The Last Few Days...

We started selling fireworks Monday morning.  It's never very busy the first day or so,  we mostly get kids that want little stuff they can fire off in their backyard.

Eli has been working in the stand a lot lately, one of the things he likes to do in his spare time is make survival bracelets!  He makes a ton of different weaves, and there's an open place, on the shelves, in the stand, where he can sell them...

That's my Brother ;)

 

But that's not the only thing he does...

That's Eli! ...his shirt says 'Got Ammo? I do'

100% Montana Boy!

On Monday, Dad went to storage and dug out the play fort for the little kids to try to keep them busy...

At this place it's hard to find things for them to do since we're right next to the road; they aren't able to ride bikes or run everywhere.  This is one good way for them to get rid of some energy!  

 

Caleb loves Snap-Pops...

 

We try to make a single box last, but he is usually through one in about 10 minutes.

He will sit in front of the stand, grab one of the snappers, gently set it down, and then stomp on it!

He does not like it when they're all gone :)

 

 Thankfully business has started picking up!  We hope it will stay steady for the next week...  

FIREWORKS!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!! We get to start selling fireworks tomorrow!  Today and yesterday we stocked our two stands...

This is our first stand...
It usually takes a few hours to set up each stand.  We have to sweep it out, stock the fireworks and staple up all the price tags...

 The work of getting everything put in the right place and inventorying everything, is dirty and time consuming.

 

Of course my brothers (like any other Montana boys I'm sure) love anything that involves gun powder and a bang!

 

Thank God for big brothers with big muscles!

 

Inventory is probably Moms least favorite thing about firework season :(

But... it's got to be done.

 

Gotta make sure everything runs right.

We usually have to replace a few light bulbs and such...

 

Even adorable Miss Molly has been busy!

I think this is my new favorite picture of her.

I really hate people taking pictures of me when I'm not expecting it, so I was trying to avoid the camera...

Our second stand... on the other side of town (:
I stayed home with the little kids while Mom and Dad took the big kids to set up the other stand...

 

One good thing about a big family, there are always enough hands!

Big and Little...

 They finished at around 4:00 this afternoon.

We are finally ready for tomorrow!  Since fireworks were banned last year due to the drought,  we hope to have a killer year!

Summer Sale Time!!!!

The new Flexi-Clips are out and on SALE!!!!

 

The new 4th of July clip is a great  way to show your American Pride.  I have already ordered two to wear while I work at our firework stand! 

The June Clip 'Warm Summer Embrace' is perfect for all your favorite summer styles!

This awesome sale runs through tonight; the perfect time to get all your favorite summer hair stuff!



Here is my website if you're interested!  There are pictures and videos on how to do your hair and what size is right for you...
http://www.lillarose.biz/medievalmaidenhairwear/?id=eFEB9oDk&mv_pc=33

I also have pictures on my Facebook page of Flexi-Clips in my hair and my friends' hair!
https://www.facebook.com/LillaRoseIndConsultantBethTicknor

Missing This :(

The past few weeks were some of the best of my life.  It was so wonderful to help people who were hurting and needed love.  Being able to pray for and with homeowners, fellowshipping with other volunteers, and just being the hands and feet of Jesus!

 Every work morning you could never be sure what the day would hold, who you where going to meet, and what miracles God would perform.

 

What giants you would face...

...and overcome.

The precious children you would get to meet and love on...

'Many hands make light work'

And many hands, all working for Christ make work not only light, but fulfilling.

 

You can never be sure who God would put in your life, and how those people will change you...

You may only work with them for a day, or maybe the whole week...  Either way, they are people that our memories, of serving together, will always bring smiles; the impact that each one had on our lives is a blessing!

Heading Home... :(

We are on the road right now heading home. 

We only worked a half day yesterday, (bittersweet Wednesday) and then went back to the church to start packing up.  We left around 1:00 and it took us about 9 hours to get to Hays, KS.


I never thought I'd love driving through South Kansas so much!  Especially in the evening.
It truly opens your eyes to what a mighty God we serve...

The sunset was gorgeous!!!

 

We didn't get as early a start this morning as we would have liked; it was the first morning that Dad and us big kids did not have to get up at 6am, so we snatched a few hours extra sleep ;)
We eventually did get going at about 9:30 this morning...

Nothing like a donut and kiss to start the morning off right!

How could anyone refuse those lips?!?!?!

Love the camo do-rag...   :)

We are hoping to be home tomorrow, that way Eli and Greg can shoot their last competition together before Greg leaves for Missouri for 2 months of advanced training.

Now that we are on the way home I'm getting excited to see my friends and start selling fireworks.  I'm going to miss helping out in Oklahoma; we're hoping we can go back soon!

"Todays A New Day..."

Today was our first day of work for this week.  We had a whole new team (except the Crazy Canadian), and there were about 25 of us in all...

We worked on the same house the whole day, trying to clean up debris and chop up several trees.  It was very muddy out there (Thanks to last nights scary storm)  I was really glad that I brought mud boots! 

 

Here are a few of the guys hooking up chains to pull a stump out of a ditch, it had to be moved before the power guys could hook the lines back up...

 

Getting ready...

 

 

It pulled out nicely, but of course that's because it was done with a Dodge :) (ya, I'm a Dodge fan)

 

Me and the 'Canadian' as every one calls, her hung out most of the day. 

The guy's job was to take care of the trees, and the ladies job was to walk through a huge field and pick up trash.  The team leader's motto was, 'if it wouldn't be in your yard, it shouldn't be in theirs'!

By the end of the day we were all pretty tired!  Thankfully, it did not get too hot (high of 81degrees)l the week before this, we were working in the high 90's! 

When we first started working with SP in Tuscaloosa, I was afraid the I would not be able to do much because I did not have any skill in that field.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

I felt like I would be more of  pain than a help, but that first day everyone was so patient with me and willing to teach me!  I can still remember laying sod just a few days before we dedicated  home in Tuscaloosa the first year, and laying tile and hardwood floor the second! I have learned and am still learning so much by working with SP, whether it is a Rebuild or Disaster Relief, I am always learning something new.

The past few weeks have had a powerful impact on me; I have seen God work miracles through our work here.  Since SP has been here, 26 people have come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior!

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

John 14:6
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I'm sad that we are leaving in a few days :(  I have had the best time working here, it was so wonderful to be able to help the people that are hurting, that need love, and to meet people from all over the US (and Canada)!

Saying Goodbye...

Yesterday we said good-bye to most of our WONDERFUL team :(


The team from San Antonio worked a half day and then had to start their long trip home.  We really had a blast with you guy's!!!  Miss you all so much...

We had to say good-bye to Salina and Isaac last night.  Wish ya'll could have stayed longer :(

 

Another great friend that had to leave yesterday was Robert.  It was hard saying good-bye after working all week together.  We miss you!


...during our last day for this week, (Saturday) we worked for the first few hours in the morning, but then it started pouring rain!!!

 

We thought we could wait it out, but it just got worse and worse.

Kailey and I thought we'd sit under the tailgate and wait for a bit... until Issac (aka, Jace)  hopped up on the tailgate and started reaching his hands down trying to freak us out.  He kinda quit after a good hard whack with a half full Gatorade bottle. LOL!!!   

 

There where seven people in the San Antonio group, so some one got the bright idea to give each one a name tag with one of the 'seven dwarfs' name on it!

Ross got Dopey :) 

 

Getting ready to pray before heading out...

 

The host church as a game room, so we all went to the church to wait for the rain to quit...

 

 There were some crazy games of Red Belly Ping-Pong going on (the guys ;) ).

On our second job of the day, we had to pick up debris, haul logs, and even search for the homeowners wedding ring!  Sadly, we never found it... 

 

This tree was HUGE!!!!  It seemed to take forever just to limb it...

 

Thank goodness for this guy, the job would have taken forever without him :)

 

The Chaplin's are praying with a smaller team before they head out... 

It was REALLY hard saying good-bye to everyone, after such an amazing week; at least we still have the 'Crazy Canuck' with us!    Ya'll are the best team ever and we are going to miss you terribly!!! 

Fun times!

Here are some pictures from today's work...

The weather was almost unbearably hot! I think we had 95+ degree weather plus 85% humidity!  Nothing like Montana...

Here is some of our group.  We like to call our selves the 'Bandana Team'!

We thought it would be fun to think up some cool names to put on our name tags.  We had anywhere from Jase,( Duck Dynasty) to Spiderman's Mary Jane! and we all called each other by them.  We always have a great time...

 

Our first job we had to bring down a big tree in the front yard the chainsaw team took that one... and the rest of us went to clean up debris in the backyard.

We finished with this job around noon... 

 

Eli was our chainsaw king again!

 

Time for a water break...

We went through a lot of Water and Gatorade...

 

Our second job we had to clean up a home that was completely destroyed!

This job took the rest of the day, and we are going back tomorrow...

 

We did everything from rake small debris to hauling parts of the brick back wall out to the curb... 

 

Here comes the 'A' Team!!!

check out the curbside debris pile behind them!

We are off to do this again tomorrow.

Looking forward to it!