No Swimming

We tried to go to the pool today, but as we approached town we saw the sky getting dark and gloomy.  We stopped in at Pizza Hut and had lunch, and watched to see if it was going to storm or pass over.  We finished eating and as we headed into the park, we saw lightning and knew the pool would be closed for at least half an hour.  We decided to get some ice cream in the clubhouse and wait and watch to see if it would pass quickly.

Sylvia drew on her ice cream cone with her tongue.  

We waited about an hour and watched as very sparse lightning came about every 10 minutes or so.  Finally, a bit of rain, even some hard rain came.  It was much needed, and not enough.  And though the rain lasted only a few minutes, the lightning continued to reset the "wait 30 minutes after the last lightning flash before the pool reopens" counter.  We left without swimming and went home to melt some more.  Still we had time together as family today, and we are grateful for that.

Caed's last game

Instructional league teams get to play their last game of the season under the lights, like the big leaguers.  Tonight was Caeden's last game of instructional baseball...under those big lights!

He played well at 3rd base.

He knows to always throw to first.

He does still get distracted entertaining sometimes.

Daddy bought Caeden his own bat this week, so exciting!

running to 3rd

 sliding into home!

"Good game!  Good game!"

 Caeden totally loved baseball, and cannot wait to play on the "big kid" traveling team next year!

Time off

Jeremy has been off work all week, and it's been so great having him around!  (Unfortunately, I had stuff going on every day and made it a very busy week for him while he was trying to relax!)  But we did manage to go to lunch at Shannons 5-Star today and then to see a movie!

We loved the first two Madagascar movies, and agreed that the 3rd was good too!

After the movie, we stopped in at Lowe's quickly, so I could look at some items for the church stage  and price some things.  

Rehearsing

Willy Wonka principals blocked and rehearsed scenes of the Wonka factory today.  Tons o' fun!

I planted several daylillies last year, and this is the first ever to bloom!

Baseball and Blessings

It's getting to be hotter summer-feeling weather around here, which goes along with baseball and sweaty, dusty little boys.  Caeden loves it.

His team played in the outfield of the actual baseball field today.  (The little kids on instructional teams can do that, since the ball never goes too far. ;)  

He has improved his throw, and now always remembers to "step and throw" every time.

Coach tells the kids 3 things each time they come up to bat:

1) HANDS - (to remind them to think about where their hands are on the bat)

2) FEET - (to remind them to point their feet towards home plate)

3) ANGRY FACE - (to remind them to look serious and be thinking about what they're doing)

Daddy has worked with Caeden, and his swing is looking pretty good.  (Obviously this one was a foul ball.)  But, he always manages to connect, and has had some pretty good hits.

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Our worship service this evening was so wonderful!  Just as we had arrived Kim had been sharing a story of God's provision this week.  The Keller's refrigerator broke this week.  While they will be the first to tell you that they have not wanted for or missed out on anything during the past several months of this church planting process, a new refrigerator was not an expense they could cover right now.  They had received a large check this week from some friends who stipulated that they could use the money either for their family's needs or for the church, but when they prayed about it they felt strongly that it was to be used for the church.  Still they had no idea what to do about their refrigerator.  They kept praying and trusting God though.

We are all preparing for a big yard sale fundraiser for the church next weekend, so yesterday the Keller's were cleaning out their basement work room to gather items to put in the sale.  As they cleaned and moved things around, they came across an envelope containing $887!  How's that for God's provision?!?!  The money was cash from a family vacation they'd taken 3 years ago, and they hadn't known it was missing.  I just love how God works like that!!!

Also this evening, our friends Anthony and Jesika Moore came to share with us about how God has called them to be missionaries in Africa!  They will be going in a couple months!  It was a privilege to pray over them, and we know God will bless their efforts for His glory!

We are also praising God for working through us this week, as a dear friend of ours experienced a great  point of change as she encountered the cross of Jesus and asked his forgiveness and dedicated her life to Him!!!  Glory, praise, and thanks be to God!!!

Fischer Golf Outing

16 years ago, Jeremy lost one of his best friends, Craig Fischer, in a car accident.  Craig was Jeremy's roommate his freshman year at NCC, and also a wrestling teammate for his 2 years there.  I think losing Craig was about the most difficult thing I've seen Jeremy go through. Craig was a very special friend, and Jeremy holds his memories of him close.

Each June, the NCC wrestling program and alumni organize the Craig E. Fischer Golf Outing fundraiser in Craig's memory. Jeremy does his best to make sure he goes each year, having only missed a few.  He wouldn't claim to be a golfer, but he loves this day of golf with friends.

Jeremy did take our good camera, and took about 100 photos (I'm so proud of him!), but he wasn't in a single one of them.  I was very glad to find him in a few of those posted on the NCC Wrestling Facebook page.  

Alumni, friends, and family of Craig's

I'll Fly Away

The kids and I spent the entire day at home today!  This morning, while we watched Fantasia 2000, the girls tried out play fake nails.  I think they decided they looked creepy and weren't worth the amount of time they spent putting them on, since they fell off right away.

This evening was the closing ceremony of VBS here in our village.  It was such a huge blessing to see so many children and families of our village gathered together learning about Jesus and what He did for them!!!!  And, our kids totally loved VBS!

A wonderful part of the VBS was that the offerings the kids gave this week will go to World Vision to buy about 42 mosquito nets for children in Mali, Africa.  Each net covers the bed of two or more children, so about 20 kids in Arrowsmith are helping at least 84 kids in Mali to be protected from Malaria.  Praise God!!

After VBS, we decided to have a slumber party and watch a movie in my bed.  Since Daddy was gone overnight, we all snuggled together and watched a couple old Dr. Seuss cartoons and fell asleep.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love." (Romans 8:38)

Running Here and There

Today was a busy day.  The kids and I had musical rehearsal in Gibson City from 9:30-11:00AM.  Then we rushed home for some lunch.  Then we rushed into Normal for doctor's appointments.

Each had a physical today.  We praise and thank the Lord for 3 healthy children!!!!

Jeremy is "on vacation," and met us at the doctor's office.  He hadn't had lunch yet, so we went to Carl's.  I had the most wonderful homemade chicken salad on a warm croissant there, oh my!  And, of course, you can't go to Carl's without having ice cream!!

Annah chose coffee flavored ice cream in a waffle cone.

Jeremy had blackberry ice cream that looked amaaaaaaazing!!  And, once again, we had to give Caeden half a bath once he finished hiscone.  

Apparently, the peanut butter cup ice cream is pretty good too!

Sylvia went with her favorite standby flavor, mint chocolate chip.  

I enjoyed some of the coffee ice cream and some coconut ice cream that had fresh coconut in it!  It was seriously one of the best things I've ever tasted, I think!

Jeremy and the kids played a few games on the retro arcade machines.  :)  A little Frogger, and some Space Invaders, from what I hear.

From there, the boys ran some errands and went home.  I took the girls to violin lessons.

We got home with about 15 minutes until VBS.  I made some PBJ's, and the kids at them while we walked to the church!  They didn't want to be late and miss even one minute of the fun!

"FLY" VBS

Our neighbor, Evie, invited the kids to VBS at the little Christian Church here in our village.  It is every evening this week from 6:00-8:30, and they are having a ball!

Last night they came home with these list plastic containers (They're like film canisters, but the kids don't understand what those were!) and effervescent denture cleaning tablets.  You put a tablet in, pour a couple teaspoons of hot water on it, put the cap on, and put it upside down on the ground.  After about a minute or two, the cup shoots straight up in the air like a rocket!  We probably played with them for an hour this morning.  They went along with their lesson to be so filled with God's love that joy bursts out of you!

Tonight, we had some spaghetti squash and ravioli with meat sauce for supper.  We are still wondering at what age boys are supposed to be able to eat without being completely covered in their food?!

I walked over to pick the kids up after VBS, and got there a few minutes early so I could see what they were up to...

They were singing one of their theme songs for the week, "I'll Fly Away!"  The kids didn't believe it when I told them that it's an old hymn--until I came home and played it on the piano for them out of one of Great Grandma McEowen's old hymn books! ;)

The VBS theme is FLY -- Everything is possible with God.  The kids are having tons of fun this week.  Our neighbor told me that besides our kids and 2 other kids, NONE of the kids/families attending this week go to church regularly.  I am praying that God will draw all of the kids close to Jesus this week, and that lives will be changed in our neighborhood!!

Designing

As we speed through the church planting process, we have now come to the part where it is time to design what we want our church to look like.  I volunteered to be part of the team because I figure there will be a lot of hands needed to make things, but somehow I was asked to be co-director of designing the stage area.  Whoo, that's not something I know how to do!  My instinct is to be overwhelmed and freaked out, but I am trusting God and leaning on the expertise of others.

The research and brainstorming part has been fun.  Now comes the part where we figure out how to make it all happen...

Father's Day

It's Father's Day!  The kids gave Jeremy some gifts to let him know they love and appreciate him.

They gave him a shirt that says "I've made my resolution." It's one of the Courageous resources, and has the Joshua 24:15 scripture, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." on the back.  They also gave him the Courageous desktop calendar for his desk at work.

Annah built him a LEGO "Dad."

Sylvia  made the cutest card from an idea she saw in Highlights magazine.  It's a grill with brats, burgers and corn on the cob, and inside it says, "Well done job being my Dad. Have a smoking' hot Father's Day."  She made it completely on her own, and it is so cute!!!

We had a relaxing morning at home, and I made a big breakfast of blueberry pancakes, eggs over easy, and W&W Locker bacon.  Then we actually watched Courageous.  It's such an inspiring movie for fathers and families.

This evening at church, Pastor Brian preached part of our sermon series called "Love Looks Like Something."  He presented The Parable of the Lost Son (or, as most people know it, the Prodigal Son) from the point of view of the father.  It really made me think about how my own dad reacted to me at a time where I had gone astray and then came home to tell him of my sin.  He did not hesitate for one moment to let me know I was still his daughter and still loved by him.  His immediate and instant reaction was to tell me he was not disappointed in me, or upset with me.  His reaction at that moment was surely like that of my Heavenly Father, and the impact it has had on the rest of my life is immeasurable.  I am so grateful for my dad.

I'm so grateful for my loving Heavenly Father, my Abba-daddy, who has worked out better plans for me than I ever had for myself.  His ways are higher than our ways, and the plans that He has made are good and true.  I praise Him and thank Him for his unconditional, unswerving love for me!

I'm so grateful for the man God has given me to be a wonderful father to our children.  He understands his calling as a father and works diligently and intently to live it out.  He sacrifices for me and our babies all the time.  He works hard to provide for us.  He gives his time, his love, his wisdom.  He strives to serve the Lord in all he does, and teach our children to do the same.  

I am grateful for all the fathers in my life this Father's Day!

Pool Days of Summer

Both yesterday and today we spent the afternoon and evening at the pool.  Ahhhhh...

We met Jeremy there after work yesterday, and he took some little catnaps while the kids swam.

Today, Sylvia and I spent a long time in the lazy river, and Caeden and Annah caught up with us after about 20 times going around.  It was nice to have some time to relax in the extremely busy season this summer has become!