Lake Itasca Family Music Festival

If you've never been to the Lake Itasca Family Music Festival before . . . be sure to put it on your calender for next year (the first FULL weekend in August)!!! We've been able to go every year since it started (in 2006) and it is truly one of the highlights of our year! Not only are there always some GREAT family gospel bands, but we get to see so many of our friends at once it's overwhelming!

We arrived early on Friday this year, and went swimming at a lake in Itasca State Park after setting up our tent. The bands started at 5pm, and went until 10:30 that night. Then all day Saturday there were bands, workshops, food, bands, fellowship, bands, workshops, bands, friends etc. etc. Caleb and I had a blast staying up late on Sat. night playing Do You Love Your Neighbor (a wild game of sitting in a circle and switching seats!). FUN! Sunday morning there was a hymn-sing and David Darragh from Ireland (married to Melanie Berge) preached a very good message. We enjoyed watching the last bands and then we stayed afterwards to help clean up. It was a very enjoyable weekend, and already we're looking forward to next year!! Visit the website at http://www.familybluegrass.com/

The Wissmann Family (click on each band's name to go to their website)

Lindley Creek

The Harper Family - Hannah Harper can really SING!! I wasn't sure it was her at first because her voice sounds about 6 years older than she is.

The lighting on the bands at night was kinda cool.

 

The Link Family - one of our top favorite bands ever!! We just bought their new CD and LOVE it!

The Triple L Band - (our top favorite band!) we met them two years ago at this festival and we listen to their CDs ALL the time! It was so much fun to see them live again.

 

This is our campsite - it's VERY primitive camping (which is fine for two nights!) and this is the first year that it didn't storm during the weekend!! 

The kids had fun playing at the park - there was a merry-go-round . . .

 . . . a slide and more!

This is Melanie's little baby, Mariah - isn't she CUTE?

And this is Mindy's little girl, Elianna - I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of her! :-)

 

Our good friends the Alzen family played on the showcase stage - I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers right now as they are in the process of adopting two young boys from the Ukraine.

Guess who else was there?! Amy Vest and her family!!! I hadn't seen Amy since filming the documentary in April, so it was SO much fun to see her, talk with her, and work out some of the documentary details (we are planning on having it finished towards the end of September). Thanks for the precious time we spent together, Amy!

 

Here are a couple pictures from the hymn sing. It's always neat to have so many musical people get together to sing - it's beautiful four-part harmony!

See you next year at the . . . . .

 

P.S. Videos of the bands coming soon!! :-)

Yesterday . . .

 . . . we had quite the adventure! We had to run into town to run errands and meet some friends at a park, so dad drove there directly from work while mom took all of us in the van. She had to pull our trailer because we were going to ride our bikes at the park. We drove to town on the highway, and everything went fine (well, except for a near accident when mom couldn't see a car coming). But THEN - when we got into town - we went over a bump at an intersection on Broadway and THE ENTIRE BACK AXLE OF OUR TRAILER WENT FLYING!!! Not just one or two wheels flew off (which is all the trailer had) but the WHOLE heavy, metal axle - wheels and all!! As we went over the bump and heard the noise my first thought was, "Oh wow that was a big bump, I hope it didn't hurt the trailer" and I looked back to see the axle bouncing across the road and landing past the sidewalk on the grass. Immediately mom pulled over - we were all very surprised and scared. THANK GOD nobody was hurt, and some good friends of ours lived close by so we were able to ride the bikes over to their house and Mr. U. was even able to fix the trailer for us!! SO MANY THINGS could have gone wrong (and I don't even want to THINK about what could have happened) but God was with us and there were no cars or pedestrians in the path of the axle, and right where the accident happened there was a perfect parking spot on the side of the road for mom (van, trailer and all) to pull over into. If it would have been just a few yards further we would have been stuck in the middle of the road and backed up traffic for miles! We are just so glad that no one was hurt, and we are SO THANKFUL for our friends kindness in helping us out!! Praise the Lord for His graciousness in watching over us!!!

Our Trip to Wisconsin

The last week of July found my mom, my siblings and I on a vacation to Wisconsin!! Dad had to stay home to work and take care of the pets, and being separated from him for five days helped us appreciate each other a lot more!! :-) You never know how blessed you are until the person or thing (or whatever you are taking for granted) is taken away from you for a little while.

The first day (Monday) we visited the Alzen family on our way to "Grandma" Renate's house. We had a blast playing poison croquet and soccer, and eating lunch (and taking a silly picture)!!

 

That night we slept at Grandma Renate's house and the next morning we were ready to go swimming!!! We went to Rural, a little town that has a dam and a little ice cream shop.

Our Uncle Tim and Aunt Lauri from NC surprised us at the waterfall! We had no idea they were coming to visit us!!! We had fun splashing each other, going underneath the waterfall, and buying treats at the store.

 

 

Here Lydia is pretending that she is being sucked over the edge!!! :-)

Since everyone had already eaten their ice cream by the time I got this picture, they just pretended they had the cones in their hands!

Our next stop was the Red Mill, which - in my opinion - is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. :-) There's an old mill with a gift shop inside, a beautiful river named the Crystal River (it's perfectly clear), an old covered bridge, and a quaint little chapel.

 

Inside they sell old-fashioned candy sticks, which we always buy when we come here!!

On Wednesday we visited some of Daniel's birth family. We had a lot of fun going out to eat at their restaurant (Weasel's), visiting a zoo, seeing their farm and more! Thanks, guys, for a great time!!

Lydia and Rowan just LOVED the baby bunnies, puppies, turtles, goats and pigs!! CUTE!!

Cousins (Rowan, Liam and Daniel)!!!

That evening we went out to eat at Culver's with Uncle Tim and Aunt Lauri, and also Uncle Bryan, Aunt Jan, Lauren (19), Stephen (16) and Ian (13) from Japan (they're missionaries there). Then we went mini-golfing at Tom Thumb - that was a blast!

Me, Lydia, and Lauren

 

Mom, Uncle Bryan, Aunt Jan, Aunt Lauri and Uncle Tim
 

Ian, Stephen, Daniel and Caleb
 

The next day we spent at Spencer Lake, near Waupaca (where mom grew up). We swam, ate, swam, ate, and played Monopoly!! :-) We enjoyed spending time with our cousins who we hadn't seen in two years or more. Hope to see you guys again soon!!

 

 

Lauren will be staying in the states to go to college, so I am VERY glad that we'll get to see her more often!! :-)

On Friday we drove the 8 hours home. Thanks, Grandma Renate, for letting us stay at your house!! It was so good to see you again! We love you!!

Photo Shoot with My Siblings

 

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.


This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.


This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion


The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.


The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost


of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is:


P-R-A-Y-E-R.


Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.


Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control


Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding


to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter his Kingdom so as to prevent contamination of that facility.


Thank you for your attention!


GOD


P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!