Sunday, Sept. 23rd!

We enjoyed a wonderful Sunday Service at the Owyhee County Fairgrounds. It was our first Family Fair put together by our church, it was great. Alot of great music, worship, people and food, and fun. It was great.
We left the Fairgrounds around 2:34 was home and ready for the Sunday Afternoon Nap when we decided to take the Airconditioner out of the window and store in the barn for the winter. We headed to the barn to find a place to store it when Dennis noticed smoke in the rafters. Within approximately 20 minutes our barn/garage and tack shed, hay shelter with 1 Ton of hay in it was GONE, ALL GONE!!! I cannot tell you how scarey it was. I think it put the "fire fear" in all of us again. I hate fires. The Wilder Firemen and Caldwell Rural were AWESOME!!! They did a great job, it seemed like forever for them to get there, but the fire went fast. We lost alot of stuff and tack. The horses finally left, they kept hanging around and I believe it was the dogs that got them to move finally. Because the barn was the fence on the east side of the pasture, we are without a fence for awhile, so hauling hay and water will be the unwanted chore this winter. The agent and adjuster was out today and feel everything will be taken care of, we just have to clean it up. yuk.

I think the hardest thing for me is, it is another chapter in Michaels story that is closed. I didn't think I was ready, but I guess I have to be now.

Everyone is asking how it started, well we are waiting for a direct answer back on that one. Hang on and we may let you know soon.

Keep the family in prayer, please. It may not seem much to some people, but alot of our lives STUFF was in that garage and the barn.

Heaven!

Have you ever just wondered what Heaven would be like? I have and my dad and I talked about it before he left this world for Heaven. He informed me he tho't it was wonderful, sagebrush lots of land with no fences, what cowboy would want streets of Gold, gold in a cowboys mind are land and sagebrush! Great thought I think.
Well Sunday, I believe I was in Heaven (on earth). Dennis and our friend Ron McIntyre loaded up 2 horses and the mule and headed to the Owyhees. Brandon and I went to church and were to meet up with them at Stouds basin aftewards for a picnic lunch and Brandon would ride the mule the rest of the day with them.
Well since it had been years, many years since I had been back in there, I forgot how bad the roads were. Brandon and I had stopped at Homedale Drive In and picked up chicken and food for lunch and we started out there and Dennis called and said there was no way I was bringing my van into where they were. So I called my dearest brother Joe and asked him if I could go through his property and he informed me I was not taking my van in there, so he was so kind and let me drive his 6 wheeler into Strouds. Brandon and I loaded up our lunch and stuff and drove into the sagebrush, after about a mile I stopped the machine and turned it off and told Brandon to listen, he said "don't hear anything" and then I told him to smell and he said "don't smell anything" I then informed him that this is Heaven and his reply was "well it smells kinda dusty to me". It was so beautiful. We met up with Dennis and Ron and enjoyed a good lunch and then they all loaded up on their horses and I on the 6 wheeler and drove back into Stouds. WOW, it was gorgeous. I am always amazed at God's work, everything was dry and then all of a sudden you would see green and a stream running with cattle grazing, then you come around a corner and there is a basin full of water. It was beautiful.
They all headed back to the pickup and trailer with the horses and I drove along praising God and thanking Him for my heritage and my family, my life, and for sending His Son for my sins. Here are some pictures along the way.

Family

After our venter of painting the deck. We all ate lunch at Sues house. Justin and Kayla came boy to eat with us. I have to say "Gary was a party pooper and wouldn't come and eat with us". (there I feel better)

Justin informed us that soon he will be turning 20. Now that scared me! Here are some photos are that are

Labor day!

My family all got together on Saturday to help get moms house ready for winter, get some things done that needed done, etc. Well we could not go because of prior things going on, so Monday, we loaded up and went to Murphy to paint the deck for mom. Here are so great shots of my little family working so hard.