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Susan celebrated the 4th of July, among other ways, by finishing the grades for this year’s Spanish I class. Seven students from three families learned the basics of the Spanish language from January to June this past semester. To have the final papers and “cuentos” graded and totaled only one month after the last class is definitely a record, and a source of rejoicing. Certainly, it’s much easier the second time around, especially since Joshua set her up with a spread sheet that totals all the points as soon as she types them in…! It truly feels “free” to have finished a commitment.
I will bless the LORD who delivers me…Psalm34

We really need to take some time out and update our happenings in a lot of areas, but we’ll start with the present and work backward…:)

Tomorrow the oldest three Kraemer “kids” come home from a (hopefully) life-changing weekend at Leadership Quest, held up north of Duluth in
Brimson, MN. The camp was hosted by The Tentmaker organization, and was personally overseen by neighbor Pete Stadem. The entire Stadem Family was gone for the week, as were our pastor and a number of church and homeschool friends, (More on this subject in a future blog post.)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, aka “turkey farm,” The rest of the Kraemers have been rising to the challenge of holding down the fort! The youngest ones took on extra house chores, and the middle ones had extra pet chores for the neighbors. The mother saw that Abigail’s “rent-a-horse” got exercised, and the father took on extra load-outs for Joseph’s flocks; one of which went into “extra innings” as the Jennie-O plant had to close for a day.:( Everybody kept busy with the every day up-keep, as well as weeding, decluttering (yes, we finally sorted through that basket which grew out of Christopher’s drawer stuff), and 4-H projects, which are due in two weeks. We also have been reading enough library books to earn dilly bars, added parts to our paper cut-out human bodies, and raised the flag every day it wasn’t thunderstorming! We still managed to “have fun” at least once a day, from swimming, skiing and fishing at the lake, to dinner out at Taco John’s so we could finish our town errands in one road trip.

Best of all was the accidental(?) “rose” that grew out of a developing “thorn bush.” On the evening of the LQ departure, it became apparent that mother was not going to survive a week of 4 little “forkies” (young bucks) jockeying for position in the absence of the oldest three. She was divinely inspired to break out the “Young Peacemaker” curriculum and review it with the younger set, who for some reason did not already absorb it by osmosis the first time around! It has been going well, and we were delighted with the results after such a short time.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in oneness…for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forever more! Psalm 133

John, Mark, Matthew and Christopher are taking the opportunity they missed growing up as Minnesota farm boys to spend some extended time with the Allen grandparents down in Florida. The plane leaves for Sarasota at 6:20 AM from Minneapolis/St. Paul. Mom and Dad get to go as “escorts,” but the oldest three have elected to stay back at the fort, having “things to do, places to go, people to meet,and…animals to chore. It should be an adventure for them as they will be “on their own,” though they will have each other, and the Stadem family as well. Our prayers are with them, and those who will be traveling as well.

“The LORD will protect your going out and your coming forth, from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121:8

At 8:30 am today Joseph, Joshua, and Abigail joined four other youth plus the pastor of our church to begin an adventure in the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area). They will begin orientation at 3:00pm and shove off in the canoes tomorrow. We anticipate hearing LOTS of adventure stories as they return to Svea Lutheran Church Friday evening. (Pastor Todd’s back seems to be doing much better, and we praise God for his healing.)

Joseph bought a new truck from ALERT when we went down to see his graduation in May. It has a lot of power and can accelerate faster than most sports cars. It also gets 8-10 mpg .

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