Fall at the Arboretum with Cousin Scott

Brian's cousin Scott came from NJ to visit so we took in some sights this past week including the botanical gardens. The girls had fun with cousin Scott. He likes to cook and they made turkish delight to take to their theater class: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He also made fried chicken strips for our dinner one night so that was nice too.

Lily's New Hairdo

Lily just got a haircut. Isn't it cute?

Starla's 5th Birthday

Birthdays are always a time of reflection for me. I recall vividly the details of delivering the particular child who's life is being celebrated. Starla entered the world on opening day of the Texas State Fair. You gotta live here to understand that's close to a holiday. She left the hospital nameless and only 3 days later became our own yellow "Rose" of TX. Our long distance baby shower arrived in the 2 suitcases of Linda Halmi and Lori DeVries, sisters in Christ, who flew here to help me with several days of cooking and household help. The memories are tender and sweet. Her life has been an unanticipated blessing.

So, one week shy of 5 years later, "the baby" is ready to give up sucking her thumb. On go the band-aids as an accountability tool. She dons her hand-me-down ballet suit and heads to class. She's growing up like the rest of them....I pray she will grow in the wisdom, stature and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tea Party Express

The Tea Party Express buses were passing through Dallas last Friday on a cross country tour from CA to DC. The girls and I went down to the rally for civics class. We want the girls to understand our privilege and responsibility in this country to peacefully express our will to those we elect. I also wanted to be counted as opposing nationalized public healthcare. It was also a good opportunity to pass out literature for parentalrights.org The kids had mixed reviews. Lily was disappointed they didn't serve snacks and Starla cried because she thought it was going to be "a tea party".

Soccer Season Again

Lily's playing soccer again. She's got a great coach too--her Dad. Brian's coaching a team of 10-11 year old girls. They are a scrappy bunch. This hard working team won their first game on Saturday even though players were missing for the holiday weekend. Lily played so hard in the heat, she didn't even care much that she won because she was so hot and tired. A dip in the pool was a good antedote to that problem.

Susan and Lucy

Last week, Robyn and I (Lily) auditioned for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and were picked to be Lucy and Susan! We will be performing on December 4th. We are very excited!

Total Impact

Brian and Angela are gone with the church youth group on a weeklong missions trip to the fruit pickers and their families up north. They cooperate with an established ministry to the Hispanic people in the area. Each night, they do bring kids in from the work camps to dinner and a VBS. The other girls and I like to go up a couple nights and help serve dinner.

Knollcrest Music Camp

Angela spent a week stretching her musical muscle at a Sr. High summer music camp held annually by Calvin College. She participated in orchestra and chose the elective classes: The World of Music, Conducting and Music Therapy. Pictured are Angela and her stand partner, Janae who was a veteran to the camp, a strong Christian girl and very kind.

Hope's Birthday

I recently celebrated my birthday in grand fashion. I spent the morning with my mom at the sewing machine. In actuality, she mostly slept; but, we "sewed together". We made a tote bag for her and she was very pleased with it. I got a cake from the best bakery in the world, the one I grew up on--marble with bavarian cream filling and butter cream frosting. I gave myself the gift of a 1 hour massage and then our family grilled out for dinner and spent the evening with treasured friends.

Our Anniversary Trip to Mackinac Island

The Mackinaw Bridge

The Grand Hotel

Brian and I recently celebrated our anniversary and spent a couple of days up north along the lakeshore. We took the ferry from the lower penninsula on MI, parralleling the Mackinaw Bridge, up to Mackinac Island. It was a beautiful day and we rented a tandem and biked the 8.2 mile path along the coast. Then we hiked through the woods in the center of the island which rises to a bluff peaking at arch rock. The view is fantastic! No cars are allowed on the island. Everyone travels by foot, bike or horse. I'm posting a brief video so you can see the view in panorama. The Grand Hotel photo is especially for our friends the Andersons who we are trying to convince to make a trip up to see us next year.