Well, we're back from Florida.  I think we could all say it was one of the best vacations ever.  Let me give you a glimpse...

• watching dolphins in the bay
• kayaking to shell island
• finding a bzillion sand dollars
• spending time with friends (which seem more like family)
• walking on the beach in the early morning hours
• laughing...alot
• riding the waves
• eating the best meals ever
• alligators!

The entire week was like one big "Aahhhh".  My soul is refreshed.  Yep, those Luikens...gotta love 'em!

Well, Nate's graduation and Open House are a thing of the past. Whew!  My family came and helped with everything.  They are amazing!  We even had a 'practice round' for setting up the tables and chairs.  We set up everything around 11:30...saw a storm coming in....tore everything down...and put it all back up at 1:00.  My family has been such a wonderful support system to me and the kids.  I wish I could have had more time to sit and visit with them while they were here, but I'm afraid I was all out of energy and words by the time Open House was finished! Yes, I was exhausted physically and emotionally.

On another note, I'd like to post what incredible kids I have.  What's most wonderful is to watch as they are not really kids anymore at all.  To watch them go through hard times and grow and mature as they figure out how to live...this is the reward of being a mom.  So, kisses to the three most important people in my life. Knowing, loving, living, laughing, crying, wrestling and all the in between with you is a joy I can't put into words. 

i know, don't fall over, but i'm going to update.  it's a busy time of year.  the kids are all at home so the cottage is packed wall-to-wall.  sarah leaves on wednesday, joy will be graduating this weekend and moving to the 'ville in a few weeks, rachel has her open house, nate's is on june 4 for anyone that would like to come.  it's crazy busy, but i love it.  i love having my kids home, focusing on new goals, working outside in the yard (okay, maybe if it would stop raining!).  even though it's busy, it's a much more relaxed time of year.  love it. 

nater and sarah looked great for prom.  we, again, have royalty in the house as nate was crowned prom king.  (yes, funky li'l velvet crown and all!)  michael surprised us and came down for the anderson/hoffeditz wedding (which was beautiful) and also went with us to prom preview.  (i won't mention how he kept laughing at our small town traditions.)   

well, i must get to work. but, to all my adopted children...i miss you! 

So, I guess it's time for my 'monthly' update.   

We returned from hurricane relief yesterday morning around 1:30 a.m.  What an incredible time!  Our team worked with Samaritan's Purse in Gretna, LA and if I'm not mistaken we had the MOST FANTASTIC, HARDEST-WORKING TEAM EVER!  We looked like astronauts, have new friends in Frank and Jason, shoveled mud & other 'goodies' and pretty much used every muscle in our bodies all week long.  There's too much to list here but, I wouldn't change the experience for anything! 

so nater and i hung christmas lights at the cottage a couple days ago. picture this:

• perry como blaring from the boom box on the front porch
• our hands freezing
• realizing that our little willow tree branches are too wimpy to hold up christmas lights
• laughing
• running across the street to look at our masterpiece each time we added a new string of lights
• fun stuff. one more good memory added to the bank. this is what i love.