~Race Day~

Jared's car wasn't running well... he took a two lap pit stop to see why.  The boys had taken the carburetor off and "somehow" didn't put it back on right.  We don't know exactly what happened but there were no bolts on it when the dad's check it..

They fixed it with zip ties☺

  Jared when on to not only finish the race... but he won!

Nathan and Kiersten keeping busy

~VBS~

VBS Week!

Our theme this year was Rescue Workers.  I didn't get a photo of the inside of the church but this was outside.

Kiersten won't be 4 until September, so she couldn't stay for VBS.  She had a great time anyway. 

There were rescue vehicles at church every night for the kids to check out.  Police, fire, ambulance, rescue truck and police with a bike.  The rescue guys were really fun to talk to.  The ambulance guys let me ask a gazillion questions. The fire guys let the kids spray the hose. The 2nd police let the kids run the sirens and lights.  It was neat to be able to thank these people for the jobs they do.

Wednesday night the kids were able to dress up like a rescue hero.  Aaron chose a policeman, Eric and Nathan were EMT's.   Aaron won the dress up award for his class. 

Our teens did a lot of the works for VBS.  Gregg and I were able to enjoy a double date with another couple from church, we went appliance shopping, visiting another couple from church (he is 99!) and some errands.  It was nice to have the week "off."  Jordan and Jared both did puppets this year.

This was part of the decorations for Nathan's classroom... he helped by laying on the floor for this...

All the kids just love VBS week.  I am so thankful for all those that put a lot of time and effort into it!  I missed being a part of it, but it was nice to have a year off.

~Handler's Race~

The last time we raced it was June 22!  The rain has just kept ruining our race day!  If it rains Friday night we generally can't race Saturday.  The boys were really ready to go this morning.  We started early so we could have some fun today!

Jared won his feature

Eric won his feature too!

The kids also had some fun races... they got points just for participating.  Eric finished 2nd in his fun race... it was a field of 9 so he did very well.  Aaron finished 1st and Jared 3rd in their fun race.  Jordan didn't participate... his wheel bearings are bad in his tire.  Something to fix for next week.

AND THEN....

The parents got to race :-)

At this point I was so hot and tired (I was taking pictures of the winners, taking snack shack money and looking for Kiersten) so I almost said I'd sit out and watch this race.  I just wanted to go home, but I'm so glad I jumped in Jared's car and raced those other crazy parents.

The kids helped buckle me in

I only spun out once.  I got hit twice.  The guys tell me I have a bent axle and radius rods... oops.

One of the other moms had flowers in her helmet.  It was hilarious seeing her drive around that way.  It was more hilarious when I found out she didn't know they were there!  Her husband put them in without her knowing! LOL!  I'm still laughing about that!

Gregg was in Jared's other car.  See his helmet sticking out the top!  The kids are not allowed to do that... of course we didn't have all the safety equipment.  Gregg ended up winning!!!  We were racing for a dollar... we all signed it and the winner got to keep it.

Here I am with some of the other crazy women drivers.  We were filthy!  The dust on the track was horrible... you literally couldn't see the car in front of  you at times.  They tried to water it while we were out there but it didn't really help us too much.

Fun Times!

~We Really Appreciate Cows~

I look forward to Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day every July!

Gregg and Jordan were at the race track tonight waiting for it to be rained out... again.

I took the rest of the gang out for dinner:-)

Our bill was $31.67... I paid 51 cents!  (we upgraded from soda to lemonade)

I kept everything we printed out from last year.. including all our spots... so I just needed to tape everyone up.  Too funny!

The rain made it a little messy outside, but I had fun anyway... and enjoyed a great deluxe sandwich!

~Seminary~

I am currently reading a book called "Killing Fields Living Fields."  It is about Cambodia.  It is a slow read for me but such an interesting one that I will finish... I will.  It is a good thing that I can put the book down, I've got way to much going on right now to be lost in a book for a few days. Anyway, the author gave a definition for Seminary that I really have been thinking about.  I am very visual and love this visual picture!

It really has me thinking about our homes and churches.  I am all for education, but I'm not totally sold on all forms of "higher education."

I do not have a green thumb, but I've made some observations.

1. Plants sown from seed or cuttings are fragile... sun, heat, water... you have to be very careful and very vigilant.
2. The piece of ground needs to be fertile.  Some ground has nothing to give... some ground has already given up it's nutrients and needs to be re worked.
3. Transplanted plants still need "encouragement"... late season hail storms, high winds, sometimes animals or they may just need to be staked up.
4. If plants are not transplanted when ready, they can actually wilt and look sickly

As I think about my kids/my home, the church kids/church I was applying it this way...

1. Are we properly caring for them? Strengthening them? Slowly getting them weathered?  or are we planting and walking away? or are we planting and sending out too soon?
2. Is my home/church fertile.  Are we able to feed them properly?  Am I reworking my life so that I can continue to give to and to feed others?
3. Those that have moved on to serve whether a mission field in the church or across the globe, are we encouraging them? Supporting them?  When the winds blow, do we check in on them?
4. Are we holding anyone back?  Is someone ready and willing to serve and we haven't encouraged or made an effort to find a place for them to serve... not serving can cause a person to wither.

 Seedlings were always meant to be transplanted!

~Holiday Weekend~

Gregg had a really long weekend.  He was off Thursday for the holiday and Friday because he never took Memorial Day because he was in China.

We all just stayed home most of the day Thursday.  I spent most of the day cleaning my room.  Found some long lost earrings, got rid of some clothes and cleaned up a huge pile of books.  I still have one corner to clean up but I'm happy for what I did do.  I was listening to one of the sermons Jordan heard at camp and grilling chicken. My oven isn't working so I'm stretching my grilling abilities.  Next time no foil and cook on a higher temp.  It was really good for my first try.  The boys can't wait til I try again.

Friday was also at home for me.  Jordan raced Friday night and I was supposed to go so all the kids could watch but I wasn't really feeling up to it.  It was really hot and I didn't want to pack everyone up.  I also hadn't finished the laundry or done hair cuts and wanted to get to bed on time for once in two weeks.  I'm glad I didn't go, Jordan's car overheated (it was loosing water) and he wasn't able to finish his feature.

I was working on these pillow cases Friday while helping Jared with math.  They are for my Aunt and Uncle for their 25th Wedding Anniversary.  I finished them after the kids went to bed while I listened to   another camp sermon.

Saturday was a picnic at my brother's house.  The kids enjoyed the pool and I finally got to sit down for a bit.  The older three left early for a race with some friends... they don't really enjoy picnics:-)

I am looking forward to a down day again today... getting some school planned out and many other little projects that really need to get taken care of.

~Kiersten Funny~

The other day Kiersten came over to me all wet.  I asked her what happened, how did she get so wet!?!??!  She said, "The rain dropped on me."

~Play Date~

We had some friends come over to play last Thursday.  Christina's kids are the same ages as my youngest three... and her boys love my big boys.  They always play so well together!  Christina and I were planning school stuff and chatting away all afternoon (we made chocolate too!  I am addicted!).  They left around 4 and I told Kiersten she needed to have quiet time on the recliner while I cleaned the kitchen.  When I finished the dishes, I went to check on her...

Adorable!

~Sunscreen~

I was looking for a "safer" sunscreen this year that went on a little bit easier than the clay I was using last year. Natural sunscreen can be very messy.  I haven't read all the label details but my nutritionist recommended this brand.

I really like the one in the tall white bottle.  I burn very easily, and being out in the sun all day Saturday I really need something that will last.  It sprays on... no rubbing in... and smells wonderful.  No burn either!

The one in the short orange bottle also works, but the pump broke and the lotion is white and needs to be rubbed in.

Both lotions work well on Nathan and Kiersten too.  The older boys don't really like to use it :-)

~Camp~

Jordan (and most of our youth group) was at camp last week.  I really missed Jordan at home and Wednesday night just wasn't the same without all the teens.

I did get to see them all Tuesday night for Parent's Night!

Some people were oddly dressed with green hair, green face stickers, green headbands with streamers... yikes!  Most people looked normal.  Wouldn't you know, I spot Jordan and he has a nice green strip down the center of his head.

I found out there were 4 teams.  The green team wanted to be sure they knew who was on their team.  Yeah, you could pick them out of a crowd! haha!

I think there were about 120 teens and 60 workers.  We really enjoyed our visit and heard a great sermon.  We had a time of fellowship (eating!).  We were able to talk to the speaker, Jerry Ross, for a little while too.  We went to his church on vacation in March and were excited that he was coming out to speak at camp.  We left around 10:30 and arrived home around midnight.

I really enjoyed the testimonies the kids shared during our Sunday services, and I can't wait to listen to the sermons myself!  

~July~