The tree had problems for a long while...

large branches were dead and the bark was peeling away from the trunk.  There were no visible signs of what was causing the tree to weaken and die...but there was something!

And this morning's storm took it down.  Interesting that the "healthy leafy branch" went down...it had weakened from within...the dead branches remained but snapped sharply when touched.  Isn't that how many Christians are these days?  We are weak and sickly because we have allowed the diseases of this world to eat away at us...while we do our best to "maintain a healthy outward appearance"...a storm comes along and...down we go!  The destruction is often great...and many people affected.  The clean-up is time consuming...getting messier before it gets better. 

The tree didn't do any damage to our house or car.  It took out another branch from our pretty maple tree.  It pulled the Comcast cable wire down.

Ted took lots of time to survery the damage...and plan which cut to make next.

I now have a stump on which to put a pot of flowers!  And the city workers have a pile of brush that they say they will come by to pick up.  The tree needed to go.  God sent this morning's storm to help us get the job started.  What a perfect object lesson for us today!

We had visitors today!

They were so glad to get out of the van after Chicago!

Avery ate a "na-na-na-na".

Emily and Alec enjoyed stretching their legs too!  We had clean bathrooms and some yummy food for the WI bound travelers.  We love visitors and we will bribe stops out of anybody with fresh chocolate chips cookies, if necessary!

Especially...when those visitors are family!

It was bound to happen!

"Mom, my ear hurts!" said Teddy this morning...and again this afternoon.

Not exactly the words you want to hear when you are expecting company and it is Friday afternoon! 

Thankfully, our doctor was able to see Teddy right away and found the beginnings of swimmer's ear.

A celebration of sorts...

with the looks from them, you would think all that learning was sheer torture! 

They looked through pages of their work before throwing them into the fire. 

 "Oh, I remember learning that!"  And I felt my heart go pitter-patter, "Honey...they did learn something this past year...and they still remember it!"

We celebrated a year of completed work...with smores at dusk...or is it night?  Hard to tell when it is 9:15pm and it is just getting dark enough to see the lightning bugs!

Catching up...

on laundry and thank you notes.  After days of sitting around the pool, we are at home today and I am trying to catch up on a few things.  Laundry, thank yous, phone call with Mom, cleaning up (and out) the schoolroom, and other such things that get ignored when the weather cooperates.  I am trying to keep my time on the computer short and my hand away from the library bag...I picked up a new book at the library this morning!  While I seem to have a list of things to keep me occupied...the kiddos are having trouble keeping at any one thing for very long.  It happens every time we have been on the go too many days in a row.  It is time to stay put for a couple days and regain that balance..."being content in whatever state I am!"  I heard a very wise man talk about this very thing again..."not being on the go all the time...it creates chaos in the home and in our children."  As the back door closed for the sixth time in five minutes...I agreed out loud with him...after I snapped at the offender who looked at me like I was off my rocker.  This wise man also said, "Mom, you are the one who creates the atmosphere in your home." 

Great...just great! 

I snapped at the kiddos who don't know whether they are coming or going while I try to catch up.  So how many other Moms are struggling with the same thing?  It seems like such a crazy thing to struggle with...being out of the house every day for five days in a row...but it affects our children!  What makes me think I am so much smarter than a preacher who has been around for so many years and has had to pick up the messes of families torn apart by moms who thought they knew better?

If you think being on the go all the time doesn't affect your family...listen to your children bicker with one another...and then listen to yourself snap at them...and possibly your husband...or others. 

And if you think you don't snap at others...and you are feeling brave and strong...

just ask your husband or ask your husband to ask your children about how their afternoon at home went!

And be prepared for the descriptions that will be given for the events of the day.

  Now there's a nice atmosphere!

I'm thinking chasing around that many days in a row so I can play catch-up with the chaos is...crazy.

We're staying home tomorrow too!

Tell us what you really think!

"It's true...your head weighes 48 pounds! I have measured it before...I layed my head on the scale and put pressure on it the scale and measured it!" argued Alisa with Teddy.

"You know it is a good meal when you have to use two or three napkins!" stated Alisa as she passed the napkin basket.

"I have three mothers, and I'm not happy about that!" mentioned Teddy during supper clean-up.

"Maybe we should just glue your mouth shut." was Teddy's response to his sister's teasing at the breakfast table. (Note to self...hide superglue...ASAP!)

A Grumpy Fifth!

Too much pool, too much junk food, more than enough heat, and not enough sleep...leaves one in the pool, one in the chair, and one in the house!

A Happy Fourth!

"We're patriotic today, but Teddy says he is soldierotic.  Camouflage isn't red, white, and blue!"

In the pool by 10 am...there is no way they are going to last till fireworks!

Our girl...makes us laugh...all the time!

We got to go on the boat with Ken and Jenn for a 2 1/2 hour tour.

Just long enough to thoroughly get fried and enjoy the beautiful day!

And we got in and out before all the craziness of Fourth of July boaters started!  What few that were out already...were a little scary in their maneuvering abilities!  We all agreed...you couldn't pay us to be on the Rock River for fireworks!

He makes putting in and out look so easy!

We enjoyed the rest of the day on the deck, in the pool, and around the table.  And no one really felt bad about not viewing the fireworks amidst the crowds of people!  Watching the fireworks from the comfort of our home in the ac was perfect...especially since the kiddos were having fun without Mom and Dad! 

Made a memory in my husband's slippers

The kiddos had just started to fall asleep when the booming began.  The sky around our house lit up.  Our house shook.  The half-closed eyed kiddos stumbled out to see what was happening...they perked up and stood outside the backdoor trying to catch glimpses of the fireworks two blocks over.  I slid into Ted's slippers, grabbed the keys, and told the kiddos to hop in the van.  It is sad to drive down to the end of the block and park...I know...but it was the safest and fastest way to enjoy a moment.  How quickly they woke up...and jabbered about every "colorful fountain"!  

Summer...caught in a jar

There is something about seeing the little bursts of light flying around the night skies.  There is something refreshing about watching the kiddos dance through the yard to catch them.  I think it is called nostalgia! 

It's not my party...I may cry if I need to

Our girls...wrapped their own gifts for the bridal shower today.  Except Alisa ran into a common problem...cutting the wrapping paper too short!  The mistake became a cushion for the glass and Momma was able to help her figure out what to do next.  They made their own cards and took this whole privilege very serious.  They both had certain ideas about what they wanted to buy their "new aunt to be" and wanted to use their own money.

We had fun welcoming Jenn to our family and look forward to all the wedding festivities in August.

Once again...I didn't follow protocol of purchasing a gift off the registry.  "That gift is so Kari."  I think that is a complement?  This was a bucket...well, actually a large bowl that will come in handy for many things...of reality for the bride to be.  After 13 years of marriage, I see how crazy my expectations and notions were.  I see now...I didn't have a clue...I thought I did...but... 

I am thankful for the lessons I have learned as I have sought counsel from others, struggled, and studied God's Word.  God has given me grace for every test and trial.  He has brought blessing in every change. 

I think...now...I finally am beginning to understand what it means to love my husband! 

It was a choice I made 13 years ago, and I have acted upon that choice every moment of every day during the times that were/are good, bad, and ugly! 

Reality is so much more wonderful than those crazy expectations I had years ago. 

My God is real...and His way works the best!

Happy Beginning to Fourth of July Weekend!

Breakfast as a family this morning...Mixed Berry Crepes at IHOP!