One Coat Away From Done!

First of all Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband, The Man, who loves 

our kids so much and is a great dad!

  Happy Father's Day to both our dad's too :)

We are blessed to have our parents in our lives ~ We appreciate them and all they've contributed to who we are today :)

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I really love how this table turned out ! I wanted a rustic table and that's what I got :)
The Man ( DJ ) helped with some of it. I always appreciate his help!

I will post better pictures next weekend after it's completely cured.
This table is completely screwed together ~ no glue.
I wanted to be able to take it apart for easier moving when we move someday. It's nice and sturdy because of all the braces we used .


Tonight I will put the last coat of poly on and our new dining room table will be done!
I'm amazed that I actually finished a project in a reasonable amount of time!!

This table was really fun to make ~ I would do it again but where would I put another one? Ha!

We made a similar table for the backyard last summer ~ Love that table too :)

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On another note Dani and Ben should be en route back to the States. They will be home tomorrow! I've missed them :)

~JanMarie

This and That

The table is almost done! It's all put together and stained. I just need to do some touch ups and then put a clear protective coat on it. 
I love it :) Will share pictures Sunday after it is done all the way.


Today my friend Erin and I went for a drive just to get away from town for awhile. We drove up to Hardware Ranch.

We came across a grove of Aspens in a mini swamp land. There's a beaver dam there and ducks. It was so pretty.

We saw lots of momma's with their babies just like the other night.

Love that sweet face!

Cute face ~ long eyelashes

On the way back we came across a sheep herder  and his 2 dogs running these sheep up over the road.

The two sheep herding dogs down to our left ~ they are amazing to watch

Sheep Herder Man

It was a relaxing drive with a wonderful friend :)
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Dani and Ben along with their youth group, Fusion, keep doing feedings in poverty stricken areas. Yesterday they unloaded over 1000 boxes of food in the pouring rain for the starving children in that area.

Whitaker's swelling in his feet is doing better though they still don't know the cause. There is no infection! Thank you for your prayers :)

~JanMarie

Update

Good Morning :)

The Fusion kids ( Fusion is the name of our church youth group) only have a few more days left in the Philippines.
I'm sure most of them are experiencing mixed emotions right now. 
A part of them wants to come home but a part of them wants to stay. 
They've made connections with the people over there and they are seeing God at work in many different ways.
A couple of days ago they spent the day at some beautiful waterfalls.
They've also been doing feedings in some very poor areas.

One of the youth leaders commented on facebook this morning that some of our Fusion kids are struggling emotionally with what they've seen while doing these feedings.

Be praying:
~ for continued health and safety for our Fusion group
~ that God will use all that these kids have seen and done to shape their lives for His glory

I really cannot wait to sit down with Dani and Ben and just listen to what this 2 week experience was like for them. 

What impact will this trip have on the rest of their lives?

                                                                        ****************

I have today and tomorrow off of work so today I continue to work on the table.......which means I should have pictures to post tomorrow :)

                                                                            ~JanMarie

Table & A Chilly Ride

The table is back in progress :)

I wasn't sure exactly what color to do ~ I chose dark walnut. It's not the same shade as in the Pottery Barn picture but I think it will work.

I grabbed one of my white plates and fell in love with the contrast :)
Dark, rustic table meets lovely white plate ~

I bought that set of 12 dinner plates, 12 salad plates and 12 bowls at a thrift store in Sicily for 28 euro! It was love at first sight.

Will update more on the table later in the week.

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Last night DJ, Heather, Hannah and I took the ATV's and motorcycle up to Ant Flat Rd. and rode the 14 miles over to Hardware Ranch.
It was a beautiful evening but cold! 

Heather and Hannah ready to roll out

We came across this sweet little momma and her 3 babies

Time to eat :) The little guy didn't really care that they were in the middle of crossing the road.

This handsome guy was very watchful of all the sheep as were the other two dogs down the road

We made a bathroom break when we got over to Hardware Ranch

Love these girls so much :) They are silly!
Heather has a bit of a dirt mustache.

HR is one of my very favorite places to spend time ~
(typical Heather pose)

Heather and Hannah 

We came across someone's campfire at the edge of a meadow. No one was there and the fire was smoldering with a small flame. I poured water on it and broke the wood apart.
I wish people were more aware of what they were doing ( or not doing!)


Maybe they didn't grow up with Smokey the Bear like I did :)



As cold as it was riding back to the car it was worth it!

~JanMarie

Philippines Update

It's hard to believe that Dani and Ben have been gone almost a week ~

This is what our table looked like the night before they left :)

It sounds like they are having an amazing time over in the Philippines. Seeing God at work is life changing!

Dani and Sarah @ SLC Airport before leaving

Sarah, Dani and Andrea arriving in Manila after 25 hours of travel 

Dani said Ben hurt his foot a little earlier in the week when they were working with the cement but that it was better.

Day 3 & 4 found them digging a trench by the school, shoveling sand, painting and moving furniture into the school. The girls spent time at the girls school while the boys were at the childrens home (orphanage). The boys had the chance to play soccer against some Koreans.  
Sunday they attended a church service. 
Dani said she's ready to pack her bags and move :) Ben hates talking on the phone so I'm not sure until he gets home how he feels but it wouldn't surprise me if he was ready to pack his bags too. 

Please be praying for a boy who went with them. His name is Whitakker. He got some sort of bug bite and both his ankles are very swollen. The doctors haven't been able to do much for it. Pray that the swelling goes down so he can walk better and that nothing gets infected.

My heart is blessed to see our kids going out in the world to make a positive impact by letting God work in them and through them! 

                                                                               ~JanMarie

Dani & Ben Update

Dani and Ben along with our church's youth group have completed two days of work in the Philippines.

Day 1 found them helping to run the childrens home, doing various construction projects and some of them went out into the community to lead worship and pass out backpacks with school supplies.
Day 2 they spent 8 hours mixing cement and pouring it with local construction workers for a school roof. Some of the kids went into the community to help with feedings and devotions at the childrens home.

Please continue to pray for them that they will all be kept safe and rested so they can accomplish all that is before them these next 2 weeks.

I look forward to hearing all about this incredible experience when they get home!

                                Blessings,
                                 JanMarie

A Little Mud....

Friday DJ, Heather and I took the ATVs up out of Liberty to Avon Rd. It was later in the evening ~ perfect time to go riding.

I wanted to share pictures of Heather going through a mud puddle :)

The snow covered mountain in the background of that last picture is Snowbasin.  

On another note Danielle and Ben arrived in the Philippines yesterday. They will be there for 2 weeks with the church youth group. 

I am very excited for them to have this opportunity of experiencing yet another culture and sharing the love of Jesus.

~JanMarie