Oh the places you'll go Hike IV

Crazy thing called the HIKE - just for fun going on a 20 mile hike with 80+ friends, it really IS fun! 

After a brief shower the sun came out.

  It was fun seeing all the red in the front yard as they started at our house this year!

Kept telling myself  "If John can do it I can do it!"  Way to go!!!

Yes even Little One tagged along, she made it 8 miles!! (with LOTS of great helpers - THANKS!)

Oh the places they went... up and down and all around!

They even took pet turtles along for part of the hike - amazing.

they just keep coming... (or going!)

Looks like the cadets are out of formation... General wasn't there until the afternoon!

For you out of towners these are HUGE hills!  The kids were amazing.  My friend, who I think was one of only 2 adults to do the whole thing, totally amazes me!!! Way to go Allison :)  someday maybe I'll be able to keep up with you!

She doesn't look very happy here... but she did great!  Even willingly shared her ride with a few other little people for bits of it (until we got to a hill and it got too heavy!) 

Prayer stops along the way were a blessing!  One of them we prayed for our Little One ~ her case was once again in court ~ we are honored to be her pre-adoptive home and trust God's plan will bring permanency for all of us soon!

Long way for little legs!  He made it 8 miles in the morning with mom and then about 4 more later in the day with dad!

In case you were wondering about our route... just follow the shirt :) its the white line on there!

Yes, that is the Cat in the Hat leading the way!

Flower power?  He made it 8 miles in the morning then decided to rest and play with friends!

She was  the ONLY one who needed to stretch her legs!  and Chuck,  he made it all 20 miles!!! way to go!

The girls made it about 16, still pretty amazing to me!  We are all feeling it today :)  guess we should work up our stamina more before next year!

Where oh where does the time go?

Here we are looking at the end of January already! Time goes so quickly! We have been keeping busy with school, basketball (Chucks team) swim lessons, dr appointments and fighting off winter colds!

Well we hope to share more updates on our life the journey including the struggles and the blessings but that will be another time (keep thinking we'll have time someday!)
Tutu, Ria and I have begun a new home business adventure this month too! Its called Thrity-One and we look forward to telling you more about in as time goes one but for now if you'd like to see what its all about check out our website www.mythirtyone.com/moquak

Steve and I are very much looking forward to a weekend away this month too! YEAH! thanks to great friends for helping watch all the kids (and animals) so we can have a little time alone!

That is what we are up too.... we really hope to do more posts soon :)
Happy winter to you!

Supporting others - DAY 5

Final day to finish a few little week long projects:
#1 Final coat of paint in bathroom at clubhouse (where we stayed)

• WORKERS: Steve and Amy (a little)
  
• STATUS: DONE
  

This is the bathroom we worked on at the clubhouse done!

#2 Paint trim and install into bedroom and bathroom at the clubhouse

• WORKERS: Steve and all the kids
  
• STATUS: DONE
  

Looks very nice!

We were blessed with wonderful weather while we were there. The boys enjoyed playing outside and even enjoyed some young playmates throughout the week who were kind in sharing their bikes :)

Then we were able to connect with 5 homeschooling families for gym time this afternoon. They loved Steve playing with them ~ helping them shoot hoops :) And we had a great game of kickball too :) Here Freddie is going to throw someone out at third! The enjoyed riding bikes inside as the roads are way to hilly outside! Bernie helps Eric go faster! Getting ready for a 4-square game...
Was that really out? are you sure???
We enjoyed a meeting this wonderful crew who has such an amazing heart to help this community. THANKS Wilson family for welcoming us and for blessing the many families you minister too!

We almost had a mix up... Ellie snuck into our car seat... since our little one gets car sick on the hills we were tempted to go with the switch! but decided we would both miss them too much!This was our helper all week - Kyler helped get us to our projects and made sure we had all we need -- THANKS for all you do for the ministry! You are an amazing young man!

a visit from the newest cousin

We were so blessed to get to spend the weekend with Uncle D, Aunt Kira and Emmry, (3 months) the newest K cousins, over the weekend. we ALL really enjoyed getting to know Emmy more!

We had only seen her a few times soon after she was born, when we were up over the summer. Of course we enjoyed time with Daryn and Kira too :)
Also hanging out in the great outdoors with Uncle D -- I think some hunting lessons were going on! I heard some duck calls a few times. The kids were slightly disappointed that Kimber (the dog) wasn't able to come for the weekend too -- next time they come I think Kira may bring him to stay :) sorry didn't catch any pictures of them outside ~ busy with the babies!
We enjoyed playing games of Ticket to Ride (thanks Gr and Gr for that gift!)Hopefully we didn't overwhelm them with our crazy lifestyle of a family of 8!!!
We had 5 soccer games, plays, and of course normal kids chaos around the house :)
The boys finally got up the courage to hold her before they left.
Even the crying didn't deture Eugene -- he is used to a few tears!
We were just as sad as Emmy here, when they left! We are so blessed to have wonderful family willing to come all this way just to spend a little time with US! THANKS D and Kira (AND Emmry!) for making the drive WE LOVE YOU!
The Q fam

High in the sky

The campground has a wonderful new feature this summer... a high ropes course which was enjoyed but all but the youngest and oldest (who is not so thrilled with heights as stated in a previous post!)

It was hot but they didn't want to come down!

their courage was amazing to watch!

stepping out in faith comes to mind

what a fun free activity for the kids!

even Eugene was having a blast amidst not being tall enough to reach some of the support ropes he ventured all over it! Already getting excited for next summer :) Anyone want to join us for a week of camping????

Welcome to Whit's End

If you aren't familiar with Whit's End then you have never listened to Adventures in Odyssey! From the time we talked about working the CO convention the kids were hoping to visit Focus on the Family while we were there, thankfully it worked out! We ended up spending almost 5 hours there! Into the IMAGINATION STATION (aka elevator!) when we got out we had traveled to a wonderful place.... Whit's end :)
There was a great toddler room where the little one had lots of fun too!

Here the kids are in Whits office

One of the highlights was getting to record their own Adventure in Odyssey
(about a mystery in Whits office)!

Here is CASEY one of the characters in the storyAnd this is JAMIE they both did a great job with the help of the sound crew who, got to make lots of sound effects: horses galloping, doors shutting, drawers, pencil sharpeners, sidewalks, gravel and more!
They would be happy to let you borrow "their" CD anytime ~
(then we could listen to something else!)

We also got to go through the wardrobe....

Into NARNIA!!! thankfully we found the lamp post so we could get home!

And last but not least was a stop at the Soda shop -- Y U M! Tutu even got the got the "to die for" Wodfamchocsod :)
(though we must not have gotten a photo of it - guess we were all busy eating!)
and if you are wondering....it stands for World Famous Chocolate Soda.

Make Your Own Wod-Fam-Choc-Sod

Eugene -- meet Eugene :) We were happy he just ate and didnt talk our ear off YEAH!

Yes, we shared a Sunday which made for a scrumptious end to a wonderful day!

We are so thankful for organizations that support families in a time when so much works to tear them down. Praying God blesses your family today too!

Joshua 24:15

¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."