So many first times for the boys/Edith Stein/St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/David wins!!!!

 Beaming ear to ear with his number one pig looking up to him and his #2 pig with her head in the food bowl.  David had the pig show of a lifetime with taking first female and male pig and then overall #1 and #2!

 David is too young to go to the fair, so he got a cheaper pig to raise and so that makes it that much more special that the judge loved him and he stole the show for David!

The judge congratulating David and his pink female pig as the champion of the show!  That mega smile never left his face!

Rose over his shoulder in Cloverbuds showing her pig with dad's help.  Next year her brother, Luke, will be out there with dad, too!

 Jude is certainly having a wonderful time at this cool special fair!  Each day he comes to the shows and I am reminded that there are so many first experiences for him as he is now only 4 months old!  Tonight he will go to the rodeo with cousin, George, and family.  They will share a first time at the rodeo at the county fair in Marshall!

Rose looked super nice out there with her kind and loving dad, Paul!  Speckles is the name of this pig.

 Mary worked very hard on her pig and got grand-champion on showmanship!  She has trained this pig to sit for a marshmellow… Yes, pigs are smart and can be trained to do tricks!

 Joy waving at David and Simon... it looks like David's pink pig is small and in her hand.  Too cute!

 Joy cheering on her big sisters and brothers... the judge sure liked David's pink pig and the spotted red one too!  #1 and #2!

So special for David's 2 Godfathers to be there for him on his big wonderful day.  They both watched him and were so happy for his hard work paying off so well.  "I love me some David!" Uncle Johnnie says!

It was very thrilling to see that today is the feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).  I am thinking a lot about my mom today as she is being cared for by my brother, Dan, along with dad.  Edith Stein also reminds me of my mom and how much she has honored her with studying her works and sharing her love of the Cross and submission.  St Teresa is also very important to Hallel's Community of the Lamb as she concentrates on The Cross and the Lamb!

 David taking first with his pig!

 Mary took first in her class too, and grand champion in showmanship!

Three sibs showing at the same time and all doing so well!

Talk about embracing her Cross - St Teresa Benedicta died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz as she had been a Jew, who converted to The Church and then entered the convent!  She died for her Faith!
The Gospel today come to LIFE!
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it..."
Matthew 16

Edith Stein has reached heaven and is a Saint we can pray to in order to assist us in following our Lord totally and completely!

 Rose is confident and cute with her spotted pig!

 Lots of kids with their parents make for a bright future for the fair!  And such wonderful weather this year!  Wonderful times for our family!

 Maybe you'll be out there someday Jude?  LIFE is a wonderful rich gift and full of growth and new experiences galore!

 Sweet smiles as he hangs out with dad at the Fair!

 You are so loved by your cousins, Jude!

 Joy and Grandpa watching Mary show.  Such a hard worker and it showed in showmanship where she took first!

Simon looked so good this year, too!  Good Job Simon!

I had Jude for some time yesterday and it made me so happy to have John using our counter to change Jude.  We made it with only one sink just for this to happen.  Counter space to change babies!  LOVE!  Family is what makes our world go round and is only second to our Faith and followed closely by our Farm LIFE!

 Camper at the fairgrounds!

 Simon is having a wonderful fair and summer.  Just back from Camp Greatness at Schoenstatt and growing in his Faith is #1... on to the high school in a few weeks!  A year ago he traveled to France with the family for his Aunt Hallel's final vows.   Talk about amazing mountaintop faith experiences he is given by his loving Lord, who has a plan just for Simon that will be amazing!

 Picking our first sweet corn with grandma.. it was sweet raw!

 Luke helped grandma pick... It is doubtful we will be freezing in a few days... most of it is so late!

 Sweet Corn smile from Joy!

Nancy and Bill will be here soon and the sweet corn is the first of the year.

Lord, may we face all the ways we are called upon to die to self with your strength and assistance, so that we may take up/drag our Most Cherished Cross and follow your example of total gift!  The unblemished lamb that brings us LIFE eternal if only we serve without counting the Cost in your most Holy Name!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Family time at the fair!

 Simon gets Reserve Champion!

 John and best Buddy, Brad, have boys that are 2 months apart!  Sharing LIFE experiences with someone,  who stood by John through his battle with cancer and since!  Thanks, Brad,  we love you so much!

John's battle cry of Victory over cancer and finding Faith.

 This beautiful girl inside and out has had a marvelous fair!!  We could not be more proud of you, Mary!

Joy after picking/eating uncooked sweet corn fresh off the plant... she was on my bed and in two minutes she has been peacefully sleeping!  The phone just rang and she sleeps on.  So tired after big days at the fair!  How I love the peace and having those little ones getting healthful restful sleep before the family rodeo tonight!  My husband just asked me to go with him and the family and assured me that he will sit beside me and not leave me alone.  OK, honey!  Bless-bless, Barb reliving the fair now with my grandkids!