Leap Day Surprise!

While going down to feed the animals this Leap Day morning, what lay in our path? Along with temperatures in the upper fifties, the bright yellow helped warm the late winter landscape. Surprise! The first blossoms of the crocus!

Happy Birthday!

Can you guess who has a birthday today?

Hot Off The Press!

Our wonderful family of readers should have just received Volume 12, issue #1 of the Prairie Proclamation! If you aren't already a subscriber to the Prairie Proclamation and would like to do so, you can find that information here. We would love to add you to the family!

Stampin' Time

One of the snowy days recently. . . Glenna and Chris braved the snowcapped roads so that Glenna could share with the ladies her stamping and card making techniques. It was amazing how many different stamps that she had collected and what a variety there was to choose from! We made a friendship card that holds a seed packet as well as an Easter card. The finished product! What a joy!

Snow!!!

Well, well. . . we finally got a good snow! It was so beautiful coming down. Our God is an awesome God!

Herb Show

On February 8th, we traversed to Mt. Vernon with Teresa to see the Herb Show that was taking place. There were vendors set up every where selling baskets, herbs, antiques, - too much to mention! We sampled some of the goodies that were there and bought a few "necessary" :) items. There were informative workshops about herbs and plants that we sat in on. It was a great day of fellowship and herbing!

A Look Back

Want to take a look back at some pictures from the Greatest Gift Of All Christmas play at Dale Christian church? You can do that on our website by clicking here.

Election Results

It was a full night February 5! After our music lessons were completed and the farmstead chores of feeding, milking, and caring for the animals was finished, we voted in the primary election, and paid our respects at the funeral visitation of Sue Wheeler. Sue was a fellow sister in Christ and will be missed.

Following the visitation, we hurried to Mimmo's, our "traditional" election night eating place. The food was good, but we hastily finished so as not to miss the votes coming in across the street at the Court House. During our meal, the rain began to pour and the winds to blow! We crossed the street in a brief interlude between downpours. Activities in the courthouse had been bustling, because when we arrived, all but two of the precincts had come in. As per normal Hamilton County style, Mr. Becker wrote the totals of each precinct on the boards as they came in. We were anxious to see the results! Rachel and Amanda logged and totalled their own sums, but we awaited the official tally.

And the final results were. . . . drum roll please. . .

Mark McDaniel with 593 votes, John Mead with 506, and Joe Bernard with 414. It was a close race on both Republican and Democrat tickets to see who would be the two from each side to be on the ballot for the general election this fall. Mark and John will proceed to the general as well as Vuel York and Brad Miller. Two seats will be filled this fall. We rejoiced that Mark had won the primary race and praised God for a victory!

Jerry and Lisa accompanied us to Dairy Queen for a small celebration!

Now begins the work for the fall campaign! Excitement is in the air! Congratulations Mark!

It's here!!

Well, election day is finally here. We are praying for good results for Mark, but won't know the outcome until tonight at the courthouse. It is such an exciting night! Such action and suspense is built up that it is a very thrilling time. What will tonight's results be- who knows?

Howdy Partner!

After a very slow and decidedly careful four hour drive in deepening snow, we arrived at the Eagle Creek Lodge near Shelbyville, Illinois to attend the The ICHE Leadership Conference February 1 and 2. We passed several jack-knived semi-trucks and vehicles that slipped off the road on the trip that should have taken 2 1/2 hours. We praise God for a safe trip!

The theme for the weekend was a relaxed western one complete with

cowboy hats, baked beans, and western boots! One and all donnned their "authentic" cowboy garb. We were asked to be the Friday evening entertainment. Along with some new cowboy songs that we learned for the event, there were mixers, interactive games, more songs and loads of fun! Hopefully more pictures will follow! What a fun-filled encouraging weekend!