New Neighbors

We (almost) have new neighbors!!!! Saturday was spent helping the Koenig family, a dear family in our local church, prepare to move to a home directly across the street from us.

More than 35 people showed up to help load boxes into the truck, clean the house and shuttle things back and forth to their new resting spots. All 184 book boxes fit into one family's basement, other things went in a huge storage container, and furniture went in our garage. This is a two part move as the house they are building is not quite done--we can't wait for them to be settled in across the way.

We have quite the plans for our two properties. It's a combination of 7 acres, 2 homes, 4 parents, 19 children, 5 dogs, 1 creek, almost 5000 books, and millions of adventures to be had. What a joy to be able to live among believers and to see a covenant community alive and well, serving each other this day and throughout the years.


Backing the 25 ft. trailer into our driveway


Unloading


Little boys taking a break : )


Serving up


Lunch break


Little helpers take a break too


We have many adventures planned with our dear friends


Heave-ho!


The two houses

Working Men

Nathan and Benjamin have been working hard on Nathan's new house.


Bustin' out walls . . .


. . . and ceilings . . .


. . . make for one full dumpster!

4 to 4

Journey to the Land of the Setting Sun



Brrriinnnnggg!!! I sat bolt upright in bed and switched off the clanging alarm. Looking across the room I saw the still sleeping forms of Sarah and Lydia. Good, they shouldn't wake up quite yet. It was 4 o'clock on the morning of our trip to California. We had a long drive ahead of us and had planned to make an early start on the day. I woke up the big kids and we started our final preparations, packing a quick breakfast for everyone to eat in the car and squeezing one more thing in the already bursting van. I sure can't figure how we are going to fit everything in on the way back. For the last few weeks we've been assembling a California shopping list which includes things from plants, food items and even 3 baby goats.

We woke up our last sleepy people and loaded them into the van. Leaving at 5:20 made us only 20 minutes after our appointed departure time--not our best record, but nothing of which to be ashamed. : ) After bidding a tearey farewell to Dad and Nathan we took off for the open road--destination Albuquerque, New Mexico--a mere 18 hours away.


Ok, ok. This picture was posed. : )

While Servens drive we usually catch up on sleeping, reading, listening to tapes (music, stories and lectures), drawing, taking pictures and chatting. Since we had just acquired several new books at a library sale, I took opportunity to read Booker T. Washington's autobiography Up From Slavery, Harold Bell Wright's 1907 story The Shepherd of the Hills, set in the Missouri Ozark mountains (not recommended for younger readers), and started George Grant's The Third Time Around about the history of the pro-life movement dating back to the time of the early church (also not for young readers).

Driving through Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas we encountered rain and extremely strong winds. Mom, Beth, Peter and I all traded off driving--it was quite tiring to fight the wind with our very tall 15 passenger van. One time when we stopped in the Texas panhandle, we could literally lean and rest on the wind. We held tight onto our little people as we pushed our way inside the rest stop. Interestingly when we got inside we discovered certain portions of the building were marked "Tornado Shelter". Hmm. Since it was a clear sky at that point we did not worry about a tornado, but this only added to our respect of those powerful twisters.

We made it to Albuquerque late at night, rested in our hotel and awoke the next morning ready for another long day of driving. Tonight we'll be in California!! Little did we know how long of a time we would be in the car.



In Arizona we found ourselves in a snowstorm. This was not a blizzard by any means. But for us west coasters this was a new experience: driving at 15 miles an hour, unable to see out the front windshield because of the ice and snow adhered to it, stopping several times to try and scrape the window. This delayed us a couple hours . . . but by God's protection we made it safely through the weather and kept heading west to Grandma Macfarlanes.


Looking back towards the storm we came through



It was good to see our Grandma Macfarlane, share some pictures with her, show her several of our latest movies, and play instruments for her. She lives alone but has a small community of friends who visit her and care for her. We pray that God would work in her heart and life.

After a long long time in the car (we had dinner at 10:00 p.m. PST), we arrived at our Nana and Grandpa Ellis's home. What a joy it was to be in a familiar spot! : ) Of course though, since we were all on Missouri time, sleeping in only took us to around 7 'clock as our little people woke and wanted to play.


Descanso Gardens



We had many adventures with Nana while in the greater Los Angeles area. Descanso Gardens is a beautiful place in the San Fernando hills. The bulbs were breathtaking.



As always, we got many ideas for gardening around our home. One we thought that was particularly clever is pictured above--planting pansies or johnny-jump-ups with your bulbs underneath. When it is finally warm enough for the tulips, they peek right through the pansies, but you have color for a longer period of time.


We all loved this crab apple tree. Does anyone know if they grow well in Missouri?


Fun with a stream.


Someday, we would like to learn how to espalier fruit trees like this.


Family History

As we drove around the Los Angeles area we would frequently stop or take detours for mini-family historical remembrances. We visited many of our old family homes (great-grandparents, grand-parents, and parents), followed mom's route home from school (3 miles was a decent walk!), visited our family graves, and even saw the infamous spot where my dad first took mom out on their first "date".


Pecos Bill's

Pecos Bill's is not exactly a high class joint. But when my dad first met my mom he asked her if she had ever tasted the food from this little resteraunt near her home. He asked one week, then the next, then the next. This was starting to be a predictable question! After a good while my mom answered with, "Well I guess you'll just have to take me." He agreed. Finally, one day, she walked from her house and he walked a block from his, they bought lunch, walked over to the park, ate it, then they each walked their own respective directions home.

We certainly don't go along with the whole dating thing . . . but come on! Isn't the first rule that you always take the girl home?! : ) We are so thankful that God worked in the midst of that and several years later brought together our father and mother to be our parents. : )


Where it all started...


Film-making

It was good to be able to see several of our extended family members while in Southern California. We have several generations of movie makers in our family so it's always interesting to hear their observations. While we were in LA, Grandpa Ellis had a photo shoot for a print advertisement and had just completed an TV spot.



Uncle Mike is a "independent contractor" for various special effect/prop/costuming shops in the area. It was fascinating to be able to visit his shop and meet some of his fellow artists.



This is some of the completed armor they have made. Many mediums are used--aluminum, steel, plastic. Our favorite part was to see the tree stumps and big hammers where they pound out the metal by hand. The men here do fine meticulous work to make accurate reproduction masterpieces as well as futuristic armory, knives, swords.

We were fascinated with the whole process of molding masks and casting statues. To hear the whole intricate time-consuming process was amazing. These guys have to be so patient.


What fun it was to see a project Uncle Mike was making as a gift for Mr. Jackson of King Kong fame.



One artisan would painstakingly craft leather armor of Celtic or Biblical origin. He used such small tools yet work incredibly fast.

When we asked these men how the industry was going, they responded very interestingly. They get calls from the studios to do proto-types and design work and then make models and props for many many movies. Lately though, things have been slowing down considerably. When we asked why, their thought was the growth of the Indy movement is changing the face of film-making. No longer are the studios the status quo. Often a producer and director will take a skeleton crew, journey to another section of the globe and hire locals to fill out the crew. This takes away many jobs from union members. Though many of these artisans supplement with independent side work, the economic side of film-making is changing.

The men also commented on the emptiness of film-making. They're "just making toys" for plots and stories that grow old. The excitement many people feel about Holly-wood does not really exist with the locals. It's a job. Yah. Just another shoot going on down the street for some movie that not many people will watch. The studios have to keep the money coming in . . . but with predictable cookie cutter stories, who knows how long they will last. The face of film-making is changing. But just being an independent film-maker does not get us excited. To watch God raise up a generation of culture changers who tell compelling, life changing, Christ honoring, stories--now that's exciting.



Uncle Kit and Aunt Linda are also very involved in design, though in an entirely different field. It is always such a fun treat to see them--their busy schedule takes them around the world, but does not leave much time for extra things. What a joy to spend an evening with them.



Mom commissioned Peter to make a California movie while we were on our trip. We all are anxious to see the results.


Paso Robles Here We Come!!





The Gerhardt family once again opened their home to us. They are so good at making every day a special day and this evening was no different. We all brought out our folk instruments and had a good ol'fashioned jam session.










Of course what would California be with out the beach? "Our" beach is not the stereotypical hot sandy ocean front. Quite chilly at times, we wear our warm things, walk on the sand and the pier, dig holes, wade in the surf, have good conversations and yummy food.

One afternoon we went down to the coast for a precious afternoon with the Grables, Cousins, and Gilberts.


Beach People



This sweet girl was my special beach buddy. We made beach necklaces (driftwood and seaweed) and sand pies and generally played in the ocean fresh air.


Joel likes this stuff!



The kids decided to re-route the stream that comes into the bay. They had quite the adventure feverishly working to change the stream--and they did!


The Conquering Heroes


What would be a beach day without a game of smashball?!

The shining highlight of our trip was undoubtedly all the wonderful dear friends we were able to see and visit. You really could just start up where you left off--the old saying bore true. Each conversation was precious. Thank you. I wish we had gotten pictures of every person on our trip. But alas, the camera was always absent when you needed it most. Here are a couple though . . .


The Bordonaros


The Stevens


The Kuelens


The Young Brighams--not to be confused with the Old Brighams : )



What a joy to worship with our church body on the Central Coast. We miss you guys--from the rousing discussions to the sweet fellowship. It was so very good to see you. You've faithfully walked alongside us for many years.


Preparing for a scene

Of course what would be a trip to the Cousins without making a movie? The boys produced a 30 second advertisement for Everlast Boxing gloves. : )

Speaking of the Cousins--how can we ever say thank you enough for your loving hospitality. It is such a blessing to have the best cousins in the whole world. We only wish we were closer to you all. Thanks for all the talks. : )


Watching "Everlast"



What a joy too to have the Grable family come and hang out so many times during the week. We love you guys.



The Grable girls are our special little friends. I look forward to watching them grow over the years into lovely young women who bring glory to God.

Several of us drove up one morning to the Bay area to visit my Grandma B. who was in the hospital. We enjoyed walking with her down the hospital hall, visiting and showing her pictures of our home in Missouri. Thankfully, she is now healing up well and went home shortly after our return to Missouri.



Near the end of our trip we had to say goodbye to Peter for a while--he flew out via BUR to San Antonio for a film shoot. This "officially" started a 4 month internship for Peter with Mr. Carpenter. Peter came up for a visit during Resurrection Sunday (and obviously helped out with the "Wild Goat Chase") and of course we will see him again over the months . . . but, we miss you Peter.


Back to the Mother of the West



Beth picked up 3 baby goats on our trip--they were excellent travelers. As always, we got lots of comments when we stopped to let the goats walk. One man even took our picture to send to his grand-daughter!



The drive home was a little more grueling than the way over as we did not have time working in our favor. We pushed from Paso Robles to Albuquerque (5 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.). We got a late start the next day (round 9 a.m.), but us kids were wanting to get home so badly we asked Mom if we could drive straight through the night. She and dad (via cell phone) agreed . . . but time was still working against us.



At one point during the early evening us children noticed that the car clock seemed unusually early--in fact, we discovered it read exactly 3 hours earlier than Missouri time. Sarah dubbed it MCT ("Mom's Car Time"). In reality it was really quite a smart idea--we had lost 3 hours over the last few days of the trip with Day Light Savings, PST, and MST changes. So trading off drivers we drove into the black night. The last few hours of the trip actually went faster than the daylight driving as most people were sleeping. It was a good time to reflect and pray over all we had experienced, the conversations had, and the blessings of this trip.

We pulled into our driveway at 1 o'clock in the morning "MCT", or 4 o'clock in the morning CST. We were home. And Dad was out on the driveway ready to welcome us home with open arms.

Wild Goat Chase

As some of you know, we miss our California goats. To that end we have been scheming on a way to have an ongoing supply of fresh goat's milk. Unfortunately at this point, the covenants and restrictions in our subdivision make it impossible for us to have goats on our property. We'd appreciate your prayers in this regard. In the meantime though, the dear Schwarb family, members of our church who live only minutes away, have graciously allowed us to help with their new endeavors in the goat world.

After bringing several baby goats in the car from CA on our trip, Mom, Beth and Sarah took a jaunt up to Iowa last week to pick up some other older goats for the Schwarbs.


Goats getting ready for the ride home.


Don't let those goats escape!

The girls made the 4 hour drive home from Iowa, dropped the goats off at the Schwarb family late that night and headed to bed. The next day was spent getting the goats comfortable in their new home and getting the owners comfortable with their new acquisitions.

Everything was going well . . . but when Beth arrived at 6:30 a.m. on the second morning to help with the milking, the goats were gone. Disappeared. Vanished. Totally ceased to exist. Mrs. Schwarb, Beth and the children searched high and low but they were nowhere to be found. The barnyard held no clues as to there whereabouts, nor did the yard round the house, the surrounding woods or the roads around their area. They did eventually conclude that the goats had squeezed under a loose part in the fence and gotten out sometime after 9:30 p.m. the previous night.

After an hour of hunting they decided to start knocking on doors. 7:30 a.m. is a little early to visit ones neighbors, but at least most people are awake. They ran into several sleepy people, but most were concerned and willing to keep their eyes peeled for 3 black run-away goats. Mrs. Schwarb and Beth made ever widening concentric circles as they walked and then drove miles and miles of back roads--always scanning the countryside for their absent friends.

The hunt was on. Mr. Schwarb came home from work, and various other Servens were called in as reenforcements. Signs were passed out and put up round the vicinity and the search continued.


Where could these crazy goats have gone!!?



At one point during the day someone discovered a hoof print in the dirt by the creek. Hmm. Maybe we were on to something.



These neighbors were so kind to help us look for the goats and allowed us to extensively search their property.



One fun discovery involved the location of a beaver pond complete with a beaver dam as much as a quarter mile long (notice the evidence in the chewed tree in the picture). Throughout the day our people would come home after a fruitless search to rest--but then the phone would ring--the goats had been sighted on such and such road 2 hours ago, or by such and such creek 30 minutes ago . . . and they would jump in the car again. At one point during the pursuit, we even heard them "maa"-ing. But nary a real concrete clue was to be found. After an extremely long and hot search, the weary lookers went home for the night.

The next day we did not get any calls or sightings. We had not given them up for lost, but knew that the goats were literally like a needle in a haystack. There was no way we were ever going to find these goats apart from God's directing us to them. The Schwarb family was leaving to go out of town on a previously planned trip and would keep us posted as to any potential leads on the goats. We bid them farewell that afternoon.

That evening we had the extended Cordz family over for dinner. We were enjoying the fellowship and conversation round the table when all of a sudden--the phone rang. It was Mr. Schwarb and the goats had been sighted again! This time there was an exact location and it had only been a few minutes before (a neighbor was taking a walk through a deserted part of the woods, saw our signs posted on a rock next to the creek, walked another 100 yards, then saw the goats! He ran back to the sign and quickly called the Schwarbs on a cell phone notifying him of his find). Mr. Schwarb told us we did not need to go look for them as we had company and some other neighbors would go check out the sighting and capture the goats if possible . . . but our dinner guests had other ideas! They were quite gung-ho, ready to jump in the car and head off on the search. So with renewed vigor, 16 of us kids piled into various cars and drove off into the dusky night.

We strained our eyes scanning the fields and woods around the supposed sighting. "WAIT!! Stop!! I think I see them!!" I exclaimed. But the black form near an old abandoned barn turned out to be a discarded tire. : ) We kept on down the road, all eyes peeled for any sign of our elusive friends.

We were just getting ready to turn off onto another road when Sarah looked over her shoulder and tentatively said "I think there is something moving over there . . ." Lydia declaired, "I know its an animal--but it might not be the goats" she quickly added. Then Beth cried "Wait . . . Wait--it IS the goats! STOP THE VAN!!!" With amazing speed, Nathan jammed on the brakes, the doors burst open and all of us flew out of the van, sprinting up the hill with supressed laughter and screaming. The rest of our party (in the car behind us) later remarked that it was like one of those old fashioned clown-cars with people just coming and coming and coming out of the doors (we were driving a 15 passenger van)!

After being reminded to not scare the goats away, we tried to stealthily surround them (as much as one can be stealthy with 16 excited kids trying to capture goats who had been missing for 2 days). The circle got smaller and smaller and Nathanael held out his hand to one of the goats. She started walking over to sniff--then he grabbed her by the collar and promptly got a hold of the other two goats who had followed.



We rushed in with ropes and leads--we could not believe it!! We had not only seen them, but caught them safe and sound!!


Retrieving the goats from their secluded hide-out.


Ha-ha!! Captured at last!!

Were the Schwarbs ever surprised when we called them and told them "We got your goat! Well, actually three of them!" : ) They were safely in the car and we were en route to their home. After various and sundry adventures (which included breaking into the house--the Schwarbs were still in another state visiting family), we carefully returned the goats to their now fortified pen. Not one of those goats can ever slip out, jump over or sneak under that pen again (we hope).


Returning the goats to their rightful home.

Of course, animals don't have souls . . . but don't you wonder what could have been the motivation for not only getting out of their pen, but running away? Was their life too dull? Couldn't they have just escaped and eaten the flowers? Why did they have to trapse nearly 3 miles through the woods hiding themselves for 2 days? Was it that they missed their playmates in faraway Iowa? : )

Update

Dear Friends,

You've probably noticed the lack in posts this past week . . . we have safely arrived home from CA and have been busy fitting back into life here. I've been working on a couple posts (including a travel log of our California journeys) but with the photo blogging software not cooperating early in the week and not much time to write, the post still is not done. Hopefully we will get them up next week.

We joyfully anticipate a glorious celebration of Christ's Resurrection tomorrow. May the Lord place in our hearts an every deepening wonder of the atonement.

In Christ,
Rebecca for the clan

P. S. Check back too for the "Wild Goat Chase". : ) Yes, more goat adventures.

A New Addition

Guess who this belongs to?



Nathan recently closed a contract on a sweet little house 15 minutes east of our abode. We are thrilled that God opened this opportunity for him. Remodeling a living room, den, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and 1 bath will provide excellent work for him over the next months.



The back yard--just a city lot, but a good sized one at that.



This house needs a little tender loving care. New siding, roof, flooring, kitchen, bathroom and laundry room are the order of the day. When Nathan started pulling up the carpet the other day, he discovered some wood floors! What a wonderful surprise.



The foundation needs a little work--today Ben and Jonathan C. crawl under the house to start the process.

Homeward Bound

After a very rich visit with family and friends in California, tomorrow morning we start the trek back to our dear home in Missouri. Not to be accused of non-creative travel plans, we are bringing 3 baby goats, blackberry plants, an orchid, aloe vera, garden planters, and other miscellany--2000 miles in 2 days. Lord willing, we'll be home and up with pictures soon.