Adventures in VA and PA

As I posted this, I realized again how much Avery LOVES PINK...it really shines through in her choices in clothes, shoes, hats, and headbands! We had such fun with the school activities, birthday celebrations for Faith's 8th birthday, and soccer. We went downtown on Saturday and took the Canal Boat Tour which they all three seemed to enjoy.

Sunday afternoon Andy, Faith and Avery went to a baseball game ~ something Aimee arranged through Faith's school. Looks like they had a fun time eating their way through the afternoon.

We spent the afternoon at Independence Mall in downtown Philly before taking Faith to the airport to meet up with her Nana and Grandpa to go on the grand adventure to Scotland and England. There were hundreds of school groups (or so it seemed) down there that Thursday, but we enjoyed the self guided tour of the Mint, the Liberty Bell, the various statutes, as well as Washington Park. It was a nice day and didn't start raining until we were half way to the car.

Friday morning before we left New Holland to head home, Janet took us over the Lapp Valley to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the farm. Ryan isn't shy around the huge cows at all and Avery enjoyed the newborn kittens.

We got home Sunday afternoon just in time to get out to Cedarly to welcome a full house full of guests for the week...tired but very happy we could help make it possible for Aimee to go on her 6th missions trip to Romania

Soccer Stars

Faith and Avery are both involved in Upward Soccer this spring. Faith has been doing it for 3 years and this is Avery's first year. It was fun to see them in action on the field ~ in games and at practice while we were in VA caring for the kids in May.

I have great kids!

Thanks much to my thoughtful and kind daughters for a beautiful arrangement, delivered on Friday with wishes for a great Mother's Day.

I'm go glad I have had the incredible privilege of being a Mom (and now an Oma).

It is rewarding to see how God has worked in their lives, how they have matured, and what wonderful women they have become.

On top of that, they are doing a fantastic job as Mother's themselves ~ gracious, loving and kind!

Last but not least, they married well ~ the best sons a mother-in-law could hope to have!

Mother's Day 2011

I'm enjoying a wonderful Mother's Day, even tho the kids and grandkids are 1,000 miles away. We went to church last night and out to Mama Mia's for dinner, so this morning we took off for the Kettle Moraine State Forest down near Eagle, WI. We spent a couple of hours hiking the Emma Carlin Trail...4-5 miles. We enjoyed a variety of spring wildflowers along the trail, but the trees and bushes haven't leafed out much. It's a beautiful day ~ sunny and in the 60's with blue skies. Can't get much better than that!

Note to self: come back in the fall ~ the color will be spectacular!

April Adventures

Such fun to be in Virginia with the Marx family over Spring Break! The sky was overcast, but it was warm and dry. We went to Belle Isle for a great hike one morning. Crump Park is always fun with a play area, a pond to hike around, and a farm to visit the animals. At home we created Easter cards, enjoyed lots of Yahtzee, and played school. The visit was short but sweet...the kids are growing up so quickly!

Sometimes the way forward is back

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight
Proverbs 3:5~6

I'm back to the charge and the promise Andy and I committed ourselves to the day we married nearly 42 years ago. Funny how we forget and lose our way.

...stop trying to work things out before their times have come

...trust Me at all times, in all circumstances, with all your heart

...wait on Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do

...this is a time in your life when you must learn to let go

...entrust the details of your life to Me

...trust Me and don't be afraid

...trust Me one day at a time ~

I'm the one who understands you completely and loves you perfectly

I've been gently hammered with these thoughts over the last couple of weeks.

You are the same yesterday, today, and forever

I can trust You

I can thank You

I am safe in your care

I will trust in Him and not be afraid
The Lord God is my strength and my song
He has given me victory
Isaiah 12:2

Just the Best!

Two Delightful Little Guys!

We were in Colorado recently ~ to babysit Anders and Cade while Mom worked pretty much full time administering CSAP (state testing) at Lincoln Academy (the charter school where she has worked the past 10 years). It was such fun and the boys were just great, listening and obeying Oma and Opa. We took walks, went to the park, visited a petting zoo, enjoyed the local community water park, and played just about every kind of ball game you can think of.