Day of Amusement

Thursday Rick was able to take a day off so we could all go to Knoebels! It's our favorite summer park. I was watching the sky the whole way up there. There was a 20% chance of rain, but looking at the sky I was sure it was more likely than that. Sure enough as we walked into the park, the clouds opened and it poured! We were able to get under a shelter just in time to escape getting drenched! My concern grew for the days outlook, but little Kate had prayed the whole way up that the sky would clear. God was so kind to hear and answer her prayer! The clouds were gone within minutes and we had blue sky (and a cooler day) for the rest of the day! Oh to have the faith of a child!

Knoebels has not only become an annual trip for us in the summer, but it also serves as a gage of sorts in our kids growth. It is really neat to see how God has helped Tyler to overcome some of his fears as we watch him get on more and more rides each year. Not only on more rides, but he wanted to ride on some of them in his own car! Danny and Kate also added more rides to their lists of favorites this year.

The kids also did a wonderful job of being grateful for this time. With so much to choose from to do, it turned into a good opportunity to help them make choices and be thankful for what they could do and not whine or pout when they couldn't get or do everything that they wanted. As we all wearily climbed back into the van for the ride home, it was such a blessing to hear them say 'Thank you' to Daddy completely unprompted!

Sunday Driver (okay so it was really a Thursday)

Dad and Dan on the Sail plane

Kate on the "Horsey Up/Down" as she always called it. Now it's a Merry go Round:-(

Dad and Dan on the roller coaster-Danny's first time!

The "Airplanes with the teeth."

Dan on the Balloon Race ride.

Ty-the first ride he ever went on at Knoebles was this train!

Ty riding alone on the Whip

Kate's new favorite-the go carts! She was actually a pretty good driver!

Dan and I on the Paratrooper ride-Danny's new favorite!

The end of the day indulgence!

Engineering Prodigies?

The other day we were coming home from the library. The farmer down the street was cutting down the wheat in his field. "Look guys. Mr Duncan is cutting down his wheat." "Oh yea," they replied. "Do you think he'll be cutting the wheat in our field today?'' "I don't know what his schedule is. Why? Did you want to watch?" I asked wondering. "No we just have some things in the field." A little more than curious, I asked "What things?" "Oh nothing. Could you just let us out here Mom?" they asked as I got to the edge of our field. I stopped and opened the door and waited as they collected their 'stuff.' 2 shovels, AA batteries in a plastic bag, a tape measure and a headlight flashlight in another plastic bag. I had to laugh, even as I thought of the accident that could have occurred when the unsuspecting farmer ploughed over the shovels.
Why is this funny? Well you had to be with us the week before as we were pulling weeds out of the garden. All 3 were discussing plans for building a tunnel to the Schell's and Madison's homes because then 'they could go there whenever they wanted.' Not to put a damper on things, but I reminded them that it would still be quite a walk, even in a tunnel. So they decided they were going to build a train. We discussed how they were going to finance this. Well, the plan is for Tyler to design it, Danny to build it and all 3 of them to dig it. Sometimes they'll even have the other boys over to help-or maybe they could start building from their homes and they could all meet up. "How are you going to pay for the gas to run this train?" "Oh. Well it will have to be electric." "What about the electric bill? Who's going to pay that?" "Oh. Well we'll design it to work on AA batteries." As this conversation went on, I had NO idea that they were actually making REAL plans to do this!! Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between what is real and fantasy around here!
I am just thankful for the friends that God has given us, that my children are willing to move mountains (well maybe not quite mountains) to be with them.

An update on Danny. I took him back to the doctor on Monday and thankfully his arm is healing well. It hasn't slowed him down much-except it seems, when it is something he doesn't want to do! We go back again next Thurs. to evaluate whether they will put a different cast on or not.

Be looking for the new suburban subway system soon! I can just imagine how fast it will go on AA batteries! Hope they put in seat belts!

Summer

It's been a busy summer. I can't believe it is almost July already! Here are some random pictures of some of the summer time fun.

A walk by the river at Grings mill

The kids with Grammie-my mom.

A dancer among the daylillies.

A summertime favorite!

Picking mulberries.

1 day we went to a furniture store and they had a petting zoo in the parking lot. As you can see they also had pony rides! Kate was so excited! She loves horses and this was her first ride on anything other than a merry go round horse!
Have you ever tried to photograph a Firefly (lightening bug as we call them)? Last night there were thousands of them over the wheat field. It was almost like watching fireworks without the noise! Don't know if you can see all of them or not. They show up better on a larger picture.

This is Danny painting with a flashlight. Perhaps his imitation of a firefly?

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Tyler at 3 months old. August 1998 Tyler at 10 years old. May 2008.

My Dear Tyler,

“Can I tell you sumpin? Well…” (I say with 1 finger pointed in the air), 10 years ago today the doctor announced, “It’s a boy!” As tears flowed down my cheeks, I looked upon that beautiful baby boy and marveled at this precious gift that God had given me. (Sorry but I have to use the word beautiful-handsome just doesn’t fit a baby!) My life had changed forever, and I am so glad it has! You are such a blessing to me. I am so thankful that God would entrust you to my care.

I cherish the memories I have of when you were little; building ‘sunset tunnels’ for Thomas the Train, reading Dr. Seuss together, rocking with you in my arms as we sang “Little Chucky Rabbit”, watching ‘tractors’ over and over and anticipating the day when “baby Danny” could watch too.

It has been a joy to watch you grow in this past decade and I am so excited to see the person whom God has created you to be.

You have always loved books. Even as an infant we would look at books for long periods of time. You giggled and giggled at “Funny Farm” and by 18 months you had several of the Dr. Seuss books memorized. I remember listening from the other room as you sat with your books in your crib and ‘read’ them. I could always tell which book you were reading and what page you were on because you knew them so well.

It is neat to see that you still have that love for reading. You can still read a book and remember every detail! I love that you enjoy reading God’s word. I know that as you read it and memorize the “details” of scripture, it will serve you, and others well to spur you on in your walk with the Lord. God’s word is living, active and powerful! It will encourage and strengthen you as you face the challenges of your next decade.

Ty, I love your unique sense of humor, especially when you’re not really sure why something you have said is funny.

I love when you hug me and tell me you love me.

I love how you have persevered even when things can get hard on you.

I love how you desire to do what is right.

I love the questions you ask-well, maybe not the ones I can’t answer, but that’s what we have Daddy for. It is encouraging to see how you want to know more-especially about God.

I love the conversations that these questions stir up. I love how you can bring a new perspective to our reading in the Bible.

I love that you care for your family, in particular for the safety of your brother and sister.

Ty, you are a precious gift, a treasure. I thank God always for you. I am looking forward to seeing you grow in this next decade- though I must admit I don’t look forward to the food that I will have to buy to fill your bottomless belly!

My prayer for you, son is that you will grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord. That you will know the joy and peace that is found only through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I love you,

Mom

Graduation and a Surprise!

Friday was Katie's graduation from preschool. I can't believe my baby is going to be in Kindergarten! How can this be? It was a tearful goodbye on my part! I have known her teachers for 7 years-longer than Kate has been alive! I have so appreciated how they have so tenderly cared for my children and always with such joy in their hearts! Kate cried at bedtime that night because she "will never see my teachers again!" Tyler is going to be 10 (yes that's right, TEN) on Wednesday! Today we had a surprise party for him after church at Chuck E Cheeses. While Dad and the kids started their walk part way home from church, I rounded up Nate and Andrew-Tyler's 2 favorite buddies, and we headed out. We picked up Ty and the rest of the family about a mile from the church. Ty got in the van and just said "Huh? What are you guys doing here?" It was such fun. We had a great time at the Cheeses'!

A second surprise-Danny bit into his pizza and FINALLY lost his front tooth! It has been sticking out and snaggly for several weeks now! It was a little bloody-Poor Nate who was sitting next to him; I'm not sure he really wanted to finish his pizza after that!

The lone girl amidst all the boys-she looks so forlorn in this picture.
After the pizza we came back to our house for ice cream cake. All in all it was a very fun day and I think that Ty was quite surprised and very blessed to have his best friends share in the celebration of his first decade.

Morning Glory

A couple of weeks ago we got the boys on the bus, put on some Mozart outside and Katie danced in the morning sunshine. I love her little heart that loves to sing and dance with joy!

Spring growth

Gee, do you think it's time to get the lawn mower out?