Meet our Cousin It

"Look at my bangs, Mom!  Does it look like I am looking at you?" she asked.

Our Alisa makes us laugh and then she laughes her belly laugh.

Ready....Set....

for VBS! 

Seeing the beauty from the passenger seat

We left our house this morning at 7:00 and headed north.  The kiddos kept Grandma and Papa company.  It was a beautiful day for a drive...spending time with "just us" and attending Children's Ministry 101 seminar.  It was a full day...over 200 miles.  It was a long day...got home at 8:30pm.  It was a good day...for all of us. 

I knew I saved those things for a reason!

It is our box of fun that is only brought out once in awhile.  When we got a call to help our friends...I knew exactly what we would use.  We added some more fun...dvds and the Wii...loaded ourselves into the van and headed north.

Our wonderful helpers and sharers of all those things I have saved through the years.

As I sit back and reflect over the events of yesterday, I am thankful that we have hope because of what Christ did for us on the cross.  We can have peace even in the time of grief.  We heard testimony of the faithfulness of a man who served His Lord and loved his family.  We watched the impact he had on his children and grand-children.  We shared some fun with those precious grand-children and we prayed for their parents.

We lovingly referred to this as "Ted and Kari's Romper Room".  The award goes to Ted for the Wii idea and those dear church family members who planned special food just for the kids.  I was reminded...again...just how important those little things are!

We have had time to spend together as a family.

And it has been good.

The song, "It Is Well", was part of the funeral service last night. I was reminded of the peace we can have...even when the clouds and fog of grief billow and roll. 

Jesus Christ can give us that peace that passes all understanding...and we are praying for exactly that for our friends and their family. 

What a beautiful picture of Lake Michigan!

Storm damage finally cleaned up and hauled away...

just in time for the round of storms last night!

The tree stump will be cut down to accomodate a pot of flowers...

and hopefully the other smashed plants will revive.

Is there anything that tastes better on a late summer night?

I think not!  Fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream!

There is ALWAYS a plan B!

 We had another children's activity planned around water.  However...our plans didn't include lightning and thunder!  With the forecast and morning rain, Ted came up with Plan B last night.

But as we talked at supper tonight, we acknowledged the hand of God in every plan of today!  He wanted those VBS flyers handed out!  He wanted to use the children and the adults who gave of their time.  We have the idea that "adults won't be rude to children and will accept invitations from them better than adults".  For the most part...that proved true today...but in Teddy's words, "We got the rough neighborhood!"  Several of our children were treated rudely...and they handled themselves very well.  I was reminded this week by a very wise man..."a little child shall lead them".  That is exactly what happened today!  We had our children leading in an activity that many adults won't do...knocking on a door of a soul and just giving an invitation to come to church...to hear about a Savior.  We may never know the impact on hearts from today...but I know of 15 children whose hearts were stirred by what they saw and heard.

We took time out for lots of liquid and lunch...build your own pasta bowl.

Mr. Ted had a challenge from God's Word...God does not gives us the spirit of fear!  Knocking on doors of strangers can be frightening.  The storms of this morning caused some of us to be afraid.  Doing what is right can cause us to be fearful.

And then WATER WARS!  God rolled back the clouds and the sun quickly heated everyone up!

"Here...let me show you how it's done!"

Oh...yes!  Face full of suds and water!

*update at 9pm* Mr. Ted is so sore he can hardly move..."But I'd do it all again just to prove that I am not as old as Mrs. Ted!"

"It's not as fun to get someone wet...when they are already wet!"

This is what they call "target practice"!  Mr. T ended up soaked from head to toe...

because they all ganged up on him! 

Taking a break!

Ice cream sandwiches

Popsicles

Steal the Bacon...well, green bar of Irish Spring soap!

The crazy crowd

The call for every number.

We have got some scrappy girls!

The overwhelmed?

The never-ending energy of these children amazes us! 

What a fun day!  God reminded us who is always in charge...we didn't have to go to plan B!

And the neat thing about it all...if we had to...no one would have complained!

Friday Fun

A late night...an early morning rather...gave way to a later morning...with multiple pots of coffee and time together.  I am so thankful for time with our parents.  After learning of dear friends who have said goodbye to their fathers, I am savoring each moment the Lord gives us with those we love.

We don't need to do anything special to enjoy our time together!

But it is always fun to go and do for a short time!  This time...the girls hit the thrift stores and the guys hit the techno stores.  We found a brand new computer bag at the thrift...exactly what Dad needed for his laptop!  Woohoo!

Grilling for supper...steak and chicken and Grammy's green beans!

So quiet...you could hear "MMMMMs" from the head of the table!

A gift made by my mother's hands...a dishcloth that is too pretty to use...just yet!

Missed the photo op of Dad's strawberry shortcake!  Too busy fighting with computer issues and trying to shut up the gps lady...what did we do for fun before all that...huh, Dad?!

Thursday...A day filled with sweetness!

Cupcakes for a sweet girl's bridal shower...

Summer's treat of fresh cherries...

A perfectly timed visit from my parents!

As I sat out of the camera's view...I saw the many different things the Lord gives me

each day to remind me of His love.