The Growing Gant Family...

BOTH boys enjoyed soccer this Fall with Real Life Sports! This was William's 2nd time playing and he made the decision all on his own.  He even asked at his last practice this season if Real Life let 9th graders play...He was already thinking about playing into 9th grade!  After his traumatizing experience in kindergarten, we've never pushed the idea of playing again.  Now he says he's really enjoying the sport.  I'm just thankful he's found something he likes to do that keeps him moving.  I want both boys to learn to love being active-however they want to do it. Although William's team didn't win a single game this year, he still managed to play hard, learn some new skills and finish the season.  Proud of him. Calvin's team made it to the top two teams in the league and ended up winning the Cereal Cup Championship.  This is his 2nd time winning the championship and obviously he was pretty excited.   What I love about real life sports is the emphasis on

 The Cross Country Elementary team at GPA is a short season of only about four weeks.  Calvin decided to try it this year.  Normally we would've said no to two sports at a time, but practices were actually between when Calvin got done with school and when William was released so it filled that gap nicely so we could pick them both up at the same time.  His 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Shroeder was the coach and he loved her last year so that made it fun.   Turns out, Cal's quite the runner!  There were two meets and out of over 40 other 4th grade kids from various schools, he came in 4th both times (1st from his school)!  I was able to be there for the 2nd meet and when he crossed the finish line he told me he was never running in cross country again (as he was out of breath and his face was beat red).  I told him to wait a few days...Sure enough, a few days later he was already talking about how he wanted to maybe try again next year.  It was fun to watch him run and race.

 Although this picture was taken during the first "week", I can now say the first week of 7th and 4th grades are going well!  With my work schedule I wasn't able to be there on the first day and so snapped this picture when I could (o;   This year starts the beginning of Middle School for William!  2027 will come before we know it.  Lord, help us to make the most of every opportunity because the days are short.  He's excited and it's awesome to see.  He gets his own (rented) iPad this year that's required by the school to complete his work and of course, that makes him a pretty big kid now (to say he's pretty proud of it).  He's super responsible.  Good practice for the days he'll have his own phone...Eeek!   As always, Calvin looks forward to school so he can mingle with his friends again.  It feels like everyone knows him and he's got new buddies after the first day.  I must say, he's a pretty fun and friendly kid.  No doubt, 4th grade is

 We more than paid for our Silverwood passes this year.   We had a total of 11 (Gpa & Gpa Pile, Roberts, Thornes, Strubelts, Beguelins, Gants, Hartleys, Greens, Mark & Brooke's family, Cox's and Wilsons) families who came and visited and enjoyed the park with us, both friends and family! It worked out perfectly for me as I didn't have much PTO time built up to take vacation.  Instead, people brought the vacation to us!  With the RV spot Curtis and Brian Meyers put in this past Spring, we were able to accommodate more people which was awesome.   This year will be a little different than future years if we decide to buy passes again since we had to trade off coming back home to let a little Ember out to potty (and occasionally clean up poop messes!!).  Overall, she did pretty good and the fun we were able to squeeze in between trips was more than plenty.   William surprised me and by the end of the season told us that Spin Cycle was his absolute favorite ride.  Calvin

The continuation of my email thread to all of those who are lifting us up in prayer.  We are so thankful for each and every prayer that's been lifted up!   Thank you all for praying!  It’s been quite a whirlwind around here... *We signed and closed on our house yesterday!   *Monday at 10a is our scheduled inspection for our Idaho house. *Monday morning we pick up the moving truck to pack it up. *Monday evening we meet with our buyers to walk throughout our property and talk more about what we’ve done to upkeep it and discuss things we’re leaving behind.   *Monday night we take the moving truck to Molalla where we will be living with Curtis’ mom and step dad until we head to Idaho.  *Tuesday morning we head to Idaho with the moving truck to empty into into a rented storage unit.   *Wednesday morning we head back to Oregon!   We ask for continued prayers for the following things: (1) That the rest of the process of moving is covered in grace as these days of packing are long days a

We did it...We got a puppy.   The Legers next door had their 2nd litter of pups on May 31st and offered us one out of generosity for the help we've given them over this past year.  We debated it.  Puppies are so much work!  But given that it was Summer and the boys were home to help, we though no better time than now.  We've always been a two dog family and we are hoping it might liven up Freska a bit since Rags has been gone for almost a year now.   All 14lbs of cuddly cuteness... We originally were going to get a golden lab, but after the calm black female was left in the litter, we decided that a black dog might wear in the mud a little better than a golden one (o;  Her name was up to a family vote.  W and Dad liked "Stella" and Calvin and I liked "Ember".  We went with Ember def: a smoldering coal or ash from a fire.  It fit a black lab!  Plus Calvin's 3rd grade class had read the City of Ember books during school last year (Calvin loved them) and it

 So proud of this kid. I still can hardly believe he's old enough to be 12, but I think I'll be saying that about his age every year.  It's just hard to believe sometimes how quickly the years pass.  He had just experienced an Escape Room with his Trail Life troop a few weeks ago and said he wanted to try it out again with some friends from school for his birthday.  We allowed him to choose three other friends to go with him and he had no problem deciding who (so thankful that he's made some good friends in the few months that we've been here).   They first enjoyed some play in the snow here at home while it was still daylight.  The Legers allowed us privilege to their sledding hill and they wore themselves out going up and down.  We're also wearing our sledding material out!   Curtis joined the boys for their Escape Room experience while Cal and I were at home preparing dinner for when they returned.  William always wants steak...especially Grandpa Bruce's

 Curtis took time away with William overnight in Sandpoint.  We rented a tiny home (William's always wanted to stay in one) and Curtis studied up on the Passport to Purity material through Family Life. I am so thankful for a husband who recognizes the importance of being the one who speaks into his boy's lives about the incredible way God has created our bodies, how they change as we grow and all the other birds and bees topics (o;  So many kids now days are learning things from their phones and/or other friends which has the opportunity to change the course of their lives.  The legacy Mom and Dad left me as a young girl and the importance they put on purity at a young age was priceless and our prayer is that that same legacy is passed down to William and Calvin.   The getaway was special for both of them and it warms my heart they share the relationship they do.  My prayer is that their open communication about life and it's challenges continues on into adulthood.  I pray

Continuation of my emails to those who have prayed for us and our move: Well, the holidays are past and the New Year is well on its way… For those of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers and reminded us via text or phone call that you’re thinking of us, your encouragement has meant the world.  I don’t ever want to forget to say thank you. We are continually reminded of the importance God placed on people and community. It has truly been our sustenance throughout this entire journey.  He never meant for us to do life alone; ever. Whether it’s been the life group we’ve connected with, new friends and families through the boy’s school and the kindness of our neighbors, we’ve felt encouraged.  Honestly, this journey would’ve been one of extreme loneliness, depression and frustration if it hadn’t been for stepping beyond ourselves and reaching out to others (even at the most stressful of times).  I say this only as encouragement.  When life throws big things, God works through