Long time, no post

Sorry for so long between posts. We are still here, just understanding a new level of busy. Lets see, our summer consisted of putting up hay, more hay, making salsa and pizza sauce, canning dilly beans, which Noah helped lose a jar of((I had them in a basket for Shawn to carry downstairs to our pantry, and Noah wanted the basket for a wagon for his tractor, so he started unloading jars, and the 4th jar out busted on our carpet, good news he didn't cut himself!)), freezing corn(we harvested about 150 ears this year), freezing tons of green beans(forgot beans continually produce, the kids got real tired of beans when we had to pick and snap/sort every week, finally pulled them the second week of Aug.), chopping lots of peppers, and making pickles(bread and butter, and dill). We loved the pizza sauce! We had some really good friends from our meeting over, and they said it was the best pizza they had eaten. I thought they must not have much pizza experience, but I do have to say it was really good. Sorry T.J. and Lindsey, we loved having you over, and can't wait for our trip with you! I think you know what I meant by that experience comment(if not, I don't consider myself a great cook).
The best part of summer, no question, convention. We had the privelage of 2 full time conventions, and are realizing just how blessed we are. I can't imagine going through life and missing out on these resting places. So good to see how God knows just what we need, when we need it. So many good things we heard, now to apply. The time spent with God's people was needed too!
We also spent a day at an amusement park with Shawn's Mom and Dad, his brother and his wife and 2 children, and his little cousins, Thomas and Michael. We then spent a night at a hotel, and went to a water park the next day. What a blast! Shawn and I liked it almost as much as the kids.
While we are reminiscing, I guess I should tell about what Josh had to go through this summer. He is allergic to bees, thus we have an epi pen. Well, we made it through last year without using it, and as you guessed, he got stung one morning while I was mowing grass. The kids came running up screaming to get my attention. I realized by looking at the terror on Hannah, Zach, and Emily's face, and seeing the tears flow down Josh's checks what happened. Turned mower off, and shouts of Josh got stung followed. I took him in the house to use the epi pen. Got all set to use it, pulled off safety cap(had Shawn on the phone for moral support) and positioned over Josh's thigh, when "OUCH!" That was me! I didn't realize I had the pen backward, and instead of injecting him, I gave myself a shot of epi. My thumb instantly locked into position, so I grab up all 5 of the kids, and off to the F.D. we go, with the spare pin. The guys on station were kind enough not to laugh until we pulled away! Shawn H. was able to inject him while Beam and I held him down. It was a terrifying experience for a little 5 year old , he was a trooper though, and now we have the memory of mom shooting herself. By the way, if you ever inject a digit with Epi, expect it to stay white and cold, have no feeling and look very dead, for 24 hours, mine did!
Lets see, oh yes, the kids school supplies arrived, and we have completed our first full week of school. This is a challenging program, and we are still adjusting to starting at or before 8. Josh started kindergarten this year, Zach is in 4th and Hannah is in 6th.
Zach had a pretty serious bike wreck right before we left Yellow Springs. He actually knocked himself unconscious, and bruised up his face. He felt sick to his stomach that night, and didn't remember what happened. The next morning when he refused breakfast, I knew we had problems. After finally accepting one bite, and severe pain that followed, I ended up taking him to the E.R. We thought his jaw may be broken, but xrays showed a deep bruise and they said he had a concussion. He mended fine after several days of soft food and slow chewing!
We had fun putting up more hay last night, and enjoyed the company and really appreciated the help,from my cousin, Will. I think we put up 230 bales, not a lot, but enough to sweat a little.
WEll, I wonder how many of you I lost after you tired of reading all of this! Pictures will come later, must finish school now. Dora