Catch Up: Corn from the Garden

This corn was from our garden.  We didn't have a huge yield but enough for at least 3 quart bags for freezing to enjoy this winter.  Hmmmm....maybe I need to pull some out this week for dinner.  I am going to try a new recipe called Horseradish Roast Beef.  My mouth is melting just thinking about it.  I love horseradish!

Pirates!

Have I ever mentioned that VBS is seriously one of my most favorite events at church?  Seriously!  This year we were the PIRATES:  In Search of the One True God!  We had a total blast!!  Our VBS is for 4 days, Monday - Thursday.  This year we met at the fairgrounds and I LOVED it!  It was only unbearably hot one night.  I learned afterwards that it was the last year the Kirby Woods puppet team would be coming.  I was sooooo bummed!  These kids have been coming to help us with VBS for 3 years.  They are moving on to minister to other churches. 

Isn't she a darling little pirate?

One night driving home from VBS this was the sunset. 

WOW!!

Going Vintage Part III

After the coal mine visit we just simply drove home. 

How is that for a grand finale!?!? 
Hahahaha!!
I crack myself up sometimes! 
Hahahaha!!
Maybe it has been a long day...
Yes, it has been a long day....and it was a long weekend!

Anywho, the girls rode with me in the new van and we had the best time!  They laughed and we laughed and we sang and we rode with the windows down and we made it home safe and sound!

What was the best part?
The girls say this is the BEST part of their whole summer!

I give HIM all praise and glory for His rich blessings.   

Gone Vintage Part 2

After I woke up these sleepyheads, had a quick breakfast, and a dip in the pool we headed out to the Coal Mine Exhibition.  Sidenote:  While the girls and I were getting our showers, Scott had bought some wax and well, yes, he was out waxing our new vintage van.  Can't you see why I love this man?

This was seriously one of the coolest things I have ever done, course, I love to learn so I guess maybe it doesn't take much.  I am finding that as I get older all these kinds of things really excite me.  Shocking considering I am not a history buff.  I wish I could remember all of the really cool facts I learned while on the mine tour, but I don't.  I was trying to take really good mental notes but the information shared was so overwhelmingly impressive.  A few things I remember was that when they first started mining the mines were only 36 inches high.  WOW!  The guide also turned out all the lights and boy, was it ever dark.  He showed us how the miners would have to light their lamps in the pitch dark.  He also told us about how the rats were the miners friends.  If the rats were on the move that meant there was trouble and it was time to evacuate, much like the canary birds they would keep with them.  If the canary died, the oxygen level was dropping.  He also talked about the terrible pay but I can't remember because my brain doesn't remember numbers. 

After the tour of the mine, we then could explore the "Company Grounds." 

(if you click on the picture you should be able to read the sign)

Gold stars symbolize lives lost in the war. 

 Scotty had to go potty!

Coal miners families were basically promised the world to come work in the mines but then charged for every single thing.  They had to pay rent for their homes, furniture, and then on top of that food expenses.  They could only buy things from the company store and naturally the company store was overpriced.  If a miner died the family had like 24 hours to be out of the house.  The volunteer available to answer questions, who I would have guessed to be in her late 50's, said that she grew up in one of these miner shanties. 

Bachelors or married men who traveled to the site for the week and would return home on the weekend lived in a one room shanty.

Some info about coal companies and an example of how the town who be designed...

As you might guess, the Supers house was drastically different than the miners' homes.  The Supes wife had the privilege of ordering anything from the company store free of charge.  The Supes family lived in luxury!

This is a painting of a miner with a dead canary.

more to come

Gone Vintage...

It's "IN" right?  Vintage?  Well, we went all the way.  Introducing my new Vintage Van...

1996 Honda Odyssey with a tape deck!

I had told Scott months ago I would love a van.  It wasn't like a selfish type of thing as like "I need, I need & I expect, I expect."  With a car I felt limited to be able to help out friends, haul kids, etc.  He told me the only way we could swing it would to be to go vintage.  Ha!  That was my term!  I didn't care.  I love the old style actually!  He started looking online and we were praying it would work out during his week of Honda shutdown.  His theory was to find one in the south because it would most likely not have any rust on the body.  We found one on Craigslist via .  Scott called and had emailed with the guy a few times.  On Tuesday morning he talked with the guy a few times and by 1:00 in the afternoon Scott told us to pack our bags, we were heading to Virginia!  HA!  Talk about adventure!  By 2:00 we were on the road with a change of clothes, snacks, and definitely the portable DVD player with movies!

Scott was flying high with adreneline topped off with a Starbucks!  The girls were super excited too since we rarely do anything that resembles a vacation.  I was excited but very, very worried.  I tried to hide it but Scott could tell.  It is funny because I would text my mom as we were driving the exit numbers we were passing and what routes we were on.  I thought if something were to happen she would be able to tell the authorities where to begin the search.  Yeah...neurotic!  Anywho, I can't remember how long we drove exactly but we stopped somewhere in West Virginia, close to the Virginia border.  We had to go to 3 hotels before we could find a bed.  :)  The girls got to swim and expend some energy after driving.  We ended up with a suite because the PGA was in town.  We were kinda scratching our heads on that one.  ;)  Scott picked us up some frozen dinners from Walmart when he went to get some swim trunks.  :)  Memories...memories....

We left really early in the morning, like 6:00, to continue on our trip.  When we finally crossed over into Virginia we stopped for a Starbucks fuel up.  ;)  While there Scott could tell there was a guy checking out his t-shirt.  It was so cool because the guy said, "I am sorry but I couldn't help but notice your shirt.  It has the 5 solas on it and I have never seen that before.  We have studied about the 5 solas in our Sunday School class."  How way cool!  After we were finished and heading back to the car and older gentleman commented on how beautiful the girls were.  When I thanked him somehow I ended up telling him we were from Ohio.  WOW!  He had some family friends from Plain City.  This older man and the guy he was with were talking about church.  So cool!  When we finally arrived to our exit around like 11:00 I was relieved to see we were in a nice area, similar to Dublin.  YEAH!  Scott joked, "Cara, you can breathe now!"  :)  I love this man!  As soon as I laid my eyes on my vintage van I was in love!  We took it for a spin and of course Scott had to get under the hood!  He checked every possible crook and cranny and gave it a thumbs up.  Good thing since we had just driven how many hours and miles to get it?  Long story short, the guy selling the van to us wasn't around so we worked with his wife.  We saw a Bible sitting out and asked them if they were Christians.  YES!!  They were!  Isn't God so incredibly amazing?  I love it how my friend says, "He was smiling down on us!"  So, after we got it all squared away we took off to get an oil change.  While there and waiting in the waiting area a gentleman came in to wait while his car was getting a tune up.  We talked with him about us being from Ohio and why we were in VA.  After he checked out, he gave us a coupon!  YEAH!  "He was smiling down on us!"  We grabbed some lunch at Applebee's and were able to pay with a gift card!  YEAH!  I had asked Scott if we could stop at Hobby Lobby real quick so I could pick something up for VBS.  I didn't want to have to stop in CBus on our way home.  Scott was definitely eager to get going but he was cool with it.  When I came out of Hobby Lobby Scott showed me where he had found a nail in the tire.  WOW!  I was soooo incredibly thankful we had found it now instead of in the mountains.  There was a Midas store across the street.  I was praising the Lord for His protection.  "He was smiling down on us...again!"  While waiting Scott was able to further examine the van and talk with the mechanic.  What an awesome opportunity to learn even more about our new vehicle. 

 **this is the 5 solas t-shirt**

After the tire was patched we headed out.  We knew we wanted to make it to Beckly, West Virginia in time for the girls to go swimming.  We got there at 10:00.  The staff was gracious enough to keep the pool open until 10:15.  "He was smiling down on us!" 

In the morning we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast buffet, the girls did some swimming until we had to check out, then we headed to the Coal Mine Exhibition.  We had noticed this attraction on the way down and I called to find out more information (Thanks GPS!).  This was one of the coolest exhibits I have ever visited!  Seriously! 

You get a guided tour, while riding on a coal car, into a mine.  Amazing!

Stay tuned for Part 2