June - Week One

After I got back from Missouri, my cousin, Jason, from Kansas stayed with us for a week to help with work and making hay. (It was a huge blessing to me! I enjoyed staying home for a bit... being able to catch-up before we hosted more people.) :)

Jason hauling the hay

Honestly, this was one of the happiest weeks! I really enjoyed the company and the odd little things Jason and I would connect with being old family from the midwest! lol

My little buddies!

One morning I decided to go with Tyrel just because... got up in the wee hours of the morning because we had a long drive with the tractor to our land about a 10 mile drive away.

Such a BEAUTIFUL day! I enjoyed watching the fog slowly roll away...

So, we laughed over this little thing! This backhoe had been sitting there for a long time... like I've never seen it running in all the time we dated and were married. They wanted to start it up, so they brought the truck over to get a jump. But the old boss fired right up before they even finished connecting the cables. So crazy!

-MarLeahJoy

May

Summer-time updates.

I'm writing this in September, but dating it for the month most of the pictures came from. ;) 

This summer has been a wonderful whirlwind... So I want to make an attempt to share an overview. 

Working cattle.

Let's say this again...

4-5 days of working in the rain, mud, and muck. 

Pairing bawling animals with their babies, giving them shots, and sorting them to haul off to different pastures for the summer.

It was intense!

But it ended with a mucky, mud fight between me and Tyrel. I would say that it was a success. ;)

Rusty -- devoted to working cattle

This spring, we made a wonderful friend and brother in Christ -- Hunter.

I have only good things to say of him... especially since he took us kayaking several times this summer. ;) 

L-R: Tyrel, Hunter, Jake, Summer

Kayaking in WV with the beautiful mountain background is just perfect!

Towards the end of May I got to visit my family in Missouri and my newest nephew, Brendan.

Unfortunately, Tyrel was working and sent me alone... the 10 most loooonnngg bittersweet days... 

My parents took me camping at Robbers Cave State Park so we could spend a few days with my Daddy before he left for Africa during my visit.

My wonderful parents! <3

I got to visit with my family from Kansas as well! <3

Ranelle's firstborn :)

I loved getting to babysit him for a couple days while Ranelle worked for the girls home.

Old, forever-friends! (And the same single cab truck ;))

I valued so much the time spend with Jaleesa!

I'm crying again, just as I re-live those 10 days. They were the hardest 10 days!

Of course I wanted to enjoy the time with family and friends, but I think I cried myself to sleep each evening... knowing my husband was alone facing a rough week with work.

At this time, Tyrel and his dad had many deadlines for work, but they sacrificed those to build a tabernacle for our church camp meeting.

So I came back from my trip to the midwest with the guys still working hard on the building...

My man... <3

Oh, it was good to be back!

And back with my little nephew, Zaney-boy!

-MarLeahJoy