR came to setup and teach my dad new software equipment he is supposed to be using now for translating. When they reached the airport, they called my dad and he set up a lunch date at a Mediterranean sandwich shop with them. They had a wonderful time of fellowship!

Friday evening, they ate dinner with us. Mom had busily and quite successfully prepared a completely AMAZING and delicious meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad, homemade bread, cauliflower souffle, (seems there is something else I can't recall)..And for dessert: a caramel apple cheesecake, a cherry cheesecake, strawberry fourstack, and chocolate fourstack. 

Brother David had met my Grandpa only once before and wanted more time to fellowship, so since Grandpa also does translation work, we invited him over as well.

Bro. Isaac, Bro. David, Grandpa, Dad

They were studying the pictures I had taken of them on Bro. David's phone. ;)

They were over Saturday to finish the job, which didn't take long since my dad is a quick learner. So, Dad took them out to enjoy the beach for the remainder of the afternoon. And, of course, we still had PLENTY of dessert left over so Mom had them come back later for more. ;)

They flew back early Sunday morning, but something else exciting was happening right after our service that morning..

We had been praying for my Uncle John for many years (he started coming to church the past few years), and he finally wanted to get water baptized!

 It was such a happy time for everyone! 

Mom worked really hard to get our pool completely cleaned and filled with new water for the baptismal.

My Uncle William (left) got to baptize his brother John, which I'm sure was very special for him. He started preaching about 2 or so years ago, so this was also the first person he water baptized.

William said a few things afterwards, about getting to see his brother come to the Lord. 

After the baptismal, (it also being Mother's Day and a beautiful day at that), everyone else went out to eat and my mom invited them back so they could enjoy the outdoors in our large back yard. 

While Mom was heating up food for our dinner, Laurisa and I sneaked off to the store to pick her up a Mother's Day gift, while Esther helped in the kitchen so as not to arouse suspicion. 

I'm so thankful for such a wonderful mother! <3

Just as we finished taking the pictures with Mom, people started pulling into our driveway. It wasn't long before some of our cousins found the tug-of-war rope!

They were really going at it!

The younger ones were getting into it too and had so much fun!

As always, the rope swing at our house is a must. That's when little kids start to be your friend..when they want you to push them. ;D 

Laurisa and I went on an adventure the middle of this month so I hope to have a post of that up super soon! Check back before long and leave a few comments for me on how you love or hate my blog! ;)

                                                                                                                                 

Visitors and Chaos!

Okay, so I've been holding off making a post about our visitor's from FL because I've been waiting for a few more pictures...but I haven't gotten them yet, and more things to post keep piling up so I'll just put one picture that I do have on here. 

My friend Sarah from FL and her mom came to visit us last month. :) It was all of a sudden to hear they were coming the next day, but it was awesome to have them over for a day, have them spend the night, and then get to hang out a bit more before they headed home Wednesday.

Laurisa has been taking alot of horse lessons at a horse farm 5 minutes from us (where she volunteers on most Saturdays).

She definitely enjoys every moment with the horses!

Here's a video of her riding the horse at a walk. She couldn't even watch it without walking away because it made her want to ride again so badly.

Last week Laurisa and Esther played in a concert they had been practicing for for a few weeks. They always enjoy getting to make music with other musicians in the orchestra again!

Sisters getting ready for the big event. 

A warm-up won't hurt ;)

Mom was the only one of our family who attended, and I heard it turned out very nicely.

Y'all must be wondering about the "chaos" part of the title...What in the world happened?!

Well.. I'll let the picture tell you.

Nothing bad at all, actually! This past Saturday we went over to the aforementioned horse farm to see a trick-riding show, called: Equestrian Chaos. :)

Although it started at 5:00 p.m., we arrived at approximately 4:30 p.m. so we could get a good seat, and also because Laurisa told us we could pet the horses if we went before it started. 

Since she was known there from taking lessons and all the volunteering, we got escorted right to the stable. 

Smoky kept checking out Gabriel by tugging on his shirt. :P

After a few pictures with them, we took our seats again and awaited the show's start.

The horse farm has students that go there for physical therapy when they've either had accidents or were born with a handicap of some sort, as the rhythm of the horse can help them regain coordination and balance even when walking on their own. 

For the first part of the show, they let a few of their students perform.

The first was a young man (early 20's) who suffered a severe football injury at the age of 18 while he scored the winning point of the game. The accident resulted in leaving him unable to talk, and really..completely paralyzed..

When he first went there for rehab, six years ago, they had to have someone riding on the horse behind him, actually holding him up on the horse, a person behind the horse, one on each side, and someone leading it. 

Now? He can ride completely by himself..And can also spear small rings while riding, which, if you've never tried, hitting or ringing a target of any sort while on a moving animal, it is extremely difficult. His speech is also improving, which it's all quite amazing!

The next student, 12 year old Sarah, was born with cerebral palsy and has to use half crutches, but as the poem she wrote and recited during the show stated, when she's on the horse, she's just like everyone else.

Her poems have actually won awards and Nobel prizes. 

The final student was Emily, born with down syndrome. It's amazing how much charisma she has, and what riding a horse could do for each one of them!

Then for the rest of the show...

Time for some trick-riding!

As for the crazy wigs and such..They were kind of like clowns, so they were pretty entertaining when giving a little bit of background about horses in ancient days and facts in comparison to humans.

Trick riding is really neat to watch!

There was even the owner's little daughter who was doing trick riding. I guessed she's about 6-7 years in age.

It was pretty neat to see another girl riding two horses  while standing.

I thought I didn't do too badly taking the pictures without being able to see what I was capturing because the sun was so bright, and also I was trying to watch at the same time. xD

There were a few nice signs scattered outside of the arena.

They all did a really good job!

We have visitor's coming in just a few days! (Right after somebody's birthday..) So don't forget to check back! ;)