Where I Grew Up

 Well where I partially grew up - a majority of my youth was actually spent on Jennings Road. But after that I was lucky enough to grow up with these amazing views. We loved playing games in those corn fields, even as teens!

Nothing beats a little privacy and fresh air!

Summer & Hope

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Summer is upon us and its be a GLORIOUS summer I tell you! However, at times it has been almost too much fun. I am blessed beyond belief with the opportunities I am presented and the family and friends I am surrounded by. I know this and am very thankful, but at times it can be almost too much. I get worn out as don't want to miss out on an opportunity, on fun, or let anyone down. I am about to embark on a big adventure and will be back quite soon with hopefully lots and lots of photos and I am sure many stories.

B Cycle at the CWS

Omaha B-Cycle had a station at the CWS the last few weeks and I was lucky enough to try them out before one of the games. I would highly reccomend these bikes as a fun way to cruise around downtown Omaha and check out the views. They were so easy to navigate, super affordable, and they even have helments. Hopefully in the next year we will have a few stations in Council Bluffs as well so people can rent and ride over the bridge from one city to the next.

Auction for Africa

A fellow blogger is having an Auction with some amazing items to help with her mother's orphanage in Africa. All proceeds will go towards stocking this new home with food and supplies. This is such an exciting venture and I  would love to help. For more information about the Orphanage and Auction check out Kimberly's blog -   KimberlyTaylorImages.com

A few of the items she has for bid:

The auction will go live today and will run for three days, concluding at 6 pm PST on Wednesday June 19th.  It will be hosted on her website: kimberlytaylorimages.com  EACH ITEM WILL HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL POST, with bids being placed in the comment section.  On Wednesday at 6 pm I will record the last bid and that person will be the winner of that item.  If for some reason the winner isn’t able to purchase the item, the bidder with the next highest bid will have the opportunity to purchase the item.  All funds will be deposited into my paypal account, and then when the funds have cleared, the item will be shipped.  The winner will have two days in which to deposit the money before the second place bidder will have the chance to purchase the item.

Good luck to Kimberly and her mother! Makes me even more excited for my upcomming trip to Guatemala - which of course I still have a LOT of money to raise in a short time frame.

Inspiration from Scripture

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Family Reunion Snaps

Every year my mom's side has a family reunion at Platte River State Park. Even though at times it seems tough to carve out a whole weekend for family festivities I am always super glad I make the time.

Love spending time with extending family, seeing all the babies and watching them grow every year. Just a great time even if it usually involves a game of cards or two.

Plus I always enjoy staying at Platte River. It's rustic but that is part of the appeal and charm. Sadly this year it rained most of the time but still pleasant.

We even snuck away on Saturday for a little field trip to a nearby winery and brewery - Soaring Wings. Fun times had by all!

Not a Shabby View

I think it must be in one's blood - you either love the country or you don't. Some could take it or leave it. Me - the love runs deep. It's always a happy place for me and one day I will live where I have no neighbors in view, a big red barn in my backyard, a massive garden,  and horses, chickens, and cows roaming free. Until then I get the enjoyment of weekend farm time. This picture was snapped looking out our old cabin window - obviously the window is dirty (as the cabin is falling down) but the view still makes me happy.

Mission Trip Excitement

I have some exciting news!  I have been given an opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip to Guatemala from July 6-16.

My church is sending a team to minister to the children in an orphanage that has about 35 children ranging in ages from 3 to 15 years old.  We will be putting on a vacation Bible school, playing games and sports with the children, teaching English to the older children, and sharing the love of Jesus with them.

The orphanage, called Hogar de Vida, is in a very rural area so we will also have a chance to visit a couple of small villages and minister to the people there as well. Our church has missionaries, Norman and Vickie Sutton, who work and live at the orphanage. You can read more about the orphanage on their blog at http://suttonsserving.blogspot.com/.

 I really need your help.  The cost of this trip is $1,900 and I need to have that amount raised by July 1, 2013.  Any assistance you can give will be greatly appreciated. 

To partner with me financially on this trip, you have two options.  The first is to send a check to my church. Make the check payable to “Christ Community Church” and put a note on the memo line of the check that says, “Guatemala – Melissa Head.”  The address to mail the check is:Christ Community Church, 404 S 108 Ave, Omaha, NE 68154.

The other way you can give is through PayPal. Just go to the website:  http://www.cccomaha.org/give ,   click on "create account" and follow the directions.It will only take a few minutes.  Either option is tax deductible.

I also really need your prayer support.  Prayer that I will raise the required funds, that all my preparation will go well, and that my time in Guatemala will be successful.  I I have struggled with asking for assistance for this trip. I feel as though I should pay for it myself or that others will think it is selfish I am asking for donations to go on a trip. But I also realize the more people I reach out to the more people that will be touched by this trip. The more prayers for those of us going and even more important for the missionaries and children in Guatemala. By asking for financial support it will also allow me to travel on more missions in the future and help a larger number of children.

Thank you in advance for your support both financially and through prayer. I am very excited to participate in this mission and to  love on these kids in Guatemala that were not blessed with the same loving and nurturing home life as I. I will for sure take a million pictures during this mission and share with each and every one of you upon my return - I will also try very very hard to not snatch up that adorable little girl pictured above and bring her home with me.

Grandpa's Lilacs

My Grandpa VanEvery had an amazing green thumb and loved all things outdoors. He had gardens to die for, flowers galore, you name it. Essentially until the final few months of his life he could be found piddling around with his plants. My mom has an even better green thumb. I am slowly trying to learn the ropes!

Lucky for me I bought my grandparents home so I am blessed with a few remnants of his green thumb days. One of my favorites is his lilac tree. Every year when it blooms brings back great memories and the smell is divine. Sadly I missed good pics of the tree/bush this year but I was able to snap these few of this crazy tree in Niobrara that he also planted. So pretty - with our dilapidated cabin in the background.

These pictures don't fully represent how large this tree/bush is. It encompasses two sides of this sad cabin. We also took a bit of time to weed out his and my mom's rhubarb patch at the cabin. Another favorite of mine this time of year - I love strawberry rhubarb anything!

Running clothes and work boots are an appropriate combo right? Yikes!

Paradise - Well at Least the View

 I have fallen in love with this view! It's amazing and nothing but fields for miles. How relaxing and calming.                                                                

The house itself I'm not quite as in love with. It has some sort of medieval theme going on and also some slightly shoddy finish working. But it's without a doubt all fixeable and truly is livable as is even if not aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. The layout is honestly perfect for a cabin and it's a decent size and built very solid. The fireplace has me won over.

Once you step outside on the deck and all stress just melts away. I can imagine lazy mornings over tea and leisurely dinners.

 

Seriously considering this as a new cabin and also as a rental for Hunters. Anyone want to come to Niobrara and hunt or unwind?

Sometimes You Just need a Bonfire

When the weather is cooperating and everything is nice and green a bonfire always seems the perfect entertainment for a relaxing evening. A quick set up during the day (to include some strategic mowing to keep everyone out of the high grass).

And voila cheap wholesome evening fun.

Nothing beats being able to spend time with family and friends while relaxing outdoors.

Of course adorable little munchkins make everything more entertaining. Love these four kids (one sadly isn't pictured) and it's fun watching them grow up and become more independet. They of course couldn't stay out of the tall grass.

I'm sure this S'more was nice and burnt - all marshmellows came out black and crispy it seems as kids don't have the patience to let them slowly brown.

I obviously needed my tripod or better camera skills as sadly some of these are blurry.

Thank You

We must never forget it was the soldier, not the reporter, who gave us freedom of the press.

It was the soldier, not the poet, who gave us freedom of speech.

It was the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gave us freedom to demonstrate.

It was the soldier, not the lawyer, who gave us right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped in a flag.

Thank you to all who served or are serving and to the families supporting each of you.

*Thank you Jeremy McComb for the photo and COL Cross for the sentiments.