19 days left!

We have 19 days left in our Schwans Cares Fundraiser for WalkMS. So far Schwans has donated $203 to our team!  Due to changes in their fundraising campaigns, this one is shorter than last year, so we have fewer days to reach our goal.

When you place your next Schwans.com order, follow this link www.schwans-cares.com/c/27904 or enter 27904 at check out. We will receive 20% of your order total and you get your Schwans food delivered to your home as you normally would!  If you don't normally order from Schwans, you can purchase a $25 e-gift card for someone who does and we will receive $10 of that purchase.

We really appreciate your support with this fundraiser.

(I was a bit shocked and saddened to see that they have decided to discontinue my favorite Coffee and Donuts ice cream, but with the help of my family--and cappuccino gelato--I think I should be able to power through!)

Oil Pipeline Construction

There was a bit of excitement in our area this past May as the oil pipe line construction began in our area. The pipeline will carry oil from the Bakken Oil Fields in North Dakota. Since it covered a bit of our farm ground, we had a front row seat to watch the process. 

Within a few weeks, the ground had been dug, pipeline laid and covered back up. It was definitely interesting to watch the equipment do the various jobs, and it reminded me a lot of the Gold Rush episodes we watch as they moved all of the black dirt away with bulldozers and back hoes.

Sisters Forever

Given the age difference of four years, I didn't know how or if our girls would play together growing up. The truth is, they get along wonderfully and even their disagreements don't last long.  Since the boys are usually doing their own thing, they know that there's always a built-in play mate close by.

I caught them being especially nice to each other during a rain a couple of weeks ago. :)

Midget Tournament

Our big three covered all three baseball teams again this summer--the Jr. Pee Wees, Pee Wees and Midgets. Landen had his end of season tournament this past weekend.  It was the 2nd year in a row that a thunderstorm arrived on tournament day.  Since several games were left to be played, the rest of the games were moved to Sunday.  Northwestern won both of their games Saturday, so all we had left was the big Championship game on Sunday!

Our Wildcats got all ready for the occasion.

Landen usually plays left field. 

In the end, Northwestern took 2nd place for the tournament. They are a great group of boys and were fun to watch this summer.

As with every summer, I'm a little bummed that baseball is over.

But, now there is a new project to occupy our days for awhile . . . .

A Heavy Heart

Please pray for my dear friends as their mom, Marilyn Neuharth, passed away this morning as a result of injuries sustained in last September's car accident. She showed us all to never give up hope and that miracles really do happen.
She will be missed by all who were blessed to have known her.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will award to me on that day.

2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Black Hills Adventure

It's been a week since the Joachim Family took a trip to the Black Hills to celebrate my parents' 40th Anniversary. 

We started our first day of touring with a stop at the SD Railroad Museum. This was especially of interest to Landen, who has come a long way since his first Thomas trains!

After that, we braved the 90+ degree day and visited Mount Rushmore.

It's always great to see these guys, no matter how many times I've been there!

After lunch, we drove long Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway. The clouds covered the sun at just the right time to cool the day and allow for some climbing on the rocks.

The next day, we tackled the Harney Peak hike, which only my sister Amanda had done before. (Rachel stayed back at the cabin with Grandma Shirley.) We kept a pretty good pace and took a few stops to rest along the way. We saw people of all ages going up and down the trail. It is a hiker-friendly trail, even for newbies like us!

For a long time near the top, it feels like you are almost there, but you really aren't. Then you turn a corner and see that you are finally almost there! I took this photo as a "never give up" photo as the next turn beyond this corner was the top!

The view at the top was truly worth the climb!

We spent Saturday night with my uncle, aunt and cousin who live in the Hills. 

After mass on Sunday (where we saw some friends from home!), we headed back east!