4th of July

Luke went fishing and I spent the morning in the kitchen. I made a random smorgasbord of: veggie pizza (crescent roll crust with seasoned cream cheese topped with chopped veggies and cheese), American flag fruit pizza, rice pudding (first time ever which included ruining a great pan'o'10 years, but nailed it), BBQ meatballs, yummy buffalo chicken, tuna pasta salad, and Patriotic jello desserts. Num, I like food and like serving my family! At one point I thought we might bring our food and guest family with us down to Luke's moms but we played phone tag after her late invite and missed their eat time. By the time we ate we missed their swim time too, but still enjoyed a dip in the course pool, we scare everyone away and have the pool to ourselves! Just one more joy of a large family!! For several years now we forfeit the metro chaos fireworks commotion and settle for some packs of home fireworks. The kids really don't mind and we had a great time setting them off at grandmas. It was a great day and we are proud to be American, where at least we know we're free and we proudly stand up and thank God! We are working on Luke 11:28. Our country has seemed to oppress Christianity and modern Christians seem to have privatized their faith, and biblically that is not good and we want to reap the rewards of obedience. More to come. Happy 4th!!!

Grandmama

My mom, with Lillie. Lillie is wearing a handknit zipper in the back hooded sweater that my mom gave Libby, just a short decade ago. I love special saved items. If it made it from Libby then it meant something!

Luke's mom with Lillie and Sophia. Lillie is a few weeks older than Sophia. While they really do not play a whole lot together, one thing Sophia doesn't like to share is Grandma! Grandma says ever since she "cut the cord!" Lillie on the other hand, has had aggressive possessive behaviors with Sophia and would want to hug and hold her (aka choking and pulling at her.)

Stunning Duo, hopefully with these good looks they will stay out of trouble. And of course I am not referring to that they would always get off the hook and not be held accountable, nor am I referring to building their self worth on their appearance, because we all know what a failing race that can be. This picture is perfect though!! Their beautiful tones to their precious faces is really captured by the photographer:)

Naomi is a ham, Naomi is a ham. That has a slight ring to it, but sneak in for a pic honey! She loves Sophia and all her cousins. The other day she was thinking we were picking up my niece Ellie and got upset even. She doesn't seem to recognize that she lives about an hour away. We love our grandmas though!

Summer may be here!

Going outside points the little finger with the purse in other hand. We waited what seemed like forever for nice weather, but it has arrived and we are immensely enjoying the freedom of summer. Next week starts summer school for Matthew and Adam, as well as tennis. The following week we will do VBS and then we are going to try camping too. Matthew goes to camp this Sunday and David applied to help in August at Lebanon. We will do our Labor Day weekend as usual too. Luke continues to be home, so that is a blessing of many sorts. I have been unmotivated and have not gardened this year yet. Feeling lazy and the winter took out a couple of shrubs and staples to the garden. There are some big weed trees that I need help with and the weather was so cold for a while I dismissed any urges and now unsure if they will return! The kids are enjoying bike rides and Noah has become a natural toad hunter. They were in a cat carrier the other day in the house, he was so upset when they had to go outside because the one could get out?!

Dance Recital, Grand Finale

CoNgRaTuLatIoNs LiBBy and ReAnY!! They finished the year for dance and gymnastics. Reany was in Showstoppers, the one day competition program and did 3 songs. Libby was in gymnastics the later part of the year after training at the district's program. Eva, Ellie, and Grandma Linda joined us. Afterwards we ate at Mexican Village. This was their 9th recital! Hard to believe they have been doing this since before they were 2! With mixed feelings, but overall relief, we have decided this is their last year at the studio. We are forever grateful for their time there and since they were that young to start it really helped develop a sense of esteem and confidence. It taught them classroom behaviors, turn taking, encouraging others, training for their performances and routines was excellent for their big brains, making friends, having accountability, getting exercise and learning body movement and artistic expression, the list goes on! We are blessed that they were able to participate in such a character building and invigorating athletic art for as long as they did. While their love for dance will continue, it is the end of the road as we feel this point in their development we are no longer looking for the same things as we were years ago. They will pursuit gymnastics, possibly at times from the studio, but likely through the district. They will do their basketball, they will start orchestra next year, continue piano (after a little deserved break right now,) and we will be looking into some other character building group work for them at this stage in their identification process. We felt like at this age the kids are at the studio longer and we questioned the environment for them to be successful. Reany might want to dance when she is eligible with school, and that is ok, but she does not have the groundings we had hoped for at this time to continue in the private sector. Whatever my girls do, they will do well and we will support them and help them achieve their goals! We are so happy for them and they are so talented in their dance and gymnastics, watching this last recital was special to know it is our last. Thank you SCSD&UG, sianara.

My Double Digit Daughters

Libby and Reany turned 10! They are both so beautiful and winning girls! We gave them a party of a lifetime and invited

too many 4th grade girls over, but there was enough cupcakes to go around. The marshmallow flowers were a sticky mess right up until service. A tasty after school snack! Pictures of the van rides getting 26 of them to the house may have been the most fun. Proof that the big vans are good for something:) Nothing gets a party started like a baby and a kitty. The baby was a hit and thus we didn't shuffle her off with the other 2 littles to grandma and grandpas. Fonzie only got out a few times too, and we only had one kid with allergies to cats, so that ratio wasn't too bad. With that many kids, of course at random moments there were random dance moves, and not necessarily to music. It wasn't long into the event that we realized we were over our heads and we had to let the chaos flow. Oops, can't even see both the fire blowers here, but they did get their moment of wishful thinking... followed by dad's whistling, as you can assume from this picture.

Unfortunately, one of the only games that was achieved was this adapted version of headbandz (short by only a dozen and a half,) the kids had a word to try and guess on their backs. They could only ask yes or no questions though.

I went against my original instincts to refuse gifts and donate to the food shelf or charity, probably since they don't get birthday parties every year and enjoy giving gifts to their friends, and they were surrounded by generous girls and the gift time was fun for them. To wrap up the party we went outside for a good ol' fashioned pinata!!

All in all we did survive the party and the girls know that that is the biggest party they will get, or until graduation is what I said:) Ultimately, I knew we could pull it off and I don't like exclusion, and in the smaller classes both the girls have I knew that there would be hurt feelings and there are kids that might not get many invites. The kids had a great time jumping on the trampoline, of course the first (and last!) injury happened; we had tacos in a bag, pineapple fluff, and lemonade for supper; the girls will only turn double digits once and we were blessed to spend time with so many of their friends and classmates. We got to visit with some parents afterwards and they each had five overnight guests too, so we did nails, hot tub, and other games for many more hours. The original plan of stations and organized fun was quickly modified to a more managed chaos fun and we really enjoyed this time for the girls! Happy Birthday Girls!! We love you both so much and are delighted in you!

The Princess, the Spider-Man boxer boy, and Jammie Baby

My littles are almost done with their final year of trioism. A memorable day last week, with no photo to prove, but Lillie was in some new cute Jammie's all day; Naomi has discovered the old dance costumes, and this particular day it was an embellished blue leotard with tutu; and the third terd Noah (who I will miss so much next year!) got some new boxer briefs and he refused to wear clothes. Plus, we had brought up the red car. The red car is a flinstone style with optional pull out tray and and extendable handle bar to push them from behind. The door opens, there are lights and whistles. Cutest toy we maybe ever had, my dad got it for Noah when he turned one. So, imagine Undie boy and Princess Naomi carting behind the car, taking turns pushing the Jammie baby all day long. Priceless precious moments! With the end of the year I am enjoying subbing but really need to enjoy these last days of my terrific trio. I am blessed to be home and for that and a trillion other things I am thankful.

Reach the Unreachable

Tell me how, but it might look like this: -taking in homeless people -witnessing fleshly battle -losing a car to an addict -using your savings for someones current needs -making decisions for others best interest -teaching your children to want less and serve more -creating opportunities to be involved with those in need -involving yourself -immersing yourself -helping others If we are not part of the solution we are part of the problem. If we cannot take steps to help those in need and to understand what the problem is, can we continue to complain, or even hear others complain. How long will you see a problem before attempting solutions. Will you chose to identify problems without recognizing opportunities to be a light in the darkness? I know not all my readers have committed their lives to serving their creator. I know that some have yet to acknowledge that Christ died for them and their eternal gift is at the door waiting for them to receive. So I will not call you out on the way of our Master's design, but invite you to seek salvation. To my brothers and sisters in Christ, I had a friend start a conversation about praying about becoming foster parents, and I mistakenly diverted that to an argument about the comfortable Christian that doesn't want to give up their comfort. About a church of 900+ people and not a single person was interested in a workshop about adoption. There are 120,000 kids in the US alone that need homes, and most of those kids come with secondary health insurance (so that is not a good excuse!) I find myself engulfed in trying to solve problems and understand what I can do, and it is a lonely service field. JOIN ME! What do you find yourself or others complaining about? My biggest annoying thing recently was the somali this the somali that, shut up already! If you are jealous that they defend their faith and have prayer rooms than maybe we should stand up for what we are supposed to. And guess what? If we do not integrate them into our society and welcome them help,why wouldn't they only isolate themselves into their own communities. And the racial problems? Let's just say when I took role call at the local high school it was the white jocks snickering at others names, not the other way around. If there is a problem do something about it and quit complaining!! And save your thousands of dollars on overseas missions because they are coming to us. That should give you some food for thought. There, I am done for now.