Timmy's Birthday

Oooooooooooo0000000000--Happy birthday!

Timmy turned six on Thursday, July 23. He wanted peanut butter pizza instead of cake, but the candles didn't stay up too well in melted marshmallows! He wanted our homeschooling friends, the Bookmans, who have six children, and friends from church, the O'maleys, to come out, as well as Grandpa and Grandma Lucas. The second picture is him with some of his presents.

Lucas Family Farm

Here's Sophie the kid, Blossom the blue poodle, Blackberry the heifer, and Timmy in the pasture with our house in the background.
Blackberry is tame enough for Timmy to pet.

Carrie feeding Sophie.

Rose loves to milk Seanna. As you can see, she has painted her face with juice from delicious organic black bing cherries that Daddy got from King Soopers. Wouldn't you like to see what the other children looked like?

Seanna sneaks a bite of forbidden fruit: leaves from our Austree. We read that if anything ails a goat, almost any green leaves are the best medicine. However, she was not ailing, except maybe for a bite of leaves!

Here is our new milk goat, Seanna. She is an Alpine and gives us about a gallon of fresh goat milk a day. We hoped the raw milk would make a difference in our health, including allergies, asthma, and colds so often.

Sammy is our young cowboy who tends our heifer, Blackberry.

Hannah gets a ride on Seanna.

The girls with Seanna and Sophie the kid.

And yes, toads are definitely part of the farm! Danny finds them in the windowwells before he's even dressed for the day.

Baby Hannah's dedication and Mother's Day

It was a happy Mother's Day for me (Anna), with Baby Hannah just 4 days old.
Here we are several weeks later, on Father's Day. Our pastor, Derald Hunt, is praying the dedication prayer for our seventh baby, Hannah Grace Lucas. We thought it was special to have our last baby dedicated on Father's Day. Jonathan is a very blessed father, with a quiver full and overflowing with children. They are God's reward, His Word says.

Grandma and Grandpa Lucas joined our family up front for the dedication.

As you can see, it was Carrie who was holding the baby for the first part of the dedication. That was because we sang first, and she was holding her for the song while I played the autoharp and Jonathan held little Danny.

We sang "I Believe" as a family before the dedication ceremony. Anna had written the second verse for it a couple years ago when her little neice, Jennelle Barth, was having to have surgery for a hole in her heart. If it weren't for faith in God and good, and the belief that everything works for good to those who love God, how would we ever make it through the ups and downs, the unexpected, and the troubles of life? We thought that second verse was very appropriate for the dedication of our seventh baby, who was very much a surprise baby. We know that God has a purpose for her life. The words we sang were:

"I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows.

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows.

I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to show the way.

I believe, I believe.

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard.

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word.

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry, or touch a leaf, or see the sky,

Then I know why -- I believe!

I believe that every baby boy or girl by God is planned.

I believe that every child may make the choice to hold God's hand.

I believe the heavenly Father sent His Son to die for them, for every one.

I believe, I believe.

I believe for every baby born today an angel cares.

I believe that though their lives are touched by pain, God answers prayers.

Every time I see the devil lay his claim

And they are victors through Christ's name,

Then I know why--I believe! I BELIEVE!"

Baby Hannah

Lucases and Lilacs

Seven is the perfect number! Here is our family in front of a beautiful lilac bush across from our church. That was in May, ten days after baby Hannah Grace was born. In the second picture is Grandma Morley who came out to help when the baby was born. Thanks, Grandma!