Beautiful Saturday

Yesterday a whole bunch of 8-12 year old girls descended on the farm for a day camp. 

It was fun being the hosts! 

We still went about our farm stuff while they played and did stuff at the lake. 

Matt, Bri and I sat on the tailgate of the truck while a lady was picking berries and visited. 

At the close of the evening Matt and I were asked to speak on the theme- "Forget Me Not"

He played his guitar and sang. 

It was really good. 

I love the farm and that we can host people to come and enjoy it as well. 

One of the people that came out said to me, "It is so peaceful out here."

That is the word I always use when I think of Harvest Point Farms- PEACEFUL! 

It is a great place to be. 

 

Random Things

There is so much I love about my life. 

I love the simple, random things that I see and that happen around me. 

We finally have a little patch of grass in the front of the greenhouse.

I mowed it for the first time this week and remembered how much I love the smell of fresh cut grass. 

There are also other random things like being in the strawberry field picking and feeling something wet hit my leg and looking down to see a frog. 

 Random things like the coolest shaped strawberries

 and bags and bags of broccoli from our harvest.

 Random things like where children hid food from their siblings

 and my favorite is random things added to the to do list in the greenhouse by my sister. 

 Good stuff. 

Random stuff! 

Fishing on Fish Creek

Every once in a while the salmon count is high enough that they open Fish creek for dipnetting. 

This year was one of those lucky years.

Fish creek is just a little ways from our house. 

It opened yesterday morning for dipnetting and Matt got out there. 

He came home for a bit and then decided to go back out and took Corban. 

Corban didn't do much fishing but evidently he had the time of his life in the mud. 

Matt has video after video of him rolling around, sliding down and even planting his face directly in the mud. 

This kid is hilarious and the best. 

I love that he still loves life and has fun. 

Ashley and Grapes

Tonight we celebrated the anticipated arrival of Ashley's new baby Rayleigh. 

I love this girl!

I stole her from my sister, Marissa. 

She and Ris have been friends for about 10 years but the she moved into our ward and we have become fast friends. 

I just adore this lady. 

Then after the shower we went to the store to get a few things. 

One of those things were grapes.

The girls decided to see how many grapes they could fit into their mouths. 

I think the total was 18. 

 

Catching Up

This week has been CRAZY busy! 

The strawberries have come on and we are scheduling people to come out and pick. 

We have weeded for hours and hours, made deliveries, packaged tons of greens and played in the lake. 

On top of that Matt's aunt, uncle and cousin and her family are visiting from Arizona so we've been playing at the lake, going hiking and having dinner in the driveway with them. 

I love summer.

I love growing and eating yummy food.

I love family visits.

I love dinner in the driveway.

Here is a ton of pictures from the week:

Fifth time's the charm

Poor Makenna has had such a struggle trying to pass her drivers test for her permit.

She would usually miss it by just one question. 

Today she finally did it! 

She was so excited. 

I was so excited!

Now we get to teach her how to drive.

yay....

She also got contacts today.

So, it's been a pretty good day for her. 

Sunday Evening Down Time

At the end of the day, after church and dinner, I decided to take some reflection time on the dock. 

I went down and sat with my feet in the water for a few minutes before all the kids showed up to join me. 

I love that they joined me. 

Brittan taught me about meditation and what she has learned.

Corban sat close to me, as he always does, and Makenna made me laugh. 

I find myself so grateful for these kids again and again. 

They bring me a lot of joy. 

I remember when I didn't feel joy being their mom and it just felt like a lot of work. 

They are the best of people and I am so glad I get to call them mine. 

 

Farm Life

I haven't gotten to hike as much as I'd like but I have loved spending so much time on the farm.

This week we have picked about 20 lbs of strawberries from the old field.

There are so many flowers that we are going to have so many strawberries this summer. 

Afton came out to the farm this afternoon and helped me pick the broccoli. 

He LOVED it and walked up and down the rows eating the head he pulled out of the harvest tin while I weeded. 

It's been hot for Alaska the last few days. 

We even had a heat warning.

It's been about 75 degrees which all my Arizona peeps will laugh at that being a heat warning, but it's different here! 

Matt's Aunt Margie and Uncle Bill are visiting us right now. 

It is good to have company! 

Twenty Years Old

This is the last picture I received of Dallin from a member in the ward he is serving in. 

He is still the same! 

I love that he is still the same. 

It has been one year since he left on his mission. 

And today he is twenty years old. 

That just blows my mind. 

I think back about when he was little and it is hard to remember. 

I am glad I have pictures and videos. 

We sent him a birthday box and then texted back this picture of our family. 

Happy Birthday Dallin. 

We love you! 

Lake Days

Matt and I took a few quiet moments on the lake today.

The sun was shining.

The fish were jumping.

The kids were playing on the floating island.

The lily pads were beautiful. 

Trapper decided to join us at one point. 

He's a pretty great dog! 

 

Such A Good Life!

Every night when I kneel down to say my prayers I am overflowing with gratitude.

There are so many things about this life we live that I am grateful for.

Sometimes those prayers are only prayers of thanks.

Lots of times actually. 

Some of those things include:

seeds that were thrown on the ground and still sprouted

baby pumpkins in the field

Farmer lake and fun with my family

My kids- they make me laugh every day

Dallin and his service as a missionary

a body that does that everything I ask it to

a farmhouse that is paid for

a front porch to sit on during rain storms

fresh strawberries picked from the field

good friends

Matt Hale

the gift of the Holy Ghost

The gospel and all the blessings that come because of it

And so many more things! 

I truly love this life.

Here is a picture of Brittan who was supposed to be helping pick strawberries but was instead eating all the ones she picked! 

 

 

FINALLY!!!

The weather is finally starting to cooperate.

It has been so cold that every farmer is behind about 3 weeks.

And for us there is no playing in the lake until it warms up to almost 70.

Thankfully we've had two days straight of gorgeous weather and today proves to be the same.

I was working in the garden for hours yesterday and was so hot so I went and jumped in the lake.

It was just what I needed. 

I love that we have a lake in the backyard.

And excitement of all excitement is that I found a PUMPKIN!!!

Happy Independence Day!

We have this tradition of going to the parade in Wasilla every 4th of July. 

We've done it for years with the kids. 

This year seemed strange. 

It was just Matt and I and Corban and Bri. 

We ran into Jamie and she stayed with us for a few minutes and Sam joined us with Dustin and Afton, but it felt different this year. 

Plus, the Wasilla parade is pretty ghetto. 

Weird stuff like a car covered in a quilt, a truck with a hand written 8x10 paper with the name of a company, and an architecture firm handing out empty paper bags. 

Regardless, it is always nice to spend time with our family. 

Afterwards we went to a BBQ at the neighbors house. 

It was a good day! 

Jammers and Sunday Dinner

Jamie Jammers came and spent the night last night. 

I love this girl. 

I love her spunk. 

I love that she stills call me momma Ginny.

I just love her.

We also had family dinner. 

Always lots of food and lots of people. 

Good times. 

Hiking at Hatcher Pass

Today was incredibly beautiful.
Makenna agreed to join me for a hike up Marmot at Hatcher Pass.
I love hiking so much.
This was a little difficult.
We were huffing and puffing.
There was a LOT of breathing.
But we made it to the top and even played in the snow.
I loved taking in the beautiful day and the smells.
It took us three hours but was totally worth it!