Here we are, just one month left of summer vacation for me.  Open house is one month away.  And I must say.....ugh.  I have enjoyed being home so much this summer.  The only thing missing is having Bekah here..but she can't be here because she is where God wants her.

So why is this summer so much better?  Oh, I feel so much better.  Last summer was pretty ugly.  But just like those diamond earrings I bought, God continues to make eveything wonderful.  And I am so grateful  Baby steps and big steps all around.

New step in the residence here.  We are adding a room to our house.  It's exciting, it's scarey, and I'm sure right about the time I head back to school, it will be really messy.

Big step, far away step is Bekah at Lake Ann Baptist Camp this summer.  She is spending the summer in northern Michigan as a counselor at a camp her grandpa helped start over 50 years ago.

Bekah has grown and loves chapel services at camp.  It was a joy to watch her serve and minister while we were there.

And the Brod man follows in grandpa's steps with his love for mowing.  He takes the work he does with his bubble mower very seriously.

And last week it was stepping into God's Word and digging for truth as we stepped into DVBS.  What a special week we had.  Our church people continue to amaze me with the love they have for kids, for serving Chirst through the ministry of Bible School.  It is so awesome to watch and be a part of.

And Brody came to DVBS.  As I watched closing program I was amazed to realize how long ago I watched his daddy sing in his first closing program.  Baby steps, giant steps, running steps, walking steps, climbing step.  And God has been in them all.

Pray for Hezz as she heads to Africa this Saturday.  I am so thrilled to see so many kids serving all around this summer.  It might be camp, it might be a mission trip, it might be around the corner.  It's just a treat to see.

Take care everyone.

Summer is here!  And lots of things go on in summer that do not happen during the

school year.  Like getting ready for DVBS.  That's July 7 - 11.  And summer means

lots of Brody time.  Oh I love summer!  and it means planning a trip to Michigan!!!  I

am really looking forward to that!!!  Yes, I'd say summer is meaningful!!!!!!

One thing it means is.....

Oh yeah, home made strawberry jam.  This was last Tuesday's batch and today I will make 8 more pints.  It really is fun.  and to the Traverse City family...yes, I will bring some and I even have a big jar of Peach Jam!!!  It might even be big enough that Sue will share.

Summer is...

Baby bunnies in the yard.  The Rev really does have a kind heart underneath that gruff exterior.  He stops for bunnies when he is mowing and puts them out of harms way.  If you know how dedicated he is to his yard and the mowing process, this is HUGE!!!!!!

June is the Brod man's birthday and his daddy's birthday.

Aunt Bekah couldn't be there but she got him the Thomas crossing gate.  It was a very Thomas the Tank Engine birthday as his shirt testifies to.  He loves the crossing gate because when you push the red button it makes wonderful sounds I'm sure mommy and dadddy will enjoy alot!!!!

And when you turn two you decide what foods you now like and don't like.  At dinner Wednesday night, Brody decided he no longer likes chicken.  So after a lengthy discussion, daddy and Brody went out to the picnic table to finish eating while Grandma cleaned up the dinner table.  Gus invited himself.  Always helpful  that Gus is.

Sometimes a little guy plays so hard that when Grandma changes his diaper for nap time...we jump the gun a little and fall asleep before getting to our bed..   Just look at that face.

We hope Lake Ann Camp is enjoying our Aunt Bekah.  We miss her whole bunches.  Have a great week everyone.  My strawberries our beckoning.

Take care.  And for those in Michigan...see you soon!

Welcome to Gardens by Gus!!  What is that you say..you thought Phil was the professional landscaper?  Yes, he is and doing quite well.  This is a garden by Gus done out of necessity!!!

Yes, that delightful and huge yellow lab has now taken to gardening.  This used to be a lovely, flowing and open flower garden.  And it had 3 foot tall azaleia bushes that bloomed like none other.  We now have 8 inch high little scrubs that still bloom.... but they have been conquered by Gus.  So, we now have in enclosed flower bed.  Cute fence, huh?  And it has proven quite tastey.  Gus was found sitting backwards in the green chair there and chewing like crazy on the fence.  We now see the Rev out every norning spraying the fence with a special compound called "No Chew".  But will Gus think it tastes like caramel sauce????  Only time will tell.

For those at church who lovingly ask Brody what he thinks of Gus and he responds, with a little giggle, "Gus is on the table!!!"  please rest assured it is THIS table, not my dining room table.  I haven't been completely overpowered by the beast.

This is for Bekah and Travis.  Last  Memeorial Day was really special as we had the whole family together, did the parade, and then landscaped our house and Ben and Heather's house all in one day, and then came back to our house for a cook out.  It was really different this year.  Bekah is serving the Lord at Lake Ann Camp as a counselor in nothern Michigan at a the very place her grandpa started 50 years ago.  Travis is home with his family for the summer.  Phil had an all day softball tourney, Ben and Heather were with friends who just had a baby, so Pete and the old folks did the yard.  Not to bad, huh?  And of course Gus helped.

And with the help of some very generous parents, and the awesome ladies at Thymbles Quilt Shop, we were able to present to my little student who lost his Mommy suddenly this year, on his birthday, a memory quilt to remember mommy and this school year by.  It is so beautiful.  And tears rolled as we watched him rub his mommy's T-shirt over and over again, and lovingly tell his classmates "This is my mom's shirt."  He now brings the quilt to school  every day with a smile on his face, and sits with it folded up on his lap.  Every so often you will see him bend down, smell it, rub it or squeeze it.  What a talent those ladies have to make such a special gift.

And, you have waited too long for the latest video of the Brod man.  Yes, he is now singing his A-B-C's with gusto.  Watch is little mouth working so hard.  When all the time, all he really  wants to do is play outside!!!

Have a great weekend everybody.  This is reportcard weekend, then 4 days of school, then teacher workday, then one week from today...no Oak Cupboard, no nothing!!!  Then Monday comes and summer kicks into high gear.  But that one day will be awesome!!!!  Take care.

The overall opinion after the last post was...good to hear from you but where are the new pics of the fabulous grandson.    So here goes!!!

Yes, the Brod man found Uncle Phil's bluetooth and thought it was just way cool.  The bluetooth is almost as cool as Uncle Pete's golfcart!!

Grandpa and Brody went for a ride in the famous golfcart owned by Uncle Pete, but we love Brody's name for it......it's the colf-fart.  Yes, we laugh pretty hard on that one.

Sorry I can't get this picture to turn, but it is a really nice pic of Bekah and her dad on his big anniversary day.  Bekah comes home on Saturday for just a

brief stay of about 24 hours and then she is off to Lake Ann for the summer.  It's going to be a long, lonely summer for this mom.

Have a great weekend everybody.  I will try to post again before the long battle with report cards begins on Tuesday night.  Ugh..and again I say ugh.

And to Andrea..why would it possibly take you 12 days to know I posted?  I mean really, how busy can 3 little kids keep you????  And I'm sure you are so tired of sleeping...right????

Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all who have served.

I don't know if anyone if prepared for the shock of this return to Xanga land..but 2 1/2 months has blown by to say the least.  I just know many of you have been wondering where I've been.  Like take Andrea Riley for instance.  She's on maternity leave, just has 3 kids under five to take care of, so I am just sure she runs to her computer every morning just hoping for a word from me.  Won't she rest easier now??

And for my brother-in-law in Florida, who taunts me all winter with daily temperature reports when we are -30 windchill and they 70 and sunny, well take this!!!  Spring time in Ohio!!!!

You won't find grass that green in Florida!!!  It really has been a beautiful spring.  The trees have been loaded with blossoms.  It was really pretty at the Ville last Thursday when I went to pick up Bekah's stuff.  Notice I said Bekah's stuff and not Bekah.  She's doing May term and then headed up to Lake Ann for the summer.  So I only get her stuff for the summer, and not her.  But after last Sunday, I am so happy for the summer she has ahead of her.  Not only was her grandpa one of the visionary's who saw the need for Camp Lake Ann, but she will sit under the teaching of our old friend Ken Rudolph.

Last Sunday it was a thrill to have the BBC mafia of the 70's at our church for the celebration of our 30 years here.Ken, Doug and Tim thrilled our hearts by taking time out of their very busy schedules to come and share a wonderful weekend with us.  Our church family pulled out all the stops to treat us like a king and queen and our hearts were touched.

Friends for over 35 years and still ticking.  And I could still beat Augie at Name that Tune but he cleverly didn't have time for a match.  Our bulletin on Sunday was made of a cover of our first bulletin here 30 years ago.  The attendance in that bulletin was 39.  On Sunday evening last Sunday Pastor Mark had a favorite of my husband, and that is a volunteer all men's choir.  That means no rehearsal...just every man who ever wanted to sing in choir, but didn't think he had the talent or time, grabs a hymnal, and joins all the men in the choir loft for a song.  I couldn't even get all the men in the picture.  It was huge.  This is about one half of the choir.  That's when the tears really flowed.  When we came..we had 39 people.  Total.  Sunday night...39 people in half the CHOIR!!!!!!  And 510 in the pews.

I stand amazed.  Humbled.  So grateful for God's goodness.  Have a good week everyone.