Adventures at the Barn

While their big brother stayed home to do the calf chores around our place, the two littles and I ventured to the barn with their dad. 

They had a fun night playing with the calves while I snapped some photos. 

After a little while, Madi's friend Destiny came to find her and the kids spent the rest of the night playing with her and her little brother Cody. 

I don't think that I can get one decent (not silly) photo of the little guy these days, he is always messing around and being funny when the camera is out!

Finding caterpillars.

The little monkey found the silage pile and couldn't resist climbing all over it!

Madi was excited to meet Destiny's goat and now says she has to get one!

Our friends are Mexican and share some amazing food with us on a regular basis, they are so nice!

Tonight, they shared a special Mexican lollipop...

Can you tell what they thought of it by looking at their faces?!

I think my little Norwegian kids need to venture out a little more!

Trouble with a capital T!

Watch out world, these two have wheels!

Trouble is spelled with a T and an E!

...and as a side note, the speed is turned all the way down on both four wheelers, so they really can't go that fast, but please don't tell the boys...they think they are speed racers!

Feeling Him

Who knew...

that going away for a nearly a week to spend time on the beach with friends would turn out to be a soul touching time for me to feel closer to Him?

It all began while we were 35,000 feet above the earth.

There is something spectacular about witnessing the sunset from high above the clouds. 

I sat there with my forehead pressed tightly against the glass while the sunshine warmed my face

and I simply watched 

in wide eyed wonder all of God's beauty from up above.

I felt so light.

Something inside of me truly needed this trip, 

this get-away with friends that turned into so much more.

I am so grateful that everything fell into place and I was able to go.

While I sat in my seat, in awe of the sheer beauty all around me, I snapped photos with my camera because I knew that this was going to be a moment that I never wanted to forget. 

When I got home later that week and plopped the memory card into my computer, I smiled.

These images are some of my all time favorites.

I am so glad that I ignored those angry looks that I kept getting from an upset passenger in the seat in front of me as I (probably very annoyingly to him) snapped photo after photo with my big DSLR. 

I'm sure he thought I was some 'silly tourist' (I'm being nice, I'm pretty sure the word silly never crossed his mind!)

I don't mind though, capturing these images made me feel so much closer to God.

I hope that despite the man's anger, he was able to see what an amazing sight was unfolding right before him out his own window. 

Here are some of my favorite shots from that night.

This photo continues to takes my breath away.

I spent a considerable amount of time on the beach watching the sunrise each morning.

I couldn't seem to escape the pull of the ocean.

It seemed to be calling to me.

I took a lot of photos but I also spent a lot of time just walking along the edge,

letting the waves catch my feet and allowing the water to wash away all my worries.

It was beautiful.

God is truly good.

and this mama is feeling relaxed, refreshed, and completely renewed.

Thank you to everyone who helped me make this trip a reality.

A Check Off the Bucket List.

This past week, I was extremely fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to take a girls trip to the beach with a few of my very closest friends.

I am working on a post all about our fun time and how it really felt to be away from my family for 5 days but for now I want to share this unforgettable moment from our trip.

When we discovered that none of us had ever parasailed before, we knew we had to give it a try!

So instead of being scared, we jumped right in and I am so. glad. we. did.!! 

I love these girls!

That beautiful, sunshine morning in Myrtle Beach, we lived. 

It's a memory I'll hold close for the rest of my life.

I'm checking this one off of my bucket list and will be smiling BIG for a long time to come!

Ready, Aim.....FIRE!

Summertime on the farm....

It really doesn't get much better than this.

We are busy, don't get me wrong, but these are the moments we live for.

When we are cooped up inside for what seems to be the 100th day in a row during a freezing cold stretch of winter, thoughts of moments like these are what see us through.

We are ready summer.

Thanks for reminding us all about the good things in this life...

Sunshine.

Laughter.

Warm Breezes.

Bare feet.

Baseball.

Kittens.

Calves.

Smiles.

Endless hours spent

t.o.g.e.t.h.e.r.

I truly believe this quote and I hope that someday my kids will too.

"Being raised a farm kid, best gift ever received."