It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

Last Wednesday was a pretty humid day for May. Humid enough to make the hair stick to the back of your neck. It just felt heavy.

I was coming home from youth group and the temperature dropped 22 degrees. It got really dark, and started to pour...for twenty minutes straight! After it let up, I was wondering if we might get a tornado with the temperature changing so fast. After the rain, the sky turned green, and then pink. It was really cool. I love big rain storms.

It's kinda freaky when it gets this dark.

There were so many layers of clouds!

Look how pink everything looks!

Foto Flora A Go Go

I am in love with all the flowers this time of year brings, God's glorious creation all around us. All the variations of colors and textures are so much fun to look at. WOW!

Here are just a few that caught my eye.

This is the center of a dark purple Bearded Iris. There are a bunch of these guys lining the fence in my backyard.

I cut this Tulip from the big flower bed (well, big for our yard) along the garage. Notice the detail in the petal.

One of the few Dandelions that make it to this stage in our yard. This one was not lucky enough to be in one of my love bouquets.

The only rose left from Emma's dance recital. This was a gift from Brandon and Gavin for Emma.

I thought this was interesting. There are a bunch of light purple and yellow Bearded Iris all along the back of the garage. This year (for the first time) this little guy came up. I hesitate to say little, as the bloom is the size of my palm. I thought it was a neat surprise. I like it much better than the others than can look very washed out at times.

Baseball and Apple Pie

Okay, so technically there was no apple pie. We did get peanuts though!

A couple of weeks ago we were able to go see the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team play. It was so much fun! We even made it on their web site.

Emma's school was selling tickets as a fund raiser, and we thought this was one fund raiser we could get behind. :)

We purchased five tickets, and decided to leave Addie home and take Brandon (Clint and Keisa's oldest boy). We are so glad we did. Not only would it have been WAY too late for Addie (we got home after 11pm), but Emma and Brandon had a blast. It was a fun change having a little boy around. So, Keisa watched Addie, and we took Brandon. Kinda like that show "Wife Swap" but without all the family drama. Okay, so it's not like that show. Not really at all.

The kids were great, and even though the Lugnuts lost, it was an enjoyable night out.

Emma cheered a lot. Finally a place where she can rock her mad whistle skills.

They were a fun team to watch.

Josh took this, and I love it. It kinda captures the whole feel. The cool of the night air, the crack of the bat... Good shot, babe.

Although he is a very happy kid, it is hard to get a picture of him smiling. I promise, he had a good time.

Josie on the other hand...she seems to always have a smile for me. Well, maybe "smile" isn't the right word. More like "face".

Gotta Dance!

I just love sharing about Emma's dance. Maybe it's because I am her mom, and proud of everything she does. Maybe she really IS that good. Maybe it is because I lack all of those skills and it is amazing seeing any of my offspring have ANY coordination.

Whatever the reason, I sure do love to talk about it! Her end of the year recital was May 17th. This year she participated in tap and ballet. It was so fun to see her doing the different styles of dance. I didn't get very many good shots, but here are a few of the night.

A little shout out to this guy, who one minute before the show started decided to sit right in front of us. Thanks. Most of my pictures have this guy's head in it.

Check Emma out! She knew the routine the best. They put her front and center for both tap and ballet! One of the other mom's said to me after the show "You didn't tell me that Emma was the star!"

Although she had the whole dance memorized, she often looked so serious. :)

Our little prima ballerina!

Surgery Success and a Silly Request

Just a quick update for ya. Addie came out of surgery great. She only got the right ear done. The tube in her left ear was still in place and looked great.

Right after her surgery I got a strange request that had all of the nurses in stitches. As I walk into the recovery room, Addie sees me and says "Hi Momma. I want nachos."

Well, I can't say expected that. You can bet this little girl is making a run for the border sometime today.

One last thing, if you would like to start following my blog (get an update whenever I post) just check out the side bar to the right. You don't need to have your own blog. Sign up! :)

Thanks for all who prayed! She is out like a light, and I think I am going to take a nap as well.

My cutie pie!

Lots of Stuff Happening Here...

I know I haven't blogged in a while. We have been super busy around here. It was the last week of school, so that filled our week with extra time with students before they left for the summer (or for good after graduation), house guests, lots of extra time in the office, Emma's ballet and tap recital, and some in service work days (among other things). The cool thing is that I have a ton to blog about. The bad thing is that I don't know when! Addie's surgery is tomorrow. We have to be there at 7:30am. Please keep her in your prayers!

New Tribes Bible Institute graduating class of 2009!

Oh yeah! Emma also lost her two front teeth!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Addie had an appointment today that confirmed what we have all been thinking around here. She has lost the hearing in her right ear again. The last time they put tubes in her ears (about a year and a half ago) that seemed to do the trick. It did not surprise us to hear that the tube in her right ear was gone. The doctor thinks the best choice is to replace the tube (and check out the left one) as soon as possible. This all to say that Addie will be undergoing surgery on the 21st. Although it is a fairly common surgery, it is surgery none the less, and she is my baby. There is nothing so sobering as holding your little one in your arms, limp from the anesthesia. It's a scary thing for me.

Please keep Addie in your prayers! Once the tubes are in, we will know for sure when she is just disobeying as apposed to not hearing us. :)

While you say a prayer for Addie, maybe you can say one for me too.

"Cheese, Momma!"

A Litlle Bit of BBQ...Mongolian style!

Last Thursday Josh and I took the Campus Life crew out for an appreciation dinner for all their hard work this semester. We decided to head to one of our favorite places: B.D.'s Mongolian BBQ. It was a great night, that went by WAY too fast!

One of my tasty creations!

The Campus Life crew. What a great team we had this year!

Um, this would be why I stick to the beef, pork and chicken. This little guy was found in the dish of one who chose some sea food. Gross!

Yeah, Sarah is a beast. She ate that sucker!

Special Spark In My Life

Last Wednesday was the annual AWANA awards banquet. It is a night set aside to honor the efforts the kids have made during the year to memorize verses, and complete their workbooks.

After a feast of gourmet wieners and other wonderful potluck foods like jello salads, deviled eggs and brownies, we watch as the kids are handed out certificates and awards.

I was so proud of Emma. She completed her first book in Sparks, which includes memorizing over 30 verses of scripture, memorizing the books of the New Testament in order, and doing a missionary interview. (That last part was kind of easy for her, seeing as her parents are both missionaries!)

Even though she did all of that (which is a huge accomplishment for a little kindergartner I think!), that was not what made me the most proud. What made me the most proud was when the leader of the Sparks said to the room "Anyone who has said it isn't worth working (in AWANA) has never had Emma Mathew". Wow! My heart beamed (as well as my face, I'm sure).

I am sure proud of you, my Emma girl!

We opened with the pledge to the flags.

Emma with the Sparks leader, Mrs. Barsuhn. Emma sure loves her! I think the feeling is mutual. :)

You See Flowers In These Weeds

I will always cherish these sweet gifts of love from my girls. Emma has always given me a bouquet of dandelions. Josie now copies Emma and I get lots of little love bouquets. Sometimes they are from our yard. Sometimes they have made it all the was from the school yard, a little more wilted upon delivery. Always, they are given with love.

I don't think we will ever get weed killer.

I don't care how the lawn looks. Blow all of the seeds you want girls.

I will always have a vase ready. I hope they never stop coming.

Curious George

I have a little monkey of my own at my house. She is always getting into things, and always asking questions. My own little Curios George. :)

"I see you momma. You taking picture momma."

End of the Season And Other Ramblings

It has been a long week. My sweet hubby went with the senior class to Jersey Shore, PA for the week for the senior retreat/intro to tribal missions class. You can learn more about it here.

He had a great time, and hopefully he will do a guest blog about it (hint, hint. I know you are reading this, honey).

We are so glad he is back. When Daddy is gone, things are just not as happy around here. Dinner takes longer, bed times are longer, the sun refuses to shine... okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating that last bit. Needless to say, he is missed very much, and we are so glad to have him home.

Saturday was Josie's last soccer game. She did great! Their team won, and she came home with a medal. It's all very exciting. I am just glad with the coach gone in PA for the week, they didn't make me go out there! Can you imagine?

Me "Um, yeah. Kick the ball."

The kiddos "Where?"

Me "I don't know. Away from the other team."

Yeah. That would have worked splendidly.

I like to blame my lack of ability in sports on my parents who did not let me play, but truth be told, they must have known how clumsy/uncoordinated I am, and tried to save me from that humiliation. For that, Mom and Dad, I thank you.

She was so tired after the game. She played the whole time, because the other kids were tired out, and she wanted to keep going.

I'm so proud of you, Jo!