Where will we lay our heads?

Well, the Trimbles planned, packed, and traveled toward another camping adventure this fall.

After laboriously choosing a site we all liked, we unloaded and began to put up the tents.  Not very long into this process, David discovers that he had all the parts to our big tent except the poles!  Hmmm.... The tent is not very useful without them.  What to do?  David decided to drive to Walmart and purchase a new tent.  But the one he bought, which we really did not need as we have two large tents already and several smaller ones, was smaller than the one we had planned to sleep in.  The girls had their little tent, but the remaining 7 of us had to squeeze, along with our air mattress (a girl's gotta sleep on something semi-soft!) and Sarah's pack n play (she needs to be confined to sleep best!) into the 6 person tent!  We were like sardines... but we did it!  And we didn't even freeze in the mid- forty degree nights because for the first time ever we had a space heater!  We carefully carved out our precious space so that we could still use it even in the tight quarters.  Maybe we are getting wimpy in our older age!  But we really enjoyed our time together!

That is not a trick of the camera.  That marshmallow really is that big!  At the boy's pleading, I bought the giant "campfire" marshmallows.  All the kids enjoyed them, even the big girls!

The cutie with her huge sugary treat!

Keenan and his giant "S'more" with his oversized marshmallow!

Checking out the mill at the State Park.

Fall colors on one of the dozens of grinding stones lining the walk ways at the mill.  I found them laying just like that. :)

Fall Fun

Just wanted to pass on some pictures from the fall.  We have had good times together and stressful times together. ;)  I only have photos of the good memories, though.  But in the hard and in the good, God is faithful!  His way in higher and His training is sometimes rigorous and painful.  This morning I heard one of my favorite songs from my college years (oh so long ago!).  "Refiner's fire.  My heart's one desire... is to be holy, set apart for you, my Master...."  As I listened, I remember how fervently I would sing that song, truly longing to be His fully and purely.  At the same time, I mused at how difficult this past season has been for me as I have sensed I have been in the "fire" of His training and refining.  I still long for those things, but now I sing from a different knowing. I sing knowing some of the difficulty of living that holy, set apart life. He is carrying me through, giving me strength, and promising me victory as I keep looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith!

So here are some chronicles of our fall together.  

Silas lost both front teeth in one day!  He's a cutie!

We have enjoyed the eggs from our chickens this fall.  

Princess Sarah turned TWO!  She says, "My Happy Birthday!"  What a joy she is!

This little monkey turned 5!  He is also such a gift! 

We celebrated "Dino-style!"

Abby (the last of the October birthday club members!) celebrated her 15th birthday by taking these fun young ladies (an myself) to get (washable!) pink strips in our hair at a local Hair Salon to help raise money for a local lady fighting breast cancer. After hearing about it while getting a haircut, she concocted this creative plan and wanted to use her own birthday money to pay for the strips.  Love that girl! 

This beauty also had a birthday, but somehow we missed taking
any photos!  Shame on me! She had a fun outside group game
kind of celebration for year #17.

The growing-up-one with her oreo cake.

The landing is a fun lego spot for the boys.  Keenan graciously shares his legos often for play time with his brothers.