It's Time Again...

for more parlor updates. (Yep, Anne, big milking facility.  Instead of bringing the milkers to the cows, we'll  they'll bring the cows to the milkers.)

Foundation for the milk tank.

I have no idea.

Drains for water run-off.

First pour in the walk-way.

I thought maybe this was a hitching post...but it's just a spot to wash cows.  Notice the faucet and drain?

Hey, hey, hey, check out all the technology.

The painting is done...well, except for all the touch-ups and clean up that will need to be done in the wake of the "professional" painters.

Jonas working in the basement.

Scott at work, too.

That big hole is where the tank will go in.  Too bad it will be the first thing you see as you pull into the farm lane.

Okay, temporarily you're all up-to-date.

Riding along...

 in my automobile

My babies beside me at the wheel

Cruising and playing my stereo

No particular place to go.

Sound like fun?

Ugh! Computers

 I'm having some computer trouble!  I'm finding them to be both a bane and blessing in my life!  My deepest apologies to those of you dying to know what's happening in the parlor. 

We have had fun with playdough at our house.  Anybody up for green mashed potatoes, turkey leg, and beans?

My parents have returned to Minnesota, Kenton's parents are back from Florida, Janelle and co. were here for Easter along with our new niece Abby,  and we have four more weeks of school!  


AND  while the Florida contingent has returned (and been set to work making Easter dinner and hauling manure) the Mexico bunch (well, one of them anyway) is probably wondering what's going on.   

Fisher-Thompson have been busy at work.  Kenton can't say enough good about Jonas King and Scott.    As you can see the upper walls and ceiling are finished. 

Dennis, Kenton wanted you to see the "tunnel" between the basement and the milk house.  Eventually the milk will move through here.

Kenton is pleased with how the basement is coming along.  We saw this basement idea at Larson Acres in Wisconsin.  Kenton really liked it.  A lot of the equipment is down here, unexposed to constant threat of water, plus the noise is downstairs.  Not so great for the once-a-month tester, but much nicer for the milker. 

The milk will drop down here from the parlor, go through pipe in the tunnel, and be pumped UP into the milk tank. 

Now here's an exciting picture, the future milk house.  These panels he used are made of the same stuff as pvc pipe.  It seems like it will wash down pretty easily and be more durable than glassboard which is what he used in the basement. 

Kenton said, "Make sure you take a picture of THIS."  But I don't remember what this is.  Sorry!  I do remember that it is supposed to save us a bunch of money on electrical.  I think he said we'll have more than one. 

This is the storage room (already in use), beyond it the office,  and up above....the future home of my couch.   When Kenton doesn't answer his cell phone, I'll no longer assume he's unreachable, I'll check to see if  he's making sure nobody steals the couch. 

The hallway between the parlor and milk house, storage room, and office. 

This past week he poured concrete for the bulk tank to sit on, had the WORST experience with painters ever (SO SORRY!  It was MY fault!   Call me for a non-recommendation) and did a bunch of other stuff but I can't remember it.  Oh, started planting oats, for one!

On the home front, we started soccer practice, Kaitlyn had her annual heart check (she's doing GREAT!), heard the Rosedale Chorale, did some sewing (it was either more doll clothes or committing murder to the painters), celebrated the Resurrection, had dinner with Kenton's family (and scrounged supper, too) snuggled baby Abby, tried making Butterhorns from scratch (it worked but I think I could do better next time), the dog ate Jamison's bike helmet,  and I realized anew how desperately I need a Savior.  Whew!  Life has been a bit of a whirlwind.   

I hope your Easter was special! 

As of Today...

 Kenton and Dad-and the dumb dog- at the end of the day.

My safety conscious Dad put in the railing.  He forgot that several of our regular visitors are below the railing height.  He'll be adding to it.

Jonas and Scott starting putting some equipment into the parlor basement.

The ceiling is up in the parlor and Dad's shoulders are relieved.

Kenton's planning to pour the floor of the stall area in the parlor tomorrow.  

 

Maybe I should take a poll: When do you think the parlor will be up and running?

 

Davis

Somebody had a birthday! 

Where does the time go? 

(The pirates who don't do anything!)

 (Obeying the letter of the law, "STAND STILL!")
 

(Gorgeous blue eyes!)
 

(In the days before John Deere and the color green ruled his wardrobe preferences)
 

Davis has been telling me for months that his meal of choice for today was a sandwich from Rick's (our local gas station).  Um, yeah!  With gas station subs and hotdogs boiled in maple syrup as favorites that doesn't say much for my cooking, does it?
This morning I ordered a "birthday" sub from Rick.  He was pretty excited to hear that Davis rated his subs as #1.  When we arrived Rick had a sub, AND a bag of chips, candy bar, chocolate milk and a card with $1 in it ready for the birthday boy!  They also gave him a rousing round of Happy Birthday!  It was pretty special. 

Sam and Ted were here to play today and Josh and Caleb came after school. 

Jumping on the trampoline made for hot, sweaty kids.

Gifts from grandparents added to the special day.

The long awaited gift he didn't get for  Christmas is finally his. 

It looks like everyone will enjoy it. 

Emily

Since it's been a little bit since we talked about Emily (Be so thankful you don't live in our house right now.  Fifty percent of the conversations around here are about Emily, traveling for Emily, China, and how life will change once Emily is here.  Another 35% of conversations are about the new barn, building the new barn, arrangements for getting the barn done, and how life will change once the new barn is done.  Are you seeing a theme here?  Conversationally, Kenton and I can be like two ships passing in the night.  Really, you'd be bored to tears!)

All that to say...We have a name!

This little one will be Emily MeiPan (May-Paun).

That's the short version.  Those of you who aren't into details may want to tune out now!

Still with me?  This is EMILY!   The child we think about and plan for and pray for every day. Mostly hourly, and sometimes minute to minute.  I worry...throw it into God's hands, have peace, start to worry...and well, I'm sure you're seeing another general theme here. 

Emily's Chinese name is Pan.  It's pronounced paun and means hope!  Is that perfect or what?  We kept Kaitlyn's Chinese name Ying for her middle name and I really wanted to do that with Emily.  BUT...Emily Pan looks a little off to my western eyes.  Mei (May) means beautiful and little sister.  So we added Mei to Pan for Beautiful Hope.

One special thing that happened, the day after we requested to adopt Emily, I was reading to Davis.  The story was about a little African boy who traveled many weeks to attend a mission school.  One day he asked the teacher's wife what that thing was that she was sweeping dirt into.  When he got to school he announced, "My name is no longer Tisese, 'the-animal-which-runs-through-the-woods'.  Now that I am a Christian, my name shall be 'Dust Pan' forever!"  Dust Pan?  "I want to be a dust pan, so that when I go home I may carry out the dirt from the lives of my father, my family, and all my friends.  I want to be a Dust Pan for Jesus!"
Dust Pan's father was one of the most famous witch doctors in that part of Africa, and usually killed more than six hundred people every year.  He put to death anyone who offended him by poisoning them, burying them alive, or tying them to ant hills and letting the ants eat them.  But Dust Pan's faith and love won the hearts of his whole family--even that father.  Both his parents, his three sisters, and all five brothers were converted and became Christians.  Then Dust Pan began to share the Gospel with others in his village.  When the missionary returned the following year, he found three hundred and sixty-four new Christians waiting to be baptized, all through the witness of one young boy.  What a lot of sin, darkness, and dirt had been carried out of that corner of Africa, by one Dust Pan in the hands of Jesus! 

Beautiful Hope!  How could we not retain her name after that?

We are currently waiting on our Letter of Acceptance from the Chinese government.   We tentatively expect to travel sometime between July and September.  Of course, we would be thrilled to pack suitcases and leave YESTERDAY but red tape prevails. 

Something Old, Something New

 Mom and Dad are here.  Dad is tied up doing electrical...and being drafted for anything else like hanging ceiling anytime Kenton needs him. 

This means Mom has time for her personal project - turning my house into one fit to be on the cover of Better-Homes-And-Gardens.  Of course, unless these improvements come with a maid, gardener, and cook this won't be possible.  Lack of effort on Mom's part will never be the obstacle that prevents it. 

The girls will be needing more room once Emily joins them so we flip-flopped with them.  This is my old room.  Of course, realistically it didn't look like this very often. 

Mom assures me that "color is in."  I'm pretty happy with this blue for our "new" room. 

It was lavender when the girls had it.  Kenton was totally befuddled about why I wanted to paint it a different color.   Okay, he was puzzled why we can't just leave everything where it's at and add another bed to the existing room.   He hates painting, change, and abhors moving furniture or GASP! moving pictures on the walls! (Aside: apparently so does the board at Goodwill Mennonite Home.)  However, he took the high road, acknowledged it was a battle he wasn't going to win, figured it would keep us out of his hair (the REAL reason) and told us to paint away without bothering him. 

Eventually I'll have some pictures for the walls and doors on those upper cabinets.

And just to confirm that the circus lives on here...