Aaron and Jessica Visit

The hunters go on horseback through the wildlife refuge searching for "big buck."


Andrew, Aaron and Jessica (and Abby)


Andrew and Aaron horseback after returning from the refuge.



Our friend Alice helped Aaron find the "big buck." Aaron shot him with his muzzle loader on Tuesday.






One more shot of Aaron with Mr. Buck.

Our really good buddies-Aaron and Jessica (and Brynn-their dog kid) came to visit us all last week. They arrived around midnight on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Sadly, I puttered out and went to bed while Andrew got up and greeted them. I'm not the best of hosts- I love my sleep.

In January, they are moving to Germany for a year so we knew they had to come visit us soon or they wouldn't be able to see our place for another whole year. We begged them and enticed Aaron with the "big buck." Thankfully, they came and we had a great time. It was so much fun to play games and catch up on life. Jessica is an absolute sweetie and loves babies. I had no idea she liked kids! Most of our friends that haven't had a baby don't really enjoy hanging out with one. Jessica not only liked hanging out with Daraby but would often pick her up and feed her while I cooked or did laundry. She was a great help. It is a good thing Daraby has been so happy lately. Jessica saw the best side of Daraby. One day, Jessica got Daraby to belly laugh over and over again. It was awesome!

Last Monday Andrew took the day off to spend with Aaron and Jessica searching for the "big buck." All three of them saddled up and took off to ride the wildlife refuge. In order to get to the refuge they rode through one of the buffalo pastures next to our home. As they were riding the buffalo surrounded them and made Aaron a more than a little uneasy. Most of you would be a bit timid as well. In the end, Andrew shooed them all away so they could get through the gate and out of the pasture. While on the refuge they saw a couple of bucks that were too far away to shoot. In the process of riding around they collected many deer sheds. They came home with antlers tied to all their saddles. (You can see some of the antlers tied to the horse Aaron rode in the first picture. The gun is tied on as well.) They came home tired, a bit chilled and deer less.

While they were out riding our good friend and neighbor Alice called and invited Aaron to hunt her property. So on Tuesday morning Alice took Aaron hunting. She knows these sandhills like nobody else around here. A couples hours into their hunt and they found a buck. Aaron snuck up on him and shot him. They were so excited! Jessica, Daraby and I drove over and saw the buck already hanging up in the tree. It was a proud moment for Aaron! Thanks Alice for guiding Aaron around your place and helping him find the "big buck." He along with Jessica thinks you are the wonder woman! Aaron teasingly called Alice his gal. She likes guns and likes to hunt what else do you need.

That afternoon we took the deer into town to get checked in. Aaron and Jessica took me out to eat at this little cafe in town that I've never gone to since they are only open during the day Monday-Thursdays. It was quick and easy. Afterwards I took them around town and introduced them to everybody- well almost everybody. I think it took them by surprise how involved everyone is here. We need each other to live out here. Friends are more like family.

All in all we had a great time with them here. Every night we had game matches. Jessica and I took on the boys. Although we lost by a couple of games in the end we held our own quite well. Granted we don't cheat either. :) During the day Aaron and Jessica took walks through the hills, took pictures, helped us with chores, watched morning tv, drove through the scenic areas, saw lots and lots of deer, and played with Daraby. One day we drove through the refuge and came back home a different way. It was a big circle over 80 miles. It was very peaceful, sunny and enjoyable. Jessica got some great photos. Aaron jokingly said a person could kill someone out here and nobody would ever find the body. It is pretty desolate but no one has killed anyone recently that I know of. Jessica and Aaron did really well with being in the middle of nowhere. They left Friday night so Aaron could get home to work/plow snow Saturday night.

Thanks Aaron and Jessica for coming out. We had an incredible time. We love you guys and loved hearing about life and your future plans in Germany. We know the Lord will bless you, grow you and love on you while you are away. What a wonderful opportunity to expand your horizons! We will miss you lots! Our home has been so quiet since you left. (Thanks for loving Daraby while you were here that meant so much to me to have the extra help.)