Anybody who reads this probably read the post that Bethany wrote on my blog. When she first mentioned that she might have actually published a post, I didn't really believe her because she can say just about anything and keep a straight face while doing it. I opened my blog though and noticed she had left up a post with some ideas concerning how to make my blog more interesting for others to read because she cannot stand that all I talk about is farming, firewood, and welding, as she puts it.  Well when I saw her suggestions, that is what I thought she meant about her writing a blog post on my blog and I quit looking. After awhile though she asks if I looked at my published posts, which made me suspicious and I looked. When I saw that she had actually published a blog my first response was "I'm going to kill you" and she said I should comment on the blog and say that. However then I read the post, and after reading it I decided I would feel a little bit bad if I commented that on the post. So for any of you who think I'm heartless, this might just prove that I do have a heart.
Anyway enough with the post that doesn't involve farming, mechanics, or firewood. This summer the motor in my truck went bad and since my dad really likes the truck we traded trucks, he took mine and I took his old chevy to sell and then he is going to put a new motor in my truck. Well we started that project yesterday and my truck is know sitting in the driveway with the bed, cab, and hood sitting on pallets with only half of the motor and the transmission left in the frame. It is just a little bit sad. Dad and I are going to spend Christmas swapping motors and putting the new cab on my truck which will ironically be half green and half red once we are done.

Memories- A Guest Post

I'm not really sure who all reads Tyler's blog. But whoever you are, I hope this amuses you.


In our family, there is an unspoken rule about leaving your account open on the computer. It goes something like this: If you leave it up, open, or logged in, you are immediately qualified for a good, creative hacking.

I have to admit, I am the one who has the most fun with this. BUT, I ALWAYS ask one of my parents before I hack anything. So don't think I'm a horrible meany. ;)

Anway, Tyler left his blog up. So he now gets a guest blog post... that he didn't exactly authorize... :) But I'm going to be nice... mostly ;)

5 of My Favorite Memories with Tyler

All those days we've spent playing in the woods. There was the Star Wars stage. You know, complete with "jedi cloaks" Grandma made us and light sabers. And the pioneering. You would leave the playhouse with your trusty hatchet and "work" all day, while I cooked, cleaned, and did laundry. I remember when we got some old carpet for the playhouse. It was SUCH an improvement :) Oh, and I can't forget the Narnia phase. It must have been right after dad read us the first book and we saw the movie in theater. I was always slightly bummed there wasn't four of us. How can you play Narnia with only 2 kids and NO Cair Paravel?!

When we had bunk beds (before Stormy and Kota) and you listened to me chatter every night. I don't remember if you ever did any talking. Seems a little crazy that I was the one talking when you were trying to sleep...

That time when dad tried to jump us over the tree when we were "hooding" in the snow. That memory is so vivid to me. After we ran through all those branches and I opened my eyes, I seriously thought you were dead. I just saw you laying there all covered up in snow. I was pretty scared and shaken up after that. Hooding in general is just a bunch of good memories.

Okay, that time during the ice storm (whatever year that was... I think we were 9 and 11) when mom and dad left us home by ourselves and we made scrambled eggs over the fire. :) We were so proud of our ingenuity. Seriously, cooking over the fire, like dad had been doing, all by ourselves! And scrambled eggs, nonetheless! :) Crazy idea.... it's a miracle we didn't set something on fire.

The last one I'll write about was just last spring. I doubt you even remember it. It was that week when I wasn't eating any refined sugar, just for fun, to see if it really is an addiction. I was going somewhere with you and you bought some gum. When you asked me if I wanted any, I said, "Nah. No thanks." You responded, "I got the sugar free kind." I wrote about it in my gratitude journal, it meant so much to me. I love seeing the sweet, thoughtful side of your nature. It doesn't show very often, but I know you truly do pay attention to other people's feelings.

I could write more and more and more of my favorite memories with you. Just writing these has made me think of so many others that are so special to me. Seriously, you appear in most of my favorite memories. I am truly grateful I have you as my best friend, and am so thankful God gave me YOU as a big brother.

~Beth

Bethlehem Revisited

Bethlehem Revisited of 2013 is officially over. Even with the cold weather things went rather smoothly and a lot of people went through. There were no major mishaps as far as I know however we did have some small problems that we were able to solve quickly. I've been helping with BR for five years and this was the coldest year I have been apart of, there have been individual days in past years that were colder however this year all three nights were freezing. Then on Sunday in snowed. This makes everything really pretty, especially while it was still snowing and with all of the lanterns and other lights made the falling snow really visible. The snow also made things a little more challenging. Walking up the trails isn't the easiest task to begin with but once you had snow to them they get slippery and it becomes even more difficult. BR also provides four-wheelers pulling carts with seats mounted on them for those who won't be able to make it up the trails walking. Without snow the four-wheeler have trouble pulling trailers up the hill, then you add snow and it can be a little bit of a rodeo. We have two four-wheelers with carts and I was one of the drivers, and we never needed both four-wheelers out on Friday or Saturday, so I never drove. However Sunday the first group that went through needed one and I had been using my four-wheeler so it was warm, meaning I drove for that group and it was snowing. I have drove a four-wheeler up those trails a million times pulling a trailer however only once with somebody riding that I don't know. I was a little nervous. Thankfully everything went great and I didn't wreck with a passenger. Even with the cold weather and snow, Bethlehem Revisited was a lot of fun again this year, and I can't wait until next year.