Yes, we are back in school and enjoying it. What an interesting school year so far. Anna and Caleb are learning about bugs in Science class and the teacher suggested that they collect some bugs. Well, they didn't waist a minute. During their break, they were outside tracking down bugs. We have had crickets, grasshoppers, flies, a bee, and a frog. 

Yesterday while I was outside hanging up clothes on the line, I found a praying mantis and called to the kids. They were outside in a blink of an eye trying to get it into a jar.

Now we are left with only the frog and the praying mantis left as the frog ate the flies and the praying mantis ate everything else, except for the bee, we let him go. As you can see in the photo above, He is eating the last grasshopper. It is so interesting watching him eat, starting at the head and leaving the stomach. But at the same time, it can get pretty nasty watching him eat the intestines. YUCK!

Caleb and Anna were out first thing this morning catching flies for the frog for breakfast! And shortly after they put the flies in with the frog, the frog was fat! ha ha  That would mean nothing more than breakfast was good. :)

I'm sure on their break in school, they will be back outside trying to catch more insects!

The Day I Married My Best Friend

September 23rd is a Special Day in this Hess home. 

 I was looking through our wedding album and many precious memories flooded my mind. I thought I would share a few photos with you, and maybe it just might bring some precious memories to your mind as well.

Michael Dwane Joiner

Wasn't he the cutest Ring Barer! And to think, in a couple short months,  he will be getting married himself and adding a sweet young lady to our family :)

Catherine Joiner McCoy

She was the most precious little Flower Girl! Has it been that many years? I can't believe this little girl is now married and is expecting their first little one :) I am so excited! I am going to be a Great Aunt!

It's Time! Let's go Dad!

You may kiss the bride!

Tony and I cutting our wedding cake. It was Chocolate!

It's time to go on our Honeymoon.

 When we turned on the air conditioning, confetti flew everywhere!

Can you guess who these people are? Ok, I'll tell :)
Troy  Tonja  Kevin  Marisa  Dawn  Tony  Tamie  Mark
Catherine  Michael

I love you mom! Thank you for all you did to make this day extra special :)

These are those special folks who had a special part in our wedding, the Music!

Here is the happy couple!

A MARRIAGE PRAYER

Lord, be in this marriage
In a special way,
May we feel Your presence
Each and every day.

Grant us both good humor
To surpass our coming years;
May there always be much laughter
May there always be less tears.

Give us strength and courage
To follow in Your will,
To trust You in the valley
As we do upon the hill.

Give us both the eyes of love
So we'll always see
The goodness in each other,
Secure us, Lord, in Thee.

Give us words of kindness, Lord,
Help us both to live
So our lips are ever quick
In saying, "I forgive."

Give us hearts that beat as one,
Bind us ever near;
May our love grow deeper, Lord,
With each passing year.

Lord, be in this marriage,
Keep our love brand new;
May we love each other, Lord,
The same way that You do.

by Connie Cook

"What therefore God hath joined together, Let not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:6)

The Happy Couple, 17 wonderful years later :)

Thank you Lord, for giving me a wonderful, godly husband. Someone who makes me laugh.

 I love you Tony, with all my pea pick'n heart. I look forward to spending many more fun filled years with you. ;)

Canning this week included

A special request from my hubby - Salsa!

Now if we happen to find tortilla chips here, which is rare, very rare, we will be ready! 

In the meantime, crackers are tasty with it :)

Dill Pickles!

And since my husband found a GREAT price on tomatoes, I canned them too!

I am so thankful for my kids, They chipped right in, to help clean, cut, cook, and load the jars. What a blessing they were! We got in much talking during this time as well which was a precious time.

As we were taking our finished products down to our basement, memories of my grandparent's basement came to my mind. What happy memories! When I was younger, my grandparents lived in Iowa and if you know Iowa homes, you know they can have the greatest basements around. When we used to visit Grandma and Grandpa in the summers, the kids slept down in the basement, and when the cousins all came as well, we had lots of kids in the basement! I remember Grandma had those bunk beds, the shower with the cold concrete floors (burrrr), playing games, long talks at night after lights out :), and the deep freezer that my grandma had in the basement because we could always count on those Monster Cookies to be in there! What a treat!

5th and Last Day of Bible Club :(

I love the village. You get to see all sorts of animals. 

 These young geese were all sitting in that water puddle 

until I came and then made a quick dash to the side of the road.

Sheep! Where is the camera?!

The kids learned all 10 commandments this week.

Here they are trying to put them in order.

We ended with 13 kids from the village and 19 in all!

Please pray as we follow up on these children.

Throughout the week, the children earned paper money as they answered questions correctly, games, memory verses, homework craft, and for being faithful. Today they were allowed to spend there money they earned at this little store :)  They loved it and had so much fun!

Here, Vosia is showing me what his sister

 bought for him at the store. 

After the morning session, the ones that wanted to stay, played water volleyball.

They loved getting wet! Here, Caleb is getting soaked :)

Then all the children met back at 5:00 for a horse and buggy ride. 

They stopped and picked up ice cream on the way back :)

Then was the bond-fire and Smores!

Lots of singing, then Tony gave the gospel :)

Heading home

We had a fabulous day!

Please pray of Nidonovka and the ministry here!

Fourth Day of Bible Club!!!

I don't see how it can get any better! And there's one more day left!

Igor answered a question right, so he is trying for 

some more points!

Thanks to our wonderful cooks, 

we had the best meals this week!

Who's going to get the ball first and get 

the basket, team yellow or team blue?

Yes, team Yellow got it!

Shooo, Glad that balloon did bust!

Yellow and Green against Blue and Red

One was winning, then the other, then the other. 

Down to the last balloon toss and this one 

was worth 5 points. Either one could win, it was a tie at this point!

They tossed it back and forth, tension was rising.....

And splat! 400 points to the Yellow and Green team!!!!

Please continue praying as we wrap up Bible Club tomorrow. 

Lots of big things planned for the last day

3rd Day of Bible Club!!!

Another Fun Filled Day! 

The kids before it all began.

Wonderful teaching today. The kids listened very well.

Learning the 10 Commandments this week

 and what they mean :)

Vosia, He's a cutie pie! 

The Yellow team trying to put the Bible Verse

 together before the other teams!

Kids love getting wet :)

And getting others wet :)

And when the kids leave for the day, the big kids play! 

2nd Day of Bible Club!!!

Today was a low day for kids, since 3 doctors came to town and wanted to go ahead and do school shots and checkups for all the kids. So, all the kids were at the village hospital. :(   But we did have 3 from the village return and we had a great time with them!

Tony (my hubby) making balloons to decorate with.

What a beautiful flower! When he was done, it had leaves also :)

Mesha is listening to Igor say his Memory Verse.

The kids did great answering questions from yesterday!

This was so cute, I had to include it.

Here is Slava's son Samuel helping his daddy and Marc!

(He couldn't play but he was adorable trying.)

Alona getting a clothes pin for her team!