Backyard Makeover. Episode 1

For a year or more now, Grace (as well as the rest of the family) has had great and exciting plans for the first half of our back acre, which is at the moment in a swampy condition. Some of her plans include an Arbor, picket fence and gate, for a better access to the back. Then there is the board walk, stream bed and pond. So in essence we want to give the grassy muddy swampy section of our yard a complete makeover.

We started with the gate and arbor. Here are all the tools collected and just waiting with baited breath to be used;)

The view through a quickrete tube.

Here's where we ran into some trouble. Well you see, our water table is high, very high! So after digging a little less than three feet down water started seeping into our hole, and the tube that we needed to put in the hole was four feet long!!


As you can see in the picture, the soil below the single inch of dirt, consisted of very moist sand. Dirty sand, but sand none the less. After a lot of effort we finally got it deep enough and shoved the tube quickly down the gaping tunnel.

The next job was filling the "dirt" (sand) back around the tube, then mixing the cement and feeding it down the throat of the tube, and for that you needed a very special tool. The "Post", which was actually the part of the fence which Dad sawed off to make room for the arbor.


Josiah and the "Post" hard at work.


Grace was the organizer and supervisor, though she did get her hands a little dirty later on.

The hot weary worker. Mother set to work clearing the grass in anticipation of being able to dig our pond and stream.

Off we go into the wild green yonder...

Despite the cement being quite a bit too wet, due to the added ground water, Dad and Josh were able to get the brackets in then after leaving it a day or so to dry, secure the posts. They then attached the top wood bracket. This is of course only the back half of the arbor, the front section is still in progress.

As soon as they had finished screwing with not much loss of time, Grace went right ahead and began to paint. I think it looks quite nice don't you?!

This is Chs signing off with a promise to bring you the next episode of the "Backyard Makeover" asap (aka: when ever I have time to type it up)

60 years together serving the Lord.

It was a beautiful day, the first of August, but nobody took much notice as we scurried into the enormous office building, slipped into the elevator and pushed the button for level sixth. Uncle Tim, Uncle Paul and Aunt Lucy with their children, and grandchild, and all of us had gathered in Port Huron at the fabulous Fog Cutter Restaurant, for a family celebration of Grandma and Grandpa's sixtieth anniversary. It was supposed to be a surprise, thus the slipping and scurrying. Aunt Carmen was bringing Grandpa and Grandma so we had to hurry.

So while we were waiting we look over the menu.

Little Wesley, was very impatient for his meal.

Uncle Tim and Daniel enjoyed discussing American idioms.

Uncle Paul and his sweet grandson.

Josh checking out his meal. Montana Steak wrap.

Sixty years together, in Gods will.

Then we ordered the deserts. I don't think Mom realized how big her "piece" of pie was when she ordered it.

Daniel checking out his cheesecake.

Whoa, you call that a pie!!

After we were done with desert, it was time for pictures.

Four generations of Learneds.

Our family with Grandma and Grandpa.


Millie and George Learned with their children.

We had a wonderful time at the restaurant and are very thankful for Grandpa and Grandma's example of a God glorifying marriage.

~Chs

Celebrating another year with our Grandparents!

Eighty Seven years ago in the little city of Port Huron Michigan Russell and Inez Harrison became the proud parents of their first child. It was a girl and they named her Mildred Arlene Harrison.

Five years later in the same city a baby boy took his first breath, delighting his Father and Mother, Raymond and Myrtle Learned. They named their first boy George Thomas Learned.

Eighty Two years later, their (George and Millie's; Grandma and Grandpa=) posterity
(Children and Grandchildren=) gathered at Aunt Carmen's house for a celebration of their perspective lives.

Aunt Myrt and Uncle Warren came as well.

We made the cake, which actually looks pretty good considering it survived a 50 minute hot car ride. A lot of the icing melted and the jam filling squeezed out.

Grandma and Grandpa seemed to like it anyway.

We bought Grandpa the book version of "Faith Like Potatoes", which was made into a very good movie by the way.

Faith made this very pretty crochet shawl for Grandma.

The highlight of the afternoon (for me at least) was when we pulled out all of Grandpa's old solos. (Before Grandpa and Grandma were married Grandpa was a part of a Bob Jones quartet, which traveled around the country singing.) Then we got Grandpa to sing some of them for us. It was delightful to listen as he sang one song after another. Sometimes he would tell us the story behind a certain song, where he sang it, and some of the reasons why they meant so much to him. We all had a wonderful time, and are very thankful to the Lord for giving Grandpa and Grandma so many years together and with us.

~Chs

Hope Thou in God.

Hope thou in God. Look on to the skies

When the surging troubles around thee rise.
Though the waves are dashing above thy head,
And thy heart is faint with foreboding dread,
Hope thou in God; thou shalt praise Him yet,
And the depth of thy sorrow in joy forget.

Hope thou in God. though the night be long,
The morning breaketh in jets of song.
The heart that fainteth shall live again,
The grief shall fade and the joy remain;
And life shall woo thee in richest dress
Of trust, gladness, and loveliness.

Hope thou in God. Give up the gold,
Or joy, or beauty; but ne'er withhold
From they heart its meed of hopeful love
That clingeth strong to the Friend above.
If it must be, loose all fragile ties;
But fix on God thy trustful eyes.

Hope thou in God. In the darkest night
This hope shall be a brillant light;
In the hour of thy passionate, deep despair,
This hope shall teach thee unfaltering prayer;
In the hour when the unseen world draws near,
This hope shall render it near and clear.

By Marianne Farningham

Gods incredible gift of music!

Beautiful strains of violin music filtered down the hallway to the nursery where I was taking care of the Hayse boys last Saturday during Elizabeth Hayse senior recital.

We were blessed to meet the Hayse last May, and we girls especially have enjoyed talking and spending time with Elizabeth and her sisters, as well as listening to their gorgeous music.

Last Saturday Elizabeth had her senior recital. Even though I wasn't able to see all of it, it was delightful to see a young lady with amazing talent, using it for Gods glory.

I am so sorry I do not have an audio clip, I am sure you would have enjoyed it so much. But I do have the words to a beautiful song that Elizabeth wrote and sang with her sisters while accompining herself and them on the piano. Here is an excerpt form the song.

The Road
(First Verse)
From this place that I stand I cannot pretend
to see to the endof my road.
But I hold to the hand that controls my end
And has led me thus for on the road.
I know I am young, and I know I'm not strong,
But my heart is above, and my faith in His love,
And the kingdom that Christ shall rule.

(Chorus)
For I know that my road leads home:
It leads to my Father's throne;
To the throngs at His feet, to the story complete,
To the judgment hall and the mercy seat,
To the face of my Savior , now robed in power-
The road leads me on to this hour.

(fourth verse)

My life flows on, ever nearer to home,
Ever nearer than I was before;
And His hand leads me on coming closer, I know,
To the hour where death is in store?
What glory is this? What unspeakable bliss?
Even death holds no darkness for me-
For His voice is my guide, in His life dath jas died,
For His smile is waiting for me.

(Chorus)
For I know that my road leads home:
It leads to my Father's throne;
To the throngs at His feet, to the story complete,
To the jusdgment hall and the mercy seat,
To the face of my Savior , now robed in power-
The road leads me on to this hour.
The LORD has definitely given her an incredible musical gifts, and it is glorious listening to her sing and play.

After the recital we all gathered in the fellowship hall for a time of food and fun. Baby Ethan never lacked anyone to hold him. He has a line of admires who fight over holding his wiggly little body.

Mrs. Hayse did a wonderful job organizing everything. We all had a wonderful time and were very blessed by Elizabeth's talent.

~Chs

John's Substitute!!

Since John is away from us in South Korea, he arranged for a 15 year old Korean young man to exchange places with him, although he is about 1/2 his size. Our family has been very privileged to host Jin Won or better known to us as Daniel, which is his English name.

He is glad for the opportunity to play basketball,

especially with his temporary brothers Joshua and Josiah! =)

Daniel also enjoys swinging and talking with Josiah.

On Sunday everyone went looking for frogs in the crock.

I think they found at least 3 frogs plus a multitude of fish.

The tire swing has become his favorite activity, even when Josiah is up in the tree throwing baby acorns down at him.

Wahoo!!!

We are very excited about having Daniel stay with us, and pray that the 5 weeks he spends with us will be a blessing to him, and to us.

~Chs & CAS

Gods wonderful Creation!

Hullo! I am a gray tree frog, and it is a pleasure to meet you.

I've been living at the Sauve's house a little bit now, when I was discovered by an enormous scary thing called a human being. Not half as handsome as me I'll tell you.

You see God has equipped me with amazing color patterns which resembles tree bark. A very nice camouflage indeed.

Here I am relaxing in a nice little pool. Ahh!! Chilling out!

Now here I would like you to meet my second cousin's uncle three times removed. As you can see, unlike me he is green, yet he is still a gray tree frog. Why? Well, on the rare occasion we come down from our leafy habitats, or when we are on a green leaf instead of gray bark we are in danger of being eaten by ferocious, nasty, mean, not so nice, birds. So God gave us the marvelous abilities to change the color of our skins to save our skins!

Aren't we just amazing?!! I sure think so, and I am not at all vain. =)
It was very nice to meet you, and next time you see a tree frog take the time to take a closer look at this amazing piece of God's creation.

~Chs