Lily's first Texas Birthday Party

This year for the first time I had a Texas birthday party. I invited seven girls but only four could come. We all had a great time. First, we played some ice breaker games. Then we went to the neighborhood pool and swam. Afterwards we had cake and ice cream and ended with a game of water balloon pass and, of course, a water balloon battle. I got some great gifts that I'll get a lot of good use out of too. Down below are some pics. (Notice the cow in the picture of the backyard.)

Brian's Birthday

Another year already? We made Brian his favorite meat--an old swiss steakish sort of recipe with lots of onions and worcestershire sauce, mashed potatoes and corn. The girls baked a german chocolate cake and we made merry.

Mother's Day

I walked by the Mother's Day card displays with a sigh this year processing the reality that I won't be sending any more cards to my mom. My mom's birthday was May 7 so historically we often celebrated the two special days together. "Firsts" after the death of a loved one often insight a deep sense of loss and I felt that as I roused that morning. But, my girls are so creative and they gave me such a beautiful gift. God used it to salve my spirit. That afternoon, I took a comfortable seat in the recliner relaxing to the quiet lull of relaxation music and aromatherapy while they soaked and washed my feet in warm water then dried them and put lotion on. After that, they gave me a foot massage. It was such a sweet, innocent act of service and so timely as it brought to mind my own childhood and a particular way I pampered my mom. She used to love to get a facial. I would soak washcloths in warm/hot water while slathering her face with Ponds cold cream. Then I would lay one hot washcloth after another over the cream on her face. She was convinced that the warm compresses melted the cream into her pores. I don't know if our facials actually moisturized her skin but she sure had lovely skin even in the last years of her life. As the girls pampered me, I told them how I had pampered Grandma when I was a girl and we laughed and celebrated the unique and precious gift of being a daughter and being a mother.

Another Soccer Season Winds Down

Finishing up another soccer season just before the summer heat sets in. We had another fun season with a great group of girls on the team. Spring soccer is especially fun because the end of season celebration is at a local water park.

Our New Friend Zhen Zhen

One of the choir families we know adopted a daughter from China this spring. Lily has a new special friend!

Youth Group End of Year Celebration

What a fantastic bunch of students at LCCC! It was a good year of learning, serving and growing. We studied the messy lives of the patriarchs and learned that God was writing His story in and through their imperfect lives just like He is doing in ours. We raised $750 to buy Bibles for christians in an oppressed nation. We made friends with and brought encouragement to the elderly every month by visiting and doing a music program at a nursing home, we watched movies about heroes of the faith and we finished off the year with a guys sleepover and a girls sleepover. I had the privilege of hosting the girls and we had a fun night together, eating, playing and praying with one another. We even took an after dark swim in the neighborhood pool.

Peter Pan

Last weekend, Lily and Robyn participated in Peter Pan. (Our friends in the picture are Noah, Emma and Isaac. We all go to church together.) Robyn was Nana. Lily was a fairy, indian and behind the scenes all around assistant. She started out as Wendy and gave up her part several weeks before the show. The script got changed and she didn't feel comfortable with the changes. It was a hard decision but she acted out of conviction and we support her for that. The play went well--the sets were great, the costumes were fabulous, the kids knew there parts well. It was a good show!

Meeting Author Bryan Davis

My favorite author is Bryan Davis who wrote the Dragons in our Midst series. I recommend it! He just published a new book and my dad took me to his book signing tour. It was lots of fun!

Springtime at the Arboretum

We made a couple of trips to the Arboretum this spring. The first time, the gardens were profuse with daffodills and hyacinths. The second time, the tulips were in full bloom.

Easter

At our church we have an Easter Breakfast every year which is always a lot of fun. Mom coordinates it so we are always busy cooking lots of different breakfast casseroles the day before. On Easter morning we a dress up in our beautiful dresses and go early to church to help with last minute details. The breakfast is always very good. Yummy!--so hard to chose... After church, we go over to the Andersons' house for a feast and egg hunt.