Lydia's Ballet...

 Lydia did a little ballet at the beginning of May!  This is her picture this year from her ballet...

Corn Freezing Season Already!!

 At 8 ears for $1.00- its corn freezing season already, on Memorial weekend.

More pictures of Joel...

 Poor boy, they put him in a fort, put him in bucket to push him around pretending he is in a boat.  They think of all kinds of ways to play with little Joel!

Joel is 1!!! Happy Birthday Joel!!

 Happy Birthday to our little buddy!!!  Little Joel Isaiah- also known as Joely!  

He is 1 year old today!  Joel is known for sucking his two middle fingers.  He is still not moving- he just sits and right now is working on holding his hands out and kicking his legs hard- at least it gives him a good workout.  His hair has turned blonde and curly.  He is still not moving yet but he gets frustrated because he thinks he wants to move.  He loves to wrestle and having some pay attention to him.  He is known for his sleep-  he loves to sleep, loves his naps and his sleep at night and is very tired at 7:30 and ready for bed.  He loves to be with other kids it seems.  He lays on his back looks up to the sky and holds his hands out and gets all excited- I think he thinks he is sky diving!  We love you our little birthday buddy!

We are giving him a little birthday blessing tonight and hope to sing his hymn- "Immortal, Invisible!"  

Joel 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

The Lord will roar from Zion

    and thunder from Jerusalem;

    the earth and the heavens will tremble.

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,

    a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Zoo blooms

Joel- 11 months

 Little Joel is 11 months old!  He is such a cute little pumpkin- really getting a personality.  He still does not move much.  He is content to sit and reach for things.  He loves when Lydia holds him and plays with him and love when anyone tries to wrestle him.  He loves food of any kind and really is enjoying milk and a sippy cup these days.  I keep waiting for him to crawl but not moving yet.  He loves to grab at anything he can get his hands on.  He has a big watermelon smile that lights up his whole face.  He is starting to have separation problems when I leave him.  And the kids hates to be left alone in a room.  He wants to be with people.  

Michael's Dissertation Defense!

Michael's HUC buddies- also graduation this June

 The end of the road is near.  On Thursday, April 26th- Michael gave a lecture and defense of his dissertation.  Yes, that is how thick his dissertation is.  He did a great job talking about famine and explaining in down to earth terms his topic and dissertation.  I was so thankful for all the people from ECC that came to support Michael for this lecture- we filled the room and I think Dr. Fox was amazed at all his support.  I also was so thankful for a new friend from coop who watched my kids for me in the afternoon so I could go down to hear him.  It was a blessing!

Prayerful dependence...

We are getting toward the end of the school year.  One more week and we will be pushing on toward summer.  The Lord has really used this book in my heart the last few weeks.  I read this with Jeremiah and God reminded me again of His goodness and provision and challenged me in prayerful dependence on Him!  

Jeremiah and his baseball...

Jeremiah is playing baseball with his buddy Nathan.  This year, we are trying out different sports.  Jeremiah just loves to have fun.  We are trying to pick sports that are not too intense at this age but where Jeremiah can learn and just have fun being a boy.  

My Birthday

 It was a beautiful day for my birthday Monday.  We enjoyed a picnic dinner and a family bike ride at Miami Whitewater.  Everyone laughed at us as we went around the bike path but we made it around the loop in low gear and pedaling as hard as we could.  Thankful for a great family and sweet friends.  Jeremiah was so sweet and generous this year in what he offered to me.  He gave me his Graeters gift card and worked hard cleaning and doing chores that morning.  He also with my niece and nephew and sister-in-law dug up my whole garden getting it ready to plant!  It was a sweet gift!