Flashback to Labor Day:)...Don't forget your history!!

¹⁰ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
¹¹ Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
¹² Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
¹³ And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
¹⁴ Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Deuteronomy 8:10-14
Labor Day was really quite a ways back, but we, as a family had such a special day! Since a large part of my Mom's heritage is Mennonite~ we decided to go to Steinbach and tour the Mennonite village. It was on one of the few days that the village is actually up and running. We didn't take as many pictures as we could have...We visited a blacksmith shop where  the blacksmith was making hammer heads; a print shop where a printing apprentice was printing labels on paper bags which would eventually be used for candy:); Mom and Rachel attended a small class on seed saving; Some of us kiddos attended a demonstration of a player piano( I was even allowed to give it a try...they are harder to play then you think:);  we strolled though a candy shop, an old soddie, a church, a school house, an old barn attached to a house, enjoying every minute of being together and getting a taste of what life was like in the early 1900's.

Someone making fresh butter from cream.

Esther Elizabeth and JoAnna...Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! In one of the houses we toured, we taste tested fresh cucumber pickles, and watched ladies card wool. It was interesting to see the small sleeping quarters and with how "little" people could survive with. It can be so easy feel like we deserve so much, instead of being grateful to God for what he has given us!

Caleb Matthew and Marie in front of a heated sleigh:) Couldn't get cold on this ride, as long as you didn't let the fire go out!

We ran into some sweet relatives!!

These old mills were essential for a village. It would require so much extra labor to make grain into flour so that you could make bread. Another luxury we take for granted!

A special couple. By the way, it's their anniversary today. If you would like to bless them, please comment below and share a way they have impacted your life! They are such a blessing in my life. Their faithfulness to Jesus, to each other, to their family is so motivating! They are not afraid to buck the crowd and go down unbeaten paths so that the generation to come might know...they would be the first to tell you that they are not perfect, but that openness is a rare jewel for us all to wear.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

The threshing crew!! Hard work, sweat, team work, late nights and early mornings, the satisfaction of a job well done...these elements were all typically there in this type of setting, and should not be grudged by those who would  think that this kind of labor is below them.

Dress up time!

JoAnna twirling around:) Some of the best memories made are ones made up with the simple things of life. May our hearts retain that simple childlike joy in which we exclaim with rapturous joy, "Out of all the world, Jesus, you chose me!"

Part of the Berlin Wall.

Our lives are but tales that are told. Give Jesus the pen and let him write a beautiful story of your life, one of devotion, love and service to an awesome God who only is worthy of honor and glory.

We have so much more to tell you. Much has happened in the past few months. Really though what is most important is knowing God and Making Him known to others...May that always be our life story. 
Because of Him: E. Mitton