Our Friday Night Out event at church had its kickoff this weekend. The Ortlings are such sweet helpers - preparing for the event and jumping right in while we're there. Even Simon has a blast being carted around by some of the girls. It's been neat to see several families from our church and community come to serve with us, too! It was big fun and wonderful to reunite with many friends which we hadn't seen since Camp Promise (some since last Spring's outreaches). Enthusiasm was high and we had a great time! We plan to meet the 17th and 31st of this month, as well. Our times are full of rowdy games, fun crafts, yummy snacks, energetic songs, and interactive Bible lessons. Come join the gang!!!

Turn the Flathead Pink!!! Our close friends the Cormiers had a special mom/grandma go through the challenge of breast cancer last year. We praise the Lord with them that she survived this battle. We joined them this weekend in some kickoff events for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Keith, Jacob, Kara, and their friend Garrett (of the Cormier clan) all turned their hair pink before school on Friday (Kara's pink highlights had faded onto her nap pillow by the time our picture was taken Fri. afternoon). They are still sporting reddish scalps after showers this Saturday morning :)! We were bummed that the BIG pink ribbon we drew on their driveway in sidewalk chalk got washed away by the rain, but the ones drawn with spray paint in their yard have made it through the rain nicely. Much rejoicing as we celebrate this with our friends!!

Today was a gorgeous fall Montana day - 70 degrees and sunny with a slight breeze! We spent the afternoon at the fall festival put on by the Lighthouse Christian Home. Jeff is a board member for this neat facility with 12 or so adult residents with developmental disabilities. The residents are very active in the community and in their church, as well as maintaining many farm animals & a garden, participating in Special Olympics, and the list goes on. Jeff was out yesterday and this morning preparing the "cow chip bingo" game which included painting squares in the pasture (pick a square for $5 and if the cow "deposits" his chip in your square you split the profits of the game with Lighthouse). In the process, he also got to chase the cow which "escaped" from the designated pasture while he was working :)!!! He has really had his chance to bond with the animals around there . . . notice him holding the duck in the picture - what a good sport :)! The kids had a blast playing games, going for hay rides, climbing on hay bales, listening to great music, and watching all the interesting animals. Keith and Jacob and their buddy Garrett came up to proclaim loudly to a group of us adults that they watched a chicken lay an egg!!! They thought it was the coolest thing that they got to watch it occur!!! Kara was quite petrified by the "cow with horns", and Simon got "kissed" by his favorite animal, the horse. The fun they both had, though, outweighed the "terrors".