Summer Miracles and Stuff

This last Monday I woke up and went to put on my wedding ring, only to realize it was not in the location I normally keep it. I checked the other spots it typically is and again there was nothing. I then spent the rest of the day looking and looking and calling all the places I had been Sunday night to ask them to keep an eye out for it.

I prayed a couple different times that day and throughout the week that I could find it, but I began to think it was gone. I was sad and frustrated with myself with not giving more care to such an important item. The time apart from it made me realize how much I did value it!

Last night at 5 p.m. on Saturday I was putting something away in Jenna's closet and as I turned around I caught a glimpse of the top of the dresser. There hiding behind a plastic bowl was my ring! I was so grateful and glad to have it back. This isn't the first prayer Heavenly Father has answered this summer, in fact, he has been teaching me a lot about personal development this summer, but I am grateful that he allowed me find this ring, especially at the end of a hard and emotionally demanding week. It made the whole week better.

Other activities we have been involved in this summer:

1.) Stump Grinding. Justin bought this almost 2 months ago off of craigs list. He hopes to keep it busy every weekend.

 What the machine does is pretty neat. It really does reclaim valuable space.

 2. A lot of playing at home and reading and enjoying being a family.

 3. Yummy food that summer time brings. This is a pan of German Pancakes that Justin likes to make for the girls for breakfast.

 4. This silly girl loves to put blankets on her head and crawl or walk around. I don't know if she is copying Natalie, or just enjoys how it feels.

5. Canning! Green beans are on, corn will be next, apricots are everywhere, and soon it will be time for peaches and pears. I love the reward of canning, but in the heat of it, it is intense, especially with trying to care for a young toddler at the same time. We managed last week and I did 138 pints of green beans. I will do a few more this week.

6. We also enjoy swimming and going to the library. Last night we took Natalie to swim, but when we got to the pool, it was only open to the private party that had it booked. She was so bummed! We promised her we would go for FHE tomorrow.
 
I love summer and am sad to see we are closing in on just a few weeks of it. There is still much fun to be had though with the fair coming up, camping one more time and lots of yummy produce from the garden.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Camping

 We rarely do exciting things around here, but when we do it all happens in July! We had the 4th of July, Jenna's birthday and then a camping trip all in 10 days. It was wild, exhausting and a great experience for our family.

Our best friends from Sandy go camping in Prineville Oregon every year. Since we moved away, they invited us to join them this year. I think mostly they missed our girls, but since our girls don't get to do anything without us, we were invited too, LOL.

We have not done much camping since getting married. College and work took up a lot of our time when we were first married, and then for the last 4 years I have been pregnant or had a newborn during the summer time.  I was still unsure as to whether we should brave the irregularity of schedules and conveniences that camping brings, but we went for it.

Thankfully this camp ground was pretty posh. Electrical outlets and running water at each camp site and bathrooms with spacious showers. We still took a ton of stuff with us, too much probably. Justin is such a handy man to have around. He designed (or rigged) this little beauty up.

 Tool box for a pickup, bolted to a steel frame and it fits in the receiving hitch. The camp chairs and tent supplies fit perfectly in it and left room for other necessities.

 Justin told Natalie to get the van packed up. She was more than willing to help, but realized most was to heavy for her. I loved her willing attitude.

 Pit stop in John Day for lunch and supplying lunch meat. I had bought a bunch in prep for the trip, but left it at home. My forgetful brain drives me crazy some days!

 Our campsite. I had to purchase the rain fly separately for our tent and did so online a year later. When we got up there, we realized it was the wrong one as the square wouldn't fit our rectangle tent.....

Good thing we had great weather.

 Our view was amazing. If you live in Oregon and have a boat, this is an awesome Reservoir.

 Jenna was filthy, but in heaven every day crawling around and exploring.

 I didn't get a ton of sleep the first night, worrying about Jenna, so I was a bit tired and sore the next day.

This is me trying to get loosened up and going for the day.

 Our walk down to the swimming area. This day I explained to Natalie that Jesus had created this beautiful area for us to enjoy.

The next day she told our friends that "Jesus Christ created the swimming area for us."

I guess she is listening!

 J sitting still for 10 seconds. 

 Going in and out of the tent. Jenna did much better the next night. She just slept in the bed with us.

 Best part of camping, the campfire! With smores and fun conversation.

 Waiting to ride on the boat. It was fun to go out on the water, but boy were we sore the next day!

 Blazzard's camping trip was a success! We hope to do one more this summer that is closer to home. 

Thanks Thornton's, we wished we lived closer. 

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Jenna Turned 1!

This little girl turned one on July 9th! 

We celebrated with a spaghetti dinner and grandparents and great grandparents from both sides.

Jenna is a strong, stubborn, funny and loving little girl.

We are grateful she is part of our family and love her dearly.

She has definitely taught us about the individuality of each child and the joy that different personalities bring to a family.

Natalie loves having a sister and mostly they get along.

Her first word was Ball.

She is not completely walking yet, but can stand and take a few steps.

She loves to be held and to crawl around outside exploring.

She weighed 23lbs at her doctors appointment.

Very tall, but not sure how tall.

Loves to play with Daddy, but mom is still the favorite.

Favorite food is strawberries.

 

 Pancake Breakfast!

 Spaghetti Dinner. Both of these girls love spaghetti!

 Looking at all her fun presents!

 Natalie got some presents as well to make her feel special.

 Purple sun hat. Too bad she won't leave it on, it would be good for her health and she is so darn cute in it!

 Was slow to pick at the cupcake, but before long it was annihilated. 

She loved the frosting.

 Natalie loves frosting too.

 Family of four!

 Trying out grandpa's old toy tractor. This girl is pretty good at climbing on and off things. 

Natalie never climbed. We are in for it with J bird.

 Ready to see what J does this year. We love you Jenna Ruth!

 A giant toad Justin found that night.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard