Homeschoolers for Ron Paul

"My commitment to ensuring home schooling remains a practical alternative for American families is unmatched by any Presidential candidate.

Returning control of education to parents is the centerpiece of my education agenda. As President I will advance tax credits through the Family Education Freedom Act, which reduces taxes to make it easier for parents to home school by allowing them to devote more of their own funds to their children's education....

...Federal monies must never be used to undermine the rights of homeschooling parents. I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to encourage a culture of educational freedom throughout the nation."

--Ron Paul

Elijah first violin lesson

I received a miniature violin for my birthday that is a bit too small for me but just the right size for my little nephew Elijah! So we decided that it is never too early to start with music and commenced with his first violin lesson...

Here he was learning how to hold the violin without any hands...this is when baby fat comes in real handy!

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Here he is memorizing the names of the strings..."let's see, was it M-I-L-K?" (that's his favorite word, as you can tell from the cute rolls in the previous picture!)

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It was about now that he was starting to question us and our brilliant plan of starting a 2 month old baby on the violin.

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And that was the end of the lesson...and he let us know exactly what he thought of it too! I guess I need to rethink my teaching methods.

November Birthdays!

Today we are scrubbing and cleaning the house, getting it ready for a birthday celebration! Tonight the house will be buzzing with the happy chatter of our dear family and the sound of children playing and laughing! Now doesn't that sound so totally "Norman Rockwell"!

So, here are the two very wonderful people whose birthdays we are celebrating...

(we are also celebrating Delchi's birthday but I don't have a picture of him yet...watch for it coming soon!)

Melinda Kay Caron

Born: November 18th

Mindy is such a blessing to me! I am so grateful for the amazing friend that she is to me and the way that she gives and gives and gives of herself. She is the most unselfish person I know and I admire her deeply and love her even more! Happy birthday Mindy!

Elizabeth Marie Berge

Born: November 1st

Beth is my favorite sister-in-law!! I love her dearly! I am so glad to be able to get to know her more since they live only minutes from us now rather than two days away! I appreciate how she shares my joy and gets excited for me about things in my life (sometimes even more than me!). She is a joy and a blessing. Happy Birthday Beth!

A bright path

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But the path of the

righteous is like

the light of dawn,

which shines

brighter and brighter

until full day.

Proverbs 4:18

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Ponder the path

of your feet;

then all your ways

will be sure.

Proverbs 4:26

Colorado adventure!

Hey everybody! I have returned from my "trip of a lifetime" and have to say that it was an amazing trip! Absolutely incredible! So grab something blaze orange and maybe some trail mix (to get into the hunting mode!) and come along with me as I try to give you a taste of adventure!

First, it's time to slow down, take a deep breath, and just enjoy some amazing company and beautiful scenery for a while...

So it all started out with a very long trip in a caravan of four trucks...here we are, heading down the dusty trail!

We took a few breaks along the way to check out the amazing scenery. Like Mount Rushmore!

Here is Dad...pretending to fall off the edge of the sheer cliff. Not very funny!

We finally reached Colorado and were greeted by this cozy scene: the little cabin where we stayed. It was absolutely perfect!

Then, bright and early on Saturday, we woke up and got all geared up for heading out, after eating a fine and hearty breakfast lovingly prepared by my amazing father. Thanks Dad! Here we are...ready to see the big one!

The many miles of hiking through the mountains and the feeling that our lungs were going to explode finally paid off! Or at least it did for Vern and Mike Beighley...Mike was rewarded with this gorgeous 5X5! Check out that rack...beautiful!

We had to cover the meat with snow and branches to protect it from the birds and other animals while it waited for the horses to get in to pack it out. I thought it looked like a little grave so here are the guys holding a mock eulogy service. "Here lies a fine animal that died so that we might live through another Minnesota winter..."

So there you have a few highlights of my Colorado adventure! The pictures don't do the whole experience justice at all but maybe you can get a taste anyway! Praise the Lord for the blessings He gives and the brilliant creation He has surrounded us with! Wow!

"God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."

Genesis 1:31

Colorado...here we come!

Well, I am setting off for an adventure of a life time--elk hunting in Colorado! I am amazed how the timing has worked out for me to go along on this trip. Dad went out a few years ago and this time he asked if I wanted to go along. I was more than excited that it all worked out for me to go. So here goes nothing!

Be sure to stop back in and look for pictures when I return, in about 2 weeks!

I am blessed!

What a wonderful birthday I had this year...I feel so extremely blessed by the kindness and sweet notes from friends and family.Beth, Katey, Jamie, Karen, Mindy, Elianna, and Elijah all took me out for supper at the Green Mill Restaurant...yummy!Katelyn and I share the same birthday so we celebrated together with a rousing party at the Tingelstads! Ben and Gilles cooked up a fabulous Asian dinner and we all feasted in style! Thanks guys!Isn't that a great table! Beautiful!Happy Birthday Katelyn! It is fun celebrating with you!

Happy Anniversary!

It was two years ago today that we gathered to celebrate the marriage covenant of

Benjamin Jordan Caron

and

Melinda Kay Berge

What an eventful two years it has been and how amazing to see the abundant blessings that God has poured out into their lives--two significant ones being Elianna and Elijah!

Congratulations Ben and Mindy! We celebrate with you and love you both!

October birthday party...

Once a month, the Berge family gathers to celebrate all of the birthdays from the month. The month of October belongs to Matt, me, Ben, and Missy (we missed you!). We enjoyed delicious grilled burgers (thanks to dad!) and lots of other yummy dishes. We had a wonderful time together!

Ben, Matt, and I...the things I have to put up with! You hope that as they get older they will start acting their age, but...(sigh)

Matt and I trying to get that last candle blown out. Uff Da!

Elijah update!

Sorry about the long wait for an update. A lot has happened in the past week since Elijah was born. Mindy got out of the hospital after a short stay and is doing absolutely great. Thank you all for praying. God heard those prayers and worked in a mighty way! Then this last weekend we had a big moving party and moved Ben and Mindy out of their old house into the "cottage" (which is closer to us! Yay!). Here are a few pictures from the last week...

What a wonderful mother Mindy is...isn't she just beautiful!

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Elianna composing a love song for her little brother.

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What a blessing it is to hold that sweet bundle!

Although he doesn't look as happy about it as I do.

Announcing...

The Birth of
Elijah Kenneth Caron

Born: September 26th, 2007 (Grandpa Ken's Birthday too!)
Time: 4:40 am



More details will follow soon!

For now, please pray for Mindy as she is in the hospital recovering from a severe hemorage.
She is doing much better now though. Praise the Lord!

Autumn splendor!

I love how all of creation reflects God's glory...it serves one purpose: to glorify God. Even in death, the leaves fall with such grace and beauty. Their colors shouting out praises to their Creator! What a lesson in joyful obedience we have lying right beneath our feet!

"Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein:

then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice." Psalm 96:12

"Out of the north comes golden splendor;

Around God is awesome majesty." Job 37:22

Simeon Olaf Sahlstrom

If you haven't heard yet, I have a new nephew! Simeon Sahlstrom...my sister Melissa's newest blessing. It was so wonderful to finally be able to meet this precious little guy yesterday. He is so good and such a fun bundle to hold. Check out The Sahlstrom blog for more pictures.

Peacefully sleeping
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Cute little feet!
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A happy auntie...what a sweetie he is!
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Not the baby anymore...

but Erina doesn't seem to mind. She really loves her new baby brother and smothers him with kisses every chance she gets!

I love my nieces and nephews so much! They are such a blessing from God!

New Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"therefore I will hope in him.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:22-25

Summer Highlights

Autumn is definitely in the air and it feels so wonderful. I enjoy these crisp, cool days. But, as I was going through my pictures, I couldn't help but remember all the wonderful days of summer, especially our family music festival. Here are a few highlights and pictures that never got posted...

The Lake Itasca Family Bluegrass Festival!

This was a huge event for our family and one that we enjoyed very much.

The Franz Family was absolutely amazing...as always!

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Snack Shack Duty!

My sister-in-law, Beth, and her sister Jamie (Jamie is on the left)

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The Bontrager children singing
"...as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are children to their father"

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My beautiful cousins with their lovely voices, praising God!
Janna, Erica, Amanda, Katelynn, and Audra

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Sweet little Charissa Wissmann...not really sure if I was friend or foe!

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Next year is sure to be even better!

I hope I see you there!

The Lord will guide you!

"And the LORD

will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a

watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

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Isaiah 58:11

Do you support blasphemy?

Wow...I was really challenged by this. It made me realize how easy it is for us as humans to justify our sin. Check it out...here.

A place of refreshing

Ok...the moral of this post is "don't be dumb and get too busy!" (I have to learn this one over and over!) This summer was a pretty busy one and sadly I allowed it to consume my time to the point that my quiet time in the Word suffered. It is such a dangerous place, to be a soldier of the cross and not have any armour on! I began to realize that I was losing battles and feeling so spiritually dry. While I was in Ireland I had a lot of time to just be in the Word and pray and oh, it was good and so refreshing!

I love reading the words of old songs and recently found this one that fit so well...

When Thou Wakest in the Morning

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When thou wakest in the morning

Ere thou tread’st the untried way

Of the lot that lies before thee

Through the coming busy day;

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Whether sunbeams promise brightness,

Whether dim forebodings fall,

Be thy dawning glad or gloomy,

Go to Jesus, tell Him all.

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Isn't that great and don't you just lovest that old English! I hopeth thou art encouraged-eth by it!...there really is a treasure of unimaginable refreshing to be found at Jesus feet! May we never neglect it!