mamakeller's Xanga

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:23:27 GMT

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!

Monday, June 05, 2006

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:07:11 GMT

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.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Tue, 16 May 2006 12:42:17 GMT

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!

Monday, January 09, 2006

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:33:11 GMT

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!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 12:42:17 GMT

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.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:32:17 GMT

I've been busy taking orders and painting, painting, painting. I love it!

Here's the new and improved logo...let me know what you think.

Also, I would have to say that I LOVE the ADG girls. It was a good meeting last nite & I'm so looking forward to this org taking off and watching the ministry grow. It will be A-MAZ-ING!

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:24:20 GMT

li'l buggar

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 19:12:11 GMT

this page is dedicated to justin...knowing full well he'd be at the indian mound with his little wooden flute, fluting away with the best of them. so here's to you, jdk, play a tune in israel for us all.

...but wait, i need to post a picture from homecoming, too. precious.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:59:17 GMT

It's been a wonderful day... a phone call from Israel , my favorite coffee delivered twice, oodles of cards, roses, balloons, lunch with friends, gift certificates, candles...I'm voting that birthday celebrations last one week. forget this one day stuff.

Thank you, everyone!

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Sun, 18 Sep 2005 22:02:35 GMT

PowderPuff game last night...seniors won. I think it was the SeniorTire that carried them to victory.